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 disinterestedly 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 lay lifeless as I turned my attention to the other man still lying on the floor, his shirt soaked in his 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 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, marching 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?"