The only thing that terrified Roma more than being down in this part of town, alone with Don, was that she was about to have to step out of the protection of her car into it's deadly jaws, not knowing what could happen.
The building, Don titled their destination was a run down warehouse with broken windows and no doors somewhere along the muddy river. There were boxes and dumpsters overflowing with trash, or worse, cluttering all allies around it and even seeming to be inside as well, though it was too dark inside to tell.
She glanced over at Don who was looking around, as if he was waiting for something to happen. He checked his watch before looking over at her, questioningly. His expression was so smug and fine-fitted as if he had absolutely no remorse for what he was making her do, surrounded with the aura of careful scheming on his part. Were it not for the fact she liked his beard and face so much when he looked this powerful and in control, she'd punch him senseless. But she did like his face and beard too much and seeing him healthy and back to his old self was too rewarding somehow for her to ruin it. Despite the fact it made her so angry.
Instead, She stared at him very suspiciously, not trusting his being here for a second. It seemed, as improbable as it was, that he might be leading her into a trap of some kind. Why he would want to trap her of all people was completely beyond her... She was just on such high self-aware she was calling everything a threat.
"What?" He asked, only getting a head shake from her and a disapproving look. "Well, fine. You don't have to answer." he added teasingly, smiling at her before checking his watch once more and climbing out of the car, muttering under his breath with a groan. His stomach pains were resurfacing from the strenuous movements he had been doing lately, even standing too quickly caused intense pain all the way down to his thighs from the straining bruised muscles.
He slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Roma in the solitude of the car. She sighed and looked down at her lap, playing with her hands nervously. What was she getting herself into? She guessed, given the extremely shady sight they were currently stationed, Don was probably about to deal something. Rather it was arms or drugs she was unsure, but whatever the case may be, she was about to aid a criminal do his crime without putting up much of a fight either. She was submitting to his will so easily and he appeared to be enjoying it. The bastard...
She glanced at the rear-view mirror and saw Don wave his hand toward her to come out, so carelessly as if nothing bad was happening. She ground her teeth and held back from screaming or backing up and running him over with the car. Whatever happened in there, she promised herself she would bail if things got too out of hand and just leave him there with his stupid money. She didn't care anymore what kind of men they were dealing with or what for... All that mattered was getting out alive... She pinned this reason on being able to see Arjun again, because it was a good excuse and gave her a reason to feel like abandoning him for her own personal gain, without being quite that. And if Don wanted to lead her about like some kind of mindless obedient dog, she'd surely correct him where he was wrong. In the worst possible way.
Roma removed her seat belt and opened the door, kicking farther open with her booted heel, climbing out and closing it quietly behind her but with a attitude. She looked at Don as she slid on her sunglasses, giving him a shrug as if to ask, "why we standing around?"
Don smiled at her and turned squinting in the bright sunlight, giving both ends of the ally they were in a nice long look before walking over to a lonely blue dumpster and opening it, reaching inside so far he almost fell in.
"Ahh! Here we are!" He cheered upon leaving the trash with a suitcase and shotgun in hand. He proudly showed them to Roma before tucking the shotgun under his arm and dusting off the fastfood wrappers from the case, grimacing some. "Such filthy people." He muttered.
"Filthy people who throw things in the trash. Not like they are digging around in it." Roma commented from afar, mentally noting down everything he was doing for future reference. She'd honestly never have thought to look in a dumpster for drugs. These gangsters were crafty.
Don gave her a mocking smile and lowered the case, tucking that under his arm and examining the gun next, uncocking it and checking the ammunition. He had three shots total which was less than he wanted but would have to do, he didn't expect a lot of resistance from his dealers, but he knew to come prepared for the inevitable. He slapped the double barrel back to the handle compartment with the whip of his hand and cocked it under once more, a satisfying sound of metal adjusting against metal snapping from it.
"Is that it, can we get this over with now? Roma asked, crossing her arms anxiously. Don scanned her posture and clothes. She was trying to look touch as he had instructed but wasn't really grasping the whole bad girl vibe she needed to be convincing. She came off as a actor... He wasn't sure he could expect much more for her though. Even when she was pretending once upon a time when she was trying to snake into his business for the sake of sweet revenge, she wasn't going for the same profile in that case as she needed now. He shrugged it off, though, and just let her be. It wasn't worth the time arguing over, for he knew she'd fuss and complain.
"Might want to loosen a few more buttons, Miss stiffness." He said as he walked past her and toward the back/side of the large building, chuckling to himself. Roma glared and followed after him, considering what he said but refused to do it... Just because he said so.
After a bit of wandering in what seemed like, no designated direction, Don stopped in front of a dark red colored door and stared at it curiously, noting the sign which read "stay out" before reaching out and pushing it open, his expression stiff as if he dared anyone to try and stop him or some calamity to await him behind it.
It swung with ease to reveal nothing of any immediate danger so Don stepped inside over a few boxes on the floor and disappearing into the dark of the warehouse. Roma watched before unsurely following him into the unknown, looking over her shoulder one last time to check they weren't being followed.
"Roma." Don's voice hissed in the darkness, guiding her to his side. "What?" She called back, keeping her voice low with his, leaning her head closer to hear his answer, only to have her head bump into his rather roughly. He grunted in a warning for her to not make the mistake again before wrapped his fingers around her arm roughly, leading her along behind him, not saying anything.
There was nothing to be seen and little to be heard outside the pitch-blackness that surrounded them. Don had good eyes though and even better senses of when objects were approaching him too closely. Maneuverings in the darkness was something he was forced to do often while trying to escape his enemies or even chose to use when trying to apply terror to his attack strategy, so he focused on guiding them both through the dark with ease, to the middle of the warehouse's interior, where the roof was split open and the sun poured into the gap.
In the center was a table where three men stood around in collected company, all chattering quietly to each other about some personal issue. One of them happened to glance their way and caught sight of the unlikely pair who stood waiting, elbowing another and they all turned to greet them.
"Well, if it isn't Don!" The tallest of them said over his shoulder, taking his cigarette from between his teeth and tossing it aside, a column of smoke seeping from his nose as he exhaled. "I was beginning to worry you weren't going to show, but- I guess you really do come through for those who wait." He turned fully with his arms out to either side of himself in a welcoming manner, almost as if he wanted a hug, but neither of the gangsters made a move to do so. He was young. Younger than Don, and dressed much finer with a dark brown suit and bowtie, he spoke with a slight English accent and carried himself confidently but with a genuine humility. He didn't seem arrogant or brash, but certainly with his head squared in the game.
Don cat-walked closer, waving the shotgun he brought around in the air some as if it was as weightless as a feather. "Yeah, you know me. You know me quite well... But you also know it's been three months since you and I last ran into each other and when I called you... No answer." Don said as he came to a stop in front of him, tsking at the end and shaking his head, seeming very disappointed. "Shame. I had been expecting it." He added, his torched eyes locking with the man's, who was suddenly growing less and less friendly and more nervous.
"I-it was a accident, Don. Something came up and I couldn't get back to you. Surely you understand how that is." He explained, laughing some after and glancing back at his boys for support, who both nodded with him and gave muffled approval.
"Ah yeah... I understand. But uh... Understanding isn't forgetting and forgiving." Don answered, his face stunned. Behind him, Roma observed in a fascinated but also disturbed manner... It was truly unpredictable how this was all going to play out in front of her very eyes. She knew the feeling of this business and what it had to offer, seeing as she had worked for Don as a bodyguard for some time... But this seemed like a dangerous situation. The other men Don dealt with in the past were submissive to his rule with no quarrel with him. This one, however, had obviously made him upset in his betrayal... And she knew all too well how much he disliked betrayal...
The man swallowed loudly, but didn't take his eyes off Don's, not knowing what would happen if he even blinked... Don's reputation was almost more intimidating than he was on his own. Of course, he was the one who gained his own rank in this business in the "Red for devil" zone, but it didn't seem to quite click with people he was attached to this until he showed himself capable. However, the rumors were taller than himself, causing some doubts on occasions that Don made sure to change ever so politely.
"Nothing else to say?" Don questioned, raising his eyebrow. He could almost smell the sweat forming on the younger man's body from the nervousness and near panic he was gathering, consuming his normally cool headed personality with fear and guilt. He knew all too well what he had done and Don didn't appreciate it one bit.
"Don, sir- I-" He started but Don cut him off with a loud hush, "Don't try to excuse whats happened in our pasts, boy. I'll be the only one who excuses or forgets, otherwise it's still in motion... Like a rolling ball down a steep hill..." He walked closer until he face was just inches from the Englishman's.
"Why did you roll the ball, Carter?" His tongue flashed smoothly over the words, jerking envy from most at his strong Hindi accent, but profound execution of wording. He was iterate and keen.
Before Cater could defend himself with words, which had begun to flow in awkward stutters, Don cut him off once more as he grabbed his shirt collar, yanking him closer, speaking harshly and huskily with a deep growl behind his words. "You thought you'd get ahead in the game, seeing as you are new, and used whatever brains you think you have to bash down some colossal giant such as myself to gain more recognition. Sad part is, your attempt to have me killed failed because you didn't have the guts to shoot me between the eyes... And even if it had worked, you set me up... No one would have believed you actually killed me in what you tried, and miserably failed, to make look like a accident. That's too much credit given to a nooby and no one in this business is that generous. But you know that now... You're still an underdog and no one wants deals from a liar. In your pathetic fear of me, you tried to conceal your true motives involving my demise and left me on that dock to die, but in reality... Shot yourself square in the foot."
"If you had just grown some balls enough to face me yourself, I might have had some respect for you as I politely disappointed you." Don was only inches away from his nose being against the man's, his lips pulled back in a snarl now.
"SIR! PLEASE! You don't understand, I had no other choice! Sir, I was forced to by-" The man struggled to say, his eyes wide with terror, but Don silenced him with the barrel of the shotgun, shoving it into the back of his throat and forcing the man to his knees.
"DON'T... Call me sir." A muffed scream against cold metal before a gunshot, rattled the quiet abandoned area, setting off a bullet blazing retaliation from the men who accompanied Carter. Whipping pistols from their jackets, they took aim on the gangster who kicked over the body of what once was Carter and spat on what was left of him. Don was quicker on his feet than they expected though, and easily jumped back into the darkness around them, yanking Roma along with him who was about ready to blow her top from the sheer depravity of reasoning here.
"DON! What are you doing?!" She demanded, ripping her arm away from his grip, only to have him grab her again and shush her. "Who are these men? How do you know them and WHY did you shoot him?" She stared into the light at the headless body of the younger man, frozen in disgust and fear as the hot blood oozed onto the floor in globs from his open neck and shoulder, the spray fire from the shotgun taking off almost his whole upper body from the angle Don had it... What was Don really capable of?
There was no answer on his end, but her attention was drawn away from the blindness around her and toward the two men who grabbed the suitcase they had come with and made a break for the exit, both of them shooting behind them in the direction Don had disappeared into.
"Don!" Roma called again, desperately trying to get a answer from him, anything at all to make things easier on her and to obliterate some of this confusion that swarmed her thicker than the darkness did. Her only reply was the feeling of his presences rush past her in a gust as he chased the fleeing dealers, his figure appearing momentarily in the light through the roof before vanishing once more on the other side, gunfire lighting up the darkness in short bursts giving her a rough idea of where they were going. But Roma had lost all interest in following him, she needed to get out and get out now before it was too late.
"Hell with it." She growled under her breath before turning and quickly stumbling around in the dark toward their own place of entrance, the sounds of fighting, screaming and gunshots only flooring her to move faster and faster, resulting in her losing her balance a few times and nearly falling face first onto the concrete below her. Regret clouded her judgment as she wandered about anxiously, making focusing harder and more taxing than it should have been. She was caught up in the hows and whys instead of looking forward and trying to escape God knows what behind her. All her trust and security in Don's words and actions where suddenly stripped away to nothingness and didn't matter anymore. If he died, lived, lied or betrayed her... She didn't care, she just wanted to be free of this building and the weight he put on her shoulders in making her bring him here to do this stupid thing. She had been so foolish to believe anything positive could come from that horrible man.
When the bright light from the door came into view as she rounded a bunch of crates, she bolted for it, running with all might until she breached it's welcoming glow and leaped outside over the boxes that laid in her way.
"ROMA!" Don's voice echoed from the building. She spun and staring wide eyed into the pitch-blackness of the door she had just emerged from, panting heavily as her heart pounded from the stress and frustration. "ROMA!" His voice grounded her in place, keeping her from functioning or moving properly despite the fact she felt incredibly endangered just being here.
All she could think of was how it sounded, her name rolling off his tongue with the vicious Rs and pleading ending, as if he was too weak to finish pronouncing it completely. Her mind went to the worst possible scenario of his position, but she couldn't bring herself to answer him or rush back inside to his aid, even if he was bleeding to death or being strangled, she felt she had been understanding enough of his situation and helped all she could manage. There was nothing left for her to give him and she hated it...
She backed away a few steps, breaking out of his spell before bolting again for the car, skidding up along side it and flinging the door open, jumping inside and slamming it closed behind her, the satisfying click of the locks sliding into place giving her more comfort than any sound she'd heard before. Regardless of the safety she felt inside the car though, she didn't pause to breathe or relish it. There wasn't time for that, anyone could be watching her right now, or Don or the dealers could catch up to her and stop her. Nothing outside soaring away from this place was an option and she was literally unable to consider anything else. She started the car and switched it into gear, turning around in her seat some as she backed it out at frightening speeds, veering it around with a screech to face the right side of the street.
As she turned to look back at the street, so she could drive away and leave this awful nightmare far behind her along with the man who caused them, Don placed his foot down on, placing himself squarely between her and the road back uptown.
He cocked his head to the side questioningly and placed a hand on his hip, his long dreads in his face sliding off to the side as he did. Fresh blood ran down his arm, dripping from his shaking hand which held the suitcase from the deal weakly, and covered his stomach region.
Roma found herself utterly frozen again as he lifted his hand up and with his palm out, motioned for her to wait calmly for him as he staggered forward toward the car, partly dragging one of his legs behind him in a painful limp. She didn't know what to do...
She could hear him chuckling to himself as he approached the car, the sound dissipating off into wheezes that zapped any amusement he had from him. Not one thing that happened while they were here was rewarding of that proud look on his bearded face that combated the pain he obviously felt. He deserved only to suffer right now for dragging her into this without taking into account how she felt at all and for killing those men so unmercifully, no matter who they were, the idea of Don taking the life of a young man only reminded her of Ramesh and that was unforgivable.
He coughed and ground his teeth roughly as he nearly reached the handle of the car-door to open it and climb in. It wasn't until he placed his hand on the handle that Roma finally made up her mind and threw the car into gear, flooring the gas petal and flying off down the road...
Giving only one look in the rear-view mirror to see Don's once strong and invincible figure... Falling to his knees...