Vol 1: Part 6

The rain whipped into the small porch ignoring the roof as it pelted, and soaked anyone unfortunate to be standing. Sadly that unfortunate person was me as my clothes were immediately stained black by the rain.

The street outside was plagued by moving umbrellas. I stood there unsure what to do, but standing still also felt uncomfortably vulnerable.

"Jester." One of the pedestrians called out walking up to me umbrella in hand. I turned to see who it was. It was Jackson standing there as water dripped slowly off his dark skin, it seemed he got caught in the rain as well. A smoldering cigarette in his hand he made his way over.

"New haircut?" I asked as I walked under the umbrella.

He nodded. "For the funeral." Jackson replied his voice dripping with melancholy like the sky was dripping with rain, as he ran a hand over his shaved head.

I didn't ask whose, I didn't want to know. "What are you doing now?" I inquired.

"Heading over to Gabriel's, and get a drink play a couple card games. Want to come with me?"

"You had me at drinks." I smiled as we set forth through the rain

We battled our way through the torrential downpour into the usual hang out of Angels tear's. "Hey slow pokes get over here Gabriel's footing the bill!" A voice roared as we stepped inside the bar like two drowned rats.

"Matt!? Why didn't you tell me you were back huh?" Jackson bellowed back, handing me the drenched umbrella, running forwards, and tackling the person sitting on a bar stool.

"Watch the drink. The drink!" Matt laughed as he got constricted into a playful head lock. I walked up to the two everything seemed like It should be the three of us together drinking our cares away as we laughed long into the night. How many more nights of this will we have left I wondered?

"I'll take that." I grinned throwing myself out of that line of thought, as I helped myself to Matt's glass as he was helpless.

"I call foul no drinking when your hungover you skinny bastard." He screamed in joyful retribution.

"You want to bet." I laughed as I put the glass closer to my mouth the thick smell of liquor made my stomach turn.

"You wouldn't." Matt whispered seemingly unsure of himself.

"Oh he would you know how he likes to cure hangovers." Jackson laughed seeing the flicker of doubt in Matt's eyes.

"Boys if you want to play rough, and tumble please do it some where other than my bar." Gabe grumbled as he wiped down some glasses.

Settling down everyone grabbed a stool, before leaning on the counter. "You closed again Gabe?" I asked looking around at all the empty tables.

"No, it's just due to recent events people are rather on edge, and don't want to be in a marked place. I don't blame them, but it's still quite annoying." He sniffed placing the glasses in his hands back under the counter.

"I suppose that has to do with your association with us." I hid my smile underneath a mouthful of liquor.

"Like a chained rat I am unfortunately stuck to this sinking ship." Gabriel dramatically moaned placing another glass away."No matter how much I wish to jump." He angrily muttered as he took out a pack of cards.

"So what are we playing?" Jackson asked.

"Poker?" Gabriel threw out the option with a slight smirk.

"Hell no! I will never play poker with you again." Matt shouted in defiance snatching the glass out of Gabe's hand.

"That's a no for poker. Jester any preference?" Jackson mused accepting his drink raising it slightly in silent thanks.

"I don't care as long as we start to play something soon." I shrugged taking another sip of my stolen drink.

"How about black jack?" Gabe said as he started to shuffle his hands were lightning as the cards were flawlessly moving form one to the other the constant fluttering sound of the shuffle was rather relaxing.

"No cheating this time." Matt grunted raising his glass to his lips.

The atmosphere went quiet in hushed anticipation as the soft flick of the dealt cards hit the counter. I picked up my two cards. A seven, and an eight. Fifteen in total. "Hit or stick?" Gabriel asked after he took a glimpse of his own cards.

"Hmm. Hit." I decided tapping the wooden surface with one of my fingers. Taking the card that was offered I had a look. Six.

"Hit or stick?" Gabriel asked again.

"Stick." I said as I placed my cards back on the table.

"Matt, hit or stick?"

"Hit." Matt said decisively slapping the counter with his open palm. "God fucking dammit. Bust." He growled as he sullenly threw the three cards at Gabriel who placed them to one side with a sympathetic smile.

"Jackson, hit or stick?"

"Stick." Jackson replied with tense concentration.

Gabriel, took another glimpse at his cards. "Stick. Twenty. What have you ladies got?"

"18." Jackson replied in gracious defeat as he handed his cards over.

"21." I stated with a grin. Matt leaned over as he stared at the cards in my hand.

"How? You lucky son of a bitch." He said in furious disbelief as he threw a hand over my shoulders. "Share some of your luck with me." He laughed as he began to dig his knuckles into my scalp with his other hand.

"Get off me." I said with a pained chuckle swatting away his arms.

"Dare I ask what you guys will be doing this chaos, and mayhem?" Gabriel asked with a knowing smile.

Everyone looked in my direction as I started to raise my glass to my mouth, to drain the last drops at the bottom. "What?" I scowled as I drained my glass. I roughly placed it on the counter. "Everyone's looking at me like I'm insanity incarnate."

"Well where there is blood, and chaos your usually slap bang in the middle, much to everyone else's annoyance." Jackson said with a dramatic sigh.

"He means you've got some big balls." Matt grinned as he lightly punched my shoulder.

"So any plans?" Gabriel said with a secretive smile.

"I don't want to tell you now." I replied pouting as I pushed the glass towards him.

"I'll even add some useful information on top of it." Gabriel sweetly tempted as he started to pour another glass. His nails cut flawlessly on his delicate hands just like his face delicate, and pale hiding a venomous tongue that has killed hundreds by planting poisonous seeds in the minds of men.

"The catch?" I skeptically said the moment he didn't state a price.

"You don't believe I could do this out of the goodness of my heart?" He said his eyes shedding crocodile tears as he raised an elegant hand over his mouth.

"Bullshit." Matt coughed.

"The catch?"

Gabriel dropped the act and began to speak in a low voice. "One of the new arrivals have been starting to become a thorn in my side. I want him disposed off."

"Permanently?" I inquired raising an eyebrow at this possible, but I thought unlikely scenario.

"Yes, out the picture completely."

"Who? And why not your own guys?" I took a mouthful of my new drink. It's rare for someone to cause trouble for the eyes of god.

Gabriel sighed. "It's the new guy calling the shots Láng Lòng, or is it Lóng Làng? Either way I want him gone."

I stared at him coldly as I reached for my gun. "Why us not your own guys?"

Gabriel scratched his neck as his cheeks reddened. "Look, it's rather embarrassing, but this guy can sniff out my contract workers like a police dog can sniff out drugs, and it's affecting my business. I think with your more frontal techniques might be able to get him, or at least smoke him out."

Lowering my hand from my empty side I once again felt rather empty. "Wasn't Róngyù running the Lòng outfit?" Jackson interjected.

"If it had been that guy with his need for honor, and loyalty then he wouldn't want to meddle in someone else's affairs without permission, but sadly he got replaced by the home branch from overseas." Gabriel said as he dealt out the cards again.

"Which means infighting." I muttered with a smile as I picked up my cards. An ace, and jack of spades. Black jack.

"A house dived by itself cannot stand." Jackson said echoing my own thoughts as he looked at his cards.

The seconds ticked by, like a cowboy stand off everyone was itching to fire. "Matt, hit or stick?" Gabriel asked breaking the tense silence.

"Stick, I'm not taking one of your dodgy cards again." Matt grunted. He started shifting slightly his hands drumming on the counter, and holding his cards close to his chest as if someone could look over his shoulders.

"They aren't dodgy you're just unlucky." Gabriel shrugged as he turned to me. "Hit or stick?"

"Stick." I replied with a slight smile as I ran a finger over the rim of my glass.

"He's got good cards." Gabriel said knowingly tapping his nose before turning to Jackson. "Hit or stick?"

"Stick." Jackson said after hesitating a little tapping his chin with his index finger. His forehead was still creased in some element of doubt.

"I'm sticking as well so time to show em ladies." Gabriel said with a flamboyant wave of his hand.

"19." Matt said with a smug expression his chest puffed

"20." Jackson chimed in with a smile as Matt's face fell.

I took a dramatic pause. "21." I said before turning to Gabriel in anticipation.

"You have great luck my friend, but the sad thing with luck is it will eventually run out. 21." He grinned as he showed his cards. "The dealer wins."

"Well, I shall graciously accept defeat if you give me another glass." I said as I gave him my empty glass.

"And another glass you shall have." Gabriel said as he poured another, before handing it back.

"How about a toast?" I asked as I took ahold of the glass, and raised it in the direction of everyone else.

"To what?" Matt demanded a little red faced, and bitter.

I took a moment to think about it. "How about our survival?"

"I can drink to that." Jackson shrugged. Everyone else nodded in agreement.

I raised my glass. "Well, to the future prospects of living.".

"To future prospects of living." Everyone else dully chimed in as the clinking of glasses echoed slightly in the empty bar.