Chapter 6

The Saints were back. There was no denying it now. It had been easy up to now to ignore it as they hadn't been flying colors, there hadn't been any deaths they could prove, and no one was snitching. Who would snitch? The bad neighborhoods were now decent enough that the only crime calls they had gotten were just from landlords who got beat for being slumlords. The landlords who quickly recanted less than a week later. It had been easy to ignore as it looked like the community had been coming together and cleaning up themselves. It had been easy to ignore as the old mission had reopened after decades of being closed and suddenly started serving the community. After all, no one is going to object to kids having full bellies and a new place to offload them. It was easy to pretend it was just the influence of a new church.

The scene of the casino in front of him was no work of a holy man, no, this was the work of a devil woman. Still the devil was capable of miracles he had to admit. A casino full of people on a Tuesday afternoon were strangely struck blind during the robbery and saw nothing. Amazing how a few thousand could make people blind. As he stomped on his cigarette he noticed a wayward hundred on the floor.

"Johnson, bag that," he yelled at the uni who had been pretending to work and had been waiting for him to turn away. Goddamn idiots didn't even know how to steal successfully from a crime scene. Christ, had he ever been that green.

"Chief Bradshaw, can we have a moment of your time?" He cringed, Jane was here already and in his scene.

"Get out of my scene and if you turn on that camera Manny, you'll be televising your colonoscopy for five o'clock!" He yelled at them. "Ron, Bill, escort them out of my scene!" He turned his back on them and walked to the security office. Normally he wouldn't be here but the mayor had demanded he be on this as the city's biggest business had stock in it. Ultor could shove their money. Especially their little punk CEO. He hated that fuck.

"We got the tapes up chief," the tech officer informed him.

"Why are you sitting under the desk?"

"Only place to plug in my laptop since someone stole my extension cord, just let me...here," the tech stayed under the desk as they balanced the laptop on the edge of the desk. "Just hit the spacebar to play."

"I know how to use one, I'm not that old," he grumbled.

His eyes were glued to Ang as the tape played, she was dressed in overalls, high visibility vest, had her red hair in a long braid down to the small of her back and was wearing an eye patch. Johnny and another were dressed similarly sans eye patch. No one paid attention to any of them as they moved through the casino, not even as they entered secure areas. They would have made a clean getaway if not for the Ronin who grabbed Ang by the hair. While there was no sound to the video, he could tell they thought she was Brotherhood due to her hair. No one ever believed it was the real color. He watched as her attempt to deescalate failed when Johnny pulled his gun. He had to suppress his laughter at the fire fight that followed as she was obviously telling him off. After they killed the Ronin, Ang hopped up on a poker table and started throwing money to the people who remained before leaving arguing with Johnny. Some things never change.

But still, a lot had changed, the planning that had went into this had been more than any of them had ever done. He noticed they kept their faces turned from the cameras, he only recognized them because he knew them. Normally they would have been flashy and shown off, this was new, this was dangerous. He was going to have to prepare for a new gang war. He sighed. Maybe he should just let them win and then deal with them like his predecessor had? He had a feeling he would end up the same way if he tried. Which left him with only one option. "Pull whatever images you can off of this."

"Already on it boss." Now to deal with Jane.

XXX

And like that, things were quiet again. No large purchases to launder the money, no shows of extravagance, no pop up signs of purple and even less crime than usual. He only noticed due to lack of paperwork from the assigned officers and was surprised it wasn't completely from their laziness.

He looked at himself in the mirror, without his uniform he doubted anyone would recognize him. The last few years had aged him, he doubted even Ang would recognize him unless she had been watching those horrible interviews with Jane. Satisfied with his drab clothes he left the house with a plan in mind. Less than a minute later he came back in and grabbed a hat. If he did run into Ang, he didn't want her to see his bald spot just yet.

Half an hour later, he was glad he wore the hat even if she didn't see him. Cleaning crews worked as far as six blocks away from the missionary, picking up litter, pressure washing sidewalks and buildings, even going so far as to pull weeds, cut greenery that had gone wild and some were even getting trees installed. Well at least he knew how she was cleaning the money now. If this kept up, in a few years this area would be selling more than downtown. He threw his cig in the newly installed receptacle he had been directed to with a broom to the shins after tossing it on the ground last time.

She was the only one who wore any Saint paraphernalia, the glittering emblem stitched into her eye patch catching the light every time she moved her head. Even Johnny had his tattoo covered. She directed workers, handed out materials, rotating through the various activities ongoing, occasionally disappearing inside before emerging full of energy again.

"So how long are you going to stand here like a creeper?"

"You're fucking lucky I have brown pants on," he complained as he rubbed his chest in a vain effort to slow his heart. She just huhummed him.

"You know Johnny's going to kill you if he sees you lurking here."

"He's too focused on charming people."

"Well everyone does love him," she cooed at him.

"I think that's just you Eesh."

"We both know how you felt," she said as she poked him in the ribs, "and how he felt."

"Eesh. Don't." He wasn't sure how many times they had this talk. Or rather she talked at him while he sulked over his beer. Standing here on the street he wasn't drunk enough to listen to it.

"You going to talk to her or what?" That was the question, wasn't it? He missed her, ached for her like a missing limb.

"No," he finally said. "Nothing's changed. She's a criminal and I'm a cop."

"No, you're a dumbass, getting twisted on some idiotic moral high horse that'll kick you down quick as shit."

"At least I have morals."

"And yet it's the Saints caring for people, not the cops." Before he could make what he knew would be a masterful comeback, she was pushing him away, just in time for a baseball to miss his head and embedded itself in the stucco behind him. Across the street, the ball game that had been going on was at a standstill due to the lack of ball, Ang stood there with a bat in hand, her eyes full of fire belying the smile on her face, she tossed the bat to another and another ball was brought out. She talked to several people, smiling and laughing as she made her way out of the game. The world narrowed down to just her as she sauntered across the street, the smile turning into a scowl when she was away from the crowd.

"Angel," he said softly when she was close enough that her familiar cinnamon scent hit him like a gut punch.

"Amant garçon," she purred at him. His hope soared for a moment, he ached to take her in his arms and bury his face in that hair of hers and tell her how much he missed her. She was in his arms faster than he expected as he caught her as she tripped on the cracked sidewalk. Time froze as he reveled in the feel of her again, his nose in that fragrant hair of hers, he never knew what she used in it and had missed that scent. He had so many words he wanted to get out, so much he needed to explain to her all of which died on his tongue as she cupped his cheek. Her hand was warm on his face, her thumb brushing his lips as she pressed her body against his. He was lost in her spell, leaning back against her, he wanted, no needed, to drown in her kisses until that anger in her eyes softened. He cradled her face in his palm, returning the caress on her lips, still so soft, he opened his to get out the words but was cut off as she pressed her lips to his. He was the one drowning. The spell was broken as the snick of a switchblade and feel of one pressed against his thigh broke through to his barely functioning survival sense.

XXX

I fucking love coke. It was amazing but had a very short period of effect. It was great for days when I needed to deal with too much, too many details that could get lost, too much to do and needed that focus, the clarity that came with it. Fortunately I was able to pick it up and put it down at any time and suffer no effects, I would return to the usual chaos of my brain. I knew it usually only lasted half an hour and should have ducked back in for another hit but instead I let my emotions get the better of me. I had launched that ball at him, which was a miracle in itself since I had no depth perception but it was only because of Eesh that it hadn't hit him. I would have to talk to her later about that much to my horror.

I wasn't quite sure what my plan had been but tripping hadn't been part of it. I wanted to play it cool before ripping out his heart but as always, I fucked it up. In his arms I weakened, I wanted to rip him apart but I also wanted to take shelter in him. I hated this feeling and I hated him for making my life so complicated and yet I still couldn't stop from touching him. And that horrible mustache of his. He had not taken care of himself while I was away. His skin felt rough and dry, his hair was down right coarse, and his breath stank of cheap cigarettes and yet I still pressed my lips to his, I still twined my tongue with his as I gripped his short hair at the back of his head and pressed my body against his.

I missed this. I missed him. It had been years for him but it was barely three months for me. My timeline almost as messed up as I was. He had betrayed me, this right here was all I was for him. That and my wallet. My anger returned at the thought forcing my lust and need to take a backseat and gave me the strength to pull a knife on him. It was laughable how quickly he stilled but still didn't pull away. No, he left that for me to do. I managed my most dazzling smile that I used for the press.

"The only reason I don't castrate you like the pig you are is I'm setting an example for the children and gelding the chief of police looks bad to parents," I said almost against his lips and gave him a closed mouth kiss. I couldn't help it. Why did this hurt so much? He was the bad guy, not me. I pulled away, taking his hat with me, it wouldn't be the last thing I'd steal from him. No, I was planning on taking everything from him. I turned away before he could say anything. Seven in, four out. I concentrated on breathing and walking away in a relaxed manner. I refused to let him see me breakdown. I refused to ruin what I built today and turn into a screaming harridan in the middle of the street. "Don't," I said with a raised hand when Johnny approached me when I rejoined the festivities. He raised a brow at me but shrugged. "The event is almost over, can you play hostess for the rest?"

"Of course, everyone loves me," he preened. "But we're talking about that shit later." We wouldn't be but I let it go as I went inside the mission. I grabbed one of the sledgehammers and made my way down towards the construction work. There were a few walls I could vent on. Might as well make this anger productive.

Xxx

It had taken three rooms before I couldn't stop the tears any longer. Now I just hurt on the inside and out. Why did he have to show up? Why did I kiss him like an idiot? He still wanted my body, that had been beyond evident, but I knew he didn't care about my heart, he never did. The sad stupid idea of buying his affection crossed my mind, after all, I would be taking over this city and having the police chief in my pocket and pants would go far in smoothing things over. I'd have to get my hands on that tape of his confession to his "sponsor" to play on loop until I got that dumbass idea out of my head forever. Why was I so stupid?

"Johnny does the same thing, you know?" I hastily swiped at my face as Eesh strolled through the broken mess.

"What?"

"Break things when he's upset. Though he mostly sticks to these little clown statues." She held her hands about six inches apart.

"Clowns?"

"Oh yeah, he's terrified of them," she chuckled as she joined me on the floor. "You feel better?"

"Not really," I said with a laugh that was only five percent humor. "You shouldn't have moved him out of the way."

"We both know you'd feel worse than you do now and you would have ruined today," she said gently as she petted my hair. "Anything I can do to help?" She asked.

"Make me forget about Troy?"

"I suppose I could hit you with that hammer," she offered. I shook my head leaning against her.

"I probably have enough brain damage." I probably did have something wrong up there. I hated the look of concern on her face, why did she care when he didn't? "I don't know what to do, it's not like you can kiss it better."

"I'm up for trying," she said before tenderly kissing me. Her lips were so soft and she tasted so sweet, so very different from Troy. After a while I shifted and pulled her into my arms wanting, no needing, more contact with her, she obliged, pressing against me, rubbing against me, making me ache. I ran my hands down her back hesitating for a moment before cupping her well endowed ass. She moaned into my mouth as she ran her one hand down my body to cup my breast. "Is it helping?" She whispered against my lips.

"The other night wasn't a dream, was it?" She shook her head and kissed me again.

"I liked watching you squirm."

"So was that hickie from me?"

"No, it was Johnny. You gave me one here though," she said as she pulled her shirt over her head, it was less than a hickie and more of an imprint of my teeth on the swell of her breast. I didn't remember biting that hard.

"Johnny. Shit, Eesh, I can't,"I floundered for words. He was basically my only friend and here I had his woman on my lap topless and my hands on her ass.

"Angelique, he knows. I don't hide anything from him. I know about all of his little flings and he knows mine," she said as she started unbuttoning my shirt. "Sometimes I join him and sometimes he joins me, depends on the person." She kissed my neck between words.

"Fling?"

"This can just be about sex or it more, it's up to you, Angelique." She cradled my face in her hands, her eyes locking with mine. "We won't do anything you don't want to."

"I don't know what I want, I loved him so much and it hurts," I brokenly confessed. I couldn't deal with this much comfort when I hurt like this. "I'm sorry."

"Oh honey," she wiped my tears with her thumbs before kissing me. "How about I make you cry from pleasure and then we'll go and get some froyo?" I couldn't help the laugh that escaped and nodded. Her smile was warmer than the sun as she pushed me down on the floor. Surrounded by the wreckage I had caused, a great metaphor for my life, she made me feel better. She made everything better. The froyo also helped.