The night was going great. Henko had perked up several conversations with his regular customers. It felt like another normal night. Laughing as his customer drank was something he really enjoyed. The sound of the door opening, then shutting was heard. Henko turned his attention towards the door and welcomed the new customers in. As soon as he spotted the gentlemen, he knew right away that something was off. Looking at the men, he could tell right away that they were not people that would frequent a bar such as this. However, Henko had also told himself never to judge a person by how they look. Even if they looked like dangerous people. Pushing the thought aside and changing into his hostess mode, he welcomed the men in.
"Would you gentlemen like to order a drink?" Henko questioned in a sweet voice. The man that was in front of the others grunted. He wore a dark blue suit and clean shaven. His hair was slicked back, but you could see a scar on the top right of his temple. The man glared at Henko along with the other men that were behind him. They were dressed in similar suits as well.
"I'm not here to drink your disgusting piss you call liquor." The man spat. "I don't even want to be in a place full of you disgusting faggots." Henko's face turned to anger. He would not be called such names, especially in his own establishment.
"Well, gentlemen. If you are not here to drink. Then please kindly find your way out of my bar." Henko retorted back at the man. Several men started to laugh.
"You have some major balls for a fag." The leader spoke. "I am here for one reason and one reason only. Now pay up." Henko knew right away that his suspicions of the men were true. These were the men that were harassing other owners into paying the fees for protection. He really hoped they wouldn't come here, but they did.
"So, you are the people everyone has been talking about." The leader crooked his head to the side as he spoke.
"And what were they saying?" He questioned.
"You're here for some type of protection fee." The leader started to chuckle.
"So, even though you are a faggot. You can be quite smart." The man straightened his head as he spoke. "If you already know what we are here for, then quietly do as we say."
"Why would I pay for something that I don't know what I'm paying for?" The smirk on the leaders' face disappeared. He started to growl.
"Don't fuck with me faggot!" The man yelled as he pulled out his gun form the holster on the inside of his jacket.
"I was just asking a simple question?" Henko spoke out.
"It's a protection fee. That is all you need to know. Now pay up!" The man spat. As he walked over to the bar. His gun pointing straight at Henko.
"I understand that, but protection from what, you?" Henko asked.
"Do you want a fucking bullet in that pretty faggot head of yours?" The man yelled.
"What the hell is going on here?" A deep voice yelled out. The voice sounded awfully familiar. When Henko saw the man walk through the crowd of the gangster, he couldn't believe what he saw. Ivan was now standing next to the man that was holding the gun. He lit a cigarette and took a deep puff before letting it out.
"This faggot won't pay the protection fee. He's playing that stupid 20 question game." The man said. He had yet to lower the gun. Ivan looked at the man that his guy was pointing his gun at. His eyes went wide when he saw who it was. Henko knew right then that his cover was blown. Henko could see the disgust grow in Ivan's eyes. He couldn't help looking away from the man in front of him. He never wanted Ivan to know that he was a man, not this way. Ivan took the cigarette out of his mouth and looked at Henko.
"You need to pay the protection fee by the end of this month. The fee will protect you from anybody that tries to harass your bar or start any type of shit. You will pay it, or we will bust this place up, so you don't get any business." Henko glared at Ivan. "Do you think that I am joking?" Ivan question the man.
"I didn't…" Henko started to say.
"Are you going to pay, or what?" Ivan questioned Henko again.
"But…"
"I don't want to hear anything from you." Ivan said as he snapped his fingers. The men being Ivan pulled out some machine guns they had hidden behind them. Henko didn't even notice the men holding those guns. When they started shooting, there were screams coming from the girls and customers. Everyone got done as the men shot at the tables, walls, and the liquor that was behind the bar. Henko ducked behind the bar with his hands on top of his head. He couldn't believe that this was happening. He could feel glass and liquor fall onto him as the glasses were busted up like some carnival game. Another snap was heard, and the guns stopped. Henko slowly stood up from his spot. Ivan was sitting on one of the stool at the bar and was taking a puff of his cigarette like it was just another day for him. Henko looked around at all the damage that was done. He his eyes wide with fear, shock, anger. So many emotions raised through his veins.