A new twisted short story for my Morbid Ink Project (my paid subscribers get the first look at all my stories). The tale will also be available for subscribers to Medium.
The night of the main event, I drove through the tavern parking lot and found a well-lit spot across from the building. Backing my car into a stall, I pulled out my digital camera and preset the lens and electronic exposures for the night. The camera was small but powerful for just such occasions. No need for a flash with the outside light, giving me plenty to see as I reviewed my test shots. Then, I waited for the star of the show to arrive.
A red Corvette pulled in about fifteen minutes late and, to my surprise, a couple got out of the car. Of course, I recognized Bruno Lip. He fashioned himself a connoisseur of everything fashionable in the city. Dressed in an expensive suit, he waited for the woman who stumbled as she got out of the car. Bruno’s date was an exotic Asian blond wearing a tight red dress that carried plenty of sexiness. However, the pair looked so out of place that rubbed my forefinger and thumb on the bridge of my nose, then let out a sigh.
Will they even go inside?
My brain went into overdrive, thinking about all the things I might have missed. For a moment, I considered the idea Bruno might get back in his car when I saw his face. A worried expression caused his date to ask about the tavern. I couldn’t hear the conversation, but I noticed him looking around.
Come on! Take the bait! Your secretary promised you a surprise.
After another look around the parking lot, Bruno entered. I rolled down my window as the couple entered the bar. A smile slowly drifted to my lips. The man had a gallery like Calvin in the fashion district. My call to Bruno’s secretary informed her a promising photographer liked to hang out at this bar and some of his work was on display inside. Of course, it was a lie. All I could do was wait at this point and hope Joey came through. The additional money I promised him should take care of my revenge and get me the pictures I needed.
I heard a small crowd roar not long after the couple entered the bar, but nothing appeared to change outside. After a while, I saw three large men wearing the same cut off denim vests over their t-shirts like their boss, Joey. They came out of the front entrance and went to their motorcycles. The loud rumble caused me to jump as the men started their motorcycles, then pulled around to the side of the building. A moment later, two other women, overweight and dressed in the same biker vests, came out of the side entrance. Bruno’s date, terrified and crying, stood between them and they pushed her to the closest motorcycle.
“Get on, bitch!” I heard someone ordered the woman in the red dress. “It’s initiation time!”
With a sneer, the rider took off while his blonde passenger screamed for help. Laughing, the female gang members climbed behind the riders of the other motorcycles. Savage cries of triumph filled the air as the gang left the parking lot. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Bruno’s date would be busy with the gang for the night.
Well, Bruno’s got his own problems!
Immediately after the motorcycles left the lot, the side door opened again. This time a body came hurling out of the blackness and landed on the asphalt. The suit looked familiar, but someone had torn the jacket to shreds. Bruno rolled around on the pavement in agony, and I hurriedly opened my car door. Joey came into view, calmly stepping down to the parking lot.
“Please—whatever I did—I’m sorry. Just let me leave,” Bruno begged as he got on his knees.
With a sudden speed that startled me, the big orc, Joey, reached his victim and started beating him. I hurriedly got in several pictures of the damage. Then I stopped after suddenly remembering to pull my hood over my head. The delay cost me because when I framed the scene in the viewfinder, the big orc was done. He headed toward me, standing up with the hairs on the back of my neck.
“Money!” Joey growled.
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