Bittah ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Wearing pants was a definite plus, compared to Irish who was running down the streets of Brooklyn towards Manhattan in a skirt. Running right past Bittah Irish skidded to a halt.
"Bittah wait!" she screamed out of breath, face flushed. Bittah slowed her pace to a walk and turned around putting her hands on her hips as she walked.
"Damn woman, nevah again are ya stayin out in Brookyln. Ya got dat? It's way to far for a damn run." She said shaking her head.
"Yea, yea whatever. What happened to Relic. I get woken up dis morning by Jack pounding on a door, hollerin and screamin for Spot." Irish said wiping her brow that was beaded with sweat.
"You slept with Spot!?" asked Bittah as she hit the girl in the shoulder.
"What were ya thinking? Are you nuts? You know how many girls he goes through. At least 3 a week!" Bittah exclaimed exasperated.
"Shut up." Irish said defensively.
"Right…We'll talk about dis more latah when Relic is around to beat ya ass." Bittah nodded satisfied. "Now last night we went to dis bar, called Night's Tavern. Down in lower Manhattan near da Kitchen. Relic was drinking and singing, da usual. I leave and get to da distribution center dis morning to have Sneaks come runnin' up hollerin dat da bulls are at da lodgin house and dat dey got Relic. Now I panic thinking dat Relic got herself locked up last night. Turns out she got da shit beaten outta her. She ain't doin to hot and she's at da hospital. Some old woman took pity on 'er and sent 'er dere. Dere's blood soaked in da sheets and she coughs it up." Bittah said growing quieter. Irish's face paled.
'Who?" she asked in a soft tone. Bittah shrugged.
"Ya got me. Dey found 'er in some random alley."
Irish nodded and then began to think.
"Did Relic say anything?" Irish asked hoping Relic had enough energy to talk.
"All she said was, 'It was him.' And dat was it." Bittah shrugged, she turned and began to walk back towards Manhattan.
"It was him?" said Irish confused.
"You got me." Bittah responded shrugging again, "You gotta light?"
Irish reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette handing it to Bittah. It was him. The concept made sense maybe some guy Relic had a problem with came to settle their differences. But there was no way to tell.
"All I know is dat dis just ain't right." Irish said frowning lighting up her own cigarette.
"You're telling me bout it." Bittah said exhaling the toxic smoke slowly. "Now to talk about something on a different note, care to indulge me on Spotty boy last night?"
"I can't really tell ya anything. It just sorta happened dat's all." said Irish. Bittah looked at her skeptically.
"I mean, I wanted to take a bath, no one said anything when I knocked on da washroom door, so I walked in. Spot was in dere. I turned around he got out, I got in. We talked a bit…"
"While ya were naked, in da tub?" asked Bittah looking at her. A woman walking by looked at her.
"Shove it Bittah, and yes I was. Den I got out, spilled water all over da place knocked out the candles and was trying to find da towel, instead I found Spot's hand and den we were holdin hands and he cupped my jaw lifted my head up and kissed me. One thing lead to another and I was in his room. Which by the way was where I was gonna sleep anyways." Irish finished with a nod.
Bittah just stared at her with disbelief.
"What?" asked Irish turning red.
"Oh no, don't tell me!" she exclaimed throwing her hands into the air. "You like da bastard don't ya!" she cried. Irish hit her.
"Watch ya damn language." she snapped. They were approaching the hospital.
"How bad is she?" asked Irish changing the subject.
"bad." was all Bittah said before they walked into the hospital. Irish followed Bittah to Relic's room. Irish gasped when she saw her.
"Oh Relic." she said tears stung her eyes. The girl looked as if she were dead and Gypsy sat in a chair in the corner. She was sound asleep.
"Heya Irish." Relic said softly, which she barely choked out. Irish smiled half heartedly.
"Don't talk yet," Irish said softly. "We're gonna find out who did dis and we are gonna take care of dem."
Killian and Nero walked side by side through Central Park.
"Remember that girl from last night?" asked Killian nonchalantly.
"Yea." Nero responded not really paying attention.
"She wasn't all that bad." he smirked.
"Ya, well shows she's got experience." Nero snickered. "That other girl, the one friends with Irish, I took care of her last night. Stupid bitch tired to put up a fight. I think I've got her finished off. Left her in an alley." Nero finished up.
"Good, take out Irish like you said you would and you'll get your money's worth and maybe a round with the girl I got last night." Killian laughed as he walked away from Nero.