Chaper 5. Talk rough with me

Thursday morning.

Another day at school, but Damien didn't mind because compared to his shitty life out there, school seemed like heaven.

The first thing he saw walking down the hallway was Adeline. This time, she wasn't alone. Four girls surrounded her. One of them was Molly.

"What's your problem? I never did anything to you!" Adeline exclaimed.

"We don't think a slut like you belongs in our school," Molly grumbled.

"Oh? Then why are you guys are still here?" Adeline snapped.

Damien snickered then kept walking as he didn't want to deal with their girly bullshit. He tried to sneak away before Molly noticed him, but she saw him. Her eyes turned wide, and her face brightened.

"Chert Poberi!..." he mumbled under his breath.

"DAMIEN! WAIT!"

"What?" Damien barked. He halted as Molly chased him down and grabbed his arm.

"Wait, I need to talk to you," Molly said. She tried to snuggle up to him, but he grabbed her shoulder and lightly pushed her away. He caught a whiff of her perfume and winced. Did she pour an entire bottle on her head?

"Talk to me about what?" Damien yawned.

"You never called or texted me after we...you know," Molly whined.

"So what?"

Molly's smile didn't falter. "So, when will you take me out on a date?"

"I never said I'll take you out on a date," Damien waved his hands dismissively.

"But we had sex!" Molly said in a hushed tone and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I really like you. Can we please be together again sometimes?"

Damien's jaw tightened. He didn't realize how annoying Molly was. Sleeping with her was a mistake. "I don't want to get together again, so have some self-respect and get off my jock," he snarled.

Molly's eyes turned wide. "Okay, but I can change. If I am not clingy, will you want to go out with me again?" she looked at him with a pleading eye.

Damien scoffed. This girl is turning out to be more annoying than he thought. What the fuck was wrong with her? "Fuck off, Molly. I don't come back for seconds. And by the way, why the fuck were you harassing the new girl?"

Molly's face turned dark. "What's it to you?"

"Just leave her alone. And while you're at it, leave me alone too and stop begging me to sleep with you again. It's pathetic." With that, Damien walked off.

He needed to find Nikolai. He knew where Nik liked to hang out between classes, and sometimes, he'd skip a few despite his father's warnings to him. Damien walked to the back of the school near the woods and spotted Nikolai fighting with two teenage boys. He recognized them as the members of the Black Irish Brotherhood. It was easy to identify them because of their signature looks; midnight black hair, and their eyes looked dark and soulless.

Damien winced as he witnessed Nik trying to take down Rex and Finn from the gang. Rex was holding Nik by his shirt. Nik's usual goons were nowhere near him, so it was one against two. There was no way he'd win this fight. Damien sighed and strolled toward them. This wasn't the first time he had to bail his brother out of a bad situation and this wouldn't be the last. He was sure of it.

"Oh, look. It's the asshole brother to the rescue. You're welcome to join us so we can kick your ass too," Finn hissed.

Damien didn't hesitate for one second. His hands reached down and grabbed Finn's collar. He balanced his weight on his feet and threw his right fist at his face. Finn croaked as the fist landed on his nose, making a sick cracking sound. Damien let go of Finn's shirt, which sent him tumbling backward. Blood gushed from his nose. He laid on the ground and didn't get up.

"Shite!" Rex yelped. He let go of Nik and charged at Damien. He grabbed Damien's arm and twisted it. Damien recoiled in pain only for a brief moment as he had been training for this his whole life. He kicked Rex on the leg, forcing him to let go of his arm. Damien leaned down, grabbed his legs, pulled him down onto the ground, and then kicked him on the ribs.

"This will show you not to mess with us, assholes!" Damien yelled and kept kicking until Rex held his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright, we'll leave. Just stop!" Rex groaned.

"Good. Now get the fuck out of here," Damien barked.

Rex stood up and pulled Finn off the ground then they both scurried off.

Damien turned towards Nik. The annoyance was apparent in his face.

"You got here right on time, brother. Thank yo-...."

Nik couldn't finish his sentence as Damien punched him in the face. Not hard enough to break anything but just enough to leave a bruise.

"Yo, what the fuck!" Nik groaned. He could already feel the bruise forming on his face. His left eye teared up.

"Leave Adeline alone. She belongs to me," Damien snarled.

Nik laughed then winced as his face was in pain. "Who? The new girl? That's cute, but I don't think she belongs to anyone but herself."

"We'll see about that," Damien said. "Just stay away from her, alright? And quit getting in trouble. I'm starting to get sick of bailing you out of these idiotic fights."

"Whatever, thanks anyway. You didn't have to punch me so hard. Shit hurts a lot," Nik complained.

"Get over it," Damien said and headed back home.

At home, he was greeted by Vanya, who had been waiting for him. "What do you want?" Damien narrowed his eyes.

"Don't be rude, moy mal'chik. I'm here so you can accompany me to Pink Pony," Vanya replied irritably.

Pink Pony was one of the small strip clubs in town his father had his business with. Damien nodded and followed Vanya to the car.

"Why are we going there?" Damien asked.

"They still owe us the rest of the protection money. You will help me collect it," Vanya went quiet after that.

Vanya grabbed the owner of the club by his neck then slammed his head on the bar.

"Please...stop. One of the girls got sick, and so we are a little short on cash. I'll have it by the end of the week, I swear!" the owner cried.

"I didn't ask for the money end of the week, you moron! I told you today was the day I'm coming to collect them. But you know what, since I'm a nice guy, I'll give you another chance," Vanya sneered. He let go of his neck.

"You will?" the club owner looked hopeful.

"Sure. But my kindness comes with a cost," Vanya suddenly grabbed the owner's hand and pressed it against the bar. He motioned Damien to come closer.

"Take your knife out and come over here kid," Vanya ordered Damien.

Shit, what was he trying to do?

"Cut his pinky off. If he doesn't have money tomorrow, we'll cut another finger off," Vanya said calmly.

"Please no!" the owner tried to get out of Vanya's grasp, but his men grabbed him and held him in place.

"You...want me to cut his finger off?" Damien's eyes turned wide.

"Yes, you. Who else would it be? What, can't do it?" Vanya wrinkled his forehead. "Is this too gory for you? This business isn't for some lily-livered wussies, so if you can't handle it, go cry somewhere else," Vanya mocked.

Damien picked up the knife and looked away as he didn't want to look at the owner's crying face as he cut his pinky off in one stab. He tried not to look sick as blood gushed from the severed wound.

"I'll be outside," he stormed out of the club, so he didn't have to hear the club owner's deafening scream.