Title: Paying Old Debts
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fastlane or anything in conjunction with Fastlane nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Replies to Reviews are at the bottom of this chapter
*******************************
Chapter 2
Propped up against the wall, Van's mind raced even as his body screamed in agony. With slow, painful motion, Van pulled his phone from his pocket and attempted to call Deaq. But his phone beeped with "No signal".
An anguished curse tumbled from Van. Nothing was ever easy. Knowing that Deaq's life still rested in his hands, Van clenched his teeth and using the wall as support, he struggled to his feet. He staggered a moment but closed his eyes and forced his agony to take a backseat.
When he reopened his eyes, resolve glimmered in their depths. He wouldn't get Deaq killed tonight. Not over his past. Zipping his jacket up higher, Van took a breath and then strode from the room.
He pushed past the dancers on the floor and the drunks crowding the bar to make his way to Deaq. Passing one of the Italians that threatened Deaq, Van had a fleeting idea of taking him out. But the idea died as the man's eyes seared into his. They were ready for him to make such a stupid move, ready and anxious to finally get a chance to see some action tonight.
Van decided to disappoint them but his eyes bore into the Italian he passed, unmasking his challenge if the man made one move to harm Deaq. But the Italian met his look with a smug smile. He knew the score even if Van didn't.
Finally Van stood by the booth that Colin and Deaq occupied. "Hey dude, our next appointment ain't patient," he greeted as Deaq and Colin's attention rested on him. Deaq tried hard to read Van but he trusted his partner enough to go along with this new direction.
"Yeah, well, our business is done here. Guess we'll be seeing you at the meet Colin my man," Deaq jovially shot to Colin even as he stood from the booth.
Colin extended his hand and both Van and Deaq shook it. "Have a nice evening gentlemen."
With that said, Van turned on his heel and began to make his way to the door even as Deaq fell into step beside him. "You are gonna catch me up on what's happening, right?" Deaq undertoned but Van's reply was silence.
'Pros play hurt,' ran through Van's head in his father's voice as he forced himself to take step after step, always focusing on the objective. The door. Three minutes were about up and if Van knew Cade, the clock only stopped once Deaq was out the club door. Or, for all Van knew, the clock only stopped once they were past the club's property line. Cade changed the rules any time he wanted.
Deaq was surprised when Van gripped his arm and practically propelled him out of the club doors. As soon as he could stop his momentum, Deaq spun, ready to round on Van. But the car keys came arching through the air and he instinctively caught them.
"Just drive, Deaq," Van lowly ordered as he passed Deaq and climbed into the Ferrari's passenger side.
For a moment Deaq stood there confused. Van was acting strange even for Van. With frustration, Deaq crossed to the car, hopped into the driver's side and turned to Van.
"Damn it, Deaq, just put the car in motion already!" Van growled, his eyes piercing Deaq's even in the darkness of the night.
"Fine," Deaq bit out, bringing the engine to life and peeling out of the parking lot. The car streaked down the road at 95 mph, leaving behind Club 9.
"You wanna tell me what's up Van?!" Deaq shouted, sending a glare to his silent partner. "Who the hell is Roberts? And how does he know you?! And why'd we leave Club 9 like it was the plague?"
Leaning heavily against the leather interior of the seat, Van let Deaq's questions wash over him. Deaq wasn't ready to hear the answers and Van didn't think he'd ever be ready to speak them. He'd broken. Van had told Cade anything he wanted to know. He had betrayed his partner, his boss and his oath as a police officer. Dying didn't seem such a bad thing.
"I'll explain everything tomorrow. Just drop me home, Deaq," Van countered, opting to take the details of his final screw up to his grave. Deaq was safe and that was all that mattered.
Deaq shot an incredulous look to his partner across the dark interior of the sports car. "Hell no I'm not waiting for tomorrow! And neither is Billie! She's waiting at the Candy Store for us to report! Did you forget that?"
Van sighed, his breath hitching in pain, he had forgotten. It looked like he had a hand to play before he checked out. Not for the first time he cursed his father for ever doing business with Cade Roberts. Even McNar had abandoned Ray Ray on that dealing. McNar always was the smarter businessman.
Silence fell in the car and Van shivered as cold gripped onto his soul. Fleetingly he wondered how hard it was going to be to get his blood stains out of the leather seats. A smile pulled onto his pale features. It was almost poetic justice that a piece of him was gonna stay in a car, especially a sports car. Well, until they reupholstered.
Deaq's voice broke into Van's morbid thoughts. But this time Deaq's tone was soft, worried, and persistent, "Why are you shutting me out, Van? Does this Roberts have some kinda hold on you? 'Cause if he does, you and me can work it out. You know that, right?"
Deaq picked a hell of a time to be the optimist. Especially when fate had already stepped in. But Deaq's words went straight to Van's heart. Deaq deserved to know the truth about tonight. Van's voice was quiet and hollow, "I knew Roberts when I was a kid. Guess he kept track of me 'cause he knows I'm a cop now."
A curse erupted from Deaq. "Just great!! Our cover's blown! Maybe permanently! How much did he know 'bout our setup with Colin? And how much does he know about you, me and the Candy Store?"
Van rolled his head on the headrest to face Deaq. "Everything," he croaked and then purposely looked away from Deaq. With bitter anguish he confessed, "And what he didn't know, I told him."
The Ferrari swerved as Deaq's head swung to face Van. "What?!" he shouted even as he wrestled the steering wheel back to a straight line.
"Now will you take me home?" Van pleaded softly.
"Why?! Why'd you flip? Is Roberts a friend?!" Deaq demanded as his eyes swiveled between the road and his partner.
A bitter smile crept onto Van's face, "Cade Roberts is no one's friend."
"Then tell me why you told him everything?!"
Van's voice barely carried to Deaq, "Because he was gonna kill you in the club."
This information hit Deaq like a truck but his voice was reassuring when he spoke, "I was OK, Van. I was hiding out in a public place like any smart black man."
But Van's head snapped to face Deaq, "You think Roberts gives a damn about public places? About witnesses or repercussions? I saw his men, they could have iced you before you even took your first swallow of scotch!"
"Saw his men?!" Deaq exclaimed in disbelief. "You weren't even around, Van?!" But then Deaq shot a look to Van in growing suspicion. "How'd you know I had a scotch? Waitress took the glass and brought me a beer by the time you got back."
"Roberts has a two-way mirror in his office. I saw you drinking the scotch and I saw Roberts' three men each with a straight shot at you." Van leaned heavily back in the seat. "I didn't have a choice Deaq not unless I wanted to watch you get a lick shot to the skull. I told Roberts about Colin's brother and the gambling chips."
"Oh damn," Deaq cursed with anguish, feeling for Van's predicament as well as the mess that they had on their hands. "We gotta protect Colin's brother."
"No, Roberts doesn't care about him."
"Doesn't care about him? Van the man is compromising his new business partnership."
"Roberts doesn't take on partners, he dumps them in the desert or the ocean. Colin's already on his way to one of those locales."
"We gotta call this in!" Deaq said and reached for his phone but Van gripped his arm.
Van's eyes sought Deaq's in the dark interior of the car. "There's nothing you can do now. Don't make Roberts your enemy over something that's already done. Roberts takes no prisoners man. He will kill you."
"He didn't kill me tonight," Deaq brazenly countered.
"'Cause he had no beef with you. It was just business tonight."
"Business between you and him." And Van could hear the accusation and distrust in Deaq's voice. "How come you're all worried 'bout him coming after me and not you? How come he didn't threaten to kill you in the club?"
A glimmer of sad humor sparkled in Van's eyes as they met Deaq's, "Cade and I are way beyond threats."
"To say Billie isn't gonna be pleased is an understatement," Deaq sighed.
Van made no comment but settled back more heavily against the seat. Deaq was safe and knew what cards Roberts was holding. Van's work was done.
Deaq shot a look to Van as the quiet grew in the car but could hardly make out his partner in the darkness. He let the silence remain between them as he maneuvered the streets that would lead them to the candy store.
TBC
I know...I know..It's still a cliffie! But getting out of messy situations isn't so easy!
Thanks for reading and I hope to hear what you think of this chapter and the story in general!
Replies to Reviews:
Me: You were the first to review this story and I was so grateful you liked the story !!!! The first review really sets the tone so I appreciate that you took the time to review! Hope to hear what you think of this chapter!
Hazelnut: Thanks for your review! Sorry this chapter took kinda long to arrive but I hope you liked it.
G: Thanks for your review! Glad you "love" it and hope you still do after this chapter.
DKM: I loved your enthusiastic review! It really got me motivated to pen the next chapter.
Leann: I had to laugh out loud when I read your review! Thanks so much for your dramatic response to the story. And I totally agree...I love Van angst, love Van's past and yeah, ok I just love Van. (We have excellent taste)
Kathy: Thanks for your review! And I'm glad you like digging into Van's past. It just seems like such a rip area to drudge up some angst. And I love angst.
Lynne: I'm flattered that you think my writing is intense! I always felt the show was intense so I'm trying real hard to keep that energy alive. I guess this chapter didn't really relieve your stress. I'll try to work on that for the following chapter.
Fan4fastln: Thank you for "loving" my sense of the characters. I'm always striving to not go out of character with my stories...'cause what we all love are the characters as they were on the show.
Meike: Thanks so much for the email and the review! I appreciate your loyalty to the story! Hope this chapter lets you get some sleep! And I'll work hard to get chapter 3 written and posted.
All shades of black: I hope you're still breathing! I know, this chapter is STILL a cliffie but hey, you at least know Deaq's OK. Thanks so much for saying my cliffie in chapter 1 was one of the worst cliff-hangers you have ever read. That made my day! And I'm glad you like the descriptions of my new characters! Sometimes that so hard to visualize so I always have a real actor in mind for the big parts. (Cade Roberts is being played by Eric Roberts in this tale ...well at least in my head).
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fastlane or anything in conjunction with Fastlane nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Replies to Reviews are at the bottom of this chapter
*******************************
Chapter 2
Propped up against the wall, Van's mind raced even as his body screamed in agony. With slow, painful motion, Van pulled his phone from his pocket and attempted to call Deaq. But his phone beeped with "No signal".
An anguished curse tumbled from Van. Nothing was ever easy. Knowing that Deaq's life still rested in his hands, Van clenched his teeth and using the wall as support, he struggled to his feet. He staggered a moment but closed his eyes and forced his agony to take a backseat.
When he reopened his eyes, resolve glimmered in their depths. He wouldn't get Deaq killed tonight. Not over his past. Zipping his jacket up higher, Van took a breath and then strode from the room.
He pushed past the dancers on the floor and the drunks crowding the bar to make his way to Deaq. Passing one of the Italians that threatened Deaq, Van had a fleeting idea of taking him out. But the idea died as the man's eyes seared into his. They were ready for him to make such a stupid move, ready and anxious to finally get a chance to see some action tonight.
Van decided to disappoint them but his eyes bore into the Italian he passed, unmasking his challenge if the man made one move to harm Deaq. But the Italian met his look with a smug smile. He knew the score even if Van didn't.
Finally Van stood by the booth that Colin and Deaq occupied. "Hey dude, our next appointment ain't patient," he greeted as Deaq and Colin's attention rested on him. Deaq tried hard to read Van but he trusted his partner enough to go along with this new direction.
"Yeah, well, our business is done here. Guess we'll be seeing you at the meet Colin my man," Deaq jovially shot to Colin even as he stood from the booth.
Colin extended his hand and both Van and Deaq shook it. "Have a nice evening gentlemen."
With that said, Van turned on his heel and began to make his way to the door even as Deaq fell into step beside him. "You are gonna catch me up on what's happening, right?" Deaq undertoned but Van's reply was silence.
'Pros play hurt,' ran through Van's head in his father's voice as he forced himself to take step after step, always focusing on the objective. The door. Three minutes were about up and if Van knew Cade, the clock only stopped once Deaq was out the club door. Or, for all Van knew, the clock only stopped once they were past the club's property line. Cade changed the rules any time he wanted.
Deaq was surprised when Van gripped his arm and practically propelled him out of the club doors. As soon as he could stop his momentum, Deaq spun, ready to round on Van. But the car keys came arching through the air and he instinctively caught them.
"Just drive, Deaq," Van lowly ordered as he passed Deaq and climbed into the Ferrari's passenger side.
For a moment Deaq stood there confused. Van was acting strange even for Van. With frustration, Deaq crossed to the car, hopped into the driver's side and turned to Van.
"Damn it, Deaq, just put the car in motion already!" Van growled, his eyes piercing Deaq's even in the darkness of the night.
"Fine," Deaq bit out, bringing the engine to life and peeling out of the parking lot. The car streaked down the road at 95 mph, leaving behind Club 9.
"You wanna tell me what's up Van?!" Deaq shouted, sending a glare to his silent partner. "Who the hell is Roberts? And how does he know you?! And why'd we leave Club 9 like it was the plague?"
Leaning heavily against the leather interior of the seat, Van let Deaq's questions wash over him. Deaq wasn't ready to hear the answers and Van didn't think he'd ever be ready to speak them. He'd broken. Van had told Cade anything he wanted to know. He had betrayed his partner, his boss and his oath as a police officer. Dying didn't seem such a bad thing.
"I'll explain everything tomorrow. Just drop me home, Deaq," Van countered, opting to take the details of his final screw up to his grave. Deaq was safe and that was all that mattered.
Deaq shot an incredulous look to his partner across the dark interior of the sports car. "Hell no I'm not waiting for tomorrow! And neither is Billie! She's waiting at the Candy Store for us to report! Did you forget that?"
Van sighed, his breath hitching in pain, he had forgotten. It looked like he had a hand to play before he checked out. Not for the first time he cursed his father for ever doing business with Cade Roberts. Even McNar had abandoned Ray Ray on that dealing. McNar always was the smarter businessman.
Silence fell in the car and Van shivered as cold gripped onto his soul. Fleetingly he wondered how hard it was going to be to get his blood stains out of the leather seats. A smile pulled onto his pale features. It was almost poetic justice that a piece of him was gonna stay in a car, especially a sports car. Well, until they reupholstered.
Deaq's voice broke into Van's morbid thoughts. But this time Deaq's tone was soft, worried, and persistent, "Why are you shutting me out, Van? Does this Roberts have some kinda hold on you? 'Cause if he does, you and me can work it out. You know that, right?"
Deaq picked a hell of a time to be the optimist. Especially when fate had already stepped in. But Deaq's words went straight to Van's heart. Deaq deserved to know the truth about tonight. Van's voice was quiet and hollow, "I knew Roberts when I was a kid. Guess he kept track of me 'cause he knows I'm a cop now."
A curse erupted from Deaq. "Just great!! Our cover's blown! Maybe permanently! How much did he know 'bout our setup with Colin? And how much does he know about you, me and the Candy Store?"
Van rolled his head on the headrest to face Deaq. "Everything," he croaked and then purposely looked away from Deaq. With bitter anguish he confessed, "And what he didn't know, I told him."
The Ferrari swerved as Deaq's head swung to face Van. "What?!" he shouted even as he wrestled the steering wheel back to a straight line.
"Now will you take me home?" Van pleaded softly.
"Why?! Why'd you flip? Is Roberts a friend?!" Deaq demanded as his eyes swiveled between the road and his partner.
A bitter smile crept onto Van's face, "Cade Roberts is no one's friend."
"Then tell me why you told him everything?!"
Van's voice barely carried to Deaq, "Because he was gonna kill you in the club."
This information hit Deaq like a truck but his voice was reassuring when he spoke, "I was OK, Van. I was hiding out in a public place like any smart black man."
But Van's head snapped to face Deaq, "You think Roberts gives a damn about public places? About witnesses or repercussions? I saw his men, they could have iced you before you even took your first swallow of scotch!"
"Saw his men?!" Deaq exclaimed in disbelief. "You weren't even around, Van?!" But then Deaq shot a look to Van in growing suspicion. "How'd you know I had a scotch? Waitress took the glass and brought me a beer by the time you got back."
"Roberts has a two-way mirror in his office. I saw you drinking the scotch and I saw Roberts' three men each with a straight shot at you." Van leaned heavily back in the seat. "I didn't have a choice Deaq not unless I wanted to watch you get a lick shot to the skull. I told Roberts about Colin's brother and the gambling chips."
"Oh damn," Deaq cursed with anguish, feeling for Van's predicament as well as the mess that they had on their hands. "We gotta protect Colin's brother."
"No, Roberts doesn't care about him."
"Doesn't care about him? Van the man is compromising his new business partnership."
"Roberts doesn't take on partners, he dumps them in the desert or the ocean. Colin's already on his way to one of those locales."
"We gotta call this in!" Deaq said and reached for his phone but Van gripped his arm.
Van's eyes sought Deaq's in the dark interior of the car. "There's nothing you can do now. Don't make Roberts your enemy over something that's already done. Roberts takes no prisoners man. He will kill you."
"He didn't kill me tonight," Deaq brazenly countered.
"'Cause he had no beef with you. It was just business tonight."
"Business between you and him." And Van could hear the accusation and distrust in Deaq's voice. "How come you're all worried 'bout him coming after me and not you? How come he didn't threaten to kill you in the club?"
A glimmer of sad humor sparkled in Van's eyes as they met Deaq's, "Cade and I are way beyond threats."
"To say Billie isn't gonna be pleased is an understatement," Deaq sighed.
Van made no comment but settled back more heavily against the seat. Deaq was safe and knew what cards Roberts was holding. Van's work was done.
Deaq shot a look to Van as the quiet grew in the car but could hardly make out his partner in the darkness. He let the silence remain between them as he maneuvered the streets that would lead them to the candy store.
TBC
I know...I know..It's still a cliffie! But getting out of messy situations isn't so easy!
Thanks for reading and I hope to hear what you think of this chapter and the story in general!
Replies to Reviews:
Me: You were the first to review this story and I was so grateful you liked the story !!!! The first review really sets the tone so I appreciate that you took the time to review! Hope to hear what you think of this chapter!
Hazelnut: Thanks for your review! Sorry this chapter took kinda long to arrive but I hope you liked it.
G: Thanks for your review! Glad you "love" it and hope you still do after this chapter.
DKM: I loved your enthusiastic review! It really got me motivated to pen the next chapter.
Leann: I had to laugh out loud when I read your review! Thanks so much for your dramatic response to the story. And I totally agree...I love Van angst, love Van's past and yeah, ok I just love Van. (We have excellent taste)
Kathy: Thanks for your review! And I'm glad you like digging into Van's past. It just seems like such a rip area to drudge up some angst. And I love angst.
Lynne: I'm flattered that you think my writing is intense! I always felt the show was intense so I'm trying real hard to keep that energy alive. I guess this chapter didn't really relieve your stress. I'll try to work on that for the following chapter.
Fan4fastln: Thank you for "loving" my sense of the characters. I'm always striving to not go out of character with my stories...'cause what we all love are the characters as they were on the show.
Meike: Thanks so much for the email and the review! I appreciate your loyalty to the story! Hope this chapter lets you get some sleep! And I'll work hard to get chapter 3 written and posted.
All shades of black: I hope you're still breathing! I know, this chapter is STILL a cliffie but hey, you at least know Deaq's OK. Thanks so much for saying my cliffie in chapter 1 was one of the worst cliff-hangers you have ever read. That made my day! And I'm glad you like the descriptions of my new characters! Sometimes that so hard to visualize so I always have a real actor in mind for the big parts. (Cade Roberts is being played by Eric Roberts in this tale ...well at least in my head).