Consumed By Darkness

Aiden,

I sat at the back of the car, the window rolled down as I took a long drag from the half-burnt cigar between my lips, then puffed a cloud of smoke that curled lazily around me. I turned as two men stumbled out of the abandoned building across from where the car was parked, throwing wild punches at each other.

I watched disinterested as one of them was pushed down, and the other mounted him and continued with the assault.

"What time is it?" I asked, my eyes still on the men outside.

"Half past 4." The driver replied.

I leaned back against the seat, closing my eyes as I took another drag and exhaled slowly. "Goddamit," I grunted under my breath, opening my eyes.

If they keep this up, we will end up attracting the police, not that they will do anything, but it was too much hassle having to find something every dime time for those roaches.

The driver sensing my irritation offered, "Should I go check it out, boss?"

I drummed my fingers against the door, contemplating. I didn't want to ruin my suit, not when I was supposed to meet someone at 9. If it was any other day, I wouldn't mind joining in on the fun. I cursed under my breath as I made a decision. One I might regret later. I swung the door open and stepped out of the car.

I brushed my hair back, tucked my hand into my coat pocket, and started walking towards the building, my eyes locked on the men outside. I pulled my gun from its holster as I got close, I shoved the man on top with my foot, he toppled off, and I fired twice before he could move, the gunshot echoing through the quiet street. The man laid lifeless as I turned my attention to the other man still lying on the floor, his shirt soaked in his own blood.

"I am one of your men, boss!" He screamed before I could pull the trigger.

I narrowed my eyes, my gun still pointing directly at him. He struggled to sit up, lifting his shirt to reveal a tattoo, a skull impaled with a sword. The symbol of the Kingston family. My eyes trailed down to the bloody stab wound on his side that seemed to be breathing.

"Do I need to keep you alive if you are going to end up dead anyway?" I eyed him.

"This won't kill me, boss," he smiled weakly.

Yeah, right.

A man suddenly charged at me with a steel pipe from nowhere, swinging it to land a hit. I dodged the attack, swiftly kicking his back and sending him crashing to the ground and a bullet through his skull.

I stepped into the building, the clang of metal on metal, grunts, and screams growing louder as I approached. Turning a corner, my eyes fell on a chaotic mess of men swinging steel pipes, wooden planks, and hammers with vicious intent at each other.

"Fuck," I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. I let the cigar fall to the ground, then crushed it under my shoe.

I raised my gun and fired at two men who were pinning down a man I recognized as part of my men, landing a  clean shot. The gunshot shattered the tumult, and the men froze, their attention turning towards the source of the noise.

"Hi," I waved casually when their eyes were now on me. "I think it is time to wrap this up. We have all burnt enough fat this morning."

"Shit, isn't that Aiden Kingston?"

Murmurs started spreading among the men from the rival family, and I grinned as I watched them step back, trembling in fear.

My grin widened. "Don't worry, as long as you all behave you will die painlessly," I assured. "All I need is the leader of this shit crew. Just raise up your hand so I can see."

They all stayed quiet stealing glances at each other. "Come on guys, the day will soon break! We don't have any fucking time to waste!"

"Aiden Kingston!" I heard a man scream my name.

I turned to see a huge bald man with an eyepatch, his face twisted in anger. "Great, are you their leader?". I smiled, pointing the gun in his direction.

"Do you remember me?" He gritted.

I raised an eyebrow, studying his face. Was he someone I was supposed to know?

"I don't usually remember every unimportant person I run into?"

He clenched his jaw, pointing at his eyepatch. "You took my eye three years ago! How dare you forget me!" He yelled, matching towards me.

I chuckled. "Ah, you must have caught me in a good mood. I let you off easily, and you have the balls to show up again?"

"If you are man enough, let's settle this in a hand-to-hand combat." He said. "I will have your two eyes gouged!"

"In as much as I will enjoy beating the shit out of you, I have an appointment today, and the last thing I want is to ruin my suit."

I shot his legs, and he crumpled to the ground grunting. I approached him slowly, pressing the barrel of the gun against his forehead. He glared up at me. "You bastard," he spat. "I won't beg for my life."

"You don't need to, buddy."

"The Kingston family will fall soon, and you will be the first, Aiden Kingston. The other families..."

I pulled the trigger, ending his life snd interrupting whatever garbage he was planning on spewing.

I saw a shadow move behind me, and someone yelled, "Boss, behind you!"

I spun around quickly, my gun raised as I fired, the bullet hitting his chest.I stared down in horror as a spray of blood splattered across my coat and shirt.

Another man came forward, his hammer raised high, I grabbed his wrist, twisting it as I pressed the gun to his stomach and fired, shoving him.

A muscle twitched on my cheek as I closed my eyes, throwing my head back. My fists were clenched tightly as I tried to suppress my anger.  A twisted smile curled up my lips as I inhaled the smell of gunpowder and blood that filled the air as the fight continued.

Who was I kidding?

"Fuck it," I opened my eyes, tucking my gun away.

I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a pair of leather gloves and slid them on. I picked up a bloodied steel pipe lying next to a lifeless body.

I moved through the room, my grip on the steel pipe tight as I swung it, the pipe connecting brutally with the skulls and ribs of anyone that was in my way. The smile never left my face, my eyes glinting with excitement from the dark pleasure I derived from the chaos.

I clipped the cap of a cigar as I stepped outside as the first light of the day broke. The early morning air was free from the tainted smell of gunpowder and blood. I placed the cigar between my lips, my fingers searching my pocket for my lighter.

"Here," Storm said, offering a lighter.

I smiled as I looked up to him. "Why do you carry a lighter when you don't smoke?" I chuckled, holding the foot of the cigar over the flame.

"Beats me," he chuckled.

"You look like shit," I murmured, my gaze lingering on a deep cut on his arm.

"I won't die from it. It's not my time yet."

I laughed, my eyes flickering to the lifeless body of the man from earlier who said the same thing.

I drew air through the cigar, allowing the tobacco smoulder evenly. "It seems the other families are planning something big," Storm said as I took a drag.

I smirked, "I am hoping they do. I am really looking forward to it."

This city has been awfully quiet for a long time.

♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧

"No fucking way," her phone was pressed to her ear as she laughed.

The sound of her laughter was warm and light, stirring something deep inside me. It was a strange sensation, but it was her eyes. Those fucking emerald green eyes that locked with mine briefly as she walked past me making my pulse quicken.

My eyes followed her back. Long blonde hair that tumbled down her back, stopping just above her firm, round ass. The red dress she wore clung to her body in all the right places. The seductive curve of her hips demanding my full attention with each step she took.

I found myself curious about a woman I just met and without thinking I followed behind her, in long strides. Trying to catch up with her.  I was about saying something when she stumbled, a gasp escaping her lips when my arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against me.

My desire for her only deepened when she turned around, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger. I was sure of one thing at that moment. I wanted her. It doesn't matter how. She would be mine, and I would make her realise that.