Darling, give me your absence tonight
Take the shade from the canvas and leave me the white
Let me sink in the silence that echoes inside
And don't bother leaving the light on
'Cause I suddenly feel like a different person
From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion
A vacancy that just did not belong
The child is gone
Honey help me out of this mess
I'm a stranger to myself
But don't reach for me
I'm too far away
I don't wanna talk 'cause there's nothing left to say
So my darling, give me your absence tonight
Take all of your sympathy and leave it outside
'Cause there's no kind of loving that can make this all right
I'm trying to find a place I belong
And I suddenly feel like a different person
From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion
As the darkness turns into the dawn
The child is gone
The child is gone
"The Child Is Gone" by Fiona Apple
Cammy opened her eyes to a familiar feeling of dread. Everything was so automatically recognized by her psyche, it was as if the feeling had been there all along. Her head swam with the buzz of painkillers. The indistinguishable color of generic hospital wall paint met her vision and her mind quickly filled in the blanks to create a mental picture of a hospital room just as generic. She'd woken up in too many rooms like this in her lifetime, and if you'd seen one, you'd seen them all. Still something was off. It was dark outside, as indicated by the room only being illuminated by a harsh fluorescent light above the bed. She hadn't moved, only peeled open her eyes, but she'd noticed warmth over her hand. A quick glance revealed Cranky sleeping at her bedside. He sat in a chair pulled close to her bed, body hunched so his head and shoulders could rest on the mattress. His hand held hers firmly. So protective.
That's all it took. Everything, all of it flooded back like an attack. Her mind took her back to the past days' events. The blood, the helicopter, Cranky's scared eyes; and like that she knew what felt different. Somehow her body knew.
The baby was gone.
Cammy ran her free hand down to her stomach, fingers finding bandages. Her small touch caused a stab of pain that she felt even through the meds. That meant stitches. Cammy brought her hands to her mouth in a futile attempt to stifle herself before she woke Cranky, too assaulted by her realization to realize her movement had done that very thing. His head rose, eyes meeting hers.
"Cammy..." Cranky said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes "you're awake."
"No." She begged softly, "No."
She shook her head frantically. Cranky put his hand on her thigh and breathed deeply.
"I-I don't know how-" He began only to be cut off by Cammy.
"Stop! Just don't." She pleaded. Her heart started pounding in her chest as indicated by frantic beeping by the monitor to her right. Cranky stood, his hand moving to her shoulder. He tried in vain to calm her. It was as if her refusal and denial was giving Cranky the resolve to deliver the news she knew in her gut was true. She didn't move as he grazed his thumb softly along her cheek, his kind eyes looking down at her.
"Baby..." he soothed.
Cammy abruptly reached for the cord to her monitor, roughly pulling it from the machine to quiet the incessant beeping, pulling the entire blood pressure machine to the floor with a loud crash.
"No!" She repeated. "I know, okay? Just don't say it." Her outburst caused Cranky to step back. She sat up and felt pain deep in her abdomen. Surgery. She'd made it through and the baby must have... Her silence signaled Cranky, who'd stood there patiently waiting for her to finish her discovery. His head hung in shame as he brought her fear to life in a rush of emotion.
"Cammy, I'm so sorry." He explained frantically as huge tears plopped onto his cheeks. "There was no other way and she-she wouldn't have made it and I couldn't lose you both. I just couldn't!"
Cammy stared forward as Cranky confessed. It was real. This was real life. This baby, the future she had imagined, was just gone in a blink. That was its own hell. But then she finally looked at Cranky, saw him. He was wrecked. His eyes were swollen with dark bags under them framing his nose that was red from crying. He'd been aware of every excruciating second of it, a personal hell all its own. She wasn't alone in this. She reached her hand out to him, grasping his fingers firmly as he placed them in hers.
"She?" Cammy questioned softly, tears building behind her eyes. Cranky nodded as Cammy let her tears come. "So this is it?" She cried, "This is how her story ends?" She felt so much at once; despair, powerlessness, overwhelming sadness. It was too much. Her hands shook and she had to remind herself to breathe. Thankfully Cranky nudged beside her, curling his large form against her small frame. He wrapped his arms around her just as she fully broke down into sobs.
"It's okay, baby." He soothed. "It's okay. Just be sad. I'm right here."
Her shoulders bobbed up and down as she cried into Cranky's chest. She cried and cried until she thought she would drown. He held her tight, whispering soft words to her. Sure Cranky was there to anchor her. But it was another thought, another realization, that pulled her from the raging waters of her own emotions.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
Of all the emotions that were assaulting her, her new familiar friend, fear, wasn't present. And with that lifeboat she found what she would need to get through this hell hiding deep within her. It should have been Cranky. He should be the one, but instead it was one single overwhelming emotion that kept her going.
Rage. Pure and unadulterated rage.
Shadowlaw was going to pay for this. Vega was going to pay. Laying there in Cranky's arms mourning their dead child was going to be the last time she ever fell victim to Shadowlaw.
Vega prepared himself mentally for his meeting with Bison. He was supposed to have Camilla with him and Craig Crankurt's blood on his hands and here he was with neither. He took his time, pacing himself as he walked down the compound corridors. The facility was in shambles, Bison having to stay hidden deep underground due to his apparent weakness. Yet somehow he still managed to elicit fear and obedience, even from Vega himself.
Vega was trying desperately to figure out how to explain the current situation to Bison. The plan should have worked. Things were simple enough. It hadn't taken much time or money to bribe the rats of the underworld to give up any individuals matching the runaway lovers' descriptions. Within a few hours of Camilla and Crankurt bypassing the operatives watching them, Vega had received notice that they had gotten papers which meant they were heading out of the country.
If Vega had only not called to toy with Crankurt...
Vega kicked over a chair that sat along the wall, holding tight to his composure. No. This wasn't his fault. The truth of the matter was he had been waiting a mile north up the road and Genta was tailing them. It was a good plan. That amateur Genta had lost them. All they'd found was a shattered cell phone on the side of the road. Vega had come back to report to Bison while Genta frantically looked for evidence of just what had happened. He should have never trusted that Genta could handle this. He was paying for it now regrettably.
Vega entered Bison's quarters and bowed his head. His only solace was in that in this position, Bison couldn't see the condescending look painted on his face. For the most part, Bison gave him the freedom to do as he pleased. But the cost was the ridiculous pageantry that was demanded of his subordinates. But Vega could play nice; especially since it gave him access to Crankurt and Camilla.
"Vega." Bison began as he slowly lowered himself to a sitting. He'd chosen a plush armchair for his seat, leaving Vega to stand. The room was the opposite of the rest of the facility. Drapes hung along the cinderblock wall, bringing an air of luxury to the otherwise bleakness of the room. A four poster bed with canopy dominated the space on the back wall. Bison continued. "Why am I not looking at Cammy White?"
"They were able to avoid us this time." Vega defended. "They are getting desperate now so it's only a matter of time before-"
"I don't care to hear excuses." Bison said, cutting him off. "You've failed twice now. Need I tell you what another failure will result in?"
"There have been complications..."
"You're obsession is not a complication. It's a compulsion."
"But Master..."
"You're here today because to this point you've been useful. Don't outlive that usefulness. You have 48 hours to deliver"
"Lord Bison, the resources that would be needed to pull that off..."
"Whatever you need Vega." Bison offered, waving his hand dismissively, insinuating that money was no object. " Just get it done."
Vega's phone buzzed and Bison motioned for Vega to leave. He didn't need to hear a plan. It's as if he knew Vega understood the importance of this. Besides, Vega's mind was floating on top of the world with the option of endless resources. Now he could take away everything Camilla White loved, starting with Crankurt. This was going to be delightful. He flipped his phone open, knowing the call was for Genta.
"Please tell me you've found them?" He stated simply, not bothering with a greeting.
"They're gone. Just gone." Genta weakly offered.
Genta's lack of success filled Vega with rage as he questioned him.
"What do you mean they are gone?!" He yelled. "You said it would be no problem. This is on you because I would have had her!"
"I'm telling you," Genta's voice defended through the phone speaker, "I found the car they were in. It's abandoned at some third rate hospital. I poked around. Staff was talking about some woman getting airlifted out. I'm sure it was her."
"Well find out where they sent her now!" Vega yelled into the receiver before he clicked the end call button. He swore something was lost now that he could no longer slam the phone down to hang up.
He'd abandoned his original plan of attacking while waiting for Scott Wagner's military trial as Crankurt and Camilla had fled. But now that he could pull out all the stops he knew exactly how he was going to trap Camilla. And like the predictable street dog he was, Crankurt would follow her. He knew Camilla like the back of his hand. No matter what Genta finds in his search, Vega was sure of it; sooner than later she'd flee back to her so called family. It was that simple. Find them and he would find her.
Cammy heard the click of the door and opened her eyes before she even realized she'd fallen asleep. It was daylight now and Cranky still was tucked beside her in the tiny hospital bed. He shifted too, which allowed her to see Guile entering the room. His back was to them, trying to shut the door as quietly as possible. He turned and they met eyes briefly before Cammy casted her gaze downwards.
"Hey Cam." Guile said simply as he approached the hospital bed. Cranky pulled away from her, appearing to be waking up himself. He rubbed his eyes.
"You okay if I go get some coffee?" He questioned sincerely.
"Yeah." She nodded. "Guile's here."
Guile patted Cranky on the shoulder as he passed, taking the place he had previously occupied at Cammy's bedside. "So you heard?" She began.
"We're all here Cam" Guile assured her, avoiding her reference, "nothing's going to happen to you."
"It already happened, Guile." She pressed bitterly.
"You know what I meant."
"Why should we dance around it then?" Cammy questioned coldly. "My baby is dead." She shifted her body, seeing how well she could move, trying to estimate when she'd be able to fight again.
"Cammy..." Guile warned before he caught her gaze again.
Dammit. He was going to see the tears that threatened to fall. She was attempting to focus on her rage; her plan to deal with things by not dealing with them wouldn't work with Guile looking at her in his way. She turned, trying to ignore it as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"It's a fact. Nothing is going to bring her back. I just want to focus."
"Focus?!" Guile exclaimed. "It's barely been twelve hours!"
"Shadowlaw doesn't take time to grieve." She said as she pushed herself to standing. Pain shot through her midsection but it was tolerable. "You better believe they're out there right now planning their next move. I have to get ahead of them."
"Slow down, just slow down." Guile soothed rushing to her side, aiding her in her simple walk to the window. "It's me here, just us." He squeezed her arm and she couldn't stop the tears from falling, their wetness plopping onto his rough hands.
"I shouldn't have lied to you!" she cried.
"I'm not worried about that."
"I am. If I stayed than maybe-"
"You can't do that, Cam." Guile insisted. "This is what it is. But you have a choice about how you react."
She breathed hard, the short walk taxing her more than she'd expected. Her body shook but she made it to the chair, allowing Guile to assist her in sitting. He leaned on the window ledge next to her, arms crossed over his chest, looking for another approach in which to appeal to her.
"Life without Vega was nice?" He questioned.
Cammy knew where Guile was going with his questioning. He understood her, he really did. He just didn't agree. What parent would?
"It was a lie so of course it was nice." Cammy replied honestly.
"We've had some good runs Cammy." He rationalized. "Years without them. No reason this can't start another one."
"Even with the good years, I always end up in the same place." She offered, gesturing to the all too familiar hospital room.
"And you can you honestly say it's all one sided?"
Cammy paused and really thought about what Guile was saying. Because she couldn't say it was.
"I know I'm right and they're wrong." She defended.
"Who cares about right and wrong?" He exclaimed defeated by her rationale. It was a low blow, but she knew his argument wasn't factual, it was emotional.
"Guile," she said "you can't make me stop. It's who I am. I don't know why you try."
"Because, I have to catch you!" Guile exclaimed.
"What?"
"Your whole life you've always been on a bridge, Cammy." He elaborated. "Ever since you were teenager, and you don't just walk on it, either. No, you climb on the railing and you're ready to leap, and when you do, when that happens, I have to be there. I have to catch you."
"You don't have to catch me, dad."
"Yes, I do. It's my job."
"Guile, I..."
"All I'm asking is 24 hours." Guile asked, his hands raised in defeat. "If it goes down with Shadowlaw before then and we can't prevent it, then so be it. But I want 24 hours without baiting them, without inviting the chaos, for you to heal."
"So you'll help me then?" Cammy asked, surprised she didn't have to fight harder.
"Of course I will," Guile said softly. "always."
Julian sat alone across from Dorian's hospital bed. He'd been told he was stable. Now, Julian rested his elbows on his knees, letting his head hang low. The ER staff had worked quickly to care for Dorian and they'd sedated him for the time being as apparently pain killers weren't an option. The wound from the burn on his chest stood out even more now that his body had been cleaned of the mixture of blood and dirt. It had been left exposed and was going to hurt like hell when Dorian woke up. But he was alive. That's also when the questions would start. Even if it wasn't plainly obvious that the burn was to mar the tattoo, the toxicology results would have raised questions. Julian had been able to skirt them so far by saying he just found Dorian this way, playing the angry father. But with his own bloody lip and makeshift wrist splint, that defense was weak at best and would only hold for so long.
Everything was now a blur to Julian. He hadn't slept for more than four hours over the past 48 hours. It would be nice to be in a blissful drug induced slumber like Dorian. But he couldn't calm his mind; the TOS order, blaming his father's death on him and Dorian, burning off Dorian's tattoo like a fucking savage? Not only did it point to the Latin Kings, it reeked of Guillermo. Julian cursed himself for his previous mercy, his morals. If he would have just taken care of Guillermo when he had the chance, then this would never have happened. That is if his instinct was true. Movement from Dorian's bed broke Julian's guilty train of thoughts.
"I feel like shit." Dorian stated simply, his voice soft. Julian raised his head and saw Dorian shifting in the bed, trying to get comfortable.
"They said you'd bleed too much if they gave you pain meds." Julian offered in reply, standing and walking to Dorian's side. "I bet it hurts." An awkward silence followed. Julian could tell Dorian had realized he fucked up as he stared forward, not meeting Julian's gaze. There was no need to rub it in especially since Julian had fucked up too, so he settled with getting straight to business. "Who did this to you?" He questioned seriously, eyes dark.
"Who do you think?" Dorian replied defensively.
"I know you went to them, to the Latin Kings. But who was it?"
"Are we okay here? They can't get to us?" Dorian questioned.
"Kenny contacted Guile when we arrived." Julian explained. "He said Cammy and Crankurt are here too. So we're just going to move the watches here. Make sure we all stay safe." He hoped to assure Dorian he was here for him without smothering him. But Dorian was intent on avoiding things.
"Why are they here?" He questioned. "They should be long gone?"
"Things got complicated, Dorian."
"What do you mean?" Dorian inquired. How quickly Dorian was able to bring the focus away from him. Weather it was intentional or not, he was good at it. Too bad there was only more bad news in the direction he'd taken things.
"She lost the baby. It's over." Julian said matter-of-factly, avoiding the emotion of it. "Now tell me who did this to you?"
"So," he began thoughtfully, "if you're a kid and your parents die, you're an orphan. But what's the name for parents who lose their kids?"
Julian placed his hand of Dorian's shoulder, squeezing softly.
"I guess it's just too fucked up to have a name." Julian replied. His voice cracked, giving way to the emotion of not only Cammy's loss, but what could have happened to Dorian. The reminder gave him resolve. "Just tell me who it was that did this." He asked again.
"I'm sorry I let this happen." Dorian said, continuing to avoid. "I'm so sorry. And now he wants to kill us both."
"Who?"
"I'm so stupid, so fucking stupid!"
"Dorian, who was it?!"
"I just want to forget about it."
"That's kind of hard when there's a hit out on us both!"
"Guillermo okay?!" Dorian yelled. "Jesus. It was him and five other guys. Then he lied and said we killed Grandpa."
Julian wasn't sure if it was old instinct not to snitch or fear that had caused Dorian to try and avoid it. Or maybe he knew what it would do to Julian to know. To have a name, a face to the man that did this to his son gave him purpose. Julian put his hand on the back of Dorian's head.
"It's gonna be fine." He said.
"There's no easy way out of this." Dorian replied, pain in his eyes.
"That's nothing for you to worry about." Julian reassured him.
"I'm done running, I promise." Dorian said, emotions over taking him, face giving way to the pain that was setting in more and more as the momentary relief the sedatives had given him wore off. "I shouldn't have left. I just caused myself to get hurt and problems for you. I thought they were going to kill me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He cried.
"Don't worry about any of that." Julian assured him. "You just need to heal."
"But what about the Kings? How are we going to-" Dorian asked, but he was cut off by a nurse entering the room. Julian gave him a look, hoping to communicate to stay silent about the Latin Kings, even though Dorian already knew.
"Mr. Marquez, I've got to prepare your burn for the skin graft?"
"Prepare?" Dorian questioned.
"The skin is dead," she explained, seemingly not thrilled with what was about to occur. She sat on the other side of the hospital bed; the side Dorian's burn was on. She continued as she pulled gloves on and set a pair of tweezers on the tray table. "So we have to peel it away so the graft will take."
"You're fucking kidding me?" Dorian quipped.
"Think about that next time you want to do drugs young man." She chided referencing the toxicology report. Julian seized the opportunity for cover. He couldn't really take care of Guillermo if the police were involved. It wasn't how they liked to handle things anyway.
"Yeah." Julian offered. "Dorian said he's done with that. I guess getting robbed and burnt by a meth head will do that to you. Right son?"
"Right." Dorian replied bitterly, instantly falling in step with the cover story, but he hadn't taken his eyes off the tray. His breathes started coming faster.
"Do you want me to stay or go?" Julian asked.
"You can go if you want." Dorian said stoically, still hyper focused on the tray. The nurse spoke as she finished tying her surgical mask.
"You're going to want someone here, sweetie."
Dorian nodded and closed his eyes. The nurse looked like she was being so careful as she tugged gently at the flakes of dead skin curling above the red inflamed ring around his burn. He shifted in the bed, biting his lip.
"God it hurts." Dorian said when she'd removed only the third piece of skin. He grabbed Julian's hand tightly, gritting his teeth as he met his eyes. "You sure they can't give me anything?" He begged. Julian shook his head no.
"Just breathe." Julian offered him. Though he kept his face calm, inside he was screaming. He breathed deeply through his nostrils with Dorian, helping him slow his breathing to deal with the pain. The whole time Julian was trying not to give way to the fact that he needed the breaths too. Even still, his rage only built as he watched Dorian squeeze back tears from the pain of his injuries. And that was only the physical toll...
Julian was going to kill Guillermo for this. No matter what it cost him, he was going to make sure this was Guillermo's last day on this earth.
"I've got some company." Cranky announced as he walked back into Cammy's hospital room with Kenny and Dorian in tow. "You must be feeling a little better?"
She turned away from Guile, to Cranky and scowled accidentally. It wasn't anything Cranky could have helped but having Cranky fuss over her only reminded her that...
"I feel fine." she replied trying to brighten her tone. It fell flat but Cranky ignored it. He was just trying to help.
"I ran into Colonel Wolfman." Cranky continued. "He's taking Juli so they can question her before Wagner's hearing. He suggested we group together."
"Sounds like a plan." Guile agreed turning his attention to Dorian, who was being pushed in a wheelchair by Kenny. "Where's your Dad?"
"He had to run out to get my legal papers and stuff." Dorian answered, tone worried. "Said that my Grandpa kept a safe deposit box at the bank with all that."
"Well hopefully he'll get back soon so we can regroup." Guile responded seriously.
"Like assigning watches?" Cranky questioned. Cammy sighed, both touched and frustrated that Cranky was still in protect mode. But she didn't need it anymore. She needed revenge. Cammy stood, feeling steadier than even just a few moments ago.
"Cranky, he's not talking about that." Cammy confessed softly.
"What do you mean?" Cranky asked, moving closer to Cammy, trying for a semblance of privacy. "We've got to keep everyone safe."
"Yes, I understand that." She replied. "But while we're doing that ive got to figure out a plan to catch Vega. I want to put him away for good."
"But why now?!" Cranky exclaimed. "We need to just step back and think about this."
"I've thought about it Cranky." Cammy defended. "I think there will only be a short amount of time before Vega attacks again. And I want to be ready to do more than hull up and hide. I want him under lock and key as soon as possible."
"How have you even thought this though?" Cranky questioned, getting frustrated. "I was gone for like half an hour! When were you plotting? Was it between crying fits? While under sedation? Sounds like the perfect condition to make big decisions in." Cranky shouted sarcastically. The room fell quiet. Yeah, everyone could hear their conversation, but his yelling had ensured that they knew it was heated.
"It's already been decided." She said matter-of-factly. "I hope you will help."
"Cammy?" He responded, astonished. "After everything that we just went through are you really doing this. Going right back for more?"
"I'm ending it is what I'm doing." She said, walking back to the chair, noting Guile had left with Dorian and Kenny. She really was good at chasing people away.
"I just almost lost you." Cranky rationalized, walking to her side, squeezing her shoulder gently. "Why can't we just enjoy that for a while?" He ran his thumb along her collarbone as he continued, softer now. "Nothing is going to bring Charlotte back, Cammy." Cranky said. "No amount of revenge or justice or whatever the hell you want to call it to try and rationalize it to yourself will change that she died. Right now I just want to be with you. I want to stop and take some time to mourn."
"But they never stop." Cammy stated with certainty. "You better believe that at this very moment Vega is planning how he's going to get me, get us. He won't stop and I won't hide if I don't have to!"
"You sound happy about it." Cranky accused breaking his soft grip on her shoulder.
"I can't control that I lost the baby." Cammy tried to explain. "But I can control this. You just don't understand Vega. What he's like. You have to be three steps ahead to stand a chance against him. We have that chance right now. If we play this right, Vega is going to walk right into my trap." Cammy said smiling.
Cranky just started at her, eyes wide with disbelief, his anger setting in at being ignored both his opinion and his pain. "I've never noticed before." He said in an astonished whisper as he shook his head and continued voice in disbelief. "You sound just like him."
"Like who?" She asked, afraid of his answer.
"Vega" he spat at her, blinking away tears, hating himself for saying the words even as he said them
"Get out!" Cammy screamed, nearly choking on her words, appalled at Cranky comparing her to Vega. At this point he was just lashing out and she wanted him gone. "Leave! You don't have to do any of this anymore." Cammy offered as she slid her ring off her finger with finality. She held it out to him, eyes, down, not looking his way. If she looked into his eyes she would break. She would take back everything and hide from the world with Cranky. But she couldn't do that. Shadowlaw had to pay. After a few moments without the ring's weight leaving her hand, Cammy dared a glance behind her to find Cranky was gone. And just like that, she was totally and utterly alone.
Julian had always seen it as an unnecessary precaution, being paranoid, but he now had a new found respect for his father as he strode in the First National Bank in downtown LA. His father had a lockbox in three major cities; LA, Chicago, and New York. His father always said each box contained what he'd need if things went wrong. It certainly hadn't saved his father. Maybe it was never meant to. Julian thought to himself bitterly. The teller had walked him back to the room where the safety deposit boxes were kept. They lined the walls in the expanse of space, row after row of them. The teller reached up and retrieved the appropriate long, slim metal box.
"Here you are, Mr. Marquez." The teller informed him as she set the box on the large table in the center of the room with a thud. "You can return it when you're done."
Julian stared at the box, a strange dread sinking into his gut. He no idea what he'd find, but it was all he could think to do to help him find his way to Guillermo.
"Thank you." Julian said as she exited the room, leaving him alone. He fumbled through a worn set of keys, trying to find the master that would unlock the box. As long as there's a gun... Julian couldn't help his dark thoughts. All his anger was pushed down into a tight knot in the pit of his stomach and that drove him forward, into a hell he'd been running from his entire life. It'd only taken Dorian being hurt to make him realize, there was only one way to deal with Guillermo, with the Latin Kings. He had to speak their language.
The plan was simple. If they were looking for him, let them find him. It wouldn't be hard to overtake one member. Loyalty ran deep and a hostage was his perfect ticket to Guillermo. Julian fingered the right key and with a deep breath, opened the lockbox.
A 9mm and two clips lay on top. Julian smiled as he mechanically loaded one clip and pocketed the other before tucking the gun into his waistband purposefully. He thumbed through the papers, looking for anything he could use to prove Guillermo was responsible for his father's death. It wasn't going to be easy to get Guillermo to confess to killing his father when he knew the punishment was death. And as much as Julian wanted Guillermo's head, he wanted to get out of there alive too. Sure he could go in, guns blazing and take Guillermo out, but that was suicide. Dorian needed him now so he had to keep his head on his shoulders.
None of the papers or photographs seemed like they'd be of any use at first glance. Still, Julian tucked them into a bag along with two rolls of cash and a beat up journal. He needed to leave. It wasn't smart for him to stay out long, it left him open to attack. He turned to return the box to its rightful place and stopped in his tracks when he noticed a figure to his right.
"Julian Marquez," the newcomer said as he leaned casually in the doorway. His black hair was shaved close to his scalp, brown eyes meeting his. "I've been looking for you."
Julian reached for the gun, recognizing the man, though he hadn't seen him since they were teens.
"Woah, woah, woah, man" the man said, waving his hands to halt him. "It's me, Gabriel."
"I know who you are, Mendoza." Julian replied coldly, taking aim. "Never thought you'd be one for a suit." He was used to seeing Gabriel in baggy pants, a wife beater and gold ball cap. Julian's mind flashed with memories from his youth in the Bronx. He and Gabriel started off playing superheroes together as boys and ended up getting beat into the Latin Kings together as teens. He was the brother of his youth for all intents and purposes but that meant Julian knew him well. Gabriel was a Latin King through and through, his roots ran deep. Julian didn't want to kill Gabriel Mendoza, but he also wasn't going to let nostalgia make him weak.
"Hey, I'm in mourning." Gabriel replied casually straightening his gold tie. "Sorry about your Pop." He added seriously.
"Are you?" Julian questioned. Did they send his childhood friend to do him in? It sounded like something Guillermo would do.
"Julian," Gabriel started sincerely. "Paco rode my ass along with yours growing up. Of course I'm sorry."
"How'd you find me? Why are you here?"
"Would you put the gun down? It makes me uncomfortable." He asked, not waiting for Julian to comply to continue. "Word spreads quick with a TOS. You know that. But it was just the break I needed."
"For what?"
"Your father was a prepared man."
"Nothing in the box but a gun and cash. Yeah. He's a great planner" Julian said sarcastically.
"You don't put the contingency plan in a box for someone to find, Jules."
"Contingency plan?"
"He never trusted Guillermo and neither do I. Anyone who knew Francisco knows too. But these kids here are young. All they see is an OG. They do what they're told."
Julian's eyes grew wide as he lowered the gun.
"You're here to help me?"
"Yeah, it's time Julian." Gabriel replied as his face broke out in a grin after finally making Julian realize. "Time for you to take your rightful place as leader of the Latin Kings."