Ub2 chapter 14
And the hell breaks loose...
"Tempest, you better get up and come on." Ice took in a deep breath, his voice low. The deputy looked to be sizing him up, wondering if he was trouble.
"Pay my bail, fool. He ain't opening the doors till it's paid." Tempest sat back, yawning and stretching slowly for effect on her relaxedness. Ice clenched his fists, holding his words in, Cleary seething.
"Oh hey, Ice." Tiffany smiled, purposely waiting to say hi and pretend she had just now noticed him. She hung up her cell phone and went to the bars.
"You wanna stay here too?" Ice asked, his brow breaking a sweat out of anger. Tempest tired to hide her triumphant grin. He walked out, not saying a word after throwing down some cash.
"What, you want us to walk back?' Tempest came out, hiding her eyes from the sweltering sun. Ice turned to look at her, giving her a cold, go to hell look.
"What I want is for my girl to get her head outta her ass and get her shit together and loose the damn chip off her shoulder." Ice glared at her, then continued to walk to his car.
"You forget, I ain't yo girl anymore. You mad that call loud and clear." Tempest stopped and folded her arms.
"I made that clear? You're the one running your damn mouth and getting the big head." Ice said, opening his door to get in, not caring if she came with him or not.
"Big head? That is you, oh Tough Gang Leader who puts the gang over the girl." Tempest shot back.
"Can we get back to the hospital? I got to be there when J gets discharged." Tiffany rolled her eyes, tired of all the drama. She was tired period, and she was ready to get to the hospital to see Jordan to see what the hell she had been thinking.
"NO." They both yelled, then turned away from each other. Tiffany saw the keys in the ignition and got another idea, knowing it was in the best of both of their interests. She jumped in and took off, leaving the two to walk and talk.
"She did not just do that shit." Ice growled, his fists clenched.
"She did. What, you can't walk?" Tempest asked, taking off without him. He caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder. She looked at his tall figure, his black sunglasses on, the jersey and hat
backwards and felt a level of anger disappear. She didn't mind the walk, she was used to doing physical things. It helped her work off the stress and keep in shape. Ice didn't seem to be taking is so well.
"You're really pissin me the fuck off." Ice yelled, getting into her face. Tempest stood there, smirking as his fist came close to her face. She knew he wouldn't do it, he had had too many chances before.
"Good then, we're even." Tempest backed up and again took off walking.
"Why are you being like this?" Ice threw his hands up, clearly at a loss now.
"Why do you always put the gang before me? I mean, we all clearly know where we stand on it , we're all fucking loyal, so why do that and try to pull rank on me all the damn time when you don't like I what I do?" Tempest stopped, being honest with him, something she felt he should consider a privilege. Most normally she would just try to push him overboard.
"Why do you got show out all the time?" Ice asked, looking her in the eyes.
"Because I put up with yo hot headed ass 24/7. I didn't get my ranking from being your girl, Ice. I worked for it. I'm a damn assassin, I mean, you act like I'm some damn gang member in it for play. I have proved myself time and time again. I got to where I got without you. The dating came after, in case you don't remember. So, please get off your high horse. Learn to keep shit separate." Tempest started walking again.
"So, we can give it another chance?" he asked making Tempest scream silently at his typical maleness.
"Ice, I need a break, I won't lie. You can do what you want, gang wise and relationship wise. I can't keep fighting. I got too many enemies to deal wit and a blonde headed chic I have to keep outta trouble like all the damn time, so between J, racing, the gang and my job, I think a break is good. I can't honestly say if we are ever going to get our shit together or not." Tempest sighed, slowing to a slower pace of walking. The rest of the walk was in silence. Tempest blatantly ignored his frowns, his what seemed to be pouting, and just kept walking. She could be the queen of silence and ignoring someone, lucky her.
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"You okay, Tiff?" Brian asked, sitting outside his sister's room as Tiffany walked in the door, not looking happy.
"You better hope your girl keeps her distance from me and Jordan." Tiffany said, not buying his concerned act. She was still upset he had went to the hospital to get Mia.
"Tiff, I went to talk to her an make sure I could trust her." Brian looked his wife in the eyes, it finally dawning on him what he had done.
"Good, cause if she comes near me, I won't be talking. I kickass and ask questions later." Tiffany said, pulling away from Brian's outstretched arm. He looked at her, a boyish grin on his face, knowing it was his fuck up, even if it was a honest mistake, he still owned up to it.
"I know. I'm sorry. I am." he looked at her with his crystal blue eyes and pleaded with all his power for forgiveness.
"Have you talked to her yet?" Tiffany asked, letting Brian put his arms around her, though reluctantly.
"NO." Brian looked somewhat sheepish, not having the heart to get onto his sister, even if she was in the wrong. "I will, unless you want to." Brian sighed, running a hand though his hair. Tiffany took a deep breath, clearly not happy with Jordan.
"You know how I am, so I'll let you make that call." Tiffany ran her tongue over her teeth, trying to keep her anger about her in a collected fashion. She was having a hard time doing that, she couldn't imagine what in the life of her what Jordan had been thinking.
"Would you please?" Brian looked at her sincerely, making Tiffany wonder why she had even left the invitation open.
"Yeah, sure, why not. Don't expect her to be Mary fucking Sunshine when I'm done tearing into her, comprende?" Tiffany walked towards the hospital door, not waiting for a response. She didn't bother knocking and found Jordan to be awake, not happy. "That Knee hurt?" Tiffany asked as she stared out the room's window, not saying even so much as hi after a five minute period of silence.
"Yeah." Jordan said meekly, feeling the tension immediately.
"You know, I would say I was sorry for you, but you did this all on your own." Tiffany turned around, her face grimacing with anger at her stupidiness.
"I know." Jordan sighed miserably, knowing it was about to break loose. She knew how Tiffany's temper could be and this was one of the first times she was being on the receiving end.
"NO you don't know, Jordan! You and Dre coudla killed someone. You coulda...You know what, I'm not going to even bother. You know what all the possibilities were. You were being selfish and thinking only about yourself" Tiffany charged as Jordan looked at her in shock.
"Where did that come from? How was I being selfish?" Jordan's mouth was not gaping open in disbelief.
"Your poor me, I'm all done with Dominic act all because I got drunk. I mean, J, I know you been through some shit. But it doesn't give you a reason to act out and be stupid." Tiffany scolded, making Jordan's mouth open in wider shock. "Yeah, you have been acting like a damned fool. I mean, if I had been Dom, I woulda broke up with you too for that shit you pulled on him at that party." Tiffany threw her hands up, her blood pressure rising.
"I can't believe you would say this...' Jordan tailed off, her big blue eyes tearing up as she soaked in every menacing word of her best friend's .
"J, I am a true friend. True friends tell each other the truth, be it bad or good. I am not going to sugar coat it for you. You did something dumb, something I thought you were much smarter about." Tiffany shook her head as she saw one tear after another splash down her face.
"I'm sorry. Doesn't that count for anything?" Jordan asked weakly, feeling like she couldn't breathe, the shock so heavy on her chest along with the knowledge Tiffany was right.
"It does and you're damn lucky you didn't get into a wreck killing other people" Tiffany said, though her tone didn't make her sound as though she was over her anger. "I don't know what your deal is, but the excuses are only excuses. They don't mean shit when it fucking comes down to it, Jordan. You fucked up, take the damn responsibility." Tiffany paced the room, trying to make her words all form without cussing her out, the urge she was fighting hard.
"Did you hurt Dre?" Jordan asked, earning a look of pure disgust from her sister-in-law.
"You'll be lucky if I don't hurt you, little girl. Jordan, wake up and get off your pity party. WE all have shit happen to us. It doesn't' mean we can go around making bad decisions and putting things on the line. Like your damn knee. You have no idea. You know, we have really been understanding. But there comes a time to move past and there comes a time you have to want to make things better for yourself." Tiffany ranted, ignoring Jordan as she cried, stunned, to say the least.
"I ..." Jordan choked out, not knowing what to say. Words couldn't describe her misery.
"I wouldn't have said anything and I mighta let you go on being so damn reckless and shit but you're fucking with a lot of people I care about. The main one being you. Then there's Dom, Brian, and the crew. You put yourself in this one, there is not one reason to make it excusable, I don't care what you're facing, Jordan. Nothing was an excuse to be that stupid. And , no , I didn't hurt your friend, but rest assured, she tries to come near you or talk to you, or Vice versa, and it's on. I don't even trust myself at this point to go talk to her, she would end up dead." Tiffany got close to Jordan's tearstained face, her voice very low.
"She's not to blame..." Jordan shook her head, obviously floored at Tiffany's deathly threat.
"Well, she certainly didn't help you out in a good way, did she? Keep defending her and see what happens. I'm so fucking disappointed in you, Jordan. You have no idea, I thought you had a brain and were smart. Guess I was wrong." Tiffany sighed and walked out, leaving Jordan in a
traumatic emotional state. She didn't stop to talk to any of the crew, she kept on going outside, her anger winning the battle over her emotions as she walked t her car, trying to take deep breaths. She heard raised voices and walked towards her car, only to see Tempest and Ice going at it as well. She kept on walking past, not wanting to get involved in their fight.
"Tempest, this is busllhit and you know it." Ice argued as he looked at her pleadingly. She turned her head, grateful to see Tiffany to the rescue.
"I do know a few things and one of them is that you are so damn full of yo self, you can't even realize when you're in the wrong. I was your girl, not some damn groupie that you could just order around. But, I guess, being in the gang, that is what you assumed I was." Tempest shrugged, her calm and wits totally about her.
"I never said that shit. What the hell, tempest?' Ice growled, becoming exhausted. They had been fighting for hours on end now.
"I can't tell you what anything is if you haven't got the damn memo by now, Ice." Tempest said, almost deafeatidly as she looked at Tiffany. She could tell just by looking at her that something was bothering her too. She looked at Ice one final time and shook her head. She walked up as close to him as she could get, put her hand on the bottom of his jaw and traced the outline sadly. "Ice, I loved you. You are one amazing guy but I can't keep doing this. It's useless torture. I say we call it quits and get on with our lives. You know as well as I do, the motto is business first and we gotta keep it all goin. So the only solution is to call it quits. For good." Tempest admitted, dejectedly as she began to pull away and walk away, though her heart was heavy.
"Baby, you don't mean that. I was an ass..." ice called after her, feeling his world he had been so high up in suddenly fall to the ground right in front of him.
"Just think about what I said, I'm outta here." Tempest jumped in Tiffany's car and motioned for her to go. She was silent as she stare out the window, her nor Tiffany saying a word.
"You ok?" Tiffany finally asked after they had been driving for an hour and a half in silence.
"No, I don't know. I can't get through to him and I'm not sure I even want to anymore. I'm tired of the ups and downs." Tempest admitted as Tiffany turned around, heading for the south side of town.
"I hear that. I totally relate. I went off on Jordan. Bad. More than I meant too." Tiffany confessed as she cruised the back alleys, clearly looking for someone or something.
"Hey, you gottta keep her in check somehow and letting her get away with what her and Dre did isn't the way." Tempest shrugged, knowing Tiffany couldn't have went off that badly on Jordan of all people. Anyone else, she would be worried.
"Yeah, but I mighta overdid it" Tiffany yawned, feeling tired and wore out and tired of drama. She was tired for Jordan and of what she had to face and tired of asking and always wondering what if she had killed the bastard who was her best friend's nightmare.
"If you did, it's not like she won't understand. She needed to be woke up, I agree. What, may I ask, are we looking for?" Tempest asked, arching an eyebrow and making Tiffany smile slightly.
"A little relief session. You know that favorite line of mine from my fave song, right?' Tiffany smiled as she looked at her watch.
"Anxiety?" Tempest asked knowingly with a grin.
"Wanna turn around an bitch slap
somebody." They both chorused together, then laughed. Tempest
rubbed her hands in anticipation.
"Who you got in mind?" She
asked, ready to get to work. The dirty part of her job was one she
rather enjoyed, and it was quiet a stress reliever as well. She loved
to make good use of her time. Getting two things accomplished at once
was defiantly her definition of putting her time to good use.
"I got about five people who owe me money, I have been too preoccupied to care about the measly amount but seeing as how I see they are back in the streets, not afraid of me anymore, I have the urge to put the fear back into them. I figured you being so pent up and angry, would be perfect to help. Are you in?" Tiffany asked, as she looked at the street sign they were approaching.
"Yup, most defiantly. I am ready to get back into the game since all seems well and I'm free now." Tempest nodded, her thoughts on getting back to her fulltime job and getting back to work.
"Good, I got just the person I think we should pay a visit to." Tiffany smiled as she killed the headlights and pulled into the driveway quietly.
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"Code Blue, Code blue." An overhead voice rang out loudly as the crew sat in the cafeteria of the hospital.
"Bout loud enough." Brian mumbled, his head killing him from lack of eating. He hated when things were so up in the air and so tense. Dominic just kept on staring at the fork he had been focusing on. He had been at the hospital the entire time, though staying off of Jordan's floor. Brian was down below the hospital, in the underground cafeteria, briefing him on her condition and how she was doing. "Dom, you should just go talk to her." Brian sighed as Ice came trudging in, looking like he was an shell, the inside part being dead and resolute.
"Hey." Dominic looked at Ice, knowing his situation hadn't been solved and feeling for him. Ice just nodded and sat down in the high backed chair backwards, his legs straddling the bottom part. His head rested on the back of the chair, his grim face telling it all to his friends. He looked like a whipped puppy dog, though Dominic decided to not say anything, he was more than likely looking that way himself.
"Shit, Jordan's paging. Be back later, guys." Brian got up with a yawn. He headed for her room in deep thought as Ice and Dominic talked about the bleak day they had both faced.
"She's my world, Dom. And I think it's over for good." Ice sighed, truly not knowing what to do. He had always been the one who got his way, no matter the price, consequence, or situation. He had never been told no in his life and Tempest was the one thing he truly wanted. To know it was over and unfixable left him with an indescribable feeling, almost as if he could spin out of control any second.
"I know what you mean." Dominic sighed.
"You still got a chance to get back wit J, Dom. Why you holdin out?" Ice looked at Dominic in wonder and confusion.
"She thinks I'm making her old, I shoulda listened to everyone about the age shit in the first place and she's better off without me, man." Dominic shook his head and slowly answered.
"You're going to lose her, Dominic. Look how many years I fucked around and now I lost Tempest for good. Don't make the same mistake, Man, I'm tellin ya. Squash the shit and go get her back. While you can." Ice sighed, his fist balled in anger, hurt, and pain.
"Sounds like you should do the same." Dominic shot back defensively, his hothead self hating to admit that anyone else was right when he felt like he was the one who was the one that was right.
"I tried, I'm tellin you, it's gonna be too late if you keep being a hot head." Ice warned as Dominic had to smile. He had never seen Ice like this before and it was rather enlightening, though he knew Ice was dealing the best he could and it was all seriousness.
"I just think she needs to grow up. I have to be somewhat right if Tiff, of all people, agree with me, right?" Dominic stretched out, then scratched his bald head.
"Yeah, but she's dealin the best she can." Ice defended his 'little sister'.
"And dealin she might be but shit, that can't be the case forever." Dominic sighed, not trying to be cold hearted. He was miserable and he knew that they both needed to give and meet in the middle. Now was not that time to try to settle it. "You just need to drop that gang shit with Temp and she'd be ok with you. You know that girl is like tiff. They are both ticking time bombs. Its' Just a matter of time before they next bomb explode. You gotta know when to walk on the field and when to stay behind shelter." Dominic laughed at his own comparison of the two girls.
"Yeah, but the gang's all I have had my whole life...till she came along. And I have to keep it all straight and I have to ...I don't know, Dom. It would be like if Jordan was on your street racin team and you loved her but you had to maintain...I can't even explain it." Ice put his head down on the table and banged it several times, getting strange looks from other people dining in the small, dim cafeteria. His backwards ball cap fell off, exposing the rag he had tied around his dirty blonde hair.
"You got it bad, Man." Dominic nodded as his cell phone rang and he saw Roman come waling in at a fast stride.
"I know this, fool. But my shit aint' solved with that little piece of info I already knew." Ice complained, shaking his head as Roman spotted the two and headed their way.
"And it ain't gonna be for a while, knowing Tempest." Dominic warned, making Ice bang his head on the table a few times more in misery.
"Brian needs you upstairs ASAP." Roman informed them as he took a deep breath from the fast pace he had been keeping. He wasn't his usual self, Dominic and Ice noticed, being it that he hadn't even made an attempt for the untouched food on the plate.
"What's wrong?" Ice asked, knowing something was up. He and Dominic followed Roman out as Roman was on his cell, trying to get a hold of what Ice guessed to be Tiffany or Tempest on the phone.
