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Introduction:

Sorry for the delay, hoping it posts faster than the last one and please comment at your leisure.

Jim: Days after the Detective visited

“The police? You got one detective coming into your business and telling you she suspects the police are looking to build a connection case by going for a weak link and you’re not removing the weak link right now,” Mulligan is asking me as we’re at his ranch having a private conversation.

“So just kill off forty or so young men and women to make things safe and put the operation back at square one,” I reply and he shrugs.

“Square one or jail, not a tough choice really and I know Sid wouldn’t be debating this,” Mulligan says it and it is a bit offensive.

“Sid would also be taking off the top whether you approved it or not. Sid would be selling to people we deemed unfit and Sid would probably be allowing more drugs through the city,” I recount a few of Sid’s decisions.

“Fair point and your boys are loyal? Do time in jail if needs be loyal,” Mulligan asks leaning forward in his chair.

“They are built for loyalty and what happened with that kid you wanted watched out for they’ve proven they aren’t talking,” I state and he nods in accepting my statement, but now I have to bring up the problem,” Our biggest problem might be the kid himself.”

“What the hell did I say about the kid, I want him left out of this,” Mulligan is pretty pissed off about me even bringing the kid up, must be a damn good lawyer.

“I agree except he’s putting himself in the center of it and somehow he’s curbed the Faces of Fear. That sick preacher fuck Gabriel, he said one thing to him and now Gabriel isn’t just camping out, he’s preparing for something,” I explain and Mulligan is interested.

“That kid brought Gabriel to heel? If someone else was telling me this I’d call them a bullshit artist but… what did he say,” Mulligan asks and I shrug.

“That’s the thing, nobody is sure what he fully said but Gabriel and the Faces of Fear are watching and waiting. We need to wrap this up before someone outside the situation gets hurt,” I tell Mulligan who agrees.

“One thing though, this detective? We sure she’s on the level or do I need to put her down in a few weeks,” Mulligan asks and I shake my head.

“She believes in the system, enough time she’d understand ours and believe in it too but for now we’re keeping her on our radar,” I tell Mulligan and nods again.

Guy: Friday evening at home, two weeks after Detective Escalante’s visit

So I agreed to spend three hours or so with Gwen… not one of my personal favorite decisions recently but it’ll get her off my back and get Mark a date. I’m helping his love life? That feels weird on levels that I can’t even begin to describe. I’m relaxing with my massive video game/entertainment system when my door opens and Gwen pokes her head in and smiles at me.

“So ready for our big day tomorrow,” she asks and I shrug,” Come on Mark told me you agreed to spend a whole day out with me.”

“A whole day… funny that’s a lot longer than the three hours he told me,” I state and she gives me a very puzzled look.

“Well we’ll need the whole day if I’m gonna have a chance to win you back,” Gwen says and I chuckle.

“Win… not win back. You never had me in the first place,” I clarify and she has a look on her face that seems a little familiar,” I agreed to spend time with you and give you a real chance to talk and explain everything so that we could attempt to function as siblings, this I agreed to.”

“Well yeah that’s what Mark said he asked you for. It was nice of him to offer to ask you,” Gwen says and I have to think about it for a second.

“And there’s also the date you are going on with him for asking,” I say it and she gives me a confused look.

“Who said anything about a date? I was trying to talk to your sisters and he offered to talk to you for me,” she says it and I believe I might have seriously underestimated Mark.

“So now I’m roped in for an entire days worth of whatever you want to drag me to and I have to listen and give you the opportunity to basically convince me that water isn’t wet and the moon is Swiss cheese,” I state and she has a bit of a hopeless look on her face.

“Yeah, but it’ll be a good day. I’ve got some fun things planned for us,” Gwen says and she’s actually worried about this.

“I will be there, willingly. I will be there and I will partake of as much as of your events as I’m able and I’ll listen,” I state and I’m being honest,” But Gwen, I hope for your sake you’re not lying about Mark not wanting a date with you for this. Because if you back out of this deal and with that on the table nothing you say will change my mind. It’ll just make it worse.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to Mark just to be sure,” Gwen says and leaves closing my door.

I’m pretty sure someone either left something out or made something up but I’m not sure who, a mystery for later as I resume killing terrorists.

Hmmm, I wonder who is playing who in this.

Waste… of… time…

Really? I’m pretty sure I’ve been reading the playbook and you need to catch up on a few things.

If it’s not chaos, destruction and bodily harm I’m not interested.

I’d read up, we’re going to be teaming up here soon.

I finally get some sleep and am almost rudely woken up at fucking four thirty in the morning by energetic knocking on my door.

“Come on baby brother, we got stuff to do today,” Gwen says with a lot more happiness than I care for this early in the morning.

I let her explain what I need to wear, which is clothing I used to wear before my change and it already feels like a bad idea. I’m committed to it wearing one of my black t shirts, beat up blue jeans and a flannel shirt with boots because my sneakers won’t have grip according to Gwen. I’m in our Father’s truck and we’re on the road. She’s drinking coffee and I’m sitting here with absolutely nothing in my stomach but I’m wide awake. This is psychological warfare and I’m ready, I’ve had worse. We’re heading out of town and I’m just waiting patiently when we pull up to a family restaurant after spending an hour plus on the road. First thing I realize is that my phone isn’t in my pocket and immediately I’m not happy getting out of the truck.

“Where is my phone,” I ask and Gwen looks a little embarrassed,” You took it.”

“Actually I had Mark take it last night before I came in,” she informs me and I’m really not starting out my day well.

“So I’m not supposed to have any way to contact my family in case of an emergency,” I clarify and she realizes a bit of her error.

“I have a phone if we need it,” She holds up a flip phone, a fucking flip phone,” Besides we’ll be too busy to make a lot of calls.”

We get in the restaurant and order quietly waiting for food while she sits there looking for some sort of an opening to talk to me. I don’t need to say anything right now so it’s in her court.

“Don’t you want to know what we’re doing today,” she asks and I shrug,” I found a place kind of like mine and Papa’s ranch up in Montana. We’re gonna do some work then we get to ride some horses. Then some lunch… you don’t like horses.”

“You mean the couple thousand pound glue bag on legs,” I say it and immediately she sours at my words,” I don’t have any experience with horses.”

“Well I’m gonna teach you today,” she is upset with me now, one comment and now she’s mad.

“Don’t like me talking about horses like that,” I ask and she is waiting for me to say something mean,” Okay I’ll stop.”

“You can think what you like but when you’re on the back of one things change,” Gwen informs me very sure of herself,” they are special creatures.”

I nod a little but really they aren’t much as far as I’ve ever seen, also I’m not a girl and don’t have that magical connection to horses that most girls seem to have. We eat and continue in the truck for another hour or so and we arrive at a large patch of land that has been turned into what appears to be a farm house with barn and large building that I’m guessing houses horses. We park and she meets up with someone I assume is in charge, a heavy set man in flannel shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. Gwen motions towards me and says ‘brother’ and the guy looks at me and chuckles a little.

“You brought a greenhorn to help out? Boy brought the wrong boots to stall mucking,” the man tells me and I have to wonder what fresh hell I am being subjected too.

“Well I’m trying to show him what it’s like to work like I’ve been working for the past few years,” Gwen tells him and I am wondering what the hell this has to do with us as siblings.

We get shown tools; mostly a couple of wheel barrels and each of us get a shovel and a pitchfork before being shown to our stalls and immediately I hate my life. There is a base layer of mud with straw on top and shit, two good sized piles of shit. Gwen tells me about keeping the wheel barrel close to the door so I don’t have to walk carrying shit and making a bigger mess and heads into her stall to get things cleaned. I spend what can only be described as an hour of hell getting all the straw out before tackling the pile of shit, how the fuck do you pick up straw with a fucking pitchfork? It falls through and doesn’t hold. Gwen has been done and tells me she’ll be getting her horse ready and where to meet up. I get done and hear someone whistling behind me and turn to see a pair of ranch hands, I think that’s what they’re called, trying to get my attention.

“So where is your hose,” one asks me and I look around confused,” you need ta wet down the mud in there before putting in new straw so it stays.”

“Here we’ll get you a hose,” the other says and off he goes.

I wait and after a few minutes the second ranch hand return with a hose. They walk me through the basics of setting up the stall and leave me to my work.

Gwen: half an hour later

I got two horses, an older gelding for Guy and mare for myself as I wait for my baby brother to get done with his stall. I know it’s taking him a bit but I want him to understand how I hard I work and the reward of what I do running the ranch. He’s been in there for a lot longer than I thought and I hear people laughing and turn to laugh myself for a bit as my baby brother has mud all over him with patches of straw stuck to the mud and no boots. He looks ridiculous and I don’t know how it happened but aside from mud all I can see is his blue eyes. We’re laughing and it’s hilarious, he has to see how funny this is.

“I’m glad you find this so funny,” Guy says and his voice is perfectly flat.

“Baby brother what happened,” I ask trying to figure out how he did all that to himself.

“Two of your friends,” I stop to figure out who he’s talking about cause I barely know most of these people,” told me about how I need to wet down the mud before laying down the straw by hand.”

“What the hell are you talking about,” one of the hands asks as he and a couple of his boys laugh, it’s funny.

“Baby brother you don’t wet down anything, I didn’t and I was right next to your stall,” I tell him trying to calm down from laughing.

“No you were out here with horses, I was in there,” Guy points at the stables and a patch of mud flies off him and everyone laughs harder.

It’s so funny but I am trying to get it under my hat when the ranch owner and I think his daughter come by to see what the holdup is and immediately they both have a little bit of a laugh as my brother is covered in mud in his bare feet. Guy is just standing there in front of everyone as they laugh and I see it, I never saw it before but his eyes change. They’re still blue but something is wrong when the ranch owner moves up to Guy and reaches out to help him away from the scene.

“Come on son, let’s get you cleaned up,” the nice man tells Guy and that’s when I hear it, his voice chills my bones.

“Touch me with that hand and you’ll need to find a partner if you ever plan to clap for the rest of your life,” Guy says it and the ranch owner freezes in place.

“Guy he’s just trying to help,” I try to tell my baby brother and that is when he turns his eyes on me.

“Help? I think we’re all pretty sure I’m beyond help at this point so let’s just sit back and have ourselves a laugh why don’t we,” Guy tells me and people stop laughing and Guy looks at the ranch hands,” what’s wrong? I thought this was funny to you? I thought you wanted this? I’m here; I’m still covered in mud, straw and shit. Why aren’t you laughing?”

“Listen son they were just having a bit of fun,” the owner tries to calm my brother but I’ve never seen anything like this before,” It’s just a little harmless fun and that’s all. It’s nothing personal now come on and we’ll get you cleaned up and some fresh clothes.”

“Oh like these clothes,” Guy asks before pulling off his shirts and dropping them on the ground,” Or how about these?”

Guy strips down to his underwear, boxer briefs and while my brother is fit and trim he’s got scars all over his chest and back, and a couple on his arms. A couple people are a looking away and the ranch owner is trying to get my brother to stop but Guy is so angry. I didn’t think people could get this angry.

“Alright everyone show’s over get back to your work… NOW,” the ranch owner yells at his people and they run like he’s got a whip before getting back to my brother,” It was a joke but it’s over and we’ll get you cleaned up and some fresh clothes and you can take your sister riding.”

“And why the hell would I want to continue this disaster of a day,” Guy asks and I speak up.

“We made a deal for a day… and I want a ride a little while with you so we can talk. It was a bad joke Guy but it’s over and we’ll get you cleaned up and we can go riding,” I remind him of the deal and his shoulders drop a little.

“Right, I made a deal,” he says and turns to follow the ranch owner and his daughter to their house for some clothes.

I get a bag and go to find his boots but they look like a lost cause buried up to the tops in mud. He got the stall cleaned though. I wait with the horses and Guy comes back with some loose fitting jeans, a button up flannel and cowboy boots.

“You look good, almost like a real cowboy,” I praise him and he just stares at me,” I know it was a bad joke but we got some horses and a lot of space to ride.”

He doesn’t respond or even show any real feelings as I try to smile at him. I walk him through how to properly mount a horse and wait for him to get up, it takes him a couple tries, but he’s up and sitting uncomfortable on the gelding as I hop up on the mare and lead him out down a trail. I chose the gelding because he’s a follower horse, basically he will follow another horse almost perfectly from what I saw a couple weeks ago when I was helping out. We’re about a half hour into the trail and I look back to see my brother staring at me and I have to say it’s almost, no it’s worse than when he was mad. When he was mad I was able to know a bit of what was going on. Now I have no clue what he’s thinking and that worries me. I get us to a creek the ranch owner had bridged and stop in front of it to let the horses take a quick break. They don’t need it but I think I do.

“The horse isn’t even tired,” Guy says and I nod a little.

“Yeah, listen I’m sorry about the boys back there,” I try to apologize and he shakes his head.

“I don’t care if you’re sorry or not,” he says and I have to think.

“I remember when you were a baby. I was so happy to be a big sister,” I get it out and immediately regret it.

“Are you still happy now… big sister,” Guy asks me and I nod.

“I got my family back. I thought you and momma and daddy were dead for years and then he, Dad, came for me and I kept asking where you were or where Momma was. I mean if he came back then you two had to be out there,” I explain and he stands there listening, I actually have him listening,” I asked Daddy all the time when we were going to get you and he said you were better off without him and that it was just the two of us.”

“That would be his shame talking,” Guy states and I shrug, I didn’t think about it like that when I was a teenager.

“I hired an investigator to find you,” I say it and he looks at me and I think he’s interested,” the asshole wasn’t very good but he found you and that’s mostly what brought us down here.”

“Except our Father knew where I was. He’s known for years,” Guy says it and I nod.

“He told me that too after I told him I wanted to come get you. I heard your life was shit and figured coming out and seeing your big sister would fix things like when you cried as a baby and I would crawl into your crib,” I tell my baby brother and he’s still listening to me.

“I don’t remember a thing about you beyond when I first saw you in the sitting room at home,” Guy tells me very flat and cold,” I don’t feel anything when you’re around. I don’t feel a closeness that I would if I had bonded with someone when I was a baby.”

“Well it happened, I was there and I used to count the moles on your back and sing TV shows to you while you slept,” I tell him and it hurts that he isn’t interested.

“I’m not saying it didn’t happen. I’m saying that I don’t remember it and I don’t have any,” he moves his hands back and forth between us quickly,” emotional bond. Chalk it up to my budding memory cells.”

“I hoped you would or something. We were so close then I got taken and I lost you,” I am beginning to cry and Guy is just standing there looking at me.

I rub my eyes and try to keep from crying while my baby brother stands there watching me and all I can do keep it under my hat. We stand there for a while and he finally speaks.

“It’s weird for me… someone wanting me. Honestly wanting me before all this happened,” he waves his hand at himself.

“I always did, you got to believe that,” I tell him and he nods.

“I do, that’s the sad part. I know you’re telling the truth. I know everything you have said and feel is the honest truth but I don’t feel it,” Guy says and I don’t understand.

“How can you not? I’m here giving you everything I have and I hurt so much because I’m trying everything I know to let you feel something between us,” I yell at him and he stops and looks at me like he’s doing math or something,” What is wrong with you?”

“I’m not a good person. I was once I think but I’m not. You said you did this today does that include me losing my boots in the mud,” Guy asks and I shake my head,” Okay, I believe you. How do you feel about the two that set me up like that?”

“They were just having a little fun but I don’t know,” I tell him and it’s confusing.

“They’re fun, my expense. How do you think I feel about the two of them,” he asks and I shrug, I want to cry and he takes my hands,” Gwen listen to me because I need you to understand who I am now. The people who laughed at me, they could die… right now… screaming and I would smile. They’d deserve it for my humiliation.”

“Guy you don’t feel like that,” I tell him and he looks me straight in my eyes.

“I do, more so the ranch owner… I’d burn his house down with his daughter inside it just to help him understand how much pain I’ve suffered. The two who thought I was a great mark for some ‘harmless’ fun? I’d skin them alive,” Guy is scaring me but I don’t let go of his hands,” I’d let them all die horribly if I was told they would and only I could save them. I’d let them die and I’d watch.”

“But why? Why be so cruel? Why spread that on everyone else,” I ask him and he smiles, a sad little smile.

“Because it’s what I know, pain is all I’ve known for years and it’s all they deserve,” he tells me and I don’t know what is so broken in my baby brother.

I hug him, I get to hug him for the first time in almost twenty years and it’s like I never left him. I don’t know why but I feel like everything will be alright. At least for us. He’s hugging me a little but he’s holding back.

“I wish our parents wanted me as much as you did. Hell I wish they wanted me half as much as they wanted you,” Guy says and I pull back from him a little bit.

“They do want you,” I tell my baby brother and he smiles that sad smile.

“They don’t, not in the same way. See Dad went after you because he loved you and was going to get you back because you were taken from him. He promised me he would take care of me and protect me and when I was taken from him he ran away,” Guy explains stepping away and looks at the bridge.

“Our Daddy went after me but Momma was there for you,” I say it and remember some of the stories,” I mean not like she should have been but she was there.”

“He ran after you, not me. He didn’t want to see me at all until you dragged him down here and as for my mother she can’t even remember what my preteen years were like thanks to drowning herself in enough alcohol to kill India. But you show up one time and she’s instant recipe mother for you. It took me years to get to where she actually acknowledged me as her son and I was living with her, it took you seconds. No, they may love me but it’s filtered with guilt. You they love because you are their perfect first born,” Guy says and he’s not being mean to me about it but it hurts to hear him say it.

“They feel bad because instead of the sweet baby brother I knew you’re this thing. It’s cruel and horrible and it’s not you,” I tell him and he stops.

“Then you don’t know the real me, this is who I am,” he pulls away and stares into my eyes,” I don’t have time for things like love and compassion now. People need to be made to suffer they will.”

“Like Mom and Dad,” I ask and he gives me an ‘excuse me’ look,” They were the worst according to you so you’re going to make them pay.”

“If I wanted them to hurt, and I mean really hurt,” Guy tells me and smirks,” I wouldn’t be so subtle.”

I’m a little confused but he’s talking to me, he believes me but we’re just starting and I have more for us today. We talk a bit more as I get into what we do at mine and Papa’s ranch, chores and customers, simple things really. He listens and doesn’t really ask any questions about it, I leave him space to ask but he doesn’t and I don’t understand why he’s not interested so I figure turn the tables.

“So you’re into music, that’s what Beth said,” I ask as we’re back on horses and further down trail.

“I sing, people say they like it but not enough to put up the money to train me so I’m leaving it as a useless hobby,” I heard the bitter in his voice, that makes him unhappy.

“Well I say use it and shove it in their faces if you want to really burn them,” I tell my baby brother who shrugs.

“I did a bit of that already. The approval committee wanted to talk me into a few of their schools and I told them to fuck off,” Guy says with a smirk before continuing,” I wanted it for me, no family help. Just to do it on my own and they took that away because our Mother married rich.”

“Well she’s happy with him, I know she misses Daddy but she is happy where she’s at. I keep getting asked not to beat up your step sister,” I tell Guy and he nods.

“Ever want to see me again,” he asks and I nod back,” Never touch them, they’ve done shit to me yes but they’ve done more for me than you have and they are my family. Whether I liked it or accepted it they are.”

“I wasn’t gonna do much and besides she was picking on my baby brother. Had Daddy come down sooner like I kept telling him he should I woulda stopped her shit years ago,” I tell Guy and he nods with a smirk, I got a smirk.

“I tried to find him, couple years back. He was gone and won’t tell me where he was,” he says it like he’s curious.

“All I know is that when Daddy leaves bad people don’t come back, I don’t know who the bad people are but he told me first time he left and I’ve never asked a question about it since,” I tell Guy who doesn’t react,” It wasn’t cause he was avoiding you. I’m sure if he knew you were looking he would have come.”

“Except he knew more than he said and didn’t come,” Guy argues and I think he’s a little right.

We get done riding and the owner offers us lunch at in his home but Guy doesn’t want to be around him and it makes me worry. The owner’s daughter comes out to announce that our lunch is ready and as I try to lead Guy to the house he won’t move. It’s bad and the owner notices.

“Listen kid it was a joke and it’s over, this is a peace offering and an apology,” the owner offers and Guy looks at him and I see that flicker in his eyes.

“Did you tell them to do that to me,” Guy asks it and I have to step in.

“Guy he didn’t tell anyone to prank you it just happened, sometimes the hands like to prank the city folk. It was just a bad joke,” I explain to my brother but he’s not budging, hell he’s not even looking at me.

“You eat Gwen, I’m going to take walk… clear my head,” Guy says and begins to walk away.

“Let him cool off Miss, seen it before plenty of times,” the owner Henry says leading me away.

Lunch is good and Henry is a pretty nice man, we talk about my favorite subject… horses. I’m only there for a half hour when I see Guy sitting down in the shade outside the house staring at the land. I swear I have no rightly clue what is in his head but it’s not always good. Mr. Henry sees me watching my brother and shakes his head.

“Something very wrong with that boy,” Henry says and I nod.

“I just wish I could figure out what it is,” I reply taking a sip of sweet tea.

“It’s hate. I’ve seen it more than a few times to know it when I see it,” Henry says and I must be looking for an explanation because he continues,” that boy is full of hate. Something happened to him and all he has left is hate because everything else has been burned out of him.”

“So there’s nothing left, that what you’re telling me,” I ask and he shakes his head.

“In people like him all the feelings are little people and hate is a firebug. When there is a flash fire around the farm house and nowhere to run, like that boys head, they all run for cover in something all us good farmers keep,” Henry explains and I know this answer.

“A tornado shelter or like a basement. Hell my Daddy and I got one of those,” I don’t tell him about the weapons in ours.

“Right, everything he has is locked up waiting for the fire to burn out. That’s the biggest problem if you want to know. Only things that can stop it faster than it burning itself out is what he’s keeping locked up. It drives him to do things he wouldn’t like stripping down in front of over twenty strangers,” Henry says it and it makes some sense.

“Okay Pa but what about him burning out, what does it take for that to burn out,” Henry’s daughter asks and I need that answer too.

“When everything that it feeds off of is gone then the fire burns out. He’ll go until there isn’t anything left of whatever started the fire,” Henry says and that puts me back to square one.

I take a sandwich and a glass of milk out to Guy and he takes them from me before nodding and beginning to eat. He’s so quiet I can’t tell what is going on but I have an idea, it’s gonna ruin my plans for later but after that Beth girl told me about some of the things people were doing to him I figure this might just tip shit in my favor. I figure we’ll head out and I say goodbye to Henry who is a really nice man but when he tries to shake Guy’s hand my baby brother just stares at him before turning around and walking to our Daddy’s truck. I apologize for him but Henry just nods and shakes his head at my brother before turning to his house. I catch up to Guy who is waiting at the truck and in two shakes we’re back in and heading back into town. Another couple hours gone by and we’re in the city and that’s where my questions begin. I just ask about the different things that happened, I ask him about the little things like the beatings and everything before he got stabbed. I stop at a gas station and let Guy use the bathroom before sending off a text message to one of the step family for directions. I get my phone put away by the time Guy gets back from the toilet and do a little driving when I figure I’m in the right spot by the sound of the loud base and Spanish music. I see a few cars and more than a few Mexicans, I know they’re legal but they don’t fly the American flag. I pull up and park hard before getting out and marching my way over to their little circle and I hear Guy following me but he’s keeping back. A couple people look at me as I march up and push through a couple people and see some of them talking, I don’t know who is who but the 5’8” Mexican chick has about forty pounds on me and is a good place to start.

“What you doing here,” some skinny kid with a chip on his shoulder asks and I smirk.

“This,” and I punch the girl in the nose.

I feel her nose crunch and as her head goes back I grab her shoulders and bring my knee into her gut. She hits the ground and everyone stops as I’m standing over the
girl and take off my belt.

“Didn’t your Daddy ever tell you about being a bully,” I ask and crack goes my belt on her back.

I get about five or six good swings in when someone grabs my arm and I turn and cold cock his brown ass right in the jaw. I might not know how to fight like Daddy, I’ve seen it a couple times and it’s scary, but I know how to knock someone on their ass and farm work don’t make a girl weak. I hear a few guns cock and that’s when someone decides to speak.

“You might want to stop before my people drop you where you stand,” I hear one of the boys and turn to see yes there are a few pistols pointed at me.

It’s the laughing that makes everyone freeze, one laugh over all the violence. It’s from my brother and when he steps into the ring that’s when I see they’re afraid of him and weapons go down without a word.

“Now we’re getting somewhere. Oh don’t lower those on my account,” Guy tells the leader, the one who stopped me,” I mean we’re just getting started. You hit me, you hit me again and now here I am in your face with all your numbers and your guns and you stop now? You can stop me Carlos. You can stop us right now.”

Guy is standing over the girl I belted and I watch everyone as they get nervous when he kneels down next to her. He brushes her hair off her face and looks up to this Carlos and smiles. I don’t know what it is about my baby brother right now but him being gentle to the bitch I just kick the crap out of is scaring the gang.

“Guy I know shit happened and my people are to blame and me more than them because I didn’t stop it but we can end all this,” Carlos tells Guy and Guy laughs a little.

“Yes, yes we can,” Guy stands up and holds his arms out leaning his head back,” Ready when you are.”

He wants them to shoot him, my brother is trying to get himself killed and I almost try to pull him back but they aren’t aiming at him or me for that matter. Nothing happens and now I see what Henry was talking about, he wants all of them to suffer. One of them, one who looks like he’s had his ass kicked a little bit and he’s standing in front of Guy.

“No, we’re not playing your game. You wanted a fight and I gave you one, you beat the shit out of me but we’re not coming after you. You won and made us look like assholes, isn’t that enough,” the kid asks Guy as he lowers his arms and I can see him smiling.

“No, you’re still here. See that’s what you don’t understand so I guess I have to explain it for the unenlightened. You broke me; year after year you sat there and humiliated me. You ruined any sense of escape I had and the whole time you laughed and thought nothing of it. Then ‘someone’ tries to kill me and all of a sudden everyone is calling you good people. A neighborhood watch group that is keeping the streets safe,” Guy begins and a few of them are embarrassed,” You’re not are you? Even after everyone knew what had been done to me they just wouldn’t believe you were anything other than good boys and girls looking out for their streets.”

“Guy we get it, alright. We were bad and nobody confessed to stabbing you or torturing you but maybe that’s because it wasn’t us. We’ve tried to talk to you, we’ve tried to reason with you…,” this kid with the beat up face is telling Guy and Guy stops him.

“How reasonable were you to stop when I said something about the beatings I took for three years? How much talking did you do to make peace with me before I was left for dead? See it’s only when there was a real consequence that all of you,” Guy turns his attention to the group.

“So what do you want, you want all of us to suffer and bleed because you did,” the beat up kid asks helping up the girl I belted.

“That would be the appetizer; I’m onto the entrée now. Next time you won’t see me, you will see your worst fears come to life and this will be marred in your memory as the last chance you had to stop all this,” Guy says it before turning around and smiling at me,” Sis it’s time to go.”

He strolls, I have to call it that, right up to me and holds his arm out for me to take and I do before we walk through the group and back to Daddy’s truck. We get in and drive away, the whole time I’m waiting to see who follows us and after about three streets Guy looks over at me and smiles.

“I love you, you are so not me it’s scary and I love that,” my baby brother says it and I have to keep from slamming on the brakes.

“You love me, after that you love me,” I ask and he nods lazily.

“I mean you have been so honest with me and I know I’m not alright in your mind and it makes no sense but you don’t care. You just stand there and go ‘okay, he’s my brother and let’s do this’,” Guy is resting his head on the window before he starts chuckling,” You took a belt to her.”

“I know, it just came to me,” I tell him and try not to laugh.

“Like their parents should have years ago, I get it, it makes perfect sense,” Guy is laughing as he tells me,” Better proof than DNA testing I figure.”

“You needed DNA proof,” I ask confused and he shakes his head.

I wanted to do a little more but Guy says head for home and I figure our day is pretty much over anyway. No cops or anything considering I beat the shit out of someone and punched a Mexican ganger in the face, they must not like calling the police which makes me ask why the fuck didn’t the police do shit about all this when my baby brother was bleeding in the street? We pull up to the house, his home but for me it’s the house my Momma lives in. I have a home up north and I’m gonna get my baby brother up there if it kills me. We’re not in the door for ten seconds when Mom comes out of the kitchen wondering why we’re home so early. I explain a little bit to Mom while Guy goes after Mark for his phone which he gets back. Mom and I talk a little more about where we went, I’m leaving out the ass kicking I gave a couple people obviously, and she doesn’t need to hear about that. We sit down to dinner and everyone is talking and going on about their days while my baby brother listens and smiles, he’s smiling and he’s having a good time. Everyone finishes their food and I find out that Dad was handling some business in town, ranch business and I immediately need to look over the papers. Daddy is a good man but his head for horses and business isn’t that great.

Henry Mulligan: Sunday Morning

My veterinarian is losing his shit and a few of my cows are laying down ready to die as my workers, the legitimate ones, can’t seem to figure out what the hell is wrong with my cattle. I have a couple of my hired hands looking into what the fuck is going on as I’ve got Jim on his way out to pay me a visit at home. I called him to come out because I hate heading into town for just one thing. My vet is on his way up to me and considering he’s sweating like a pig and it’s only nine thirty I’m pretty sure his fat balding ass has some answers.

“There’s something in there, not sure what but it’s in their water,” the vet informs me and I shake my head.

“Well can someone explain to me who the hell got onto my property and had enough time to poison the water,” I ask and I see a few hired hands looking at their boots,” About as useful as a horse with no legs.”

“I’m pretty sure whatever it is it was diluted by the water in the tower,” the vet explains and I have to ask.

“What do you mean the tower? Why weren’t you using the pumps,” I get the question out and one of the hands is quick to answer.

“They’re working on the pipe up the way so we have to use the tower,” the young hand informs me and I’m about to beat the lazy out of them.

“The tower is for emergencies like a damn fire. Not for watering animals, you get some buckets or a fucking hose and run it from a different spot. Who the fuck told you to use the tower,” I ask and again with the feet staring,” I don’t get an answer I’m gonna start firing people.”

“I did sir, the hose was a little messed up after the kid cleaned the stall yesterday,” the hand, a dirty faced young man, states and now I know part of my problem.

“So you used a perfectly good hose to pull a practical joke on the city boy and now my cows are sick? Am I getting all this right or do you want to add,” I ask and hear a hard worker calling from the water tower.

“Mr. Mulligan! There’s antifreeze in here, like five things of antifreeze,” and to prove it they come falling down from the top of the tower landing with a thud each one.

I don’t lose my temper often but this is someone screwing with my peace of mind and I’m not keen on shit like this happening at my home. In the city is fine but at home is unfuckingtolerable. I march over to the bottles and kick one, it’s nearly empty.

“So someone just walked around the grounds… got into a shed and took five bottles of antifreeze… then climbed up the top of the tower and dropped them in hoping to poison my cattle,” I ask and I really don’t think anyone should answer, however.

“Well we was using that one yesterday for a little clean up. It was after the kid we messed with was off with that girl who brung him,” the younger hand says and I want to punch the boy, I’m waiting for the right time.

“Doc, anything you can do about antifreeze,” I ask and he nods,” Don’t tell me just do it.”

I have the hands drain the tower into a basin to boil the water before dumping it; doc says boiling it will kill the antifreeze inside. Not sure if it will but dumping it straight will be worse. I’m walking through the stables and I see the calamity stable, I call it that after the boy lost his boots. I know that boy, he’s Delauter’s kid, and I knew it yesterday once we got his face cleaned up. That girl who brought him said they were related and she knew her stuff around a farm. I’m about to sit down for lunch when I hear a vehicle pull up to the house and only four people are allowed this close to the house. Jim is at my screen door with his granddaughter Vicki, she’s always been a good kid and my Helena looks at her like a role model, could do a lot worse. I have the girls make themselves scarce while Jim gets down to business.

“Things are quiet once again and we’re moving goods. Police are back doing their jobs and not getting in the way of our business,” Jim relates the good news and then says something I don’t quite understand,” I got a visit from the detective, the one that was looking into that boy who got stabbed.”

“Well shit, what the hell are we dealing with now? How far is she looking,” I have to ask and he shakes his head.

“That’s just it, she ain’t looking at me. She ain’t even looking at my runners. She came into the shop and cleared house before going into her theory about our boy. She thinks it was a few of her fellow officers that did the deeds,” Jim explains and I almost laugh.

“Really, is she grasping at straws or the brass ring,” I joke and he doesn’t laugh,” Oh don’t tell me you buy into this crap?”

“A few months ago I wouldn’t but after shaking down every single piece of shit and having a hunter brought in from up north just to make sure we find the people who helped start some of this shit we’ve been dealing with and even he’s turning up nothing. Add to it the victim is more dangerous than we thought and I’m thinking the detective might be onto something,” Jim sits back and I think for a moment.

“He was here yesterday. Came it with a girl who’s been coming by every couple days to ride. She was showing him the ropes of working with horses and a couple of the boys decided to mess with him when nobody was looking. Everyone had a good laugh till he opened his mouth. Even after cleaning him up and serving him lunch he wouldn’t even give me the courtesy of a ‘no hard feelings’ handshake. That boy needs a scapegoat fast or he’s going to do something that will get him killed,” I tell Jim and he nods.

We make a plan, the detective is off the list but I’m going to tap a few people through some people they owe and I’m going to get a few names as to who would do something like this just to get at Jim and the Union. We get things in order about the time Vicki and Helena come through the door with all the energy two young ladies would. Jim’s only been her an hour and he’s already heading back to town and I sit alone have to think before turning to my daughter.

“Helena, that boy yesterday? What did you think of him,” I ask and immediately she has to think.

“Well he was cute, but so angry. I mean it was a joke and he just couldn’t take a joke. So he lost some boots and his clothes were pretty much done but still it’s a joke,” my daughter relays her thoughts.

“I got a bad feeling about this kid. This is exactly why I didn’t want you in public schools,” I joke a little but it’s true.

Guy: Late Sunday afternoon

A little time, care and planning. Okay a little more than before but I didn’t get a lay of the land and now I am getting ready. Time with Gwen was good, I get to say that and mean it too. She was so honest and we completely understand each other and how our parents screwed shit up for our family but still they care and that’s important.

Boring.

More important than you think and you were cheering his sister when she was all over that girl.

Yeah because shit was getting done, now shit isn’t getting done.

How many times do I have to tell you read the playbook?

Right now I have a date I’m preparing for and I figure my blue suit and red tie should do nicely but a black shirt just to keep things neutral as I make my way downstairs. Mom knows I’m heading out and I see Mr. Delauter and Dad, again with the weird factor, talking as I say when I’ll be back and get in my car and head off to pick up my date. I don’t have to wait in the car when I get there and I don’t instead opting to greet her at the door. As always she’s is dressed to kill this time in a one piece black dress and her hair done in pulled back curls. I escort her to my car and then we go for our drive. I don’t know where we’re going just yet as she asks the most obvious question.

“So you said we had something to do before dinner,” she asks and I nod.

“I need you to meet some people, they’re kind of like us and you need to remember who I am and decide who you need to be because scared female won’t save you and neither will I tonight,” I tell her and watch her shift in her seat out of the corner of my eye.

I don’t say anymore, she should have figured that when she stated she saw things my way that my way wasn’t just for one night and if I’m going to get any real support for what comes next then I need the worst working for me. I find where they are, it’s difficult since I’m not a genius at finding crazy.

Can I just say that I love this.

You have… at great length… and I am tired of it.

Well get used to it. I fucking love this.

I step out of my car and don’t wait long for the almost forty bikers and generally unwashed masses surround me. I recognize the tall black one with the white face paint and the one that looks like he’s crying but I’m waiting for their leader and before long they part and he makes his way over to me in all his bearded crazed glory.

“Almost thought you weren’t ever coming,” Gabriel says running his fingers through his oily beard.

“I heard you, more than a little. When you pray you’re doing it wrong. I don’t hear prayers I hear screams,” I tell him as the passenger in my car opens her door and steps out.

I can feel them watch her; she is breathtaking after all as she steps forward. More than a few of Gabriel’s people are staring but it’s the big black one with the bad face paint is first to move towards her. He reaches his hand out towards her and she turns her gaze on him and smiles.

“I’ll take that hand little one,” Jenna tells him with a smile,” You’re makeup is running.”

Talk about self conscious, Jenna says four words to him and he’s holding his face and backing away from her. I smile and Gabriel looks between Jenna and I and now he’s smiling.

“You brought a demon with you,” he says and I keep smiling.

“She’s… special, she has that way around others,” I tell Gabriel as Jenna makes her way to a cowering giant.

“Bring me your things, we need to fix your face… don’t we,” Jenna asks him forcefully and he nods before running off.

His run is more of a panic and he comes back with a sack, a plastic sack of what could be either makeup or paint. Don’t care which as she has him kneeling so she can work her magic.

“Now the key to being beautiful is the pain. You love it but then you ran from me because your face was fading. Now we’re going to keep that face, that’s your secret isn’t it,” Jenna asks and he nods,” See admitting it to others like you is good. Now let’s put a smile back on that face.”

I let her work while I pull Gabriel aside and explain to him how good it was that he recognized me when he did. He asks me about his father and I just smile. I had that suspicion and it’s paying dividends. I come to the crux of my problem and he’s all ears.

“I am not as strong as I would be if I were… home. I will need you soon but you need to keep your heads down and not make waves,” I explain and he cocks his head to the side curious.

“Point us and we will lay a river of blood where they live,” Gabriel offers and I see several of his people nodding.

“Fear is a powerful thing is it not? Did you know there is no fear in hell,” I say it and everyone stops,” You don’t have anything more to fear because you know with all certainty what will happen. You know the fire will come. You know you will be ripped asunder. These are the same as breathing is here. I want them afraid and when I call I want you to remind them why there is fear on this world.”

They like that; especially Gabriel who smiles big and I check Jenna who shows me the tall black one’s face. She’s done a pretty good job making look more like a clown and not the friendly kind. I nod approval and she returns his ‘make up’ to the bag and smiles down at him.

“Now you are beautiful, just like me. Run along and remember, smile,” Jenna takes to this very well, she definitely deserved that scholarship.

I bid Gabriel farewell and hand him a burner phone so I can reach him directly when I need him before getting the door for Jenna and once both of us are in my car we head out to dinner. I take Jenna back to the Hilton Hotel Restaurant and we’re seated and just ordered when she stops everything placing her hand on mine.

“They were insane. I’m not saying like you, you’re refined and focused. They are animals,” she says and I smile.

“And I’m going to use those animals to take care of my problems. I can’t use them for everything but I am certain that they will have a use,” I explain and she smiles a little.

“So you have enforcers now but you still haven’t started any real fires,” Jenna calling me out on the floor?

“No and I won’t accept an ‘A’ for effort either. But I did expose that false boyfriend of yours,” I counter and she is quick to respond.

“Ex-boyfriend… and yes you did and you did damage to Carlos’s little crew but there is no blood or fire. Why not just start the damn fire and let them come for you,” she says and we stop as we’re served.

“Because they’ve been coming for me for three years, I’m going to put myself in their faces and watch them back down,” I tell her before cutting into my steak.

“Good, I know you are eager to get things done but I just like to hear you say it. And earlier was fun, a little frightening but fun never the less,” Jenna answers with a wicked smile.

Why aren’t we fucking her?

Too easy and she doesn’t make him feel like other’s have.

Liar.

Coward.

I dare you to say that again knowing what I am capable of.

And I dare you to not tell me about the ‘softer’ emotions as you call them. I have never stepped into your world of violence and pain. Do NOT overstep into mine.

Alright, there’s some fire in you. Glad to see you’re not going soft.

Dinner is nice, we talk of simple things. She’s happy that I’m not giving up on college but a little disappointed I might not be pursuing music. I don’t bother to explain and she doesn’t ask why which is nice. A lot less questions and a bit of nice motivation from Jenna allows me to feel better as I pay the bill and drive her back home. Upon our arrival I am given a puzzling look.

“Why bring me here, I could just as easily stay the night at your place,” Jenna informs me and I wonder at the idea,” You’d be able to take me to school and I’m pretty sure I’d be able to find something to wear.”

“Tempting but I’m not ready for that… putting something like that in front of my parents, all three of them,” I clarify and she smirks.

I get a kiss on the cheek before she exits my car and once she’s inside I head home. I get in well before curfew, I don’t have one really but since most are still awake at home and happy to see me back I’m feeling good as I head up to my room to change. I get into shorts and am going for my shirt when Mark pokes his head in without knocking.

“So I guess you’re not too sore about me setting you up with your sister,” he asks and I shrug,” it’s just she’s your family, hell she’s our family now too and you being pissed off at everyone all the time it’s making us all stressed and jumpy. Your dad keeps trying to follow you places just to be safe.”

“Yeah I wish he would have been like that years ago. And my problem is your half of that deal,” I tell him and he looks confused,” You dating Gwen? That ring any bells?”

“Oh that, I couldn’t think of a way to get you to agree unless you were helping me so I just kinda made it up, sorry,” Mark explains and I have to ask.

“So why not try to date her for real or something. I’ve seen how you are with the ladies,” I remind him and he shakes me off.

“Even if I did and it went somewhere between us but you two didn’t come together how weird would that be that you can visit me but not her if we’re in a relationship? That would be like you marrying Abby or Beth,” I have to think on that one for a second,” It’d just be too weird, right?”

I kind of nod in agreement but really while I find them attractive I am still not sure where I feel other than an obvious physical attraction with them. I will put that back in its place and while Mark and I are good, hell Gwen and I are good I’m still at odds with my father and to a lesser extent Mom. Mom is more because she kept everything secret and after years I finally found all this out. I settle into bed and get some much deserved sleep.

So how do you do it exactly?

Do what, what are you talking about and why are you not super pissed off at me?

Because I’ve been thinking.

Pardon me while I recover from my shock.

Hey, I’m just curious and trying to keep this alliance going alright.

How do I do what?

The ladies, they are begging for him and you’re being picky. How do you get him to just jump at them?

It’s kind of like… I’d have to demonstrate.

Nobody he’s been with please. That doesn’t help explain it the how.

Monday morning and I’m feeling very alive. It’s like everything it wonderful and after getting ready in record time in my white suit with red shirt I am eating down stairs and talking with family all very happy and cheerful. I don’t normally feel like this and even Mom notices I’m way over top but I just smile and head off to school. Ever feel like the world is just waiting for you to rip its clothes off and fuck it. That’s how I feel today and I’m pretty sure there are a dozen females who notice. I get past my whole two classes wait in the library for a little while till lunch and head to my car to leave and pick something up for myself, I might not come back to school today I’m feeling so good. I get to the sidewalk and I hear someone coming after me.

“Hey Guy,” I get called and turn to see Natalie, the tough Latina cheerleader and Beth’s friend,” Hey are you busy?”

“I’m leaving to get some lunch actually,” I tell her and she smiles.

“Okay but later, want to do some singing in the theater,” She asks and I have to stop myself.

“Who is asking,” I say it and she looks confused,” Who put you up to asking me to sing?”

“Ummm a couple people who do music, they like your vocals and just wanted to do some music with you. Fourth period, theater,” Nat asks and I have to appraise the situation.

“Hmmm, okay if I come back to school I might swing by the theater,” I offer a fair chance of what I could be doing later.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Natalie replies before reminding me she has a remarkable ass.

Mostly she just turns and leaves but it’s worth watching. I get something decent and eat in the sandwich shop, its better quality and I think about my next moves. How are Carlos and his people going to come at me? Will they try to corner me or kidnap me to get me to listen to them? I don’t think so since they or someone connected to them did it already but who knows at this point. I am riding back to school and see a motorcycle following me. It’s a heavy bike and I think I recognize the rider but I can’t place him and can’t get a good look. He stops following me at the edge of school and I wait to see if I’m going to get grabbed for a few minutes before exiting my car and heading to the theater. Natalie wasn’t kidding about some people. There are at least twenty people on stage going over different sounds and beats but no singing, a little rapping but no singing and yes there is a great difference. I take off my coat and sit down in one of the seats and wait till Natalie, who is next to some guy at a music station, spots me and waves. I give a two finger salute, not the offensive kind and continue to listen. They work things out before she points me out to the music master; I just use the title because I don’t know what to call him. He stops and I immediately realize I’m in a bad hip hop movie or something because anyone who wears their hat forward but tilted and doesn’t bend the bill is a complete moron.

“Hey Natty, you say he the one with the voice,” the music master asks and she smiles.

“Yeah Maurice, he’s the Guy,” Nat makes fun of my name but I let it slide in favor of a Latino named Maurice.

“Come on up to church,” he offers and I laugh a little standing up.

“You don’t want me in church, not my style,” I joke and he laughs, interesting.

“You got the style man but we heard you can sing but we ain’t heard you sing,” this Maurice says and I smile.

“Pull up anything off here and I can sing it, oh and stick to the second playlist. No lead vocals in that one,” I tell him handing off my phone.

I wait and let him get set up before he smiles and I laugh, I know the order of the playlist and he put it on shuffle. First up I work my way through the classic singing in the rain by Gene Kelly. I dance a little bit of it with my coat over my shoulder and everyone gets a good laugh before the track changes. A cover of Nirvana’s Lithium to Luck be a Lady by Frank Sinatra all the way to Charlie Puth and Marvyn Gaye, his song named after Marvin Gaye not the actual man. I feel good and music is flowing out of me for a couple hours which feels a hell of a lot more productive than working on college classes. I’m on a bit of a high note, not an actual one but I feel good and we stop for a bit as I let Maurice figure out what music for me to work next when we hear someone cough and I turn to see Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Akagi and Mr. White step forward with another woman and I would smile if I had a reason.

“Once again an exemplary performance Mr. Donnelly,” Mr. Akagi says and I just stare at him,” I’d like to introduce Ms. Wintson, she’s assistant music director at USC.”

She’s somewhat attractive but plain. 5’7” in flats with a simple brown skirt and cream blouse and a matching brown blazer jacket, all of that and some dirty blonde hair in a bun on the back of her head and I’d pretty much look at her as a stereo typical librarian. Needless to say I’m not impressed or really interested in who she is other than to gauge my new adversary.

“When Mr. Akagi and Mr. White told me there was a voice that had no outside training but could carry emotion and have a level of projection that carries as well as yours I didn’t believe them. After listening to you work with Mr. Escobar I can honestly say the stories are a pale comparison to your real voice,” Ms. Winston says heaping praise, I wonder if they warned her about me.

“We brought Mr. Escobar here and Ms. Winston to show you the kind of talent that is waiting out there to work with a natural like yourself,” Mr. White adds with a smile, very hopeful he is.

In moments like this I prefer to defer the emotional reactions over to one more suited to situations such as this.

What the hell are you talking about?

Get these shit sacks.

Oh motherfuckers it’s on like Donkey Kong!

“I’m a natural? Amazingly gifted, no training and yet able to hit so many different styles I could do almost any type of music I wanted,” I ask and they nod but Mrs. Lawson is the only one not smiling,” I mean you set all this up just to get them in front of me. Question on that… why?”

“Well to show you your options Mr. Donnelly. There are groups out there that are very willing to take a young man with your talents and hone them into one of the finest voices of a generation,” Mr. White is just walking right into this.

“If that’s the case then did you tell them that I have quite literally no money for college,” I say it and Ms. Winston flinches a little.

“There are plenty of good scholarships that could be applied for to pay your tuition but I was informed that your family has money,” Ms. Winston says it and I smile.

“They do, but not for me and music. Since they are paying for college and not a scholarship such as the one the three who brought you here already declined my scholarship,” okay I’m telling a little white lie about Mom and Mr. Delauter with money for college but they don’t deserve that knowledge.

“I don’t see how they could deny you the chance to pursue your musical talent,” Mrs. Lawson finally speaks and I’m still smiling.

“And you don’t know them as well as you think Mrs. Lawson but that is a discussion for another time. Ms. Winston I’m sorry they wasted your and Maurice’s time but
unfortunately,” I get that far and Natalie is quick to interrupt.

“Guy they are just giving you options you could talk to your folks and get them to help you out,” Natalie says and immediately another person wants to interrupt me.

“Hey man I don’t know nothing about this whole game they playing but you got talent. Ms. Winston is good, really good and she can talk to your family too,” Maurice adds and I feel it building.
Wrong person to talk over.

“I AM TALKING,” I use my full range, as loud as I can.

Ever see people completely freeze in place when the devil speaks, I just did. Nobody moves and I don’t think it’s because they don’t want to… I’m not sure they can yet.

“Since everyone here seems to want to talk over me let me grace you with my oldest and greatest skill. It’s one I’ve cultivated over several years and it’s very underutilized in this day and age,” I tell the assembled group smiling.

They wait without moving as I pick up my suit jacket and sling it over my shoulder. Quietly as a mouse I simply walk down the stairs off the stage and get to the back of the theater when I feel someone open their mouth. I stop and turn my head putting a finger to my lips. No sound comes out and I feel the someone close their mouth and again I smile before exiting the theater.

Damn… that was amazing.

I thought I could do more.

No, that was good. That was perfect.

Neal Donnelly: Five minutes later in the theater

I just watched my son perform for the first time, he didn’t see me but he was singing and it was quite honestly one of the most amazing things I’ve seen. He fills the room with his voice and I’m no musical genius but he’d be a complete fool to not pursue a career. I don’t know what or who the other adults in the room are and they don’t see me. Nobody checks corners anymore. I watch them speak to my son and I can hear them but it’s his face that says it all, they screwed him and once you do that you better have something bigger than ego stroking to get him to listen and they don’t. They are all talking and he silences them with a voice I’ve heard come out of artillery before exiting a perfectly quiet theater. I don’t make noise mostly because he’s having a moment but the rest of them are afraid when I notice something important. He left his phone. Everyone regains their composure as I move to the front and they try to talk about my son and how to get him to sit down when someone notices me, the DJ.

“Hey man the equipment is off limits,” the kid informs me as I grab Guy’s phone.

“Yes but this isn’t yours and I have a better chance of returning it,” I tell them and now everyone is looking at me.

“Sir do you know him,” the very attractive woman asks me and I nod.

“Not as well as I’d like sadly, he’s my son,” I say it and the Mexican cheerleader scoffs.

“I’ve met his father,” she says and I shake my head.

“No you’ve met his step father, I’m his real father,” I tell them and the girl’s eyes go wide.

“You’re him, the one that brought the cowgirl down. Holy shit,” the girl gets out and immediately they all want to talk to me.

I’m asked all sorts of questions about talking to Guy, getting him to reconsider and the only thing I want to do is get out of there and look through my son’s phone. Yes I am violating his privacy by doing this but I need answers fast and I don’t have a lot of time. The only one that isn’t asking me to talk with my son is the girl and she’s asking me to apologize to him for her. Her I’ll think about, the rest can work shit out on their own. I get to my truck and head off to visit someone who came highly recommended for computers and smaller devices. The little weasel looking man is flipping the phone around in his hand looking at it and finally after a few minutes asks me one question.

“You sure you don’t want to sell it,” his one question after telling him what I want.

“No, get me his GPS from the dates and hurry up,” I tell the man who plugs it into a computer.

I can use a computer; I just don’t like to use them. Mostly because I use my hands for other things. I wait for about thirty minutes and he has the information I want three locations, two I know and one I don’t from my time tailing Guy. I pay the man, I can afford the little work he did and I’m not using Delauter’s money. Guy is my son, my job to save him even if it’s from himself.

Guy: Shortly after leaving the theater

I head back to the library and sit down for a minute. Yes I’m mad that I was lured into another audition where people who don’t actually give a shit about me want me to listen to them but Natalie set me up. I thought we were friends or at least she was nice enough to me to not try fucking with me. Might have to speak with Beth about her setting me up. I figure my day is pretty much done and head to my car to get home and sit around my room. I like sitting in my room, it is a small haven with a TV bigger than Paris Hilton’s acting career. I get up and head towards the door when I hear the familiar ‘psst’ but not from a recently familiar voice.

“Hey Guy,” I hear the accent and find a Bridget coming up behind me,” So what happened with the audition?”

“How many people knew that I was being made a spectacle for other’s amusement,” I ask and Bridget shrugs.

“I am not sure but I told them you might like to sing a little,” Bridget answers and I groan.

“They want me to follow their lead when they screwed me over, sorry no dice,” I reply before resuming my trek to my car.

“So they didn’t give you what you wanted and now you take your toy and go home,” Bridget asks and I don’t like her tone.

“Yes, actually yes. I have done what everyone wants and it’s gotten me nowhere in life. People did not like me, nobody respected me and when it came to love I was an afterthought. Where is this concern for what I do coming from? We haven’t had a conversation about anything in months, not anything of substance really and here you are trying to tell me how I’m acting is wrong,” I state keeping my tone barely civil.

“Because the people in there are trying to give you your way out. You wanted one before all this,” she points at my suit and I raise an eyebrow in response,” You were sweet and a little dark but it wasn’t you ‘I think I’m something I’m not’.”

“You don’t know me anymore, you did once and when I offered to make something of us you decided you’d be better without me. You aren’t my girl, you aren’t a friend, and you certainly aren’t my future so don’t come around and tell me… ME how what I’m doing is wrong or right,” I state stepping forward and causing Bridget to back up.

Easy boy, hold it in a little more.

She overstepped herself.

I’m talking to him.

“This isn’t you; I saw you and I liked you. This is just a scared little boy acting out when the world got mean,” Bridget stops backing up and stands her ground, good.

“The world was always mean, I was lying to myself thinking people would like me before all this. The world doesn’t care if I’m hurt or scared. It never did and I have plenty of evidence so what you see as fear is actually me abandoning my fear and weakness. The world wants me… I’m right here. It wants to kill me then bring it I say,” I tell Bridget and I’m not getting closer but she’s not backing down.

Nothing more to say from Bridget or me so I turn and walk away, back to my car before more horrible interruptions occurred. Okay Bridget isn’t horrible, she’s still very cute and that accent is nice on the ears but she should not have tried to tell me who I am and what I am about. I get in my car and turn the beasty on before backing out fast and peeling out for home. I need to sit back from everything and just relax and for once I’m not letting people stop or interfere.

Detective Nancy Escalante: Earlier that Friday

I’ve spent every day since I met with the president of the Union looking over my shoulder and watching who I tell what and I can honestly say I don’t like paranoia. I’ve been drinking to help me sleep at night, a couple beers not heavy drinking, and keeping a loaded weapon under my pillow is a safety hazard for everyone. I haven’t seen anything that screams ‘we’re watching you’ but I can’t be too careful. I keep getting requests for updates on my case from Captain Miller but I’m stalling on that front by pulling up leads that take me back to dead areas like Carlos Ortega and his people. When I point these out as possible new leads he backs off and encourages me. It’s a concern since he was riding my ass after they were removed from the first investigation. Yeah I’m paranoid that I’m looking at my Captain as a potential connection for my cases. I punch out on time and say my goodbyes and watch my rearview on the way home. I wasn’t followed and once I’m inside I lock the doors, take the safety off my weapon and grab a beer.

I’m about two beers in and heading for a third when my phone chirps for a message and I see one word on a text from a number I don’t recognize… pillow. I head into my bedroom and right on top of my pillow is an old flip phone. I stare at it for a couple seconds before it vibrates with an incoming call.

“Who is this,” I ask answering the phone.

“Well Detective this is the man you spoke to about information concerning your case and I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised to find that you are as legitimate as you said you were,” I recognize the voice as the leader of the Union.

“I’d ask how you got this phone here…,” I start and he laughs.

“Ma’am I am simply covering all our bases when I tell you I’m gonna look into something it gets looked into. Now I’d like to draw you attention to the window in your apartment that is sitting second to the left in your small living room,” he tells me and I move to the spot keeping out of sight as best I can,” Hiding doesn’t do you any good right now my boys see you Miss.”

“You’re following me,” I ask moving for my sidearm.

“Yes, because someone has been following you,” he says and I move to look,” He’s not there now. We’re waiting to take care of it so relax a little bit; we’re watching your back.”

He ends the call and I almost throw the phone, I’ve got a small criminal enterprise watching my back from my fellow officers of the law. How fucked up is that?

Guy: late Saturday morning

What am I doing today? Not a thing of importance actually. I’m not even leaving my room if I can help it save for bathroom and food. I spent part of the morning telling family I’m not doing anything and I’m not going anywhere. I found my phone in my inside suit pocket last night when I couldn’t find it all afternoon yesterday. I’m just glad I got it back but I don’t remember when I grabbed it, call it one of those things you gloss over when you are silencing the peanut gallery. I’m doing all the normal nerdy things I used to do before someone decided to shock the shit out of me for the better part of a day, gaming and social media. I didn’t realize I had so many people following my very few and far between posts but when I post I’m gaming all day on Saturday I’m asked what my handle is so people can find me. I don’t give it out; I don’t want people I know talking to me especially if they’re from school. I get a couple offers to go out with family to do whatever plans they have but I turn them down and get right back to gaming.

I like the unrealistic fighting games, break a leg and kick someone’s jaw off and they still fight. It’s hilarious and I wish I could fight half as good as these people. I can blindside someone and beat down a nothing like Romeo but a real fighter? I’d probably get my ass handed to me in a very painful way. I am about an hour into beating up people online when I get a direct challenge from someone called ‘KOKitty’. They have no microphone so it’s just me and I go 0 and 5 when they send me a message telling me if they win again I have to do something… interesting and I figure they can hear me so I’ll reply.

“Okay well I’m sorry I’m not into men, especially ones that are into kitties,” I joke and get a ping on my system.

The message on my system is of a room, it’s a girl in shorts and a t shirt… my high school t shirt but the picture is cut off so there is no face. I also don’t recognize the room so it’s not Jenna or Sydney either, color me interested.

“So what do I have to do if I lose,” I ask and I get a simple response.

Two words and an address, I agree since the words are come over. I figure I’ll get to meet someone new or at least interesting. We play and I get owned, I mean horribly owned and I pop off the console and head over to the address. I didn’t say if I’d be coming over or not to the girl on the other end but I figure worst that can happen is I’ll get grabbed and tortured again. Yeah I’m really not as afraid of it as I used to be now that I’ve been messed up twice. It’s a bit of a drive and not horrible considering the address is a small grocery mart with a house directly behind it. I figure it’s the house and pull around to the ‘front’ and make my way to the door. Three knocks and I hear an ‘I’m coming’ that sounds like a female.

Oh she will be.

Excuse me that’s my line.

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

The door is pulled open and there is Emily, Natalie’s tutor and as I found out orgasm addict. 5’8” in her bare feet and sporting our school t shirt and shorts with her black rimmed glasses and she’s still carrying the controller and wearing the headset. Her black hair is back in a ponytail and she’s surprised to see me.

“Hi, you actually came over,” Emily says it and I nod,” I didn’t think you would. This is a bit forward.”

“You kicked my ass five times just to get me interested enough to invite me over and considering I’ve shown up to places with females before and been stabbed and tortured this is a pleasant surprise,” I say it and then get jokingly serious,” I’m not getting tortured here am I?”

“No, come in,” Emily invites me in and I step inside,” shoes off.”

I take my boots off and put them to the side of the door with the other shoes, how many people live here? I follow her through the house, very American/Asian themed from what I can tell and I realize I know very little about her… this could be another trap just not the one that ends in torture. She shows me to her room and it’s a bit like a girls room save for the decent sized television, not everyone can have the ‘dear Jesus that thing is huge’ TV my Mom got me but it’s still good and I look around for a moment and figure sitting at her desk in the chair is better than on the bed but as soon as I move to the chair she moves to the side of her twin sized bed and gives me a ‘sit here’ look. Move and we’re next to each other but I’m still more than a bit unsure why I’m here since the last time we talked at length I was in a suit and we were at school.

“So do you want to watch a movie,” Emily asks and I shrug,” I haven’t had a boy over before.”

“Like in a while,” I ask and she shakes her head.

“As in never, I’m not sure what to do,” she replies and I go from looking straight forward to at her and its making her nervous.

“Are you trying to have sex with me? Are we going for awkward seduction,” I ask and I’m not put off by the idea but this is some roundabout planning.

“Kind of, I just really don’t have all the experience with boys like the others girls do and last two I was close to I got really horny but I knew they were just trying get me in bed,” Emily says it and I listen,” You were, even before the suits and charm, someone I figured I could talk to. You’re smart and you like dumb shit like I do and yeah even though you can sing I agree with your sister that you should go to college somewhere that brain of yours will get a work out.”

“So you’re not with Natalie on her kick to get me to go to a music school,” I ask and she makes this amazing face like she just gargled straight lemon and onion juice.

“God no, we are friends but she is thinking long odds. No offense you’re good but are you once in a lifetime voice? Now brains keep producing,” Emily argues and I can agree a little.

“Until you get old and go senile or start to suffer from dementia,” I counter as a joke.

We laugh a little and relax, she turns on a TV show and I get to nerd out a little with someone not Abby and definitely would like to have sex with me but we’re taking it slow. About ninety minutes into our fun there is a knock on the door and almost immediately an older gentleman, Asian and I’m assuming Emily’s father, walks right in and when he sees me sitting there next to his daughter he begins talking in a language I don’t remotely understand. They go at it for a few minutes and finally he steps back out and it’s just the two of us, Emily stood up to address her father while I sat there on her bed watching and understanding nothing that was said.

“I guess I need to go,” I ask and Emily looks at me confused,” I don’t speak Chinese I think that was but I am pretty sure that was ‘what are you doing with a boy in your room young lady’.”

“Not quite, you’ve been invited to dinner,” Emily informs me and now I’m confused.

Bethany: A couple hours later at home

“Well Nat I don’t know what to tell you, he said he’d be here,” I tell my squad mate and one of the two asskickers.

“Well I just want to talk to him about what happened Friday,” Nat explains as we step away from Guy’s room and head to mine.

It’s not hard to figure out what happened, Natalie was made an offer to help get Guy to listen to people who pissed him off and he walked out. Natalie thought it would be good to appeal to Guy’s artistic side and let him show off but once he saw the judges from the scholarship it was over, I could have warned her but I wasn’t consulted. Now she’s here staying the night without Emily, a rarity but nice to have her by herself once in a while. We get to my room and I hop on my bed to listen to Nat continue her moaning.

“Okay so you asked to stay the night so you can screw my brother and hope he likes you again,” I have to ask since it is in the list of ways to make up with a boy.

“No… maybe… I don’t know I just didn’t want to piss him off at me,” Nat explains flopping onto my bed backwards to lie down.

“Well I’m really not into my brother screwing my friends; Lexi and Lela were one thing but now you? It’s a bit weird,” I pull my phone out and try to message Guy,” Have you thought of how you’re going to apologize?”

“I don’t want to jump in bed with him obviously but it’s not off the table,” Nat says and I have to give her the look,” Hey Lexi and Lela said he was better than they thought
and since everyone seems to think Emily and I are a couple it’s difficult to get boys to pay attention.”

“How is it difficult so I can understand,” I joke and she shakes her head.

“Because they’re all obsessed with the whole ‘are you two gonna kiss’ and worse ‘can we watch’. Last dance we had to ditch our dates because they were waiting to see us have sex first,” Nat explains and I have to laugh a little.

“Well you managing her addiction all the time does kinda leave us wondering if there isn’t anything else we need to know about,” I tell Natalie who gives me a surprised look,” We’d all be cool with it but honestly it does make a few of us wonder. Mostly I think because we want to have a solid answer I guess.”

Nat is a little surprised we think that, well I can’t think of a boyfriend her or Emily have had since I’ve known them so it’s not a completely random thought. Natalie figures she’ll hang out here for a while as I message Guy to figure out where the hell he is.

Guy: At Dinner

“So Mr. Donnelly, you go to school with my daughter,” I am asked by Emily’s mother.

“Yes ma’am, we used to have a couple classes together,” I keep it simple when her father, a happy man considering he found me in his daughter’s room and on her bed with her, chimes in.

“If you were in her classes how did you two not get placed in project teams together,” the man asks and I smile.

“You need to spread around the brains in the class room. Both of us on the same project and half the class would fail,” I joke and everyone laughs.

Got to give it to the independently run small business family, they appreciate intelligence and hard work. I’ve been talking with the whole family at the table after we’ve eaten and still haven’t had one thing that I’ve said that has been perceived as impolite or even off color.

No applause please, just throw money.

We move to the living room where Emily is happy to see that people can come over and negotiate her family without issue when I’m asked a loaded question.

“So what do you think of my daughter’s Nǚ péngyǒu… her girlfriend,” Emily’s mother asks me very point blank and I have to pause while Emily responds.

“Mother, Nat is not my girlfriend! We are friends and I tutor her,” Emily tries to stop her Mom when I interrupt.

“Emily it’s okay, they deserve to know the full truth,” I figure I’ll help out here a little,” You’ve probably seen what has happened to me in the news and for the entirety of dinner Mr. and Mrs. Huang it has been left to the side so when I tell you that your daughter was almost in the same position as I was when my bullying and abuse started I hope you take Natalie’s presence a little more seriously than a girlfriend.”

“Are you suggesting that my daughter has been the target of this bullying,” Mrs. Huang asks and I shake my head.

“No ma’am that is where Natalie stepped in. Your daughter wanted to be a cheerleader and my sister Beth,” they nod at her mention,” wasn’t sure about her and a few girls who aren’t as polite as my sister is decided that the cheer squad wasn’t the place for her. When Natalie found out she was… vigorous in the defense of your daughter. I know because I saw some of the aftermath. When Natalie’s grades began their decline your daughter returned the favor by tutoring her and that is the symbiosis of their relationship. One is uplifting the other while the other is defending the one.”

Again, no applause please. Just throw money.

More talking but a lot of little questions being asked that I fill in small details about from my memory except for the fact that Natalie never needed to defend Emily. Yes I just bullshitted the parents but if it gets Emily some breathing room on her sexuality or hyper-sexuality as it were then I’ll chalk it up as my good deed for the month. Discussion turns to college and when they tell me that Emily has been accepted to Harvard I smile.

“I got an acceptance letter from them too, we could be classmates again,” I joke and Emily laughs.

“Except this time we’re working together on projects, I’m not failing because some dumb jock needs a ‘C’,” Emily jokes back.

We all laugh, it’s good and I feel nice right now. So nice that as I’m leaving and Emily is walking me out I realize I enjoyed being around her and her family. I tell her that I’ll be on later if she wants to kick my ass and she smiles before heading back inside, I can see her father watching us out front. Poor man wants his daughter to be happy, good for him. I hop back in my car and return home, I messaged mom telling her that I was eating at a friend’s house and I actually get twenty feet in the house when the questions begin.

“I was at Emily’s house, her parents invited me for dinner,” I explain how we connected online,” It was just a friendly sit down and we talked.”

“Well Beth has Natalie staying the night and I know that she would like to talk to you,” Mom informs me and can plainly see my mood change,” I know honey but just hear her out maybe.”

“I’m going to go to my room and not do anything important and maybe tomorrow I’ll listen if I choose to,” I tell Mom and she doesn’t like my standoffish mood.

Oh that one, I want that one.

Seriously?

Why the hell not? Explain to me how she’s not worth a shot after that stunt?

Meh, fair point.

Mom gives me a hug before I’m allowed to head up to my room unhindered by visiting guests and their agendas. I get settled in and there is a message on my game system from Emily saying her parents really like me and thanking me for helping out with Natalie. She’s not online but I send a reply with my current situation anyway and get into some mild movie watching. I settle in and find myself thinking of my next move. I’ve got some insane backup on call if I choose to use it but am I again taking the situation out of my own hand and putting in less capable ones? Something worth thinking about.

Jim: Same time

“Here we are again Gabriel, you come to my town and overstay your welcome,” I tell the crazy child of a less crazy father in front of his own gang.

“We ain’t causing problems are we,” the greasy bearded psycho asks with a smile.

“You aren’t welcome anymore. Needed to see what you were up to in town, got my answer and after that it was back to the swamps you came from,” I explain and he nods but doesn’t stop smiling.

“I saw something here man, I saw the black heart and he saw me. You may not understand but what happens soon is going to be something special,” Gabriel explains pacing back and forth.

First off we’re in an abandoned parking lot on the west end of town where his people have been camping/squatting for the past while and I have about two Union reps to everyone Face he has not to mention a very angry Devil with a chain waiting for a chance to end Gabriel. Problem is I don’t think Hawk would survive and then Sid would do something stupid like declare war on Gabriel on my home turf. A parley can be good to bring things under control but this is more of a hand on the shoulder as you walk out the door.

“Special? That boy is a scared kid that got so much put on him that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Is that why you’re still hanging around Gabriel? You waiting for the rich boy to come down and deliver you on high,” I ask chuckling,” He’s got no clue who you are and he doesn’t care. He thinks he’s big and bad when he’s just a scared kid with money.”

“If you were going to be born into this world would you choose poverty or riches? If you were going to grow in this cold and lonely place would you choose to do so on a street or in a palace? He looks like a boy, but he walks like he’s from the other side. Can’t deny that,” Gabriel informs me and I shake my head,” Doubt all you want Old Man but he’s very real and he’s brought others up with him.”

“You’re done here Gabriel, regardless of what you believe. You and the Faces of Fear are leaving this city tonight and will not return unless invited. That’s the order,” I tell him and he smiles still like nothing is wrong.

“And you would deny me and mine our time to relax and enjoy ourselves? What happens when things break out of your control again? Gonna call us back to answer for things we didn’t have a hand in again,” Gabriel asks me and now he’s not smiling,” We want to stay for the show, it’s going to happen soon and we’re going to want front row seats.”

And that’s when the hardware comes to bear and Faces of Fear are staring at their two to one odds and the Union side is armed and ready. They aren’t intimidated by it; they almost look eager and the whole time as the tension mounts Gabriel is staring at me waiting for my order.

“Fun’s over Gabriel, pack up and depart… now,” I order him and watch his eyes darken a little.

With a lot of mercy nothing happens, Gabriel and his people pack up their homeless community of psychos and load up in under an hour. They’re quiet the entire time which is worse than if they were making noise, quiet means something could happen we don’t know about. First vehicles begin their convoy away as Gabriel who hasn’t helped a single bit with the packing has stared at me the entire time. I almost think I offended him, not sure what specifically I did other than kicking him out of my town. Last vehicle left is his preacher van or kidnapper van if you want to call it what it is and while everyone else has left his right hand, a sick shit Chucklez with a z, is beginning to show he doesn’t want to leave.

“She gave me my face again, we have to wait,” the big black with a white face nut job tell Gabriel.

“I know brother but we have to go, they don’t know what they’ve done casting us aside when there is something here worse than us and now they get to figure out what it’ll do without warning,” I hear Gabriel say it and I pause, he knows something.

“What are you talking about Gabriel, you know something about all this mess,” I ask and he smiles.

“I’m not welcome here anymore so why should I make nice,” the greasy bastard replies smiling.

I move to stop Gabriel and that’s when Chucklez remembers his place and steps between us, he’s bigger than I am and younger and while a few of my Union level their hardware on him but Gabriel won’t stop and trying to make him will give me more short term problems than I need. I watch the last two pack up and drive out of town but now I have too many questions. Gabriel stayed because there was something coming but what? His bodyguard mentioned a woman which gives me almost nothing to work with and what is his obsession with the kid Carlos and his boys kicked the shit out of? I have too many questions and figure I’ll get answers soon and if I’m not careful they won’t be in the way I want them.

Guy: Later that evening

A little gaming and some movies are a quiet solitary way to round out my night before bed and I get to the last fifteen minutes of my movie when my door pops open a little and a pair of eyes look in on me.

“Pssst, Guy? Are you awake,” I hear a female voice asks and I’m right there looking at a TV with my eyes open where she can see me.

“No I’m sleeping with my eyes open and talking, it’s a new skill,” I remark with a hint of sarcasm.

Door opens all the way and I see Natalie enter, figure I don’t get a night to myself and pause my movie to address my intruder. She’s still attractive in t shirt and sweat shorts and her thick, dark Latina hair done in a pony tail. Here we go with the ‘I’m so sorry I screwed you over’ speech.

“I didn’t know you were pissed at the scholarship people when I asked you in to sing with Maurice, I thought you were giving up and figured it’d show you they were still interested,” Natalie begins and I stop her.

“How much did they offer you,” I ask and she gives me a confused look,” When they approached you to get me in on it what did they offer you? Money, a scholarship, an internship?”

“They didn’t offer me anything, a couple people in the music room were talking last week about you and they said someone was coming in to see you sing and they were trying to figure out how to get you to show up and I just tried to help get you there. I had no idea you were so pissed off at the judges that you’d shut everyone down like that. Even after you left the lady they brought was curious as to how to get you to talk to her one on one and at that point I was done helping,” Natalie explains holding up her hands.

“So you smiled and shook your ass then got a heaping dose of my anger for nothing,” I ask and she shrugs.

“Yeah… I don’t think there was anything for me there anyway except meeting DJ M.E.,” Natalie says and I give her a look,” Maurice Escobar, the guy with the music system is a DJ on his off time when he’s not at school.”

“Well I’m more than a little surprised you didn’t get anything out of the situation but you say you didn’t know and if I know Beth she probably grilled the hell out of you about it earlier so answer me this, why stay the night,” I have to ask and she shrugs.

“Not doing anything and couldn’t find you to talk, also your showers are amazing,” Natalie keeps it simple and honest, I like that.

“Well I’m going to finish my movie and get some sleep so unless you want to hop into bed with me…,” I joke but she has humor too.

“You couldn’t handle me, no offense,” Natalie informs me and I feel a little offended.

“Not like you’d be interested anyway, I mean I did defend you to Emily’s parents and helped confirmed that you two were not a couple,” I explain and she gives me a confused look,” I was at her house earlier today, ate dinner with her parents who really like me and when you were a part of the conversation I brought up how you were defending her when you first met from the hazing.”

“How do you know all that,” she asks and I smile.

“Probably because I was watching, just because you all didn’t see me doesn’t mean I wasn’t there and I used to try to find people to be friends with before everything went further downhill for me,” I explain but leave out a few big details.

I watch Natalie leave and close the door after herself before finishing the last bit of my movie and shut everything down before heading to bed. I get to sleep easy enough and only wake up when someone is invading my room before the sun even figures out when to come up and I’m braced for what comes next. I see her, Natalie creep in quietly, I figure on one of three things and I’m looking forward to the first two if they are options.

“Beth snores,” Natalie says seeing me awake.

“Abby is two doors down from her,” I reply a little tired.

“She’s got her door locked,” another answer and but I’m prepared.

“Say it,” I keep it simple and she pauses at the foot of my bed,” Say it now or leave.”

“You were with a couple other girls on the squad and they said you were good, then you helped out with Emily… twice and I guess I’m curious about you,” she’s saying everything except what I need to hear.

“More talking but I’m not hearing it,” I state again rubbing my eyes.

Fewer words are what I’m getting as Natalie pulls off her t shirt and shorts giving me the full show as she has nothing else on. I don’t smile; I don’t feel like smiling as she crawls in my bed. I don’t pull the blankets down for her but I don’t need to as she pulls them off of me and with a little assistance pulls my shirt up and off.

“I have to agree with Lela, scars show character,” my stepsister’s tough cheerleader friend says quietly pulling my shorts down.

“Am I some toy for you to play with,” I ask in a cold tone.

“What? No I was just gonna thank you…,” Natalie starts and I cut her off.

“No you’re not saying thank you, you don’t need to. Now either say it or get the fuck out of my room,” I tell Natalie and I’m not playing around.

“You are the only boy I’ve heard of that can consistently get a girl off and I am tired of being the only one meeting someone else’s needs when I get nothing. I need you, now… please,” she says it and it’s better than I hoped.

I roll Natalie onto her back, she’s is a little resistant but I figure part of that is because she’s been giving not getting. First thing about Natalie being Latina she’s not curvy and soft like Marta, leaner and firm which is a definite turn on. Medium sized firm breasts with hard little nipples; I lie on my side next to her and gently take my time sucking on her nipple while running my fingertips up and down her stomach. She is making these light moaning noises and her breathing is shallow as I try to get her to relax a little. I bring my fingers down to the top of her mound and feel Natalie’s entire body tense up as I get to her slit. One finger in her fold and I find the little bump and gently rub a circle around it as I hear Natalie groan loud enough to let me know I found the right spot, pun intended. I let her nipple loose and bring my face up to the side of her head and kiss her shoulder and neck continuing to work on her firm mound. It takes a minute or two before Natalie responds to my working on her by rolling her hips against my hand and as she really gets into it I figure it’s time for something more.

“Wait what are you… where are you…,” Nat asks as I stop rubbing her clit and move down her body and between her legs,” Oh shit I don’t know....”

I don’t need to respond verbally, my response orally is pretty much all she’s in the mood for right now. I keep the circles around her clit going only now I’m using my tongue and all Natalie can do is struggle around with her limbs and moan. I keep a steady tongue lashing up and Natalie is either enjoying it or I’m exorcising a demon with the yelps and muffled groans she’s making, I like to think I’m doing a pretty good job. Only a couple minutes in and she pushes herself up the bed with her hand on my forehead. I’ve seen Natalie angry, happy and grumpy… this however is something primal and raw….and I like it.

“Lay down… now,” Natalie orders me breathing hard and I smirk.

I put my head on a pillow next to her and she breathes a little easier before crawling down the bed and facing away from me throws her leg over my hips giving me a great view of her tight ass. I let her do the work as she lays my cock flat and presses her lips, the lower ones, against my shaft and rubs back and forth taking her time helping me finish get hard. I was pretty good before but this is a nice addition and where I have been very domineering it’s nice to let someone else take over the work. It isn’t very long before I’m hard enough and Nat shifts herself up a little bit and with a hand guides me inside her and that’s when I discover something almost painful.

“God when was the last time you got laid,” I groan as she could make diamonds in her vagina.

“Shut up and let me have my fun… and don’t cum too soon,” Natalie growls at me a little pained and very hot, the good kind of hot.

It is slow at first, Natalie working herself up and down on me but good and I rest my hands on her calves mostly just to put them somewhere and have something to grip just in case. It enjoy my slow ride from the cheerleader on my lap but it’s difficult to resist the urge to move a little on my own and when I try to shift my legs to do just that I’m stopped by Natalie who looks back at me with a warning in her eyes. As soon as she is used to my size Natalie smirks back at me and that’s when I get the rap video treatment and she is either dancing or that twerking thing only it’s on my cock and feels very different. Adding to the feeling her ass cheeks making light clapping sounds with Natalie’s moaning I lean my head back and relax. It’s hot and tight so considering I have no control I focus on two things, how fast or slow she’s moving at any given second and don’t cum just yet even though if I did I don’t think many could hold it against me considering the situation. I feel Natalie shift her hips lower which pushes me deeper with every push downward and now I’m really feeling my body shift from fun to ‘here we go’.

“Nat you better hurry up cause I’m getting really close,” I groan and she slows down.

Only for a moment does she slow, only for a few moments to ponder what that means for her before I feel her hips shift again and she resumes riding me in earnest. It’s not a dance or something styling, just hard riding with one goal and we’re both racing towards a finish when she slams her hips down and I grab her ass to keep them there. I’m groaning as I cum hard and deep inside Natalie and I feel her thrashing a little as she hits what I can only assume is her own orgasm before rolling her body off and we both lay on my bed breathing hard. My thoughts don’t come soon as I feel amazing and tired all at once before Nat shifts her body to the edge of my bed and off quietly gathering her clothes.

“I should get back but can I just say damn… and have it be that,” Natalie almost asks as I recover and want to say something.

I watch her leave and find my shorts getting them on before pulling up my blankets and wondering what happened to a girl staying the night. I almost get to sleep when it comes to me, I’m a booty call. I could laugh at this more than a little if I wasn’t so tired.

Okay, I see it now. That’s why you don’t do shit, you make them come after it.

A smile and nod instead of a fist and a shout when it comes to getting a woman.

There are women out there who like violence.

Yes but this is just as fun. It’s like a trap that ends in sex.

Well while I was watching I figured he needs to make a statement, something that says I know where you live and I can burn it down.

Okay, what were you thinking for a statement?

We go where they live and we burn it down, weren’t you paying attention?

Smitty: Almost a week later

Well leave it to my Pop to call in a guy who can hunt down anything given enough time. I get a call saying we have a window to grab someone who is following the Detective that came in to see Pop and I figure if I’m there I can make things more or less official. I contact Hawk, the hunter my Pop called and ask where we’re picking up the stray and he tells me he’s already got them. Fast worker but my Pop and President are looking to put this shit in our rearview quickly. We get set to meet up at the fire house we put the druggies down at when the ambush for the people who stole our hardware. I didn’t screw that up and I’m glad Pop didn’t put that one on me. I pull up with two of my Union brothers and we get inside to see Hawk in a chair with his feet up while this very talkative Mexican is not cuffed and not gagged.

“What the fuck is this,” I got to ask because we’re supposed to be interrogating him.

“This is Marco, Marco tell the man what you have been telling me,” Hawk orders the man.

“Okay listen, so this cop comes around and pulls my sheet right. I ain’t got anything on me since middle school but I know people who do and he starts telling me about all these things I’m connected to. I didn’t do any of them but he keeps talking like I was, then his two boys come up on us and the young one starts talking to me about keeping them informed on shit and I ain’t a snitch but he says it ain’t my friends but this other cop they watching. So I been keeping an eye on her and telling them who she’s talking to,” this Marco explains and I shrug.

“Okay so what the hell does this have to do with anything,” I know there’s a punch line and I’m about to punch his line if I don’t hear something worthwhile soon.

“Because they’ve been having me watch her for over six months now and the whole time until I lost her a while back she’s been clean and they don’t like it. I figured something was up and hung around a couple times and overheard them talking about hitting some kid again. After that the neighborhood lit up because some kid was naked walking down the street with a bag over his head,” Marco gets it all out and now we have something tangible.

“Good boy Marco, now how do you contact these cops to meet up with information,” I ask and he shakes his head.

“No man, I can’t give them up. They got files on me making me out to be Keyzer Soze of the Latino community. I give them up and I’m screwed,” Marco is trying to plead out but just one problem.

“That cop you’ve been following, she’s under our protection which means you have two options. One you do what we say and help us bring in the three who put you up to this,” I explain before grabbing him by the jacket and lifting him out of the chair,” Or two I have my boys here chain you to a truck bumper and drag you through the desert for a few hours till option One seems like a gift from God.”

“Easy there killer,” Hawk warns me and I turn to look at him,” Marco, that detective you’ve been following will help you once we get her the people who’ve been fucking with my friend’s livelihood. She is a good cop, right?”

Marco nods and I put him back down while we work out the how and when to get these three cops to meet up so we can put a world of hurt on them. I let Pop know what we got and he decides to rally everything together which means bringing Marco somewhere quiet and calling the detective to let her know we have something and we’re moving on it. She wants in but that will just complicate things for her and us but I tell her to leave it with Pop and put it off for now. Ever see a pig roast? We just might have one in the next week if we’re lucky.

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