Okay . . . I know this is going to be odd but we're starting to get towards the things leading up to memphis's departure . . . so everyone is warned. A little bit of blood and good bit of lemony lime . . .
The Fall of the Fish
Atley moved through the hallway of his apartment complex, trying to clear his head as he pulled is keys from is pockets. This was getting deeper and deeper around them . . . but thank God he'd finally found them a lifeline. Even if it wasn't one he wanted to ever use.
He'd found out-from one of his rarely used but very reliable sources- that the informant ratting out his crew, Manday and Johnny B's boys were one in the same . . . and that the whispers circling around the underworld were all about how the person had flipped to a new mob wanting to come in. One that wasn't going to just share or be pleasant the way that Cacuzza, the Triad and the Russians did . . . they wanted everything. And had been the driving force in trying to push Johnny B into running more than his other interests.
Because the man's crew was getting pushed to the point that running was about all it would be safe for him to do.
Which answered a lot of his questions about just how serious this was . . . Johnny B was a crazy bastard. And if he was willing to step away from enterprises that he'd been running for almost four years then this new boss was bad.
He sighed, stopping in front of his door before he stilled. His face plate for his lock was scuffed . . . meaning that someone that was really sloppy-or in a really big hurry-had picked it. And it hadn't been like that when he'd left earlier in the day. He pocketed his house keys, turning and going back to his car. Someone had been in his damned home . . . and the risk that they still were was too big for him to take. Not with him limited by the damned leg . . . and with his fucking gun in the car.
He moved as quickly as he could without drawing attention, dropping into the driver's seat before starting the engine. He needed to get somewhere that no one knew about . . . and he had a pretty good idea where that needed to be.
Sphinx groaned as Ripley's mouth moved over his, his hands keep her hips connected to his own even though they were both spent. He knew it was irrational but he wasn't ready to pull away from her just yet . . . and she didn't seem to be in any big hurry to move. If anything, her little kisses and nips told him she wanted to keep going . . . He chuckled, sitting up and pulling her harder against him as she gasped. They could definitely arrange that . . . especially if she kept whimpering to him the way she was as she kissed him.
God she was insatiable today . . .
He'd called in to work and told his supervisor- the only person he ever even partially spoke to- that he was taking a few personal days. He had plenty to use up or they would just roll over and go with the ones he'd start racking up in the new year . . . because he honestly never missed work until he'd started seeing Ripley. And he'd pulled enough extra shifts and doubles that his boss had no problems letting him off with such little notice.
So he'd found himself free until the second of January . . . and he planned to keep Ripley with him as much as he could. She started back to school on the tenth . . . and he knew they wouldn't be able to do this as much as they did now. Hell, he'd already decided to try to limit his time at her apartment to allow her to get her school work done . . . So he needed to enjoy this as much as he could . . . until her first break anyway.
She moved with him, letting him roll her beneath him and craned her neck to allow him to kiss and suckle his way down her neck. And he loved seeing the little marks blossoming against her skin. She wasn't going anywhere so he could leave all of the little bites on her that he wanted . . . and she loved it when he did it if her throaty moan was anything to judge by. She reached down, pulling his face back to hers when he shifted; moving deeper as her back arched off of the mattress . . . Only for both of them to freeze as they heard the front door to his apartment slam.
She whimpered as he groaned . . . but when he went to move she caught him, shaking her head as she tugged him back.
"Fuck it. Whoever can wait . . . please baby . . ."
He looked over her hungrily before leaning down to capture her lips again . . . only to growl as his bedroom door swung open. And he'd never honestly wanted to kill anything as badly as he did when Atley waltzed into the room, spinning the damned picks on his finger before shaking his head.
"Jesus man? Are you still in damned bed? God, having that young little girlfriend wears your ass out doesn't it? I mean, I know you two probably fuck like rabbits but- OH Fuck! My eyes!"
The man realized what he'd walked in on as Ripley yelped, pulling the covers around herself as Atley jumped; screeching and moving back into the hallway, slamming the door hard. And started dragging the other person he'd apparently brought with him as he cursed and ranted.
"Jesus Christ! All they do is fuck and fight! I don't know how they squeeze work and boosting in with all of the fucking and fighting! God where's the bleach? Because I never needed to see that much of him. Ever . . ."
Sphinx groaned, dropping his head on Ripley's collarbone before she shifted beneath him. And he made a decision that was going to land both of them in enough trouble for years . . . but he didn't care. He dipped, catching her lips with his own as his hand cupped her flaming cheeks. And when she moaned into him he knew he had never savored a sound as much as he did that one. He chuckled, his mouth moving over to her ear as he pushed deeper.
"Do you want me to stop . . ."
She shook her head, kissing him again as he found a new, slower rhythm. By God Jackson had just interrupted one of the better rounds of lovemaking they'd had yet . . . and-even though they'd technically been fucking off and on since he'd woken her up before eight- he knew she'd been as painfully close to the brink as he was. And the knowledge that there were people waiting on them in the living room didn't deter him at all . . . actually he kind of hoped it was Frank or even Memphis with him. Because both were too fond of making little jokes and quips to Sway- who was pretty vocal about how she and Raines needed to be more like him and Ripley-about how they doubted Ripley was actually as pleased with him as she acted . . . and that she was probably just too afraid to leave him.
He grinned, leaning down to kiss up her collarbone before biting it lightly . . . loving that her little moan gained some volume. Oh they were about to see how pleased he kept her . . .
Donnie turned, glaring at Atley as the man stalked into the kitchen. Opening the fridge and pulling out two beers before slamming both on the counter. He sighed, shaking his head before grabbing one and opening it; taking a long pull from the Highlife before he almost choked at the sound that echoed down the hallway and filled the apartment.
He turned, leveling a dark look on Atley as he tried not to think about what they'd walked in on . . . and what apparently was still going on. God how did Sphinx's neighbors listen to that all hours of the day? He'd never wanted to know about their sex life after it started . . . actually he'd just told Ripley to be safe and he was happy for her before trying to forget she was having sex at all. But there was no way he was going to forget that.
He shook his head. He'd never expected Sphinx to seem as damned . . . tender with the girl but if Donnie hadn't known any better he'd sworn the two of them had been making love instead of the fucking Atley had called it. He'd been able to see the man's mouth hit hers hard and bruising as she leaned into him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders while her other hand slid up and into his hair. And Sphinx had groaned against her lips, pushing her back into his bed as his hands slid down her sides. And when his lips left hers to travel down her jaw and neck-leaving tiny red marks in their wake- Donnie had to fight the shiver that coursed down his spine at Ripley's throaty little moan.
He had never wanted to hear that kid make that noise . . . and now he was never going to be able to forget it. He turned to Atley, glaring at him as the man shook his head, obviously trying to process what they'd been witness to . . . before growling. He was thinking about it . . .
He reached over, hitting Atley as another moan filled the apartment . . . though this one was far too deep to have belonged to Ripley. But it was definitely her voice that followed it, calling out the stoic runner's name before everything went deathly still.
Atley grumbled, draining half of his beer before going to sit on the couch and gripe. And Donnie moved to follow him, sinking into the couch while he glared at his friend. Why did he agree to go with Jackson to get Sphinx to check on his damned apartment?
Ripley stood under the spray of the water, refusing to even think of getting out of the shower. Even though it was steadily getting colder. She had no idea why she hadn't stopped him when they'd been interrupted but now she was extremely embarrassed with the whole situation . . . . and she did not want to go out there and face the music. Because she knew for fact she'd gotten really, really loud . . . and Donnie was the poor idiot Atley had drug with him . . .
She shivered, turning to try to coax more warm water from the pipes when the shower curtain pushed back and she jumped. Before glaring at her practically preening lover as he smirked at her. She huffed, turning from him as his grin darkened before he reached out and shut off the water. He held out his hand and she spotted the big, comfy towel he had in his other one. And despite how embarrassed she was over how she'd acted in the heat of the moment that towel looked far too inviting to refuse.
It had to be warmer than standing here shivering.
She took his hand, letting him pull her out before wrapping her up in the plush terry clothe before his mouth bent to catch hers. And she didn't fight melting into him as his hands smoothed the material over her. She sighed, letting him pull away as he went to dry her off . . . before she flushed crimson at what he whispered to her.
"God you're beautiful . . . how'd I end up with you?"
She moved, looking down at him as he knelt in front of her . . . and she felt her heart jump as he leaned in and kissed the tattoo on her hip; tracing the crest with his tongue before pulling into him. She rolled her eyes, smacking his shoulder lightly as he chuckled darkly. And he'd said she was insatiable earlier? He was the damned nympho . . .
"Oh no. We've already given them a good enough show today . . ."
He chuckled, looking up at her before kissing from her tattoo over her belly. And she had no idea why but he loved to do that . . . and run his hands over the tiny swell she'd been complaining to Paul about.
"They're gone Love. I'm gonna meet them to go to Atley's in half an hour . . . which gives me just enough time to do this . . ."
She rolled her eyes again before looking down at him like he was insane.
"Do what?"
He grinned, picking her up and setting her on the vanity before kissing her again. And she didn't even bother to argue with him after his tongue pushed past her lips. God they were both nymphos . . . but it was his fault.
Sphinx strolled past Atley as he leaned against the side of his car in the parking complex below the apartments, not even bothering to hide the grin on his face as his friend growled. Maybe that would teach him not to just burst in unannounced . . . Probably not but he could hope, right?
He nodded to Donnie-who was shaking his head and starting towards the Malibu without ever catching his eye- before looking to Jackson as he glowered. And as soon as Donnie was in the car, his friend turned on him; practically seething.
"I get that we kind of barged in but did you seriously have to do that? Did you really think I need to know what that girl sounds like screaming out anyone's name . . . And what the hell took so damned long for you to get down here?"
Sphinx shrugged, grinning darkly to his friend before looking to the Malibu. And he couldn't seem to stop the words that passed through his lips. But watching Atley's face drain of color was worth it . . . even if it just made him want to go right back upstairs and crawl back in bed beside Ripley. Who was spread across his bed sleeping soundly . . . and would probably stay that way until he got home. He'd made sure to wear her out so she wouldn't even contemplate going anywhere . . .
"Had to eat, Jackson . . . Why? Want to hear about how that was too?"
Atley shook his head, going to the passenger door and piling into the Malibu as he glanced back at Donnie. Who looked up to him as Sphinx grinned and shook his head, moving to the car slowly. But he heard the conversation and almost laughed out loud at the look on Don's face when he got into his car.
"Well? What took so long?"
"Apparently he had to eat before he could tear himself away long enough to come and help us . . ."
Donnie shook his head, muttering as he shifted in the back seat. And Atley looked about ready to murder something. But the man had a point. It was getting harder and harder for him to let Ripley stay away from him . . . and he was hoping that her going back to school would help with this . . . clinginess he'd developed. Because the last thing he needed was for that to be permanent when he knew the likelihood of them being wasn't.
"Oh I bet he had to eat . . . It's a wonder he ever lets her outta that damned bed."
Donnie looked over Atley's ransacked apartment, shaking his head as they moved from room to room. Whoever had done this was serious . . . and they would've definitely hurt Jackson if he'd stepped inside. He turned, looking to Atley as he picked up the broken lamp shade before throwing it back down onto the shattered glass from his coffee table. And suddenly he found himself happy that it had taken Sphinx so long to get ready and for them to get here . . . because the muddy footprint beside the mess was just barely dry.
Meaning whoever hadn't been gone long . . .
He looked to Sphinx who nodded once before going to the front door to wait while Atley tried to shift through the wreckage. Problem was they didn't have time for him to do that . . . They needed to get him what he needed and get out. Before whoever decided to come back.
"C'mon Jackson. We need to pack you up . . . you can stay with me 'til we find you a new place. I got the room . . ."
Atley looked up before nodding, going into the bedroom to grab as much as he could before he cursed. And Donnie moved into the room and felt his heart stop. The assholes that had done this had shredded his bed, completely destroying it and spreading feathers and torn fabric everywhere . . . and it looked like every bit of his clothes were shredded on top of them. His drawers had been ransacked and busted, things tossed this way and that . . . and all of the porcelain in the bathroom was shattered and broken.
Donnie sighed, clapping Jackson on the shoulder. He was around the same size as Frankie and Memphis . . . the two could donate some stuff until they got all of this settled. But as they went to turn to leave they saw the large bullet holes in the wall. And Donnie knew whoever did this wasn't playing. For once Jackson being so paranoid was a good thing . . .
Because the bastards wouldn't have hurt him . . . they would've killed him.
Atley sighed, shaking his head as he took a long drink of the beer Memphis passed him. He was officially in hiding at Donnie's until this shit cleared out . . . and he hated every fucking minute of it. Whoever this informant was they were being protected. And the protector wanted him dead.
And wasn't afraid to just flat out kill his ass in his apartment . . .
He looked up, nodding to Sway as she sank into the couch beside him. He honestly thought it was a bad thing for them to follow him to Donnie's . . . but they had insisted. And he still had to call Otto and Ripley to let them know . . . Christ what a mess. He moved, letting Sway lay her hand on his as she looked him over before looking back up to Memphis. And she asked the question they all wanted answered. Too bad no one had a magic eight ball laying around to consult. Because he was officially out of ideas . . . and he couldn't risk calling Cacuzza from any phone of Donnie's.
This shit just kept getting worse and worse . . . And the light he'd found for them turned out to be a damned train. He snorted, taking a deep swig of his beer. As usual . . .
"So what do we do next? I mean . . . we're boosts. Not mobsters or gangbangers. We don't run this way . . . we never have. Hell, we don't usually piss anybody off. You know?"
Donnie sighed, flopping into his chair as Memphis paced. And Atley knew he was worried. He'd been trying to get in touch with Frankie and San through the cell phone Cacuzza had given them for almost and hour. And so far all they kept getting was a whole lot of nothing. Which wouldn't have been a big deal . . . . before someone tried to execute his wall that is.
Memphis growled, killing the phone call before turning to him and Sway. And Donnie was up and moving before the man even finished his thought . . . making Atley move to grab a pen and a piece of paper. If they were going to check on the others then they needed to have Sphinx. And Sway needed to go stay there with Ripley. Because he knew the hulking runner had taken the time over the past few months to teach his petite little lover how to use the Franchi SPAS 12 shotgun he kept in his closet.
If anything tried to get to them, Ripley could probably put a whole through them . . . or at the very least wing them. In the process of blowing the door off its hinges of course . . .
"We're going to check on them. I called Otto and he's sending Hex to meet us. Seems the Irishman showed up there about twenty minutes ago . . . with Darrel in tow. Darrel's gonna stay with Junie and Otto . . ."
Atley scratched out Sphinx's number, pushing it into Memphis's hand before turning to Sway.
"Call the crazy bastard. Ripley's at his place so it should be okay . . . and you need to go stay with her Wayland. No one knows where Sphinx lives . . . they didn't even run him when they booked us. Just tossed him a cell because eh wouldn't talk. It's the safest place for you girls right now . . ."
Sway snorted, rolling her eyes and opened her mouth to refuse when Memphis spoke over her. His voice cold and full of authority and Atley was amazed the man had it in him to tell her what to do. And that she seemed to listen. Maybe their leader wasn't as whipped as they all thought after all . . .
"You're going, Sway. Now. I don't want you to get hurt . . . not again. And these guys aren't playing. We'll walk you to the car."
Ripley moved through Sphinx's kitchen, humming herself as she put the frying pan into the sink. And she didn't even jump when she turned around and Sphinx was there, staring down at her with a raised brow. She grinned, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around her waist; letting her prop her chin on his chest as he smirked down to her.
"Helped yourself to my kitchen I see . . ."
She shrugged, kissing the spot right over his heart before stretching to kiss his chin. Which she just barely managed since he didn't dip to meet her. His hands did run down her waist to her hips though, tugging her flush against him as he looked her over. She blushed, reaching up to push her hair out of her face as she smiled up to him. He'd asked her to stay with him while he was off of work and she'd agreed, packing a small bag that she'd dropped in his bedroom as soon as she'd gotten there the night before. And he'd yet to see everything she'd stuffed in her duffle of tricks.
But the dusky teal cotton dress she was wearing was one of the newer items. It was simple with long sleeves-that she had pushed to her elbows- and fit her like a second skin before flaring out to wave gently at her hips. The low slung scooped neck was well off her shoulders, cutting right across her chest just about the top of her breasts . . . and as his hands smoothed over the dress again she knew he liked it. But then again he loved it when she wore dresses so it wasn't too much of leap for him.
She turned back, checking the timer before she pulled her bottom lips between her teeth and grinned up at him bashfully.
"I wanted to make us dinner . . . I figured you'd be hungry after dealing with Atley and Donnie. I mean, you haven't had anything today so-"
He moved, picking her up and dropping her onto the countertop before he stepped between her legs. And the groan she got when his hands smoothed over her thighs-pushing the dress up and to her hips as he did so- she knew he was about to say something perverted. He had that look on his face . . .
"Oh I had you . . . or don't you remember?"
She blushed, looking up at him as he smoldered down at her and she loved the way he was looking at her. It wasn't often that she got to see that look . . . but when she did she relished it. He was looking at her the way Memphis looked at Sway. And it always made her heart do weird little flip flops in her chest. Just like when he would pop up and say something sweet. Like he had before . . . She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders loosely as he dipped and ran his nose over hers.
"How could I forget? I think half the floor heard me . . ."
He grinned before he brushed his lips over hers, lingering just long enough to be sweet before he pulled away. And glanced over at the oven as the timer dinged. He turned back, raising a brow as she went to move to get it.
"What are we having then?"
She grinned, bending to pull the food out before she answered. And when she turned back he was right behind her, looking over the pan with interest. She rolled her eyes. God he always thought with his stomach . . .
"You had the stuff to make bourbon chicken. And I peeled and mashed those potatoes before they went bad. Do you want anything else?"
He shook his head, dipping to kiss the tip of her nose as she giggled. IT was nice for them to be able to do this . . . but as he moved away she noticed his shoulders start to tense. And she knew it wasn't going to happen often. He would be okay for the first few minutes of something domestic . . . but as soon as he realized how cozy it was his mood soured. He wasn't used to stuff like this. And she was going to have to respect that enough to not make him uncomfortable . . .
She reached out, catching his hand as he went to move to the sink and had to quell down her heartache as he flinched. God if she ever found out who'd hurt him they would be dead . . . because no one should be afraid to be happy the way he was. She moved slowly, holding his hand in hers before she smiled up at him. And she worked really hard for him to not see that she'd noticed his change in mood. Or the flinch.
"I'm sorry I commandeered your kitchen. You can take over mine next time, okay? I was kind of thinking with my gut . . ."
He turned, looking her over and nodded once before bending to press a kiss to her cheek. And she sighed a sigh of relief. Boyfriend freakout temporarily averted. Now she just had to keep it that way . . . She turned, pulling a beer from his fridge and handing it to him with a knowing look before she went to start making their plates. As she was dishing out the chicken an idea hit her.
"What did Atley need earlier anyway? He find some grand new way to pipe the Chinese food right into his kitchen?"
Sphinx snorted, shaking his head as he propped against the counter. And she watched him drain half the beer before he set it down . . . Okay that wasn't good. Sphinx had an alcohol tolerance to rival the best of them but he almost always paced himself. He didn't mind drinking heavily or getting drunk-because the second one was pretty rare from what she'd seen- but he didn't knock them back in front of her . . . not unless he was aggravated.
"Someone broke in and trashed the bloody place. An' put three slugs in his walls just for shits an giggles."
She turned, looking him over as what he was saying sunk in. And she was suddenly furious with him for not telling her before. She slammed the plates down on the counter, her hands going to her hips as she glared at him.
"What? Why didn't you tell me? Is he okay? He isn't hurt is he?"
Sphinx snorted again, rolling his eyes before he smirked at her. And she knew she probably looked ridiculous in the dress, her barefoot tapping as she waited on him to answer but she didn't care. He needed to learn what to communicate and when. She knew he rarely spoke but seriously!
"He's fine Love. Gonna hafta move but fine . . ."
She rolled her own eyes before going to speak right as a knock sounded on the front door. She stopped, looking at him skeptically before he glanced at her. She moved to him, leaning in to whisper as he tugged her to his chest.
"Are you expecting company I don't know about?"
He shook his head before going to get the door. And she couldn't stop herself from reaching out and catching his hand, trying to pull him back to her as she hissed.
"Sphinx! What if its someone who helped wreck Atley's place?"
He gave her a deadpan look before extracting his hand from hers. And as he spoke she felt like a stupid kid . . . but it had sounded reasonable in her mind. It just sounded stupid when she said out loud . .
"I doubt they'd knock Love. Just stay back . . ."
She huffed as he shook his head, moving through the living room to answer the door as she wrapped her arms around herself. And she knew it was stupid but just as he pulled the door open the phone rang. And she couldn't help the startled yelp that slipped past her lips as she glared at the wall mounted extension while she clutched her chest. God they were trying to kill her . . .
Sphinx pulled the door open, not expecting to see Wayland on the other side. And apparently something was wrong. Her cheeks were moist and her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. But despite that she was dressed more like she used to . . . in tight fitting blue jeans and a cropped black shirt beneath her fitted black leather jacket. She looked up at him and went to speak right as the phone in the kitchen rung. And he didn't even get to sigh before the scream from the same area brought his head whipping around fast enough to make his neck hurt.
Ripley . . .
He moved away from the door quickly, Sway following right behind him only to barely keep from running into him as he stopped to look at Ripley. Who was clutching her chest as she glared at his phone like it was responsible for this mess. He growled, glaring at her as she turned to him . . . and he was still so aggravated that her flaming cheeks did little but enrage him further. Was she trying to give him a bloody heart attack? Honestly?
She looked at him before throwing her hands in the air and crossing to the phone, practically jerking it off the wall as she answered it. And he had to fight the shudder that wanted to course down his spine. Her voice always dropped when she was angry but she wasn't even trying to keep it higher as she seethed into the receiver.
"I swear to God this had better be important or someone's going to die . . ."
He watched her face fall before she pulled the phone away and looked behind him. And he saw the aggravation leak back into her eyes as she put the piece back to her ear.
"Wow? Really? Well that would've been good to know like about five seconds ago. You gave me a heart attack, Raines. Yes she's here . . . what do mean tell Sphinx? He might not talk Memphis but he can hear. Tell him yourself . . ."
She reached out, holding the phone to him as she grumbled. And while he knew that Raines had just stepped in it, it was nice to see he wasn't the only one who stayed in trouble with her. Actually it was kind of relieving.
He took the phone, watching her turn to go and finish what she'd started. And he suddenly wanted to skin their leader alive. He might not be totally comfortable with the overly domestic setting Ripley had dredged up with the cooking and the cleaning she'd done-even though he knew not even bother complaining about the latter- but he damn sure wanted to sit and eat with her. And then pick her up and take her right back to bed.
"Sphinx? This is Memphis . . . I need you to meet me and Donnie at Frank and San's. We can't get in touch with them . . . and Otto got some really weird news from Manday. Someone leaked it on the streets earlier today that Frankie was the rat . . . .But they're saying it was while we were all in holding. None of us talked and we stayed together so it isn't him. Someone's trying to set us up, man. And Manday heard that they weren't being too discrete about passing out their address either."
Sphinx stilled, looking to Ripley and Sway before turning back to the phone. And the man spoke again before he had to. Which was a relief in and off itself. He might talk to his girl and Atley but he wasn't looking forward to long conversations with the others anytime soon. Even Raines . . .
"So I'm asking you to let Sway stay with Ripley while we see to this . . . They're safest there. And Atley swore that it was the best way . . . So can you please press a button if its alright and you're coming to help?"
Sphinx sighed, reaching up and pressing a button before glaring at Ripley as she threw her hands up in the air; shaking her head as she grumbled.
"Oh great. They don't do that unless they want you to go somewhere and do something . . . Awesome."
Memphis sighed into the phone, pulling his attention back to the conversation and away from Ripley.
"Thanks man . . . we'll meet you there. The address is 739 Lincoln Avenue . . . and be careful. We have no clue what's going on with this . . ."
He hung up, turning to Ripley as she turned to him. And he saw she was worried even beneath the bitching she was doing. She wasn't stupid . . . and she knew if Wayland was here it was bad. He sighed, crossing to her as they heard Sway walk back into the living room and sink into the sofa with a loud yawn. And when he glanced back he knew that both his and Ripley's eyes were ticking as the girl propped her boot clad feet up onto his coffee table. He gave a long suffering sigh before turning back to her, cupping her cheek as she looked up to him with big fearful eyes.
"Is it bad?"
He half shrugged before nodding his head once. And he watched her pull her bottom lip between her teeth and worry it before she sighed. She stretched onto her tip toes, brushing her lips across his before settling back on her bare feet.
"Just be careful, okay? I don't want to have to visit you in the hospital again . . ."
He nodded, pressing his forehead against hers before he dipped to rub his cheek along hers. And he felt her shiver at what he whispered to her.
"I will be Love. You and Wayland eat . . . I'll make it up to you. Get the gun if there's any trouble . . . "
She rolled her eyes before kissing him again. And it was a long, sweet kiss that he would've never imagined getting in his whole miserable life. She went to pull away and he tugged her back, deepening the kiss as her arms locked around his shoulders. He almost picked her up and put her back on the counters when she pulled away, looking up to him before she laid her head against his chest.
"I love you, Sphinx. Please promise me you'll be careful . . . and take care of the others."
He nodded, pressing a kiss to her curls before he pulled away and moved to leave; nodding to Wayland as he crossed to the door. And he had to smirk as he heard the other girl gripe when he closed it.
"Oh. You get kisses and hugs when you tell him to be careful. I got yelled at when I said I wasn't going to just wait around. How fair is that, huh?"
He shook his head before going to the elevator quickly. It was nice to know that with everything he did wrong he occasionally got something right . . . now he just hoped that the others were fairing half as well. Because something about this just didn't feel right. Not at all . . .
Hex pulled up to the address he'd been given, making sure he moved quickly and quietly to the door. He might not've always gotten along with Frankie and Santoro-though that was their fault in his opinion and through no wrong doing of his own- but he liked the two well enough. And he'd sworn to Raines and Halliwell that if he hung his kit with them it was for keeps. Making the two hooligans worthy of doing this right . . .
He was almost at the porch when movement to the side caught his attention and he turned, pulling the Heckler and Koch .45 Mk 23 from the waist of his pants; leveling it on the person who had been moving up the walkway parallel to him. The man jumped, stepping into the light before holding his hands up. And Hex felt himself sigh in relief as he saw it was San. He lowered the weapon but didn't put it away, even as San started giving him hell. Because it was far too quiet for this to be good . . .
He shook his head, glaring to the other runner as the man hissed at him.
"For Christ's sake, Hecksland what in the fuck is wrong with you? You were going to shoot me! And what the fuck is that thing a canon?"
He motioned the man over, trying to keep his temper in check as he nodded his chin to the house. And he watched San's face fall as he quietly spoke to the man. Oh this wasn't good. Not at all . . .
"Quiet Santoro. Or yer gonna let everyone on tha bloody block know about it. Have ye heard from Frank? Raines as been tryin' ta call fer almost an hour now and gettin' no answer . . ."
San shook his head, falling in step behind him as they moved slowly up on the porch. And Hex had to admit that if it were under other circumstances he would like to get see their home. Jackson had said the two shared the house-had for years apparently- and they weren't bad to drink and relax with. He glanced back to San, listening as he spoke. And he could see how worried he was about their crewmate coming out. But if the rumors were to be believed the two were like brothers, having come up together from nothing.
"I've been trying to call from Melissa's for a while and didn't get an answer. I just thought he was out . . . but now that I see you here I'm doubting it. What's gone down?"
Hex sighed, moving to the door and waiting for San to pull out his keys. But as he touched the knob, the door creaked open on its own slowly . . . and they could both see through the dim light that the place had been trashed. San stopped, looking over the wrecked furniture and broken glass before he tried to push past him. But Hex stopped him, shaking his head as he brought the weapon up again.
"Easy boy-o. Jackson's place got hit 'cause he went diggin' fer tha rat. But Manday dropped tha word that someone said it was tha Fish . . . and's been sayin' it ta whoever stood still long enough ta listen."
San paled, raisin a shaking hand to his forehead before he shook himself.
"Nah man. No way. Frankie can be a dick but he's loyal to Memphis . . . to all of us."
Hex nodded, pushing through the living room to glance into the kitchen. It was in pretty much the same state as the other, all of the cabinets open and the glasses and dishes broken and shattered everywhere. But what worried him was the dark splotches of red he saw intermingled . . . because it looked frighteningly familiar to dried blood.
San looked through and saw the same thing, shoving past him to go down the hall. Hex cursed under his breath and moved to follow him . . . only to stop as they hit the doorway to what he supposed was the other boost's bedroom. There were big patches of blood everywhere on the ground and furniture . . . but the crumpled lump in the floor was where Santoro shot to once he regained himself. He watched the man tear off his overshirt and turn the broken and bleeding boost on the ground, holding the shirt against the ghastly slice across his face.
Hex looked everything over and turned, raising the weapon again as movement caught his eye. He kept it raised until none other than the Sphinx emerged from the dimly lit living area, Memphis and Astricky right behind him. Memphis pushed by Sphinx, going into the room as they heard a gurgled groan echo off the walls of the too quiet house. And a few seconds later he and San pulled Frank out and towards the car, Sphinx stepping to the side to let them pass.
Hex watched the recognition flash through the bigger runner's eyes before he turned to him, brow raised. Hex nodded grimly, watching Donnie take San's place as Raines spoke to the man.
"San you need to call the cops. We'll take him to the hospital . . . but this needs to be reported before someone finds out and does it for us. Hex?"
The Irishman turned, looking to Raines as he locked eyes with him.
"stay with him. And shoot anyone who isn't one of us or wearing a uniform. Got me?"
Hex nodded, turning to Sphinx as the man settled against the wall. Apparently he was staying too . . . but Christ how did they explain this?
Hours later, Sphinx pushed into his apartment with Memphis lagging behind him. The crew leader was covered in Frankie's blood . . . and he knew he was rattled. But then again it was the man's first Glasgow smile so he was entitled to be a bit shaken up. Sphinx had seen enough of them himself when he was in London, between the Pikies and the immigrants that would occasionally flit through the gangs or push through on their way to other cities . . . so the sight of the deep slice across Frankie's mouth hadn't been too shocking for him.
It was the fact that it was only done on one side. That was odd . . . almost like whoever had done it had been interrupted or stopped before they could finish. He sighed, shaking his head. Whatever happened and whoever did it beside the fact, Frankie wasn't ever going to be pretty again. If he lived through the night . . .
The man had been beaten nearly to death before they'd cut him . . . and he had enough broken bones and internal bleeding that he wasn't going to be out of the hospital anytime soon. And they had a damn sheet to run in two days time for Manday . . . He turned, looking Memphis over before shaking himself.
He didn't care how thin they were but he wasn't letting Ripley run. Period. This was too serious . . . and she wasn't getting in the middle of it. Not if he could help it. Memphis sighed, looking around the apartment before turning to him. And he noticed what the other man had. Where were the girls?
He stepped into the kitchen before shaking his head at what was waiting on him. The kitchen had been straightened and the dishes cleaned . . . and as he pulled the fridge open to grab a beer he noticed the note on the fridge.
I went to bed . . . Dinner's in the fridge. Love you.
He felt his face darken before Memphis's words made him stop and reconsider being angry. Maybe it wasn't so bad for her to do things like this after all . . . but he still didn't like the way it made him feel. He knew if they got too deep then things would go even more toxic when they finally soured . . . and seeing that she didn't mind doing stuff like this didn't thrill him the way it did the others. It made him feel trapped. He'd been on his own far too long . . . and another person trying to step in and take over things-even with good intentions-made him start to feel caged in. Like he had no control . . .
"Oh man. She made you dinner? And left you a sweet note? Fuck me. I'm gonna get yelled at for not bringing Sway and Ripley does this for you . . . You're lucky Sphinx. She really does right by you . . ."
Sphinx rolled his eyes but he looked the note over again as he handed Memphis a beer. He might not like the caged feeling but he could see Raines was at least partially right. Because he could imagine the fight Wayland would put up if anyone had expected this of her . . . He turned, going to move down the hall with Memphis right behind him. But neither were prepared for what was waiting behind his door.
Apparently they both gone to bed . . . Ripley had changed into those damned French shorts and her raw silk tank top, the pale pink of her panties shining through the black lace as she slept. And since Wayland hadn't planned to stay the night she was stripped down to her panties and that cropped black shirt. Which was a tank top . . . and he had to admit that the exposed skin and curves weren't a bad surprise to find . . . even with the random tattoos scattered across them. Her hair was wild and falling over the pillows, mingling with Ripley's lavender blonde curls. Both girls were turned to face one another . . . and almost snuggled together on top of his covers. God they were a sight . . . maybe he needed to let her call her nurse back after all.
He turned, watching Raines moan and take a long drink of his beer before shaking his head. And he found he agreed with the man.
"Damnation. Now that is something to come home to . . . It almost makes the blood and carnage worth it . . ."
Sphinx sighed, moving to wake Ripley up when Sway moved; yawning as she snuggled into Ripley as his girl tugged her closer. And he knew he had to get out of the room before he did something insanely stupid. Like try to fall in between them . . . as they slept. He looked up and Raines was already gone, marching down the hall as he grumbled. God Atley was never going to believe this . . .
