Chapter 16
I kept my appointment for the Renaissance Night Club and arrived early. The taxi driver dropped me off at the curb. He refused to drive into the parking lot.
As I opened the door, the driver snapped, “Are you sure you want to go in there? I know a much better place, friend.”
I replied, “I understand your concern, but I need to speak with someone here.”
After I had climbed out of the taxi and slammed the door, the taxi driver stomped on the gas pedal, accelerating onto the road, squeaking the tires.
I strolled to the front door where a large bouncer stood next to the door. He frowned at me as I approached. Then I looked up and said, “I need to speak with Senad, please.”
The menacing bouncer nodded his head in approval and opened the door for me. Then he pointed to a group of the tables near the club’s back door.
I gasped for air as the bouncer lifted his arm and pointed in this direction. A bar of soap hadn’t touched the bouncer's skin in weeks.
I sat at a table for an hour, nursing my drink, a rum and coke. I watched the two ice cubes quickly disintegrate into two white whiskers, floating on top. Bodies gyrated on the dance floor. The Renaissance Night Club had nothing to do with the Renaissance. The customers looked rough, more like a biker bar than something as sophisticated as the Renaissance. Today, the evening tide was high, depositing the floating shit and scum onto the sandy shoreline and into the bar.
I washed the rest of my drink down, and was ready to order another one. The stench escalated as more people found their way onto the dance floor. The place reeked of sweaty leather, cheap alcohol, and old vomit, fossilizing on the dance floor.
Then a large monstrous man, built like a grizzly bear, approached me. He glared down at me and then waved his hand at me, gesturing me to follow. He tucked his dirty hair under a red bandana. I sprang up from my chair and followed in close pursuit.
A large man led me to a back hallway with a single door at the end. Several other sizeable men huddled around the door. As I approached, their raucous laughter and loud voices dimmed to mere whispers. They wore black leather jackets adorned with silver metal pyramid studs, filthy blue jeans, and red bandanas that covered their grimy, greasy hair.
After the large guy and I had reached the door, the large man turned and barked commands at me, “Raise your hands in the air.” Then the huge guy proceeded to pat me down, his rude, rough hands searching my body for weapons, like an army of mosquitos searching for the perfect feeding site.
Lucky for me, the Smith and Wesson remained tucked under the dresser in my hotel room. If worse came to worst and no one would help me, I would shoot my way into Sasha's place. Once the large man was satisfied, he opened the door and led me inside.
Another large guy sat behind an old desk while a silent companion stood to his left side. The men stared at me with stone black eyes, filled with intelligence but mixed with a dash of anger and savagery.
I became nervous, thinking I had made a mistake. These guys looked rough. They would have no qualms about beating me to a living pulp, and leaving me to die on a dark, deserted street in the middle of the night.
I sat in an empty chair in front of the desk. The man glared at me. I trembled a little, as my heart began to beat quicker. I tried to talk, but the nervousness drained moisture from my mouth.
I swallowed and smacked my gums a few times, but the words wouldn’t come out. They became stuck to the roof of my mouth like peanut butter.
The man behind the desk yelled in sharp angry tones, “What the fuck do you want?”
“Ah, ah, ah,” I stammered.
“Well, I’m waiting, God damn it,” then the man crossed his arms, glaring at me fiercely. The person standing to Senad's side kept his piercing gaze on me.
I shivered because these men looked menacing, like ex-felons just released from prison. Senad's face was butt-ugly as stubbles of hair protruded from odd places on this face; his brows were one continuous sash; dreadlocks of hair poked from under his bandana, and his face was squished flat. If the man had four legs instead of two, he would be an ugly bulldog.
“I… I… I thought you… could help… meee?”
“What do I look like, a travel agent? How the fuck can I help you?”
I thought about Yelena, and I let out a long sigh. Then I forced the words out of my mouth in one breathe, “My boss kidnapped my girlfriend and sold her to Sasha.”
Man raised his eyebrows a little at the name, Sasha, but he kept silent.
“I believe Sasha is a major criminal here.”
The man replied, “I see we have a common enemy, but I don’t understand how I can help you.”
I continued, becoming more confident after each uttered syllable and added, “I thought that since he’s your enemy, you could help me. You know that old saying; my enemy's enemy is my friend.”
“I really can’t help you. Most people who come to Montenegro have a magical, wonderful experience. Some people don’t. Why don't you complain to the Montenegro Tourist Board or go to the Montenegrin police? I’m sure they can help you.”
The man who stood silently burst into laughter. Then Senad joined and laughed at his joke.
“I don't think they can help me. One of his girls had told me that Sasha would not hesitate to kill her. I’m afraid to go to the police.”
Ugly Senad continued, “I understand why you came to me. I checked you out with my contact in the police department, but I don't understand, how can I help you? I don’t do charity work. If you look at this place, this place is a shit hole. Sasha took over my business a couple of years ago and pushed me out. I hide here like a scared rat. I can't show my face around in my hometown. If Sasha knew where I was, he would send a couple of goons over to kill me. Russians are so peculiar about their business. They monopolize everything.”
I wanted to burst out laughing, when Senad said he couldn’t show his face around Budva. Having a face like that, the city's animal inspector would capture and euthanize him within an hour.
I hesitated and then I cackled, “I have about 50,000 euros of ecstasy. A person, who made it, told me to bring it here and buy some friends.”
The standing man immediately bent over and began whispering in Senad's ear. Then Senad added, “That certainly changes things. I must discuss this with the crew. Return to your seat in the night club, and I’ll give you my decision within an hour.”
Senad came over to me as a gentleman and escorted me to the door. We shook hands, and then Senad patted me on the back as he walked out.
I returned to the nightclub. More bikers, criminals, and sea hags joined the growing, gyrating crowd on the dance floor. They created a strong stench in the nightclub, intensifying along with the humidity level.
This time around, I felt a change in the staff’s mood. Before I talked to Senad, suspicious eyes and glances fell on me when I turned my head away. Now I became somebody. Before I asked, a waitress quickly placed a fresh rum and coke in front of me. She yelled above the noise, “It’s on the house.”
I took a sip, and the rum and coke tasted better than the last one. I waited for half an hour, and a large guy led me to the office. Senad still sat behind his desk, but three rough looking bikers joined the crowd. They flanked in a semicircle around Senad, leaving one vacant chair for me.
“My friend, Keith, please take a seat. Excuse my rough behavior,” Senad said joyfully. Then he lifted his bottle of beer and guzzled it down. Afterwards, he continued, “I think we can help each other. We can do business together.”
“Thank you, Senad. I was hoping you could help me.”
“We still have a problem. Sasha guards his mansion well. We’ll have trouble driving through the front gate. If we blast our way in, then people will die, including your girl.”
“One of Sasha's women contacted me. She thinks she can sneak my girlfriend out, but the trouble is we need a diversion to keep Sasha occupied. He keeps a close eye on his women
and his mansion.”
Senad smiled, “I see. I think we can help you. We can create that diversion for you. If you can get that girl to open the gate before Sasha knows what hit him, then we have a chance. Then you grab your girl and go, and I’ll take care of Sasha.”
All the men smiled and gleamed maliciously, when Senad said he would take care of Sasha personally.
I was happy while Senad and the four silent men stood grimacing. I knew I would get my girl back.
“However, we still have the ecstasy to worry about. You give me the drugs tonight before we plan anything. Is that acceptable to you?”
I hesitated and thought about it for a minute, and then I replied, “That’s fine by me. You can have it.”
“Very well! Faruk will accompany you back to your hotel to get the drugs. Once he authenticates it, then the plan is a go. We'll help each other. You can get your girl, and I can get rid of Sasha. And Montenegro will be mine again.”