4Weekday Blue's
Monday
I hate Mondays…. like really hate Monday… this one…this has to be the most bullshit day ever. Here I am, dripping down the damn street, and not in a good way. I mean, I'm completely soaked from head to toe. My jeans are several shades darker than they were meant to be, and the scratchy, wet material chaffed my skin with every step. My T-shirt clung to my body, giving the people passing by a full view of my defined abdomen, and unfortunately, my aviator jacket was useless since it took the plunge with me. My shoes made this disgusting squashing sound with every step I took, and as if to pour salt on the wounds, it was a winter night in fucking New York. My jet black hair stuck to my forehead, and I could feel tiny crystals of ice forming at the ends of my hair, eyebrows, and lashes. God, I wanted to scream as I approached my destination. The festive sounds from the patrons and the muffled sound of music from within subdued my anger…well, that is, until I opened the door.
"Ayyye Aye look what the storm drug in…you look like shit kid. Just what the hell did you get into." The bar's owner, Tony, asked with slight concern as he ran his fingers through his dark hair.
With a roll of my eyes, I dragged myself to the nearest bar stool. "Aww piss off Tone," I said, with little traces of malice. It wasn't Tony's fault I always pick the chicks with crazy agendas. Another bartender came from around the corner. This one female. Her frizzy blonde curls were tied up in a high bun with a few loose pieces framing her face.
"Aww, come on, Cado, does this attitude have anything to do with your lady friend you left with last night?" Izzie asked, pouring me a shot of Jack. Her cool grey eyes peered at me with a smirk. I gave a non-committal grunt; however, these guys could see straight through my 'aloof' bullshit. Izzie let out a loud laugh, throwing her head back.
"Yo Tony, pay up. I told you he'd met his match."
Before I could respond, there was a sharp whistle and a burning pain in my shoulder. I looked down at the limb in question, and sure enough, there was a bullet hole in my arm.
"Holy Fuc-" a barrage of bullets came flying through the bar patrons scrambling across the floor, trying not to get hit. As I crawled behind the bar, I bumped into Tony; our heads knocked together.
He looked at me with a glare in his eyes: "Cado, I swear to GOD if you brought this shit to my bar." Tone barked at me cocking his gun and aiming in the direction the bullets were coming from.
"Shit…fucking shit Tony. You just better have insurance, dammit." I yelled back, trying to shield my ears from the loud banging.
"EVERYONE OUT THE BACK!" Izzie yelled over the commotion.
As I crawled through the bullet-ridden bar, I couldn't help but growl, "FUCKING MONDAY".
Tuesday
Another fine Tuesday afternoon. I was lounging in my living room in my robe drinking a cold one when Donnie came bursting through my front door.
"Oh, what the fuck? Yous with the feds or something? What's the matter with you."
Jesus, the fuck is his problem I wasted some of my beer.
"Yo, Jakey! Where ya' at man!" This kid has balls, I will give him that much.
"I'm in the living room, and quit yelling. You don't pay for shit here." I had a long night. I don't need this shit.
"Sorry big guy. I just think you might want to see this. Turn the TV on." He said as he poked his head around the doorway.
"It is on dummy," I said, gesturing toward the football game I was watching.
"Well shit, the news Jake," he said, slightly annoyed.
He plopped down on my couch with a Contemplative look on his face. I switched to the news and my heart sank.
"Police investigators believe the guns used in last night's bar shooting are a match to the ones used in The Diamond District's most recent jewel heist - we'll have more in a moment."
Well shit…
"Fucking Tuesday" I spoke.
Donnie shifted uncomfortably on the couch, the look on his face was very pensive.
"Hey Jakey, do you think the boss is gonna be upset?" he asked.
Is the boss gonna be mad he asks,' I thought inwardly 'We'll be lucky if we don't end up in the ground.' I ran my fingers through my short hair letting out a huge sigh. I turned to Donnie.
"Kid, upset isn't even the word," I began. "Who was the hit on anyway. The only way this goes well for us is if that guy drops before we do."
Donnie nodded vehemently. Poor kid he's probably shitting bricks right now.
"Some Jawn named Cado Verruca. Boss has had it out for him for a while."
Cado Ver –, oh okay. We might make it out of this yet. I know just the person to smoke him out. Someone who's been gunning for him just as long as Matola.
"Donnie, I need you to go meet someone for me. This could save our skin." I said with a devilish smirk. Lucinda would be perfect for this and hopefully, Cado still has feelings for the dame.
"Yeah, Jakey? Who is it?"
Wednesday
I had been enjoying the silence of my penthouse apartment, sipping iced tea as I mindlessly scrolled through social media apps. It had been a while since I could just relax and enjoy the silence, but as always, all good things must come to an end. As I flicked through the many food places I could have delivered, a blur of white caught my attention. An unopened envelope lay on my hardwood floors. Someone must've slid it under the door, but why? Why the secrecy? My curiosity ran out as I hastily extracted myself from the couch. Snatching the envelope from the floor I twirled it in my hands to inspect it. There were no markings or even a name, so naturally, I opened it. Inside was a single piece of paper that made my blood run cold. He's out. Meet me at 43rd and Grand. 5550123565.
'Fuck.' I thought inwardly in a panic.
I began scrolling through my contacts as I raced through the apartment to my bedroom. I changed in record speed from my shorts and t-shirt into a grey jogger set. Tucking my gun in my waistband, I left the apartment to meet the only other person who knew about that night.
I drove my car down Grand in a Reflective thought. That niggling feeling that I was walking right into a trap never left the pit of my stomach. As I turned down the forty-third block, I noticed a figure standing on the corner adjacent to the lamp post using partial darkness to conceal their identity. Slowing the vehicle down I approach the figure gently leaning over the steering wheel, desperately trying to make out some distinguishing features. From my vantage point, all I could make out was that the figure was wearing a black overcoat and a black wide-brimmed hat that concealed her features even more. The closer I got I realized it was a... women? Putting the car into park immediately.
"Who are you?" I asked, my tone firm.
This didn't make any sense there wasn't a woman there that night. At least… not one who should be alive. Who is she, how does she know about that night? The questions kept swirling in my head as I peered at the woman trying to get a better look. My hand itched for a familiar piece of steel, but I didn't want to jump the gun literally or figuratively. So I settled for resting my hands on my hips, staring at the anomaly before me.
The woman grinned… or I assume she did judging by the movement of her cheeks. She chuckled as she raised her eyes to meet mine. My blood ran cold, I stumbled a bit. My eyes widened at the woman before me.
"Don't tell me you forgot little old me." She crooned in a sickenly sweet voice.
"Y-you're supposed to be dead." I stuttered out in a whisper.
The smile vanished from her face morphing into a scowl. Her dark eyes bore into mine causing me to shiver. It was like staring into two black holes, the rage swimming within them was palpable.
"Sorry to disappoint… I know you tried real hard when you strangled me and left me for dead." She hissed her ruby-red lips curled in a snarl.
"Well, hey now. Don't say it like you didn't have me set up, okay." I began indignantly. "I don't go around hurting women for funsies." I spat.
My brain was having a terrible time keeping up with this, standing in front of me was a literal ghost from my past. Lucinda Cartwright, there was a time when I'd move mountains for her, but the time has passed.
"Look Luci, I ain't got time for this shit. What does this mean?" I asked waving the anonymous letter in her face. Her smirk had returned, she raised a gloved hand, pushed aside the note and stepped into my personal space.
"For whatever reason," her eyes narrowed. "I still care about your ugly mug, so I came to warn ya."
I scoffed, "Warn me about what?" The last time I saw this chick she had me set up. I could have died.
"Tommy Matola," was all she said as she smirked and spun on her heels. "He wants your head on a platter. I'd be careful if I were you, Cado."
With that she disappeared into the night leaving me with only the sounds of her fading heels clicking against the concrete, my mind reeling.
"Fuck me. It's only Wednesday."
Thursday
"Tommy fucking Matola… shit," I said, aloud to no one since I was home alone.
My mind raced as I lay there staring at the spackled ceiling of my bedroom. If Matola was back on the streets, then things were going to get tricky. You'd think fifteen years in the slammer would damage his standing in this life, but no dice.
'But then you've never really had good luck have you Cado ?,' I thought to myself.
In the fifteen years,even from behind bars, Matola had only grown more influential in the streets. I sighed outwardly, dragging my sorry ass from the warmth of my bed my body moved on autopilot. Somehow, I ended up under the warm spray of the shower my charcoal curls sticking to my head as I rested it on the cool tile of the shower.
I could tell this wouldn't end well. Matola is known for his grudges. It didn't matter that I was a snot-nosed kid and it didn't matter to him that the person who actually ratted had been dead for fifteen years. No, I was a rat by association, and rats got dealt with.
My stomach lurched at the possible scenarios for this situation. Most of them did not end prettily. This would not be an easy one to get out of. A small growl left my lips as I shut the water off. Wrapping a towel around my waist I stood in front of the mirror. With an aggressive swipe, I flung the condensation off the mirror. Leaning in closely I peered at my beautiful mug that was potentially about to be disfigured. Surprisingly, I didn't look as stressed as I felt...huh...go figure.
"I need a drink." I sighed.
About an hour later I found myself in front of my favorite bar. Tony's bar had always been a favorite of mine even back when I was a brat, sweeping up for cash. Officially its name was Baccus, after the Roman God, Tony the owner of the bar was a bit of a history buff, and he thought it was a clever name, but most of the patrons called it Tony's.
Stepping through the bar I felt the tension leave my body. I inhale the scent of beer and other alcohol. All this stuff with Luci and Matola was weighing on me, and I needed to clear my head and think about my next move.
"Izzie!" I shouted. "How's about a shot of whiskey?"
The blonde whipped around with a grin. Her blonde curls falling slightly over her pale grey eyes.
"Whisky on a Thursday? Who pissed in your cereal?" she smiled.
Friday
As I lounged in my living room, I sat on the couch flicking through channels trying to figure out how to get around this Matola thing. The only logical option is to get him before he gets me but who could I trust? Few people knew about my dealings with the mob. Lucinda, well she says she is on my side, but I'd be a fool to trust that woman.
Suddenly there was a knock on my apartment door. There was a rustle as I stood on edge there was another unmarked letter on the floor. I rolled my eyes. Luci, and her theatrics why can't she contact people through normal means? I opened the envelope and read.
'I'll see you in the parking garage.'
"Where have you been all these years Luci?" I asked.
Before then we had sat silently in my car as I drove us to the nearest diner. I still felt like I was talking to a ghost though I'm sure the same could be said for Lucinda, considering she's the one that led me and my best friend Kenny to that shootout all those years ago.
"Oh...you know, around It's never a good idea to be near a place like this especially when you cross a man like Matola." She said, never sparing me a glance. She just stared out of the window.
"Tch, I've been here this whole time and none of Matola's guys ever made a move. Are you sure he's gunning for me?"
Apparently, that was enough to piss Luci off because, for the first time since she's sat in the car, she looked my way.
"There's a difference between patience and not making a move Cado," she yelled. "You should know that, God. How you made it this long should be studied." She brought her hand to her head, shaking it.
"How do you know all this?
I could appreciate a "heads up" but how did she know this if she hadn't been in the city? It didn't sit right with me and the last time I trusted her, Kenny ended up with a bullet to the gut, face down in a warehouse.
"Like I said, they've been patient...keeping tabs on you. So here I am saving your ass." Luci crossed her arms over her chest sighing as she continued to stare.
"But why would you...after what happened that night? You're the last person I'd expect to want to help me." I said pointedly.
Luci growled and flung her head back against the headrest. Her eyes were screwed tightly shut. Then her shoulders slumped and she opened her eyes to look at me again. Her brown eyes were filled with an unexpected warmth, but it only lasted a moment before they hardened.
"Perhaps I'm a masochist because for whatever reason, I still care about you Cado."
The bell chimed overhead as we entered the warmly lit classic diner. We ducked into a booth in the back corner of the establishment. Where we could see everything, but it was concealed by a small wall.
"So... you're not dead...how'd that happen?" I asked as casually as one could to their attempted murder victim.
She glared but held her response as a plump woman came up to the booth with a pitcher of coffee. The woman smiled as she placed two empty mugs in front of us and began pouring.
"Enjoy, dears." she said as she returned to the other patrons.
"I got lucky." Lucinda said, "Which is more than I can say for you Cado."
I sighed as I leaned further into the booth bringing my hands up to scrub at my eyes. Okay, so a known mobster is still gunning for me fifteen years later. Somehow, I gotta survive this.
"Why me? I mean I was just a kid. What good is a grudge against me, Luci?" I questioned.
Luci did not answer right away, simply raising an eyebrow and giving me an incredulous look. She pulled the mug tighter in her grasp drumming her fingernails on the glass impatiently.
"Cado don't be thick," she started harshly, "YOU were not just a kid, you're the kid that put Tommy Matolo behind bars… you ratted and he's not one to forget a rat."
"So, what do you suppose we do Luci?" I asked flippantly, taking a sip from my coffee. I get there is a bounty on my head, but I cannot just sit around waiting for some guy to cash it.
"We? Cado there is no we. I shouldn't even be giving you this information." She whispered harshly, "Look there's only one thing you can do at this point and that's take the son of bitch out."
Figures, I'm in this alone, have been since Kenny died and left me to deal with all this bullshit. Had I known the kind of people Kenny was related to then I never would have brought him around this kind of life. He would still be here. 'Fuck me,' I thought inwardly. It has been over a decade and Kenny's actions are still haunting me. What is worse is Kenny's been dead for just as long so there is no one to set the record straight.
Harlem 15 years ago...
The rain came down in torrents as I met Tommy "The Hammer" Matola, kingpin of the Eastside Syndicate, in a narrow alley. His accusation was ice-cold: "You and Kenny been talking to the feds." My denial faltered under his grip, but I had one chance to turn this around. "The feds are onto you," I said. "We can mislead them—buy you time."
Matola, reluctantly, agreed: Kenny would feed the feds false intel, but any misstep would cost us our lives. Tension mounted as we played both sides, leading to the night of the shipment. The feds and Matola's men collided in chaos. Kenny slammed a trunk shut to stall the agents, but one of Matola's men struck him down in a frenzy. Bleeding out, Kenny gasped Matola's name, but the kingpin abandoned him without a second glance.
I cradled Kenny as he died, rage igniting through my grief. With trembling hands, I called a contact. "They killed Kenny. Dock seven. Take them down."
As sirens wailed in the distance, I stood alone in the rain. Kenny was gone, betrayal had led us here, and now, vengeance was all I had left.
Snapping out of the painful memory I rubbed my face aggressively.
"So, this is Friday, Huh."
Saturday
I had arrived at the hotel Luci mentioned at Tony's yesterday. As I stared up at the opulent building I couldn't shake the sense of dread that began pooling in my stomach.
Steeling myself for my latest encounter with the two-faced seductress known as Lucinda Cartwright. My body moved on its own accord, twisting, and turning through corridors, careful not to be seen by surveillance cameras. When I finally regained my senses, I was standing in front of a room door in a lush hallway.
Knock! Knock! I rapt my knuckles against the wooden door. Swallowing nervously, I began to rock on my heels. Suddenly the door opened and in a flash, small delicate fingers wrapped around the front of my jacket yanking me through the door.
Stumbling slightly, I landed on a soft couch in the hotel room. Lucinda busied herself at the door presumably making sure I was not followed. I had to hold back an annoyed sigh.
"Come on Luci, do you really think I'm so sloppy I'd get followed?" I gazed at her waiting for a response.
"Yes actually, I'm not sure how you made it this long. You have the grace of a baby deer." She snapped back but I could detect a hint of mirth. Okay… I walked into that one.
"Alright Luci, you brought me out here tonight. I'm assuming you have something on Matola for me?" I asked as I made myself comfortable on the sofa "Or is this a social visit." I couldn't help but smirk.
Luci rolled her eyes at my remark as she leaned against the door.
"I don't see why it can't be both." A devilish smirk spread across those ruby-red lips.
In the softly lit hotel room, the atmosphere crackled with unspoken tension as we exchanged lingering glances that hinted at desires far beyond mere conversation. Luci leaned closer, her breath warm against my skin, igniting a spark of anticipation that made my heart race. The plush sheets beckoned them, whispering promises of indulgence as they danced around the boundaries of temptation. Each subtle touch, each shared smile, hinted at the electric connection brewing beneath the surface, a blend of danger and allure that left me questioning where their passionate rendezvous might lead. At that moment, I couldn't shake the feeling that, just like in their dangerous world, everything could turn in an instant—pleasure intertwined with peril.
Sometime after our indoor activities, we lay in bed wrapped in each other's embrace. As we lay under the covers Luci traces patterns across my chest, my own fingers thrumming through her hair, her voice low and conspiratorial as she outlined their plan to take down Tommy Matola. "He trusts me," she said, her eyes sparkling with a dangerous thrill. "We can use that to our advantage." I listened intently, the adrenaline coursing through me as she detailed how she would lure Matola into a false sense of security. "While he's distracted, we'll strike," she continued, tracing her finger along the edge of my collarbone, drawing imaginary lines between their targets. I felt a mix of excitement and dread—every word she spoke was a seductive promise, but I knew the stakes were higher than ever. "We need to be precise," I cautioned, my brow furrowing. "One misstep, and it's over." Luci flashed a confident smile, her charm as disarming as ever. "Trust me, Cado. Together, we'll make sure he never sees it coming." As they plotted, the tension between them crackled, a potent mix of ambition and desire, binding them together in a dangerous dance that could end in glory—or ruin.
My pulse was still hammering in my chest as I slid into the driver's seat of his car. The words Lucinda had whispered—just before the smooth curve of her lips twisted into that devilish smile—echoed in my head.
"I'll be seeing you again, Cado. And next time, you won't have a choice."
I slammed the door, the engine roaring to life as the cold night air bit at my skin. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows as I floored the gas. I didn't have much time. Lucinda had tipped her hand at the hotel—too controlled, too quiet. Now, I could feel eyes on me from the darkness.
In the rearview, three black sedans were closing in, engines growling like predators. "Damn it," I muttered, pressing harder on the accelerator. The tires screamed as I swerved, my heart racing with adrenaline, not fear. The sedans weren't here for a chat—they were here to kill.
Lucinda… always playing both sides, always pulling the strings. She had me where she wanted me: running.
A flash in the mirror—a man with a gun through a sunroof. The first shot rang out, a bullet ricocheting off the hood. I swerved, the car scraping the curb with a shower of sparks.
The sedans split, two tailing me, one blocking the alley ahead. I knew where to go. Ahead—an old bridge, narrow, perfect. The sedans wouldn't fit.
With a screech, I jerked the wheel, drifting onto the bridge. Behind me, one sedan followed too eagerly, crashing into the guardrail and flipping over. I didn't slow. There were still two left.
I pushed the car to its limit, the bridge rattling beneath me as I tore through the fog, the city lights fading. The remaining sedans were still there, but I was faster. A quick turn into an alley, I hope they'd make the mistake of following on foot.
As I rounded the last corner, I caught a flicker through a hotel window—Lucinda, watching. I cursed but didn't hesitate. She was the reason for all of this.
Sunday
"Hey kid, rough night?" Tony asked as I skulk through his bar. I grunted but did not give him an answer. I just couldn't shake the feeling that it was about to get worse.
"Yeesh, that bad huh? Izzie get the good brandy!" he shouts across the bar at her.
The blonde in question simply gave them the bird as she casually finished her conversation with her latest conquest. Eventually, though a heavy glass bottle slid across the bar top, the amber liquid rocked back and forth.
I leaned against the dimly lit bar, nursing my wounds both physical and emotional, taking a long sip of the amber liquid the subsequent burn allowed me a moment of clarity. I know I can't trust Luci but as of now she's my only way of watching Matola's movements. However, the pitting feeling in my stomach telling me this was all a trap only grew. I was about to take another sip when my phone buzzed interrupting my musings. I answered, already knowing who was on the other end.
"What do you want Luci," I asked, my tone clipped.
"Aw, can't I get a hello? Don't tell me you're upset about a little car chase." She said silkily. "I'm playing both sides. Don't go getting all worked up."
"Luci," I said again this time warningly.
"Alright, alright. I need you to meet me at the old docks. There's a break in your Matola problem," she said evenly ending the call abruptly. That feeling of dread only grew as I left the bar and drove myself to the docks.
As I approached, the rhythmic lapping of waves echoed my racing heart, anticipation mingling with unease. Shadows danced across the planks as she emerged, her silhouette striking against the shimmering backdrop of the harbor. "I have something important to show you," she purred, her eyes glinting with mischief. But as I stepped closer, I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night air—something in her demeanor hinted at a deeper game, one that could entangle me in danger far greater than I had anticipated. The allure of her presence tugged at me, but in the back of my mind, the warning bells rang louder.
Tommy "The Hammer" Matola glared down at Cado Verruca, the informant who had dared to betray him. Before I could do anything, heavy steel came down across my head. A gush of blood exploded from the wound and trickled down my face. Attempting to right myself, I stood up trying to focus but my vision was blurred by my own blood. My head was ringing, and I was disoriented. I didn't notice how many men surrounded me until I felt a white-hot fire in my side. I craned my neck down just in time to see the hilt of the blade sliding from my abdomen. Matola's men had me locked in a hold, in a fit of rage, he ordered his men to toss me into the dark waters of the harbor, a fitting grave for a traitor. There was a scream, a woman's, before I hit the dark water I wondered for a moment if that was Luci. Wounded and bleeding from a deep gash on my side and my skull I sank beneath the waves, panic surging through me. But as the icy water closed in, instinct kicked in. With fierce determination, I kicked my legs and clawed to the surface, gasping for air. Pain shot through my body, but I swam with every ounce of strength, dragging myself onto a nearby dock. Shivering and barely clinging to consciousness, I knew I had to disappear and play the game differently—no longer just a pawn but a player ready to turn the tide against the man who had almost claimed my life.
But first, I need a drink and Tony's help.