The Devil Wore A Brown Suit novel Chapter 38

 Sam was a little drunk when he entered his room. He knew how Mrs. Bee felt about smoking in the rooms, but he desperately needed one. He almost smoked in the room, then he remembered how mean Bee could be if she felt disrespected. He decided it was best if he stepped outside his room. He turned the radio on to his favorite New Orleans station.

“Sweet Jazz.” He said out loud. “Nothing like it.”

          Sam stood outside his room smoking. As the rain fell in New Orleans, the sweet rain and sounds of Jazz coming out of his radio he could only think of Angie.

 “I was so stupid.” He said.

“Yes, you were and still are idiotic.” A soft voice said.

It was Angie. She looked amazing standing there. 

          “I’m sorry I brought her here. I am sorry I hurt you and mostly I am just sorry.” He said.

Angie didn’t say a word. She took his cigarette from his mouth and kissed him. “Does this mean you forgive me?” he asked.

“Nope.” She responded. “but it’s a start.”

          “We could dance?” Angie says. “I would love that my lady,” Sam says. 

          Sam pulled her in close to him. “I have missed you,” Sam says.

“You never called me. Not once, Sam. How much could you miss me?” Angie says. 

“You know why. Please, Angie, just let me be here with you. Can I just hold you?” Sam says.

Angie snuggles in as close as she can get to him. They dance in the rain. The sweet jazz playing in the background as the two pretend he never left. 

“How about I make you a hurricane?” Angie says.

“If you are trying to get me drunk, I am already halfway there,” Sam says.

“We should go to my room. I can make us a drink and we can talk or dance or whatever.” Angie says. 

Angie longed for Sam’s touch again. She did not want Camilla Dawn or Key or anyone else to see or hear what she was about to do to him. She wanted him all to herself for the night. Whatever was coming could wait until tomorrow. Tonight she wanted Sam Gallows, and she was going to have him. 

 Sam followed Angie to her room. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. He had missed her. He had thought about her a lot. He wanted to reach out to her so many times. He didn’t think he could relive any part of his life in New Orleans. Now here he was with her in New Orleans and it felt right. 

          He didn’t want to think about Camilla Dawn or Perdition tonight. He was with her tonight. She would be his focus. He was torn between two women and two lives he had lived. His life with Camilla Dawn and the life he could’ve had with Angie. Not tonight. Tonight was just for Angie. 

 The two went inside her small apartment. Bee had let Angie turn two rooms into a small apartment. She had taken to the task and made the place amazing.

“I love it,” Sam says.

“I will make us a drink,” Angie says as she flips on the kitchen light. “Just make yourself at home.”

          Angie went into the bathroom to check and see how she looked. She wiped the black from her mascara under her eyes. Her hair was messy from dancing in the rain. She still looked beautiful. She grabbed two glasses out of the kitchen and a bottle.  

          “I thought you were making hurricanes,” Sam said.

“I figured we could just do shots and ponder life.” She says. Sam pours two shots and hands one to Angie. He sat down his glass and kissed her. 

“I am sorry.” He says.

 She knew he was. He ran his hand down her back into the curve of her waist and pulled her close to him. Angie pushed him onto the couch and climbed on top of him. The two had some wild nights before, but tonight was different. Sam knew he still loved her. All he could think about was how much he wanted to make love to her at this moment. 

“We can go to the bedroom if you want?” Angie says.

 “Yes, I think we should,” Sam says. Angie led him to her bed.  The sounds of the rain and jazz in the background serenading the two as Sam and Angie made love again and again. 

The two were lying in the bed wrapped up in one another when a pounding on her door broke their sweet moment. Miles Davis was playing on the radio when Sam opened the door of Angie’s apartment. It was Jaza. He didn’t say a word. He pulled a blade out of his coat and stabbed Sam in the chest. 

Sam made a loud thump when he hit the floor. Angie jumped out of the bed and ran to the front door. Jaza smiled at her.

 “I want Camilla Dawn!” He said.

“You can fucking have her just let us be,” Angie said as she rushed to Sam. 

Jaza disappears into the night, leaving Angie Screaming. “Sam! Don’t leave me, Sam!” 

Mrs. Bee heard Angie screaming. She got out of bed and slipped on her housecoat. “What now?” she said. She moved as fast as she could to Angie’s room. “I am coming as fast as I can. I am coming!” she hollered. 

JJ heard the commotion and ran to the courtyard. He could see Mrs. Bee running and hear Angie’s screams. Mayhem came out of his room to see what was going on.

 “Come on!” JJ says. The two men started running toward the screaming. 

JJ knelt beside Sam. “Sam, can you hear me, buddy?” He asked.  Sam didn’t respond. Jaza’s blade was still in Sam. Angie was hysterical. “Mrs. Bee get her out of here.” He said.

“Come on, honey. Come with me.” Mrs. Bee pulled Angie into her shoulder and ushered her toward the office. 

“How bad is it?” Mayhem asks.

 “We need to move him,” JJ says. The two men carefully pick up Sam and take him to Angie’s bed. 

“Can you go get Perdition without her killing you?” JJ asks.

 “I think so,” Mayhem says.

“Then go. We have very little time. Tell her it’s Sam. She will come.”  JJ says. 

Mayhem ran back to the Devils café. Perdition stayed in the small upstairs apartment for the night. Bob was cleaning up when Mayhem came through the door.

“Where is Perdition?” Mayhem asks Bob.

 “She is upstairs.” He says. Mayhem runs up the stairs. He didn’t hear Bob yell at him to be careful. 

Mayhem started pounding on her door and screaming for her to open it. He didn’t hear the growling behind him. Sarge was watching out for her. Sarge bit him on the leg. “Damn! What the hell!” he screamed.

“What do you want?” Perdition said as she opens the door. She smiled when she saw Sarge had bitten him. Mayhem growled at her.

“Your damn dog bit me.” He said. She slams the door in his face. “Wait! It’s Sam. JJ sent me to get you!” he screamed through the door.

Perdition opened the door. “I’m coming.” She says. “Come Sarge!” The three of them head to the inn. 

JJ was sitting on the floor beside the bed Sam was on. “Damn Sam.” He said.

When Mayhem arrived with Perdition Ella Fitzgerald was playing in the background. The sweet jazz that filled the room while he made love to Angie was still playing. 

Perdition doesn’t say a word. She walks over to Sam and places her hand on his heart. “He is alive.” She says. “This is Jaza’s blade. Was he here? What happened?” 

“We don’t know, ask Angie,” JJ says.

“Is Angie okay?” Perdition asks.

“yes.” JJ answers. “Can you help him?” JJ asks. 

Perdition studies the blade. “He wasn’t trying to kill him. He just wanted to scare the hell out of him.” She says. She places her palm on his chest. “I am going to pull it out.” She says. 

“Are you sure?” Mayhem says.

“Actually, I am.” Perdition says.

 She grabs the blade and pulls it out. She places her palm on his chest and releases her fire and light into his wound.  Sam groans.

“I know it hurts, but just hang on Sam.” Perdition tells him. Perdition seals his wound. “He will be okay. Where is Angie?” she asks.

“With Bee,” JJ says. 

Perdition and Sarge leave to talk to Angie. “Come on, Boy.” Sarge stays on her heels. 

Mrs. Bee and Angie are sitting in front of the office. Near-death or not, she did not want anyone smoking in her place. She sat out front with Angie as she smoked. 

“You okay.” Perdition asks. Angie’s face was swollen from crying.

“Is Sam alive?” Angie asks. Perdition smiles at her.

“He will be. Can you tell me what Jaza said?” She asks. 

Angie throws her cigarette down. “He said he wants Camilla Dawn, and I told him he could fucking have her. She is nothing but trouble. Just give her to him. Sam could’ve died.” Angie says as she storms off to check on Sam. 

Perdition sits down with Bee. Wally, Angie’s dog, gives Sarge a look. They growl at each other as Wally follows Angie back home.

“She is a firecracker.” Perdition says.

“Honey, you have no idea.” Mrs. Bees says. 

“She loves him. That is one thing I can be sure about. Angie loves that man. She will bust hell wide open to take care of him. I know Camilla Dawn helped you. I know how you feel. Rest assured Angie will serve her up on a platter to save Sam.” Mrs. Bee says.