The Girl Behind the Counter

Chapter 19

"You keep this up and I'll be the healthier one in this relationship." Maxie scolded as she pressed ice to Michael's broken nose. Maxie had been out of hospital for a few weeks and was making a speedy recovery, physically at least. "She's right. You can't keep going out and picking fights mate. We get that you're angry but stumbling in here every morning bleedin' all over isn't the answer." Finn agreed. Michael had taken up the habit of going out, getting pissed drunk, and hitting anyone who looked at him the wrong way. He never used razor blades because he promised Maxie, but his fists could do enough damage. He looked down at his purple knuckles that were still slippery with blood. He was beyond angry, he was enraged, and if he kept his current behavior up it'd kill him. But he felt he couldn't stop. He enjoyed the feel of his fist hitting bone as he punched someone's chin. He liked seeing the blood. He wanted Falco's blood. Until they figure out a way to kill that bomb expert, and Falc0, and every member of his bloody gang for that matter, Michael would continue to lash out. "Liyana, will you grab me some fresh water and some clean rags?" Maxie asked. Just then the other three Shelby brothers came down the stairs into the kitchen. "Right; Michael, Finn, upstairs. There's work to do." Tommy ordered. "Do your bloody work down here Tommo, I haven't finished cleaning Michael up." Maxie gave an order right back. He and his brothers shared uneasy glances. "Oh, what? Do you think Ana and I are gonna run off to Falco and tell him all your secrets? Just get on with it!" Maxie gripped. Ever since the accident people had been treating her like a fragile little porcelain doll and she was sick of it. "Fine then. We know the name of the explosives expert. Marco Rossi. We also know he has a standing date with his mistress as the Cafe Gustoso every Thursday at noon. Seeing as it's a Tuesday that's not enough time to come up with a plan of attack so we aim to strike next week. Now are you sure you ladies want to be here for the bit where we plan murder?" Tommy sarcastically asked while cocking an eyebrow at Maxie. "Fine then, go be men and sharpen your battle axes or what fucking ever. I've gotten most of the blood off of him now." Maxie threw the red dirty rag on the table as a sign of defeat. All the boys ran upstairs except for Michael who stopped to cup Maxie's face in his hands. "I'm sorry I do this to you. I'm sorry I fight. But it'll all be over once I kill Falco. I love you. I really fucking love you." He kissed her and then headed up to Tommy's study. "Alright Liyana. Now that the children are off at play you and I can get to work, yeah?" She smiled mischievously. "Hell yeah." Liyana returned her mischievous smile.

"Have you seen this?! It's un-fucking-believeable! Just one week before we were gonna fucking off him!" Michael angrily threw the copy of the Friday edition of the newspaper on the table. "SUSPECTED GANGSTER AND ARSONIST FOUND SHOT OUTSIDE OF CAFE" Maxie read out load. The front page picture was of a man with greased hair and a thin mustache with a single hole in his forehead, presumably from a bullet. He had roses cascaded all over his body and a broken vase next to his head. He must have knocked a vase and flowers over when he was shot. 'It's wonderfully poetic.' Maxie thought. "I can't believe this!" Michael yelled. "Why are you angry? The bastard is dead this is something to celebrate!" Maxie reasoned. "Yeah, but he was mine! I wanted his death! It should have been me!" Michael shouted. "Calm down! A man like that had to have loads of enemies who all though his death belonged to them! It's done! The cunt is worm food! Try to find a little happiness in that for fuck's sake! It's my family he offed and you don't see me throwing a fucking hissy fit!!!" Maxie yelled. "You're right. You're absolutely right. I'm sorry. It's just... Every night when I go to sleep I see you lying there bleeding out." Michael whispered. "All you have to do is reach over, and you'll feel me. Safe and right beside you." Maxie hushed him. "Yeah, safe and beside me. Right where you belong." He placed a gentle kiss in her blonde curls.