Ex-soldier Birmingham-gangster bets his life on luck and illegalities, adroit wit and burning passion streaking his blood-stained fingertips as a dire quarrel commence between himself and the disturbed Dane who purloined his lover.
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PLENTY OF UNPLEASANTRIES
WITH A PERFECT LIFE in total and complete disarray, Ines Lenz had begun to wonder what to do with herself. It was not safe for her to stay in the same house – no less same bed – as Nikolaj. Granted, he was her husband, but that could no longer impede her in looking past his faults, for as time had come to show, they were abundant. All the while, she still loved him. He had been an impeccable husband, one she had never dared dream of, however, and sad as it was for a fine woman like herself, it provided her no standards as to how a man ought to be. Loving he surely had been, kind, and never cruel, but that could not change the fact that he had thieved the life of another man. How he too, in a time as the fine morning in which Ines sat still over her tea, wondering—pondering, could be so at peace, so calm at heart, she simply could not comprehend. She had merely, awful as it had been, stood by, watched as Nikolaj had pulled the trigger on Peter Karlsen, killing him instantly. Candidly she in her position stood no chance against Nikolaj, certainly not as he held unto a pistol and frankly not against his muscle either. He was no man of large, protruding frame, but his aggressiveness and almost psychotic behavior had shown his capabilities of savageness.
The day passed by, hours slow as she learned they were as she watched the daunting clock, second passing by second, slowly and shyly making up a minute. The cold tea she had replaced with whiskey, not too much to fall bitter but just enough to keep her head racing and thoughts coming. 'What to do' was the question and she ought to act.
Nikolaj worked the day away, apprehending the tension at his place of work and while colleagues and business partners approach him with condolences, he sometimes had to think just why they felt sorry for him. It was an off sensation of a feeling he was met with, those people thinking him low enough to actually feel bad that one was gone. Indeed he had spent many pleasant moments with Peter Karlsen, but that he had so easily ruined when he exclaimed his secret love for Nikolaj. Now that was a surprise, and Nikolaj still was not fond of surprises. Regardless, Nikolaj thought now that he could remember all the good times with Peter, there was no need to fil his head with bad times. Certainly not the concession of fondness.
When he got back home, he was greeted with the ever-oblivious Motley, but Nikolaj was dismissive of the dog as he wished nothing but to be alone in his home office.
It was then, as he strode tirelessly through the parlor, he found Ines sitting quietly by herself and just as he spoke to greet her, he was affronted with her abashing ask.
"Did you ever love me?"
She had indeed done her thinking and he knew nothing of it.
"Come again?"
She repeated herself, voice unwavering but she did not dare lift her fast gaze from the burning candle on the table before her.
It took some comprehension to wrap his mind around from where she came. She had been awfully quiet and while he had taken it as a chance of peace of mind, she appeared to have been spending her time speculating. He could admit wholeheartedly she had witnessed plenty of unpleasantries lately, but so had he and as it failed to affect him, why would it affect her?
