Neon is the Colour of Vengeance (Flappers and False Gods)

THE PENTHOUSE

As with most of the exorbitantly wealthy, Dill Kelly lived in Radio City. It was not, in fact, a city, but a single block on the outskirts of Eltham. The buildings were tall and made of sandy coloured brick, most had tinted windows framed with brass. Despite the array of colours blaring from neon signs and screens, the entire place had a golden glow.

Hugo leaned casually against a wall facing the Brancusi building in which Dill lived. Beside him Evan fidgeted, as inadept at stealth as Hugo was adept. A day ago, Hugo would have taken his hand to calm him. As it was, he settled for muttering, “Stop that. You are entirely conspicuous.”

Evan put his hands in his pockets in an effort to still them. “What are we waiting for?”

“An opportunity.”

Evan huffed, unsatisfied by the response but said nothing.

“And here it comes.”

Hugo pushed off the wall and crossed the street at a smart pace to meet a delivery man who was approaching the Brancusi building. He grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into a nearby alley. Evan followed behind slowly.

“What do you want?” the man said, fear clear on his face. He was lean and Black with long locs tied into a thick bun on the top of his head.

“You have the door code for this building?” Hugo pointed.

“I can’t give you that, it’s not worth my job.”

“Is it worth your life?” He pulled the gun from its holster and pressed it to the man’s ribs.

“Hugo,” Evan warned sharply.

“Relax, I’m not going to hurt him,” Hugo called over his shoulder.

“You’re not?” the man stuttered.

Hugo turned away from Evan with a sigh to focus on the man again. “What’s your name?”

“Rex.”

“Okay, Rex. Here’s the deal. I need into that building to have a nice friendly chat with the very bad man who lives in the penthouse. You are going to give me the code to get in without a fuss so I don’t have to do things that will make my friend over there think I’m a very bad man. Are we clear?”

“What stops me calling the police as soon as you let me go?”

“Nothing, except for the fact that the man that lives in the penthouse is one of the most powerful mobsters in this city and he probably won’t thank you or your family or your friends for calling the cops on him.”

“The code is 356734,” Rex said quickly.

“It was nice to meet you, Rex. Have a good evening.”

“What about my delivery?”

“Give it to me, I’ll take it.”

“Really?” Rex looked terrified and confused.

“Yeah, what floor? What number?”

“Uh…fourteen. Apartment twenty-seven.” Rex shakily took a small package from his backpack and handed it to Hugo. “Uhh…thanks.”

Hugo laughed at being thanked by someone he was threatening and nodded. “I’m sure this goes without saying…”

“I never saw you, man.”

Hugo watched Rex out of the alley then slipped the parcel in the inner pocket of his suit jacket.

“You’re terrifying,” Evan said, shaking his head.

“We already established that.”

“Are you really going to deliver that package?”

“Of course. I don’t want Rex to get charged for it.”

Evan shook his head and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like ‘Psychopath’.

Hugo handed the package to the woman in apartment twenty-seven, smiled as he pocketed the credit chips she gave him as a tip, then returned to the elevator, Evan dogging his steps the entire way.

“What if Kelly isn’t home?” Evan said as the doors slid shut.

“Oh my god, I didn’t think of that. We better go.” His voice was dripping with an unkind amount of sarcasm.

“Stop it. I get it, I hurt your feelings, but you don’t have to act like this,” Evan snapped.

“And you don’t need to patronise me.” Hugo hadn’t meant to threaten, but he could tell by the look on Evan’s face that that was how his words had come across. “I promised I’d get you answers, and I will. You can leave, start a new life as a very rich man and tell your next beau how you spent a few months with a psychopath and lived to tell the tale.”

“That’s not how I see you.”

“Sure it isn’t.”

The elevator doors opened onto the floor below the penthouse.

“Why are we stopping here?”

“Need a special code to be granted entry.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Ask politely to be let in.”

“What?”

Hugo raised a hand to silence any more questions as he pressed the small gold intercom on the outside of the elevator.

“Hugo Ford, looking for an audience with Dill Kelly.”

The intercom buzzed and then there was the rough static of an open channel. It was a moment before a low voice responded, “Did Samuel send you?”

“No. I’m here on my own.”

“Interesting.”

The elevator gave a little ding, and the doors opened again.

“Come on,” Hugo said, stepping inside.

When the elevator opened for the final time, it was into a lavish penthouse suite similar to the one at Borden Tower, except this one was clearly lived in. The main area was circular with a domed glass ceiling that flooded the room with light even though it was dark outside. The walls were a beautiful dark wood inlaid with golden figures from Greek mythology and the floors were glossy mother of pearl interspersed with thick shag rugs.

None of that was what drew Hugo’s attention, however. There was a large man in an iron-grey suit sitting in an armchair facing the lift. He stood as they entered.

“I know you,” Dill Kelly said with a jerk of his head to Hugo. “You’re Sammy’s attack dog. I didn’t think you knew how to wipe your ass without orders, let alone come here for an unsanctioned meet.”

“I can do tricks you couldn’t even dream of.” Hugo pulled his gun and aimed it at Dill. “I just have a couple of questions for you and then we’ll leave. No muss, no fuss.”

“Speaking of us, who’s your friend?” The look Dill gave Evan turned Hugo’s stomach.

“Don’t look at him. Look at me.”

“Hugo…” Evan said uncertainly.

“Shut up,” Hugo hissed out of the corner of his mouth.

“This is a mistake, kiddo.” With supreme indifference to the gun following his every move, Dill Kelly stalked towards the liquor cart that sat against the far wall and poured himself a drink. He sipped it before turning back to look at Hugo. “You’re starting a war that you have no business being in.”

“This doesn’t have to go bloody.”

“Who do you think I am? You think I’m just gonna roll over and talk because you ask nice? You think Samuel won’t flay you alive for fucking up this badly?” He sauntered back over to his chair and sat down.

“You’re his main competition. If anything, I’ll get a hero’s welcome.”

“You sure about that?”

“I’m willing to bet on it, just like I’m willing to bet that you are a smart man.”

“Flattery is for dames.” Dill snorted and took another sip of his drink.

“You don’t get an empire as big as yours without being just a little bit savvy. So, you’re probably good at reading people too. Look into my eyes and tell me if I’m the kinda man who will blow your brains out if he doesn’t get what he wants? Consequences be damned.”

Dill grinned from ear to ear. It was disconcerting. “I know you would, Little Wolf.”

Hugo couldn’t hide the shock in his expression quickly enough.

“Before Sammy Boy and I were enemies, we were the best of friends and I know all about you, Little Wolf. I know that you were a scrawny little kid that was beaten up, touched up and used in every way possible until you were rescued by Sam.” It was no longer a grin that split Dill’s face, but a leer. “And here’s you: his perfect little soldier too stupid to see that Sam did all those things to you too. Except, he did it with a smile and an ‘attaboy’.”

“I’m confused,” Hugo said, through clenched teeth. “Are you trying to make me want to shoot you more or less?”

“Ask your questions, Little Wolf. The cleaners would kill me if they had to wipe my brains off the wall.”

“You don’t get to call me that.”

“Why? ‘Cause I’m not your daddy? How do you know? You’ve never met him.”

“That’s weak. I expected better from you, Dill.”

Dill shrugged. “Didn’t you have something you wanted to ask me?”

“Julian Carter—you know him?”

“And his piece of shit brother. Why?”

“That’s my line. You killed him. Let’s talk about it.”

“He was small time, why d’you care?” There was no hint of denial that he had murdered the man.

“I’m asking—you’re answering.” Hugo pulled back the hammer on his gun for emphasis.

Dill chuckled, thoroughly enjoying himself. “What do you want to know? It was run of the mill.”

“Why did you do it?”

“His brother Marcus owed me big. He didn’t want to pay up—so I took his brother. The S.O.B didn’t even flinch.”

“Julian?”

“No. Marcus. He said, ‘do what you want with him’. So, I tested that theory.” Dill’s eyes seemed to glow black and there was something perverted about his expression.

“You tortured him?”

“Yup.” Dill shrugged. “I started slow. Took videos and sent them to Marcus. He never came for Julian, so I put the poor sap out of his misery. He never wanted to be a made man, he just followed his brother. I think he wanted to keep him on the straight and narrow. We all know how that is.”

“What about Marcus?” Evan said, speaking for the first time and reminding Hugo he was there.

“Oh, I found him a week or two later. He lasted months in my cellar. Wasn’t all there by the time I finally killed him. He’s why they call me The Butcher.” The obvious pride made even Hugo a little nauseous.

“I thought it was because you hang people upside down and slit their throats like meat at a slaughterhouse.”

“That too,” Dill grinned. “We done here?”

“No harm, no foul?” Hugo took a careful step back towards the lift.

“Come on now, Little Wolf. You know it doesn’t work like that. You owe me something now, or I start killing Contis.”

“What do you want?”

“Leave your friend. He looks like he’d scream real pretty.”

“No,” Hugo said far too quickly. He cursed himself, knowing he’d shown his hand.

“Means something to you, does he? It was stupid to bring him here.” Dill stood and stalked towards Evan. Hugo placed himself between them grabbing hold of Evan and pushing him to stand behind him.

“You touch him, and I will start a war.”

“How cute. You know, he looks familiar.” Dill stopped a few feet away and tilted his head slightly as if trying to place Evan. Hugo’s heart dropped into his stomach as Dill started to laugh. “He looks an awful lot like his daddy, don’t he?”

“What do you want?” Hugo’s voice was calm even though he felt anything but.

“You’re mine now, boy. You do whatever I want you to, or I let Sammy know about the fox in his hen house.”

“Samuel doesn’t care who I fuck,” Hugo lied.

“No? His Little Wolf and the son of a Kelly, you sure?”

Hugo didn’t respond.

“My men are on their way, you stupid fuck. So, what’s it gonna be? You gonna shoot me?”

Hugo debated it in his head, and had he been alone he would have, but that was an act of war with Evan on the battlefield. He wouldn’t risk it. Instead, Hugo dragged Evan and pulled him roughly towards the elevator.

“If they don’t kill you, you’ll be hearing from me, Little Wolf.”

Hugo would never be able to accurately recount how they escaped the Brancusi building without any bloodshed and he didn’t really care. As soon as he returned home, he grabbed a bag and started packing Evan’s scattered belongings in a mad panic.

“This was stupid. This was so, so stupid.” He’d let anger and hurt cloud his judgement, but hindsight being twenty-twenty he could now see the colossal mistake he had made.

“Hugo, what’s happening?” Evan sounded flustered, afraid purely because Hugo was.

“He recognised you,” Hugo said not stopping as he gathered up the papers Gen had made for Evan. “Because of your dad and my reaction when he threatened you…I’ve given him leverage that he will not hesitate to use. I have fucked up and I am so sorry.”

“You’re scaring me, please stop and talk to me.”

“I don’t care if you don’t want me.” Hugo rounded on Evan. “That’s fine, but I cannot let you die. I won’t. You have your papers, now go.” He thrust the bag into Evans hands and pushed him towards the door.

“Go where?”

“Anywhere but Tenebrium.” Hugo continued to push as Evan resisted.

“Stop, what are you talking about?”

“I can cope with a lot, but I cannot deal with your blood on my hands.”

“Hugo—”

“He knows. HE KNOWS. Don’t you get it? He knows who you are and that I care about you. He will blackmail me or threaten you or worse—tell Sam. It doesn’t matter; I have just painted a target on your back the size of Tenebrium.” Panic had taken hold of Hugo. He could barely get the words out. “The end is here. You have to leave.”

“I can’t leave,” Evan said firmly. He dropped the bag and stepped towards Hugo.

“You got your answers, now go!”

“I’m not leaving.”

“You have to.”

“You’re not listening to me, Hugo.”

“Yes, I am. I get it—you’re scared. You should be, but I can’t protect you anymore because I’m part of the problem. Leave!” Hugo scooped up the bag from the floor and gave it to Evan who dropped it immediately.

“No. I’m not leaving.”

“What are you not getting about this? Dill has me on a leash now. If I don’t toe the line, he will tell Samuel about you the first chance he gets. He thinks he’s got some Romeo and Juliet trump card. He has no idea it’s much worse.” Hugo picked up the bag again and tried to push Evan towards the door.

“I understand that, but I can’t leave.”

“For fuck’s sake!” Hugo shouted in frustration, resolved to carrying Evan out if he had to. “Run as far away from me and Tenebrium as you can get.”

“I can’t leave because I love you.” It was a simple statement of fact.

The world seemed to stop as Hugo tried to process what Evan had said.

“You…what?”

“I love you.” The words were firm and steady. Unrushed and ringing with truth.

“But what about…what I am?”

“We’ll make it work.”

“You think I’m a psychopath. A cold-blooded killer.”

“But that’s not all you are.” Evan’s insistence was maddening. “I spent one night not in your bed—and I was miserable. The thought of leaving you turns me cold. We have problems. Big ones. But we owe it to each other to at least try.”

“I can’t. Not if you’re going to get cold feet again. You are too good a person to be with someone like me.” He was refusing the thing he wanted most for all the right reasons, but it still made him want to scream.

“Maybe, but I love you anyway. I love you, Hugo.” He placed a palm flat against Hugo’s chest.

“Is that what this feeling is? I’ve never…I don’t want to lose you.”

“Then say it,” Evan whispered.

“I love you.” It was the first time he had uttered the words to anyone. Panic pushed aside, Hugo grabbed Evan and pulled him into a ferocious kiss. “Say it again,” he begged.

“I love you.”

They clattered against the furniture in the living room and bounced off the bedroom door frame in their eagerness to undress each other. They laughed as they fumbled their way into the room. They could have made it there faster, if they hadn’t been so desperate to keep touching one another. Hugo loved everything about the beautiful man before him, a carnal glint in his mint eyes.

There was no time for foreplay, Hugo wanted his man too urgently. When they had succeeded in stripping each other, Hugo made to push Evan onto the bed, to get lost in him, but Evan stopped him.

“No,” he said. His voice was ragged.

“No?” Hugo pulled back at once. Nothing happened that they didn’t both want. Ever.

“I want to be inside you,” Evan wasn’t quite bold enough to make it a command.

“Fine by me,” Hugo said immediately. He would refuse this man nothing.

“Really?” Incredulity warred with desire on his face.

“We go all ways in this house.” Hugo winked. He moved onto the bed and laid down with his back against the pillows, waiting for Evan to make a move.

“Are you sure?” It was almost a plea. “If you don’t?—”

“Relax, it’s not my first time.” Hugo couldn’t help but smile, to be wanted this much made him feel heady. He spread his legs and bent his knees, an open invitation and seemingly one that Evan couldn’t refuse.

He crawled forward and knelt between Hugo’s legs, eyeing him hungrily. The need in Evan’s stare was so acute, it made Hugo’s stomach flutter in anticipation. Finally tearing his eyes away from Hugo’s face, Evan dipped down to give Hugo’s cock a lash or two with his tongue before taking his own in his hand.

“Ready?”

Hugo all but rolled his eyes. He wanted this. Perhaps needed it. He leaned forward and covered Evan’s hand with his own, pulling him gently forwards and pressing him achingly softly against where they both wanted him to be.

They moaned together as Evan pushed forward. He took his time at first, almost teasing them both, but it wasn’t long before his nails were digging into the back of Hugo’s thighs and pushing them up to give him a better angle.

When he found his rhythm, it was devastating. Hugo held onto the headboard for dear life. The connection was a kind of pleasure that he never could have dreamed of. Evan leaned in to kiss Hugo, never slowing his pace as their bodies crashed together. The kisses were sloppy; sometimes they would miss each other’s lips as a thrust rocked Hugo. He loved every minute of it.

“I love you,” Evan breathed against Hugo’s mouth.

Hugo meant to say, ‘I love you, too’, but all that came out was a throaty groan. Evan seemed to understand.

“Lie on your stomach.” This time it was a command, and Hugo followed it gladly.

Evan growled hungrily as he renewed their connection and Hugo let out a long, loud moan.

“Fuck, that feels so good.” Hugo’s words were muffled by the pillow his face was pressed into.

A few powerful thrusts more, and Evan fell on top of him. His body crushing Hugo’s into the mattress. The weight of him coupled with the continuing onslaught was making it hard to breathe, but Hugo didn’t care, he wouldn’t have stopped it for the world.

Hugo could tell they were reaching the end. He too was feeling the intense coiling in his stomach, but he refused to let go. Evan shuddered and his rhythm became disjointed. He cried out his release, a garbled version of Hugo’s name, and collapsed on top of him, panting.

“That was amazing.”

“We’re not done yet.” It was Hugo’s turn to give orders. With a Herculean effort Hugo had pulled back his own release. It would have been so easy to follow Evan over the edge, but he wanted more. More heat, more connection, more closeness.

“You can’t be serious,” Evan said, though his voice told Hugo he hoped that he was.

“It’s my turn.”

Hugo threw Evan onto his back, and they began anew.

“What do we do now?” Evan asked quietly, his head on Hugo’s chest.

“You still have to go, it’s not safe.”

“Not without you.”

“Do you really mean that?” Hugo peered down at Evan as he absently brushed his hand along his hip.

“If you weren’t with the family you wouldn’t kill, would you? You don’t crave it or need it, right?”

Hugo shook his head. “No, I don’t, and I wouldn’t need to.” It was a heady thought; up and leaving. Becoming a new person with a new life, putting all the darkness behind him. “But…”

“They’d chase you? Hunt you down?”

“Probably. Definitely.”

“We don’t need to decide anything today.”

“We don’t have long. Dill won’t sit on this. He has the upper hand over Sam now. You aren’t safe anymore and you never will be. You should leave.”

“But I won’t.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the skin over Hugo’s heart.

They lapsed into silence as Hugo fretted about the future. They had crossed a line that could not be uncrossed, with Dill and each other. For the first time in his life, Hugo was in love and had admitted it. Yet, part of him still worried Evan would change his mind. He would give up being a hitman in a second if it allowed him to keep Evan, but nothing was that simple, and he feared that if he didn’t, Evan would leave him.

“About what Dill said…” Evan’s tone was guarded.

“Which bit?”

“Could he really be your father?”

Hugo gave a short laugh. “No. It’s not possible. He was just fucking with me.”

“How can you be sure? You said you don’t remember him.”

“It’s just not possible. Dill is younger than he looks, he’d have to have been a teenager. I’m thirty-one.”

“Do you ever wonder about your dad?”

“Samuel is my dad. The only one I’ve ever known.”

“That makes it worse. All the things he’s done to you.”

“He has been good to me.” Hugo didn’t want to fight, not after what they had just shared so he searched for a change of topic. “Are you okay? About your uncle?”

“Mindless violence, that’s all it was, and I already knew that. My father wasn’t worth a damn—I already knew that, too.”

“Do you still want revenge?”

“Yes, but I’m too weak to do anything about it.”

“You are a good person, that’s not weakness.”

“When we first met, what I really wanted was to have you do it. I wanted to use you as my instrument of revenge. I wanted to watch, but I don’t have the stomach to do the deed.” His voice was laced with shame.

“And now?” Hugo asked gently.

“You aren’t the only one who needs a lifetime of therapy. You’ve been used enough, and I don’t want anyone’s blood on my hands or my conscience. Wouldn’t bring back my uncle. I’m sorry I even thought about using you the way Samuel does.”

“I don’t think of it that way,” Hugo said softly.

“What way?”

“I don’t feel used.”

Evan didn’t respond, he ran his fingers through the hairs on Hugo’s chest and seemed to fall asleep. It was some time before he spoke again.

“I have a request.”

Hugo hummed that he was listening.

“I have to leave and soon. I can never come back once I do. I’d like to see my mom before I go. Put her mind at ease. Who would she tell?”

“All right.”

“Really? I was expecting more of a fight.”

“You’re right, we need to leave. I don’t see the harm in seeing her before we go.”

“We?”

“Isn’t that what I love you means?”