Disclaimer: I own nothing besides my own characters. And a toothbrush. And my laptop. But that's about it.

(Be sure to read Author's Notes)


I sat on the hood of the car with Jack. I rested my head on his shoulder as we waited fro Jerry to show up. Angel had been updated on what we had discussed last night and he agreed it wasn't a random shooting. Now were stood outside the corner store where Evelyn had died.

Jerry showed up a few seconds before the owner. Jack introduced us and the man ushered us inside. "Evelyn Mercer was a good lady. I liked her very much."

He had given us coffee while Bobby asked the thing that was on everyone's mind. "Do you have the tape from that night?"

The older man nodded. He had a thick accent and kind eyes. His sincerity showed through for the loss of Evelyn. "Yes the police took a copy but the original is still here. I have it set up in the back if you would like to watch. I must finish opening the store however. I will leave you in peace."

We stood around the small television and watched the camera of the security tape. As it started I felt Jack lace his fingers with mine. I squeezed his hand and watched as Evelyn picked out a turkey. Evelyn saw the gunmen and hid behind an aisle out of their view.

"This doesn't add up." Bobby pointed as one of the gunmen walked down the aisle to where Evelyn was. "He's already got the money."

The second gunman followed the first who had now pulled out his rifle and was pointing it at Evelyn. He shot her up.

Jack dropped my hand and turned his hands covering his face. I held his waist tight shushing him and burying my face into his shoulder. "Baby I promise we're going to find them."

I felt him bury his face into my hair silently crying. Bobby had tears running down his face as did Angel. Jerry looked as though he was going to be sick as he turned the tape off.

The old man had returned to the room and Bobby faced him. "Supposedly, a witness told police this was a gang shooting. You know anything about that?"

The old man shook his head. "I do not know. The police talked for a long time with one man. One man more than the others. He comes in for Gatorade after the games. Big guy. Always wears sweats, never a jacket. He has a dog and a…" He was at a loss for words. He pointed to his head. "Big hair."

Angel spoke up. "A 'fro?"

"Yes, yes. A 'fro. Like those basketball players. He either plays at the courts or the gym."

We thanked the man for his time and headed back to the car. I was afraid of letting go of Jack. Watching that tape made me sick to my stomach. Evelyn wouldn't have been able to identify them.

Bobby spoke the words I was thinking. "It was an execution. They set her up. They set mom up. Come on."

We ran towards the school gym. I could feel Jack's sadness turn to anger in a few seconds. I saw the gym we were running into and swore under my breath. Oh this wasn't going to go over well. We entered through the side and ended up between the bleachers.

I saw the look in Bobby's eyes. I knew it well. He pointed a finger at me. "Lucia. You are not to move. I'm serious on this one. We need to keep you alive." He turned to his brothers. "You guys ready?"

Jerry looked around at the fans cheering and screaming. "What's the plan Bobby?"

"We're winging it."

"We're always winging it."

Jack looked around. "We're gonna get killed."

Angel looked him up and down. "What do you mean 'we' white boy?"

Bobby and Angel walked onto the court as Jerry, Jack and I stood by the sidelines. I blended in pretty well. I couldn't pass for black, but I could pass for Hispanic as long as I didn't open my mouth. The truth was I was white. My mother had done the smart thing when my brother and I were born and gave us a bit more of ethnic names. Rob's full name was Roberto. I was supposed to be Lucille but it changed to Lucia for the sake of making by in Detroit without being the white minority. Jerry although he grew up on the streets had become successful and wearing an expensive jacket wasn't going to help his case. Jack was just jack the rocker. Leather jacket over a long sleeve tee, jeans and a wallet chain hanging out. Not exactly your inner city boy.

Bobby made it to the middle of the court just as the timer buzzed. He said something to the ref and grabbed the ball. One of the players made the mistake of trying to grab it from him. Bobby slammed him into the ground and one of the kids teammates helped him up. They tried jumping Bobby but he took up his gun pointing it at each of them. Jerry ran out onto the court next to Bobby whispering something.

I rubbed my temples. "Nice job Bobby, real fucking smooth." I looked over at Jack. "I'm going to be really pissed off if we die here."

He looked around at all the people screaming for Bobby to get off the court. "I refuse to die here. I'm dying a rock god. Not some want to be whose brother is going to get him killed.

Bobby turned looking at the people in the bleachers. "My name is Bobby Mercer. Some of you probably knew my mother. And some of you probably know she was shot about a week ago across the street. Sixty-two years old, murdered in cold blood. Ballplayer. Big guy. Supposedly never wears a coat. Dog lover. Ring any bells?"

I pointed to a kid running down the bleachers next to us. "Jack?"

He saw the kid and ran after him. "I'm on it."

I waved to get Angel's attention and pointed toward Jack chasing the running kid down the hallway. I quickly made my disappearance so no one would realize my association with the 'crazy cracker assed motherfuckers'.

I made my way down the hall just in time to see the kid slam into the door. Jack grabbed him around the arms while Angel appeared form the other side of the door.

"Shit I better get Bobby and Jerry before they get themselves killed." I sprinted down the hall and yelled for Bobby from the side court.

He held up a finger and continued shouting above the people. "You tell me where l can find the guy and you can finish your game. All we want to do is talk to the guy. You can end this real quickly"

I pointed behind me and he understood. The bounced the ball back to the ref and walked toward me. "I appreciate your help very much. You've all been upstanding citizens. Enjoy the rest of your game."

Jerry was right behind Bobby. "You are crazy as hell. Do you know that?"

Angel pointed to the kid. "Bobby, meet Keenon. Keenon, this is Bobby. Something tells me he was on his way to deliver a warning."

Bobby nodded to the kid. "What's his name?"

Keenon shook his head. "Damien. He's my brother."

Bobby smiled. "No shit. These are my brothers."

I was on the opposite side of the wall watching as Keenon looked around at everyone. "Nah man, he's my real brother."

Bobby laughed. "These are my real brothers too. That's Angel, I'm Bobby, that's Jack and Jeremiah."

Keenon looked at each and his eyes found me. He licked his lips as he looked me up and down. "Who's she?"

Jack grabbed the kid by the neck slamming him harder into the wall. "You are not to look at her Keenon. She's none of your fucking business got that?"

Angel removed jack's arm as I flipped the kid off.

Bobby just continued questioning him. "So, what about you and Damian? You guys still close? Does he live at home with you?"

Keenon nodded. "Yeah. But I ain't telling you anything else."

Bobby nodded patting the kid on the shoulder. "Okay. I wouldn't sell out my brothers either. Just calm down, okay? Look, we just want to talk to him.

We want to ask him a few questions. You heard what I said. We just want to ask him what he knows about the shooting. Is he going to cooperate?"

The kid nodded.

Jerry held up the kid's report card he'd gotten form his bag. "We got something. He lives in the Gardens, right over there."

Angel clapped the kid on the shoulder. "Enjoy the rest of the game, okay? Don't worry about it."

Jack looked at the report card. "Nice grades, stay in school and maybe you'll get a girl like mine someday." He wrapped an arm around my waist as we made our way outside.

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Jerry got out of the car after a few minutes. "Bobby let me out I've got gymnastics."

Bobby laughed. "You got your leotard on, Jerry?"

"Go to hell. Y'all know what I'm talking about. I got a schedule to keep. Girls got gymnastics, I got to take them. Come on, let me out, man."

Bobby got out and let Jerry climb over his seat. "You want to take Cracker Jack with you? He's very flexible."

Jack flipped him off. "Bobby, you're the one who took ballet."

I let out a low wolf whistle. "Oh baby I'd pay to see those pictures."

We continued to sit in the car. I had been allowed to stay with them only because they didn't want the chance to miss catching Damien.

Bobby and Angel were talking about the Marines now being co-ed. Jack and I were writing on the window. He had an arm around me and was softly singing 'Plastic Jesus'. I wiped away the writing and stopped. "It's him."

Jack took his sleeve and whipped away more. "Bobby we got him. It's him!"

They ran out of the car and I was right behind them. Damien had shut the elevator doors when Bobby pulled out a gun. I smacked him over the head. "Nice job dumbass."

"Fuck you." He ran up the stairwell calling over his shoulder. "Luce, stay by the elevators and tell me what floor this sucker's on."

I stood next to the elevator watching as it went up a flight at a time.

"Two. Three. Four. Five. Six." The light went off. I stuck my head through the door they had run up. "He's at six!"

For once I took the advice that Bobby always gave to me and didn't follow. Instead I walked around to the back counting windows and trying to figure out which room belonged to Damien. I sat on a bench looking around. It was pretty nice considering the other apartment s you could wind up in. I heard barking and looked up. Damien was throwing rope out the window and attempting to climb down it. "Oh you have got to be kidding me."

I saw Angel's head appear over the window and Damien shot at him. Naturally I got pissed off if you shot at someone. Now I was furious because this asshole was shooting at my family. I pulled out my Browning and shot at the space next to his arm. I didn't want to shoot him because that always looks bad and if he fell the wrong way he could snap his neck and die. Then Bobby would yell at me. I really didn't feel like listening to that. He got freaked out and dropped the gun. I hurried over to grab it and saw Bobby leaving over the ledge with a butcher knife. I ran my ass out of the way as the rope was cut and Damien fell all the way down into the snow. I looked up at the window. "A little fucking warning would have been nice Bobby!"

I sat having a nice chat with Damien about his dogs, Chucky and Natasha. "So you got rotties, huh? I like 'em they're really beautiful."

Damien groaned looking down at this shattered leg. The bone was sticking through the skin. "Come on baby, you're gonna call me an ambulance right?"

Angel showed up over my shoulder. "You're getting hit on a lot today aren't you?"

I handed Bobby Damien's gun as he stood over him. "Give us a name Damien and you get an ambulance."

Damien groaned. It was cold now and it was only gonna get colder tonight and no one was going to hear him over the wind. "Man, these two fools told me they'd pay me a few dubs if I said I saw some gangstas shoot up the place. But I ain't killed nobody. I can't say anything else."

Angel kicked him in the side. "Die a fucking fudgesicle man."

We walked away with Jack turning around every now and then.

Bobby smacked him over the head. "Turn around dicklips we're calling his bluff."

Jack sighed and turned to me. "I'm still getting the fucking gay jokes and everyone is hitting on you today. What the fuck is with that?"

I stuck my hands in his pockets to keep warm. "I'm just special I guess."

He leaned in to kiss me but Damien screamed. "AH! Call me and ambulance and I'll tell you where he is?"

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I sat in the car outside of Casino Restaurant. This time I told them I was staying inside. I could get spotted at Casino if I went inside and any news I could hear from the underground would disappear in a flash. I was curled up in the back watching the snow fall down. It was quite peaceful. Minus the two crazy guys that ran past the car. I turned around and watched as my boys came out of the door. Jack had the shot gun in his hands and fired two shots after them.

Damn he looks sexy with that gun.

That's weird.

No it's really not.

A rock star cowboy?

Please, we both know you find nothing hotter than your man with a gun.

Okay you have me there. I do have a weakness for shotguns.

They ran over to the car and I opened the doors. Jack was shoved over the seat and ended up falling on top of me. He wiggled his eyebrows as we started driving away. "Fancy meeting you here."

Bobby reached behind him and smacked me missing Jack. "Jack I'm coming to terms with the whole you and Luce thing but you are not getting it on in the back of my car. Now sit up and pray we don't crash."

"Push it Bobby!" Angel was thumping the dashboard making sure we didn't lose sight of the car.

"I'm trying. I've got no fucking traction." Bobby punched the steering wheel. "We're sliding all over the fucking street.

I reached over taking the shotgun from Jack. "Think it's safer to put it on the floor currently. With all this sliding I don't want it shooting any of us."

Jack pulled me over to him. "That's my girl." He nuzzled my neck and I sighed into his ear.

I playfully bit his earlobe. "Jack this isn't the best place."

"You sure?" He was looking at me with innocent eyes while his hands were creeping under my shirt.

We slammed into the side of a parked car and we tumbled in the back.

"Shit, I scraped the whole side of my fucking car." Bobby swore trying to get back onto the street.

Jack leaned over me. "You gonna get these guys before you kill us Bobby?"

"Shut up and sit back Jackie."

In front of us the passenger leaned out of his window and shot at the front windshield. It cracked but thank god it didn't shatter.

Bobby regained control of the steering wheel. "Where the fuck is the shotgun Jack?"

"There's no more shells, they're in the trunk."

"I'll get them. Angel, take my gun and start shooting, there's another clip in my purse." I ripped the armrest out of place and shoved my arm through the dark hole that led into the trunk. Thank god for older model cars. They are so easy to break apart and put back together. I managed to stick my head through to try and find the box but we started spinning. Thankfully Jack steadied me while I grabbed the box and emerged. I shoved them into Jack's hand and handed him the shotgun.

Angel shot off a few rounds taking out a taillight and the back windshield. Jack took aim and we heard a faint scream and the car in front started swerving close to a snow bank.

Bobby whistled. "Shit you got him."

Jack winked at me. "You sound surprised Bobby."

"Yeah well you two girls better make sure you're buckled up, watch this."

We hit them and both cars ended up spinning. They regained control first and we followed right after them. Angel leaned out the window and was shooting off when he nearly fell out the window. I could feel the car lean to the side and knew we had a blowout. Jack and I pulled Angel back in.

Jack was shaking his head and yelling over the wind. "Bobby, let's just stop the car! Okay, Bobby? Let's stop!"

Bobby gave it more gas and drove on. "Shut up, Jack! I'm gonna ride this bitch out on the rim! We got them!"

We were like two bumper cars going at it. After about two minutes we slammed them so hard they spun out and flipped cruising in front of us.

They climbed out and I went to follow when Jack pushed me back. "No way. We don't know if they still have ammo. I'm not risking it."

He slammed the door in my face. Oh no way. I climbed over the front seat and heard Bobby tell Jack to hang back. I walked up behind him and punched him in the arm.

He turned around looked at me angrily. "Didn't I tell you to wait in the car?"

I crossed my arms. "I don't care what you told me. This is just as important to me as it is to you. Plus I don't like being left alone in the car."

He wrapped his arms around me and sighed. "Can we spend some normal time together?"

I jumped as I heard two gun shot and Bobby and Angel ran over. "Get in the car we're going home."

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I ended up spending the night over at the house with the guys and Sofi. Sofi and I had known each other and Bobby seemed to find it fascinating how I could actually get along with her. When we got home Bobby sent Sofi and me to Jerry's old room saying he didn't want to here anyone screwing around tonight.

We were currently sitting at the kitchen table. Jack was in the kitchen putting on a pot of coffee and Sofi and I were checking damage the guys had received from last night.

Sofi rubbed a cotton ball on Bobby's arm and he wince. "Don't be such a pussy Bobby."

He rolled his eyes and threw the cotton ball away. "Give me a break will ya?"

Sofi smiled. "It should be against the law for people to keep dogs where someone like you can get to them." She winked at me. "The poor dog probably has rabies now."

Angel stuck his head in the kitchen. "We got police."

Bobby swore. "Give me smoothing to cover up."

Sofi looked around and threw off the silk rob she was wearing. "It matches your eyes."

Bobby looked down at it. "You're shitting me."

I looked over and pushed Bobby onto the couch. "They're coming inside. It's Green and that weasel partner of his."

Bobby gave me a look. "I though you liked Green?"

I nodded. "I do. Green's still a good guy like always. It's just his partner. I don't trust him he looked like a weasel and I doubt his much different."

I sat on the arm of the chair Jack was sitting in watching as Green entered with his partner.

Green whistled. "Bobby Mercer. Don't you look sexy in that getup?"

Bobby smiled. "Well I had to fight Jackie for it. I think it looks better on me."

Green saw me and Sofi and chuckled. "Lucia October and Sofi Ramirez. Think you two girls would have learned not to play with the Mercer boys. Don't you ever learn?"

I grinned at Green. "It's just a habit I can't break Green. Mercer boys are my type of aggressive." Sofi laughed behind me holding onto Angel.

Green nodded at Bobby's hand that was still covered in some dry blood. "What happened to the hand Bobby?"

Bobby held it up. "Chill Green. It's from Turkey Cup. You know the Mercer tradition."

Green's partner nodded to Bobby. "What happened to your car?"

Sofi, bless her spoke up. "It's at Jeremiahs."

Angel nodded. "Jerry gave us a ride home. You know he's got a Volvo? You know, Volvos are one of the safest cars out there. Volvos are incredible, man, when it's a blizzard outside."

Jack stood up and took my hand to follow him into the hallway. We did our best to keep quiet while the others were busy in their discussion. See this is what I needed. A normal few minutes with Jack. True I felt like I was a teenager again sneaking around hallways to make out but that was okay.

We broke apart as we heard Green getting ready to go. "You keep knocking on the devil's door long enough, and sooner or later, somebody gonna answer you. Remember that Bobby."

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"Jackie come on let's go." Bobby was putting his jacket on.

I kissed him softly and turned to Bobby. "Bobby learn to drive. I need this back in one piece."

Bobby shut his eyes. "Ah damn, Lucia. I didn't want to hear that."

Sofi stood in the doorway blocking Angel exiting. "Baby, wasn't there a discussion about a dinner together? Because I seem to remember spending two hours in the kitchen."

Jack and I looked at each other trying not to laugh as Sofi yelled at Angel, Bobby made fun of Sofi and Angel tried calming both of them. I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I'm glad you're the normal one." I kissed his neck and smacked his ass as he headed out.

Bobby nodded to Angel. "Say goodbye to your big sister Jackie."

Angel looked at me. "What the fuck is wrong with my brothers?"

"A lot Angel. You mind if I use stay here for a bit?" I pointed up the stairs. "I'll go up if that's more convenient for you. I have my laptop here and I need to get some shit done."

Angel looked up the stairs. "I think we'll be staying down here don't worry about it."

I felt my eye twitch. "I'm going to steal your headphones too."

Angel laughed as I ran up the stairs.

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I came down the stairs when I heard Jack and Bobby come home. I saw Bobby with a duffle bag, which was never a good thing.

I pointed to the bag. "Bodies or presents?"

Bobby smiled like a cynical Santa Clause. "Presents if you need a new gun."

He and Jack sorted through the guns they took out of the bag. Jack handed me the camera they had gotten form the apartment. It was cannon like mine so the wire fit to hook up to my computer. I uploaded the pictures and swore. "Guys we have a slight problem."

Jerry walked in and swore when he saw the guns. "What the fuck are you guys doing to ma's house?"

Jack looked over my shoulder. Most of the pictures on the camera were of Evelyn walking around alone. Then there were a few with a man I recognized. "Wait I know him."

Bobby looked. "That's ma's lawyer. Bastard told us he only met her once."

I looked up at him. "Going to break and enter?"

Jack placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're not coming sunshine."

I pouted. "Pweeze?"

Angel walked in. "What's she begging about?"

Bobby turned to him. "Where you been man."

Angel shrugged. "Checking up on some leads."

I wrote down an address and handed it to Jack. "Well for what it's worth here's his home address. Rich neighborhood. Try not to look too much like thugs right?"

Jack kissed my forehead. "I can promise that."

They left and Sofi and I started watching some lifetime movie that was poorly made and overly depressing. She kept sliding glances over at me until I got the hint. "What Sofi?"

"Want to follow them?"

I started at her for a few seconds and nodded. "Thought you'd never ask."

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"Sofi! Get away from the horn." I grabbed her and pulled her into the snow. We had driven out there and she got out of the car and ran over to Bobby's blasting the horn.

She fought me to get back to the horn. She was swearing at me and I took the bait and cursed back.

"You know in any other situation I'd say this is pretty hot." I heard Bobby's voice from somewhere above me.

Angel and Jack pulled us apart as we were still trying to punch each other. Jack pulled me tighter and I could hear him laughing. "You need to relax baby or I'll have to start calling you Sofi Two."

I glared at him. "You say it once and I promise you you'll never get anything close to what happened the other night."

He whined and nuzzled my neck. "But baby, we were interrupted."

I turned around in his arms. "Jack I swear to you, if you are doing something tomorrow night I will kill you."

His eyes got big. "Date?"

I nodded, smiling because he had no idea what I had planned. "Dress nicely there's going to be a big surprise for you."


A/N: I made this chapter extra long to apologize once again for my lateness. Over the weekend. Side note. Because this chapter is longer than usual and the fact that I'm posting two in one day, The next chapter will either be late tomorrow night or early the next morning. I know I spoil you all.

Special thanks goes out to:

Sadvirture: Thanks for your loyal reviews and my family is fine thanks. There's always some kind of drama that escalates into an emergency.

XNegAttentionX::smiles:: You'll just have to wait and see on that one. Next chapter is pretty much fluffy happiness, so you'll get a large dose of Jack, unlike this chapter which has all the action. And tumbling Jack. But as we all know Jack is quite the flexible one.

Writer By Nature: Still love the reviews :)