14.

Broken Lines

Both Ratliff and Laura felt their bodies come down from their mutual orgasm. Both of them were complete slick with sweat as the finished another round of making love. They just couldn't have gotten enough of each other, it was like they couldn't stop and both of them didn't want too.

" Oh my god." Laura moaned. Ratliff smirked. He just moved to the side of the bed and pulled her close to him, her back now was touching his chest as he then lifted one of right leg and covered her legs locking them together.

" I know that was pretty fucking amazing. You sore?" Ratliff asked.

" Yeah but it is a good sore. It was just what I needed. Thank you Ellington." Laura said turning so her head was facing Ratliff, who then tool the chance to kiss her. The two of then just peppering each others faces with kisses.

" I love you so much." Ratliff whispered.

" Me too." Laura said.

" That was incredible, I mean damn. Now do you have any doubts?" Ratliff asked.

" No not at all." Laura laughed and Ratliff just smirked. And the two of them just snuggled together, Ratliff knew the two of them should get dressed and unlock the door, as he had a feeling that Gina wouldn't be so happy at them turning Laura's room into hookup central. But there was no way in hell that Ratliff regretted what happened. He had a feeling Laura felt the same way as the way she still held on to him. The two of them just needed a chance to connect just one on one sexually and they both enjoyed that. Ratliff feels that his connection with Laura was on the right track. He couldn't imagine ever losing her. The only thing that could have made it better if Ross was lying here naked with them. The three of them had something special that no one would ever break. Laura looked over at Ratliff and realized how incredibly lucky she was to have him in her life, and they way that he made her feel? The way he touched and made love to her? It set her soul on fire.

She was completely and totally in love with the man who was next to her. He and Ross were the loves of her life and she decided in that moment that she was done second guessing them and finding any excuse to pick a fight. Because if she didn't have them in her life then what would be the point? Laura continued to snuggle onto Ratliff just enjoying being near him and feeling his body heat. Ratliff continued to play with her hair and just hold her. The room still smelled like sex and Ratliff couldn't have been more turned on. He loved the woman that was in his arms.

" As much as I hate to see you dressed right now, we better get dressed. I have a feeling Gina won't let us be alone much longer." Ratliff said giving Laura a brief kiss before climbing out of the bed. Laura couldn't help but enjoy the view of his bare ass and gave it a nice smack. Ratliff just turned and smirked. " You like my ass baby? Well when we get you out of there I promise you can have it as much as you want." He said while sliding on his boxers. Laura just laughed as she reached for her hospital gown and started putting it back on.

" Thank you for this Ellington." Laura said looking at him while he was finishing dressing. After putting his shirt back on, he leaned in and kissed Laura. " You are welcome baby." He muttered as he kissed her again before pulling away and started putting on his shoes.

" I wonder what is taking Ross so long. A phone call shouldn't usually take this long, should it?" Laura asked. And Ratliff had to admit that he was wondering the same thing. Ross had been gone a while and even if he had come back while they were otherwise occupied, Ross would have found a way in. And Ratliff opened the door and saw no Ross in the waiting room, turning back and looking at Laura. " You know Ross, he is probably on his way back, and he just wanted to get you something. Plus Ross can take care of himself. He doesn't have that body after all by just doing nothing."

" I hope so. I just can't keep thinking that something is wrong. Can you feel it ?" Laura asked, and Ratliff couldn't lie to her and say that he didn't. Because he was starting to sense something was wrong. Laura took that look like she was right and started getting out of bed.

" Hey what are you doing?" Ratliff asked.

Laura rolled her eyes. " What does it look like I am doing? I am going to get dressed and we are both going to find our boyfriend and make sure he is alright." Laura said as she was getting dressed. Ratliff knew that he should be stopping her telling her to stay in bed. But he knew that would do no good. Because honestly Ratliff wants to go out and search for Ross too so he knows that the same need is in Laura. So he helped her get dressed.

" Are you sure you are up for this?" Ratliff asked Laura while staring her in the eyes. Laura just nodded. " I would do the same for you. Nothing and I mean nothing will stop me from helping the men that I love. So come on lets go get Ross." Laura said and Ratliff just followed her. As soon as they got out of the door, that was when they got busted by Gina.

" So you two finally came up for air? I am surprised that either of you are able to walk. Now Laura what do you think you are doing? I told you to stay in bed."

Laura rolled her eyes. " Well I am checking myself out. Which I can do since I am over the age of 18. Now Gina I want to thank you for all your help but I am feeling better. But I have to go look for Ross. And nothing you tell me will tell me to stop. So you might as well let me go and I will be back later to sign any paperwork." As Gina was about to say something smart, Ratliff stopped her. " Please Gina we have a feeling that Ross is in trouble, and we need to go find him." Gina knew that she was going to regret this, but the looks on their faces told her all that she needed to know. And before she could say anything Laura and Ratliff both knew they got the answer that they needed. They just smiled and the two of them just continued walking out. The both of them just really hoping that this feeling was just paranoia and that Ross was alright.

Riker woke up with his heart pounding and his body shaking. His head was pounding and it was hard for him to see, he felt completely nauseous. What the hell did he do last night? Riker couldn't even remember anything after he left the club last night. The last line of coke he did was a pretty nasty batch, he usually doesn't fell this awful after a coke binge, but last night but have been a bad batch or something. Riker turned and was face to face with some guy he cant even place a name too. But they were both naked and in bed. And Riker could feel the dry cum on his stomach.

Well that is just great.

Riker pulled the sheets back and climbed out of bed. Trying to find his boxers. After he slid them on and found his pants, Riker decided that maybe it was time for him to go home. He hadn't been home in days and he figured it was time for him to face reality.

Riker sighed. He knows that he has gone over the edge and the only person that he has to blame for it is himself. Taking a look back at the room, riker couldn't believe that he let himself fall so fast. The room that he apparently shared with others were trashed. There were empty vodka bottles with coke cans scattered all over the place not to mention Jim Bean and Tequila and beer bottles. Broken mirrors that still had cocaine powder on it, and the room smelt like urine.

Riker could have gagged right there. God his head was really pounding. Riker not even bothering trying to find his shirt and shoes just walked out. The room was completely nasty and he was about to add to the dried up vomit that was in the room. His body shook as it was waiting for a fix. All Riker could do was curse himself out for this. He knew that as an addict he would always have those temptations but if he crossed over then it would be too late. Shit and he did so well for so many years. That was until he let his pride get in the way turned his back on the way he knew he should be living. Hell he hasn't even been home so who knows if Shady's has been opened. Riker was the owner and he was really the only one who knows how to run it. Rocky Ross and Ratliff didn't even bother learning how to run the ropes in case Riker was out. So he knew that Shady's probably has been closed in his absence. And with that being the case he lost out on a ton of money.

Shit.

He really was a dumbass. As Riker was making his way down the stairs and into the club, Riker couldn't help but feel like he should remember last night. It was like he did something that he couldn't take back. Riker just sighed. He couldn't have done anything too bad if he couldn't remember it right? Riker just continued to walk out of the club and the wind quickly chilled his bare skin, but Riker at this point didn't care. All he wanted was to get back home and sleep in his own bed. Even though his body is craving another hit he refused to answer it. He was done with drugs and the lifestyle. God how could he be so stupid and get back down and use again? He really needed to make things right, with everybody.

Maia.

His heart broke at the thought of how he has treated her. He ignored her, fantasized about another girl and cheated on her multiple girls just in the past few days alone. If he really cared for her, he would let her go so she could be loved for the amazing person that she was. Riker ran his hands through his hair as his body began to shake even more. It was really amazing how fast he became hooked all over again. But he refused to go back there. It was time that Riker Anthony Lynch grew up once and for all and quit with this lifestyle. He needed to be better. In fact when he got home the first thing he was going to do was make it up to his brothers. It was time to get them off the stage and make them partners in the club.

Ross.

Riker couldn't understand why he couldn't stop thinking about Ross. He knows they have a tedious relationship at best, but they were family so nothing really could break that. As Riker was walking by the bridge that he usually stops at, he couldn't help but get a weird feeling. His whole body shivered and he felt like he was going to throw up. Riker turned and looked at the water, it was so calm and quiet.

But something tells him that he is missing a part of the story. What the hell did he do? He must have some something because the feeling won't leave him alone. Riker just shrugged. If it was really important then it would come back to him right?

" Okay seriously Ratliff that is like the fifty phone call I left for Ross, and its going straight to voicemail. What if something happened to him?" Laura said as she was starting to panic. They had been looking for Ross for hours and none of them had much luck.

" We will find him okay baby? We have to, it's Ross." Ratliff said. He too was getting worried. They have traveled all over Chicago looking for Ross and so far no sign of him. He didn't want Laura to freak out anymore then she was but he was starting to get worried. The old Ross would not answer his phone and no one would worry. But ever since they had been seeing each other Ross would always make sure he would tell them where he was. But now he wasn't answering his phone and that got him worried. Laura saw the worried look on Ratliff's face and she did the only thing that she could think to do. She went over and hugged him. Ratliff just sighed and wrapped his arms around her.

" Thank you." Ratliff muttered into her neck. Laura just nodded, and the two of them just held on to one another as they were praying the other part of them would come home soon. As they just held on to another the door to the penthouse opened and they pulled back and looked in shock at Riker. Riker just grunted as he came through crashing through the door, he didn't even take in account that Ratliff and Laura were there. The two of them just looked in shock as they didn't even recognize the man in front of them. Riker always kept up his cleanliness and was always well dressed, but the man in front of them had no shirt, holes in his jeans no shoes or socks and looks like he has cuts and bruises on his feet and his hair was a mess.

" What the fuck Riker? You look like shit!" Ratliff said. In all the years he has known Riker Lynch this was the first time that he saw him look like this. Riker just rolled his eyes at the two of them, he really didn't need any kind of lecture from either of them. So Riker continued to walk towards his room, or the better word should be stumbling as he was walking into things left and right. Laura was starting to become really concerned about Riker this was so unlike him and then she saw something that really freaked her out.

" Riker you have blood on your jeans! What the hell happened to you?" Laura asked as she was starting to make her way to Riker. Riker just looked at the jeans and for the first time he noticed the blood. He really had no clue on how that happened. Laura was making her way to him, but he didn't want her near him. Not like this.

" Back off Laura I am fine, I am going to go sleep. I will see you guys later." Riker said as he made his way back to his room leaving the two of them very confused.

" What the fuck?" Ratliff asked just looking were Riker left to. This was very strange for Riker to act like this. It was like Ratliff didn't even recognize his best friend. This was not the Riker that he knew. Laura also was in shock, this was not the Riker that she came to knew. Definitely not the one that she was falling for not so long ago. She just looked back at Ratliff and just sighed. What the hell was happening to her family First Ross has completely disappeared without getting a hold of her or Ratliff and now something was going on with Riker. Ratliff walked over and pulled Laura into his arms. He knew that she was getting freaked out and so was he. But as much as they would like to concentrate on riker, their first priority was Ross and finding him.

" As much as I would like to find out what is going on with Riker, I want to find Ross first." Ratliff replied. Laura agreed. As much as she cared for Riker, Ross was the other part of her heart and she needed to find him. And as soon as Ross was home, then they could help Riker.

" We have looked all over town for him Ratliff, and still nothing. I hate to say it but I think it is time to get the police involved."

" Baby as much as I want to get the police involved, they are going to tell us that it has to be 48 hours before we could file a missing person's report. So what is the good for us to go to them only to get that answer? Look I think I know a few places that Ross may have went to that he doesn't want us to know. Do you want to come?"

Laura rolled her eyes. " Of course I do. I love him like you do. There is nothing that is going to stop me from bringing him home." Ratliff nodded and the two of them just held one another and kissed as they were trying to give the other some more strength. Ratliff had a feeling that something bad happened and it won't be as easy to get Ross back as Laura thinks it will be. That is if Ross was still alive. Ratliff just shook his head. He couldn't afford to have those thoughts, there was no way in hell that Ross was dead. He couldn't be dead, Ratliff and Laura needed him too much. Finally breaking away, Ratliff just looked Laura in the eyes.

" Lets go bring our boy home."

" Ross Lynch is dead."

Jason Morgan just smiled at the news. Sure it didn't go the way he would have liked it to. But in the end Ross was dead and Jason really didn't give a damn on how it happened. At least he was able to shoot Laura that was good enough for him. Now the only one left to get rid of was Ellington Ratliff. Jason threw back the liquid down his throat feeling his throat feel the fire of the drink satisfy him. He slammed the shot glass down and looked at his associates. They were celebrating, but he knew they couldn't rest until they all went down.

" Are you for sure, Ross is dead?" Jason asked. He needed to make sure, he couldn't afford to have any screw ups. Max just rolled his eyes.

" Yeah I was there when I saw Riker slug his baby brother with that bullet. Not to mention kicking his body into the river. There was no way in hell that Ross could survive that. His body was weak from that bullet and the water is freezing. There is absolutely no way that Ross survived that. No worries Jason that scumbag got what he deserved for hurting Rydel like that." Max said. He was really tired of Jason always second guessing him. If he really didn't need the capital from Jason, Max would have dissolved his partnership with the loser a long time ago.

" Speaking of that, I am really amazed that Riker killed his own flesh and blood. How did you get him to do it?"

Max rolled his eyes. " Simple, I got him hooked back on drugs and I played up all on his insecurities that he has about Ross. His whole life people always chosen Ross over Riker, and with his mind scrambled with the effects of being high and also it happens to help that I got a hypnotist to hypnotize him into it, it really was simple."

Jason smirked. " Well thank you any way. I know for a fact that Rydel would appreciate it. That asshole had it coming for a long ass time. He deserves to be dead."

Max nodded.

Jason sighed. " Now the only one that still needs to be taught a lesson is that shaggy wannabe loser Ellington Ratliff."

" Leave that to me. I have always wanted to be the one to end his life."

Jason and Max both looked up and realized that it would be completely perfect. Their hands would totally be clean and no one would really suspect anything.

" So what do you have in mind?" Max asked.

Johnny DeLuca just smiled. This was going to be so damn good. He was finally going to be able to prove himself to the organization and also to get his revenge on Ellington. " Oh leave that to me. Just know that pretty soon Ellington will be joining his lover in the pits of hell soon."

And with that the three men just grinned. Soon everyone in Chicago would learn not to mess with them. And the Lynch family and everyone with them would pay the price for doing so.

Vanessa was just walking down by the pier. She knew this was a ugly part of town, but it was the only quick way to go home. It was getting dark and she really didn't want to walk the long way home. Plus she was almost home any way. She could feel the wind-chill getting even more cold, of all the nights to wear no jacket and a miniskirt, she of course had to pick this one.

" You are almost home, You are almost home." She muttered to herself. She really was afraid of the dark and this part of town. But in her own defense the darkness had cost her so much so it wasn't like she had any reason to like it. She lost her family at night and so much pain can come from the shadows. Vanessa just shuddered.

She really just needed to get home and quick. She hated any time that she would remember on what she lost. As Vanessa was walking by the short part of the pier were you could almost bend down and touch the water, she felt someone grab a hold of her ankles. She let out the biggest screech ever.

" HELP!" Vanessa let out a blood curling scream. She could feel the hand wrap around her and when she went to go kick it off, she noticed the pair of eyes looking at her. And something inside of her told her to be quiet.

" Who are you?"

" Ross…" the blonde haired stranger stuttered before passing out. As his grip lessened and he was about to fall back into the water, Vanessa grabbed a hold of him and pulled him up. She really didn't know how she did it. He was really heavy, and honestly she didn't know him so why should she help him. As she pulled him out, she fell back as he landed on top of her. Almost letting out another yell, she rolled him off of her.

" What the fuck." Vanessa muttered. For the first time she could actually get a good glimpse at him. He was completely soaked, and he was shivering from the cold. She couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. He really was and I it was under any other circumstance she would totally try and get with him. But this whole thing was freaky. How did he land in the river? She could tell off the bat that he was probably in some trouble. Or he may have just fallen in who knows, she needed answers. Vanessa started slapping his face with her hands trying to get him to regain consciousness. Ross opened his eyes as the sensations of being hit woke him up.

" What?" he groaned.

" What happened to you?" Vanessa asked. Ross groaned, he really didn't have the strength to answer.

" Can I get help first? I've been shot." He muttered. And for the first time that was when Vanessa realized that he was bleeding.

" You are in some serious shit aren't you?" Vanessa asked.

" Please help me. I don't want to die. Please."

Vanessa knew right there that she couldn't just walk away. She knew that she couldn't. As much as this whole strange circumstance was, she really couldn't let someone die. She needed to get him some help. As Vanessa was dialing her phone, Ross grabbed the phone.

" Don't I can't go to the hospital. They will find me again and I have to be hidden. Can you help me?" Ross asked. Vanessa just looked in shock, but the real fear in his eyes told her that she had no choice.

" Yeah I can help. Come on let me find a way to get you back to my place without people finding out. Can you stand?" Ross nodded as Vanessa pulled him up, Ross groaning in pain as he was lifted up. The bullet let a gaping pain in his stomach, Vanessa threw his arm around her shoulders and she started to make their way to her place.

Vanessa couldn't help but think, that maybe taking the long way home would have been the way to go.