A Muffin a Day

Chapter Sixteen, The Bar

Jay

I watched Milo make the drink that I ordered. He put strawberries in the drink, making me smile. Strawberries were one of my favorites. He'd set the glass in front of me, "Enjoy, Angel." He'd smile. I'd nod, taking the glass and taking a sip. It was sweet. I'd look at Archer, who was scanning the room it seemed. "Is he here yet..?" He'd ask. Milo would shake his head, "No. Not yet." Who was coming?  I'd look where Archer was looking, it was the front door. "Do you want to see this person?" I'd question. He'd look over, "Hell no. Milo and Ms. Angela need me to talk to him though..." He'd sigh, ordering himself some scotch. "Why can't they talk to him?" I'd ask curiously. He'd sigh, "Sadly me being their boss means something to them and they can't get off their asses and do anything themselves." I'd nod slowly, looking at Milo. "Our hands are tied...He wants to hear from Archer, not us." I'd hear the door swing open in the front, making everyone look at the door. A man, who looked about five-six stood there, he had dirty-blonde hair and somewhat of a beard. His forcing the door open was noticeable by the dent in the door. The Tony guy knocked out by the door. "Good evening, Vals." He'd smile, moving towards the middle of the bar. Two guards followed behind him with guns. "Anyone know where Archer is?" He'd ask with a smile. Archer would move his gaze away, trying to focus on his drink. The man would look around, "Nobody? Nobody at all?" He'd shrug, moving towards the counter. "Tender, make me a scotch, not too strong." Milo would nod, picking up a bottle and going to pour it. "No. No. The expensive stuff." Milo would shrug, taking the bottle and moving it back under the counter. He'd retrieve a fancy-looking bottle. The new man would look over at me, "My my...Valentinos must be lucky with such a strong man like you..." I'd look at him, seeing him with his eyes glued on Archer. "We have very strong men, sir, not many are talkers, though." Milo said, setting the glass down, and turning to set the fancy bottle on display in the glass case. "Such a shame...You look awfully familiar, Mr...But I can't remember where I've seen ya'..." He'd take the glass and sip it, his eyebrows furrowing. "Tender..." Milo would turn around, looking back at the man. "Come here." He demanded. Milo would move over, "What is it, sir?" The man poured the drink on Milo's head. His hair getting drenched. "It's too sweet. Make me a new one." Milo would frown, his hair and shirt wet. "That was unnessisary..."  "Make the drink right and maybe it wouldn't have been." I'd look over at Archer, who looked pissed. With a sudden rush, he lunged at the man, his fists a blur in the air. The others were caught in a whirl of emotions, unsure whether to intervene or simply bear witness to the fight. Milo was audibly begging Archer to stop, yelling his name repeatedly.. The flurry of blows exchanged between the two caused guards to rush from almost everywhere. The man's guards tried to stop Archer, while the bar's guards held them back from intervening. The sounds of the fight echoed through the room, chairs and tables jostled as the fight intensified. Gasps escaped from the bar, their expressions of shock, fascination, and discomfort, watching a scene that felt both unreal and inevitable. People were screaming and chanting at the top of their lungs, only to die down when a new person stepped into the open door. Their police badge on their chest.  Archer would get up, and move towards the bathroom. There was a big enough crowd to make his getaway unnoticeable. He'd move past me, "Excuse me, Ma'am." I'd move back a stool. He'd help the beaten man sit up. "You're far out of Ferramo territory, boy..." The man hissed. The beaten man continued to be dazed. He'd shake his head, "Valentinos don't play nice, you should know this, Jammie...Or are you looking for trouble..?" The guards, who must have been Jammie's came over. "That damn black-haired bastard beat him for pouring a glass on the head of a damn tender." The detective would look over. "Was I talking to you?" He'd ask firmly. The guards would back off. He'd shake his head. "I...I was just here to meet...Archer..." The detective perked up. "What are you doing meeting that criminal..." He'd tighten his grasp around him. "Just talking...was the plan...he decided he was going to beat me..." The detective nodded. "Why don't you...find Archer for me... I'd like to speak to him as well." I'd get out of my seat. This wasn't looking good. I'd look around for where Archer could be, seeing nobody. For a tall ass man, he sure hid well. I'd sigh, deciding to go to the bathroom to try and call him. I'd look under the stalls to make sure that nobody else was in the bathroom. I'd see nobody. I'd get on my phone, realizing I didn't even have his phone number. I'd groan, shoving my phone back into my pocket. I'd try to go to a stall, seeing the first one was out of order. The next one was locked, but last time I checked nobody was in the bathroom... I'd look through the small crack in the stall, seeing someone with their feet on the toilet so you couldn't see their feet. His eyes shut as he held onto the stall walls for support. I'd knock on the door, "Archer..?" He'd look at me now. "Go lock the door..." He'd demand in a whisper. I'd turn and lock the front door of the bathroom. His feet were on the floor now, he'd open the door and look at me. "That detective is looking for you..." I'd say quietly. He'd nod, looking at the window. "I'm a bit too...big to get out of that window...do me a favor," he'd toss the keys at me. I barely caught them. "Get out of that window and start the car. I'll have to go outside the front door. I'd look at the keys nervously. "Are you sure you won't fit?" He'd stare at me. "Have you seen me?" I'd sigh, nodding. "Fine, help me up..." He'd nod, picking me under my arms and setting me on the counter. He'd move his hands up to my chest, squeezing, hard. I'd whine, squirming a bit, "Archer-". He'd let go, chuckling. "That hurt." I'd hiss. He'd smile, shrugging. "You'll get over it..." He'd open the window allowing me to crawl out. I'd reach up, pull myself up, and crawl out. He'd shut the window behind me. I felt the cold air hit me. Bad day to wear a dress. I'd stand up and go to the car. "Please have heating..." I'd beg. I'd unlock the car, and go in the driver's seat. This will either go really good or really bad...