Avalon Kennels

The sign was huge, the place? Not so much. Billy had waited until it was almost dusk to make his way to the outskirts of Philadelphia. He had heard about this place before and what they did after things went dark. Billy wasn't a great humanitarian or animal lover. Billy was a gambler. Anywhere he could go to spend some cash to get a chance to make some cash and have a little fun in the meantime, that was the place for him. And so, tonight, he made his way to the Kennels to see if they really did have some kind of dog-fighting going on.

He was not disappointed. The moment he stepped inside the small place he could see way too many people. But things got real quiet when the stranger walked in, that is, right up until he smiled and pulled out a wad of hundred dollar bills. Then, everyone turned and looked to one guy. He was in a black pinstripe suit, smoking a cigar. The guy had on a white fedora and the little bit of hair Billy could see peeking out from underneath was going gray at his temples. That guy nodded and some other guy, about Billy's size walked over to him.

"Mister Capello says you can stay." A gruff voice like gravel said as he started to pat Billy down. Billy's eyes never left the Capello guy, but that man wasn't even looking any more he went back to looking around the room, and then stood up.

"For those of you who don't know me, I'm Mikhail Capello, I work for the Tambini family, and they are your benevolent overseers this evening. They provide the protection you see around here, and they make sure you get fed, paid, and good and drunk."

He smiled, and Billy was off-put by his one off-color tooth. It was one of his sharp front teeth. Billy thought they were called K-9 teeth, like after a dog. He chuckled to himself then. The guy had a rotten K-9 tooth and he was in charge of the dogs. That was funny.

"Now, you all know how this goes, we fight em, you bet, and if you're lucky, or smart, you walk away with money. If you're not, well then, we'll be here tomorrow so you can try and win some back." He gestured to the door to his left and Billy looked. "Now, if you all head out that door you can walk back to the arena in the field and we can get started."

Tammy was invited by Mister Capello himself to cater for the needs of the gamblers, but when she got to the scene, she was torn between feeling sick from seeing the way the (mainly) Staffordshire Bull Terriers were biting each other in the throat and feeling in heaven because of the amount of gambling and betting that was been going on around her. Soon, Tammy had forgotten about handing out Empanadas and was placing decent amounts of money on the dog that she felt had the best name.. Cofi.

Just after Billy_Mastrosimone had entered there had been a small, unpleasant, period of silence, but when it got clear that he was welcome, the fights would begin. Without Billy noticing, Tammy shuffled to a spot just besides Billy, ready to dive behind his back if the show would become to cruel for her own eyes.

This part Billy did not like. He had followed the crowd and they had walked for a good fifteen minutes before they all stopped. Middle of a field. Nothing around then except the wooden boards and the dug out dirt in the middle of 'em for the dogs to fight in. It was a pit with plywood around it. It worked, but boy oh boy was it shoddy workmanship. On top of that, now that he knew Tammy was here, he wanted to keep an eye on her too. This got real awkward real fast.

On the bright side, unless the twenty or so people that were here were all Tambini's men, there were only two guards and the Capello guy to report back on. He could just leave now, but the first fight had started and he had placed a bet on the greyhound. That and Tammy. He couldn't leave her alone here just in case.

For being in the middle of a field they did a good job of keeping food coming and drinks too. They had driven two trucks up, one with food, and one with booze. It wasn't fancy, which is probably why Billy liked it so much. It was beer and hot dogs mostly, some kind of stuffed bread pocket thing too, they called it an empanada. The food was just fine with Billy, right up until someone suggested that the hot dogs were made out of the dogs that got too mangled up to fight anymore.

Billy shrugged and ate another bite and that guy walked away with a disappointed look on his face. If they thought they could rattle the new guy with some weird hot dog bullshit, they were wrong.

"If Tammy says Cofi is gonna win, then Cofi is gonna win dammit." He had gotten into an argument with one of the other guys who wasn't betting anywhere near as much as Billy was. Then again, there weren't many who would. He turned to the bookie and waved him over. It had gotten to a point where there was almost always one close by, which made it nice and easy for Billy.

"This is my last one, you guys really need to get some chairs or somethin' out here, the lady has been standing all night." He knew if Tammy was bothered by it, she would have said something, but his feet really were bothering him and he didn't want to seem like he couldn't handle standing around for a long time. Weird thing to be self-conscious about but there it was. "Put 500 large on Cofi."

The man did not write anything down, he looked at Billy, and then to the Capello guy.

"I'll be right back sir."

It was a big bet. It was not a big bet for Billy, but this Cofi didn't have great odds. Maybe they couldn't pay him out if the dog won. Billy shrugged. They could owe him. He had collected more from other people before.

The bookie returned. "Alright sir, I've got your bet, good luck."

And with that Billy leaned over the plywood to watch his pup make a name for itself, and him in the process. These Tambini people, they seemed to be alright folks, they were about to find out that one good high-roller could wipe them clean in one night.

It was a fight to be remembered, Cofi started out strong and then got turned on her heels and looked like she was going to be out of it, right up until she got backed into a corner. Then she came out fighting and she was left standing in the end. The hound that she went up against did not fare well, and Billy did feel bad for the poor thing knowing that it wasn't going to get a vet to see it. It would either live, or die on it's own merit. Much like he would.

He walked over to the guy Capello.

"Excuse me Mister Capello. I'd like to give you my original bet to take Cofi off your hands. You clearly still owe me a substantial amount, and I'm fine to collect that when..."

A black duffel bag was violently shoved into his chest by one of the bookies. Capello looked down at Billy and puffed on a cigar.

"Fine."

With that, one of his men reached into the bag, took out the prescribed amount and walked away.

"Now Billy, I like you and your style, but if you know what's good for you, you're gonna get the fuck out of here and not show your face for a while. I had to make a phone call just to cover your shit so MY bosses ain't gonna be too happy with some trumped up ruffian from Detroit coming in and cleaning house."

Billy nodded. He had overstayed his welcome.

"Well, it was fun." He quickly reached into the pit, picked up Cofi and made his way back to Tammy. The dog nipped at him, but she was so tired from the fight that she just gave up a minute out.

"Tammy, we've got to get the hell out of here. I think I might have pissed off the wrong guys." He handed Cofi to her and the pair started on a brisk pace out of there.

Twenty minutes it had taken them to get back to the kennels, and then another fifteen toward the city. Billy had not driven, he never thought to drive anywhere, it was never an issue for him. Tonight he should have driven. There was no way the kennels were going to let him call a cab though either, so on foot it was.

It only took fifteen minutes before surprise reared it's ugly head. Billy was counting on someone coming up from behind them. He had counted about a dozen folks at the place that were clearly Tambini's men. The bookies, the guards, and most of the guys making the food and drink. A dozen would be hard to fight off, but they couldn't all show up, and Billy knew he could take on three or four at once. With Tammy by his side, they could take on at least half a dozen men and get away with just a few bruises.

Billy was not counting on someone else showing up from the direction of the city. But there is was, the whining siren of a police car, and lo and behold they pulled over just in front of the two of them. One holding an injured dog, the other a duffel bag full of more money than most cops saw in a lifetime.

"We're fucked." He said slowly and quietly to Tammy. "Get the dog out of here, they won't bother you so much, they're..."

"YOU BILLY?" One of the pigs yelled out from the car window. Interrupting him.

"YEAH. WHAT OF IT?" Billy yelled back as he put the duffel bag down. He needed his hands free if they came for him. And come for him the did. The siren went quiet, the car lights turned off, and four cops got out of the car. They walked across the dark street and Billy could see their badges and their shiny clubs in the moonlight. Four guys with fists? Easy, four guys with small wooden bats? Not so much.

"Tammy, seriously, go." As he turned back to start what he though would be an unpleasant conversation with guys he didn't care to have a talk with, suddenly their was a ringing in his ear.

One of the cops had pulled a gun and fired it off right next to his ear. All he could hear was ringing, but he could tell they were laughing. Billy was not great at reading lips, but the closest one made out at least one word clearly. "Tambini".

Billy lunged for him. It was either that, or take the beating himself and do nothing about it. He felt the crunch of the guy's ribs against the ground as he pinned him down with his shoulder. He jumped up quick and grabbed at the blackjack that was coming toward his head stopping it short and wresting it from his attacker's hand. It fell to the ground and Billy kicked it out of reach, and then swung his fist up. He connected with the cop's lower jaw and felt the crunch of teeth cracking. It was a familiar feeling, and Billy was starting to get an adrenaline rush, four cops? He might be able to take four...

And then their was a sharp blinding pain in his left leg.

He looked down, and through blurred vision he could see the blackjack pull away. One of the other two had hit him square in the shin. At least it wasn't broken. He looked for the guy and put his weight behind another punch. He connected too, and the guy doubled over. Only hit him in the gut. Knocked the wind out of him. he'd be back in the fight in a second, but there was one more cop.

Billy looked around frantically, and then saw the guy, just before he saw the muzzle flash. The only thing Billy knew at that point was...

...his ears were still ringing.

After a day of finalizing the sale of a plot of land he once owned, KTI was heading back into town to catch a late train towards home. The cab driver decided to take a "scenic" route through the outskirts of Philly. The outskirts had developed a reputation for some nasty, but profitable business. 

"Just a little bit longer sir." The cab driver mumbled. KTI rolled his eyes knowing the cabbie was just trying to rack up a fare.

As they turned the corner to head into the inner city, there were police cars in the middle of the street on the side of the road. The cabbie slowed down and began chuckling. 

"Hey, look over there chum. Local cops roughing that guy up. Must have pissed off Tambini's goons!" The cabbie exclaimed. KTI looks to the right and let out a chuckle.

"I don't know, that guy is giving those cops a run for their money." 

Just after KTI says that one of the cops strikes the man with their club. The man regained balance and hit one of the cops. The man began to look around frantically. KTI caught a glimpse of the man's face in a streetlight.

"Stop the fucking car now!"

"Wha... What are..."

"STOP THE CAR!"

The cabbie slams on the brakes and stops. KTI jumps out of the rear passenger side door. KTI begins running toward the commotion when suddenly he hears a gunshot and the loud crack of a bullet wizzing past his head. KTI quickly finds cover behind a building inside of an alley way. KTI drew his old service pistol. He saw one cop trying to regain his breath. KTI exhaled and squeezed the trigger. He moved aim over to the cop who he presumed fired that shot and ended his life also. 

The cop with cracked ribs was still lying on the ground, weezing in pain. Figuring that cop saw everything, KTI wasted no time going up to that cop and placing a round in his head. The deafening boom from the handgun silenced the streets. KTI turned his attention to the final cop who was flat on his back with his elbows rested on the street, forearms in the air, wrists cocked back toward his body, and hands clenched shut. 

"Out cold." KTI holstered his pistol rushed over to Billy to lend aid. KTI looked over only to see the cab driver was long gone. He looked down at billy and noticed the wound in his midsection but the obscene amount of blood and his ruffled up coat made it difficult to pinpoint where he was hit exactly.

"Billy, look at me! Can you hear me?"

Sirens can be heard in the distance.....

Ellie had decided to go with Billy and accompany him on his rendezvous to the kennels.  She wasn't entirely certain why she had agreed to do this...  She was going to a place where there was likely to be dogs...  Dogs had crazy good senses of smell and these were fighting dogs.  Ellie was meant to stay hidden but the dogs would surely smell her out.  Oh well!  She'd do her best!  As Billy went in to do his piece, scoping out the place, Ellie would explore the area outside while all the humans were in conversing and learning what would be going on.  She could hear the barking and she quickly learned the lay of the land of this strange little arena that had been built outdoors.  Curious...  The little ferret would explore the area, fairly oblivious to the scent trail she was leaving.  She mostly stayed out of sight but would get a feel for this place.  Definitely something fishy going on here!

But then she heard sounds.  People were coming.  That probably meant the fight was about to begin.  Hissing softly, Ellie moved quickly to find herself a vantage point where she was completely out of sight.  She remained out from under foot but found a perfect little nook just big enough for her to snake her long slender body inside.  She could still see from here so she would watch in silence as things began to unfold.  Definitely dog fighting.  She would silently count the men around that looked to be in charge, trying to gather up as much information as she could about the situation.  A couple of times the dogs would be momentarily distracted by the strange smell of the ferret.  But there wasn't enough attention drawn to her that she was found out.  Soon enough the brutal fighting was over.  Ellie shook her head in complete distaste and a deep sadness that overcame her.  She'd take in any of these animals.  She knew that Rubix would have approved.  She felt a growl rise up in her throat, but swallowed it.  These monsters had to be brought to justice, and she didn't mean the dogs.

Looking around she sought to check on Billy.  Heck she wasn't even sure the man knew that she had accompanied him.  Probably...  She doubted it had eluded him, but he had more or less let the little ferret from Chicago do her own thing.  That was what she was best at.  But it wasn't long before she noticed Billy was gone.  Oh great.  She couldn't lose him!  Picking out his scent from the many others in the room, she followed after him, staying out of sight as she dodged around from place to place.  No one seemed to question her presence if they saw her at all.  They must be used to vermin running around the place, that she looked like just another rodent if anyone caught any glance at all.  

She soon found Billy again, he was collecting his winnings and one of the fighting dogs?  Curious!  But Ellie would have applauded the man right there!  Staying out of sight until they were outside again moving with purpose away from that horrendous place and accompanied by the lovely Tammy and the poor fighting dog.  She ran after the small group earning wary growls from Cofi.  But she churred softly to the dog, making soft assuring sounds.  She didn't know if it was her sounds or the dog's own exhaustion, but she seemed to settle out.  Trotting at Billy's side as she tried to commit her scatterbrained ferret mind to the task of being able to regurgitate the knowledge they had gained that evening.  But as such she was taken by surprise by the sirens as they approached.  Ellie quickly ducked down into the tall grass, not liking the look of this at all.  What did these Officers think they were doing?  Oh goodness...  They had to get out of there.  Ellie hunkered down and listened as the officer hollered at Billy.  He shouldn't holler at Billy.  They should just let them go.  Honestly!  But they were likely on the payroll of the guys running that ring. Ellie was sure of it.

Hissing,  softly she kept her place in the grass, but the officers didn't give her so much as a second look.  Well that was their first mistake.  Just as the gun went off, Billy launched at one of the officers.  All heck broke loose very quickly and Ellie didn't have any time to think.  The whole scuffle felt like an eternity and Ellie could not get her panicked brain to calm down enough to get a coherent thought.  There.  She saw the muzzle of a gun flash and she couldn't let this man get shot!  She knew that hurt bad!  She hissed and without thinking launched herself toward him, and right up his pant leg she went.  Her little claws left gouges in his leg but she had been too late.  Hissing in fury she scratched him up bad hoping to at least create a distraction.  The man clutched at his pant leg yelling something that Ellie couldn't understand from her vantage point.  She snarled and bit, fighting in a manner that really wasn't what one thought of when they thought of an esteemed Don of this business.  But at that point, she didn't give half a darn.  Billy was in trouble and she didn't have her little gun.  Why didn't she have her little gun?  She knew things could have gotten hairy but for now she fought in the manner she was more used to...  With tooth and claw.

But this situation wasn't meant to last long.  She heard another loud bang and another and another before feeling the officer that currently was trying to dislodge her from his leg dropped right on top of her.  She squeaked and wriggled until she could free herself from under his leg.  She crawled quickly from the confines of his pant leg hissing in fury, before she looked around, wild eyed, for the next one who dared to mess with them.  But the wind was quickly taken from her sails as she saw all the enemies already dead and someone trying to rouse Billy.  What if he was another enemy!  Ellie ran over hissing and spitting until she recognized the man as the other hand of his family.  Ellie dropped her head in what was as close to apologetic as she got.  She didn't know either man as well as she would have liked, but she was here to aid them both as they all held the same goal here.  To bring down both Tambini and Durden alike.

Billy stirred and winced immediately at the pain in his stomach.

"FUCK!"

It was the only word that he could summon. There was just nothing else in his head. He did start to think clearly though after shaking through the pain. He looked down. Lots of blood, but it didn't look like the bullet had hit any bones or anything of value. It would hurt, but the wound was far enough to the side of him that it was more a graze than anything.

"That cop couldn't hit the broadside of a barn it looks like." He smiled and took out a knife and a lighter. It would hurt like hell, but it would make the bleeding stop. He burned the part of him that was spewing and then took off his shirt and wrapped it around his stomach like a makeshift bandage.

"Hey KTI- do me a favor and drag those guys off the street? I'm gonna look for a good bandage in their car."

Sure enough, he found one easily and wrapped himself up. His shirt was bloody now, but he put it back on all the same and then made his way to the last cop who was just lying there unconscious. He smacked him, hard and watched as the man came to in a start.

"So, this is how this goes..."

He paused letting his three companions all come into the man's view.

"My name is Billy. I am from Detroit, not exactly around here. How about you do me a favor? You apologize for trying to take my money. You apologize for this bullet your buddy put in me, and you drive me to my hotel. You handle all that shit, and I won't tell my boss what a shitty level of hospitality Philadelphia showed me, and your Tambini friends won't have to worry about this little incident you all caused."

He didn't like putting everything out in the open like that, but it was better than putting it on Bella and her group right now. As far as this guy was concerned, Billy was an out-of-towner with connections.

"What happened to Clyde and Geoff?" 

The corrupt cop looked around frantically as he scrambled to his feet. Billy reached into his bag and pulled out two wads of cash.

"This is Clyde, this is Geoff. Their families should be taken care of by the city, this is extra." 

He left it hang in the air and watched as realization rolled over the cop's face. The man nodded and looked as if he were about to cry, but he got in the car and drove Billy and his friends where they needed to go all the same.