Chapter 9

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Santiago watch as his brother and Rick discuss the scene that had just taken place. He too was curious but unlike them, he was more concerned with what he heard and understood than the fact that Mike spoke a third a language. Though he could only hear one half of the conversation, he was pretty sure the kid was being threatened. That on its self stood out. Adding the fact that Mike seemed to know who he was talking to only made things more interesting.

The young soldier gave a sigh as he wondered who Mike Sanders was. In the time he had known the boy, Santiago had noticed there was something odd about him. Ignoring his unbelievable aim and his eyes that seem out of place in his teenage face; Mike always seemed tense and worried.

"How well do you Mike?" He asked, interrupting the teens' conversation.

Diego and Rick shared a look. "We've known him for almost three years," Rick offered.

"Yes, but how well do you KNOW him?"

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Alex drove with his fingers plastered into the steering wheel. Not once had he doubted Scorpia was going to get back at him, he had just hoped they would keep his family and friends out of it. Now that he thought about, he saw his hope as a silly dream. When it came to Scorpia, things were personal. They wanted him out. Not just because of the troubles he had caused to the organization but also because of what his father had done.

Crazy chuckles escaped his mouth. How ironic it was that he was more familiar with Scorpia than his family. In fact, most of what he knew about his family had come from Scorpia. If it hadn't been for Yassen, a Scorpia assassin, he would have never learned his father's real occupation or how he and his mom really died.

With that thought he pressed down on the accelerator and didn't slow down until he was parked in his garage. He made his way inside the house; not really processing that his luck was still had his back. Not focusing in the fact he hadn't been spotted as he blurred down the streets, by the cops that seem to live around his neighborhood. All he cared about was finding Jack, his best friends and sister.

His unfounded hope that the call had been a hoax and that Jack was actually home, still angry with him, were crashed with in minutes. Every room was empty unlike he tried to make himself believe. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair.

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Car, trees, and well built houses zoomed by as Tamara, very cautiously, made her way down the populated suburbs. Her brain was trying to understand the conversation she just had with Alex. Actually, it wasn't an actual conversation. Alex had just barked orders in a language she didn't know he spoke. Not that she was surprise; he was after all an international super spy.

Shaking her head lightly, she tried to get her thought back on track. For some odd reason, Alex always distracted her. Even in Flamingo Bay she had to work extra hard to not lose her concentration. The boy just seemed to capture her attention. Her attraction wasn't lustful or romantic as she well aware of the age difference. No, her attraction was more out of respect and admiration that anything. Of course, if Alex were a few years older…

Her train of thought was cut short as she pulled up in front of the red brick house she knew housed Alex. With grace, she stepped out of her car and made her way to the porch. She had just raised her hand up to knock when the door swan open to reveal a flustered Alex.

"What took you so long?" he demanded.

Tamara stared at him with confusion. It hadn't taken more than ten minutes to arrive. The time wasn't bad, considering she had been watching Sandra who lived twenty minutes away.

"Sorry," she said, "But I left my hyper jet at home."

Alex didn't laugh, instead he began to tell her about the call he received and what he planed to do about it. Tamara could do nothing but stare at him; first in confusion then in awe and finally with disbelief.

"You want to take down Scorpia?" she whispered before raising her voice, "Are you insane? Don't you know who they are?"

Now Alex did laugh. How typical it was for people who knew him to underestimate him. "Aren't they a delivery company?"

A tense silence came over them. Neither wanted to talk, both offended with the words they had exchanged. Alex, upset that Tamara will think him ignorant after seeing him in action and Tamara outraged that Alex would underestimate a criminal organization after going against Kaspar.

"You honestly think I don't know who they are?" Alex began in a flat emotionless voice, "You really think I don't know the people that killed that parents and my uncle? The people who put a bullet through my…?"

Alex stopped. Someone was trying to open the front door.

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Silence followed Santiago's question. Both teenagers realized at once how little they knew about Mike. They weren't even aware he spoke French. As far as they knew, Mike had chosen Italian as his foreign language.

Diego, who considered himself to be Mike's best friend, answered, "Well, he's a really private person. Doesn't like others intervening in his life. Sandra is probably the only one who really knows…"

"She knows little more than we do," Rick interrupted, "She told me Mike avoids all questions about his past."

"I think Mike's in trouble," Santiago said after taking in what he had heard, "You mind taking me to his place?"

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Alex automatically reached for the holster at his waist, smoothly taking out his S&W. Tamara, after admiring Alex's smooth actions and wondering if he practiced, followed his lead. Silently they made their way out of the living to the entrance hall. At the sight of his two best friends and Santiago, he quickly put his gun away and motioned Tamara to do the same.

"What are you doing here?"

The uninvited guest jumped in surprise. Diego opened his mouth to reply, but before a letter left his mouth, Tamara pushed to the front and exclaimed, "Santiago?!"

This isn't what I had promised, but because of your response I decided to post what I had and put everything else into another chapter(not leave you waiting more months). Big thanks to everyone who has responded to the story. It really urges me on to make time for writing it.

Thank you to Eric J. Alderson for correcting me on the French. Really appreciate it.

Also, I'm really sorry for the delay but between work, school, (I'm a full time student) and attempting to have a social life, well I have very little time for anything else.

Don't forget to review