Blood for Blood

by Simon Smith-Wilson

  He checked his watch.

  ‘It is nearly opening time, so I will tell you your roles today...’

  ***

  Two hours since the store opened. Kerry couldn’t take her eyes off the stockroom clock. The minute hand felt like it was moving slower than ever. She just wanted this over with. River had started to call people into his office. The majority of them didn’t want a transfer. They were getting reviews, which was nothing more than an opportunity for the manager to praise their good work. It was a chance for the member of staff to discuss their role and find out a career path for them to progress down if they wanted to move further on in the Eat Easy hierarchy. Kerry just wanted to be called in now. She had no known about the transfer. This wait was killing her.

  ***

  Ariel took one last peek on the children. They were playing nicely in the living room. She closed the bedroom door and began to undo her top. The landlord was already butt naked, sliding apart the white powder into nice little lines upon the tray. Ariel licked her lips at the sight of the lust dust. Her heart was already starting to beat faster. It felt like a magnet was built into the centre of her chest, pulling her towards the highly addictive drug.

  ‘Where is your girlfriend?’ asked Ariel, pulling down her sweatpants.

  ‘She didn’t come home last night, most likely still partying.’

  ‘Will she come home?’

  ‘I don’t think she would notice that you were here, but no. I bolted the front door.’

  A deep gasp escaped his lips, as he snorted a line.

  Ariel’s eyes dropped to the throbbing beast hanging between his legs. Hardness arrived.

  ‘You have no idea how bad I want to fuck you,’ he grinned a mad grin. It was the type of grin that she liked. It was the type of grin that helped her forget the rape, paying for a murder and all the horrible depression that consumed her existence.

  Ariel pulled down her panties.

  ‘Show me.’

  ***

  The frozen pond covered the ground before them. Chelsea sat on the old wooden bench, carved with a million youngsters clan names, and held her baby in her arms. The wind snatched away the white mist they exhaled, as they sat in silence, watching the snow fall. The white landscape looked far better than what this park usually looked like. It was the closest thing that North City had to nature, but there were no birds, or animals, grass or trees. They had all died long ago. Any fish that had lived in the murky depths of the pond had died shortly after the Great War. Chelsea smiled at her beautiful daughter. Tonight she would get revenge on the fuckers that killed her baby’s daddy. Travis won’t know what hit him.

  ***

  Worried eyes darted left and then right. Nobody was in the corridor, but that didn’t help the feeling that she was being watched. Fiona plucked the fake suicide letter from her handbag and placed it beneath some A4 envelopes that had arrived this morning. All she had to do was hand the bunch of letters to Jasmine and then allow events to unfold naturally. Danny knew what he was doing. This was the first stage in Jasmine’s downfall. State two would begin tonight. Danny was going to kill Travis.

  ***

  Telling someone that they no longer had a job was never an easy thing, but this meeting was inevitable. George and Belford were the worst employees that River had ever hired. They made Alan from a few years ago look like a hard worker. The two young men knew the situation and why they had been called into the office, but still they continued to joke and show utter disrespect to their employer.

  ‘It’s a joke,’ scoffed George.

  ‘You never liked us from the start.’

  River took a breath before replying.

  ‘I gave you both a fantastic opportunity. There were plenty of other candidates that were crying out for a job in this city. I picked you two, but you have failed to live up to the promises you gave me during your interview. You told me you were ambitious, hardworking, and friendly team players. I haven’t seen evidence of this. You turn up late, you coast at work, and you are constantly talking or taking longer breaks than allowed. You cannot blame me for you losing your jobs.’

  ‘If we were hot girls this wouldn’t be happening.’

  ‘Don’t I know it,’ countered the other one.

  ‘I have had enough,’ River let out a frustrated sigh. He didn’t need to be hearing this type of shit from idiots like this. He had a store to run, employees to review and staff transfers to get going, plus there were deliveries, cashing up, admin, and a hundred other jobs still to do in the store. ‘You can stay on until the end of today, but this will be your final shift. Can you call in Katie on your way out? Thank you.’ That was the last part of this conversation he would take part in.

  ***

  ‘You know they are being fired right now,’ said Katie.

  A mother’s meeting was taking place towards the stockroom stairwell. The general workflow of the day was slower than usual because everyone was eager to hear about job placements or reviews, which could lead to career progression. Every few minute’s people were stopping to chat about their thoughts on what River was telling those people in the office.

  ‘River will be doing us all a favour,’ said Kerry. ‘The two of them annoy me. I can hear them laughing and chatting about all the girls they sleep with and the things they get up to outside of work. They shouldn’t have got the jobs to start with.’

  ‘They are dicks,’ added an older blonde lady.

  ‘When are you going to be called in Kerry?’ asked Andy.

  ‘No idea.’

  ‘You think you will get the job?’

  ‘She will get it,’ winked Katie.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Kerry, still doubting if she had done enough.

  ‘You are perfect for the job. You are better suited than Ashley,’ replied Andy.

  ‘You must be so excited!’

  ‘I just want to find out, one way or another,’ said Kerry.

  ***

  Ariel closed her eyes to block out the sound. Not now. She didn’t want to stop. Legs and arms were wrapped around Karl, as his body weight pinned her to the centre of the bed. Sweet moans escaped her lips with each penetrating thrust of his hips. He was hitting her so deep. It was mind blowing. The lust dust made it feel like she was having an out of body experience. It was like she was watching everything from above, whilst feeling every single inch of her body and his body. The normal pleasurable sensations were being amplified by hundreds of times. It was incredible. She didn’t want to stop, but some maternal part was begging for her to get up and get out of bed. Alisha was screaming in the next room. She was not crying. The baby was screaming. It was the type of scream, which came about because of incredible pain. It was a scream for help. Ariel had to get up and help her daughter, but she didn’t. She just closed her eyes, blocked out the sound and allowed herself to be fucked like the whore that she was.

  ***

  Shadows consumed his location. Only the bright screen of Elizabeth’s cell phone gave any clue that he was there. Danny typed in the text message he knew would get the attention he desired. It was sent straight to Travis. The phone was then turned off and tossed away into the alleyway. Danny pushed open the back gate of the house and stepped into the yard. His gun was pulled from its holster, as he approached Kerry’s backdoor.

  ***

  The glass smashed against the stone wall. Jasmine screamed at the top of her voice, as she flipped over one of her tables. A single swipe of her arm sent everything from her dresser onto the floor. She stood in silence, panting heavily.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ asked Travis, from the doorway of her bedroom.

  ‘I will kill them all.’

  Eyes of hate turned towards him.

  He could practically see the fires burning behind the windows of her soul.

  ‘We can’t do that. We are not strong enough.’

  ‘We can,’ she said, without a hint of doubt.

  Travis carried a bag full of doubts
. And more of them were growing by the second. ‘Jasmine, you have to stop. The ten families have decided to sign a peace treaty with the Riggs Crew. They had turned their back on us. We are on our own now. This isn’t a war we can win.’

  ‘You fucking pussy,’ she growled through clenched teeth. ‘Do not forget who you are talking to. I have more money than the other nine families combined. I only needed them for a little bit longer. I have already acquired the services of someone else.’

  Travis wasn’t sure what she meant.

  ‘Who have you acquired?’

  Jasmine ignored his question.

  ‘We will have weapons, power and money. I will bring an army into North City and crush Marcus Riggs and those traitorous cunts. I will rule North City, even if I have to burn it down to the ground first.’

  ‘Listen to yourself, Jasmine. Is this really what you want?’

  ‘Yes,’ she replied, flatly.

  ‘Should you do this? This world is still hurting from the Great War. North City is finally starting to turn into something good. We can still achieve something great. It doesn’t have to be an all out war with Marcus Riggs. The man just assassinated his own brother and shot down a Jumbo Jet. This is not someone we want to pick a fight with. Not yet. Agree to sign the peace treaty. The other families are given you forty-eight hours.’

  ‘FUCK OFF!’

  Her voice echoed throughout the room.

  ‘In forty-eight hours I will have weapons of mass destruction within the palms of my hands. Nobody will be able to touch us. There won’t need to be a war. I can destroy this entire city with a flick of a button. Marcus Riggs will give me power. Everyone who is not loyal to me will be executed. Do you understand me, Travis?’

  He swallowed down the lump in his throat.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are you with me?’

  ‘Haven’t, I always been?’ he replied.

  ‘Yes. Now, get the other Captains. We have lots to do and not much time to do it in.’

  ***

  Jillian was escorted through the clean corridors of the Riggs Hotel. She was battered, bruised and traumatised by the whole event. She didn’t know why she was here, what they wanted, or what was going to happen to her. Armed guards stood watch outside of a pair of double doors. Automatically, the closest guard opened the door. Axel power marched into Marcus Riggs oval office. Melissa was stood to one side of the room watching a television screen, as Marcus scribbled away on paperwork scattered across his desk. They turned their attention to the swordsman and former hostage.

  ‘Jillian...?’ asked Melissa.

  ‘Is that really you?’ Marcus got from behind his desk and approached her.

  They both knew her from the meetings their fathers had.

  ‘I-I have money,’ she blurted out.

  Marcus stopped in his tracks.

  ‘I don’t want your money, Jillian,’ said the President of North City.

  ‘Has she seen a doctor?’ asked Melissa.

  Axel replied with a shrug of his shoulders. Melissa spun on her heels, picked up a phone and instantly demanded that a medical team was sent straight up to the oval office. Marcus gestured for Jillian to take a seat, but she didn’t move an inch. Fear had taken a hold of her heart, but the shock was refusing her legs any movement.

  ‘I have cash deposits all across the city. I can give you them all. I just want to be free.’

  ‘You are free.’

  ‘I don’t want to be a prisoner anymore. Please, let me go home.’

  ‘Jillian, I don’t want your money. I am truly sorry that you got caught up in this horrible mess. I had no idea that you were inside.’ Marcus knelt down in front of her; compassion was written across his face. The resemblance to JR was uncanny, but the eyes were different. This man had such gentle and caring eyes. They were the type of eyes that instantly put you at peace and made you feel safe. ‘I don’t want your money, Jillian. I want your investment. I want to give you a home here in North City. I want you to become my business partner.’

  Had she just heard him correctly?

  He wanted her to do what?

  ***

  ‘Close the door,’ said River.

  Kerry did as she was asked and sealed them both within the office. Straightening out her dress, she turned around and forced a smile. He could see straight through the facade. Kerry was nervous. River had never seen her nervous before, not like this. For the first time, he could actually see how much this transfer meant to her. He gestured for her to sit in the chair opposite him. Kerry did so as if she was moving on auto-pilot. River’s office had never felt so still and silent before. It was a strange twist of fate. Only two days ago did she seduced, tricked and fucked this man. She had complete and utter control over him, but now their roles had been switched. River held her destiny within the palm of his hand.

  ‘I will get straight to the point. The decision I have made has nothing to do with what happened between us. I really want to stress that point, Kerry.’

  ‘I understand.’

  It could still go either way.

  ‘I am not proud of what happened. I feel like I have betrayed Ariel, but in the process I have been disrespectful to you. I want you to know that I am sorry for what happened.’

  Guilt stabbed at her.

  She was the one that should be sorry.

  ‘Thank you, River, but you don’t have to be sorry. I was as much to blame. Plus, I enjoyed it.’

  ‘Still, I am sorry.’

  River interlinked his fingers and placed his hands on the desktop.

  ‘I came to the decision of the vacant manager role pretty much straight away. It was the other openings I struggled with. We had a few candidates from other cities, and the town where the new store will be, plus our very own Ashley wanted the move, but there was only ever one person I had in mind. The job is yours, Kerry, congratulations.’

  Nothing...

  It began to sink in...

  She replayed it in her head.

  Had she heard him correctly?

  The job was hers.

  Kerry burst into tears.

  ***

  ‘It’s okay, baby,’ said Ariel, through the crack in the door. ‘Mummy will be right there.’ Alisha was stood just outside the door, little arms reaching up to her mother. Blood ran from a cut lip. She had fallen and caught herself on one of the toys. Redraw eyes looked up, almost pleaded. Alisha was crying her heart out. Comfort and protection were all she craved. ‘I... I will be right out, just be quiet. That is a good girl.’ Ariel slammed the door closed and pressed her palm up against the wall. She glanced back over her shoulder at Karl. He had a firm grip of both of her curved hips, as he fucked her hard and fast from behind. ‘I want it,’ she almost begged, ‘I want it in my mouth.’ He pulled out long enough for her to get down on her knees.

  ***

  Candles were spread throughout the little cafe. Chelsea sipped at her mug of hot chocolate, as she gently rocked the pram back and forth. The snowfall had let up for a bit, but being out in the cold for longer than twenty minutes really took a toll. Mother and daughter needed warmth and drinks. A nice little old Chinese lady had been kind enough to pop the baby’s milk in a pan and heat it up. Gestures of kindness felt so foreign in North City. Chelsea reflected on her plan for this evening. Nerves were not an issue. Hate was her fuel; truth was her goal and revenge would soon follow.

  ‘I will have to pay Aunty Kerry a visit,’ she told the child. ‘She will tell me where Travis is.’

  ***

  Boredom was setting in. Danny hated waiting around for things, but there was no telling when Kerry would be home. He would use her to get to Travis. It was the best way to make him drop his guard. Danny stepped into Kerry’s bedroom. Nosey nature inspired a search of drawers, boxes and closets. He rummaged through a selection of lingerie and smirked at the discovery of a dildo. A diary was located in the bedside table. It was the ramblings of a lonely woman talking about a man named Malcolm and
her regrets for what she did. Travis’s name generally followed one type of profanity or another. It was dumped on the floor. Jewellery was searched, and a golden necklace was stuffed into his pocket. It would make a nice gift for Fiona. Even this search was proving to be dull, but it would soon be over. The text he had sent was sure to get Travis over here and then he would kill him. Danny just had to wait.

  ***

  Smiling faces exited the office. It felt good to actually be able to give some good news. Two more of his employees were moving out to the new store. It would leave River short staffed, but it was nice to give people such a great opportunity based on their performances. The other roles had been filled by staff transferring from other stores. He sank back into his chair and rubbed his palms across his face. It was done. All that stress, debating and complications were finally over. Kerry was soon to be gone. Ariel wouldn’t have to know about what happened. Life could go back to normal.

  ***

  The car slid around across the junction, as the tires failed to grip the snow covered tarmac. Travis managed to control the slide, straightened up, gave it some gas and shifted up a gear. His driving could only be considered reckless and nothing more, but he had to get there as quick as he could. Tired eyes shifted to his cell phone, as it rested on the front passenger seat. Elizabeth’s text message was still on the screen. It warned of gunmen watching Kerry’s house. He had to get there and make sure Samantha was safe. He had tried calling the house, but nobody had answered. Kerry was most likely at work and Samantha should be at school, but what if they never made it out of the house? What if someone was in the house with them? He had to get there. He had to stop this.

  ***

  She killed the headlights, as she turned into the streets. The residential area was one of the more populated areas of North City and offered some artificial illumination from house lights. The car pulled over to the side of the road. The handbrake was applied, and the engine switched off. It was now a waiting game. A black handgun was removed from the glove compartment. She ran through the safety protocols that Riley had taught her. Nicola was sleeping peacefully in her car seat in the back. The little baby was kept warm by the thick blankets that covered her little body. Love filled her heart. Nicola looked so much like Riley.