Zib's Kid

Chapter 13

The Lackadaisy was a classy establishment, but there was no specific rule to stop you from coming in wearing overalls and making a fool of yourself. If you had a pin, you were welcomed in to throw away your money and maybe come back with more clients.

It all happened so fast, so suddenly.

Zib was sitting at the bar talking to Wick and didn't even notice the newcomer, until Rocky, who had been running around the room or drawing or something, came running up to him and grabbed onto his pants' sleeve. Then he looked up.
He saw a large grey cat with icy blue eyes coming his way. The guy was already in his face and didn't even acknowledge him as he grabbed the kid by the arm and pulled away.

"Woah, hey!"
"Eh- excuse me, sir?" Wick was the first to say something and get off his seat. The grey cat gave him the most venomous side eye and spat "Piss off", grumbling 'rich bastard' under his breath as he walked away. Only now Zib stood in front of him, placing a hand on Rocky, trying to place his own body between him and the bigger man.

"Hey, let go! Who the hell do you think you are?"

The stranger pretty much snarled in his face, "I'm his father". Zib faltered for a second, but he hid it well.

"Well, I'm his uncle. And I've been taking care of him since you left."

Now the grey cat faltered. There was recognizement in his eyes for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "You can tell your sister you don't need to bother with him anymore. He's with me now."

Zib fumbled for words. The stranger was already walking around him.

"What? No, wait, where are you taking him?"
"'S none of your business." He was walking away now.
"Wait- no, no you can't do that!"

Zib tried to grab the man by the arm and make him turn, but he responded by backhanding him, hitting him with all of the strength in the motion.

Nina's slap had merely smarted for a few moments. This was something else. Zib found himself thrown backwards against the bar and felt disoriented, hot pain extending over his jaw. He heard Rocky screaming but he couldn't react in time, barely holding himself against the bar as he saw the little boy clawing his father across the knuckles.

Mr. Rickaby growled, but didn't let go. "You little shit," he grabbed the boy's arm with both hands, holding tight, and twisted.

Rocky screamed and struggled. Zib could do nothing but look in horror, until Jasper grabbed the item he had closest to him, a half full glass, and smashed it over the man's head. It was only enough to snap him out of it, to distract him.
He let go of Rocky, who ran back to Zib crying. The musician took him in his arms and only stood there, still in shock.

Mr. Rickaby turned towards Jasper. "The hell is wrong with you!?"
"What's wrong with me? You are a coward!"
"Say what?"
"You heard me. You are a fucking coward."

The other turned to look at him straight with a sneer. "You say that to my face again." Jasper, who actually had jumped over the bar to get to him, had all of his fur bristled, fangs bared ready for a bar fight, but it was over before it started.

There were strong arms suddenly wrapped around the grey tom's neck from behind. Both of them froze.

It's not easy to snap a person's neck. You have to know how to do it and have the necessary force in order to do so. Now, Jasper had known Hernán for quite some time, and he knew Hernán was one of the few amongst Atlas' goons who could, and would, pull it off.
And he had Rocky's father in a chokehold right now.
Jasper panicked.

"No, no, don't!" he said. "Don't do that, not now."

Hernán merely rolled his eyes. "Will you get the door for me, please?"