Dont own Glee. Ryan Murphy can handle making that show shit without my help.
*Warning Character Death Ahead*
Ch. 14 The Beginning of The End
Saturday Night
"You've been avoiding me."
Mercy looked up into Artie's soft blue eyes, as she was pulled away from her train of thought. She had been staring at a large black SUV driving, down the road past them, laughing at the license plate that read PSY-WGN.
"What?" she said.
"See," Artie smirked, pointing at Mercy. "I haven't talked to you in forever and now we're here, walking down the street towards my hotel and you aren't even really here."
"I'm here," Mercy nodded, glancing over at him. "I was just... thinking."
"About?"
"Us," Mercy said, honestly. She could almost feel her heart breaking at the hopeful look in Artie's eyes but she knew she had to continue. "I was thinking about how I miss our friendship. When you moved away it was like, a piece of my childhood was ripped away from me. I miss laughing with you. And hanging out with you."
"But you don't want to date me?" Artie finished her sentence for her.
"I-I didn't say that," she said, trying to recover from the awkwardness of the situation. She truly cared for Artie but not the way he wanted her to.
"Hey," he said with a soft smile. "I'm a big boy. I know not every girl I want is going to want me back."
"She's out there Artie," Mercy offered, turning to look at her friend, sadly. She never wanted to hurt Artie, but if she led him on like that, he'd only hurt even more when she finally did turn him down. "But I'm not her."
Artie nodded his head slowly, still walking ahead with Mercy. He shoved his hands in his pockets nervously. "Are you sure," he laughed softly.
"I'm positive," she said, cracking a smile.
Artie sighed softly before staring at Mercy, watching the slight difference in her. He saw it when he first came back, but he didn't want to believe that someone had beaten him to the punch. "God I hope he treats you right."
Mercy met his eyes, not sure what to say before clearing her throat. "Who?"
"The guy that has you completely and utterly smitten." Mercy could feel her cheeks heat up but she tried to play it off.
And then there it was again. That black SUV. Driving down the same road for the second time. Same car, same vulgar, Kill Bill license plate.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Mercy said, once again ignoring the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Liar. It's all over your face. This like permanent glow. I hope he treats you right," Artie said again.
Mercy continued with her slow pace before biting her lip nervously. "He does," she whispered, looking up into Artie's soft yet sad eyes. "You'd like him."
"Not as much as you, obviously," he chuckled.
"No, not as much," Mercy smiled brightly.
They paused in the front of the hotel entrance, staring back at one another.
"Well I'll be seeing you kiddo. I've gotta head back to Columbus for a few days. Business stuff."
Mercy nodded. "I heard. Maybe when you get back we can hang out? Maybe even get the gang back together again?"
Artie sent Mercy his signature wide grin and nodded his head. "I'd really like that." He reached over to give her one last hug, hoping it spoke volumes of how he felt and how he'd always feel about her. Mercy hugged Artie back tightly, closing her eyes slightly before pulling away. She opened her mouth to say goodbye, but froze as the SUV pulled up one more, this time slowing down. Something wasn't right. Something was off and she could feel it. Her skin crawled and her mouth went dry.
It was like it all happened in slow motion. The driver lowering his window just a smidge. The small silver flash of a gun poking out, and the several loud bangs being shot at Mercy and Artie's direction causing her to hit the concrete with a loud thud. And then, darkness.
24 hours Earlier: Friday
Puck's hand was throbbing violently. Did he care?
No.
He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Everything he ever wanted was at his fingertips and all he had to do was make the last move.
Puck circled his victim menacingly, rubbing at his throbbing knuckles, and wiping away the blood spatters against his hand.
"I don't come in second place," he said, staring down at the bloodied and bruised man as Brody held him up.
Through swollen eyes, Santiago glared at Puck, spitting out the blood that was forming in his mouth. "You still think you're something huh? What? You think cornering me and beating the shit out of me will make you something?"
Puck laughed callously. "Oh, I'm not just going to beat the shit out of you." Puck squatted down so that he was at eye level with the beaten man. "I'm gonna kill you."
Santiago growled angrily, "You're nothing more than a flunky. Reggie calls you when he needs someone to be handled. If he thought you could run this business for one second, he would have put you in charge, But he didn't. You're weak and he should have left you on the street, stealing money for food when you were a kid!"
Puck sent a swift kick to Santiago's side, causing him to fall over, groaning. Brody released Santiago, watching the almost psychotic glint in Puck's eye. He knew he should probably step in to stop his friend from doing something he'd regret later but trying to stop Puck now would be like trying to stop a hurricane from hitting a coastal town. Impossible.
"Who's weak now?" Puck spat.
Silence filled the alley way as Puck paced back and forth. It wasn't until Santiago's maniacal laugh split the quiet, causing both Brody and Puck to stare at him.
"It's still you Noah," Santiago said, adjusting himself.
Puck reached in his gun holster and pulled out his weapon with a silencer attached to it. He pointed it right in the center of Santiago's head, his finger itching to pull the trigger but it wasn't the time yet.
"Do it," Santiago taunted, scooting closer to the gun, feeling the cold metal graze against the skin from his forehead. "Do it, right here and now.." Santiago could feel the hesitation and smiled wildly up at Puck. "You can't can you? See I knew you were a little bitch. Maybe I'll pay your little friend a visit when I get out of here. Kurt, right?"
Puck's eyes went wide. "What the fuck did you just say," he said through clenched teeth.
"You heard me."
"Not only are you not making it out of this alley. Your daughter would never forgive you if you layed a finger on her friend."
"She'd get over it," Santiago shrugged. "I never approved of her lifestyle. Maybe it would teach her a lesson. A sin is a sin and can only be paid for in blood."
"You really are an idiot," Puck laughed, callously. "Saying this isn't helping you."
"Why? Because I know what you really are underneath that mask you try to wear."
"Shut up," Puck growled.
"Or what?" Santiago looked up, through a swollen eye.
"You'll kill me? Fuck you Puckerman. Fuck you for acting all big and bad but when it comes down to it, you're nothing but a bitch in sheep's clothing who is afraid to tell the world that you like dick. So let's see how bad you are Noah. Do it. Shoot me. Do it."
Puck clenched his jaw before bending down and looking into Santiago's cold, dark eyes. He wanted to see it. That moment right as the life drained from his body and his soul went dark. And Puck wanted to be the reason for it.
"Do it already Puckerman, if you're man enough! Shoot me! Shoot m-" Santiago didn't get the chance to finish his statement as the bullet went clear through his skull. It was a soft pop, the sound of blood hitting concrete vibrating louder in Puck's head than anything else.
Brody stared between Puck and Santiago's dead body.
"Clean this up," Puck ordered, before turning his back on the scene he'd had a hand in creating.
The bar was oddly crowded at this time, Sue thought, drinking her scotch in her regular booth.
"Want another?" The bartender offered.
"You know it," Sue nodded, downing the last bit of her drink, before grabbing the second one set in front of her. She knew drinking while on the clock was stupid and a rookie mistake but it had been a long day. It was the fifth anniversary of her sister's death and right now, she wasn't in the mood to solve any one else's murder until she found out what happened to Jean.
The burn of the alcohol satisfied her. It was numbing her not only physically but emotionally. She didn't want to feel anymore because feeling and breathing was just too painful.
"Another," she grunted to the bartender.
David ran into the bar, in a panic. He'd gotten the call a few minutes ago and knew that if he didn't tell Sue, she'd never forgive him. He looked around the bar before spotting Sue's tuff of blonde hair.
"Sue!" he shouted, making his way over to her.
She groaned loudly and dramatically, taking a swig of her drink. "No Martinez. Not now."
"But you're gonna want to hear this," David said, standing beside her.
"Unless you're about to tell me they found out why Evans and Jones murdered my sister, I. Don't. Give. A Fuck," she said slowly.
"It involves Evans and Jones. Twenty minutes ago, Jones' right hand, Santiago Lopez was found murdered, execution style in an alley about a block and a half from here."
Sue froze, mid sip before slamming her drink down, along with a twenty dollar bill. "Why didn't you call me?"
"Your phone was off," David defended.
Sue stood up form her stool shakily, instantly regretting that last drink. "Fuck. Let's go."
Alma threw herself onto the ground violently, tears falling down her face like a waterfall. Her husband was dead. Killed and dumped like trash in an alley way.
"Who would do this?!" she begged to no one in particular.
Reggie knelt beside her, pulling the inconsolable woman into his arms and rocking her gently back and forth. "I don't know. We're gonna find out. And they're gonna pay. Do you hear me. They're gonna pay."
"Evans," Puck groaned behind them. "It was Evans. I'm telling you Reggie, no one had beef with Santiago. This is Evans doing."
"Not now," Reggie warned, signaling for the men to leave the room. Puck nodded his head and led Brody, as well as the rest of the workers out into the foyer of the Lopez household. Some of them sat down on the couches, unsure of how to handle the news that their friend, their family, was dead.
The front door to the house flew open, all of the men stiffening until they noticed it was Santana, laughing with Brittany. She froze, furrowing her eyebrows at the workers in her home.
"Uh, what the hell are you guys doing in my living room?" No one answered her. Brittany shot her a worried look. She knew a little about what her girlfriend's family was involved in but she had no idea how large of a scale.
"Yo!" Santana shouted, growing upset. "Someone answer me. What are you guys doing in here looking like someone..." she paused, realization hitting her angrily. "Died."
Santana noticed the somber looks on everyone's faces.
"No," she whispered. "No. Mami! Papi!" She ran up the stairs, bursting through her parents bedroom door to find her mother on the ground, and Reggie holding her tightly.
"Santana," he said softly, looking down at the ground. This was the hardest part about his job. The family finding out that their loved one was dead.
"No..." Santana said again. '"No! Mami, NO! Please, no! Where's Dad? Mom?! Where is my father."
Reggie stood up from a silently sobbing Alma and took grip of Santana's shoulders and looked into her red, dark brown eyes. "Tana... I'm so sorry."
"No!" Santana wailed, collapsing into Reggie's arms. The floodgates opened and the tears fell in a way none had ever before. "Please no! No, no, no!"
"Shh," Reggie said, rubbing her head softly. He looked up at Brittany, who was now standing in the doorway and urged her to take Santana. Brittany nodded and reached for Santana. She clung to Brittany as if her life depended on it. Like if she let go, the bottom of her world would come crashing down. But it already had.
No matter how hurt and angry Reggie was, he couldn't get emotional. His best friend was dead, yes, but there was business he had to attend to.
Reggie made his way down the stairs, and looked into each of his loyal worker's eyes. He took a sharp breath in before speaking.
"This is what it's come to?" he asked. "A man, who was one of the best men I've ever known, is dead. A bullet in his head like some fucking animal. I want this dealt with. I want this to be handled and I want you to find who did this and put a bullet in his skull. Do you all hear me?"
"It was Evans," Puck spoke up. "Look, I didn't wanna tell you this Reggie but... I heard a whisper on the street that Evans wanted Santiago on his side so that he'd have his connection and the Irish. He wanted to take control of the west side. Santiago said no, and well, here he is."
Reggie's nostrils flared as he clenched his fist. "This is war. Spread the word that Reggie Jones wants a bullet in Dwight Evans' skull!"
Saturday Morning
Dwight wasn't the best father in the world. But he tried his hardest to spend some type of time with his children. Especially the teenage ones. Stacey was going on and on about so boy at school when Finn entered the impeccably decorated house without knocking. Dwight had a rule. Knock or die.
"We need to talk," Finn said.
"What the fuck is the rule Finn," he spat.
"We need to talk," Finn spoke again, his voice strained.
Dwight stood up from his place on the couch and glanced down at his daughter. "I'll be right back so you can finish telling me about this uh, Jack guy."
"It's Jake," Stacey corrected, pulling her phone out.
Once in the office, Dwight slammed the door behind him and shot daggers at Finn. "This better be good. Interrupting my time with the kids could get you killed."
"I wouldn't worry about you killing me when there's a hit out on you."
Dwight chuckled softly. "When is there not a hit out on me."
"It's Jones."
That made Dwight freeze, He looked at Finn, not sure if he was pulling his leg or not. "When?"
"Yesterday. Someone's telling Jones that you're the one who had Santiago dealt with."
Dwight rubbed at his chin slowly. "I wish it was me. So what? Is this a revenge kill or something?"
"Or something," Finn said. "He also found out about you creeping in on his west side territory. I hear he has a few mercenaries involved too."
Fear would be the first emotion from a normal man. They'd fear for their lives and their family's lives but Dwight wasn't a normal man. He was an ego maniac who wasn't too keen on people threatening him.
"Jones has a daughter right?"
"Uh, I think," Finn shrugged.
"Pay her a visit for me," he said, clenching his jaw. "If it's a war Jones wants, it's a war he'll get."
A/N: Hey guys. So what did you think about this chapter? I know, it's sort of left on a cliffy but that's my thing :)
There's only about 3 or 4 chapters left and a lot more deaths, at least like 5 more characters. Just remember I love you all!
Thanks to my beta Reesie.
Please review and tell me what you think about this chapter. I wish I was one of those writers who PMed everyone who reviewed but I'm not. Just know I love you all.