How Things Are

thirty five

The banging on my door makes me jump and fall out of bed. Crap. Realizing I'm still in last night's clothes I undress and shuffle them under my blankets then pull on a hotel robe. The banging turns into a jiggling door handle. I get to it just before Leo and Teedo open the door on their own. Leo is looking at the ground while Teedo has an unreadable expression on his face. They both walk in and start going through my things.

Teedo sees my clothes bundled up and raises his eyebrow "I was thinking about dressing casual." I look at them both "What's going on?"

"One of the car keys has gone missing." I look at Leo. Did he gamble it away?

"And you think I took it?" I ask simply

Teedo takes in a heavy breath "It's gone. We can't find it." He looks back at Leo and then at me. "Leo says he doesn't remember much of anything from last night. So I'm looking here."

"I can't believe this." I walk away rolling my eyes.

"Where are you going?" Teedo yells

"To shower." I yell back "Let me know when you find the real thief." I slammed the bathroom door and then started getting inside the shower. I bet Leo gambled it but is too cowardly to admit it so he's blaming the thief. There's a possibility he doesn't remember but it's very slim. Sammy makes sure his customers don't get too much for free. He's pretty cheap. Even I had some last night and he cut me off reminding me I shouldn't go home waisted.

Leo wouldn't look me in the eye. He remembers. Everyone is blaming the thief when he probably gambled it away.

I'm scrubbing at my hair in frustration. The bottle says 'soothing fragrance' on it. Nothing is soothing about this morning. By the time I'm out of the shower and in new clothes, it's just Leo in the room. What a surprise.
He looks at me with guilt written all over his face. "What is it, Leo?"

He looks anywhere but at me. "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell them."

I breathe out of my nose "Who had the keys last Leo?"

"Look. You don't understand how bad I screwed up." He whisper-yells "This is Nutrual Zone. Mafia can't just walk in there and take it back."

"So you blame it on me instead," I started "What did you tell them?"

Leo looks sideways "Teedo found me naked on my bed with your jacket... plus what the innkeeper saw last night, you'll take the blame for this Tibs."

I took a deep breath. He's so pathetic. I leaned my katana against the wall.

"Look. I'm sorry but Lucas-"

Before he could finish his sentence I punched him in his jaw. There was no stopping with how angry I was and how much of a coward this guy was. Lucas scared everyone. Why wouldn't he think I wouldn't be afraid of him either? Every hit I gave, I took one in return. Leo knew how to fight but while my rage and anger pushed me forward Leo's cowardice drove him. He tried to be quiet so the others wouldn't hear us fighting but screw that. If I'm already getting blamed for something he might as well leave with a few bruises.

We tossed all over my hotel room. Curtains torn. Vases broke. Tables cracked. The chair legs snapped off. By the time Lucas came it was a mess. His men followed, pulling us apart. We were disheveled. Both sporting bloody noses and a black eye.

"Explain," Lucas said in his deceptively patient voice as he stepped over the mess we left behind.

I looked at Leo who had the same angry look back at me.

"I won't repeat myself." Lucas voice rose slightly.

Leo gave me a look of warning but before I could speak a freaking knight in shining armor appeared. Sammy himself stepped through the door.

"Excuse me?" He looks at the situation and it's like he can read my mind " I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Lucas looks from me to Sammy to the cold expression on Leo's face. "You know him?"

"Yes, boss," I say simply. "This is Sammy. He owns a well-respected casino in Neutral Zone."

Sammy gives a cat-like grin. "I wouldn't say well-respected now Tibby." He looks at Leo and back at Lucas "My customers' pockets aren't always as full as the Dragon Mafia." He did a slight bow at Lucas.

Lucas looks at him like he does everyone. A bug in the way. "So you're here why?"

"To pick up my car" poor Leo. His face was sickly pale.

"Your car?" Lucas looks between me and Leo "And just how did you win this car?" For him to speak so friendly makes me realize how much trouble I am in too.

Though I'm sure he reads the room, Sammy smiles "Ahh. Poor Leo there gambled it away." He chuckles "along with the rest of his clothes."

Leo breaks into a cold sweat while the smile on Lucas' face grows into an evil grin. He laughs along with Sammy while the rest of the room is silent. I was wrong, Sammy's not my Knight in shining armor. He just created a monster. "Teedo. Go show Sammy his new car."

"Yes boss." I envy Teedo for being allowed to leave the room. Sammy may have cleared my name but by the others reaction, I have a feeling it might get worse.

When the door shut Lucas slowly steps towards me and Leo. The men that were behind us have scattered like rats. "So you gambled my car." He says to Leo, who can only shiver in return "and you took him to gamble away my car." A chill goes up my back and I can't speak.

He looks at both of us as if thinking what to do then I see Leo fall down cold. Did he pass out? Then something pricks my neck and I look behind and see Joey with a needle. Then I begin to feel weak and fall. Then I see black. Then nothing.