#luckylouieb

[trustnonebristol]

Voicemail @Louie

Mac:Boss, things have gone into the shitter for me. Luke phoned. I know you said you were handling it. But he shot my best mate while on the line with me. I'm headed back to Bristol. Taking Mia with me. Left your drugs at the house. No need to risk them. If I make it out of this, I know I'll likely face punishment for leaving Manchester. But this is something I have to do. I don't have many people I'd stand up for. Aside from you, this girl he shot, the blind girl... that's it. Hope you understand.

[trustnonebristol]

Manchester Madness || Personal

Mac was getting into a routine in Manchester. It didn't take long. Having been there almost a week, it was wearing on her. No further word on Mya. No word at all from Louie as to how long she would be in Manchester. He'd sent someone else to make the drug and money drop since Clark was off doing something. Poor guy needed a break. But she could understand why he was Louie's man. He was loyal and he was good at his job. She was making Louie money. That's all that mattered. Louie had said he was trying to get Mya released and she believed him. But the whole ordeal reminded Mac how expendable people like her were. So she had gone out every night and made Louie money. It was part of her routine.

Get up at 6am, walk Milo. Eat breakfast with him. Work out. Shower. Another quick walk before taking a ride through town. Sometimes doing smaller deals at the Red Lion, sometimes doing the mundane like getting coffee and sitting in an outdoor cafe. That way she'd have Milo with her and he wouldn't be cooped up anywhere. Mac found herself talking to him a lot. He was a good listener as long as she had food. At about 4pm, she'd turn in for a bit of rest only to be up at 8 to start her rounds for 9. The only change in her routine was the choice of clubs for the night. She had the 5 she liked but she'd hear about a new one and decide to check it out. Even if she managed to sell regardless of the place, Mac had yet to find another one that suited her needs and be added to her original 5. She drank maybe two drinks per night, no drugs. She wanted to keep a clear head. 

Mac would take Milo out before heading to the clubs. Her night would end around 3am, sometimes 4 depending on the score. She'd come back to Louie's where Milo would be hogging the bed and barely lift his head when she got in. She really wouldn't fall asleep at that hour. Her mind played a horrible movie over and over again. Mac could hear the words Luke spit at her.

It’s insane how tainted innocence like that can get. All it takes is one time. My boys were excited to get their hands on something that pure. She’s mine now. Her and the rest of your friends. A single soundtrack set on repeat. Sometimes the picture would change. It wouldn't be Mya getting attacked but Ana. She could see them vividly, lying broken on the ground. A group of jackals and hyenas standing around laughing while either Mya or Ana lay sobbing and whimpering. More than once she found herself getting sick. After the third night of it, she stopped fighting the images. Mac would lay there letting her brain torture her and wait until 6 to get up.

The only brightness in this had been Ana texting her. Mac always marveled at how such a simple thing from her could calm her. The texting had gone for a while as it was prone to do. Every word received gave her a little hope that all would work out in the end. When Ana agreed to come to Manchester, it both elated Mac and terrified her. It had been such a careless wish to have Ana by her side. And Ana merely said it was easy to come to her. No doubt in her words. She smiled as she lay there and forgot about the danger for a moment.

[trustnonebristol]

Manchester Candy || Personal

Mac had found Louie's home alright after getting the address from him. She'd chosen one of the guest rooms with its own bathroom. After bringing in her bags, she took Milo for a walk around the neighborhood. He seemed to be happy to be out of the car. He kept looking at Mac and whining every so often. “I know how you feel buddy. I'd whine with you but people would look at me funny. Not that they aren't since I'm you know talking to you.. out loud.” She smiled at him and stooped down to pet him. Mac had never really had a pet but she liked animals well enough. She whispered to him. “I'm really sorry. I never meant for her to get involved in any of this, to get hurt. If I'd known... “ She stood up after giving him one more scratch behind his ears.

She set Milo up in the guest room with her. If Louie minded, he could take the cleaning costs out of her pay. Mac had the puppy pads down in the tiled bathroom along with the food and water bowls. She pulled off the duvet from the bed and stored it in the closet. He looked tired after his walk and opted for a nap when Mac got into the shower. The water cascaded over her. It felt as good as anything could lately.

Mac had a few places to hit tonight. She would stop in at Louie's place the Red Lion first, scope it out, see what the crowd was like. Then she had a list of five places she wanted to hit, probably not all tonight. But if she was going to be in town for a while, she thought she might as well get her name out there, both for candy and music. All the clubs offered different clientele.

She figured she'd  hit 42nd Street Nightclub first. That one was the required university crowd. Nothing thrilling. They'd buy spliff, MDMA, some K, some Xanax but less likely to buy the higher end stuff like coke and h. She expected the music to be generic and stuff that would make her ears bleed a little. After that she'd hit South.

South was a hot underground club entering its 20th year. They'd been re-imagined recently but its essence was still the same. Underground dive bar with theme nights catering to the music. They liked to think of themselves as a dive but it was anything but. She knew she could get a set there without much noise. She'd stayed off radars until Louie. Now there was a buzz with other DJs that she was in the country and ready to spin. Mac had done well in Miami and apparently having done time was only making her more appealing to the club scene. It would all work best in the end for Louie. The more people heard about her, the more people would come to the Broken Clover to hear her. The more money she brought to Louie's coffers. Win-win.

There were two gay clubs she would hit another night. The Birdcage is exactly what the name conjured up – a cabaret style club with drag queens, show girls and male revue. She could probably sell her entire carry in an hour. Twinks knew how to party up and down the rainbow. Hell they did it wearing heels and made it look as easy as breathing. The other club was Vanilla Girls. There she expected less sales. Dykes drank more than they partied. Maybe some spliff, MDMA but that was what she expected. She was going there more for personal reasons than anything else.

The fifth club, Sankeys Manchester, was highest up in the food chain when it came to clubbing. Getting in required a little more than just waiting in line. They held massive events and anyone worth knowing played there. She'd sell plenty of coke and h there. She was curious about getting a set but she wouldn't even ask. Mac would build her following more than she already had and then wait until she was invited. Then she'd turn them down at least twice before finally agreeing.

When she was done in the shower, she dressed for the night ahead of her, loaded up on all the goodies, and petted Milo good bye, letting know to behave and that she would be back. Mac also told him she'd get him pizza the next day if he was really good. It was funny to her, and didn't go unnoticed, that the only thing holding her to this plane of reality was a dog. She shook it off and headed out.

[trustnonebristol]

Broken || Personal

Mac had sat by the wall a while. Time didn't make any sense. Milo had laid down beside her and she felt the weight of his presence against his leg. She also felt the absence of his owner tenfold. When she got up, she went to the kitchen and gave him a snack. Then she grabbed some paper towels and spray stuff. She cleaned up her vomit on automatic. She didn't bother righting the couch. When everything was clean, she went to her bathroom, stripped down and showered. No matter how hard she scrubbed, she would never be clean again. Mya. Her name echoed in her mind. She was supposed to help her.

Turning off the water, she grabbed a towel and set about getting dressed in her room. She grabbed her duffel bag and filled it with her clothes and personal items. There wasn't a whole lot of those. She grabbed her backpack and filled it one compartment with Louie's cash and his supply of drugs. The other compartment, she filled with her own cash and Damien's drugs. She grabbed two of the Xanax and popped them Maybe they would help eventually. She opened a drawer and grabbed a prepaid cell  and put in a new sim. She took the memory card out of her phone and put that in the new phone. She'd still have her contacts. She popped the battery out of the old cell before putting it in the backpack.

She went into the kitchen and packed a bag with all of Milo's stuff. “Be right back boy.” She went down to the parking garage and unlocked  her car. She'd been tempted to trade it for a bike but was thankful she hadn't. Putting the bags in the rear she noticed a bag in the backseat. She expected the worst now. Mac grabbed it and opened it slowly. A bomb would have been merciful rather than what she was thinking she'd find. But she was surprised when she found money. And a note. Her face was red with fury at the writing. Mia. She was still in Bristol. Not Mia. Mia is dead. Blondie or whatever fucking name it is. She crumpled the note and threw it back in the bag, storing it with everything else. She wanted Milo to have the entire backseat.

When she got upstairs he was waiting for her happily but whined as he followed her and walked circles in front of the open guest bedroom door. Mac walked over to it and looked inside the room. Whatever happened, didn't happen here. Mya's bag was gone. Her stomach turned again. Luke had literally walked her out and given her away. She closed her eyes and went into the bathroom. She couldn't be sick any more. It was just the two pills she'd taken and she didn't want to puke them up. She washed her face, tried to breathe. When she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she could see bruises forming where Charlie had hit her. She could also see Luke's hand prints bruising on her neck. When she met her own eyes in the mirror she lashed out and smashed it with her left hand. Milo barked at the noise. She pulled the bigger shards out as the blood started to flow.

Mac went to the kitchen and grabbed a paper sack and put in a couple of bottles of alcohol. Her hand was bleeding nicely so she grabbed a kitchen towel and wrapped it. She could feel a couple of mirror pieces still in her hand. She didn't care. “Come on boy. We have to go.” When Milo whined again, she felt it in her bones. “It's just for a little while. We'll come back for her.” Her voice broke when she said that. Mac didn't really know if she'd see Mya again. She didn't know anything any more. She'd drive out to Newbury. She needed to tell Louie where she'd be and why. She also needed to ask about the protection clause Luke mentioned. But first she needed to text Ana and warn her. Ana. Mac didn't know if she'd ever see her again.

[trustnonebristol]

Anticipation || Personal

Mac got to London early. She'd gotten the lighting guy's number from Louie and had set up a meet with him at the club. She'd taken the earlier train on purpose. Louie had said the delivery door in back would be open as they were getting everything set. He said he'd be up in the office doing paperwork. She wouldn't bother him. But Mac wanted a moment to herself in the place.

She wandered the club as people went about doing their jobs. Final touches here and there. It was a beautiful club. Louie had good taste. Extravagant but good taste. She could see his style everywhere. Her connection to him was another deal with a devil. But he was the final devil. He had offered her what she needed when she needed it. And even if the original reason had vanished, she was still committed. He was providing something in addition to money and protection, something she'd been missing immensely. Music.

It was one thing to listen to it, learn it, discover new artists, feel it in your blood. It was another to share that enthusiasm with others. Mac missed seeing the faces in the crowd joining her in the euphoria. Louie offered her that and she was taking it. It had been ages since she ran the board for a club this size. Mac hadn't done an opening since Miami. She’d spun since then but it was tiny places, private parties. Nothing that would yield the amount of energy that this place had the potential for.

So Mac wanted a moment here, in almost complete silence. She wandered up on the stage, her equipment was already set up. Really it was Louie's equipment but she was house DJ. That phrase brought a smile to her face. House DJ. Badass criminal feeling giddy at something simple. Mac looked out at the floor in front of her, beneath her and imagined the lights, the darkness. Faces appearing out in the chaos. She could almost feel the speakers  vibrating. Her fingers were tingling, aching at the anticipation.

After a bit, she wandered down to the floor, sitting cross legged in the middle, facing the stage. Mac closed her eyes. She put in her earbuds and lost herself in the music.

[trustnonebristol]

Boss advice from Louie to whomever..

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[trustnonebristol]

Unlucky || Personal

Mac finished her shower and walked into the bedroom hoping Mia hadn't left but knowing it was false hope. She toweled off and grab some clothes. She pulled up Canterbury on her phone and the Lady Luck's address. She wasn't expected tonight but nothing wrong with showing initiative right? Maybe Clark wouldn't glare at her. Not that it would bother her after the last 24 hours of shit. Even fucking Amelia couldn't put a dent in what she felt over betraying Mia. She shook it off. No sense in thinking about it tonight. Mia had taken off and that was that.

Drugs were supposed to be in the garage from what Louie had intimated. She went in there, turning on the light and looked around. It's not like there would be a box or a neon sign waiting for her or anyone to find it. There was a mechanic's rollaway box and she laughed. Too easy. She looked at it and got the drawers opened. All sorts of neat little bags just waiting for distribution. She grabbed a couple of baggies of powder and pills. A little taste to offer the party kids. Using the little key sticking out of the lock, she closed the drawers and locked up the drugs. She called up a cab via one of the apps.

She walked through the house, looking in the fridge wondering if she should eat something before heading out. She decided against it. She wondered who Mia was spending the night with, who she was texting. Maybe the girl she met at the hotel. Wouldn't that be something? Meeting a girl at the hotel Mac had put them up in. Out-fucking-standing Mackenzie. When you fuck it up, you at least do it on a grand scale. What's that American phrase, go big or go home? She laughed at herself. She put in some earbuds and turned the music in her phone on. She wanted to feel the party before even starting it. No alcohol, no drugs. Keep a clear head now. The cab pulled up and she walked out of the house, locking it behind her. She never saw Mia's note.

The cab took her to a typical English pub. It was set on the first floor of building adjoined with other buildings and storefronts. It wasn't too late into the night but there was still a bit of a crowd milling about. There seemed to be a band playing. Some sort of rock-alternative hybrid. When Mac stepped into the place, she took note of the clientele which at this hour was a mix of locals and university aged kids. Kids... like they're so much younger than you. They're Mia's age. Shut it. She checked out the bar from afar. There was a small stage, a jukebox and a billiards table. On one of the walls, someone had drawn classic band names which Mac thought was pretty cool. She wanted to get an idea of what music these kids would pander to. Her set list needed to inspire the party, her drugs would keep it going.

She tended to make friends easily when it wasn't personal. And this was all business. She got a pint of whatever ale was on tap. Just something to sip on while she worked the room. She should get new cards made up if she was going to be dj'ing as her cover. She'd have to look into that. She had some from before but she hadn't brought any and she didn't even think about grabbing any at her old flat. The band wasn't half bad. She spotted Clark and while he may be an impressive man in his own right, he wasn't exactly winning the kids over. Thankfully drugs were drugs and it usually didn't matter who sold them. But Mac wasn't unaware of her appeal and knew Louie was aware of it too. She wandered over to him and greeted him like an old friend which she was sure made him uncomfortable. She simply smiled at him. They managed to exchange information on business without being obvious. She also found out about the dj setup in-house which was good cause she didn't have her own gear. Another thing she should invest in. They had some neat portable stations that would suffice for small places like this.

Every time she saw a dark haired girl about Mia's height, her stomach clenched. Will we ever get a break? Maybe if you stopped whoring around.. Mac took another sip of the ale. She hated that Mia was hanging out with some girl she knew nothing about. For a moment, she wondered if this is what Mia felt when she found out about Ana. Except that Mia isn't dropping her drawers at the sight of some unnamed girl. Mia had better sense than that. She shook her brain free of the thoughts and focused on making herself known.