I struggled against the man that was holding me, he had my arms pinned behind my back and was dragging me down one of the Brooklyn docks. It was pouring so goddamn hard that I could barely see a foot in front of me and my feet kept sliding out from underneath me on the slippery dock. I could hear him and his buddy laughing, the short fat one holding me leaned down, his head next to mine and I could feel his hot rancid breath blowing across my cheek.
"Girlie youse made a big ol mistake tanite. Ise thinkin' that by cheatin us at cards that youse owes us pretty damn big. Maybe me and Charlie here 'll take turns or maybe we'll both fuck ya at the same time."
At this statement I began to panic and started to struggle harder, flinging my body back and forth frantically. But the fact that I couldn't get my feet to stay under me did little to help me break free. The bastard holding my arms behind my back began twisting them with so much force that I screamed out in pain.
"Please, please,"I pleaded gasping for breath."I wasn't cheating, I swear I wasn't."
The man holding me spun me around, so that I was facing him. He was a dirty little man, his hair, what was left of it, was plastered to his forehead. And his beady little eyes bored into mine. He was grinning ear to ear and his rotten teeth gleamed in what little light there was at the end of the docks.
"Now dollface ya really think that matters anymore. See, you, me and Charlie here are gonna have us a lil fun. And if youse a good girlie we may even try an be a lil gentle."
He concluded this statement by leaning in and dragging his tongue up the side of my neck towards my ear. I jerked my body back with enough force that I ended up pulling myself free of the hold he had on my vest but the sudden motion sent me reeling backwards and straight into the arms of the equally despicable Charlie. He wrapped his arms around my waist and shouted to his pal, "I'se guessin she choosin me to go first Ollie." This was followed by a deep guttural laugh and his left hand slid up my rib cage to cup my right breast. I let out a strangled cry as he squeezed me with painful force. Oh god I was going to be sick, I was going to throw up all over the goddamn docks. I tried to break free, god I tried but Charlie was a large man and his arms were like an iron vice around my waist. I started banging my small fists uselessly against his thick arms but it did little to help me gain my freedom. He only laughed and said to Ollie, "Ise thinkin' she wants it rough. Git er pants off."
Ollie stepped forward and his meaty hands grabbed the front of my pants and began to wrestle with the buttons that held them up. At this I truly lost it, christ I could barely breathe I was crying so damn hysterically. How the hell was I going to get myself out of this, how the hell did I get myself into this? I kicked my feet out frantically at Ollie trying to get him to back away all the while screaming NO over and over again at the top of my lungs. He did back up a couple steps away from my flailing limbs but then he smiled this sick twisted smile, that sent a shot of pure fear down my spine. Ollie then reached out and slapped me across the face, hard. My head whipped to the side and the breath was knocked out of my lungs. My newsboy cap slipped to a low angle and blocked my vision a little but I could still see the scumbag in front of me pretty clearly. I could taste the warm blood at the corner of my mouth and the only thing that kept running through my head was this isn't happening.
"Look 'round girlie, no one can hear you, we'se all alone out 'ere," Ollie said with a laugh.
"Well now that ain't exactly true is it boiyo," a voice growled out in the night. At this all three of their heads whirled in the direction the voice had come from. Oh god another one, at this point all I could do was pray they wouldn't hurt me to bad. That I would make it out of here alive at least.
"Whose out der," Charlie shouted into the darkness, loosening his hold on me slightly, his hand sliding away from my breast.
A figure stepped out of the inky black night and into the pale light, it was a young man, he stopped about ten feet from them and leaned casually against his gold tipped cane. At the sight of the cane, relief flooded through me and my breathing became less hysterical, I started sucking in great gulps of cold air. Oh god it was going to be ok, I was going to get to go home in one piece, he would save me I knew he would.
"I'se more concoin'd bout who youse boys is, considerin' youse on me docks," the boy drawled out in a casual tone of voice.
Charlie burst out laughing, "Git outta 'er boy, youse donno who youse messin with."
The boy tilted his head in the direction of Charlie, the light catchin the hard steel gaze he threw at him. At the look the boy gave him Charlie backed up slightly taking me with him.
"No youse donno who youse messin wit. Let the goil go and I'lls jist letcha walk on outta 'er," this statement was followed by the cocky grin I knew so well.
Ollie started to laugh and took a menacing step towards the young man, who stood up straighter and full on grinned at him. He lifted his cane and tapped it against the wooden planks of the dock. At this figures began popping up from behind crates and barrels that were placed haphazardly around the dock and a large group of boys came tramping down the dock to stand behind the boy with the cane. All of them were armed with clubs or slingshots loaded and aimed at the small group at the end of the dock. The boy proceeded to lean casually against his cane, still grinning.
"Youse boys still thinkin' youse in charge 'er cuz Spot Conlon's thinkin' differently," said the boy.
"Youse Conlon, wese didn't know, let us jist take the girl and git outta 'er," Charlie said. Obviously losing some of his bravado at finding out the identity of the young man.
"Da goil stays 'ere," Spot said as casually as if he was asking to bum a smoke off the man.
All I wanted to do was scream out Spots name, rush forward and fall into his safe embrace but I kept my mouth shut and stood still. I don't think Spot recognized me yet and I didn't want him to lose the edge he had over these two bastards.
"No da goil owes us and Ise ain't leavin 'er 'ere wit you," Charlie yelled angrily as he shoved me forward slightly still holding me about the waist. The sudden motion caused my head to snap forward sending my cap flying down to the dock with a light thud. Piles of long auburn hair cascaded forward and into my face, obscuring my vision and I let out a small shocked yelp.
As the girls hat hit the dock, Spot felt his entire body go stiff. GOD DAMNIT. I'm going to kill her, I swore to god then and there that I was going to kill her. I hadn't had a clear view of her since I had arrived on the dock but now that she had lost her hat I recognized her instantly. I heard my second in command, Match, suck in his breath, as he leaned slightly towards me.
"Ain't that Kat," he said so low I was pretty sure only I could hear.
"God damn right, that's Kat Kelly," I replied under my breath.