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Johnny Speed
Johnny Speed Chapter 1

Johnny Speed Chapter 1

1975 The Vietnam war ends and millions of soldiers are shipped back home returning to normal lives but some put their military skills to use and used them for money, revenge and heroism. 

Miami, A slick black muscle car speeded through the beautiful streets passing by palm trees and beaches until stopping at an apartment block. The doors swung open and out stepped a man wearing a slick black jacket, jeans and boots and rocking some aviators. 

''Well this is the adress...'' Johnny muttered to himself 

Johnny walked over to the trunk of his muscle car opening it and retrieving a duffel bag and then began walking towards his apartment door but before he could open it another man wearing a floral shirt stopped Johnny greeting him and introducing himself as Ray. 

''Ray Rockwell at your service''- Ray said in a friendly manner 

''Johnny...Johnny Speed''- Johnny said reluctantly 

''Vietnam hmm?'' Ray questioned 

''What do you mean?'' Johnny asked back 

''Your tattoo looks military so I assumed you served somewhere right?'' Ray asked again 

''Yeah you'd be right...I was in Saigon..you were in Vietnam too?'' Johnny asked 

''Sure was I mean I didn't get to see Saigon but we saw a lot of gunfire coming at us and a crapton of explosions, I mean a chopper napalm striked an entire jungle...it was intense man''- Ray explained 

''Yeah it was..'' Johnny agreed while looking around 

A black car parked up outside the motel and Ray looked over the balcony seeing the car and turned saying goodbye to Johnny before jumping inside the car, Johnny raised his eyebrow and shook his head unlocking his door and walking inside slamming the door behind him. Johnny looked around the apartment throwing the duffel bag down and walking to the bathroom to shave his beard, what felt like hours passed before Johnny walked out of the bathroom clean shaven and tired and with that Johnny threw himself onto his bed falling into deep slumber.  The alarm clock beeped waking Johnny up and the Miami sun beamed through the curtains, Johnny opened his eyes and fell out of bed throwing the alarm clock out the window to the ground below and Johnny stumbled over to his couch sitting down. Johnny looked down at his duffel bag and started unpacking seeing the letters sent to him while he was in Vietnam and after reading them over Johnny cracked a smile and began to get ready to visit those he missed while at war. 

Johnny got dressed and opened the door walking out of his apartment and getting in his car, Johnny stopped at a cemetery and stepped out of his car slowly walking over to two gravestones and bowing respectfully. 

''Hey dad...heh I know it's been a while since I've been here I know and Y'know I'm sorry I couldn't get Jack here with me, he's probably off doing something else I mean it's been a while since I saw him.'' Johnny 

Suddenly a voice was heard from the other side of the cemetery and Johnny's brother Jack ran over smiling and hugging Johnny. 

''Brother it's been too long! how was Vietnam?'' Jack asked 

''Oh you know sunshine and rainbows and napalm'' Johnny

''I've heard it's a 5 star vacation...almost a bit disappointed I couldn't join you'' Jack 

''You know I don't want you throwing your life away I mean I only joined the military because I wasn't good at anything else, you're a smart kid Jack'' Johnny said smiling 

''You just don't wanna' have to deal with the guilt of me getting killed...sooner or later we all die Johnny and I want to make my life mean something'' Jack 

''You don't think I want that too? I spent a year in Vietnam seeing villages burned to the ground and my friends killed and now I'm back home and I don't have a goddamn clue what to do, dad would want me to find a job but who's gonna' accept a guy like me? no one's hiring soldiers'' Johnny 

''Well...I know a guy who is actually he's a businessman and a fair guy and he needs a partner with your skills to help him out on some jobs'' Jack 

''Jack I can't get arrested again for doing illegal stuff and I'm 99 percent sure this guy you're suggesting does some pretty illegal jobs'' Johnny 

''What's anyone ever done for you huh? you go over to Vietnam and watch all that horrible shit happen and risk your life getting shot at and you come back here and nothing, no one's gonna' give you shit so you gotta' seize it for yourself...it's time to put those skills to work and get some cash'' Jack explained 

''I'll...I'll think about it alright?'' Johnny answered 

Jack nodded and turned towards the cemetery exit walking away while Johnny was left alone looking at his fathers gravestone, Johnny knew his brother was speaking some truth and before he could make a decision Johnny needed to see two important people first. Night fell and Johnny took a trip through the lone Miami streets feeling the wind blow against his face as he speeded down the highway, Johnny finally reached his destination. A lone small house near a beach with the waves crashing against the rocks and the wind blowing the palm trees outside, Johnny looked at the house and took a long breath before grabbing a duffel bag and jumping out of his car approaching the door but before he could knock the door swung open and a raven haired woman looked at Johnny raising an eyebrow. 

''Hannah..'' Johnny muttered trying to keep a false friendly face 

''Johnny...you didn't tell me you were back'' The raven haired woman now Hannah said 

''I figured you didn't want to know I was back...you don't want to know me anymore so..'' Johnny explained 

''I don't but she does'' Hannah explained back 

''Is she...okay?'' Johnny asked clearly concerned 

''I didn't think you cared'' Hannah 

''Of course I care about my own daughter'' Johnny 

''Then why are you here? you here to see her?'' Hannah asked 

''No..she doesn't need to see me yet...I'm here to give you this'' Johnny said pointing towards the bag 

''What's in it?'' Hannah asked 

''Enough to uh keep you going..take it if you want but it'd really help her and you so I don't recommend refusing it'' Johnny 

Hannah looked at Johnny and nodded grabbing the duffel bag before closing the door on Johnny's face, Johnny looked down and sighed lighting a cigar and walking back to his car. Ray stepped out from the shadows looking at Johnny and smiled nodding towards him. 

''Pretty lady you got there'' Ray said 

Johnny grabbed Ray throwing him onto the hood of his car and putting a knife to his throat 

''This isn't exactly a friendly hello, heh'' Ray 

''What's your game? you stalking me?'' Johnny asked clearly angry 

''Look buddy I just met you and I got better things to do than stalk you, like cocaine heh'' Ray explained 

''Jesus christ...then why are you here?'' Johnny asked 

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''I was just in the neighbourhood...look I got a little job for you if you are interested, you can handle yourself you were a soldier once ago right?'' Ray asked 

''Once ago...fine what job?'' Johnny asked 

''Well I assume that lady is important to you and I just so happen to know there's a crackhouse a few houses down from here and it's filled with some bad guys and you don't want them messing with your lady do you? help me clear the crackden and you'll make things safer for her'' Ray 

''Eh...christ you better not be screwing me over here'' Johnny said harshly 

''Please, why would I?'' Ray said smiling 

''You just told me you do cocaine and I don't know about you but most of the cokeheads I've met are paranoid wrecks who would screw their friends over for one more line, now I don't know if you'd do that but if you do you should know the consequences won't be pretty'' Johnny 

''I'm not your average cokehead'' Ray said grinning 

''Right...lead the way'' Johnny said nodding to Ray 

Ray nodded and walked over to a slick black car parked on a street corner, Ray looked at Johnny and smiled pointing towards the car. 

''That's my ride, you like cowboy?'' Ray asked snickering 

''What the hell kind of ride is that?'' Johnny asked back 

''A DeLorean DMC-12 my friend and don't think I bought that working a stiff job, a car like that costs a lotta sweat and blood'' Ray 

''So you like showing off?'' Johnny asked 

''I like showing off what working with me can get you'' Ray 

''Working with you? I'm only working with you now to clear out some violent crackheads, don't confuse things'' Johnny said in a stern tone 

''Whatever you say man but either way we are working together now so...let's rock and roll''- Ray 

''Rock and roll with what? fists can only get us so far and I don't know about you but the military didn't let me bring any guns home''- Johnny 

''Shame..well luckily for you I have some pretty sweet connections and I got a particulary good deal''- Ray 

Ray smiled lighting a cigar and strutted over to his car opening the trunk revealing an assortment of guns and ammo, Johnny walked over raising an eyebrow then looking at Ray. 

''Your connections must be pretty damn good...M-16's, 1911's, grenades...Jesus''- Johnny 

''Well don't tell anyone but these weren't exactly acquired legally but we are using them for a greater purpose''- Ray 

''Greater purpose..right, well I guess now we are ready to rock and roll''- Johnny 

''Damn right let's go knock down some doors!''- Ray shouted 

''Just don't go crazy in there...I know we are there to clear them out but I want to avoid any bloodshed''- Johnny 

''You know considering I'm a cokehead as you said I think I know dopeheads better than you and they aren't exactly the rational type, so whatever bloodshed you're trying to avoid well I'd recommend skipping that part because they will''- Ray 

''Duly noted, let's go''- Johnny 

Johnny and Ray made their way up the street stopping outside a broken down crackhouse, shouting and arguing could be heard from the inside. Johnny peeked through one of the open windows seeing a duffel bag of drugs in the center of the room and the men they were hunting protecting it. 

''Alright they're all together in the middle of the room so as long as we go in hard and split straight down the middle we should be good''- Johnny 

''You're the man with the plan, this should be an easy mark''- Ray 

''Don't get overconfident''- Johnny 

''2-bit dopeheads against trained soldiers with M-16's, I dunno about you but I'm liking our odds buddy''- Ray 

''Heh...for once I agree with you''- Johnny said cracking a smile 

Johnny and Ray looked at eachother confidently nodding before both heading towards the front door, Johnny looked down at the rusted metal door seeing a rusted padlock. 

''Shit it's locked...well any ideas?'' Ray asked 

''We don't need ideas we got guns'' Johnny said smirking 

Johnny pumped himself up and shot the padlock off before kicking open the door and sprinting inside, the drug dealers jumped to their feet grabbing their guns and the house quickly turned into a warezone. Ray followed after sprinting and diving into cover behind a couch, bullets flew through the air and the dealers shouted while scurrying into cover. 

''Jesus christ you could've warned me you were gonna' do that!'' Ray shouted 

''Expect the unexpected!'' Johnny shouted back 

''Heh so is this just like Vietnam to you!?'' Ray asked 

''Well we weren't killing two-bit gangbangers in Vietnam but we were under fire so yeah kinda!'' Johnny 

''Don't worry you'll get used to it!''- Ray shouted back 

''Yeah I bet!'' Johnny shouted 

Johnny peeked out from behind his cover seeing an opening for the kitchen, Ray looked at Johnny and nodded beginning to fire blindly from cover while Johnny sprinted out from cover and dived into the kitchen. One of the scared dealers saw their chance and with as little courage as he could muster sprinted into the kitchen quickly surprising Johnny and knocking his rifle away, Johnny reacted quickly and with deadly force grabbed a nearby knife and slashed the dealer from neck to ear leaving him to slowly bleed out. Johnny with blood all over his face instantly snapped to attention retrieving his gun and running over to Ray sliding into cover beside him, Ray looked over at Johnny and smirked making it seem like he was enjoying this but the truth was it was probably the drugs in his system, he was too out of it to get into it simply put. 

''I gotta' ask are you high!?'' Johnny asked over the sound of gunfire and death threats 

''What!? no why would you think that?'' Ray asked back 

''You don't seem the least bit worried we are getting shot at and to be honest...it's kinda' freaking me out'' Johnny admitted 

''Oh well Y'know I'm used to this! two-bit drug slingers, the Columbians and all the rest from A to goddamn Z, I've tangled with them all haha!'' Ray answered laughing 

"Well that's a lotta guys so where are these guys on your list?'' Johnny asked while avoiding gunfire 

''At the bottom! I mean going up against drug dealers isn't as nearly intense as Miami drug dealers, those guys are some tough and stubborn bastards Y'know!?'' Ray asked while shouting over the sound of gunfire 

''I wouldn't know! I've only just got here'' Johnny explained 

Silence fell and the gunfire stopped suddenly, Johnny clearly surprised and thankful for a moment of peace looked over his cover seeing his and Ray's enemies reloading their guns in a hurry. Johnny took a deep breath and took this chance to attack, Johnny sprinted out of his cover and vaulted over a couch kicking one of the drug dealers through the front window then shooting the other square in the head, the dealer fell with blood all over the walls and bullet holes in the walls it seemed the battle had finally ended. Ray came out from behind his cover laughing while lighting a cigar, Johnny looked around wiping sweat from his brow then turned to Ray. 

''Well..I guess we cleared them out'' Johnny said 

''Are you kidding? we destroyed them! Jesus that was a rush! man I'm pumped, you kicked some ass brother, man the Vietcong must been scared of you'' Ray said laughing 

''They were scared of me...not something I'm proud of'' Johnny said in sadness 

''Hey don't be so down man we did a good thing here...because we cleared out these deadbeat dopeheads the street your lady lives on will be a lot safer now'' Ray said smiling 

''Yeah true..listen thanks for the help-'' Johnny said before Ray cut him off 

''No problem man today was a rush! I'm glad I tagged along..so what's next for you friend?'' Ray asked 

''I don't know man..I came here to be with family but without a job I'm not much help..I'm broke and the one thing I'm good at I can't use to earn cash'' Johnny said 

''Well..you can get paid for your skills you know? I know some people who would pay for your skills and trust me they pay handsomely'' Ray said smirking 

''You know what? fuck it, I'm tired of trying to get a straight job and if my skills are gonna' get me the cash I need then I'll do it'' Johnny said confidently 

''Perfect, well I'll set up a meeting with one of my contacts and then we let the cash roll in'' Ray said 

''Sounds good man so..I'll see you later?'' Johnny asked Ray 

''Savage's bar meet me there, it's a local place but the owners cool and he sells under the counter stuff if you know what I mean, I'll be seeing you Johnny'' Ray said smiling 

The two shook hands and smiled before Ray took off in his car, Johnny looked up into the air lighting a cigar and smiled to himself thinking about what he had just done. An hour later Johnny arrived back at his apartment walking inside and slamming the door Johnny decided to have a few drinks, a few tequila shots later Johnny's phone started ringing and Johnny picked up half-sober. 

''Hello?'' Johnny asked 

''Johnny thank god you're alive'' Hannah said 

Johnny raised an eyebrow surprised to hear Hannah being concerned about his wellbeing. 

''Hannah? I gotta' be honest I wasn't expecting a call asking about my health heh'' Johnny said chuckling 

''There was a shootout on the street, my street and last I saw you were on my street so of course I was worried'' Hannah explained 

''I'm fine..how about you?'' Johnny asked 

''Fine..a bit shaken up, those people who were killed you didn't have anything to do with it did you?'' Hannah asked clearly suspicious 

''Jesus christ Hannah some deadbeat dopeheads die on your street and you accuse me? maybe it was the fact they were pounding smack into their eyeballs that killed them, why does it have to be me that killed them?'' Johnny asked clearly angry 

''It has to be you because they weren't any deadbeats they were bothering us and you knew that'' Hannah argued back 

''Alright fine it was me alright? those deadbeats got what they deserved and I don't even feel guilty about it'' Johnny said 

''I can't believe this..I thought when you got back from Vietnam you'd be..I don't know not a killer? it just never stops with you'' Hannah said 

''I was in Vietnam for a year and I saw stuff you never had to see! I saw villages get reduced to ashes by airstrikes, I saw people gutted infront of me, I saw people in bits on the goddamn streets! I see all that shit and you just expect me to be a happy go lucky guy? Vietnam was fucked up and it changed me alright!? it fucked me up even more..I just can't seem to escape death and after doing all the stuff I did in Vietnam for once I wanted to kill for a good reason. That reason being I wanted to protect you and our daughter..is that really that bad? I just wanted to protect you two.'' Johnny said breathing heavily

''You can stop all that death..I don't think you should visit us for a while..good luck Johnny'' Hannah said before hanging up 

Johnny stood up in anger throwing his phone at a wall with the smashed pieces falling on the ground, in that moment everything seemed for naught and Johnny needed to get away from it all and luckily passing out from alcohol was just what he needed. 

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