Page 6 of Outlaw

Chapter Six

Adam

The ugly thug can’t take his eyes off Kelsey, and I want to pop them out of his fucking head. The longer this meeting lasts, the angrier I’m getting. If it doesn’t end soon, I might have to commit another murder, and this time I’ll enjoy it.

“Excuse me, sir,” one of the servants interrupts us. There is real fear in his eyes, because he knows the interruption could get him killed.

However, the boss is in a mellow mood. He’s been drinking a lot, and feeling up Kelsey, which doesn’t help my anger at all.

“What is it, Charles? Can it wait five minutes? We’re almost done here,” Harrison lazily replies.

“I’m truly sorry, sir. But, this man’s guard says he has to tell him something important, and it can’t wait. He’s holding a gun on me as we speak,” the servant answers.

“By all means, let him in. I just got you trained, and I don’t want to replace you,” Harrison laughs.

“Yes, sir,” the poor man says as he moves away to let the thug’s guard in.

The thin, grubby man rushes to his boss’s side, and whispers in his ear. I get a strange tingling on my neck that means this isn’t going to be good. I feel I know this guard, and that worries me. I have a backup plan sanctioned by Agent Franklin, but Kelsey doesn’t know about it. If I have to play that card, then I hope she goes along with it.

The thug sits up straight, and stares at me. At least his eyes aren’t on Kelsey anymore. I’ve got plans to make her mine sooner rather than later. The heat between us grows every day, and I can’t keep denying it.

“My guard says he recognizes you. He says you’re a petty thief, and he was in jail with you. He claims you made a deal with the cops. What do you have to say about that?” the thug asks.

I snort in disgust, as if I think he’s insane. Then, I say, “What kind of idiot is your man? Do I look like a petty thief? Do petty thieves blow out the brains of another boss’s best man? Unless he wants to die, I suggest he apologizes, and gets his sorry ass out of my sight.”

“It’s him boss. I know it is. I saw him with my own eyes. I heard him make the deal. It was in the city jail. You know, the big one where I was locked up for stealing that Ferrari,” the guard explains.

“I can honestly say, it wasn’t me. Check the records, fool. I’ve never been in that jail,” I say, pleased that it’s the truth.

“I say it is!” he shouts.

“Fight. I say whoever survives is telling the truth,” the thug suggests.

“By all means. Let’s go outside. I don’t want to ruin the rugs. They’re worth a fortune,” Harrison says, going along with the suggestion too easily.

I know he’s suspecting that the man is telling the truth, but in this case he’s not. I’ll have to kill him, and I still won’t be in the clear. I’ll have to use that backup plan.

We’re forced to give up our guns, and are given knives. The skinny guy dances around me, while I remain still. I wait patiently for him to make a move to cut me. I have all the time in the world, and the skill to cut him down without breaking a sweat.

He jabs at me, and I block it. I leave a streak of blood on his wrist where my knife nicks him. He howls, and I laugh.

He tries again, and I cut across his chest. It’s a shallow wound, yet he cries like a baby, and asks for mercy. I bow, ready to let him go, but Harrison orders, “Finish him, Adam. This is boring. I want his guts on the ground for this nonsense.”

Reluctantly, since all my anger is spent, I turn back to the fight. The man lamely tries to cut my throat, but I swivel, and sink my knife into his belly. It rips open, and the fight ends though it’s barely begun.

Ignoring the mess, and the thug’s roar of anger, Harrison then asks, “Was it you in that jail? Did you make a deal with the cops?”

My answer is one Agent Franklin had me practice. It’s easy to reply, because most of it is true. I have never been in that particular jail, and my deal is with the CIA, not the cops.

“No, Harrison. I was never in that jail, though I hear it’s filthy, and full of vermin. I have not ever made a deal with the cops. I hate them. I do, however, think I know who the man is that that fool thought was me. I’ve often been told that there is a petty thief who looks like me. I wonder if I have a long lost twin, because I hear it so much. Last I heard, he was up on charges for murder, and he made a deal. He’s working undercover to erase the charges. He’s with a group on the eastside. Do you know whose territory that is? Warn him, and you’ll gain his trust as an ally.”

“I do know whose group that is, and he did hire a new man. It turns out he is blonde, and tattooed. I’ve seen him around. Good job, Adam. I’d say you’ve earned more of my respect, and trust today. You’re going to be a valuable asset.”

I nod, and look at Kelsey. I’m scared she’ll be ready to turn her back on me. But, all I see is relief that I have covered for us, and we’re safe for now.

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