Jilly wont stop thanking me, can hardly finish gushing out one 'thank you' before starting on the next, and all I can think is [i]I didn't do nothing worth thanking.[/i] All I did is that thing I can't seem to stop doing, that thing that's sure to see me burn in hell one day, that thing that I know is so inherently [i]wrong[/i] and yet always feels so [i]right[/i]. All I did was hurt people, and it ain't over yet. Sure as shit others like the wee group I gave a seeing to will come, eager to rip retribution outta Jilly and her Pa, Giovanni. The bad guys will come, and they'll hurt this innocent family all the worse, because I was daft enough to get involved. Don't need the Great Song to see that one coming. 

I'm slouched on the De Luca's couch, De Luca being Jilly's surname, in their apartment located above their diner, trying not to think about how badly I've f****d things up for these people. My eyes search the room, for the hundredth time, in a vain attempt to get my mind offa my failings. I take in the photos that line the walls, Jilly and her Pa laughing in happier times, strangers who I take to be aunts, uncles, cousins. Must be nice coming from a close knit family like this. No sign of a Mrs De Luca though, but I know enough about the P's and Q's to stop myself asking about her. Candles of all types line the flat surfaces, their light giving a warm and flickering light to the place. 

I can hear Giovanni walking up the stairs now, finally done speaking to the cops. He said he'd cover for me, tell the law that I'd already done a runner just so long as I kept quiet upstairs, yet I still feel like he's bringing judgement for my crimes with him. It's like I'm awaiting my own hanging and each tramp of his feet coming up those stairs is a bell tolling noon. The door to the apartment opens and there he stands. I push myself to my feet, not quite sure what happens next. Jilly falls quiet quick. I miss her chatter already. 

Mr De Luca near stumbles into the room, the nights excitement must be making his limbs feel like lead. He falls into the couch and releases a long sigh, halfway between pleasure and pain. A moment passes as he sits there with eyes closed, just recouping before throwing himself into again, before his pale blue eyes flicker open. He pats the seat next to him, instructing me to sit. I don't need telling twice. 

“Jilly, fetch your papa and our guest some coffee please.” The girl looks like she wants to stay and see what goes down, but she goes to the kitchen without complaint, leaving me and Giovanni to our own devices. He sits silent again, but his eyes are open this time and I can near see the thoughts working behind those blue orbs. He's working out what he wants to say and how he wants to say it. I don't feel like rushing the issue myself, so I give him all the time he needs. Finally he takes a deep breath, and I know he's ready.

“I told the police it was a masked vigilante who saved us, that he left pursuing the third man and has not returned.” he opens. I grunt my approval, say something about how there's enough of them in Haven now for that to be believable. 

“I didn't think you would want to be involved with the police. You strike me as a man who does not enjoy the scrutiny of the authorities.” I can't do anything but agree. It's not like he's wrong. 

“In fact it is my belief that you were once a man like those that assaulted my daughter and I today.” I feel my face freeze. So, Gio's the observant type. He's sure figured me out quick. But what he's planning on doing with that knowledge, that's the question. Maybe he's got Johnny Law sneaking up the stairs and surrounding the building, stalling me until the boys in blue are ready to pounce. Somehow I doubt it though. He's seen just a slice of what I can do, but I reckon he's smart enough to know that trying to trap me would end badly for everyone involved. No, he's wanting something else. 

“You ain't far from the truth there. Only difference between me and those boys is I was worse.” I answer him, more to fill the space between him getting to between points than any other reason. 

“And being a man who knows their minds and how they think, would you say that this is the end of it?” 

And there it is. Giovanni realises just how bad I've f****d him. He knows that those boys mighta hurt him earlier, him and Jilly too, but that woulda been the end of it. Beat a man and he can pay you later. Now that I've gone and got involved though, it's gonna be worse. Their boss, this Stone character, he probably already knows what's happened, and he'll be spitting mad. 

“No sir,” I answer “I'm feart that this is just the start of something worse. Those boys took a kicking tonight, and that wont look good on their headman. He'll have to make an example of you, or other folk he extorts might start getting the idea to stand up to you. My guess is that more lads of his will come knocking soon, and they wont be gentle. You'll be lucky if they stop at killing you.” I stop there. I could say more but the more I spoke the paler Giovanni got, ended up looking a bit like an albino. He swallows down his fear and his apprehension, getting a bit of color back in his cheeks. My respect for him grows. 

“And what would you suggest we do? I know where Russel Skronsky lives, the man who got away. Do you think if we called the police it wouldn't be to late to stop them.” There's a tremble to his voice, but there's an edge of steel there too. I'm betting he's thinking of Jilly. Giovanni strikes me as they type that would do whatever it takes to protect his daughter. An suddenly I realize, I would too. Mr Stone will probably hound these people until he gets what he wants from them. It'll take some damn dark work to save them from him, and who better suited to it than me? I got them into this mess, I'm gonna be the one to get them out. 

“You? You do nothing cept tell me where Russel lives. I'm gonna have a wee talk with him and his boss, this Mr Stone, sort this all out for ya.” The relief that Giovanni feels at that is almost palpable, and I realize this is probably what he was angling for all along, trying to fight fire with fire as it were. Or maybe its more like using a monster to hunt monsters. But I can see an edge to him, like he's worried of what the consequences of his actions might be. He leans in close, conspiratorially close, and whispers in my ear.

“What will you do?” 

“Maybe better you don't know that.” I answer.

An uncomfortable pause, Giovanni's mind probably racing as he goes through all the various scenarios as to how I might be dealing with Stone and his men. Like I said, better he doesn't know. I ask him where Skronsky lives. Turn's out Leather-Jackets only a few blocks away. We fall silent again after that, it only being broken when Jilly returns with the coffee. Giovanni wraps his hands around his cup like he's trying to drain the warmth from it, while I near down mine in two swallows. I got work to do after all, and it ain't gonna wait for me to finish my coffee. I get to my feet, an eager spring to my step. Even after all this time I still look forward to the work, at the prospect of hurting folk. Da always said [i]No one can deny the call in their blood boy, and the call in ours is violence.[/i] Damn if he ain't right again. 

“Are you leaving Caine?” Asks Jilly. She looks sad at the prospect and I'm reinforced by the knowledge that I'm doing this to keep her safe. 

“Aye Jilly, I've got things to do tonight.” I make for the door. I've got a grip on the handle when Giovanni calls.

“You must return here when you are done Mr MacFondoir. We have a room you can stay in until you're ready.” 

I turn to look at him, my heart lifting when I see there ain't no deception in his face. He means it, there really is a space here for me. Giovanni's seen me for who I am, a mad dog, yet he's willing to take a chance on me. Might be he's doing it cause he feels obligated, but hell if it doesn't mean something to me despite that. I'm more determined than ever to protect these two, to prove to Mr De Luca that I'm worth his consideration. Tonight's work is still gonna be dark, no arguing with that, but it feels like I can see a light shining bright at the end of this tunnel. 

“I think I'll take you up on that sir.” I reply. Jilly beams that smile of her's again, and even Giovanni cracks a little grin. A return them one of my own, then step outta the door. 

Time to go clean up my mess, starting with Russel Skronsky.