Blood Red (3 page)

Vivi Anna

absently over the thin pink scar that marred half her face. It ran from her left eyebrow down over her cheek to her chin. A souvenir from the past. It was a painful reminder of her failure.

“Same thing. You’re a legend.”

“Look, boy, are you here to blow smoke up my ass, or are you asking me something?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you seem to know something about me, so you obviously know what I do for money.” She slid a long knife out of the sheath strapped to her leg. She set it on the table. It glinted menacingly in the soft light. “Do you want me to kill someone for you?”

“Goodness, no.” Jack sat back in his chair; his eyes round with shock.

“Then fuck off. I’m in no mood to pussyfoot around with some snot-nosed brat looking for a thrill.”

“You have me all wrong.” He put his hand up in defense.

“Do I?” She leaned forward, grinning.

The pub door slammed open. A cold wind blew across the room. Three large men stumbled in disheveled and dirty.

Red grabbed her knife and sat back in her chair bringing the knife down under the table. She looked over at the men as they lumbered up to the bar. She had better be prepared. The Pig brothers were always looking for trouble.

“Barkeep. Three pints.” Joe Pig slammed his beefy hand down on the counter. His brothers John and Jimmy took up stools next to him.

4

Blood Red

Red turned herself in her chair so she was facing the bar. She learned a long time ago never to leave her back open. Lessons learned the hard way.

Jack glanced over at the boys. “Who are they?”

“The Pig brothers.”

“Why do they look like that?”

“They’re albinos. Triplets.”

Joe glanced around the bar. His small pink eyes rested on Red. He smiled, his pointy little teeth brown from rot. “Well, looky here, boys. It’s Red, the fearless bounty hunter.”

They all turned to face her, smiling the same hungry grin.

Other patrons moved to the far corners with their drinks. They could sense trouble, but didn’t want to leave just yet. They didn’t want to miss the action. A good pub brawl was just the form of entertainment they were all hoping for, and the reason they came out night after night after night.

Red slid another cigarette out of her pack and put it in her mouth, struck a match and lit it. She blew the smoke up lazily, never taking her eyes off the brothers.

The barkeep set their beer in front of them, then retreated into a corner. Joe picked up his glass and chugged half it back. Beer dribbled down his dimpled double chin and stained his already grimy shirt. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Why, we were just thinking about you, Red, weren’t we, boys?”

“Oh, yeah,” John said, his eyes alight with lust. He rubbed a chubby hand over his crotch.

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