Goodnight My Love
Part Four
Thick curls of smoke covered the slowly dawning sky of the city as he arrived. Walking up to the smoking ruin of the warehouse made Sonny pause. This was Brujah territory, so why were there human cops around? One of them just happened to be in the loop and fixed him with a questioning look as he approached.
"Morning sleepyhead," Frank muttered as he looked his partner from head to toe.
"Same to you." Sonny said as he noticed the tufts of hair that stuck out and rumbled clothes. "What are you doing here?"
"A woman called in and said there was smoke coming from the docks. When we got here we already had company." Frank indicated the two square built men in suits. Sonny recognized them and felt a headache coming on. "They say that they were the night patrol."
"Have we talked to them yet?" Sonny asked dryly.
"They plead the fifth and won't say boo until their lawyers show up." Frank shook his head. "Since when do night-watch men wear two thousand dollar suits and ask for lawyers?"
Sonny shrugged and headed over to them while Frank spoke to one of the uniforms. Both of them watched him with guarded eyes as he walked up. " Morning boys." He said lightly as they frowned. " Working late were you?"
The one on the left eyed him a moment before leaning close, " So where were you all night Sonny?"
"Yeah," The second one smirked. " Julian called you hours ago and you didn't show."
The Ventrue glared at the two mobsters and they weren't so brave. " That doesn't concern you." He turned his attention to the one on the right. " So Marco, what were you two doing here?"
"Nothing." He muttered and crossed his arms. " Besides we answer to Cameron, not Julian."
Sonny opened his mouth then shut it as Frank showed up. His partner eyed him a second then looked at the two goons. For now at least he let Frank lead the questioning and got no where. Both men were taking their silence to the very end and nothing the policeman could say would change that.
"Let them defrost in a cell." Sonny nodded to two uniforms.
Heading back to his car, Sonny felt his pager go off again. Flipping back his coat he sighed. It was Julian. Leaving the door of his Cadillac open he reached for his cell phone and paused at the arrival of his partner.
"Yes Frank?"
"Where were you all night?" Frank leaned in the passenger side and looked at his partner closely. " You smell like a woman's perfume."
"I was with someone okay?" Sonny growled and dialed his Prince. " Now leave." Frank grinned and left the Ventrue to his call. "Hey Julian, you paged me?" He listened as his Prince spoke and leaned his head back on the headrest. " I'll stop by and talk to her."
Getting out of the car he found Frank in his own vehicle and waited for him. His partner looked up and checked his watch. " Have a fight with 'someone'?"
"Listen, Julian needs me to stop by the Haven for a minute. Do you mind carrying on and I'll meet you at the station?"
Frank chuckled, "Will do."
**
Even in daylight the exterior of the nightclub was alluring and attractive. Sonny parked across the street from the building and gazed at the collection of bikes and cars. Clearly a meeting was happening and it didn't seem good. Getting out he smoothed his coat as he crossed the street. Pulling open the ornate doors he gazed in at the dark interior. Murmuring voices floated up from the curved staircase that lead down. He descended and found Lilly and Cameron sitting with Cash and Sasha. They were grouped around a single table and deep in conversation. It was Cameron who noticed Sonny and sat back. Lilly gazed at him with steady eyes as he approached and pulled up a chair. Sitting down he glanced at the younger couple and found Cash glaring at him.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"I called you hours ago." Cash snapped. " Why didn't you show up?"
Sonny sighed, " You didn't say it was urgent."
Lilly put a hand on the Gangrel's arm as he tensed up. " Sonny it's more then that," She glanced at Cameron, " Go ahead, tell him what you told us."
The Brujah Primogen took a moment before speaking. " Somewhere between late night and early this morning two of my men spotted Antonio around the my territory. Minutes later one of my warehouses exploded."
Sonny frowned. " Antonio? Why would he be here?"
"We can only guess that he wants Archon's seat." Lilly said gently and watched him. " You are Julian's Childe, the seat does belong to you now.
Cameron glanced at the Toreador, " Why would he blow up my warehouse if he here for the Ventrue?"
"He wasn't to cause dissention in the ranks," Cash muttered. " It's his MO and I doubt he's changed that much." Sasha put her arm around him and he smiled a little.
"Even if that is the case," Sonny said shortly, " We are jumping to conclusions. Now are you absolutely sure you saw Antonio?"
Cameron nodded, " I have night vision cameras watching every inch of my grounds. It's him."
"Could he be here for any other reason?" Sonny asked looking at the three other people at the table.
"Maybe he wants to return to San Francisco?" Cash said darkly. " Regain his territory and start up his gang again."
Silence followed as all of them watched the other. It was Sasha who spoke up.
"What's so bad about this guy anyway?"
Lilly shot her a look and glanced at Sonny, Cameron shifted in his seat and stared intently at the tablecloth. It was Sonny who answered. " A few years ago Archon had to choose between two protege's, he chose Julian over Antonio. Antonio was so angry that he went on a rampage and slaughtered dozens before we stopped him. It's the closest we've come to exposure in the last century. Julian was the one sent to kill him, but I guess he choked and couldn't do it."
Sasha frowned, " They sent Uncle Julian to kill someone?"
"Your uncle wasn't always the peaceful prince you know." Lilly said softly and leaned back against her chair. "There is a reason the clans fear him." Her eyes flickered to Cameron and he was staring very hard at the table. " But that's in the past."
"Yeah," The Brujah muttered, " In the past." He stood up abruptly and left the club. His guards followed quickly as he went up the stairs.
"Before anything else happens," Sonny said, " We should find him and bring him in for questioning." Cash nodded and moved to leave. " Cash, be careful, I don't need to remind you of what he nearly did to Stevie Ray."
The Gangrel paused, " I remember." He left and Sasha followed. Only Lilly and Sonny remained in the suddenly silent club.
Lilly hesitated before sitting forward and looking him in the eye. " So did you give it to her?"
"I never saw her cry before that moment." Sonny felt himself smile and glanced at the woman. " It was beautiful Lilly, thank you."
She shrugged, " I had it laying around and thought you could use it." She smiled at him as he chuckled. " So how was Frank this morning?"
"Same as usual, he says hi by the way." Sonny stood up and paused as he turned to go. " Lilly," His hands gripped the back of his chair as though he couldn't stand straight. " I love Rebecca more then I ever thought I could love anyone."
The Toreador nodded her head, " I know Sonny. I've seen you after being with her, she makes you happy. Just remember..." She paused then thought better of it and smiled at him. " Never mind, I am happy for you and wish you well."
He turned and left the club and found Cash waiting for him. Crossing to his car he met the stare of the Gangrel and felt something cold slide down his spine. " Cash."
"I know you didn't want anyone to know...but I saw you last night." He said and glanced around. "I don't have to tell you to be careful, but still Sonny, I am worried for you."
"Don't be." He said as he opened the car door. " What I do in my own time is my business." He didn't keep the anger from his tone as he climbed into the car.
"I used to think that too." Cash said softly, preventing from the Ventrue from closing his door. " Then I met Sash and things changed."
Sonny frowned at him. " She isn't like Sasha."
There was a pause before the young man spoke. His tone was guarded and quiet, "She is human and she is in danger." Cash said it as gently as he could. " Just watch out, that is all I am saying." With that the Gangrel walked to his bike and tore off down the street.
Sonny sat behind the wheel of his car and didn't know what to do. Instead of thinking about it, he started the engine and took off for downtown. Frank was waiting for him at he station, he was a policeman after all.
Part Four
Thick curls of smoke covered the slowly dawning sky of the city as he arrived. Walking up to the smoking ruin of the warehouse made Sonny pause. This was Brujah territory, so why were there human cops around? One of them just happened to be in the loop and fixed him with a questioning look as he approached.
"Morning sleepyhead," Frank muttered as he looked his partner from head to toe.
"Same to you." Sonny said as he noticed the tufts of hair that stuck out and rumbled clothes. "What are you doing here?"
"A woman called in and said there was smoke coming from the docks. When we got here we already had company." Frank indicated the two square built men in suits. Sonny recognized them and felt a headache coming on. "They say that they were the night patrol."
"Have we talked to them yet?" Sonny asked dryly.
"They plead the fifth and won't say boo until their lawyers show up." Frank shook his head. "Since when do night-watch men wear two thousand dollar suits and ask for lawyers?"
Sonny shrugged and headed over to them while Frank spoke to one of the uniforms. Both of them watched him with guarded eyes as he walked up. " Morning boys." He said lightly as they frowned. " Working late were you?"
The one on the left eyed him a moment before leaning close, " So where were you all night Sonny?"
"Yeah," The second one smirked. " Julian called you hours ago and you didn't show."
The Ventrue glared at the two mobsters and they weren't so brave. " That doesn't concern you." He turned his attention to the one on the right. " So Marco, what were you two doing here?"
"Nothing." He muttered and crossed his arms. " Besides we answer to Cameron, not Julian."
Sonny opened his mouth then shut it as Frank showed up. His partner eyed him a second then looked at the two goons. For now at least he let Frank lead the questioning and got no where. Both men were taking their silence to the very end and nothing the policeman could say would change that.
"Let them defrost in a cell." Sonny nodded to two uniforms.
Heading back to his car, Sonny felt his pager go off again. Flipping back his coat he sighed. It was Julian. Leaving the door of his Cadillac open he reached for his cell phone and paused at the arrival of his partner.
"Yes Frank?"
"Where were you all night?" Frank leaned in the passenger side and looked at his partner closely. " You smell like a woman's perfume."
"I was with someone okay?" Sonny growled and dialed his Prince. " Now leave." Frank grinned and left the Ventrue to his call. "Hey Julian, you paged me?" He listened as his Prince spoke and leaned his head back on the headrest. " I'll stop by and talk to her."
Getting out of the car he found Frank in his own vehicle and waited for him. His partner looked up and checked his watch. " Have a fight with 'someone'?"
"Listen, Julian needs me to stop by the Haven for a minute. Do you mind carrying on and I'll meet you at the station?"
Frank chuckled, "Will do."
**
Even in daylight the exterior of the nightclub was alluring and attractive. Sonny parked across the street from the building and gazed at the collection of bikes and cars. Clearly a meeting was happening and it didn't seem good. Getting out he smoothed his coat as he crossed the street. Pulling open the ornate doors he gazed in at the dark interior. Murmuring voices floated up from the curved staircase that lead down. He descended and found Lilly and Cameron sitting with Cash and Sasha. They were grouped around a single table and deep in conversation. It was Cameron who noticed Sonny and sat back. Lilly gazed at him with steady eyes as he approached and pulled up a chair. Sitting down he glanced at the younger couple and found Cash glaring at him.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"I called you hours ago." Cash snapped. " Why didn't you show up?"
Sonny sighed, " You didn't say it was urgent."
Lilly put a hand on the Gangrel's arm as he tensed up. " Sonny it's more then that," She glanced at Cameron, " Go ahead, tell him what you told us."
The Brujah Primogen took a moment before speaking. " Somewhere between late night and early this morning two of my men spotted Antonio around the my territory. Minutes later one of my warehouses exploded."
Sonny frowned. " Antonio? Why would he be here?"
"We can only guess that he wants Archon's seat." Lilly said gently and watched him. " You are Julian's Childe, the seat does belong to you now.
Cameron glanced at the Toreador, " Why would he blow up my warehouse if he here for the Ventrue?"
"He wasn't to cause dissention in the ranks," Cash muttered. " It's his MO and I doubt he's changed that much." Sasha put her arm around him and he smiled a little.
"Even if that is the case," Sonny said shortly, " We are jumping to conclusions. Now are you absolutely sure you saw Antonio?"
Cameron nodded, " I have night vision cameras watching every inch of my grounds. It's him."
"Could he be here for any other reason?" Sonny asked looking at the three other people at the table.
"Maybe he wants to return to San Francisco?" Cash said darkly. " Regain his territory and start up his gang again."
Silence followed as all of them watched the other. It was Sasha who spoke up.
"What's so bad about this guy anyway?"
Lilly shot her a look and glanced at Sonny, Cameron shifted in his seat and stared intently at the tablecloth. It was Sonny who answered. " A few years ago Archon had to choose between two protege's, he chose Julian over Antonio. Antonio was so angry that he went on a rampage and slaughtered dozens before we stopped him. It's the closest we've come to exposure in the last century. Julian was the one sent to kill him, but I guess he choked and couldn't do it."
Sasha frowned, " They sent Uncle Julian to kill someone?"
"Your uncle wasn't always the peaceful prince you know." Lilly said softly and leaned back against her chair. "There is a reason the clans fear him." Her eyes flickered to Cameron and he was staring very hard at the table. " But that's in the past."
"Yeah," The Brujah muttered, " In the past." He stood up abruptly and left the club. His guards followed quickly as he went up the stairs.
"Before anything else happens," Sonny said, " We should find him and bring him in for questioning." Cash nodded and moved to leave. " Cash, be careful, I don't need to remind you of what he nearly did to Stevie Ray."
The Gangrel paused, " I remember." He left and Sasha followed. Only Lilly and Sonny remained in the suddenly silent club.
Lilly hesitated before sitting forward and looking him in the eye. " So did you give it to her?"
"I never saw her cry before that moment." Sonny felt himself smile and glanced at the woman. " It was beautiful Lilly, thank you."
She shrugged, " I had it laying around and thought you could use it." She smiled at him as he chuckled. " So how was Frank this morning?"
"Same as usual, he says hi by the way." Sonny stood up and paused as he turned to go. " Lilly," His hands gripped the back of his chair as though he couldn't stand straight. " I love Rebecca more then I ever thought I could love anyone."
The Toreador nodded her head, " I know Sonny. I've seen you after being with her, she makes you happy. Just remember..." She paused then thought better of it and smiled at him. " Never mind, I am happy for you and wish you well."
He turned and left the club and found Cash waiting for him. Crossing to his car he met the stare of the Gangrel and felt something cold slide down his spine. " Cash."
"I know you didn't want anyone to know...but I saw you last night." He said and glanced around. "I don't have to tell you to be careful, but still Sonny, I am worried for you."
"Don't be." He said as he opened the car door. " What I do in my own time is my business." He didn't keep the anger from his tone as he climbed into the car.
"I used to think that too." Cash said softly, preventing from the Ventrue from closing his door. " Then I met Sash and things changed."
Sonny frowned at him. " She isn't like Sasha."
There was a pause before the young man spoke. His tone was guarded and quiet, "She is human and she is in danger." Cash said it as gently as he could. " Just watch out, that is all I am saying." With that the Gangrel walked to his bike and tore off down the street.
Sonny sat behind the wheel of his car and didn't know what to do. Instead of thinking about it, he started the engine and took off for downtown. Frank was waiting for him at he station, he was a policeman after all.