Chapter 25: The War for the 3rd Ward
New Arcadia (2 Days Later)
The sun had long since risen on this day in New Arcadia as Alison found herself finally opened her eyes to the sight of sunlight coming in from the window and illuminating her body in its golden glow. Upon looking around the room she quickly realized that she was again waking up to a new day in the room that was not her own.
These last few days have been filled her with sadness and grief over the deaths of Malik and his grandmother. Whenever she played back the events of that day she couldn't help but come to the conclusion that their deaths were her fault. She may not have killed them, but she did bring them out to a serial killer who shown that he's no stranger to killing innocents in cold blood.
She didn't just blame herself for their deaths she also blamed Steve. If he would have just allowed her to bring them both in for questioning the duo may still be alive. This shared blame also caused a sense of anger towards the man almost to the point where she didn't want to see him. So instead of going home after discovering the bodies of Malik and his grandmother she found herself going to the one person who would always make her feel good.
After groggily blinking and turning to look down at herself in the bed she quickly noticed that she was only wearing a light grey tank top and pair of light grey underwear. It was Spring this time of year and it got rather warm out in the spring and from what Mark told her it mostly rained in the winter and summer months especially June. Unlike Waston she never really experienced hot weeks of pouring rain, weeks filled with cold air and snow was one thing but raining and warm seemed weird when she said it out loud.
The FIB Agent then quickly rolled over to the side of the bed to look on the floor next to her. She had basically came to Mark looking for comfort and he gave it, but he didn't give her sex or so much as a kiss no matter how bad he wanted to. The first night he was able to power through sleeping next to her, but last night he was insistent on sleeping on the floor especially when it got hot and they both had to nearly strip out of their clothing.
To her surprise though the Louisiana Creole was nowhere in sight. The clothes he'd layed out for himself the night before and his shoes were also missing. With this revelation Alison quickly jumped form the bed and dressed herself in blue button up shirt, khaki pants, and dark blue shoes with a heel at the back. It was her off day so she didn't have to bother with dressing fancy today.
After making her way out of the room Alison quickly walked into the kitchen of the home where she noticed Lee and Link sitting at the kitchen table eating plates of eggs and bacon.
"Morning." Greeted Link earning a smile from Alison.
"Morning to you both." She replied before looking into the empty living room.
"Mark made breakfast before he left so you can help yourself." Stated Lee causing Alison to look to the Chinese man.
"Great, but where'd he go?" she asked.
"He had to look into something, you know after all that shit that went down at the docks you can bet Joe's shitting bricks." Lee stated earning a slight nod from Alison. She'd forgotten that Malik and his grandmother being killed by the serial killer weren't the only big things that happened in New Arcadia.
There was also a gun battle at the docks that night between New Arcadia Gangsters in what people were only saying as a drug deal gone bad. Things were still sketchy to her, and she figured Mark knew more about it then he was letting her know. She liked somethings that way, but not this mostly because it meant something big was happening and he was keeping her out of the loop from it.
"Well did he at least take someone with him?" she asked while eyeing the duo closely.
"Yeah he took Miller." Link answered with a smile. "But don't worry he's in the 17th and nobody would make a move in his territory." He added earning a slight nod from Alison who looked to the floor before moving to the pots to fix herself some breakfast.
17th Ward
Things were calm in the in the Holly Park Neighborhood of the 17th Ward. It was calm but upon closer inspection one would see that it was calm because everyone was on their guards.
The 17th Ward didn't have any high rise housing projects like other wards and some parts of the ward had been slowly gentrified over the years so Holly Park was one of the last few ghettos left in the area and if you looked on almost every corner there seemed to be a gangster on the streets. They weren't hustling, no they were waiting for something to jump off.
The attack on the 4th Ward by the Azteca's and Vagos caused all the other gang to up their security in their own respective territories in case they were the next target. The Holly Park Hard Heads were no exception, in the time Mark had been the leader of the gang he'd learned strategic and tactical ways to keep his territory protected.
Sure his gangsters weren't the best shots but they knew everything they needed to do to keep their hood safe. Gang members on corner were close to places where Pistols and Submachine Guns were hidden, guys near the homes had Assault Rifles close-by, and he'd taught them protocols on what to do in case of an attack.
Despite standing before Cake and two more men that were loyal to Joe and listening to him try and be a leader Mark's attention wasn't at the man instead Andre was doing all the talking for him. Then after a few minutes of the two of them going back and forth Mark had finally had it and slammed fist down with enough force to earn both their attention.
"Okay what the fuck do you want again." He yelled out while eyeing Cake closely.
"My uncle wants to know why you haven't been answering your goddamn phone these past couple of days?" he asked with anger in his tone.
"Because I was busy." Mark shot back with anger of his own. There was some truth in his words for the past couple of days he's been looking after Alison who was still grieving the deaths of Malik and his grandmother. He knew she would be waking up soon and was hoping to just end this conversation quickly.
"Well while you've been busy we got hit by some ese's if you haven't heard and we need to strike back against them bitches." Cake shot out earning a chuckle from Mark.
"No you and the 4th Ward got hit by some eses, not me or mine. That's what you get when you hire amateur niggas to protect your merchandise. "stated Mark. "With that said, if Joe wants to take revenge on them for that shit I suggest he go to Fatman and get him to solve his problem." He added.
"This is a problem you started when you killed they fucking crew." Cake shot back.
"A crew I killed in protection of Joe himself, protection that I wasn't even paid for I might add." Mark retorted with a chuckle. "Those Vagos weren't trying to kill me that night, they were going after you and Joe. You were the target and I was the interruption so handle your own shit." Mark shot back with venom in his tone before watching as Cake gave a low growl before walking away with his boys.
"You think it's smart pissing them off like that?" asked Miller as he looked down at Mark.
"Nope, but ain't nothing wrong with stirring the pot." Mark shot back with a smile before watching as Quick pulled up in his all black Cavalcade and quickly yelled something out the window.
"Say boss, we got a situation." This caused Mark's eyes to widen before he rose to his feet and hopped in the front seat of the SUV while Andre and Miller hopped in the backseat. Quick then drove down a few blocks in the neighborhood before coming to a stop and allowing the group to quickly spot two young Mexican-American boys dressed in Azteca attire on a corner slinging drugs.
"Looks like them bitches waiting to move into territories." Stated Andre.
"Well they picked the wrong one today, snatch and grab." Mark shot out before stepping out of the vehicle with Andre and Miller and then making their way to the boys who looked to be aged nine and eleven.
"If only they were older." Mark whispered under his breath before the duo caught sight of them and attempted to run but were quickly stopped by Quick cutting them off with the SUV.
"Nowhere to run kids so I suggest you both get into the car." Said Mark as he, Miller, and Andre eyed the duo with a sick smile before watching as they fearfully hopped in the backseat with Miller and squeezing them into the middle while Mark hopped in the front seat.
"Alright you know where to take us." Mark shot out before Quick put the vehicle in drive and after a few minutes stopped the group off a rundown house in the lower 17th near the Mississippi River.
"Get out!" said Mark as he opened the door and watched as Miller stepped out while the kids remained hesitant causing Miller to forcibly hit the door to get them to move.
"Let's go!" Mark ordered while pushing the kids into the home with Andre, Quick, and Miller following him inside the rundown home that looked like a place where bums often squatted inside. The boys seemed to almost be at the point of wanting to cry as Mark, Andre, Miller, and Quick surrounded them.
"Take off your clothes." The Creole ordered to the confusion of Andre and Quick who looked at him closely and so the boys, but the youngest Roman only responded by drawing his M1911 and cocking it.
"I said take off your damn clothes." He yelled out while pointing his gun at the youngest of the duo before reaching out and grabbing the older boy by the back of his head and tossing him face first on the floor then repeating the process with the youngest.
"Go on!" added Miller causing the two boys to comply to the order and quickly start removing their shirts. This earned a chuckle from Mark and a slight laugh from Quick and Andre who watched the youngest Roman walk over to a radio and turn it on filling the room with loud rock music from the song Anybody Out There by Digital Summer.
The song seemed to scare the boys just a little more as they listened to the lyrics of the song.
"Scream for help now is anybody out there, is anybody listening, does anybody care." Mark sang with a slight chuckle before looking to the boys and ordering them to do the same with their underwear. This seemed to make the boys cry a little more as they slowly removed their underwear.
"Scream for help is anybody out there, is anybody listening, does anybody care. I can tell you off hand kids nobody cares; they may hear you but they won't give two shits'." Mark stated before reaching into the pockets of one the youngest boy's jeans and pulling out a bag of crack.
He then responded by pointing his gun at the duo and firing a single shot between them that caused both boys to jump in fear. The Creole then responded by grabbing the youngest boy by his hair and forcing him to look up at him.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Doroteo." He replied causing Mark to push him back.
"Fuck the crack I don't give a shit if bastards want to sell, but I'll be damned if I let you sell your shit in my territory." He stated while looking at the two boys. "You know what happens to the both of you then?" he asked while looking at the two boys before grabbing the older teen by the top of his head and pointing his gun his face.
"I put a bullet in all of your heads and I don't discriminate on age, gender, or race. Do you want that you little shit?" he asked.
"No sir." He shot out earning a slight smile from Mark.
"You both know what a Coyote does?" he asked earning shakes of the head from the boys. "Coyotes fuck up anything in their territory and guess what…I'm the Coyote and this is my territory." He finished with anger in his tone before looking to his gun and ejecting a single bullet then presenting it to the youngest boy.
"Take it and remember just how close to came." He finished before watching the boy slowly take the bullet. "Now get the fuck outta my territory." Mark shot out before watching the two boys quickly standup and runoff with their clothes in their hands.
"You had me worried there for a second." Stated Andre as he looked to a chuckling Mark. "I've seen you do some fucked up shit to people. I didn't think you had a soft spot for kids." He added.
"I don't have a soft spot for anyone but for them I'll give them a warning first and if it goes on deaf ears…then I shoot off toes." Mark shot back with a slight chuckle.
Voodoo Club
The sound of loud clattering seemed to be filling the walls inside the Voodoo Club as Muujai found himself tossing things around in a rage. The loss of those drugs at the docks was a major loss not just for the Joe but also the BGA. He hasn't gotten much confirmation of as of late but he knows that the leadership is talking and probably looking to speak on the otherside to Onda's leaders.
Talking, that seems to be the number one things prison gangs did now. Talk to keep peace amongst them instead of full-scale war like the old days. It was something he didn't like but understood it. Bloodshed is bad for business on both sides but sometimes a little blood must be spilled, and to him…this was one of those times.
"Have you talked to Fatman yet?" he looked to Joe and spoke out with anger in his heart.
"Yes his crew is ready to strike back against those fucking wetbacks." Joe replied.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Muujai asked with annoyance in his tone.
"He needs backup so Cake reached out to Mark and the 17th Ward and he told him to fuck himself. Now he's going to the 3rd to see if they'd be willing to assist." He replied earning a low growl from the Somalian.
"Why does he need them?" he asked.
"The Azteca's have territory in the next community over that borders Holly Park in the 17th Ward and the Vagos have territory in the 3rd and to get the aid of the Roman Boyz and the Hard Heads will make an attack much easier for them." Joe replied earning a low growl from Muujai.
"I don't give a shit if they go in with sticks and rocks they better get me my drugs or the money needed to pay for all of it." Muujai shot back with anger in his tone before walking out of the room.
Metra, Lincoln Parish
The sight of the packages of cocaine being cut and ready to sell was something that Ernesto felt uncomfortable with. He didn't like the idea of having to sell drugs just to come up in life, but he understood it. You needed a college degree to get a lot of job nowadays and that was something a lot of people in the barrio didn't have.
So slinging Coka seemed to be one of the only things they could do to stay afloat. He remembered while in Los Santos there was a faction of the Families that refused to sell drugs. Snatching purses, armed robberies, and boosting cars only got you so much money and it wasn't enough for them. Now the only time you hear about Grove Street Families is when you're in Sunbelt or Dockington and see the wannabes who think they're families but aren't.
Thinking of getting out of the barrio made him think of his own kids.
Last year was the ten-year anniversary of when his oldest son Luis was killed in that bank robbery. It had been ten years but he still blamed himself for it. He blamed himself for that and so much of the pain he's caused his family that some days he couldn't even look at himself in the mirror. He blamed himself but part of the blame also went to his ex-wife, she'd often complain about not having enough feria.
She blamed him and divorced him while he was locked up in San Andreas. There were a few times when she would come to him for help despite the new Chavala in her life and he would happily help her. She was the mother of his kids after all and there were things he hated about her but he would never truly stop loving her.
His other four kids were great success stories. His oldest daughter Carmen had become a doctor in Sunbelt and also worked down in Mexico and El Salvador for Doctors Without Borders. Whenever he thought of how beautiful and successful she'd become he couldn't help but smile. Earlier last year she had finally opened that clinic for lower income families to get adequate medical care. Everything about her made him a proud father despite the things he's done.
His second son Lupe had moved back down to Mexico and had built himself a house down there. He went in search of him a few months ago and was happy to find him living happily on a horse farm with a beautiful wife and daughter one the way.
There was also Angela who was on her last year of college in Liberty City. She was his youngest daughter but not his youngest kid. She would have finished sooner but she decided to get a graduate's degree. The last time he spoke with her they must have been on the phone for a full six hours he'd missed hearing her voice and she missed hearing his.
There was so much he missed out on being on lockdown, he was released from prison in 2011 but didn't get off parole until last year. After getting out he quickly came back home, fell back into his old life, met some new friends that he thought he never thought he'd meet, then things fell out from under them, and now here he was. Almost well into his 50's with respect and power across the Southwest and a reputation to match.
As he turned his head and noticed Miguel talking to two Pee Wee gang members with frightened looks on their faces he watched as in a huff he made his way out of the warehouse with anger in his heart. Miguel had been the black sheep of all his kids. A parent is usually proud when their kids want to follow in their footsteps but not Ernesto, his footsteps lead down a long road of bloodshed, heartache, and lost friends and he wouldn't wish that on his son.
After watching him drive away from the warehouse the Veterano decided to follow after him. He knew his son was hotheaded and often rushed into things without a level head and that often got him into trouble and he wouldn't want to replay of the day he reunited with him.
Elsewhere
Things seemed somewhat calm to Task as he and Adahy found themselves standing outside the front porch of a home in Metra watching as Loka was helped out of a Minivan by Primo and other members of the Aztecs and sat on a wheel chair.
From what the duo had learned the doctors were able to stop her infections, but the bullets had caused some nerve damage that prevented her from walking. The doctors said physical therapy would be a long road for the young woman and the cost could be more then they hope for, but the duo knew that her "family" would stick by her through it all.
"Is it weird to you?" whispered asked earning the attention of Adahy.
"You mean seeing a girl gang member in a wheel chair when it's usually the dudes." The Creek Warrior replied earning a nod from the Lakota.
"Yeah!" he answered.
"It is unusual, most gang members though would rather death then a life in a wheel chair though so that should be especially harder on her." He replied before Cruz and Cheetah stepped up and quickly greeted the girl with smiles and hugs.
"It's good to see Mija." Cruz replied while Loka hugged him and gave him a slight kiss on the cheek.
"It's good to see you as well." She replied with a smile that Task and Adahy both could tell was forced.
"I need to get her inside if you mind Carnal." Stated Primo earning confused looks from Cruz and Cheetah before they nodded their heads and backed away while he wheeled the girl inside the home before heading to the backroom.
"It's alright to let it out now Mija." He shot out while Loka remained silent "I don't know what you're going through, but I can guarantee you that we'll do worse to the Mayate that did this to you." He added before wheeling her into her bedroom.
"When?" asked Loka as she looked back at him with tear streaked eyed.
"Today." Primo replied with venom in his tone.
17th Ward
Mark and Miller were just about to leave the 17th Ward and head back home when they received word that there was another situation involving this time an older Mexican dude slinging drugs in the same spot as the younger boys.
"I may have to shoot this guy to get the message across." Mark shot out while Miller nodded his head before they turned a corner and noticed a Mexican American man with high cheek bones, a crew cut hairstyle like many other Cholo's and wearing a St. Anthony Steeds Jersey over a dark blue t-shirt, khaki pants, and black and white shoes.
The Roman then watched as Andre, Quick, and two more 17th Ward thugs approached the man with angry looks in their eyes. One of them was a young man Mark recognized as Floyd, he was rather muscular man with light brown skin, long black hair, and wearing a white t-shirt, and black and white stripped shorts. The other man was named Dubs, and had a shaved head and was wearing a black tank top.
"Didn't we just tell you motherfuckers about slinging on our corners." Yelled Andre. "We said if we saw any of you again we'd have problems, this is our territory not yours and it damn sure ain't fucking open market." He added with venom in his tone.
"They must not be your customers anymore, you know since you're lacking product." Miguel shot back with a smile. "And I ain't not Pee Wee so you Chavalas ain't scaring me."
"Motherfucker you need to be scared, you got four guns on you and that's not counting the other homies with guns in the neighborhood that you trespassing." Replied Andre.
Miguel only scoffed in defiance at his threat and spoke out with. "Don't even go there about trespassing."
The situation quickly escalated as Miguel made the first move and punched Andre in the face knocking the man back but Quick, Floyd, and Dubs immediately jumped into the fray and started to rat pack the younger man.
Miguel tried his best to hold his own and managed to throw Quick off him and hit Andre again in the face but Floyd was able to knock him to the ground and punch to the side of the head that left his ear ringing and left him disoriented enough for them to take advantage.
"Looks like they're handling that." Stated Miller before he noticed Mark focus his gaze on an older Mexican American man approaching the fight with a Magnum in his hands.
A loud cocking sound soon caused Andre to stop his assault as he felt the cold steel of a gun being pressed against the back of his skull.
"You ain't gonna bum-rush my son ese." He declared earning the attention of the other men. "If you want to fight him fair in a one on one, but if you want to be a punk I can shoot you like one." He stated earning silence from Andre.
"I don't know you and I don't got a fight with either of you personally. I got a fight with whoever coming into our hood slinging they shit and think they can walk out like it's all good." Stated Andre.
"Fucking Spanish bitches." Added Quick.
"If you want to fight my son you take him on like a man or not at all, else I'll blow your brains all over your own corner." Stated Ernesto.
"Bring it puto, and I ain't fucking Spanish." Miguel shot back.
"You speak the language." Replied Floyd.
"And you speak English, yet none of you are European." Miguel added. This soon earned a short conversation in Spanish between Miguel and Ernesto that was quickly interrupted by the sound of clapping that caused them to turn their heads and see a large African American man wearing black and white shoes, black jeans, and a black and white shirt.
"Nous n'en aurons rien."
(No we'll have none of that.") Stated Mark as he stopped clapping his hands. "I can speak English and French, if you ain't speaking either I suggest you stop talking." He added with a smile.
"Who the hell are you Mayate?" asked Miguel with anger in his tone.
"I'm the guy whose territory you're slinging in and if either of you want to walk out of here alive and in one piece, I suggest you put your gun away." Stated Mark as he eyed Ernesto closely. "Or I'll put two bullets between both of your eyes." He added earning a slight chuckle from Ernesto.
"They'll need to dig six holes because I'll kill all of you before I let you hurt my son. You're all Chavalas, rat packing someone Mas Putos. In my day we did things differently."He stated earning a chuckle from Mark.
"Back in your day you only had Sticks and Rocks to fight, no wonder you chose to fight with your first. Me I prefer fighting with my bullets, that's kinda an unfair fight but I don't have to wait for it to go through that fight shit." Mark shot back with a chuckle.
"You don't want to get into a gunfight with me ese." Declared Ernesto. "I've got more experience then you." he added.
"There's no denying that, you were probably shooting the Spanish on horseback." Mark replied with a chuckle. "But let me explain something to you, quality will always trump quantity." He stated earning a confused look from Ernesto.
"You probably been in shootouts with other gang bangers, probably the police, border patrol, maybe some Cartel guys but me-." He started before pointing at himself. "I've faced enough assholes with more training them me that should have been dead years ago, but here I am while all of them are in the ground." Mark stated with a chuckle.
"I've been to New Austin, Sunbelt specifically and I know for a fact nothing out of those barrios are something special." He added. "Never could of you give me a challenge, not the South West Vagos, Marabunta, or any of you. So what makes you so special?" Mark asked with anger in his tone., i
"Fueron Onda!" yelled Miguel as he eyed Mark angrily.
"Onda, you never." He declared while looking to Miguel before turning to Ernesto. "Him I can believe, but you no. You're like a younger me, you think your down for the cause but really you're just a crash dummy. Trust me I know." Mark shot out while pulling his right sleeve up and showing off his dragon tattoo that overlooked a prison tower.
"That tattoo, you're BGA?" Ernesto asked with a raised brow.
"Not a member I was, a strong associate of theirs, take your boy and go home before things get bloody." Stated Mark earning a few seconds of silence from Ernesto as the duo stared each other down before the Onda member spoke up.
"Let's go mijo." He ordered to Miguel's shock.
"Papa-." Started Miguel before Mark interrupted him.
"Listen to your Padre Nino and go home so he can tuck you in." Added Mark with a chuckle.
"At least I have a father, you're probably left before you were born." Miguel shot back earning a smile from Mark.
"No it wasn't til later in life did he leave me, but I thank him for that. That taught me how to stand on my own two feet. Something you're having a problem with." The Creole shot back with a chuckle getting a reaction Miguel that was almost him charging him, but the child was stopped by Ernesto putting his hand in front of him.
"That's strike two tell your friends if they come back to my territory, they're dead. There will be no negotiations only bullets." Mark shot back.
"Your territory isn't your land." He shot back earning a roll of the eyes from Mark. He'd a similar conversation with Adahy that almost came to blow about him claiming New Arcadia as his city. Adahy claimed it was his land and he had no claim of the city. The blows almost came when Mark replied he'd claim the city while Adahy claimed the dirt around it. "If you try to fuck with my family I'll kill you in your hood for all to see." He added earning a smile from Mark.
"It's funny usually a threat from an Ondero would mean something, but here it means nothing. In San Andreas, Arizona, New Mexico, and New Austin that plaqua on your arm might mean something but here…it means nothing. This is New Arcadia and we have the advantage believe that." Mark shot back earning a nod from Ernesto.
"You didn't have the power a few nights ago at the docks." The Onda member shot back.
"You went head up against one of the weakest wards in my opinion. Press your luck again and I guarantee it won't go so well hombre." Mark shot back with a slight chuckle while Ernesto pulled Miguel away.
After a few blocks Miguel pulled away from the man and angrily yelled to his father. "What do you think you're doing, I was taking care of that."
"Yeah getting your ass knocked around was taking care of something." He replied.
"It was more then what you were doing with that other guy." Miguel shot back causing Ernesto to raise his hand towards him but instead of hitting him he lowered his hand.
"If you were smart you'd know there's a time to fight and a time not to fight Mijo. Now wasn't that time, you walked into that hood thinking you were gonna walk out alive." He asked.
"I would-." He started before Ernesto cut him off.
"No you wouldn't, those Mayates have that hood on lockdown. We walked in because they let us walk in and they're watching us now." Ernesto replied while looking around and seeing a few African American men eyeing them from corners and perched on house porches.
"These guys are different from the guys back in Sunbelt. They don't wear colors and they're a lot more capable with a gun then some purple and green wannabes." Ernesto finished as his cellphone started to ring.
"This Moyo's ain't shit, you weren't there when they showed up in Sunbelt after the Hurricane and Marabunta fucked them up." Miguel shot back while watching Ernesto hang up his phone.
"It looks like you might be getting your wish because we're going to be moving on the 3rd with the Vagos." He replied earning a slight smile from Miguel.
"Good I've been waiting to hit those Mas Putos." he shot back before walking away with Ernesto in tow.
Elsewhere
Back at the home of the BSU members Alison found herself nosily going through the things in the room of the youngest Roman. She didn't have anything in particular she was looking for, she just wanted to see if she could learn more about Mark from in his room.
After going through the books on his shelf she moved to under his bed where she quickly pulled out an old shoebox before opening it up and seeing something really familiar inside.
"I wondered where those went." She said with a slight chuckle upon noticing that inside the box was an old pair of her panties that she figured Mark must have taken from her.
Also inside the box was the cellphone Mark used to talk to her after leaving as well as an old picture of her. After seeing these items Alison couldn't help but to give a slight smile. He kept all these things of hers to remember her, and judging by the look of her underwear maybe some remembered pleasure. She didn't know how she felt about the idea of Mark sniffing them or using them to masturbate but the feeling of him still longing for her made her smile somewhat.
"Hope you don't think I'm weird for that." Came a familiar voice that caused Alison to quickly lift her head and notice the youngest Roman smiling at her while leaning against the wall.
"I don't know how to feel about it honestly." She replied while closing the box back up.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked while folding his arms over his chest.
"Still like shit." She shot back as Mark approached her and kneeled down before her.
"It's not your fault." He declared.
"You keep saying that but it's my fault Mark…I know it is." She shot back while lowering her head.
"So…this is what you're gonna do then?" he asked causing Alison to look up at him with confusion. "This guy kills someone close to you and you just lock up and hide. Me, I like to kick down doors when people touch my family and I'm tempted to kick down this guys." He replied.
"You'd probably find him a lot quicker than I would." She declared.
"No, I won't because this guy's a flat out serial killer. You can argue that I'm a serial killer as well, but at least I take credit cards. This guy kills people just for the fun of it, he's a different kind of animal." He replied. "I'd love to add him to my body count." Stated.
"But, he's your obstacle to overcome and I know you can handle it." He said while rubbing the sides of the woman's face with his cheek. To his surprise though Alison responded by planting a small kiss on his palm. The feeling of her soft lips against his palmed seemed to cause Mark to sputter as he felt himself start to blush.
"Can I count on you?" she asked earning a slight smile from Mark.
"Always!" he replied before watching the woman nuzzle the side of her head into his large palm.
Everything about this moment seemed to have Mark inwardly cursing himself. He wanted to make a move, but he knew he couldn't. He didn't give a shit about Alison boyfriend, but he knew she did and would more than likely hate herself the next morning if something ere to happen between the two of them.
Another thing that stopped Mark from making a move was the fact that he knew it would make being around the woman harder. He still loved Alison, but at the end of the day he was as he said a serial killer who took checks while she was a cop. They were a bad combination for each other, her more than him because he could fuck her life more than he could hurt his.
The sound of Alison's cellphone ringing quickly caused the both of them to lower their heads before Mark rose to his feet and started to make his way out of the room. The FIB Agent knew that if it was Steve calling he didn't want to be in the room while they spoke and told each other how much they care for one another. He was happy she was in a relationship, but his happiness only went so far.
"Hello Steve!" Alison answered and was quickly greeted by the voice of Steve on the other end.
"Hey Ali, I'm glad you decided to pick up the phone. Where are you?" he asked.
"With friends." She shot back.
"Look I'm sorry about everything, your right I should have brought Malik and his grandmother in. I let past judgment get the better of me, and I should have listened to you." He stated.
"Why didn't you listen?" she asked.
"I got cocky and let my emptions get the better of me." He replied.
"We messed up Steve." She stated.
"I know that, I've been having trouble sleeping at night knowing it. So please…come home tonight please." He somewhat begged and his begging made Alison bite her lip as she looked out the door of the room. Before she could respond however the sound of her phone ringing again caused her to jump back.
"I gotta take this Steve." She replied before hanging up on the man and quickly answering the second call.
"Hello!" she greeted only to go a few seconds without hearing a sound before a somewhat distorted voice answered on the other end.
"How'd you like my little present for you Agent Trueblood?" they asked to Alison's surprise.
"What present who is this?" she asked with anger in her tone causing Mark, Lee, Link, Miller, and Buck to approach the room and see the look on her face.
"You should have heard them scream and all of that could have been avoided if you didn't go to them." He shot back causing Alison to go wide eyed.
"You're the killer." She shot out to the boys surprise.
"My smart and beautiful and here I thought you were just the pretty face of the team." He replied causing Alison to shake.
"Why are you calling me?" she asked.
"To make sure your head is still in the game, I know me killing that boy and his grandmother must have been traumatic to you and I wanted to make sure you're alright because this game is just getting started." he stated.
"You what game, who are you?" she asked before the line went dead causing her to outwardly yell "FUCK" at the top of her lungs.
Metra, Jefferson Parish
The drive to the home of Ernesto and Miguel wasn't long for Task as he and Adahy stepped out of their truck before making their way inside where they noticed a similar sight of the two men and maybe twelve other Azteca's armed with Assault Rifles standing around the living room.
"Arming up for another attack already?" asked Task as he sent a look to Ernesto and Miguel.
"Yeah, Loka came home from the hospital today and Primo thinks it's time to make those Mayate in the third pay." Replied Ernesto to both men's surprise.
"Are you sure now is the best time for it?" Task asked.
"Now as good a time as any." Replied Miguel. "We took their coka, but now they need to know we'll take them on directly." He added.
"Then why go to the 3rd Ward to do that?" asked Adahy to the confusion of the duo. "The Roman Boyz control the 3rd Ward, but they also control these two housing projects in the 2nd Ward. You hit them there, you hit their money maker and you're more likely to find them in bulk there." He added earning slight nods from Ernesto.
"Alright then we'll hit them in the 2nd Ward, but you two are leading the way." Ernesto shot out to Task surprise.
"Alright!" replied Adahy to Task's confusion. "We'll show you the way." He added before making his way outside of the house with Task in tow.
"Are you insane, we can't go after the third we do business with them and you know Mark will more then likely come running when he hears his father's territory is being hit." Task stated.
"What's the matter skin, you afraid of a little challenge?" Adahy replied with a smile before making his way to his car while Ernesto stood on the front porch.
"Chayton." Said Ernesto earning the attention of the Lakota Warrior who turned back to look at him." You said the name of the gang we're hitting is the Roman Boyz right?" he asked earning a nod from Task.
"Yeah what of it?" he asked.
"Nothing that name just sounds familiar." The Onda member lied, he remembered that the man from earlier was named Marcus Roman and was wondering if he may see the young man at today. Only time will tell, but he's hoping he does because he wants to put the man's skills to the test.
Red Stick
Back at the BSU member's clubhouse in Red Stick Manfred found himself sitting on his computer typing up information as Felix walked into the room and interrupted him.
"What is it?" the Indian BSU member asked with a raised brow.
"Mark wants you to come meet him back at home, we've got a situation." He replied earning a confused look from Felix.
"What kind of situation?" asked Manfred.
"Don't know but he wants us all together." Felix replied before turning his head and noticing Davey and Eddy making their way out of the room with Viktor in tow.
"You and him need to end your senseless squabble, it's getting on everyone's nerves." Stated Manfred as he closed his laptop and started to make his way out the room.
"So I'm in the wrong?" The Mexican American man asked.
"In my opinion none of you are wrong. It's good to have pride in one's self and it's good to have pride in where someone comes from but to fight based off one side of you is pretty stupid." he shot back. "I could argue the same off religion and look at us. Mark was raised Baptist, Lee was raised Buddhist, Link was raised Jewish, myself Hindu, yourself Catholic, Viktor Catholic, Miller Muslim, Bucky's Protestant, and Davey and Eddy said their parents were Lutheran." He stated.
"We are an incredible blend and we work together better than a lot of people and that's what this country is turning into. You can't fight that brother it's just the way the world is." Replied Manfred.
"You can argue religion but only you stick to your faith. The rest of us can be described as Heathens." Felix replied.
"True, but ask yourself this question brother. What do you know about the indigenous of Central and South American that you didn't read in a white persons book?" Manfred asked earning a few seconds of silence from Felix.
"I'm willing to learn." He replied.
"We're all willing to learn." Manfred shot back before making his way out of the room with Felix following behind him.
2nd Ward
Things were somewhat calm in the Cantaloupe Apartments in the 2nd Ward. The place had earned a reputation as being one of the most dangerous places in New Arcadia because of the increased violence and heavy drug trade in the area and the Roman Boyz were one of the main causes for this.
Despite having territory in the 3rd Ward the Roman Boyz through sheer force managed to take control of the housing projects and held it down for years as the main source of their income in the drug trade.
It was at these projects you could find Marrick Roman sitting on a rundown orange couch wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans, and white shoes with four other members of the Roman Boyz sitting beside him while others remained around corners and some near the windows in the building. The attack on the 4th Ward caused the street gang to also step up their defense's, despite that though the group was still making a profit selling what remained of the drugs Mark had given them at the beginning of the month.
As Marrick watched another Roman Boy member catch a sell his eyes gave a confused look as he noticed a familiar woman approaching him wearing a black tanktop, short blue shorts, and black shoes.
"Courtney you come to shake that ass for me?" asked a bald Roman Boys member with a mouthful of gold teeth earning a disgusted look from the woman.
"Buddha you got me fucked up." She replied before looking down at Marrick. "Have you heard from Mark I haven't seen him in a few days?" she asked earning a chuckle from the middle Roman.
"Damn Mark must have some serious thug dick if he got you coming all the way here to look for him." He replied earning a middle finger from the girl.
"I'm serious." She stated while Marrick continued to chuckle.
"No I haven't seen Mark in a while, but Martin say he spoke to him a few days ago. Joe wants him to calm his little war with the 4th Ward down so we can focus on these fucking Mexicans." Marrick shot back.
"What you'll do to piss them off exactly?" Courtney asked while folding her arms over her chest.
"Shit we didn't do nothing. We got into a little argument with them, but it was Joe nigga that fucking broke that dude neck." Marrick shot back.
"What nigga?" Courtney asked with a raised brow.
"Some fucking nigga with an African accent." He replied earning wide eyes from Courtney.
"That's-." she started before the loud cracking of gunshots went off and caused the group to turn their heads and notice three Roman Boyz members running down the street before being cutdown by a hail of gunfire.
"Fucking Mexicans here." Yelled one man in a white t-shirt as she tried to run for his life before four bullets exploded out his chest and caused him to fall forward as Ernesto and Primo broke cover and led a group of Vagos through to the courtyard of the housing project.
"Shit get down." Yelled Marrick as he, Courtney, and Buddha jumped to cover behind the couch while the other man beside them was quickly cutdown by a barrage of bullets courtesy of Miguel.
"Come out and meet your makers Chavalas." Miguel yelled out as Marrick and Courtney drew their Pistols and started firing at the group causing them to return fire their way.
"Shit!" said Marrick as a bullet whizzed by his head forcing him to lie down while Courtney and Buddha returned fire. "Where the fuck our guns at?" the Middle Roman yelled out as Ernesto tried to line up a shot on the man but before he could a splatter of blood on his right side caused him to lose his shot and look around to notice that an Azteca standing next to him had been shot three times in the head and neck.
"What the-." He started before looking up and noticing a few Roman Boyz members standing at the top floors of building with some on the roof firing on the group with M4A1 Assault Rifles.
"Lookout!" yelled Miguel as he knocked Ernesto to the ground as a Roman Boyz member fired a barrage of rounds his way.
"Get them fucking bitches." Yelled Marrick as twelve Roman Boyz members came running out an apartment firing their own M4 Carbines, H&K G3A3's, MP5A3, and Remington 870's.
"Shit!" yelled Miguel as he ducked behind a set of stairs as a man with dreadlocks and firing G343 Battle Rifle forced him into cover before being shot twice in the chest and then once in the head by Ernesto.
"Damn these Puto's are well armed." He yelled out as Marrick, Courtney, and Buddha took their chances and ran back inside of one of the buildings where a Roman Boyz that was wearing a black bandanna over his face stood waiting.
"This for you dog." He said before tossing Marrick a M249 Light Machine Gun, then giving Courtney a AK-74U, and Buddha two Mini Uzi's.
"Thanks son." Marrick yelled out before rushing out the door firing his Light Machine Gun and cutting down three members of the Azteca's in one sweep just as five yellow cars started to pull into the courtyard and parked in front of Ernesto, Miguel, Primo and the other remaining Azteca's.
The group then watched as Task, Adahy, Cheetah, and fifteen other Azteca members jumped from the cars and started opening fire on the group.
"Damn these guys are well-armed and well-setup." Said Adahy as he fired his AK-47 at Roman Boyz member that was running into cover and struck him three times in the side.
"Well what were you expecting Mark's there ally you wouldn't think he'd show them how to defend themselves?" asked Task as he lifted an M16A2 and fired three shots that dropped one of the gangsters on the roof in the chest and then other shooting from a top floor, obliterating his heart, and causing the man to fall forward out the window.
"Yeah but they're more armed then I thought they'd be." Adahy replied before he rushed for cover behind a car just as an African American man firing two Mini Uzi's turned his fire on them.
"Come out and fight you fucking eses." He yelled out before a single bullet to the top of his head silenced him and splattered his brains across the grass of the Courtyard.
"Shit they got Buddha." Yelled Marrick as he fired on a car housing that three Azteca's were using for cover and striking one man several times in the chest. Thanks to some training from his younger brother he was now somewhat better with a gun.
He then redirected his fire to his friend's killer causing Cheetah to move to cover behind his car.
"These Mayates have got some fire power." Yelled Ernesto as he fired his SKS at a man using a window for cover and hitting him once in the knee, but not stopping him from continuing his assault.
"Yeah and so do we." Said Cheetah as she popped the trunk of his car and revealed a small box of Hand Grenades.
"Where'd you get those homes?" asked Primo as he watched Cheetah pull two Hand Grenades from the box.
"Saved them from last time me and Santa Muerte got into with these Mayates." Cheetah shot back before pulling the pins on one of the Grenades.
"Wait we can't use those people on the homes people live here." Task yelled out as Cheetah tossed a Grenade into the doorway of one of the apartment complexes entranceways and watched it go off and be followed by a series of screams from the five gang members caught in the explosion.
"Then they'd be smart to get the hell out of the buildings." Cheetah replied before pulling the pin on another Grenade and tossing it in the direction of Marrick and Courtney and forcing them into new cover while the device exploded and killed two Roman Boyz.
"Shit these pricks aren't playing fair." Said Marrick as he layed down fire on the group while Courtney drew her cellphone.
East New Arcadia
After receiving her phone call Alison seemed to somewhat freeze up in fear while Mark sat beside her with his arm wrapped over her shoulder in a comforting manner.
He'd put a call into Manfred to see if he can trace the call, but he doubted he would. This guy's not like your average killer he's smart, crafty, takes pride in his work, and wants people to know what he's done and feel something for it.
He was a different kind of killer that Mark had never seen before and neither had Alison because she still seemed in a state of distress. He'd stand by her side though all the way through.
"Mark we got a problem." Yelled Lee as he burst into the room of the youngest Roman and caused him and Alison to both lift their heads and eye him.
"This ain't something Andre or Quick can handle?" the Creole asked.
"I just got a call from Courtney, the Azteca's are hitting the projects in the second." He stated causing Mark's eyes to widen in shock and fear.
"What!" he yelled jumping to his feet in the process.
"Your brothers there to assholes are using Grenades." Lee shot out.
"Call Clark I want our guns a block away from those Projects, tell Felix change his course I want him Davey, Eddy, Viktor, and Manfred in the 2nd now, and tell Lee, Miller, and Buck to ready up." Mark ordered to Alison's surprise. He still carried that base-filled tone of a five star general the way he barked out orders.
"What about me?" asked Link.
"Stay here." He said before looking to Alison.
"I'll be right back I promise." He said before taking her hand in his own and planting a quick kiss on her knuckles. It was quick but it seemed to light a fire in the woman as she watched Mark rush out of the room.
"Marcus!" she called out to him causing the Creole to turn back to face her. "Be safe." She stated earning a nod from the youngest Roman before he made his way out of the house with Lee and others who quickly piled into his truck.
He was disappointed in himself for having the woman see him like this, but he couldn't stop it. He had a job to do and that was more important.
"Call Andre and Quick and tell them to get a group and get to those Projects. They should provide support until we get there." Mark yelled out before putting the truck in drive and sending it rocketing down the street.
2nd Ward
Despite having the numbers and better weapons the favor didn't seem in the hands of the Roman Boyz as Marrick watched as five more New Arcadia Gangsters were cut down by another Grenade thrown by Cheetah.
"Shit take that motherfucker out." He yelled causing the remaining gangsters on the rooftops to redirect their fire towards the Vago leader who quickly moved to cover while Task, Ernesto, and Miguel shot down two more gangsters on the rooftops and had their brains falling from the building.
"Looks like we got this won." Stated Miguel with a slight chuckle before a black Cavalcade came speeding down the street followed by two white Ballers.
"Hit them motherfuckers." Yelled Andre as he and Quick and two more 17th Ward Gangsters jumped out of the black Cavalcade and started putting down fire on the Azteca and Vagos gang members just as a two blue Emperors pulled up and dropped off more members of the Roman Boyz.
"3rd and 17th Ward reinforcements." Said Task with a hint of fear in his tone with the knowledge in his head that Mark wouldn't be long behind them.
"All you fuckers are dead." Yelled a 17th Ward gangster firing a Desert Eagle and striking a Vago twice in the arm with the force of the round being enough to send the man's arm flying from his body.
"We tardy to the party?" asked Quick as he layed down fire on the Vagos who quickly returned it and caused him to duck for cover.
"Where the hell is Marcus?" asked Marrick as he layed down a barrage of rounds aimed at Miguel who ducked behind a car and caused Marrick's rounds to shatter the windows and burst the tires of the vehicle.
"He's on his way and he's bringing the whole little rainbow clique with him." Stated Andre as he reloaded his AK-47 while a new arrival from the Roman Boyz was shot down by six rounds in the chest as two cars of Vagos and a car of Azteca's pulled up to join in the battle.
"Shit they've got more coming in." yelled Courtney as she fired her AK-74U and hit a female Azteca with a MP5 several times in the chest. Before being hit she looked rather good was quite busty with long brown hair, dark brown skin with a mole on her right cheek and wearing a blue shirt, khaki pants, and white shoes.
"Shit they can bring in all they want it won't mean shit when the homie Marcus gets here." Yelled Quick as he lifted his AK-47 and blindly fired from behind his car and nearly striking Task and Adahy in the process.
"I look forward to seeing him." Whispered Ernesto as he fired six shots from his SKS Assault Rifle in the direction of quick before reloading just as Task approached him.
"We need to leave now while we have a window it's only a matter of time before these guys box us in." he shouted out speaking with half-truth in his voice. The other truth was that once Mark arrived with Lee, Felix, and the rest of his team there wasn't a high chance many of them would be getting out of this fight alive.
"No we wipe these motherfuckers off the map today for everything they've done." Yelled Primo with anger in his tone as he shot down a 17th Ward Gang member with six shots in the chest and sending his body flying over the top of a car.
"Si mon Carnale." Shot out Cheetah as he watched another Vago member be cut down in a hail of gunfire from a 3rd Ward gangster using an M4A1 and using the scope on the weapon rather effectively before retreating back to cover alongside Marrick, Courtney, Andre, and Quick.
"I got one of them bitches Marrick." The man yelled out. He was a rather young African American who was maybe twenty-one with short black hair, light brown skin, and wearing a black jacket, baggy brown pants, and white sneakers.
"Good now you about to get us blow up for it Dee!" shot Courtney as she and the others watched Cheetah pull the pin on another Grenade and toss it in their direction.
"SHIT!" yelled Marrick but before the Grenade could hit the ground a single bullet struck it causing it to detonate in the air to the shock of everyone.
"Oh no!" said Task as he, Adahy, Ernesto, Primo, Cheetah, Miguel, and the remaining Vagos and Azteca's look on in shock and surprise while Marrick, Courtney, Quick, Andre, and Dee turned their heads and noticed Mark, Lee, Felix, Buck, Miller, Viktor, Davey, and Eddy standing behind them with their weapons drawn.
"Get into positions." Mark yelled before looking out the Holographic Scope on his SCAR-L and striking a still stunned Azteca in the chest before running to the others with Lee following him from behind and Felix and the others splitting up their positions.
"There you are." Said Ernesto as he fired three shots at Mark who barrel rolled out of the way before coming up in a firing stance and shooting five shots at Ernesto that had him running to cover just as Cheetah ran for his car to grab some more Grenades.
"We'll have no more of that!" Mark yelled before switching to the M203 Grenade Launcher mounted under his Assault Rifle and firing until a single Grenade that struck the front of the car and sent it going up in a violent explosion with the combined force of the added Grenades in the backseat the explosion seemed to have been magnified to the point where one could hear it across the city with a few apartments on the ground floor having their windows blown out with the force of the explosion that knocked Task and Adahy to the ground along with the other Azteca's and Vagos in the process.
"Damnit!" said Task as he wiped droplets of blood from his forehead that had been cut from glass while slowly lifting his head to look at Mark as he shot down an Azteca with six shots to the chest before reloading while Davey and Eddy combined the fire from their MP5 Submachine Guns and tore a Vago member to shreds as he tried to jump inside of his car.
"This what you wanted?" Task asked while looking to a disoriented Adahy who struggled to rise with his ears ringing in the process.
"Shit come on." Yelled Ernesto as he grabbed Task by the arms while Primo did the same for Adahy before pulling through the front door of one of the apartment complex while Miguel and the remaining gang members did the same while shooting at the New Arcadia gangsters.
"Got you." Said Bucky as he shot a Vago four times in the back with his Mini Uzi as he tried to cut across the courtyard in order to get inside of the apartment complex.
"Shit!" said Mark as he ducked for cover with Lee and the others.
"About time you got here." Said Marrick while eyeing his younger brother closely.
"I was busy." Mark shot back while Miller and Viktor fired on the front door of the apartment complex before Lee stopped them.
"They're probably still people in there." He stated before a Vago armed with an M16A2 broke the window to one room and started to rain shots down on the group causing everyone to redirect their fire and strike him several times in the chest.
"Shit Grenade to each room sounds fair to me." Replied Quick.
"But there are probably still families inside." Said Courtney.
"She's right our best bet is to go inside and clear them out." Mark replied before looking to Lee. "Take Buck, Felix, and Miller with you. Go around back and hit them before they can escape." The Creole ordered earning a nod from the Chinese man before Mark's Walkie Talkie crackled to life.
"Mark I'm seeing two more cars of Azteca's heading your way from the front and two more heading through the back alley." Came the voice of Manfred.
"How does he know that?" asked Dee before Buck patted him on the shoulder before pointing up and allowing the man to see a Gyrocopter flying above their heads with a camera attached to it.
"So that's how you guys know you guys stay ahead of everything." Replied Marrick.
"Stay close and watch each-others back." Mark ordered earning a nod from Lee before he led his team around the apartment building.
"You think Felix can handle himself with this situation?" asked Viktor. It was true they were fighting brown enemies and Felix wasn't the most reliable when it came to brown or helping black against brown.
"He better be." Stated Mark as a two cars pulled up in place of the first and several Azteca members stepped out and started to shoot at the group while four more ran out from the apartment complex and started to shoot at the group.
"Goodbye!" said Mark as he fired a single shot that struck an Azteca member square in the head and blew his brains out all over the side of the truck.
While Mark held down the front Lee, Felix, Buck, and Miller were moving with five other members of the Roman Boyz and two 17th Ward Gang members through the back alley just as yellow Tornado pulled up to block their advance.
"Damn Vaginas." Yelled Lee as he cocked his Tactical Shotgun and pressed forward while racking off shots repeatedly and striking one Vago in the center of the chest and another in the right arm.
"Push forward." He yelled out while Buck and the others layed down fire while Felix struggled to shoot at the men. He knew his friends were in danger but he was strongly against brown on brown violence more so then he wanted to admit.
The sound of a loud grunt and glass breaking seemed to break his concentration as he watched Lee shell the front of a car and the strike the occupants inside just as another car came speeding his way with a female Honduran firing a Mini-Uzi out the broken windshield let off a barrage of rounds on the group and causing Lee to roll to cover behind a trashcan.
"LEE LOOKOUT!" yelled Miller as Lee jumped out of the way of the car as it swerved and struck the trashcan while the Chola inside fired a barrage of rounds at the group striking the two 17th Ward Gangsters while the BSU members jumped for cover.
"I got these Bobosos!" yelled the female as she opened the car door and prepared to exit the vehicle only for Lee to kick the door open before throwing a left hook that struck the woman in the side of the head leaving her dazed while Lee lifted his Shotgun and fired his last two slugs into the woman's skull and the driver.
"Damn!" said Buck as the group watched Lee crack his neck before turning to face them.
"Come on let's move." He yelled before rushing for the backdoor of the apartment complex with the others Felix took a second to look back at the dead Vaga and see that Lee had shot her eyeball out of her socket and she was being held in place by her seatbelt.
"Remember there might still be people inside so only shoot if you see brown, yellow, or blue flags on brown skin." Lee shot out sounding racist while doing so but they knew what he meant. Only black families lived in these projects but he still wanted to get his point across.
While Lee was making his way inside of the apartment complex Mark and the others were holding their own out front and things seemed to be changing in their favor.
"Fire in the hole." Said Mark as he fired another Grenade at a car of Azteca's and causing it to explode with enough force to take three Azteca's with it.
"Grant the souls I send your way-." Mark stated with an evil smile as she shot an Azteca three times in the chest and did the same with another. "Final peace and rest at last." He finished while shooting another man in the leg and finishing him off with a shot to the throat and caused him to fall out of the window of the housing project.
"Because they're going down yeah they're going down." He sang while shooting a man clean in the mouth and blowing his jaw across the battlefield.
"You're having too much fun." Stated Marrick as he used the last of his drum magazine to cut down two more Azteca's before drawing his Glock 19 and shooting at those that remained.
"It's good to have fun in what you specialize at." Mark replied while dodging several shots.
"Yeah well mean and you are gonna have a long talk about where you've been these last couple of days." Stated Courtney as she fired off a barrage of rounds at a window a Vago was shooting out of.
"That can wait until we kill all these guys." Yelled Quick as he and Andre fired off a barrage of rounds at a room before watching as the man fell from the window to the downstairs floors.
"Looks like Lee found his way-." Mark started before being knocked back by three shots hitting him in the chest. Lucky for him he was wearing a vest to the surprise of Ernesto who kept his SKS Assault Rifle trained on Mark before moving to cover behind a burned out car while Marrick and the others returned fire.
"Fucking prick." Yelled Mark as he lifted his head and noticed Ernesto taking cover behind the truck.
"It's you, I guess we're gonna see who's the better shot after all." Mark yelled out before firing a Grenade at the Onda member causing him to roll from cover as the explosive slammed into the side of the vehicle.
"Cover Ernesto." Yelled Cheetah as he and the other Vagos started shooting at Marrick and the others taking their attention away from Mark who seemed to be on the winning side as Ernesto looked down and noticed three bullets had ripped through the side of his SKS Assault Rifle and blew off the barrel.
"Shit!" Ernesto yelled out while moving to cover and drawing his .44 Magnum ran at him.
"Gotcha hombre." Mark yelled out but the Onda member quickly swung around and fired a single shot that didn't hit Mark but got something just as good, his gun.
After the hit Mark quickly went to investigate his SCAR-L Assault Rifle and he quickly noticed that a bullet had went through his empty Grenade Launcher and blew all the way through his barrel leaving a big hole in the weapon.
"YOU BASTARD!" Mark yelled out swinging the weapon and knocking the .44 Magnum out of Ernesto's hand before hitting him in the chest with the damaged Rifle and knocking him on his back.
"This way my favorite Rifle." Mark yelled out before climbing on top of Ernesto and slamming the butt of his Rifle into the chest of the man repeatedly.
While Mark seemed to be getting the upper hand on Ernesto Lee and his team seemed to be cleaning house of the Vagos in the apartment complex rather easily.
"There's one!" said Buck as Lee fired a single blast from his Shotgun and hit a Vago in the chest before watching him fold up like an accordion.
"We got them on the run." Said Miller as he shot an Azteca member four times in the back.
"Split up in twos and go room to room, Felix you're with me." Stated Lee as he and Felix made their way upstairs while Miller and Buck stayed on the lower floor with the other gang members.
"I hope you got your wish." Said Task as he and Adahy found themselves hiding in a apartment with a cowering family.
"Yeah I did, and I got some questions to ask." Adahy replied before bursting out the room with causing Lee to fire two shots in their direction but thankfully they both were unharmed.
"Damnit I got the big guy." Said Lee as he gave chase to Adahy who made his way up the stairs while Felix followed Task.
"Nowhere to run." Stated Lee as he corned the masked man at a hallway window and eyed him closely without realizing that it was Adahy under the mask. He then gave a smile before watching as the man tossed down his Assault Rifle and put up his fist in a boxing stance.
"You want to fight me with your fist?" he asked while eyeing the man closely as he tapped his chest.
"Yeah…NO!" Lee replied before lifting his Shotgun and firing a single shot that hit Adahy square in the chest and sent him flying back first out the window.
"SHIT!" Adahy yelled before feeling his back slam on top of an air-conditioning unit in a window on the second floor with enough force to knock device out the window before they both hit the bushes outside of the window.
"OW!" he yelled with pain in his voice while Task looked out the window to notice the fallen Adahy.
"You got nowhere to go so I suggest you surrender." Said Felix as Task turned around to face.
"Felix it's me." Task yelled out before forcibly removing the mask and catching Felix by surprise.
"Task what are you-." He started before a 17th Ward gang member carrying a Desert Eagle came rushing at the duo with his gun drawn on Task.
"Die bitch-." He started but before he could pull the trigger on his weapon he was stopped as Felix whipped around and fired his Sig Sauer 556 Assault Rifle and hit the man three times in the chest to both his shock and Task.
"You-!" he started before Felix finished him with a headshot and turned his attention back to Task who stood frozen in fear. "Where's Adahy?" he asked with venom in his tone while Task pointed out the window.
"Take him and get out of here." he yelled before lowering his gun and allowing the Lakota to runoff while he punched the wall.
"The Chino!" said Primo as he and Cheetah snuck a peek from around a corner as Lee slowly made his way to their location.
As the Chinese man went to turn the corner he was taken by surprise as Primo forced his gun upward causing him to fire a shot in the ceiling before losing his grip on his weapon and being kicked away by Primo before Cheetah hit him over the him the head with the butt of his Pistol.
"Now you pay for what you did Puto." The man declared as he went to fire a shot at Lee only to discover that the gun was empty.
"Take him down." Came the familiar voice of Miller as he and Buck opened fire on Primo and Cheetah as Lee drew his M9 Beretta and fired off three shots at the fleeing men.
"Brother you good?" asked Miller as he and Buck noticing blood leaking from the forehead of Lee who gave a low chuckle.
"Yeah…I just remembered I'm human." The Chinese man replied as Miller and Buck helped him to his fight.
"DIE!" Mark yelled as he slammed the butt of his gun into the chest of Ernesto again with enough force to cause blood to fly from the mouth of the man as his ribs felt like they were being knocked around in his chest.
"Hey Puto." Came a familiar voice that caused Mark to lift his head and notice Miguel staring at him with Ernest's .44 Magnum drawn on him. "Off my padre." He yelled before pulling back the hammer and squeezing the trigger and letting off a round that Mark tried to block with his left arm but the shot went through his forearm and hit him dead in the chest and further damaging his vest.
"NO!" yelled Courtney as she, Viktor, Davey, and Eddy left off a barrage of rounds at Miguel who merely returned fire before hearing the click of the weapon.
"Fuck you Mayates!" yelled Primo as he and Cheetah ran out of the apartment complex through the front door and layed down a barrage of fire for Miguel as he grabbed Ernesto by his shoulders and pulled him to one of the remaining cars before hopping inside.
"Let's go!" he yelled out as Cheetah and Primo tried to run for the car.
"Fucking pricks." Mark said through strained breaths as he drew his M1911 Pistol and fired five shots at the car shattering the winds and striking Primo once in the shoulder before he slammed on the gas petal and sent the vehicle speeding out of the area.
"You guys okay?" Cheetah asked.
"No we need to get to a doctor." Yelled Primo as he looked down at Ernesto and noticed that the man was passed out in Miguel's arms.
"No hospitals, I know someone that can help us." Replied Miguel as they sped down the road out of the 2nd Ward while Task drove the injured Adahy away from the apartment complex. If it wasn't for his bulletproof vest Lee's Shotgun blast to the chest would have more than likely killed the man but instead all he may have had was a few bruised ribs and sprained leg from falling out the window.
As Adahy slept Task couldn't help but to think what he was going to tell Felix the next time he saw him or pray that he wouldn't tell Mark about their involvement in the attack.
As Task thought of Felix the Mexican-American man walked out of the apartment complex with Lee with Miller and Buck carrying Lee with the remaining New Arcadia gangsters regrouped in the courtyard.
"I think we won." Said Quick with a chuckle while Courtney helped Mark to his feet.
"Don't worry it's just a scratch." He stated while looking at the deep gash on his forearm. "And maybe a slight bruise." He added before lifting up his shirt and revealing that the bullet from the .44 Magnum had burned through his vest and his shirt and left a bloody bruises on the right side of his chest.
"You good brother?" the Creole asked while looking to Lee.
"Yeah just doing things your way." Lee replied just as the sound of police sirens started to fill the air.
"No time for hugs and kisses we gotta go now." Mark replied earning nods from the group before they all went their separate ways.
Elsewhere
The sound of knocking on the front door caused Steve to quickly answer it and notice a familiar dark redheaded woman standing on the otherside of the door with an emotionless look on her face.
"Ali!" he greeted before moving to give the woman a quick hug.
"I thought about what you said and…decided to come home." She replied before Steve planted a quick kiss on her lips.
"Well come in." he said before letting Alison pass him. Instead of staying and waiting for Mark and the others to return home she had decided to return home. It would have made things less awkward that way. The more she stayed around the youngest the more she wanted to just wrap up in his arms and to become one with him again.
The thought of another night with the youngest Roman seemed to make light a fire in her loins that she tried her best to extinguish, but found it more difficult to do.
As the FIB Agent made her way into her room she noticed Steve walk in behind her and quickly move to approach her.
"Ali I-." he started before being taken by surprise as Alison gave him a quick kiss on the lips before wrapping her arms around him.
"Stop talking." She said before continuing the kiss while Steve wrapped his arms around her and moved to pull her shirt from around her shoulders.
East New Arcadia
The drive back home wasn't long for Mark and the others as they stepped out of their cars and made their ways inside while noticing that Alison's car wasn't in the driveway. This seemed to sadden Mark but he knew he had to power through it.
Before coming home he had gotten his wound wrapped up at Courtney's home along with Lee and as the group entered the home they quickly caught the sight of Link sitting on the couch before jumping up and approaching the group.
"You guys okay?" asked Link as he approached the group.
"We've been better." Stated Mark as he took a seat on the couch. "Ali?" he asked.
"She left a few minutes after you left and the news broadcast of a gun battle at a housing project didn't serve you well." He replied earning a nod from Mark.
"Figured." The Creole replied.
"Now that you're here though brother we've got another problem to deal with." Stated Link earning the attention of Mark and the others.
Later
The sun had finally set on this day in New Arcadia as Alison found herself sleeping in her bed with Steve right beside her. She then opened her eyes and raised herself up before looking next to the sleeping Steve.
The duo had spent much of the night in each-other's arms. Even before coming to New Arcadia there wasn't much sex going on between Alison and Steve but tonight she needed it. She needed to feel wanted…sexually.
Steve wasn't a bad in bed and could get the job done but not as well as Mark did long ago. The Creole would leave her weak at the knees, struggling to breath, and begging for me whether they were fucking or love making the result was always the same.
As Alison continued to look at Steve she was caught off-guard by a light taping sound on her bedroom window causing her to look out and see the silhouette of a man standing on the otherside.
"Marcus?" she asked before stepping out of her bed and slipping on a red night robe and then slowly making her way out of the house through the backdoor.
To her surprise though instead of seeing Mark she saw three men two white and one black kneeling down with their mouths gagged and hands tied behind their backs.
"What the-." She started.
"Don't be alarmed." Came a new voice that caused her to whip her head around but instead of seeing Mark she caught sight of Buck, Miller, and Viktor.
"Shit, you boys damn near gave me a heart attack." She replied with a confused look on her face.
"Sorry about that big sis." Stated Buck.
"What are you two doing here and what is this?" she asked while pointing at the three men.
"They were trying to break into your home, they said somebody at a bar told them to do it." Replied Viktor. Alison then sent a look to the three men and eyed them closely while thinking about the phone call she received earlier.
'Okay, but why are you three here?" she asked.
"Mark told us watch over you." Replied Miller to Alison's shock.
'Whatever me, why is…is he dead?" she asked while feeling her heart stop with a wave of sadness at the thought of Mark dying.
'Oh god no, him, Lee, and Link left a few hours ago to Sunbelt City. Ours brothers there need them for extra support." Buck shot back.
"In the meantime he wants us to watch over you and make sure nothing happens." Replied Miller to Alison's confusion.
"Why do they need Mark?" she asked.
"Let's just say things there aren't going well." Viktor replied as miles away from their location in Sunbelt City Tasha, Ryan, Jimmy, and five other members of BSU found themselves standing outside their clubhouse where a cross burning on their lawns.
Authors Note: And there you have it for this chapter everyone. I know it hasn't been too long since I updated this story and I did promise the next chapter I'd update was Roman Empire but I can say that I am working on my next chapter of Roman Empire but with the introduction of Neto into New Arcadia I want to spit this chapters out as fast as possible and get to the point where he kills Miller and Viktor.
Which I can say will happen next chapter. Me and Onkwehonwe discussed the idea of Mark being away when Miller and Viktor attempt their hit on Ernesto and end up being captured and one of the reason I'm gonna have them away is because they're in Sunbelt City.
That beginning scene with Mark and the two boys was based off a scene in that movie Days of Grace or Dias de Gracia. If you haven't watched it, I strongly recommend it as far as foreign films goes it's one of the best.
The shootout between the Roman Boyz, the Azteca's, and Vagos was a little longer then I originally wanted it to be mostly because I wanted to show a match in power between the two forces and this also sets up for things to come later.
Alison has also had her first contact with the serial killer and next chapter he'll start his game with her.
Stick around for next chapter as Mark, Lee, and Link lead BSU in a small war with the Skinheads, Alison must race against the clock to save a life from the serial killer, Task and Adahy must explain themselves to Felix, and Joe sent's Mark's remaining BSU members on an assassination mission.
Thank you all for reading have a good night.
