Chapter 1
Kade
The bar seems even rowdier tonight than any other Friday night that I’ve been coming to the Brawl Room, aptly named for the many fights that break out in the local place rumored as a hot spot for Chicago Mafiosa.
I take a long pull on my drink and order another from the bartender, who has a myriad of tattoos along the expanse of her arms and long blonde hair held back in a ponytail that whips around every time she moves.
Patti’s fast, efficient, and manages to smile at everyone and the guys seem to like her, almost continuously putting tips into the jar as she moves this way and that, juggling everyone’s orders.
“Usual?” she asks, taking the empty glass in front of me, already onto my routine of three beers every Friday night.
I give her my best smile. “Sounds good.” She pours my beer and I slide my money onto the counter and put my phone away. “Keep the change.” Same thing as every Friday when I give her a hundred for the three drinks before making my way to the pool table with my beer.
Consistency and being memorable is the key to this job, and after three months of the same routine, people tend to remember if others come around asking about me in the future.
The same three guys who are here every Friday are playing pool.
I watch the game for a little bit, and the leader, the one they call Frankie, takes a call, then looks up at us.
“Shit, I’ve gotta get outta here. I’ll make my way back this way a little later. ”
Tony drains his beer. “I’m gonna take a leak.” He heads to the men’s room at the back of the bar. Paulie looks at the dollar I’ve placed on the corner of the pool table. “You any good?” he asks.
I take another slow pull of my beer, set it on the table, and go get a stick, rubbing the tip with some of the chalk they have sitting on the shelf. “I can hold my own but I’m not all that.”
Paulie gives me a nod. “What’s your name? I’ve seen you in here before.”
“Name’s Kade.”
He nods. “Patti says you’re always decent to her.
Jump in here and let’s see whatcha got.” He racks the balls and lets the stick run over the table, checking for straightness.
It’s sure to have been used in many a fight in this joint, so I’m not expecting it to be straight.
It doesn’t seem to shake Paulie’s game though.
The minute he shoots the balls disperse in a clean-ass break, sending one of the solids into the corner right pocket.
“Nice break.” He shoots too quickly and gives the turn to me.
I make my way around the table and line up a shot and take aim, sending my stripe to the far-right corner. Then sink another before missing the next.
Paulie walks around eyeing up the table, looking for a shot amongst all the color. A movement at the front entrance catches my attention. A man with skull tattoos covering half his face and most of his neck, wearing a black leather jacket and boots walks in.
The guy scans the joint and then walks to the room we’re in at the back.
He pulls the billy stick dangling from his belt, quicker than I thought he would.
“Watch it!” I intercept the stick mid-way in the air, keeping it from crashing down on Paulie’s head, and pull it toward me and then ram it into this gut.
His fist comes fast, and I lean back, dodging the burly man’s blow before sending the end of the club into his stomach again, and my elbow into his jaw.
He flies backward but topples into a man drinking his beer.
It sloshes all over both of them, but he’s going to wish he hadn’t done that in the morning.
The guy he fell on recovers and hauls off and punches him square in the mouth, busting his lip wide open.
“Fuck!” he growls, slugging the guy back and sending him into yet another man who joins into the fight.
“Five-O’s gonna be here in less than ten minutes,” Patti yells over the inebriated brawlers.
Tony looks around to make sure Paulie’s okay. “You heard Patti. The cops are on their way. We need to go now. Out the back.”
Paulie gives Tony a nod. “Yeah, let’s get out of here.
” But then his face freezes in shock as he catches something at the front entrance of the bar.
He heads in the direction of the door, but Tony pulls his arm, holding him up.
“Look at me. You want to see jail again before the night is over? Your sister’s a big girl.
Let’s get the hell out of here. She didn’t do anything wrong. She’ll be fine.”
“Fuck you!” He pushes Tony away.
I step between them. “Long dark hair and maroon jacket? I’ll get her. Tony’s right.” I look around the joint. “Look at the damage. Get out of here, man. I’ll take her wherever she wants to go. She’ll be safe.”
He eyes me and then his sister as the sirens get closer.
“What the fuck, Paulie, let’s go,” Tony urges.
Paulie gives me a nod. “Thank you. Have Ava call me as soon as you get her out of here, understand?”
“Got it, go!”
I head into the crowd, having a near miss with two patrons who haven’t cooled off yet before I reach the girl. “Your brother wants me to get you out of here. We need to go now.” She looks at me with deep brown, wide-set eyes under long natural lashes. “I don't know you.”
“Your brother wants you safe. Let’s go. You can call him as soon as we walk out that door.”
She shakes her head, swinging her long dark hair. “I'm not going anywhere with a stranger.”
I grab her arm and haul her out the door, ignoring the tugging of her hands as she tries to break free. The young woman looks frightened, and I momentarily feel bad but she’s a means to an end after all. “You’re coming with me, sweetheart.”