It’s been one dark, bloody story, hasn’t it? Well, Barry got what he wanted, but somehow isn’t feeling as satisfied as he should be. Who’s entered his house, and how will this end?

“Uh, Rex?”

Rex Bruschi, dressed in a sleek black suit, walked in and made his way to the sofa, took out a cigarette and a lighter. All this he did without so much as a glance in Barry’s direction.

Barry looked at him, confused as he made himself comfortable. “But-but, Rex, how did you… what key did you… I don’t understa-“

A raised finger silenced him as Rex called for quiet. He then lit the cigarette and took a long drag before looking at him.

Barry could feel an uncomfortable chill run down his spine. This certainly did not feel like a friendly visit.

Sitting back and crossing his legs, Rex turned his sights towards Barry, and began to speak.

“You know, Barry Evan, I’m not a difficult man. I like to think of myself as… should I say… principled? Yeah, principled is good enough. So yeah, I think of myself as a principled person and uh, if you work with me on any level, I expect certain things. I expect certain things to be present in our working relationship, and I expect certain things to be absent in our working relationship.

“Now Barry, I’ve ruled Basilisk Garrison for over ten years now, and my brand speaks for itself. I worked hard to get to where it is today, and it’s mainly because I don’t accept bullshit in any form or shape whatsoever. Not from my men, not from my clients. You fuck up, and it’s over for you. Now, you want an example of what I expect to be absent from my working relationships? Getting abusive toward me.”

Barry’s stomach churned as Rex sat up, puffing smoke. He was speaking in a calm, gentle voice. But anyone could decipher the displeasure behind that calmness.

“And you, Barry Evans, have been pretty abusive, if we’re being honest.”

Barry stuttered, “No no, please, Rex, I-I-I didn’t mean to-“

Rex put up a finger and wagged it, silencing him again. He took another drag from his cigarette as a visibly worried Barry watched on.

“Like I said, I’m not a difficult man. I know that sometimes, the unexpected occurs. Like with that Romeo boy and the wallet issue. So when I explained it to you that day, I was expectant that you’d calm the fuck down and listen to me. After all, I’m his boss, and if I’m giving you the information myself, there’s gotta be some restraint on your end, right? But nope, you said all types of nasty shit to me, talking to me like I’ve got fucking seeds for brains. And I warned you to watch it, trusting that that threat would, you know, serve as a precedent for future conversations.

“But guess what? After that third fuck up by the boy, you saved some of that rage and dished it out on me once again, questioning my competence, cutting me off at every given opportunity and generally talking to me like you have some semblance of authority over me, when the reality is that you should be thankful I did your dirty work for you, considering you’re just a fucking lame old man who can’t even wipe his fucking ass without some fucking assistance!”

Barry began shaking in his wheelchair. Rex had gone from calm to enraged in a matter of minutes, and frightening was the softest word to describe how he felt.

“Oh yeah, and you know another thing I hate? Ingratitude. When I do something for you, the least I expect is a thank you. It doesn’t cost any pesewas to do that, does it? Yet, since my boys put that man and his wife to sleep, we’ve not even received a text message saying thanks. Nothing. Not a fucking word.”

“Oh, Rex, please, I’m sorry, I gotta be honest, I saw the text just this evening, I didn’t realize it came last night…” Barry explained hurriedly.

“It’s all right, old man. It’s all right. Never mind about all that,” Rex interjected, switching back to calm mode. “I understand. People make mistakes, you know. People make mistakes all the time. But you know what? There’s always the chance to set things right.”

With that, Rex rose to his feet. “And that, is why I’m here. To set things right.”

At this point, Barry had turned pale with fright. The ominous tone of Rex was not comforting in the least. And that dangerous glint in his eye… extremely unsettling.

He started wheeling himself backwards.

God, I wish I could just jump out of this wheelchair!

“Stop moving.”

The short, succinct order by Rex was quickly obeyed.

“You know, Barry Evan, I’m not a man who is big on compassion. Once you fuck up, you’re a goner in my books. But there’s the occasional moment where I… just decide to show a little bit of grace. And good lord, if you fuck that up? Oh good lord, your ass is in trouble. Now for some reason, as far as this piece of business is concerned, I made a major mistake. You know what that was? Giving you and that useless piece of shit called Romeo that little bit of grace. I gave you niggas quite a bit of rope, and y’all burned the whole fucking thing. Right down to the fucking ashes!

“So that’s why I’m here, to make things right. To keep it well known that nobody, and I mean nobody, steps on the toes of Rex Bruschi and tells the tale in one piece. The young pile of garbage has been cleaned out. Now it’s your turn, old man.”

Terrified was the weakest word to describe Barry’s state of mind at that point. And watching Rex take his jacket off made it even worse.

This man came for one reason alone.

To kill him.

Now that decision to get super tough on Rex looked like the worst decision he had ever made. What in the world made him think playing Tough Guy with a hardened and heartless man like Rex was a good idea?

“Rex, please, please, I’m sorry. Forgive me, I beg you. I didn’t mean to do what I did, please. I was just high on emotion, that’s all. I promise, anything you say, I’ll do it. I’ll give you whatever you want. But please, please, please don’t hurt me. Think about my family, please. I beg you. Please, don’t hurt me,” he tearfully pleaded, his hands clasped together.

Rex stared straight at him, a wry smile on his face. Standing still for a couple of seconds, looking like he was considering the tearful plea, he simply kept his eyes on him.

GOD, PLEASE LET HIM LET ME GO! PLEASE! Barry inwardly screamed in prayer, hoping Rex would somehow have mercy on him.

Then his lips parted.

“God forgives… but I don’t.”

With that, a right hook flew right into Barry’s left cheek.

The force behind the punch threw Barry off the wheelchair.

“FOOL! NOT EVEN MY OWN FATHER COULD ESCAPE MY WRATH WHEN HE FUCKED UP! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I’M GONNA SPARE YOU?”

Groaning in pain from the stinging sensation on that cheek, he whimpered as he realized this was the answer to the question that had lingered in his mind that evening.

Nope. It wasn’t worth it. Not only did he feel no inner joy at knowing Gilbert was dead, he had played himself into the hands of this heartless, ruthless monster, who was now in his house, ready to do something terrible to him.

Good Lord, he had signed a deal with the devil!

Oh God, why did I think it was a wise idea to shout at this man? Whyyy??

Before he could gather his thoughts, Rex was on top of him, a fierce look on his face. With vengeance and callousness written on his brow, and a ferocity that was double the resistance Barry had in him, it was clear this was going to be a pummeling.

Thirty seconds of misery followed for Barry, as Rex delivered a rapid fire series of jabs to his face.

“Stupid bedridden piece of shit!” Rex snarled as he delivered those punches. “You thought you could shout at me and order me about like I’m your fucking servant! I did you a fucking favour, you lame fuck!”

With a jab accompanying every two words, Barry’s attempts at pleading for mercy were wiped out totally. Pain meeting him at every second, he could say nothing but wince and pray it would end quickly.

It did, eventually. And what a bloody mess he was at the end. Literally.

As he struggled to breathe, blinded by the blood in his eyes, he felt Rex grab him by the collar and lift him up slightly as he spat, “Nobody fucks with Rex Bruschi and stays the same. Never.”

No doubt, he had learned that the hard way.

Barry was already slipping out of consciousness as Rex rose to his feet. Far too weak to see his aggressor snicker at his bloodied state.

As he struggled to stay awake, while wishing to God he had never crossed paths with this evil man, all he do was hear.

Hear as Rex called him a crippled son of a bitch.

Hear as his footsteps moved further and further away from him.

Hear as Rex’s distant voice echoed out certain words.

“Oh, one more thing.”

Hear as a gun was cocked…

God, no. please, no-

POW! POW! POW!

THE END

Damn, that was a pretty horrific ending right there! Oh dear oh dear, Barry’s quest for vengeance was fulfilled, alright. But at a pretty terrible cost. I guess deals with the devil aren’t worth it…

Anyways, thanks for reading, and continue to enjoy yourself around the State!