A/N - Sorry for the length between updates. Used to be pretty good at updating immediately, but life happens. I think a few days between chapters will be pretty average, maybe even a week or two. I always, ALWAYS have the next chapter written when I post one, but this time I haven't started chapter 6 yet, we will see if this lights a fire under my ass to write more. Bare with me! I plan on seeing this through :)

I woke up entangled in Eli's limbs. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn't all cuddles and sweet kisses. It was a fight to share a bed with him. I froze most of the night, and he was toasty; oftentimes curling the blanket around his entire body. I can only imagine this is what people warn you about when you share a bed with a child, except this child is a full-grown man who doesn't know what it means to share.

I pried myself out from underneath his arm and checked my phone. It was still early, not even 8 am yet. I figured I wasn't going to get much rest with this sleeping arrangement, so I headed to the kitchen with my laptop. I figured while he slept, I would do more research for his case.

I set my computer on the kitchen table and started a pot of coffee. Why did I assume things would be different today inside my mind? I took Eli to bed last night and he remained a perfect gentleman, a far cry from the "ride my big ol' hog" Eli from high school. It was nice. A knock on the door startled me and I spilled a bit of the water from the coffee pot. I tried to peer through the window, it appeared to be a bigger guy, but I couldn't make out his face. I debated going to wake up Eli but decided to grab my gun and put it on the table beside the door instead. I made my way to the door and noticed it was Hector. How did he know where I lived?

"Good morning." I spoke as I opened the door cautiously.

"Sup Blondie, Weevil around here?" He said as he looked all around the room behind me.

"Is he a danger to himself or others?" I weaved around the question. If I don't have to lie, I prefer not to. Hector may just walk into my trap.

"Just them teens he's selling drugs to." Hector's voice lowered. "He called me the day he was arrested and swore up and down that he wasn't dealing to kids but just yesterday I found his stash; drugs, money and everything in his bedroom."

"Odd how you'd tell me all this, considering we've maybe spoken five words to each other since 2006."

"A lot of people don't take me too seriously; they think I'm not all that bright, but I see and hear everything that goes around in the PCH world." He nodded and slowly took in my body, eyeing me from top to bottom. "Weevil's always had a soft spot for blondes with attitude or daddy issues." He shrugged. "From what I know, you got both." He chuckled.

"Alright Hector, what does this have to do with why you're at my door, early as fuck in the morning, gushing over all the illegal drugs you found in Weevil's room?" I said with irritation.

"Even if you deny it, I'm sure you're helping him in some way…" He trailed off. "I'm here to warn you that regardless of whatever he's told you, it's time for you to drop the case and come to the realization that he's a criminal; always has been and always will be. All us PCH'ers are, in our own way." He smiled lightly and walked away from the porch. I sighed with frustration.

Could he be right? Or could this be him saving his own ass by trading in Eli for his own safety? This case was making less and less sense as it dragged on and all hopes for me maintaining my sanity were gone. I, of course, had to get to the bottom of this, so I decided a wake-up call would be necessary.

"Alright, time to start talking, cabron'." My voice much louder than I had intended, but my blood boiled with fury. I didn't want to believe Hector, but Eli hadn't always been the portrait of honesty. He jumped and appeared visually startled.

"Cabron'? The hell did I do to you?" He rebutted. He rubbed his eyes, attempting to wake himself up.

"Care to share why I got a visit from Hector this morning?" This woke him up instantly, as he flew off the bed and walked past me to the front door. "Sorry Weevil, I invited him in for breakfast, but he had to get to church." I snarked. "He didn't stick around very long, he just decided to drop by and tell me about the stash of drugs and money that he found in your bedroom." I crossed my arms in front of me.

"And you believe him? Over me?" He questioned, still riled up knowing that Hector was here.

"I need you to tell me why I should believe you."

"Well, for starters, I told him I wasn't gonna be around much. I didn't tell him none of the details, but I told him I was gonna start moving away from that lifestyle and try to live straight." Eli sighed and sat on the couch. "He wasn't pleased, because I was the one that found them jobs, found them money when there wasn't any; believe it or not I was the responsible one there. You think those dummies know how to pay rent? Pay the electric bill? Hell no."

"Alright, Mr. Adult. Now that we've clarified that you believe you're the only one with common sense; ironic coming from an ex-gang leader, but I digress. Is there any truth to the drugs being found in your room?" He shrugged but remained silent. "What the hell does that mean? Listen, if I'm going to sacrifice everything to help you in bringing a drug lord down, you sure as shit better be honest with me." My voice shook. It wasn't out of weakness, but it took everything in me to stop myself from screaming at him.

"I had a stash of cash, he was right about that, but if there were drugs, they weren't mine."

"Ah, the ever so cliché response of 'no officer, these drugs aren't mine'" I retorted.

"V, as bad as shit has gotten financially, I have never once stooped to selling drugs. Let alone to kids. I've done some fucked up shit to get rich quick and I got a lot of regrets but drugs isn't one of them." I sighed.

"So, if it isn't you, is there someone in the house that would be selling?" I noted to revisit this angle later, barking the same accusation at him a hundred different ways wasn't going to help him come clean if he was behind this.

"There are a lot of people in and out of that house on a daily basis."

"Alonzo." I spoke confidently.

"Claudia's man? You think he has something to do with it?"

"Doesn't he seem the type? Do you even know three things about him?" I asked out loud as I paced the living room. "He never returned to Mexico after Penn was arrested, do you think he was given a new reason to stick around?" I questioned.

"He doesn't seem like the type, plus those two are pretty happy, he may have stayed for her."

"You gotta get out of that mindset, Eli." I spoke. "Not everyone is here for good reason, he worked for a crime lord down in Mexico, you don't think that guy could be branching out in California?" He thought on it for a while.

"He has been doing a lot for my sister these days…"

"Like what?"

"Nice dates, she got a lot of jewelry recently, he bought himself a bike…" He paused. "Maybe you got something here, V." I smiled, hoping that this would be the way to go and that Eli really was innocent.

"So, when they arrested you, what kind of proof did they have?"

"A kid gave him my name when he was in the hospital OD-ing." I cringed, having flashbacks of my name written on a washed-up body after the bus crash. "An 09er kid. He ended up dying that night, heroine laced with something. As soon as his heart stopped beating, the police thought they had enough to keep me in jail for drug-induced homicide charges, but I didn't have any drugs on me, no cash, nothin."

"I'll research the name of the kid who died and follow up on Alonzo and what he's known for in Mexico. He almost killed me and my dad, so he doesn't exactly scream 'heartwarming'" I spoke, the tension between us was still thick.

"Can we start today over?" He asked softly, as he grabbed my hand. I smiled lightly.

"I suppose we could…"

"Is this just a thing? Accuse your guy of crime?" He joked. He wasn't wrong, I had pretty much accused every boyfriend I had of crime in some way, shape or form.

"Only the ones that have been criminals." I shrugged. While Piz was the only one of my suitors that was squeaky clean; he was also the one that I lost interest in the fastest. Something about the bad guys always tugged at my heart strings.

"So, when I get clean and start my life over and stop the bullshit – you gonna find a new bad boy to keep you warm at night?"

"Why? You got a replacement in mind?" I winked. I, however, shuttered at the thought. Seeing reformed Logan was great at first. Having stability and safety all in one. But one day, I realized I missed the bad boy. I missed the bad ass that used to fight for me, all the time. I missed the one so damn passionate about something that nothing besides throwing punches would solve it. "Maybe if you keep your bike and leather jacket, you'll keep the badass vibes."

"I'll keep that in mind." Eli's thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing. "I gotta take this, I'll be right back." He said as he stepped outside. Curiosity took over and I wandered to the kitchen, slowly sliding the kitchen window open. It was who I was, he couldn't blame me for doing what I did for a living, right?

"I already told you I was done with that." Eli spat into the phone. I felt my brow furrow as I tried hard to figure out who he was talking to. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm no longer in the business." He spoke and he was silent for quite some time a sigh escaped his lips before speaking, "Did you talk to Hector about this?... Alright, I'll keep in touch." He hung up the phone and I stepped back into the kitchen, pouring two cups of coffee.

"You seem like a black coffee type; am I wrong or no?" I spoke as he came back inside. He glanced at the window and glanced to me.

"You think I was born yesterday?" His voice filled with anger. "What all did you hear and what kinda questions do you have for me?" He said, annoyed. I sat the cup next to him and pulled up the chair next to him.

"I can't help who I am. You get a sketchy phone call in the middle of all this and I worry, not only for you but myself since I'm in this with you now." I said as I slinked my hand over his. He didn't immediately pull his hand away, I took that as a good-ish sign.

"That was Clyde, guess there is more work to do if I wanna lower my standards." He said as he sipped on the mug.

"They get lower than they are now?" I joked, he didn't seem amused, his face fell. "What did he ask you to do?"

"He's connected with El Despiadado. I think that may have just verified that Alonzo is the one with the drugs. I gotta get him outta that house." He was furious.

"Eli! You can't go there; we need more evidence before we do anything further. I should be hearing from Matty by the end of the day with the real name of the kid who sells at her school, we need to be patient with this." I pleaded with Eli. I stepped in front of him to block the door. A rather funny sight, my small frame preventing a pissed man from leaving the house.

"Whatever you need to do, do it. Before I hunt his ass down and end up with a murder charge." He said as he walked away from me and back to the table.

"Come and sit with me and try to relax. I'm good at my job, I'm gonna get the right people locked up for this. I don't fail." I tried to reassure him as I patted the couch cushion beside me. As I did that, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the screen. "WALLACE 1PM" Shit. At least I had time to get ready and head out to meet him. "Alright, so change of plans." I stood as soon as he sat down.

"Hot date?" He joked.

"You know it." I smiled. "I love basketball playing physics teachers – Doesn't Veronica Fennell just sound dreamy?" I rolled my eyes. "I forgot I told Wallace I would meet him today to catch up. I'm not sure if you want to join?" I offered.

"I think I'll pass on that." He seemed distracted, and I was concerned about leaving him on his own after discovering that his family may have been in danger by allowing Alonzo to stay with them.

"Should I reschedule? I should reschedule. I don't think now is a great time." I spoke as I grabbed my phone, he quickly stood and grabbed both of my arms with his hands.

"There is no reason to reschedule your life because of this, I'm not gonna run over there and beat the shit out of them or anything. I have a little more self-control than that, I promise." I smiled and I put my phone back in my purse as he went back to this spot on the couch.

"I won't be out too late and when I get back, I should have all the details from Matty." I headed towards the door and stopped myself. I turned back around and walked over to him and knelt in front of him. "If you don't wanna wait up for me, I understand." I spoke softly and placed a kiss on his lips. "But I think I'm worth the wait." I kissed him again, lightly and winked as I stood up.

"Are all your goodbyes that hot?" Eli said, stunned look on his face.

"Nope, I save them just for my clients." I smiled brightly as I closed the door behind me.