Ugly felt deflated when the elevator stopped at the top floor and Spot pulled away from her. She followed him out. Spot seemed edgy as they entered the apartment. Last Monday, they'd arrived home late to find Kyro watching Roan paint the walls with his blood. You truly never knew what to expect with Roan, and he was getting worse by the minute.
"I wonder what those fuckwits are up to now," Spot said under his breath. Ugly watched him with amusement; he would never dare talk that way in front of them. Sure, he was part of their gang, but he interacted more with her. Kyro and Roan had their own secret world that no one else could ever get into. Although most people probably wouldn't want to.
Spot walked through the spacious apartment, looking this way and that. The penthouse was sparsely furnished and completely artless. The furnishings consisted of a few randomly acquired pieces with no rhyme or reason. A black silk couch, a claw footed table, a chandelier that hung on an angle.
"They're probably on the balcony," Ugly said. Roan and Kyro didn't seem to like the new place. They always ended up "accidentally" destroying it, blood on the walls, holes in the ceiling and teeth marks on the table legs that Ugly would really rather not know about.
It was nothing like the dilapidated Lodging House they'd once shared. But that was the price of success.
Ugly followed Spot out to the balcony. Sure enough, the two knuckle-heads were there, engulfed in the usual amount of smoke. Neither one so much as flinched when Spot and Ugly stepped outside through the open door.
Ugly kept her eyes on Spot. He always got strangely uncomfortable around these two, shy even. It was a change from his usual assuredness. Ugly loved that she knew all his little vulnerabilities.
Spot sat down in a chair a small distance from them. He didn't pull it closer. He lit a cigarette. Ugly stood between him and them. Spot exhaled smoke, gathering his courage.
"So, we brought back a nice sack of dough," he said.
It was quiet for a minute. "Steals from the rich and gives to the poor," Roan said. "Where's the Sheriff…what's his name anyway?" Roan asked Kyro.
"Richard?" Kyro suggested vaguely.
"No, that's the king. The king is Richard. King Richard," Roan corrected.
"Oh," said Kyro. Jesus, thought Ugly. They should start up their own little vaudeville show. Side Show Roan, Guest Starring Kyro the Unspoken: See How the Mighty have Fallen!
Spot rolled his eyes at Ugly. He stood back up, rubbing out his spent cigarette. "Well, we're going to sleep," he announced.
"That's right, fuck Maid Marion," Roan mumbled. He didn't even look at them. He never looks at me anymore, Ugly thought for the millionth time. It bothered her. He had once seemed to care so deeply for her well being, now she felt more and more like a stranger. She had changed, he had changed. She looked at Spot and thought that change could be a good thing.
But one thing hadn't changed. She caught Kyro looking at her as she and Spot exited the balcony. He looked at her in the same unflinching, mildly unsettling way that he had always looked at her. Ugly looked away, uncomfortable. She followed Spot back inside.
XXX
They went into their room, which was at the opposite end of the penthouse from where Roan and Kyro stayed, they liked their privacy.
Ugly stripped down and watched Spot take of his shirt. His back was nice and muscled. He scooted into bed next to her, then leaned over and gave her a kiss. "'Night, sweetheart," he said.
"'Night," she whispered back. He rested his arm on her waist and snuggled in. Ugly stared at his perfect face as he closed his eyes to sleep. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
XXX
"Roan, we have to go," Spot said. His voice was firm.
"Oh my God! We do? We have to?" Roan teased in mock horror. "What'll happen if we don't?" His voice crackled with dulled threat.
"Come on, Roan, you know this is part of it, this is what we do," Spot was straightened his suit in the gilt framed mirror of the sitting room, carefully brushing back his hair. Kyro was pouring drinks from the bar, he handed one to Roan.
Roan took a gulp. "Jesus fuck, Conlon, you're one anal little bitch," Roan complained. He had turned into a petulant child. But Spot knew that once he got him out he would turn on the public Roan, he couldn't help himself. He dealt with people on intimidation, it was automatic. He saved his deterioration for those closest to him. Lucky them.
The endless bickering was beginning to wear on all of them. Fortunately, they were rescued by the entrance of their saving grace. Ugly walked into the living room with both hands adjusting a fashionable chandelier earring. She was wearing a green silk dress that spilled over her in a fabulous way and her hair was piled loosely on top of her head. The color of the dress added a snap to her keen green eyes. Spot and Kyro gaped, Roan took another swig of his drink.
"You look beautiful," Spot said, rushing over and kissing her in a way that made Ugly feel every bit the fashionable young lady she was pretending to be. "C'mon, the carriage is probably waiting," Spot looped his arm through hers and escorted her toward the elevator.
Roan finished his drink. He jerked his hand at Kyro, beckoning him. "Let's go, the king and queen will need their fools," he mumbled.
XXX
Spot was right about Roan. Once they arrived at the party, he was every inch the daunting son of a bitch they all expected him to be. Even Spot couldn't help but be a little in awe of him.
The party was more of a formal ball, with a guest list that read like money, without regard to where it was from. Mobsters, senators and plain old thieves mingled amidst laughter and booze.
Ugly absolutely hated these things. She hated wearing dresses. She hated being hit on by drunk old men and she hated how the moment they arrived, Spot disappeared for the rest of the night, traveling from person to person, trading tips and making deals.
As predicted, Spot dropped a kiss on her neck. "You all right, sweetie?" He asked. She nodded, he smiled sweetly and was gone. Roan couldn't get away from her fast enough and Kyro followed silently behind. They would probably hole up at the bar or play a fierce game of poker and end up in a drunken brawl.
Ugly walked outside and sat at an empty table, pulling a cigarette out of her purse. She would sit outside and chain smoke, deflecting the passes made by sodden bastards.
XXX
Ugly was on her third cigarette when she heard a voice behind her.
"Is this seat taken?" A female voice with a British accent asked politely. Ugly turned to see a stunning looking girl. She was tiny and lost in a black dress with a choppy cut. Her dirty blonde hair was down and straight, completely unfashionable but she could pull it off because she had a classically-constructed face. She smiled at Ugly, a glimmer in her hazel eyes.
Ugly didn't respond, so she sat down anyway. "I'm absolutely dying for a smoke!" She exclaimed. To prove her point she fished a pack out of her purse and began smoking with a fury. "Isn't this party just fantastic?" She asked, waving a graceful hand casually through the air.
Ugly cleared her throat. "Yeah, it's great," she said, unconvincingly.
The girl looked at her suspiciously. "You haven't been to the bar yet, have you?" She demanded. Ugly shook her head. The girl jumped up and grabbed Ugly by the wrist, pulling her to her feet. "Come on, missy, you're coming with me," she demanded. Ugly followed obediently.
XXX
Roan and Kyro were holding court at a high stakes poker table. While the rest of the table was stone faced, the two of them were grinning like idiots. Roan had had every intention of frittering away all ofhis and Spot'smoney. Unfortunately, it seemed the more he tried to lose, the better he did. At least Kyro was having terrible luck, but that was only because he folded nearly every hand.
Kyro waved his hand in the traditional symbol, folding again. Roan won the hand and Kyro flipped his hand over to show Roan. He had folded on a Royal Flush. The two of them fell into fits of giggles.
An older gentleman across the table with an eyeglass on a chain looked at them disapprovingly. He had lost a considerable amount. "What exactly are you two playing at?" He asked.
Roan's laughter dried up like a desert and he fixed the man with a deadly stare. "We're playing at I slit your throat if you speak to me like that again," he snapped. The man shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Roan kept his eyes locked on him, drawing it out. The other players glanced around nervously.
Suddenly, Roan busted up laughing. Kyro cracked a smile. "C'mon, Mister Mayor, you know I wouldn't do that to you," he said, casually. He stood up. "Sorry, gentlemen, but I really can't stand to win another hand. I've reached my limit, don't want the wife to get upset." He turned and walked away with Kyro close behind. The rest of the players glanced around in confusion; he'd leftevery lastdollar ofhis considerable winnings on the table.
As they walked off, Roan turned back to Kyro. "Where is my wife, anyway?" he asked.
XXX
Ugly laughed, grabbing onto her new friend's shoulder. The world was spinning. When did life get to be so fun? She really didn't know why she hadn't tried champagne before. Tonight she'd tried glass after glass and she felt absolutely fabulous. The two girls giggled and stumbled back outside, bumping into a few handsome young men on the way, which made them laugh even harder. These parties weren't so bad after all…
XXX
So, this story seems a lot more…I don't know…adult then the last one, I mean nothing much has happened yet, I'm am still setting up for all the great things I have in store. Tell me what you think, it's fun to write any way, and that's pretty dang important.
So, ahh…the wonderful things we do when we're drunk…what will Miss Ugly, temporarily abandoned by her man, get up to tonight?
And who is this new girl anyway? She seems suspicious and naughty.
Why the sudden concern for his little wife from Roan?
Does Kyro wish she were his wife?
And where, pray tell, is Mr Big Stuff aka Spot Conlon?
What kind of trouble will they all get into next? Hmmm…we shall see…