A New Day, The Other Me Chapter 9_(1) free porn video

Detective Nancy Escalante: almost three weeks after Guy and Jenna’s date

I wake up sore, the good kind of sore as John is passed out in my bed. It’s been so chaotic the past couple weeks that we almost didn’t get a date night but when your estranged doctor boyfriend shows up with wine and take out you put sleep off a little while longer. Well it was a couple hours after he arrived that I got some sleep but John was always good at putting me to bed. I roll out of bed and stagger to my bathroom for a much needed shower. At least I’m not hung over as bad as I could be. I run warm water over my body and review the chaos we, the police, have been dealing with.

So small time drug dealers and distributers got hold of hardware and expanded with a vengeance into the south side of town which has been a major no fly zone for dealers and manufacturers of narcotics. They set up shops and when the locals took exception to it they showed they were better armed and forced Carlos Ortega’s people to back down. That lasted about two weeks till three drug dens were turned to Swiss cheese and nobody is talking. Money was left alone in most cases but all drugs were burned on site and anyone that appears to have shown resistance to whatever came through was dead but what makes it worse is the lack of weapons after the conflict. Drugs and money are expected to be stolen but their weapons? That makes no sense in a normal turf war. As for us in the police force we’re stuck in the back waiting to move in and claim that the war on drugs and violence has been curbed but mostly we’re just watching the perimeter as the commissioner is keeping us out of the fighting.

I dry off and pull on my robe to find John moving in bed as I make it back to him. He smiles as I make it back to my bed and lay down next to him.

“Did you need last night as much as I did,” he asks and I chuckle.

“I think WE needed last night,” I counter and he smiles.

“Yeah we did. Work has been kicking my ass and probably yours if the reports we’re getting are accurate,” John says putting his feet to the floor and getting up.

“I can’t talk about it but it’s bad. My current investigation is almost completely on hold as we are sifting through the aftermath,” I tell John and admire his ass as he heads to my bathroom,” Weirdest part is we’re not seeing any real crossfire and it’s dying out quickly.”

“That’s a good thing,” John says rejoining me in my bedroom.

“You’d think that but usually things like this don’t burn out, they blow up,” I explain and he nods pulling on clothes,” Going somewhere Doctor?”

“Not because I want to. I have a day shift I’m covering today so I can have three days off in two weeks. Then we are getting out of this crazy city and doing something fun,” John is teasing me but I like the idea of getting away.

We dress and I get ready to head in a little late but not as late as others have been but not before getting a sizzling kiss from John. I get in the precinct coffee in hand and wait for the worst case assignments to come my way but find nothing on my desk that’s new and when I stop in to see the captain he reminds me I have an case still unsolved on my desk, the Guy Donnelly case. I can’t get new evidence on it because there is none and I’m stuck on suspects since everyone in the area that could have done this is very quiet and not really putting themselves out there. I spend hours reviewing what information we have, most of it shows who wasn’t involved and that is where I have to start. I return to my car and head to the first crime scene, Guy Donnelly’s stabbing. It’s not evidence I’m looking for so much as methods. Isolated location with one entry and one exit, they knew he was coming this way so that means whoever did this was watching him. Plenty of good spots for a blind side attack and quick street access for a getaway, street access also allowed for quick response from the ambulance that was called on Guy’s cell phone but Guy didn’t make the call, the attackers did. They didn’t want him to die; it was about making a statement. Who was the statement for is the hard question? At the time I thought it was gang related. Guy’s problem with Carlos and his group of very enthusiastic neighborhood watch was habitual almost for everyone involved except Guy but all of the groups whereabouts were accounted for by statements and in some cases GPS tracking and video.

I drive to the warehouse, the start of the second crime scene and only spend about a minute looking at everything. Nothing was left behind; they scrubbed the area clean to the point of washing the animal blood off the floor and into the drains. Canvas of the area gave us no witness statements until a block later when people were talking about a crazy white boy walking down the street naked before he was stopped in front of a local church by Father Gomez. Everything was text book procedure from there with ambulances, police and the forensics team going over as much as they could. Detective James and Officer Martinez offered assistance and were thorough in helping us canvas the area for anything in the way of evidence. I’m outside of my car looking up and down the street trying to figure out the many questions about everything in these investigations when I see Father Gomez exit the church and smile at me.

“Come for a confession or advice,” Father Gomez asks with a smile.

“Just looking for some clarity, I’m still on the case but it looks like this is going to take a turn for the disappointing,” I tell him and head inside the church to speak somewhat privately.

We take seats at a pew in the back and I take appraisal of Gomez and the church. For a lower class church its well taken care of, either a great deal of donations in time and work or money. Gomez himself is in simple priest fare with the all black and white collar.

“So you come to my church for clarity or because it’s where the police were called after I found that young man,” Father Gomez asks with a good intuition.

“A little of both, when you first approached him you did you notice anything about him that was more out of the ordinary than usual for the situation,” I ask and he stops to think.

“At first he was more concerned for a girl he said was in danger but once the ambulance arrived and your brothers and sisters in uniform,” I like the way he said that, makes me feel a little better,” it felt like he didn’t want to talk anymore. He was talking with me just fine but as soon as police were asking questions he just stopped.”

“I was able to get a statement from him later thankfully and it pretty much matched what we found at the site where he was,” I don’t want to use the word but Gomez nods in acknowledgement.

“What happened to him was horrible but what it left is tragic,” Gomez says and I agree.

“Physically he has been through some horrible things but everyone says that he’ll recover and doctors cleared him from psychiatric,” I clarify and Gomez shakes his head.

“It’s his soul I’m worried about,” he says and I am not sure what is being said,” After everything I approached the local neighborhood watch group, I’m sure you are familiar with them?

“You’ve spoken about Guy Donnelly on more than one occasion,” I state and he nods.

“Well I put feet to the fire but these are boys I’ve known most if not all of their lives and while they were not kind to him they aren’t monsters. What worries me is the boy himself,” Father Gomez relates and I know he knows more.

“Did something happen,” I ask and he doesn’t respond which tells me yes,” Father if there is anything that you can tell me?”

“Rules are very clear about confession but… there is something very wrong inside that young man. It’s like all the years of pain have torn apart that young man’s soul and now,” Father Gomez stops talking and I have to wonder what he knows.

“Please Father, anything you think can help me find who did this to him,” I plead and he shakes his head.

“That is something I wish I could help you with but all I can talk about is how I felt after that young man spoke with me. It was something I felt before when talking to another person,” he says and I worry a little.

“Father you don’t need to break any rules on my account, you say that there isn’t anything you can tell me about the case,” I leave it at that point, it’s worrying him what he’s telling me.

Gomez and I talk for a little longer about the gang warfare that is happening and he’s happy to say that things are beginning to return to normal thanks to the efforts of the police. We are doing some to quell the chaos but it’s almost like there is a war going on that we’re not seeing. I return to the station and review my cases, both of them. I’m going to be in for a long night and not a good one like last night with John.

Jim: Somewhere private

“You do realize this isn’t the worst thing that I can do to you right,” I tell the piece of shit in the box.

He’s crying and whining like a little girl begging me for a hit of some shit he’d put in his arm or up his nose, I don’t know which and frankly I don’t give a shit. What I do give a shit about is the Tech-9 he used to spray up what he thought was a few of Carlos’s boys come to run him out of his little drug spot. Mulligan has given me enough space from the law and news people to bring this situation back under control. I decided to call in a favor or two and got me another organizations ‘hunter’. Ever want someone dragged out of their hole, you call someone to hunt them down and that is exactly what Hawk did. Granted while my boys were on clean up and extermination he was quiet and patient, one of the reasons I respect him more than his president Sid. That arrogant asshole actually had the balls to call Mulligan about moving into my city to prove he could control it better than I could. He was turned down but it’s the arrogance of it all to my mind. More begging from the box.

“Your way is taking too long,” Hawk informs me as he winds a chain around his arm and then unwinds it.

“Beating the shit out of him isn’t going to tell me how they came into possession of my merchandise,” I tell the local Devil,” And what happened to your patience anyway?”

“I’d like to get home and see my woman if it’s all the same to you,” he says it with a smile but I’ve heard he’s got a nice girl, “I can take him for a ride, that’ll help him talk.”

“I got something better for you to do, see if you can figure out who is holding the rest of my merchandise. Someone is supplying them and if he dies from detoxing before he can tell me I need to know where the rest is,” I tell Hawk who grunts.

I let the Devil’s Best hunter leave me to my work as I prepare a syringe full of something not exactly what this junkie is looking for. I open the hole in the box and his arm comes out at me trying to get out or grab at me, I have other designs for it and grabbing his wrist with one hand stab the forearm with the syringe and pump the liquid into his veins. He pulls his arm back in pain and I wait about ten seconds before the screaming really starts. If he was yelling before he’s crying in agony now.

“Not what you were hoping for? That’s because despite its milky white appearance that was Emperor Scorpion venom,” I tell my captive as he’s thrashing against the box,” It’s not lethal but it hurts a lot and I’m told has some horrible side effects. Now I can pump you full of anti venom but you need to give me a reason to do that.”

“I was there when Carl got the first batch of guns. The guy met us at a Denny’s and just gave Carl them,” the junkie has information, I smile.

“So what did Carl pay for my merchandise,” I ask as he thrashes around his box.

“Nothing,” the junkie responds and I don’t believe it.

“Bullshit, someone hands over quality hardware and takes no payment,” I say holding up the syringe with anti-venom.

“Gawd this hurts… he just told Carl that he wanted them used. He told Carl where to go to expand and where. He just wanted us to fight back,” the junkie is on a roll for information but it doesn’t make sense except for one thing.

“So someone wanted a war with the Union,” I state and he screams out a little.

“NO…. Dammit…. We were going after that fucking Latino group,” he tells me and I shake my head.

“So you just got handed some guns by a guy at a Denny’s and he told Carl where to go and what to do and you all just went,” I ask almost laughing.

“It was Carl’s play, he thought it was good and got more weapons. I wasn’t there for those meets,” the junkie is telling me plenty but no real details.

“I want a name, anyone dealing that many weapons used a name,” I tell him as he languishes in the box.

“He met Carl on the internet, I think it was Craigslist. Please… I don’t feel too good,” he tells me and I step away to grab a chair and have a seat.

“So some random man just comes out from the internet and gives your boss a bunch of weapons and tells him what to do with them? Nothing else, just go kick the hell out of the Latinos in the area if they make trouble and you all just follow Carl’s lead and go to war,” I ask and I see him nodding yes in the dark box,” So answer me one question? How are you feeling now?”

“This hurts, I told you everything,” the junkie declares and I nod.

“Yeah but you’re not very useful anyway and I can’t exactly have you warning Carl that my boys are going to be visiting him in the near future so we’ll just ostrich your worthless ass and be done with it,” I state before calling to my boys outside the small out building we’re in,” Men take this out back and bury it.”

More screaming and pleading but that stops once we close all the holes in the long wood box and my boys carry it out to the planting field. Couple years back my granddaughter had this great idea to build a full greenhouse to farm crops and uplift part of the community. It is a really great idea but the key is the fertilizer, Smitty and my boys have been burying people out there for a couple years now and the tomatoes are some of the best you’ll ever eat. Back to my business I have a weekend meet coming up and after that happens Smitty and the boys will be stomping out the drug trade on the east side. Looks like it’ll be a pretty good week.

Guy: School on Wednesday the same week

Not one, not one fucking casualty. Not a single fucking one of Carlos’s people have been shot or killed and that pisses me off something fierce. Worst part, that’s not the only piece of shit to come flying my way today and after nearly three weeks and not a single fatality from Carlos’s people.

This is not good, this is really not good.

Because we left shit to the hands of fucking drug addicts. They can’t find their asses with both hands, a flash light and a map.

Not talking about the war but that’s pretty bad too.

I’m sitting alone, my mood has me declining company right now as I see Romeo and Carlos looking my direction as I’m alone in the cafeteria. I see Romeo pointing towards me with his hands and more than a few of Carlos’s people are joining the leader and his aide. They’re waiting for something when I can almost smell the beauty to my beast as she enters the cafeteria behind me. She’s afraid to approach and I know why, I found out a little while ago too and it’s not good. Well not for me anyway.

“Hey Guy,” Jenna says sitting down at the square table next to me.

“Congratulations Jenna,” I tell her in a flat tone.

“Guy I didn’t know they made their decision till today. I really thought you would have won the scholarship,” Jenna says with sympathy in her voice.

“I didn’t get it because my family has means and trying to make it on my own without them funding college is a joke to the people making the decisions,” I state since I was given the reason as to why I was declined.

“Well I am sorry, I wanted it but not like this,” Jenna is hurt, she won and she’s hurt and I wonder as to why.

“You got what you needed, at least you have something to look forward to after high school,” I tell her as what little plans I had are now gone.

“Guy you can get another scholarship,” Jenna begins and I wave my hand to stop her.

“The dates to make final requests was weeks ago, several weeks ago. It’s over for me so please just leave me alone for the time being, I’d like to be alone,” I tell Jenna who nods with some sadness.

I don’t even look at her as she leaves; I’m still watching Carlos and his people as they look like they’re getting ready for something. I think for a bit and when they look like they’re ready to move I stand up and leave the cafeteria. I have no classes after second period so it is easy for me to just go to my car and drive home. Mom is home from her ‘work’ early and talking to someone in the kitchen, I hear another female voice and figure it’s my sister, the biological one.

“Guy is that you,” Mom calls out and I groan.

“Yes, I’m home early today,” I reply as I see Mother and Daughter come out to greet me.

“What’s wrong honey,” Mom asks and I better get this out of the way.

“I lost the scholarship and I’m past the application cutoff date for other ones so I’m stuck on getting any assistance for college,” I tell Mom who frowns at me a little.

“I think that’s great news, gives you time to get out and see the world. I was talking to Dad and I think this summer you should come out and spend a couple months at the ranch with us,” Gwen says fully believing that I’m in the forgive and forget mentality, not sure where she got that idea.

“How about you go back to the ranch and someday, in the future, I’ll actually bother to remember that it’s somewhere in the United States,” I tell her in response and get a stunned look from both of them.

“Guy I understand you’re angry but that’s no way to talk to your sister,” Mom says and I shake my head.

“When has ‘she’ been my sister? They’ve been here for almost a month and I’ve got about as much use for her as I do for my father,” I clarify and both don’t like my answer,” I will take care of my own plans for the summer and college.”

“Guy you don’t have to do everything yourself, you have a family,” Mom states and I nod.

“Yes but like everything else in the world it comes down to me and what I can do to fix my situation. You could probably blackmail or bribe someone to get me into a college but that is you doing it for me, not me doing it and making it my own. I can’t rely on everyone all the time,” I state and I hear something behind me.

“And when was the last time you relied on your family,” my Father asks and I wonder how he did that sneaking thing.

“I didn’t, which is why I have to take care of things,” I state clearly before leaving the foyer and heading to my room.

Good, keep control and exit the situation quickly.

God I hate being fucking out manned by everyone everywhere. I tried to develop an army and they have pretty much fucking failed at the simple task they were armed to complete. I’m stuck in a cycle where now I have to ask and beg for my family to help me with college when I don’t want their help I want my own ticket, written and punched by me. Is it so hard to ask for a little independence? Add to all of this my Father and biological sister have been hounding me for time to talk and work things out between us. There’s nothing to work out, I needed him years ago and he wasn’t there. Now I don’t need or want him and he thinks that it’s better late than never. I quiet knock on my door as I’m getting undressed has me debating on answering it when they, my biological Father, just enters my room without a word.

“I can understand why you’re angry with me. I’ve been angry with myself for years when it comes to what I should have done for you,” he says it as he leans against my closed door.

“Well I’m glad you believe you have an understanding of what you think is my problem and I hope you take that belief with you when you leave,” I counter as I change into some jeans and a plain white shirt.

“Guy if you haven’t figured it out your sister and I aren’t leaving anytime soon. She might step away to fix up a couple things at our ranch but I’m not going anywhere until things in our family are mended. Now talk to me, what can I do to help this… gap we have between us,” he is really trying to be a father, too little too late.

“You can’t do anything because I don’t need you. You left and I mourned your leaving me behind and for years I sat there waiting patiently because ‘my Father’ never broke his word. Months turned into years and I finally gave up because even if you were out there you didn’t want me,” I state calmly and he cuts me off.

“I wanted you Guy, I was ashamed of what happened when I lost you,” ‘Dad’ begins to explain and I stop him.

“Don’t… I don’t want to hear your sad story about how you were so broken up over losing me that you couldn’t bring yourself to come and get me when you KNEW where I was. You left. YOU chose to LEAVE and go find your daughter. You left me when you swore, YOU SWORE, that you would always take care of me,” I am seething and I can taste venom in my mouth.

“I know and I’m here for you,” he is soft, how is the strong and invincible man so soft.

“No you’re not and I’m leaving so excuse me,” I state pointing towards the door.

He moves and I step out of my room to take a drive, I need to clear my head and do some serious planning but he’s following me and I don’t need this right now. Mom and Gwen are still in the foyer and watching as I head towards them to the garage.

“Guy we came here for you. Gwen and I love you and we came back for you,” he says it and all I feel is cold.

“No, you’re here for the boy that you left. He’s dead and buried and you can’t get him back,” my words twist a dagger in his heart, good,” I’m what’s left and I don’t need you. You’re a scared weak man who couldn’t protect your family. All you did was fail them… fail me.”

“Guy that’s enough,” Gwen barks at me and I turn towards her.

“Listen favorite, I don’t care what you think is enough or too much. You have always been the priority, Mom knows it, Dad proved and I saw it within five minutes of being reunited with you,” I state fact as she waits for her turn,” I don’t care what you want or what you feel. Here’s what I want, I want you two to leave and never come back. Does that matter to anyone? No I didn’t think so.”

I turn and leave nothing for me here right now anyway and as soon as I get my car started I’m out the garage and down the road. I need to get away and cool off, get myself thinking. I should contact the drug dealer I’ve been supporting and put his feet to the fire about the complete lack of follow through he’s displayed. I’m keeping it under the speed limit and legal as I drive around, fill up on gas and continue to drive around. My phone goes off at a light and I pull into a grocery store parking lot to check what’s up. I have some messages but the one that catches my interest isn’t Mom asking me to come back or Abby trying to get me to sit down with the ‘family’. It’s Marta sending me a picture of me driving my car. Now I’m interested and ask where she is and she says to come back her way and find her, I’m smiling as I reverse my route and backtrack. It takes maybe five minutes to find her leaning against the wall of some business I’ll never use. I have to pull around again but I do and pull up right in front of Marta.

“Someone said there was a pretty girl around here,” I ask out my passenger side window.

“Someone told me there was a hot guy driving down this street, guess we both have to settle,” Marta jokes back getting in my passenger side.

“So I’m guessing you heard already,” I ask and she shrugs.

“I didn’t think you’d get it anyway. You’re good but you could have your parents pay your way,” Marta informs me and I’m almost disgusted at her for saying it.

“Do you like being the sister to Carlos the gang leader,” I ask and she gives me a look,” Didn’t think so. So why do you think I’d want to be the intellectual heir to someone else’s money that I didn’t earn. Them paying for my college is just more of me not doing it for myself.”

“Okay but you’re using their money now; you’re an adult so why not just give it up. Otherwise you are a bit of a hypocrite,” she says it and I chuckle.

“Fair point, I just figured if I was going to have a chance to step out and be myself it would have been college,” I reply as we pull up to her parent’s home,” One trip home minus douche bags with bandanas.”

“If I could ask you for one thing, just one and you be bound to do it would you,” Marta asks and I smile.

“Point of the contract doesn’t mean I have a choice. If I sign then I have to do whatever I agreed to,” I state and she smiles.

“I’ll remember that,” she answers my statement and exits my car.

I leave her home and continue to drive around, I’m still not happy but she’s very distracting and that helps for a few moments. I check in on my storage units to see if anyone is actually looking around areas where I’ve been, it’s paranoid but when pushing a war it’s a good idea to be a little more paranoid and nothing stands out after a half hour of watching the unit with the car and another hour watching my stash. I realize that now school is out and figure I can hang out with Sydney for a while and see what she thinks though I know what she thinks and will tell me again which she does right now as we’re sitting in her bedroom.

“You are really hard on your family, you need to lighten up a lot and just try to I don’t know… live with them,” Syd informs me as I sit on a beanbag chair and her on her bed.

“They obviously favored her, hell he couldn’t be bothered to show his face around me till I’m an adult,” I counter and she smirks.

“Nearly an adult, still got to make it through high school,” she jokes but she’s mostly right.

“Yeah real adulting comes in a few years with real drinking and arrest records,” I add and she laughs.

“Okay so what do you actually know about the new sister and your real dad,” Sydney asks and I have to think.

“My Dad is hurt, but she doesn’t understand how I could be as cruel to him as I am,” I explain and she gives me a look,” I know what I’m doing when I’m not nice, I just don’t feel bad about it. He abandoned me.”

“He lost you and he wasn’t able to get you back, he’s ashamed,” Syd starts and I stop her.

“Except he didn’t lose me like you lose a penny in the ocean and it’s obvious to me too but that doesn’t change the years he could have done something and didn’t. There’s a saying I learned, never meet your heroes because they’ll disappoint you,” I tell Syd who is paying attention to me now.

“You idolize him, we talked a little about him since everything but you really idolize him,” Syd says it and I hate it.

“I idolized what he was; he came back for what I was. Neither of us is what the other thought or wanted,” I begin to explain.

“Okay so how about you just talk to him? Sit down like two people and make him see where you are at,” Syd explains and I shrug,” He’s your Dad, like it or not he is and he’s not going anywhere from what you have told me.”

She’s right, I don’t like what she’s right about but Sydney is right. My Dad isn’t going anywhere until we settle whatever it is he wants to settle. I have to wonder what he’s really feeling. Guilt, disappointment, shame, regret? A lot of things going through him probably but he’s not leaving yet, he’s got something to settle and it’s probably me.

Boo-fucking-hoo!

I don’t eat dinner at Syd’s house, I figure it’s time to return home and find out what new bullshit is waiting for me. I’m headed home and it goes by in a blur from Syd’s house to home and I have a plan. Okay it’s not a great plan but for now I’m just going to go it alone and figure out how to do what apparently needs to be done between my family and I. Dinner is in a half an hour and I set up and wait in my room to be called when all my ideas are usurped as a knock on my door reveals Rosa with a tray and dinner for me.

“Your mother said you didn’t want to be around the family so I bring you dinner for your room,” the maid and friend informs me.

I let Rosa exit the room, a little quickly, before letting my emotions take over. I’m not allowed to the table; basically that is what I’m being told by them having Rosa bring me my dinner. Now I know exactly what I need to do. I need to hurt someone.

Neal: At the table

It’s a good meal and I’m trusting Loretta on her idea to have Guy eat by himself tonight so he won’t feel pressured to have a conversation with me or his sister. I know I failed him and I would like nothing more than to clear out and let him live his life but something is seriously wrong. He’s gone a lot, a lot more for a single teenage male to be and considering the amount of enemies he has it isn’t safe. That is problem number two; he doesn’t care about what is safe. I’ve followed him a few times and he is very brazen, my son was always reserved and cautious but Guy now is careless with how he acts and where he goes bordering on reckless. We eat, everyone talks about little things but nobody talks about Guy not being with us tonight. We’re almost done with dinner when I hear him coming down stairs. His steps aren’t rushed but they are angry, too angry. I get up from the table and see him say something to the maid before heading into the garage.

“What’s wrong Neal,” Lori asks concerned.

“Guy just left and he’s angry,” I inform my ex wife.

“Well did he say anything,” she asks now more concerned.

“Not to me, he did have a word with your help,” I nod to the maid coming down the stairs with a tray and full plate of food.

“Rosa did Guy ask you to bring down his dinner,” Lori asks and she nods but she’s holding back.

“What did he say exactly,” I ask and she hesitates but speaks.

“He say if he not eat with family then he don’t eat what family eat and he tell me to remove it so it doesn’t spoil,” she recounts what my son says and I shake my head, same as a decade earlier.

“He’s mad at us,” I state to Lori who looks confused,” Whenever he got in trouble for something when he was in school we made him sit at the counter and eat alone. He refused to eat because dinner time wasn’t supposed to be a punishment.”

“Oh my god how could I forget that,” Lori is upset and has her phone out,” He’s not answering.”

Time to try and find my son before he goes off and does something dangerous.

Guy: Half an hour later

First order of business is dealing with the weakness in my plan. I head down to my storage units and change. I moved most of my clothes out of Jackie’s apartment and into the unit with the spare car. One quick change of clothes and vehicle and I stop by the storage unit, in a different lot altogether, and get a few things I’ll need and my burn phone for Carl. I pull up his number, it’s the only one I have, and dial. It takes a couple rings but he answers.

“I was wondering when you’d answer, you’re not achieving the objectives I requested when I gave you all that wonderful hardware you’re currently using,” I greet Carl.

“We ran into a lot of opposition, it’s not a Latino gang giving us problems. It’s a fucking army of bikers,” Carl explains and I am about as interested in his excuses as I am a bear shitting in the woods.

“I have more hardware, something to really pack a punch and help even the playing field. Should we meet up somewhere,” I ask knowing he’ll say yes.

“If you got more hardware we can use then we can take care of a couple of those gangers you don’t like,” Carl knows my enemy, this isn’t good,” I’ll be at the firehouse waiting. The boys will let you up.”

Okay this doesn’t sound good.

Sounds pretty fucking amazing to me actually.

How does someone knowing more about him than he wants a good thing?

Because it gives him the chance to find out who else it playing this game.

I don’t arm up like I told Carl I would, I just get my car and a single piece of hardware before heading off towards the firehouse. Carl’s main location is an abandoned fire house; it’s small but has solid walls and only really held one or two engines when it was in operation. It’s got two floors with an office up some stairs in the back. I remember it all from the first two visits to deliver weapons to Carl and now it’s just a formality. I park about a block away in a back alley and after a little searching find a fire escape to the roof of a building and make my way from one building to the next till I’m across from the firehouse. All the doors are closed but the lights are on and nobody is out front keeping watch. I watch a little longer and figure I need a reference point. I get myself set up and make the call to Carl with the phone on speaker.

“Hey, I’m out front, why aren’t your people opening the doors,” I ask looking for movement.

“They didn’t hear your car,” I see Carl from the upstairs window, he looks like someone hit him in the face a lot,” I don’t see your car.”

“Carl, a man was once offered thirty pieces of silver to betray his god,” I ask looking through the scope,” How much did they offer for you to betray me?”

I see his fear, it’s obvious but he’s not afraid of me as he looks behind him. I hear a voice in the background; it’s deeper than Carl’s which means we have someone whose balls dropped. I see Carl step away from the window and while there’s nobody there I keep watch on the building.

“Who the hell is this,” the new voice asks.

“Call me Samael, who is this,” I ask in a higher pitch than my regular voice because it’s fun.

“Someone who you crossed when you stole from us,” I hear him say it and I have to point a few things out.

“First off are you insane or just really bad with your words? If you were someONE that I crossed then who is the US I allegedly stole from,” I ask and I figure he’s not happy and continue,” Second threats are no way to greet someone, that’s bad manners.”

“Listen carefully shit head, return our merchandise or you’re brokering a war you can’t win,” the voice says and I still don’t see anyone talking in the building since the other windows are closed.

“I couldn’t win a war because soldiers were ineffective so instead of paying for mercenaries to fight my battles for me I’m going to follow American History and utilize something we created when warring with the British,” I explain and figure he’ll need to work it out if he can for himself.

“I’ve got seven people her plus Carl, return our property and they live,” the voice informs me and I laugh, it’s funny.

“Carl and his people, the ones you have there, have failed to perform on the task I gave them. Now in their complete failure and a point where I could not care less what happens to him and the rest of his drug addled crew you want to use them for a bargaining chip,” I ask and I can almost see his face getting mad,” Do whatever you like. Kill him, spare him, torture him. Do it to his friends and family I frankly don’t care. You stepped in my way, not the other way around.”

I hang up and don’t answer the phone when he attempts to call me back. Fuck Carl and his people, they fucked up and he tried to betray me. I put the single scope away, I took it off a rifle and begin to head down the building when I hear popping, a lot of popping. I think that was gunfire, sorry Carl you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

Holy shit if he smoked we’d need one right now!

This was completely unnecessary.

That was completely amazing! Now that is how you send a message!

You are just a child, a short sighted child. Who are we going to get to wage war for him now?

I think he doesn’t need anyone to do it for him. Just got to make sure we’re more careful about when and who we hit is all. Go get him laid.

Don’t you tell me what to do, I’m so mad at you.

Trust me; sex right now would be amazing.

Jim: two hours later

“Explain to me again what happened,” I ask my son Smitty.

“We rounded up that dealer Carl’s people and I got him talking. Didn’t take much but as we’re going over shit he tells me about the phone so I ask him when does he get calls and he says it varied but usually mid week. We waited one day and he got a call in the early afternoon and the guy was bringing more hardware so we closed up and I stayed with Carl upstairs while the rest of the guys kept his people on the floor. When Carl said he was onto the trap I took over and tried to get the shit to return our goods or come out but he wasn’t going to take the bait. Not even when I threatened to kill Carl he just said he didn’t care and hung up,” Smitty relates his tale of triumph and tragedy, well not really a tragedy.

“Well negotiation isn’t your strong suit son but you did your best and we’ve got everything in the area under control again which means we can get back to business,” I tell my son and he nods a little before stepping out of my office.

I dismiss my boy and think, someone leaked information? No, I’m guessing Carl spilled something when the contact called and they got wise. I’m dealing with a thinking individual here and not some moron with a grudge. Hawk knocks on the door to my office at the tattoo parlor and I wave him in and have him close the door.

“So guess what monster decided to come visit this Saturday,” Hawk questions me and I hate the idea of it.

“He’s coming so I can figure out if he’s behind all the shit that’s happening,” I tell the Devil’s Best member in front of me and watch him grimace,” All of this screams F.O.F. and using druggies to do your dirty work isn’t a stretch for Gabriel.”

“No deals, no trades and if he or anyone of his people cross the line you better stomp that shit out right away,” Hawk informs me and I almost remind him who’s in charge.

I let Hawk leave and realize he’s right, F.O.F. need to be put in check and if they’re trying to move in on Union territory they’re going to learn a few lessons in measured response and drastic overkill.

Guy: Same time… roughly

Got my toy put away, never thought of how funny that statement is in conjunction to all the other ones about men and toys till now. Back to the important things in life such as snitches in ditches which is what it turns out Carl was. Not sure who the man on Carl’s phone was but I’ll get to him and his people soon enough. I return the car to its lock up changing it out for my Christmas gift, I do love this car, and almost make it inside when I hear someone start talking and almost attack first and ask questions later.

“What are you doing out here,” my Father asks with a hint of concern.

“Where the hell did you come from,” I ask in retort and no, I’m not nice in my tone of voice.

“I was looking for you and saw you driving a different car. Why do you have another car,” he’s asking questions and I don’t have answers, at least not for him.

You are in control, don’t give anything away. He doesn’t deserve it.

“I have things I need to take care of and this,” I gesture to my car,” is a bit more noticeable than I’d like for some things.”

“What are you taking care of,” he asks and now I’m tired of questions.

“Why the hell is that any of your business,” I counter and put him back a peg or two,” I fail to see as to what I choose to do, where and when is any of your business.”

“You’re my son, that makes what happens to you my business,” my Father is coming back swinging, bad move.

“Okay so where were you for nine years when shit was happening,” I ask stopping all forward conversation.

*yawn* Are we home yet?

Kind of dealing with something right now.

What the hell is this shit? What the fuck are you doing?

Dealing with something big so shut up or get on your shit and help.

He’s got nothing I haven’t heard before and he’s not going to repeat himself, thank god I’ve been hearing it for weeks. Talk about an awkward standoff, I don’t want to talk anymore like Syd suggested and he does want to talk but has nothing of value to say.

“Did you get dinner,” I hear it and almost spit at him,” Your mom wanted to let you have some time to yourself so you didn’t feel pressured to eat with us. I reminded her how you hated eating alone when you were little as a punishment. That’s why I was looking for you.”

“Well she and I will talk later I guess and no I didn’t eat, I was busy taking care of things,” I keep it vague; he doesn’t deserve to know what I do.

“Well let your Dad buy you dinner and we’ll just sit and stay not working things out,” he is offering me dinner after I got kicked away from the table.

Sydney said listen and us alone in a restaurant is about as close to alone as I figure we’re going to get. I nod and get in my car then follow his truck; he drives a freaking pickup truck from the last century. I almost leave him behind but I said I would sit and eat so that’s what I’m going to do. We get in to a chain restaurant and I order for me but Dad just gets some coffee and now we wait. I don’t have anything to say still and he still wants me to understand him not being there which would be easier if he was across an ocean or in a prison somewhere but a three day drive north? That doesn’t cut it for me.

“So that sister of yours, Bethany, she says you like music and you sing,” Dad is really trying, I don’t laugh at him, actually don’t feel like it for once.

“Yeah, mostly opera but she’s helped me expand my vocal horizons into other styles,” I keep it as honest as I can, he is trying something new and I am curious to see how long it lasts.

We talk; I get served food and eat while we talk about everything around the core of what my problem is with him. I finish my burger, yeah I got a burger and fries so bite me, and now we’re sitting with soda and coffee just looking at each other.

“I had dreams, well fantasies about this,” I tell him and he sits back a little,” You’d come for me in the night, we’d take a few things and then we’d be off towards somewhere safe where you could take care of me.”

“I thought about that a lot myself, before and after I found Gwen,” he gets that far and my face must show my displeasure at her name,” I know you don’t like the fact that I went after her and not you but there isn’t anything I can do about it now.”

“Then why the hell are you still here,” I almost hiss at him.

“Because your sister,” again I almost want to spit bile at the mention of her,” I know you don’t like that she was first in a lot of things.”

“Everything, she’s been first in everything and I never knew I was in competition till you two showed up and I was expected to just fall in line,” I get that much out and he almost snaps back at me.

“I didn’t expect you to fall in line. Yes I knew it would be difficult for us and yes I knew when I didn’t come back and take you years earlier I might have lost any real chance at being there for you when you needed me and I live with the fact that every day you isolated yourself from the world, every time your new family ignored you, every time someone made it a point to make a statement using you it’s my fault,” he says it and I almost see him tear up but he’s not closing his eyes.

“How did you do that,” I ask about the almost but not crying,” How did you keep from crying just now? Physically I mean.”

“Keep your eyes open and it helps stop the tear ducts from producing tears,” he answers very quickly.

“I’ll have to remember that next time I have a bag over my head and people are shocking me with a generator and jumper cables,” I remark remembering my last encounter.

“Sounds like interrogation,” he says it and I look at him with a level of questioning,” Water over head or in a pool at your feet and car batteries with jumper cables, probably something on the ends to diffuse the burns they could apply to the skin.”

“How the hell do you know that,” I ask feeling very small in front of my Dad.

“Someday, when I’m not ashamed of myself so much for abandoning you and you’re not so angry at me for not coming to save you years ago we’ll sit down and I’ll tell you everything you want to know about me,” Dad informs me in a serious tone,” Till that time I just don’t know how to bridge this gap I allowed to grow between us.”

“How about the fact that I tried to find you two years ago and the government didn’t know where you were after months of looking? What was going on,” I ask and he thinks back.

“I was out of country, in Europe I think helping out a friend with some business,” he recalls and I shake my head,” I didn’t ever see any papers but I would have come running if I did.”

“I hear you say, part of me wants to believe it but I keep coming back to the fact that you knew where I was for years and didn’t bother to show up on your own. You’re not a coward which means you chose not to come get me,” I get about that far and he nods in agreement.

“I didn’t know everything, I’ve been learning more than I want to about it and Gwen still feels the need to pick a fight with Bethany but from my view,” he pauses and I wait for his explanation,” From what I was told and what I saw you had a new home and a new family. I didn’t want to mess that up and when I started to learn about the fights…”

“You mean when a gang kicked my ass as a part of their well balanced breakfast,” I add and he shakes his head.

“I love you but you have no idea how badly that pisses me off,” I think he’s talking about me interrupting him,” I have been making a point to not learn who those little fuckers are. I don’t need more complications when I’m trying to make good with you.”

Our talk is interesting to say the least, I think my Dad isn’t telling me a lot and since I’m not giving up a lot to him as to what I’m really up to its fair. I think it’s fair at least.

I cannot believe you helped him pussy out.

Yes because running away and screaming at everyone was making things so much better.

He felt better, he felt in control. He doesn’t need to not feel in control.

And he is in control. Sometimes we don’t need to grip everything with an iron fist to control it.

We head back towards home and we’re not super late but the scene with the two of us coming home at the same time has Mom’s attention. She wants to talk but I’m all talked out right now, not really I just don’t want to get into anything more as I need to look up a few things on the internet, like advanced interrogation techniques.

Neal: Five minutes after Guy left for his room

“Any hope,” Lori asks and I nod a little,” I was worried when he left. Every time he walks out the door now I worry a little.”

“Well he knows what he’s doing honey, we just have to trust him and wait for him to let us in,” Mark Sr. says as his wife leaves the office we’re talking in.

“He does know what he’s doing, that’s what puts me on edge,” I tell Mark closing the door.

“How do you mean,” he asks leaning on his desk.

“Somehow he’s been learning how to keep people from tracking him down. Could be something to do with both times he’s been singled out and left bleeding or for dead but at this point I’m just glad I got him to talk to me,” I explain a little and Mark listens.

“Well if it’s any consolation we’re pulling for you, Lori and I and my children too. Mark junior doesn’t see anything wrong with patching things up but he’s not as bright as my daughters,” he reassures me and I nod.

Problem is my son is bright, very bright. I don’t tell Mark that he’s got a stash house for a rental car and clothing; I don’t want to worry him. What really draws my concern is Guy was gone for almost two and a half hours before I barely caught up with him at his storage unit. Where was he before that and what was he doing? I have to put that on the back burner, I have something that needs handling tonight.

Carlos Ortega: 2:30 AM

I am just sleeping in my bed at home before school when I wake up because something is wrong. I don’t know what it is but I get up from my bed and grab my piece from the top drawer on my night stand when someone talks.

“Sit back down Carlos,” I hear the voice and turn my piece on it,” That won’t do you any good. I took the bullets out of it.”

I check and see that all six are missing and try to look at who is talking to me in the dark. It’s a man, can’t tell an accent but he’s dressed in dark clothes.

“Who sent you,” I ask him and he shakes his head.

“That is your first mistake, I don’t get sent. I go where I need to and take care of things that need to be taken care of,” the voice tells me and I sit down trying to remember if I left a spare bullet somewhere.

“So what are you here for,” I gotta ask since he didn’t kill me.

“I want the names of whoever decided it was alright to take stab a young man and leave him to die and then months later torture him and leave him just a couple streets away from your door,” the dark figure says and I chuckle.

“I want their names too cabron so get in line,” I tell him and he leans forward.

“Except you are responsible, you know what you did and allowed so it’s not a stretch to imagine that your boys decided to up the games they played. So now I want to know who they are or,” I gotta cut him off.

“My people didn’t do it and threatening me isn’t going to make some names appear out of thin air,” I tell him and he pulls out something.

“Oh Carlos you have no idea what I’m capable of,” the dark man says before tossing something to me.

I pick it up, it’s my phone and when I get the screen up I see my family. Mom and Dad are in bed for about five or six pictures then Marta for a few more. I put my phone down and the figure stands up.

“Now you have an idea of what I am capable of. I’m not going to threaten you because I don’t need to. You have information I want, information you’ve kept to yourself out of loyalty or brotherhood but now you have to ask yourself is it worth your family,” he tells me and I stand up.

“You want a war,” I say it and he is out of his chair and I don’t even see most of it coming.

I’m getting slapped all to fucking hell and I’m face down on my floor with a knee on my back and my arms are bound at the wrist.

“Don’t talk to me about war, I’ve lived in war, you haven’t seen war. You’ve played war, you’ve imagined war on a screen with a toy in your hands, you are not a warrior. Names now or I walk down the hall and pick a family member for you to bury this week,” he tells me and I don’t have to guess anymore, he will kill them.

“My people didn’t do it, we haven’t done shit to Guy since before he got stabbed and if I find them I’m gonna fuck them up worse than you ever could,” I spit at the dark man who goes a little easier on my back and releases my hands.

“Now I believe you, two things. One you will not talk about this, you had a very bad dream and tomorrow you will wake up and everything will be low riders and Fanta,” the voice tells me stepping across my room as I get up from the floor,” Understand?”

“What’s the second thing,” I ask and he turns pointing a gun at me.

“See rule number one,” and I hear a light pop.

My head feels like I got hit by a car and my mom is so loud right now it’s not even possible for her to get louder.

“Carlos what are you doing on the floor? Did you fall out of bed? How did you get that mark on your forehead,” my Mom with twenty questions first thing in the morning.

It takes me a bit to recall everything and I decide to lay and be sick for today, I feel like I need to take a day and who the fuck was in my room last night? Mom won’t stop till I’m up and as soon as I am standing I fall onto my bed and pray to pass out, it’s too fucking loud this morning.

Guy: Friday at school

Back at school in a grey suit and shirt with a black tie because my mood is pretty much there for school now. College classes to get into college I can’t afford on my own are what I have to look forward to this afternoon, yay my life. Lunch comes and goes; I don’t see Syd and was hoping to update her as to how it went with my Dad. I’m not forgiving him or anything but I’ll listen when he says something that isn’t a weak cop out for why he did or didn’t do things. No Syd sadly and I get to eat alone before spending three more hours working on classes that will barely help me get accepted but not with finances being what they are I’m stuck on that for a while. I actually spend a little time looking at community colleges and cheap places that would take someone for the performing arts and get a look at a couple schools in California when I’m paged over the intercom to report to the office. Not sure what I did to piss off the administration now but I’m guessing it’s pretty good. I carry my briefcase with me, you never know when someone wants something, and find Mr. White and Mrs. Lawson waiting for me. I am not amused or happy to see either of them.

“Mr. Donnelly it’s good to see you again,” Mr. White greets me and extends his hand and I debate on whether to see what he wants or resort to hostility.

I nod and shake his hand but say nothing before shaking Mrs. Lawson’s hand and she is quick to pick up on my mood, I can see it in her face. We’re given a side room to talk in where I sit down at a circular table with my back to the door and the two judges who took my scholarship option on either side of me.

“Well I’m honestly surprised anyone remembered my name,” I say it and both give me a confused look,” I didn’t get the scholarship so I was pretty sure nobody remembered me.”

“Guy we came down to talk to you about your schooling options. The committee felt it was best for other applicants deny you the scholarship in light of your family’s economic status but that doesn’t change the fact that everyone was impressed by the sheer talent you displayed,” Mrs. Lawson begins and I stop her.

“Step family’s economic status to clarify. It’s their money not mine, after I move out I probably won’t get much of anything and that is where my schooling options stop in favor of a job and finding living accommodations for myself,” I explain and both look at me like I just slapped them.

“Mr. Donnelly, I and the others deciding the scholarship spoke with Mrs. Lawson about your family since she and they are good friends and nothing was said about you being treated as you are describing,” Mr. White clarifies his view of the situation.

“Well that’s the problem; it’s not them it’s me. I wanted to do this so I could do something on my own and regardless of whether or not I got the scholarship I was going to step out on my own and do what I could to get myself educated on my own and without the assistance of my step family. There are other things that caused me to want this level of separation but neither you, Mrs. Lawson or the people who decided to give the scholarship to other people deserve to know what those reasons are and since I’m not getting anything out of this meeting that will help me I don’t see the need to stay and listen to the ‘options’ you have since I won’t be able to afford them,” I figure that should be enough to shut them up about what they would like me to do.

“Guy we didn’t know your reasons for applying and I’m sorry we removed you but you have a family with resources to help advance you in almost any career you choose. You are an intelligent young man with a talented voice,” Mrs. Lawson begins and I feel disgusted as she speaks, I can’t believe I slept with her.

“Mr. Donnelly, Guy let me show you a few pieces on schools and tutors. Show them to your parents, it would be a shame to waste your talent on hubris,” Mr. White says the words and I lose what composure I have left.

Abort! Abort right now!

Fuck that noise, tear his ass up!

Attack now and ruin everything he’s built up, one old man or the whole war?

Fine, we’ll help him stand down. Chicken shit.

“You don’t seem to understand and I used perfectly good English to explain it Mr. White. I’m sorry I wasted your time with the audition and while I don’t understand your reasoning for coming down here now except someone offered you money to proposition me which I don’t understand how they’d know about me if it wasn’t for you and the committee that ‘knew’ me so well to deny me and favor another based on economics,” I get that much out and Mrs. Lawson is shocked at my demeanor.

“Guy where is this coming from? We’ve spoken before and this isn’t who auditioned for us months ago,” she asks and I smirk.

“This is the person whose dreams get shot in the face and left to bleed in a ditch. Remember that every action has a reaction and even if it doesn’t affect you directly it still has an effect. Again sorry for wasting your time folks but I have something else more important to attend to,” I state to the both of them and stand up.

I leave the room, sign myself out of school as they plan their next move and by the time they are coming after me I’m starting my car and backing out of my spot and heading off school grounds.

That was too close, small retreat now, big fight later.

When?

Excuse me?

When is there going to be a fight? When does he just fuck Carlos, Hector and half the planet up? When do we get to make him feel like he’s actually getting back what is his?

This takes time; it’s not a quick and easy way to get what he wants. But we need to do it right or in the end he will pay for it.

Bullshit, this is you chicken shitting out and denying him and me. I’m doing what needs to be done sooner than later.

I get home and find only Rosa there, I smile a little and wave before moving to where she’s cleaning and after taking a seat just tell her about everything. She listens as I talk and I help her more than a little with some of the cleaning she has to do and she likes that I didn’t take a second hand offer but has that question on her face.

“But why not take help from Mr. Delauter and your mother,” she asks confused by my hesitance to accept assistance.

“It’s not