The Dope Diamond Gentleman's Club, Forth, And Parkway, The Attison District, Temple City (3040).....
Cigarette smoke rose in a series of rings from the mouth of the laid-back Baddwulf as he leaned into the large and surprisingly soft armchair that came with the V.I.P. section of the dance booths. He'd been eager for this visit all day after the events of his less-than-savory adventures and the securing of black pennies from his latest client had made it all the more enjoyable as he felt accomplished instead of simply pissing away coins. There was a good deal of sights and sounds to be had in the dark and seedy joint as Baddwulf let something of a wolfish grin file across his ruggedly handsome face. He had been as engaged in the upcoming show as ever when his favorite girl, Cheetah came prancing out from behind the red velvet curtain dressed rather minimally in a bikini top and bottoms. She had not been much for getting her feet wet but she was very prone to having a few wet nights when amongst the boys who had gotten her all hot and bothered during the dance. She was especially always hot and bothered whenever it came to her giving Baddwulf a dance and he knew it all too well.
From what she'd known about him, was that he'd been a party kind of guy and sought to indulge as much as possible if he had the black pennies to spend.
"Back again Wolfie baby?" she asked strolling over to him as only she knew how grinding into the smoking older man's lap as it were.
She knew he hated it when she called him "Wolfie" but he had been in such a good mood and had been so delighted to see her that he didn't bother correcting her.
"What can I say, I'm a sucker for a pretty face and a beautiful half-naked body," replied Baddwulf in his usual gruff tone.
He put out his cigarette recalling that she had not been too fond of the smoke and did his best to quell the adverse beating of his heart as she climbed into his lap and began grinding her barely covered and nicely shaped backside against his rapidly aroused bulge in the front of his slacks. The day may not have started off that well for him but the night, which had been his favorite part for as long as he could remember, was always alive and well in the district of Attison.
Sadly for Baddwulf, his troubles had yet to be over as once the music started it stopped courtesy of some goons from the local hood Blackie Clay making their way into the establishment and attempting to stage a coup of the place. The shots fired shattered glass along with the sound of screams as Baddwulf instinctively moved to protect the dancer that he favored by pulling her out of the line of fire and sniffing out those who had been responsible for the flying bullets. He knew all too well that Slim wouldn't stand for his place being shot up and he prepared to retaliate once the girls had been clear.
"Stay down," instructed Baddwulf the weary dancer as he began to creep from behind the red velvet curtain and toward the front stage.
She did as he instructed and stayed low to the ground as she made her way toward the back exit of the club where all the other girls had fled at the start of the commotion. Baddwulf had not been having a good day, to say the least, and his night had only gotten worse as he ducked and dodged repeated attempts of a gunman to catch him via shotgun.
He rolled through the debris and managed to take out two of the would-be gunmen knocking them out cold and working off a bit of aggression due to having his dance ruined. He helped another group of girls get out of the line of fire, one had been given haunting silver eyes and the darkest most exotic skin tone he had ever seen. She had her curly and coarse air styled in what the old Era folks referred to as an "Afro" and wore a silver-colored number that complimented her skin. Being that she was fully clothed, he knew she wasn't one of the dancers despite being huddled in the corner with them.
"You alright?" asked Baddwulf with an arched brow as he looked upon the formerly trembling woman.
"I'm dodging bullets what do you think?" she asked showing a bit of a feisty side that made Baddwulf's ears perk.
"There's an exit out back in the dance room take it and get out of here," he said before turning his attention to another gunman that had spotted them.
The dark-complected woman had done just that along with a few other terrified dancers. Baddwulf rolled his eyes as he watched them go and proceeded to break the face of the one gunman that aimed in his direction feeling his frustration build more and more at having his night ruined right when he'd been there to celebrate making a killing in black pennies for a change.
Baddwulf knocked the gunman out cold and proceeded to duck and dodge bullets that were obviously meant for him as he moved about the front room of the now half-empty establishment. He had no doubt that Slim would return with firepower once the girls were all clear and he would stop at nothing to hunt down the pricks responsible for shooting up his establishment.
An angry Croc on a rampage had not been ideal, even in Addison district as there was barely anyone that could calm him down once he got started and demanded blood there and then for the insult to him and his business. Baddwulf had not been looking to suffer another tango with Slim McDaniels and as a result, intended to bring down the idiots responsible for earning the massive brute's ire this time around.
Baddwulf was pretty sure most of the people had made it out and those that remained were either dead or had something of a death wish, either way, he could do little to help them with all the bullets flying. They splattered the place with bullets in rapid waves before Baddwulf's old nose alerted him to the real trouble which had not been far from where he'd ducked to avoid the blazing guns.
Try as he might to ignore his instincts, he had been sure he caught the whiff of gasoline with the old nose and his heart sank into the pit of his stomach. He had loved The Dope Diamond and knew all too well that whoever had been sent to set it ablaze had done so either to make a name for themselves in the streets or had orders to torch the place on high authority.
Baddwulf's keen ears heard the flicking of a torch lighter and he immediately let instinct take over as his adrenaline got his heart pumping while he adhered to fight or flight in the wake of the onset of flames beginning to engulf the toppled tables and bare dance floor. Everywhere the classic neon and violets and pinks melted into dull greys and burnt black as the yellow-orange flames set to work devouring everything in their path.
The breaking of a back window had been the only indication to Baddwulf's weary mind that he'd made it out before the flames and smoke inhalation had done him in, several of the bouncers who had been shot and lying on the floor had not been so fortunate. The enraged and ragged-breathing detective promptly passed out as his body rolled to a stop following the hard landing he took when launching through the sturdy glass window of the club.
It seemed Baddwulf couldn't even catch a break at night.