Chapter 66: Chapter 66

MADDIE

May 17th 2018

I pull up outside the club dressed entirely in black and wearing a blonde wig underneath the Patriots cap I found under the passenger front seat. I remove the petrol can from the car I rented from another town.

I gave Chad 24 hours to contact me and re-offer my job with a few extra perks. It's now been 28 hours, and my patience with his idiocy has run out.

"Time's up, mother fucker." I hiss aloud.

It's 11 p.m., and everyone should be at home scrubbing themselves clean of the fifth their bodies have sustained throughout the day.

While I sat across the street this morning, I noticed that the club's east wing had been temporarily closed. The large sign that read:

'CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE'

Could be seen from the main road. I had intended to set fire to the entire building.

However, I've changed my mind and I have chosen to ignite the east wing first. Just to demonstrate that I am dead serious about my threat and that if he continues to ignore my demands, I will set the whole building ablaze and watch it burn to ash from afar as the inferno spreads throughout the city.

I pour the flammable fluid all over the doors,  around the skirting of the east wing and I raise my eyes, realising Chad's car is still parked in the parking lot.

I use the rag in my pocket to wipe the beading sweat from my hairline and I extract the second petrol can from the boot of the car, pouring it over the concrete until I reach his car.

I shake the bottles to ensure that every last drop has been spilt and rub my hands together as I gaze up at the moon, which lights the dark sea sky and abandoned buildings that surround me.

I reach into my back pocket and pull out a packet of cigarettes, tapping the packet against the palm of my hand and pull one out, lighting the lethal coffin nail.

The taste of death dances upon my tastebuds and I savour it as I take in another long drag. I look at my watch, it's nearing midnight and I need to get the show on the road or this princess will end up behind bars as the town local security do their rounds.

It's the 17th and everyone knows after 4 pm the police are out getting their dicks wet by under-aged girls who have been trafficked into the country.

I take one final puff and throw it to the ground, moving away. I watch as the trail of petrol lights up, the fire quickly makes its way towards the club, igniting everything its path.

His car lights up, creating bright hues of light across the parking lot, the smell of burnt rubber intoxicates the atmosphere.

I jump up and down, clapping my hands with glee as the fire finally reaches the club. The sight of the fire in the dark is truly marvellous as she flickers in all her glory.  The exotic flames stretch across the building, spreading quicker than fake news on social media.

I pull my bandana over my face as the smoke quickly becomes thick and I stand by the big tree on the side of the road, shielding myself from the public eye.

"Shit!" The lights from the bar go on.

Nobody was supposed to be inside. According to what I heard through the grapevine, the east wing was closed following Layla's murder of her brother-in-law. The same brother in law she was fucking. It's the second reason why I chose to bring my threat to life.

No one would get hurt and I wasn't about to become a fucking murderer.

'Fuck you, August!' I paid the tramp $200 to confirm the closure and to let me know when everyone had cleared out.

Well, it's pretty fucking obvious that the east wing is still being used!

Running across the road I make an anonymous collect call to the fire department. "Fire! Fire! CLUBROOMs is on FIRE!" Slamming the phone back down on the receiver, I don't stick around to hear the operators voice.

I sprint back across the road, making it halfway across the parking lot and chads car fucking explodes. I throw myself to the ground, covering my head with my hands and when the crackling sound of the fire lingers in the atmosphere, I pull myself up and run back towards the bar.

I break in through the back door, running down the west wings corridor and barging through the doors that connect to the east wing.

BANG!

I come to a halt, slowing my breathing as I desperately try to listen to the struggle going on in the bar.

BANG!! BANG!!

Two shots.

One after the other and the sound of a body hitting the ground resonates off the walls. I press my body flush against the wall, gradually moving towards the bar as fear engulfs me. The fire is spreading, it will burn through the front rooms in no time before it reaches the corridors.

"What have you done!" Chad's growl that is full of anguish rips through the air. "You shot her, Layla. Layla, come on, babe. Get up." His voice breaks and I gulp kicking myself.

Why do I have the worse luck when I try to be a badass?

Fuck my life!

I near the threshold, pressing my body into the wall as much as I can, wishing it would swallow me.

"She shouldn't have moved!! The whore was coming for me. I had no choice but to shoot her in self-defence."

"She didn't move a fucking muscle you crazy bitch!" He roared.

I get down on the ground, peering inside and I see a crazy bitch with a shotgun pointed directly at Chad. Chad's leaning over Laylas limp body, his shoulders tremble as he breaks down crying.

The sprinklers turn on, water showers the building as the sirens blast. I know Chad keeps a gun in his office, I pull back from the door, standing on shaking limbs and carefully make my way to his office.

I reach his desk, opening his top drawer on the right, removing the fake bottom and eject the magazine to make sure it's got bullets. Re-inserting the magazine, I cock it, putting the safety on as I stuff it in the back of my pants.

Yah bitch ain't about to shoot her ass off!

Squeezing my eyes shut, I take a deep breath, getting ready to put on a performance of a lifetime. My eyes spring open, removing the bandana from my face, I scream.  Running towards the bar.

"Fire, fire... Is anyone in the building?" I call out as I enter the room and gasp.

The bitch points the shotgun directly at me, a scowl creeps along her face as she regards me from a distance with puffy red eyes.

"Who the fuck are you?" She sneers.

"No one, I saw the building on fire from across the street and I came to warn you." My voice trembles.

Chad's head snaps up at the sound of my voice and I give him a sidelong glance, shaking my head for him to be quiet.

"Well, it's unfortunate that you did. Because no one is leaving."

"But the fire?" I look at her perplexed, wondering what's running through her head. "I've already called the emergency services and they'll be here any second now."

She sighs, "I really wish you didn't do that." Pointing the gun back at Chad. "I know she did something to my Jimmy and you're going to tell me what you know before I blow your fucking brains out all over your beloved whorehouse!!"

No fucking way...

Jimmy's wife!

"Fuck you." He spits out. "You're gonna shoot me anyway so you might as well get it over and done with." He stands to his full height, challenging her.

You fucking idiot, Chad! You still owe you fucking bastard.

I watch as she walks up to him, an evil smile crosses her face. "Any final words?" She scoffs.

I extract the gun from the back of my jeans. "I do!" She looks at me with wide eyes as I point the gun at her. "Your Jimmy was a kiddy fucker who deserves to rot in hell while the devil takes him up the arse!" I pull the trigger.

"Maddie, NO!!!"

BANG!

"Fuck!" I cry out, stumbling backwards.

I forgot to take the safety off and when I peer up at her...........