The Saints had the totality of the drug market at Frat Row, and were starting to make a name at other territories as well. With The Ronin out of the way, in no time they would be prominent in that field, if it wasn't for the fact that The Samedi still held their fame for a reason.

That's the thing with gangs, of you don't expand and cripple any concurrents, you're quickly out of business. In that purpose most orders that came from The Boss that season usually concerned fucking with other gang's production. It started with the burning of their drug farm, and now, Shaundi just gave them a heads up about more drug labs at the Elysian Fields.

After lunchtime, we'll find Gat and his best friend gladly tasting the joys of pyromania, making huge trailers jump several meters in the air at each explosion they caused.

Even if Gat had already ringing in his ears from all the mess they did, he still could make the difference between it and the ring tone coming from the Boss' pocket, and warned her between two shots.

A warm sensation started to spread from her chest as she retrieved the object, reading the name displayed on the screen.

She withdrew from the scene to answer it, taking shelter behind a van:

'Good morning...'

The place was noisy but one could still tell the voice on the other side was more than happy:

'Holla querida. Did you sleep well?'

She found herself smiling at the loving vibe emanating from each word.

'Very well. But, not a lot...' She said playfully.

Carlos chuckled a bit.

A loud burst coming from Johnny's Kurkov interrupted briefly the conversation.

'Sorry. Gat just killed a Samedi.'

'Where are you?'

'Popping some junk at the fields.'

'Listen, do you think we can meet today? Wanna grab a bite?'

'I'd love to.'

'Cool. Meet me at the Centennial Beach tonight?'

'Great. I'll see you there.'

'Boss?'

'Yup?'

'Miss you. Take care.'

'Later Papi.'

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'Knock knock.' Shaundi poked her head at the semi-opened door of the room and found The Boss coming out of the shower in her robe.

'I'm busy, not now…! Oh, Shaundi. Thank God.' She whispered in relief. 'Give me five to get ready and meet me at Tee N Ay!'

Shaundi was so excited to hear the news she made her way to the bar really fast, in no time she reached Club that was indeed a few blocks away from the Crib.

'Hey you look great.' She took sit next to The Boss, who was wearing a very feminine dress, diving her hand in the complementary bowl of cheetos.

The Boss wasted no time to order and grasp the first bottle of wine, drinking it directly without even waiting for the bartender to give her a glass.

'Why so nervous, what happened? Oh, let me guess you and...'

'...What happened? Well Shaundi, I will tell you what happened: I fucked Carlos, that is what happened! No! that is not accurate.' She corrected, chuckling nervously. 'I actually made love to Carlos.'

'Oh my, I am glad I am sitting.' Shaundi said, shocked. She smelled smoke alright, but it turned out to be the burning of Rome.

The Samedi lieutenant drew a long breath, regaining herself. 'You actually said…!'

'...Don't repeat it!'

'Ok, ok! Don't freak out. I knew you liked him. You were just too dumb to realize it. It was a matter of time if you ask me…'

'...What?!'

'Hey, I saw it, if he screws up you're never mad at him, but with me and Pierce… Not that I am complaining, but you never reacted the same. Besides, what am I saying? I never screw up, now Pierce, that's another thing.'

'Not helping.'

'Listen, I know we don't know each other for that long.' Shaundi. 'But you can trust me for that. She grabbed The Boss' arm to stop her from playing nervously with the butterfly knife she always had in her pocked and continued.

'It will be ok. How are you feeling?'

The Boss rested her head on the counter and sighed heavily.

'To be honest… I feel fucking great. And I want it to keep going.'

'Oh. With Max, was it like this?'

'It was great but no, not the same.'

'Wow. Carlos might not be the best lieutenant, but I guess when it comes to sex, he makes up for it.' Shaundi teased.

The Boss nodded, a small laugh rocking her body.

'What are you going to do now? I mean, what will you guys do? Does Gat know about it?'

'No, but Gat is the least of my worries.'

'I see.' Shaundi could foresee the complications of announcing this romance for the gang. 'Keep it quiet for now. See where it goes. Well, knowing how Carlos feels about you it's easy to know where he wants it to go.'

'You right, it's been only a few months since I put this crew together, it will have to wait a little. At least 'till I figured this out.'

'While you do, we should order another round. Barry!'

'Just one, 'cause, uh, I have to be be somewhere in an hour. Make that another bottle for me and a mojito to my friend'

'Dressed like that? Don't have to ask what you're gonna do and who's gonna join you.'

'I was right to hire you for your logic skills.' The Boss joked as she passed one arm friendly around Shaundi's shoulder, more at ease now and clearly in a good mood. 'Going to the ladies, don't drink all my wine dear.'

As she left, Shaundi thought, shaking her head:

'Boss I've never seen you like this. Play it cool all you wish, you're falling your ass in love with our little Carlos.'

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Shaundi didn't know, but to be honest in the last few minutes, I wasn't feeling well. My head was turning and I felt like throwing up.

I went to the bathroom to splatter my face in cold water, thinking it was because of alcohol even if I just had a bottle of wine (which for me was like drinking water). While I was washing my hands, I checked my face in the mirror, and was disturbed to see how freaking pale it was.

I left the ladies room and tried to make my way back to Shaundi, but my legs failed me and I stumbled, falling heavily on the red carpet.

I felt hands pulling me up. Some guy I've never seen before was next to me, caring me by the waist.

'Oh, honey, you had too much to drink again...'

He turned to a stripper that tried to help too and said, smiling:

'Thank you. Don't worry, I'm her husband. I'll take her home.'

I tried to protest and push him away, shot him if needed, but it was like my body was frozen.

He pulled me along to the street and disarmed me, shoving me in the back of a car waiting outside.

When I woke up I was cuffed to a pipe, at what seemed to be a garage. He and other three unknown men were smoking and talking to each other.

I pushed my mind to think clearly, reacting to the narcotic effect so I could figure what the hell was going on. I expected a push back from the part of The Samedi, but none of them was wearing green.

They were cops, it was safe to assume by looking at their ways.

The guy from the nightclub was at the phone, surely with someone who had the power to muffle whatever result this situation could have; I knew it wasn't Troy, he would never allow such things and specially against a member of our gang. 'Till today I don't know for sure who was on the other side of that line, but you don't have to be a genius to suspect a recurring name, one that had the power to magically erase dirty deeds in this city when it interested him: Dane Vogel.

'We have a green light boys.' The guy said, as he hung up.

He was a middle aged, short man, leaning on a crutch. He seemed more than happy as he stopped in front of me.

'Now you can't hide behind your men.'

I looked at the three other guys encircling him meaningfully, and answered with a chuckle:

'Something we don't have in common.'

'Do you know who I am?'

'Do I give a shit?' I sighed.

'I am the guy that, thanks to you bitch, can't stand on my left leg anymore.'

Now, really. Did he expect me to do what? Apologize for it?

'Why don't you untie me and then I'll see what I can do about the right one.'

He was infuriated by this answer and slapped me straight, but I saw clear disappointment in his face.

Maybe he expected me to try and plead for my life. Fuck him.

He kept beating me up, and soon his friends came to second his blows and bringing him a nightstick to facilitate the task.

For the first time since I became prominent in the Saints, must confess, thought that it would be it.

Not because I was afraid of what they could do to me, but because I couldn't see a single, slight possibility of getting out of this situation. I wasn't afraid of death itself as I was on the end of impunity and getting my way through everything. This was it, I was dying like that? But I was only getting started.

Of course the idea of been at the mercy of some bastards who hated my guts and were eager to watch me suffer was not comforting. But I never really cared for physical pain that much. I waited for those dicks to knock me unconscious, sooner or later.

Once in a while he stopped to taunt me, maybe expecting to break me up so he could impress his men.

Finally, he hit me so hard on the stomach that it took my breath away.

I dunno if you ever been hit real hard on the stomach, but it's one of the most uncomfortable places you can receive a 'chingadaza'*. Besides the pain, you also feel something like a strong cramp and you have a hard time to breath. Fuck, this one was done by an expert arm.

With this the real pain started to get to me and what was left of my sense of humor disappeared, I was beginning to be really fucking mad, mind starting to cloud in impotent rage.

'Go get a cock implant, hijueputa.' I could barely curse, my breath running out.

'You know for a two dime gangster whore you are really pretty.' He said. 'I'm sure you won't mind that we have a little fun first. And of course, since you are a filthy hisp we'll wash later, after we've dumped your body somewhere.'

He ripped my dress, letting me only with a bra and for an awful moment I actually felt more exposed than ever. My hands did an involuntary movement to free themselves from the pipe, a sudden instinct to cover myself. However I wasn't going to give them any more satisfaction than they already had and did my best not to show how much it bothered me.

I understood immediately he wanted to do a little peep show of testosterone to impress his buddies.

Next, he grabbed my chin so hard I had to squint my eyes in pain and kissed my mouth brutally.

I bit it, hard, so much that I could feel his blood squirting like fuck in my mouth, part of his tongue gone for good. But hey, what is a tongue compared to a leg, right? I just spat all the blood in his face as he stumbled back with a painful scream.

The reaction to this was brutal but I preferred the physical pain, that I was used to, to the other thing. Whatever they wanted to do with my unconscious body was fine, but not while I was there to feel it.

Soon the punches and kicks were pilling and overlapping, so much I could no longer make a difference between one blow and another.

I didn't make any effort to dodge, hoping to black out soon.

At some point I was kicked hard on the head, it wasn't enough to make me black out, yet I knew I couldn't afford it a second time.

One of the guys was careless enough to get too close to me, and even if my state wasn't the best, my rage was such I still had the strength to dig my teeth at his exposed throat.

As he contorted like a crazy, I found most satisfying to feel that I've seared something, something that I hoped it was an artery. If I was to go, oh I wasn't going to go alone.

They separated me from their friend, leaving in a hurry to take care of him as he screamed that he didn't want to die and kept spreading blood all over.

When I found myself alone I started to pull down with my wrists, maybe the old pipe would come off the wall and I could free myself. I knew that at least one of them would be back in no time.

Except, the effort made me black out...

But who knows why, my time wasn't there yet.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

No one suspected, but another well known cop was very close, in hiding.

Max was parked outside the garage inside the delivery truck he used whenever he didn't want to draw attention. For weeks now he was on the trail of those guys, that much to his regret, were his co-workers.

Gambling, prostitution, drug trafficking. It was hard to name an illegal activity in the city whose branches didn't converge to at least one of them. Everyone at the PD knew who they were, but nothing was officially done.

Yet, true to his nature, Max couldn't keep away from trouble for long. He decided to conduct a private investigation with Troy's agreement.

He saw their car leaving the garage hastily. Looked like one of the guys were hurt. He waited until the car turned around the corner to get out of the truck and carefully made his way inside, pistol in hand.

Max gazed around to see if he could find something that would give away the reason for the Stilwater's finest to visit and leave that place in such a hurry.

After he made sure that there was no one left in the spot, he began looking for clues. It seemed like they used that place to remove pieces to what he assumed, were stolen cars. A detour to the small office at the mezzanine showed that he wasted his trip this time. Nothing was kept here, not even receipts or registers whatsoever.

He was about to leave, but then took notice of something that he didn't see on his way in: Large stains of blood on the ground. He followed the bloody trail, only to stop in surprise at the sight of someone hanging from a pipe. It was a woman, head down showing that she was dead or at least unconscious. He hurried to see if there was still something that could be done, and as he quickly placed a hand on the girl's neck to see if there was any pulsation, she groaned and rose her head.

Max's astonishment got even bigger. He recognized his ex almost immediately, even if her face had blood all over it.

'Bastards!' He spat in fury, hands shaking as he touched her head carefully.

'For a guy my age I saw about 200 people's share of violence in a lifetime. It's hard to get impressed after you witnessed first handed a guy being burned alive while having his body trapped on tires, for instance. But this was something I could never get used to: Seeing women get beaten up. Specially if I had a bond to them. Maybe it reminded me of my mother been hit by my father, or maybe it was just because it was too unfair. Of course this girl didn't fit the helpless category, I knew what she was capable of. They probably had a debt to call with her. Still, I didn't give a damn. I felt really bad for her. I knew that I was never shy when it came to pilling stupid deeds, but of course, dating a gang leader was in any case close to the top of the pyramid. And now, like always, found myself involved into another mess.' He sighed, now thinking of John's crew: 'When you see your colleagues cuff someone that was supposed to be dealt with by the law to a pipe, beat them up for kicks and call it justice, well, you just know that you ended up in the wrong place again.'

He looked around, his gaze falling on the object of his choice. With the help of a plier found in a tool box, he opened the thin chain that linked the cuffs, and The Boss slid to the floor.

Max approached, his anger raising the more he was aware of their brutality.

She had a split lip and a cut on her brow, trails of dry blood down her face. but he knew this stuff would heal pretty quickly. What startled him was the fact she was spiting a bit too much blood for his liking.

'Are you ok?'

She opened her eyes groggily and glanced at Max, recognizing him, and smiled in relief.

'Max... Good to see you...' She started, speaking very slowly. 'Don't give me that look. Hey. I'm alright.'

He knew this was worst than she made it look.

'Well, you don't look all right. What is it? You can't breath?'

She shook her head and whispered: 'I can, but my side fucking hurts.'

'Ok don't speak. I will help you getting out of here.' He stated, and tried to keep her as comfortable as possible, taking off his jacket and putting it over her shoulders. Max also removed his tie and placed it under her head.

'Thanks.'

'I knew the crew enough to waste my time asking her who helped him to do this. There she was, lying face down on the floor, spiting blood on the cuff of her shirt, and judging by the look of it, they wanted to do a bit more than just beat her up. I had enough contact with these assholes to know it was more about sick pleasure than just doing physical damage. People like them get high on inflicting humiliation, even more when the target is a female men like them would never get.

That was is it I thought. I'm getting her out of here. For once I was right on time, it was now or never. Of course it was easier said than done. They would be back soon, probably eager to resume their little game, I had to be quick.'

He caressed her hair with one compassionate hand and asked:

'If make a call, you think your crew will believe me and pick you up?'

She coughed and spit something on the floor.

'Piece of a back tooth.' She explained. 'Call Johnny. He will come.' And she gave him a number.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

All the crew was out looking for the Boss. A full night and half a day went by since Shaundi entered the hideout in exasperation to warn Gat that she was missing.

So far no news.

In the main room a few lieutenants were, Tobias and his wife were there too.

He and Laura were old friends of the gang. Toby had a pilot's license and in case they needed a chopper, he decided to camp there and be available.

Shaundi just got off the phone after calling her giant list of exes –for the fourth time. No one had the slightest idea. It was like she was kidnapped in that strip club by some sort of alien lord and taken away from earth.

Pierce was sitting down with his notebook, elbow in the table and a hand in his forehead, concentrated. His expression wasn't very hopeful, and clearly he was only double checking something just to be sure.

'Fuck. If she left 'find my Iphone' activated, it would help. It's offline.'

Carlos was out to Chinatown with his crew. He heard something about an unusual Samedi activity and almost out of his mind with worry, was hoping it had something to do with her.

Gat was walking from side to side under the winged statue, unable to hide his worry as well.

Since Eesh died he tended to expect the worst, and now couldn't shake away the feeling that he wouldn't see his best friend again.

He was sleep deprived but charged with an insane amount of energy. He also tried everything he could, killing a couple of people in the process, but no success. He hated this inactivity, the others could take the waiting. He couldn't.

He saw Carlos arriving with two guys from his crew, looking exhausted. One look at them was enough to understand it was a wasted trip.

'It was only a drug deal. We put the screws on some Samedi. Nada. I don't think it was them.' He said, and sat at the tip of the couch, not knowing what else to try.

'This is insane.' Pierce shut his notebook down. 'No sign of her, anywhere.'

'Well maybe it's because you aren't looking enough!' He roared back. 'If you would try something more efficient than you dollhouse tactics shit, we would at least have a hint of where she is!'

'Easy Gat!' He answered.'I'm also worrying my ass since the Boss went missing! Shaundi was here with me, ask her how I was looking for every fucking thing I could.'

'I just can't stand here sitting on my ass while someone might be killing her right is it, you bitches stay here and do what you can. I'm going to look for her. ' He said reaching for his rifle at the table and loading his pockets with grenades.

'Johnny, where would you go if you also don't...' Shaundi said, placing herself at the other side of the table and reaching out to him.

'... will think of something, will question the entire two gangs if needed, I'm not going to wait until all we can find is her body!' He waved the gun in the air, heading to the exit.

'I'm going with you.' Gat heard a voice behind him and turned to see who it was.

'Good...lets go, Carlos.'

But as the two made a few steps forward, he heard something ringing.

His own cellphone.

Everybody froze. He reached for it in his pocket.

'Unknown number.' He looked up to Shaundi, Pierce and Tobias who all got up their seats. 'Hello?'

There was a man's voice on the other side of the line. He sounded like he was in a hurry.

'Johnny? It's Max. She is with me at a garage in Black Botton. Listen, I need you to send someone to pick her up... quickly?'

He covered the mic and said 'It's Max.' Then passed walking between the others that formed a circle around him silently, trying to listen to the conversation.

Gat didn't seem convinced, in spite of everything he knew about Max, he couldn't bring himself to fully trust someone who played both sides. Too close to what Troy did.

'Oh yeah Payne? And how do I know that you are not bullshiting me? For all I care this could be a trap.'

There was a brief silence on the other side and he heard Max's reply:

'You don't. You have to trust me. If she doesn't leave right now...'

Johnny stopped and posed his rifle on the floor, listening.

'...The guys are going to kill her. If you don't want to come I will move her by myself but it will be harder... She will need medical care and I know you can get it faster than I could. I can't call an ambulance. The first place they'll look for her is at the hospital.'

Gat pounded hard on the wall, a bit of cement falling off and landing on his shoes, but he didn't seem to mind the pain of hitting his knuckles into solid concrete.

'How bad is she hurt? Who did this? Those pricks have no idea of what i will do to...'

Max cut him short before he lost all his temper.

'Look, she will be alright she is a tough girl. Just come.'

Johnny nodded to himself, ready to take action. He didn't need any more convincing.

'I'm there in a few minutes. You better, oh, you better be right about that.' He groaned.

'I will be waiting for you at the back, come as fast as possible.'

Gat hung up and without waiting went straight for the door:

'Toby, Carlos you're with me. Shaundi and Pierce, get our ambulance ready and park it next to the Stilwater Caves. I will call you.'

'Wait, what the hell is...!' Pierce started, but they were gone already.

He didn't waste any time and hurried up to the parking, Shaundi just behind him.

'Man.' He complained to Shaundi as he seated on the driver's seat. 'Why do they never tell us what the fuck is going on around here?'

looked at him and shrugged helplessly, fastening her seat belt. 'Pff.. I dunno. Why do I always have to ride with you?'

'Don't get it started...'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Max walked away from the public phone, satisfied with the results of that call.

He waited at the small building's entrance, his eyes on the parking lot paying attention to the slightest car around. He drew a smoke, reminding Gat's tone when he learned that the Boss was injured.

'They were going to pay. This Johnny was no fool, nor ordinary criminal. This was not just an insult to his gang. They messed with his best friend. I knew my actions would result in some sort of sinister vendetta and also knew that street gangs never make it look pretty. But who was I to judge them? At that moment I think I would have done it myself if I could. They had it coming. Maybe this was nature's way of getting rid of the huge pile of shit that was accumulating in this district. Or maybe I came to a point where I can't tell right from wrong anymore. Now I was about to let the number one in our 'Wanted' list go free, but did I feel any remorse? I don't think so.'

What a night.

No sign of the Saints so far.

'Tough gal' He thought, and couldn't help but feel tenderness and a lot of respect for her as he watched the smoke rise in the air.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile three Saints were inside a Magma. It was going at such a high speed it looked like it was flying, instead of actually touching the asphalt. Gat drove insanely through the streets, though as quietly as possible, no power-sliding, no hitting anything. Toby and Carlos were holding up tight at every turn, hands also steady on their guns.

'So do you think this could be a trap?' Toby asked, pushing smoke quickly through a blunt he just took from his pants and lit in a hurry.

'Each person has his own way of dealing with a crisis' Johnny thought, asking himself if he've seen that dude sober. Toby was like this, lifted all the time but reliable. It was easy to forgive him for his eventual side effects.

'I don't think so.' Carlos answered firmly at the back seat. Gat shifted his attention to him now. This kid hardly shared his opinions, probably because he was too unsure of himself to do so, this time though he seemed less shy. Maybe he was too worried to be minding anything else. Actually during this whole crisis he was the Lieutenant who showed more initiative and perseverance. He knew how much Carlos was devoted to the boss, maybe more than everyone else.

'I kind of trust the guy's word, what do you think?' He asked Johnny.

They had to jump a little in their seats, shortly interrupted by Tobias, who was now screaming out of nowhere (this is some fast shit he is smoking!) 'I'M GONNA KILL THE BITCH WHO DID THAT TO THE BOSS!'

They just ignored him as usual, but Carlos had the precaution to close his window to avoid getting high too from the smoke he was blowing outside. Despite of the tension of the situation, both men had to smile for a second.

'As a matter of fact' Johnny started while bypassing a truck by the oncoming lane. 'I kind of do too. By the time he was working with the Boss she told me he was a very nice guy. If she can trust a cop after Troy, she must have her reasons.'

'Really?' Carlos said, sounding disappointed.

The young man frowned. Back then he always wished to know more about the Boss' relationship with this guy. Now, he didn't want to hear any of it. Did they hit it off while working together? He suspected before, now he was pretty sure. Did he still like her? Probably at least a bit, judging by his behavior today. He couldn't help feeling jealous, hating the fact that that intimidating man was near to the woman he now considered his.

Well, the guy was helping her, she was alive and that was more important than anything now...

When they reached the place, Gat slowed down and cautiously entered the parking.

The guys spotted a tall guy in some grey pants and a white shirt casually smoking outside.

It was Max.

As soon as he saw them in the car, he threw his cigarette away and made a sign meaning they could enter. After checking if no one else was coming he let them pass first and half closed the door behind them. The three were still suspicious, but they just followed Max through the building, hands ready on their guns.

Almost running, Max reached a corridor and then descending stairs. He finally opened a steel door, and room full of carcasses of cars appeared before their eyes.

Someone was lying on the floor, carefully covered with a leather jacket.

'Boss! 'Johnny called.

Carlos was hurried to her side, down on his knees to check on her.

He muttered 'Gracias' while he quickly kissed the big cross hanging on his chest.

'No, don't pick her up like this.' Max guessed what he was about to do, and warned. 'Put her left arm over your shoulder.'

Tobias stepped in to help and both easily raised The Boss, one on each side. This drew an involuntary yelp of pain from her, making them stop.

'Its ok boys, I'm straight. Let's move.' She whispered.

They nodded and brought her all the way up , Johnny behind keeping a guard and Max charging in front in case they would bump into someone. Luckily no one showed up and they could easily reach the parking again. From there they put her on the back seat of the Magma, carefully lying down with her head on Carlos legs.

'Easy. Easy. There you go.' Gat closed the car's door and Tobias got inside too, waiting for him to drive them back.

Before going inside, The Saints' second in command quickly grabbed Max's shirt by the shoulder, then tapped repeatedly on it to remark his gratitude.

'Thank you Max.' Gat lowered his head to face him and he could see his eyes coming out behind the glasses. His voice was low, but strong 'If you ever need something... Now, tomorrow, or in 30 years, the Saints are ready to take your orders.'

Max tapped him back once on the arm.

'No problem. Just take good care of her and try to keep out of trouble.'

Gat nodded and entered the car hastily.

'Give me news when you're better.' Max said to The Boss, knocking his hand on then car's back window.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Before they have done the whole itinerary in 3 minutes or so. Now that Gat was driving much slower it took them more than ten just to get close to the caves, where the other guys were waiting with an ambulance fully equipped to treat the Boss' wounds. He did it on purpose so she wouldn't feel too uncomfortable back there. Even though he seemed quite calm, a storm was happening in his mind. If the Boss didn't need him now, he would probably be breaking or killing something just to try to placate his fury until the time would come and he could put his hands on the people responsible for her beating. And when he did –he smiled with savage delight, picturing what he would inflict on them- Oh, that would be a whole other story.

'You're as good as dead.' He promised.

He would plan something sweet for those scumbags, oh, yes he would...

On the back seat, Carlos was holding her carefully.

He whispered in her ear, discreetly placing a kiss on her hair, holding her hand more tightly. 'I was so worried about you... Thank God you're ok baby. Let me take care of you now.'

But very unpleasant feelings were also fighting inside him. At first he was minding more being of her assistance and staying at her side.

But in the back of his mind, beyond the relief that she was ok, something was working up.

He saw the way she was hurt, her dress rip open, even if Max thoughtfully covered it up with his jacket. He couldn't stop guessing what exactly they did to her, and how they did it. Every single bruise on her skin or rip in her clothes would open a painful possibility in his mind.

He thought that even if 50 years passed by he still wouldn't be able to remember it without feeling this in his chest. It was something new, a pure and concentrated hatred he never thought it could be felt. This thing was a creature on its on, it had no control, reason could do nothing against it...

He had a tremendous, sudden will to kill everyone who dared to see or touch her like this : those cops, Max, Johnny and Tobias, like it was their fault too, and got intoxicated with the childish thought that if he did so it would erase all that happened.

'I'm going to get the bastards who did this. I swear carino.' He whispered again, trying to sound as calm as he could, but his voice was strangled with the rage of his thoughts.

She pressed her hand more into his and smiled, sensing that he was the one that needed comfort the most now.

They were interrupted by Gat's voice:

'Yo man, put it off. You just had one.'

'It's not for me it's for the Boss.' He and Tobias were talking in the front and the last one passed something to her.

'I guarantee it will make your pain fade until the pain killers get there, my little sweetie.' The hippie said, incarnating the concerned uncle.

'Yeah!' She nodded with delight and approval, speaking more than she should. 'You are always a man with a plan Toby... Max gave me pills.' She accepted the blunt and sucked in the smoke.'I wonder what will happen when I mix...'

Gat growled disapprovingly, looking back on the rear view mirror at the sight of the Boss: All fucked up and smoking a doobie while having coughed blood 5 minutes ago.

'Not that I have never seen you do stupid stuff before... ' He stated sarcastically. 'But don't you think this is a bad idea?'

'Ah, Fuck it!' She said waving her hand forward, and kept smoking.

Gat knew her enough to don't bother pushing it further. It was useless. The Boss was used doing things at her will, and would tell any opposition to back off in a less than pretty way.

To his surprise he saw Carlos take the hemp away from her hand and throw it off the window.

'Are you serious Boss?' Carlos scowled.

Gat made a face, impressed , as he thought: 'What is going on with this kid lately?'

He saw the Boss growl in annoyance, but do nothing more than to fall back to her place quietly.

He knew she had the habit of being more easygoing with Carlos than with any other Lieutenant, but this was unusual.

And despite the fact he just witnessed this less than usual fact, he would never be prepared to what followed on the mirror.

He saw distinctively Carlos pushing her hair away and whispering something to her ear in a way that was a tad too intimate.

And the Boss... Well, she would pull closer and finally kiss his lower lip lightly with the side of her mouth that wasn't hurt.

He couldn't watch further because Toby was screaming something to him, but he had seen enough.

'Loooooook out !'

'Wow!'

His attention snapped back to the road and he turned the wheel just in time to avoid a Cheetah Bus, loaded with old people, now screaming behind them.

'WTF? WTF?! What the hell is happening here?! Yeah cuz either I am high from Tobias' shit or... The Boss and Carlos... ' -And the tiny, initial thought became epic- '... Are fucking doing it.'

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* Slang for strong hit.