Frank Zafiro: Blood on Blood

I’m stumbling my ass around the dark hotel room but then I see the cell light up as it rings. Over by the TV. I lunge at it just to shut it the fuck up.

The time on the phone says about three in the damn morning. The number calling is Ania’s.

I stare at that number for a second. A short second.

“Hey.” I sway to the left a little and put my hand on the desk to balance my drunk ass.

“You don’t know how good your voice sounds.” Her voice was soft but it has that edge to it again, that sex edge.

“You too, babe.”

“I know things are dangerous for you right now but I had to call.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.” My voice is slurred and my head is still swimming but I have a little more focus now. “Look, Ania, I want you, too. Real bad. Just another day or two and we’ll meet somewhere.”

“No.”

“What?”

“I mean no, it’s not that…it is, but…hold on.” There was some rustling around on her end.

“Sorry, had to switch hands. I’m driving.”

“Its three o’clock in the fucking morning. Where you at? What’re you doing?”

“That’s what I mean. Of course I miss you, want you, but what I’m calling about is I’m scared.” She sounds like she was crying now. “I need you to help me, baby.”

I stand up a little straighter and start pulling on my shirt. This is not good shit.

“What happened? Where the fuck you at? I’m on my way.”

“Earlier, midnight maybe, after I got off work at Ambrozy’s, a car followed me almost all the way home. It turned off, though. Then when I drove up to the apartment building there was another car with its parking lights on about a half block down and there were two guys hanging around the front door of the building too. I just took off. I’ve just been driving since then. I…” She started crying again.

“Take it slow and talk. Just breathe and talk.”

“I’m scared, Jerz. Real scared.”

“Slow down. It’s gonna be okay. Are you being followed now?”

“No. No way. I lost them.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.” She sniffs and coughs. ”I lost them on the Eisenhower. Took an exit real quick and they missed it.”

“You sure?”

“Jerzy, yes. Yes.”

“All right, we shouldn’t do this but fuck it. Come to me. Holiday Inn Express, a block south off Damen and Armitage. Room 340.” I can’t believe I’m doing this but I am. She’s trouble, but she’s damn good trouble. I can smell her already. “Be real careful and watch for things.”

“Oh Jerz, I’m so scared. I’ll be there, I’ll be right there.”

“Ania. Park around back. Keep your eyes open.”

Twenty minutes later there is a light tap at the door. Damn, she must have been close.

I carry my gun over, look out the peephole and see that it’s her. She shoots a quick look down the hallway both ways and then stares straight at the door. She’s scared, no doubt about that.

I open the door, she walks in and I shut it right behind her. While I’m bolting the door she grabs me from behind with both arms around my waist and hangs on tight.

Her hand feels its way around and then squeezes me hard.

She turns me around to where I’m leaning against the wall. I rip two buttons on her blouse getting it off. She kisses me, hungry, with a vacuum lock and her breath is coming in quick bursts through her nose. Then both of her hands go to my chest and she breaks off the kiss.

“Don’t ever stay away from me so long again.”

I just look at her and smile.

She loops her arms around my neck and hops up, crossing her legs behind me. I take about three long steps to the bed and then we both pile drive into the mattress.

I park the new rental about a block away and walk down to the diner. The awning says Picco’s. I mean hey, I was close. Hopefully, Hero will figure it out. It’s only about eight forty five so it’s likely he ain’t here yet.

I should be dragging my ass, what with what went on last night and all, but damn if I don’t have a little spring in my step. Amazing what a good night will do for you. Taking that kind of risk had been worth it. If Ania had been any hotter, I would have gotten third degree burns. I hope she gets scared like that again soon. Real soon.

I walk inside Picco’s and it’s a pretty good morning crowd. Noisy, clinking plates and the food smells damn good. There’s a few empty tables and booths scattered around. I walk to a booth along the back wall.

“Morning.” A voice says from behind me as I start sliding into the seat.

“Hey, morning.”

I look up at her and she’s maybe forty. Has that ‘take no shit, I’m so bored with life and bored with you too’ look. She’s got the most fucked up looking hair I’ve ever seen. It’s spiked up in every direction, dyed jet back and sections of that mop have bright red streaks running through it. Forty, trying to look twenty one. Nothing worse. Name tag says Kiki.

Kiki. I mean that’s just perfect, isn’t it?

“Sign says wait to be seated.” She rolls her head to the side and stares at me some more.

I look at her and smile. She stares back at me with a hand on her hip.

“I tried Kimmy, but when I saw your fucking hair it made me run over here to you. I just couldn’t help myself.”

Her eyes narrow, chin goes out and her mouth tightens up but she doesn’t say anything.

“Coffee, black.” I smile at her again.

“It’s Kiki.”

“Sorry, right.” I wink at her. “Thanks Kinky. Coffee, black. ”

She gives me a pissed off glare over her shoulder as she storms off.

I look around the place just in case I didn’t see Hero when I first came in. I’m way more calm this morning, not so damn paranoid. Smoothed out and I have a certain little blonde to thank for that.

The fact that I’m not carrying should be bothering me too, but I left it at the hotel with Ania. She’s gonna be scared shitless all over again when she wakes up. Left her a note saying stay there and if you need it, my gun is in the drawer by the phone. Only if she needs it, I told her, otherwise leave the drawer closed. She hates guns but I figure it will help a little just knowing it’s there.

Up front now, I see Mick walk in and sure as shit he stands there like a goof waiting for the hostess to seat him. He even sees me and still waits.

Finally, some other waitress leads him over to the booth and he sits down. He looks like shit, tired and groggy.

“Morning, sunshine.”

“Hey.” He checks his phone, frowns and looks at the one page breakfast menu.

The bitch waitress comes back and plops my coffee down with a soft clang. She looks at Mick.

“Coffee, juice?”

“Sure.”

“Which?”

“Both please. I’ll have the number two, scrambled, bacon, white toast.” He points to it like she don’t know what the number two is.

She looks over at me.

“I’m not ready to order yet, honey bun.” I give her the smile again.

Off she goes, really pissed now.

“Why do you have to be that way?”

“What? She fucked with me before you even got here.”

“Right. Like she’s going to mess with a big badass like you.”

He’s looking at me like he wants to rip my head off or something. Things are good. I don’t need this shit.

“Hey, what’s a matter now, Hero? Your boyfriend dump your or something?”

“Fuck you,” he growls, but there’s not much bite there. He looks out the window. I don’t say anything this time but he’s starting to piss me off with his whiny ass attitude.

“Think about the password?” I ask him, deciding to change it up a little.

“Yeah, I thought about it and I’m sure you didn’t.”

“Okay, my turn. Fuck you, too, Hero. Jagoff.”