The whole conversation stopped as Marcel walked into the Foyer with only a black PVC rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a black medium length padded PVC coat, matching lack gloves and waistcoat, a flowing black pinstripe shirt and vinyl trousers with three studded belts resting on his hips.
"Good morning, boss!" Javier said with a warm smile.
"Fuck you." Marcel responded as he adjusted his gloves.
"Are you ready to go, boss?" Javier asked.
"Yes, and wipe that asinine grin off your face. You are in charge, guided by Kenzo. Learn from him." Marcel said as he walked past him.
"Yes! I shall, boss." Javier said.
"Has Chéri left, and taken Buck Rogers with him?" Marcel asked.
"Haha, Not yet. They're in the family compound still preparing. I saw Lennon here not long ago."
"I want to know the moment Chéri and that Tranny chaser land in the United States." Marcel said.
"Yes. I will inform you of everything, Marcel." Javier answered.
They walked out to the forecourt and Javier opened the BMW's door for Marcel. As they got in the car and did up their belts, Javier waved to the first line of security to let them out.
"Is that all your taking boss?" Javier asked as he pointed to Marcel's PVC rucksack.
"Keep your eyes on the road. I travel light." Marcel responded.
"Okay, okay. Sooo... whatcha gonna do in the Czech Republic? Are you gonna sightsee or just... go straight to the arsenal of weapons to plan an orgy of violence and wholesale murder?" Javier asked with a slight smile.
Marcel just turned to him and stared at him a moment. "Javier, was that a painful attempt at humour? Or have you developed dementia?" Marcel asked in an irritated Parisian drawl.
"Ohh Haha, boss! You're so funny." Javier said as he enjoyed the little social interaction and the friendly look he thought he read from Marcel's face.
Marcel just shook his head in disbelief.
After a short drive, Javier stopped outside the airport.
"Have a nice...-" Javier started to speak but was cut off by Marcel getting out and slamming the door shut behind him. "-... Trip." Javier finished to himself.
Javier quickly got out of the car, "Hey, boss! At least you haven't told me to fuck off the whole way out here." Javier said as he held his hand out to shake Marcel's.
Marcel stopped, and then turned back around to face Javier, "Fuck off." Marcel said, ignoring his hand as he threw the small backpack over his shoulder and turned back away to walk off. Javier had the distinct impression that he had actually made Marcel smile.
"Hey, boss...?" Javier said hesitantly.
Marcel stopped again, then walked back to him. "What now...?"
"Listen, if you are going to meet underworld contacts alone... you know, be careful." Javier said.
"I am always careful! Now, remember! I want a copy of Lennon's proposals. Obtain one, photograph it and send to me as soon as you can. I want to prepare a counter as he is planning a takeover. However, he will be gone for two weeks. I have that time to counter him." Marcel said.
Javier tried not to look uncomfortable at the demand, and for effectively attempting the sabotage of Lennon. But he felt that maybe this was a chance to show his loyalty. "If I lay my hands upon them, then you will have them too, Marcel."
"Good. Take care of affairs for me, Javier." Marcel said, slapping Javier hard on the back.
"Yes! I will boss!" Javier beamed, and he leant backwards onto the car.
As soon as Marcel was out of sight. Javier took out his phone and called Spangna.
"Hey, Mercy! I've dropped the Boss off at the airport." Javier said, hearing an excited squeal from Spangna, who had loud music playing in the background.
"Oh yeah! Thanks, Hav!" Spangna said excitedly.
"So, what's really gonna happen?" Javier asked.
"Well, first he's going to see some guy about assault rifles and then a French guy who's a poisons expert, then the rest of the week is clear! We've got a hotel room and a meal booked, then we're going to look around. My sister is also on holiday here and will get to meet Marcel, which is really cool. He's lined up places to eat, and we're going to check out some night clubs. I told him, I just want to eat, drink and fuck." Spangna said.
"What did he say?" Javier asked.
"He said, it sounds good!" Spangna said.
"Wow, he said that?! so he is meeting some guys and is then gonna live his best life with you and have a great time. Hey, I wanna see pictures of all this cool stuff!" Javier said, feeling almost a little jealous of all the fun going on.
"Aww, Javier I wish you were here. You'd love this place, it's really romantic! You may get a girl for yourself here." Spangna said.
"I wish. Everyone I like... doesn't like me. It's always the same. Nice guys finish last. I just want to be part of someone's life. I better... get a cat." Javier said before laughing awkwardly.
"Aww Hav, you're making me sad!"
"Ahh well. I guess there's no happy ending for me."
"Of course there is! What kind of person are you looking for? I'll keep my eyes out." Spangna said.
"Well, someone sweet but strong. Everyone tells me I'm too weak and over-emotional, so if I look for the opposite traits in a partner, that should work right?" Javier asked.
"I don't know Hav. They do say opposites attract. I mean, Marce is the polar opposites of me. I'm patient, he's impatient. I'm calm, he's volatile. I'm younger, he's older... but, oh my! We work so well together. I love him so much, Hav. Everything I've done, I've done to bring myself closer to him."
"I know Mercy, and I just can't picture that because... that guy just never lets me in. Every time I try and get social with him, I'm confronted by the great Wall of fuck you."
"It's probably because he doesn't view you as a friend." Spangna said.
"Oh, thanks." Javier said.
"No. I mean he views you as a work colleague, so I guess he feels he has to keep the tough image up. When I started actually dating him, he was a meanie to me, to establish himself as the boss. Then, I got to know him for himself, not as the AK or head of security, which is a very different entity. He's practical but loving and romantic." Spangna said.
"Oh,I wish I could just be his friend." Javier said.
"Well, how about I insist on inviting you to a social. If I do that enough, he'll get to know you and stop being an arse hole to you. Everything's about perception and viewpoint. But, I reckon he likes you."
"What?! Really?!" Javier asked.
"Yeah! That's why he plays about with you." Spangna said.
Javier looked confused, "He plays with me? When?"
"Well, I don't think you recognise his humour, but it's there, and it's there for you. In England, we call it banter. A kind of... offensive play, and he does play with you, Hav." Spangna said.
"I'll have to look up what banter means and I hope it's true, Mercy. Anyway, he's safely on his way. I better get back to Lennon, who's in global charge until he and Chéri leave, then I'm in charge with Kenzo until the boss gets back." Javier said.
"Yeah! Look up banter, because he's doing it to you! Anyway, You'll be great in a leadership role, and don't let that triad bully Kenzo push you around!" Spangna said.
"Okay, Mercy. I won't. Take care of yourself and honestly, have a great time, both of you!" Javier said.
☆
"This fucking sucks ass." Lennon said as he shut his case and shoved his passport in his duffel bag. The cuts on his forearms all bandaged up.
"Why?" Chéri asked, pulling the sleeves to his hoody down to cover his own bandaged arms.
"Because I don't want to leave Spain. I love the Bordello, I love the people I live with. America sucks my cock... badly." Lennon said.
"Well, I'll suck your cock well, when we get there." Chéri said.
"I hate everything about this trip." Lennon said.
"Cheer up, Lenny! You're going home." Chéri said.
"Tennessee is no longer my home."
"Lenny, you know I love you."
"Yes, which is why you're dressed up in that... shit." Lennon said as he pointed to Chéri in his baggy skateboarder jeans, trainers, baseball cap and hoodie.
"Don't you like my street fashion, Lenny?"
"No. I fucking don't. I like you in what you like to wear. Elegant soft clothes, glittery stuff." Lennon said.
"Yeah, but if I rock up to your parents' house looking like a right royal faggot, its gonna give us away!" Chéri said.
"So for two weeks, you'll be wearing guys clothes, with no makeup, no heels, not getting your hair and nails fixed?" Lennon asked.
"Yep." Chéri exclaimed.
"I'll believe it when I see it." Lennon said.
"Well. I could always cut my hair shorter." Chéri said.
"No! I like it how it is. You look weird with short hair." Lennon mumbled.
"Lenny, I got some normal clothes for me to wear when we get to our hotel room. I think by the time we end up in the hotel, I'll be desperate to get a damn dress on!" Chéri said, trying to cheer Lennon up.
"I just... can't get over seeing you like that." Lennon said.
"Yeah, well it's just for now."
"Okay, well... I'll go do the rounds then meet you in the foyer after your rounds. Javier will take us to El Prat Airport. Then it's fourteen hours all the way to Nashville, with me hating every single second that takes me further from the Bordello." Lennon lamented.
"Think about how I'm going to feel in Nashville. Anyway, I have to do my rounds too. Meet you in the foyer in an hour, sweetie-pops."
"Okay, darlin'."
☆
Lennon squatted next to the school chair with it's attached desk, in Adeline's room. She was In-between private lessons from her tutor.
"Honey, I gotta go away for a short while." Lennon said.
"What?! Why?" Adeline said, dropping her pencil and looking at him.
"Because... I'm an American, and I can only stay in Spain for three months without special permission." Lennon said.
"But, why don't you ask Grandmamma, she'll tell them to let you stay!" Adeline said.
Lennon stroked her hair. "I wish it were that simple honey."
"When do you come back?"
"In two weeks." Lennon said.
Adeline hopped off her desk and ran to her calendar to mark the day. "I'll count every day! Until you come back to us. Because everything will turn bad without you here."
"Honey, that's what I'm worried about. You will tell me anything that happens won't you?" Lennon said.
"Yes!"
"And if people say bad things about me, you'll stay quiet and tell me, yes?" Lennon asked.
Adeline ran to Lennon and hugged him. "I will! I will!" she said before she noticed the bandages on Lennon's forearms. "You now hurt yourself... like auntie Chéri. That's bad. I bet she told you to do that." Adeline said sadly.
"Nah, nah honey, I hurt myself fixing Gabriél's car." Lennon said.
"No. No. Don't lie to me." Adeline said as she ran her tiny finger down Lennon's bandage. "This is the way Chéri teaches people to hurt themselves."
Lennon stared blankly at the floor a moment. "Look, honey, I want you to have this back only until I return." Lennon said, taking out the bowie knife.
"But you need that, to protect yourself!" Adeline said.
"I'm not allowed to take this with me, honey. But I'll have it back as soon as I come home." Lennon said.
"But, there are so many dangerous people. You can't trust anyone." Adeline warned.
"Honey, who can I trust?" Lennon asked.
"Me, grandmamma, Spangna, Tatiana, Javier, Ethan, Serena, Selina, The Frenchman, uncle Gabriél... People like that." Adeline said.
Lennon looked confused, "And honey, who can I not trust?"
Adeline looked up, her eyes watery and sad. "Kenzo, he just kills people... all the time, and he laughs about it. The Frenchman is only planning revenge for Auntie Chéri for lying, and you just need to stay out of it. Pippo, he talks to himself and sees things that aren't there, scary things. Auntie Chéri... She lies and it hurts people, everyone."
Lennon just stared at Adeline seriously as she spoke, his eyes darting to each of hers. It dawned on him that he needed to listen to this little girl, who was telling him far more than any of the adults had.
☆
Lennon knocked on Suzanne's door. He looked around and then readjusted his hair.
She opened the door and ushered him in quickly. "My king!"
"My queen." he responded as they hugged.
"Come over here." Lennon said as he took her hand and walked over to the ottoman at the bottom of the bed. "Sit with me." he added as she sat beside him.
"You're leaving now?" She asked.
"Yes. I just wanted to know if there was anything you wanted back from America?"
"Yes. You." Suzanne smiled.
"Oh, you'll have me back. But is there anything else?"
"Pick something out for me. Anything." Suzanne said.
"I will. Also, how old is your baby? I want to bring something back."
"She's seventeen months old."
"I'll pick out something for her and a couple of toys. One for now and one for Christmas." Lennon said.
"I don't know if I'll even be here for Christmas."
"What?!" Lennon asked.
"Well I may have been turfed out, or just left by then." Suzanne said.
"You're not going to get thrown out. That happens over my dead body. Are you, planning to leave?" Lennon asked.
"I've been... asking around about other houses, or thinking about just going home. As an illegal, I don't have a lot of options." Suzanne said as she looked over Lennon's baggy black jeans and bright red trainers.
"Don't go. Here, I can protect you. Look after you... and the baby." Lennon said.
"That's very sweet of you, Wonda."
"I'm a very sweet guy." Lennon said with a smile.
"I know you are!" Suzanne said as she hugged his arm.
"You'll look after Adeline for me?" Lennon asked.
"Of course! I'll tuck her in every night and read her a story like you do."
Lennon hugged Suzanne and rubbed her back.
"You will text me every night... I'll be waiting for it." Suzanne asked.
"I will, even if it's a quick one." Lennon said as they held each other close.
Next Chapter: Painful Goodbyes