PP 32
"Yo game is all over, Carter." Storm walked in the warehouse, gun drawn as she neared an empty hall. Then she saw the trail of blood.
"He's gone." Taylor walked in from inspecting around the outside of the building. He didn't look happy at the look of horror that Storm was fighting to hide and pull off normalness, the hard ass way she had been raised. She searched for Stacey, her lips in a thin, tight line. "You ok?" Taylor asked, from behind her, as though he was sneaking up behind her. She turned around; catching him off guard with a gun cocked to his head faster then he could take his next breath.
"Don't do that shit again or you'll likely get killed. Gawd, even you should know that." Storm held his gaze for a second as he stiffened, but didn't flinch, much less blink.
"You're right." He admitted as Storm took off to another, smaller room, and then gasped at what she was looking at: a small petite blonde, bloody head and body. She held Stacey's head in her lap gently, holding in her panic and she fought to keep her control she was so well known for in bad situations. She had failed yet again; she scolded herself as she thought on what to do next.
"I generally am and it sucks." Storm sighed, pondering so many things at once. She couldn't stop him from getting to her only other 'sister'.
"Stop bein so hard on yourself." Taylor said lightly after calling for an ambulance.
"Stacey, talk to me. Please." Storm begged, feeling her neck for a pulse. Brian and Dominic rushed in, almost breaking the door off the hinges. Brian was an odd shade of white as he looked down at his sister.
"Brian, stay wit her, I gotta find Carter." Storm almost had a begging tone to her voice, almost as though she was too weak to argue at the moment, Brian noticed, but let it go. He saw no need to call her out like that.
"I wouldn't't leave her." Brian picked her up in his arms, looking somber and grim, mixed with nervousness. Storm nodded and walked out. "Storm?" He asked, making her and Taylor, who was on her heels, stop and hesitate at the door along with her.
"Yeah?" She asked as she checked her Glock to make sure she had more than enough bullets. She was going to get him on the first aim, but she intended fully to use all bullets on him, no holds barred.
"Thanks.' Brian nodded as the paramedics rushed in, immediately putting Stacey on a stretcher, taking her form her brother's arms. The DT crew with the exception of Vince followed the ambulance.
"Get outta here. You got yo girl back. Hit the road." Taylor ordered to Vince, who didn't seem to be .backing down.
"I'm stayin to help her so keep 'yo' orders to yourself." Vice scowled, not moving or breaking eye contact.
""Both of you shut the hell up." Storm snapped, forecasting mentally where Carter would be at by now. She knew she was closer to him that he could be comfortable with. Both the guys looked at her, ready to protest. "DON'T. I'm not in the mood to hear your shit. Either of you." She held up a hand, stopping them from complaining that was about to take place. "Matty, go get the damned car so we can find this bastard. Vince, if you come and get killed, it's not on me." Storm pointed at her one night stand partaker and said.
"Gee, I knew you didn't have any feelings for me but daym." Vince shot back, not knowing what to thinks of this side of her. She was like...He didn't know. Someone with a lot of damn sides, he mused, the latest side shocking him more than last one.
"Look, if you want to stand here and talk, fine. I got no time for games." Storm got close to his face, Vince licking his lips, not doing it intentionally. He was attracted to her. Storm slapped him and walked out, angered by his finding humor in the situation.
"Matty, get Vince to call and check on her, would ya?" Storm asked as she looked around outside for tire tracks that were left and to find their direction. Storm looked up in the bright sun just in time to see a dark trench coated figure on the roof of the building across the street. He had her scoped and fired a shot. Before she could move out of the way, the bullet grazed her shoulder. Matty jumped out of the car where he had been waiting for her, the door still open and pushed her down to the ground, hovering over her.
"No, you're not goin after them!" Matty reached over and grabbed her from leg as she jumped up, clearly headed in their direction for retaliation. She looked at him, as though she couldn't believe he had the audacity. Never before had he tired to stop her. Protect, yes. Stop, no.
"Bullshit! LET ME GO!" Storm yelled, shrugging and shaking his grip off. Then she realized, by the sharp pain in her shoulder, she had been shot and on top of that, her brother still had a hold of her. He knew better, she seethed mentally and drew her leg back to kick him as hard as she could. He saw the determination on her face and knew what was going to come next if he didn't let go, so he did, just in time.
"You gotta get to a hospital." Vince told her as the two waited inside, despite Storm's pretest, as Matty and Taylor secured the area.
"No, I don't. It's only a small hit." She adamantly shook her head.
"You are so damn aggressive." Vince muttered, not believing this girl. He had never met one like her before. He was intrigued and attracted to her.
"You couldn't tell that from this morning?' She fired off; as Vince took off his shirt too tie off her wound. He hoped she was going to let him.
"You are..." He took his chances and got close to her as he could and looked into her icy, hardened eyes.
"What? I dare you to attempt it." She warned, looking at the rags she knew he wasn't going to have a chance to use, if she had anything to say about it. His muscular, shirtless body did distract her as he held her gaze and circled her, vulture style.
"Dare me, huh? I take on any dare no matter the outcome." Vince grinned slyly as he circled, taking her shoulder in his grasp, not letting go of her eye lock. She kept still, her eyes following him as he circled. She never took her eyes off anyone who was so close. She wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out a knife and stabbed her. She knew he wouldn't but those things were the things she always had to be prepared for, IT was her life, thanks to her dad.
"Step back, pretty boy. You can't handle me." Storm growled as he tied it off, making it send a sharp shooting pain.
"I can and I did and I'll do it again." Vince kept his chin straight and finished up on the arm.
"Please, don't flatter yourself." Storm grunted, checking her watch as blood slowly seeped from her shoulder. "Can we get this show goin again? I got shit to handle." She ended the conversation they had engaged in as Taylor walked in, clearly not happy. He could tell by the way they both pulled away, almost guiltily, but she couldn't do that drama right now. She other business, her thoughts drifting back to Carter.
"We're waitin for you." Matty complained as she got in the car. She popped him in the back of his head, not wanting to hear his shit, even if good natured and innocent as it was. She stared out the window as he pulled out, leaving Taylor to drive with Vince.
"We need to get something clear, right now.' Taylor looked at Vince hatefully.
"Oh yeah? I'm bettin it deals with Storm." Vince raised an eyebrow, being sarcastically funny, and pissing Taylor off even more. "You'd like to know what happened, I'm sure, brotha." Vince kept his face devoid of any sign that might give his secret away.
"You sure are lucky she's on your side and protectin you right now." Taylor scoffed, as they caught up to the car in front of them with the subject they were discussing.
"I take that to mean she ain't into you anymore and you aren't on her good list." Vince replied smartly, making Taylor, his hot headed self, growl.
"You were just a good time to her, a good lay so don't think your special."
"Get the fuck out and we'll settle this right now." Vince took big stride to get around the front of the car to Taylor's passenger side. Then he grabbed Taylor by the arm and pulled him out angrily.
"Shit, stop the car." Storm rolled her eyes her voice coated with pure annoyance. Matty looked at her like she was nuts, a look she was quite tired of. "Matty, stop the damned car. NOW." He tried to continue to play off the innocent act, buying more time for Taylor. Her brother didn't care for Vince and sure as hell didn't trust a stranger with her, especially a self proclaimed 'street racer'. She jumped out, the car barley stopped and separated the two. "What's goin on here, boys?" She asked, her tone dark and low, not a hint of amusement to it.
"Nothing you should be worried about, Miss I save the world." Taylor popped off, making Matty groan and scratch his head, feeling for the wrath he was about to face.
"Oh, and I'll show you save the world when those bullets come flyin, don't run back to me." Storm growled, walking back to Matty's car.
"You ain't walking away from me this time.'" Taylor took of after her, grabbing her shoulder. She spun around, angrier than she could remember being. It was almost as if all her rage had joined forces and was now a big ball of inside destruction about to become known on the outside.
"DON'T start your shit with me, you ass.' Storm yelled, her pulse throbbing in her shoulder.
"He's just mad you ain't protecting him like he thinks you are me." Vince piped up, still scowling.
"Shut up. I'll deal wit you in a minute, you street trash." Taylor pointed to him, and then turned back around to Storm.
"STREET trash? I'll show you street trash when I put your ass in the damned trash." Vince charged towards him.
"Both of you need to shut the hell up. Stacey is hurt, my sister and mom are dead and you two kids are arguing over BULLSHIT." Strom yelled, getting into the driver's side of Vince's car, something he didn't take well to.
"Hey, Storm." Taylor started, knowing she would run them both over if she had to. He knew she was about to loose it.
'Don't Storm me..." She revved the engine, both guys still in the front of the car. "Move it or loose it, botha you, or I'll off you both." She warned, knowing time was wasting.
"She serious?" Vince looked at Taylor, their manhood uniting them against the girl they were both now facing, both having that one thing in common. Ironically, it was the same thing that had gotten them into the situation.
"Hell yeah, you can't figure her out by now, you ain't gonna have much of a chance with her, guess you should give up the game." Taylor grinned, though hatefully, as Matty pulled up in the Cadillac and Taylor jumped in, their car taking off, leaving Vince there as he faced an angry Storm. He took off walking, not much in the mood for confrontation with her anymore, feeling somewhat defeated. Storm took off, following Matty's car, not using the car with care, still pissed at Vince.
'Damn women." Vince muttered, knowing he would hear from Dominic about getting in too deep with a girl, his friend's daily warning. He stared to call him, and then realized he had no cell phone. Before he was down the long road's end, he saw a blacked out car pull up, opposite of him and saw a barrel of a gun inched out and aimed at him. He saw the reverse lights of his Maxima flash on as Storm jammed the car into the reverse and raced backward, ending up between him and the black car.
"Get the hell in. NOW." Storm squealed to a stop in a cloud of dust. She leaned over, had his door of the passenger side open, and pulled him in, then took off like a bat outta hell.
"Thanks for savin me. In my car." Vince tried to joke, it not being accepted well by Storm, who was swerving to doge the bullets flying.
"We're even. Be lucky you are alive." Storm said, her eyes on the road as she sped up to the highest his car could go.
"What's that mean? We're even?' Vince scowled, ducking as a bullet flew past his head.
"You saved me from running, I saved you. Done deal, we are even." Storm reasoned as she flew into an opening garage that rose only enough for her to pull in and started to lower again.
"You ok? Did they see you come in?" Roman asked, stepping out of the parked car that was in there, a few inches ahead of Vince's car.
"They woulda already sprayed the building with bullets if they did. Nice work, how'd you manage a garage like this, boy?" Tempest asked, looking at Roman with a raised eyebrow.
"I got my connections, gurl. You know me, Romey Rome." Roman laughed; crossing his arms, making the biceps on his sleeves shirt looked even bigger. He smiled at her and walked closer to the car, then noticed Vince. His smile faded slowly.
"You a cop?" Vince looked at Roman with suspiciousness.
'Nope, you should know that. You ever gonna let my boy Brian live that one down or what?" Roman perched himself on top of the hood of Vince's car as he asked.
"No, I won't." Vince stiffened, getting in Roman's face. "Why should we trust your ass when you got some connections here with Mafia girl?" Vince threw at him, making Storm's head pop up in shock at his words.
"You didn't have a problem with her from what I saw and it's none of your business who I know and don't know, white boy." Roman shook his head, getting right back into Vince's face.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Stacey, you ok?" Brian sat beside his sister's bed, holding her bloodied hand from the infused IV they had attempted several times to get to work with a good flow for medication. He put his head down on the rail and sighed.
"Brian, you okay, man?' Leon walked in, not knowing the condition of how the girl who had come into their lives and had changed the whole vibe of the household was. Brian hadn't even talked with the doctors; he simply wouldn't leave her side. Not even to inform them of her condition.
'I shuolda ...I don't even know at this point." Brian admitted, playing with Stacey's golden hair as she lay in the bed, looking like some sleeping doll. He got up, walked around the room a few times, and rubbed his eyes from mental exhaustion.
"We need to see Mr. O'Connor." Two cops looked at Dominic, who had been resting his head on the wall. He sat up, startled and fist first. The cops looked at him unsure and backed up, him being a handful to wrestle if need be.
"He's busy and he has family thing s to worry about. What do you want with him?' Dominic sat up, his body somewhat stiff.
"That's our job to deal with who we need to. We don't want any trouble." The cop, hand on his belt, confessed.
"Then come back when it's a better time." Dominic stood up, his adrenaline starting to rush his veins.
"Dom, why don't you just go get him? He needs a break from in there anyways." Letty threw Dominic a look, as though to give him a heads up and find out the deal.
"Brian, I know this is a bad time and all..." Dominic knocked, walked in and said in a rather fast paced voice, then trialed off, seeing Stacey, still somewhat bloody.
"Nah, what's up?' Brian's crystal bleu eyes popped open, looking at Dominic and knowing it was important.
"You really need to be straight with me when I ask this, please." Dominic sighed and sat down.
"I always am." Brian looked puzzled.
"There's cops out there wantin to talk to you, Brian. I know you gave us your word and I trust you, but for my own sanity, I need to know. Are you still trying to be a cop or affiliated with them in any way?" Dominic asked, hating to do this to Brian. He had already proved himself time and time again and he knew it was unfair. But he had a team to take care of and that was first and foremost.
"Dom, I'm not a cop. I don't know what they would want." Brian looked his friend in the eyes, no hesitation in his voice or eyes, no nervousness. That was enough for Dominic.
"I think I know what they want." Dominic coughed looking out the door as he got up. Brian looked at him expectantly.
"What?' Brian asked, dreading the answer.
"More than likely a bit about your friend, or Stacey's friend, Storm. It's the only thing I can think of." Dominic said, making Brian look like he could care less and now somewhat relieved.
"More power to them. I think." Brian sighed, not sure of what he was sure of anymore. He knew his sister was hurt, that's' about all he knew.
"Don't be so fast to give someone up. Remember the last time and think about how Stacey would feel. It's your call, I just wanted to give you a heads up." Dominic held up his hands innocently as he headed for the door.
"Thanks, Bro." Brian nodded, pondering those words after Dominic left. He was so undecided if that was their reason for being here if he should give her up. But he wasn't completely sure that he could sell someone out again. His stance on the police now was totally changed sine all that had happened in the past.
"Mr. O'Connor, we need to see you outside." The police officer stuck out his hand to introduce himself. Brian grimaced and pointed to a chair, not shaking his hand. "I'm going to get down to business right away. I know your time is valuable." The officer said, taking up the offer to sit. "You happen to know a Storm Demaret? She's wanted on out list. Number one fugitive, to be honest with you. And you need to help us." The officer coughed, sitting back in the chair.
"I don't think I do know her. You got me all confused with someone else." Brian shook his head, rejecting the claim.
"You do. I know your history, of covering fir those people you tried to take down. Once a liar, always a liar. Now, I can take your sister away for endangerment if you want to play this game. Makes me no difference. You decide and get back to me. In like, let's say, one minute." The officer proposed, holding up some paperwork, which Brian assumed to be the paperwork of removing custody if Stacey. He looked at him, in a pleading look as if to say don't make me do this.
"Fine, what are you expecting me to do? I mean, my sister's hurt. I can't do anything right now." Brian looked at the police officer in disbelief as he raised his eyebrows, telling him differently.
"When she shows up, I expect you to wear a wire and get her to confess to whatever you can get her to. I have been trying to bring her down for a long time." The officer sat up, clearly pleased Brian wasn't putting up much of a protest.
"Fine." Brian sighed. The officer left after disclosing some instructions and leaving the reminder that Brian was under surveillance. He fell into a fitful sleep beside his sister, not wanting to face Dominic's questions and being purely exhausted. Hours passed and he was startled by a hand as cold as ice that touched the tip of his head.
"Brian, you awake?" Stacey asked, her eyes closed. He could tell she was trying hard to open them. He sat up, in concern.
"I'm here. How you feeling?' He asked, leaning down to her bed and close to her.
"I'm okay. Where's Storm? I gotta talk to her. Please." Stacey looked at her brother, trying to not sound panicked, not to make him worry.
"Stace, you need to sleep." Brian objected, making Stacey look even more upset and tearful. "I'll see what I can do." Brian looked defeated, knowing it was the right thing to do to make her relax. She laid back, resting, as Brian went to work on her request. Another hour and drenched in rain, Storm was standing at the door.
"Hey Stacey, how you feeling?" Storm asked as she sat down beside her little sister as Brian left to take a walk and bathroom break. He didn't want to even be present around her, he knew he was being watched and he knew he had to watch his actions. He ran into Vince and Dominic getting in to a somewhat heated argument. He headed opposite end of the hospital, trying to catch a break to clear his head. He just couldn't deal. Back in the room, Storm was trying her best to explain to Stacey without further upsetting her.
"Stacey, calm down, before you get the nurses in here, please." Storm begged, looking nervously at the door.
'You shoulda just told me, Storm, is all." Stacey said, her voice soft, Storm hating to break the deathly news to her kid sister like this, in a hospital.
'Stacey, let's be real, you didn't give me a chance, you took the hell off." Storm objected, defending herself, not meaning to be too harsh. She hated how she had to always be so hard. Stacey held back tears, making Storm feel even worse. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "I'm sorry, ok? I am. I want to be able to discuss this all the way through but right now I gotta go get the dead man that did this to you." Storm played with her hair, making Stacey smile and just nod, too exhausted to argue now.
"Storm?" Stacey asked as Storm headed for the door. Storm turned back to look at her.
"I'm sorry, too. I'm not mad at you and I'm glad you are such a good friend." Stacey smiled, her eyes looking teary again.
"I am, too. I'm always gonna be 'round, no worries. Get some sleep, ok?" Storm asked, hoping she could keep that promise, be it Brian not letting her around his sister, or being hit by a bullet.
"Kay." Stacey yawned, drifting into a warm and comfortable sleep. Storm felt better, knowing she was asleep and headed for the door. She was walking towards her car when Taylor emerged form the shadows.
"What the fuck? You been followin me everywhere, Tay?" She asked, not stopping for his explanation.
"No, I just know you well enough to know you would show up here to check on that kid." Taylor fell in line with her pace and followed her.
"That kid is like my sister, thanks. And so you know me, what you want, a damned gold medal? Shit, Taylor. Get a life." Storm complained as she got into her car. Taylor stood outside, not moving and knowing she would unlock the door eventually wanting to get on to her mission as quick as she could, even if she had to take him along, and he was right. She clicked the lock and he got in, grateful to be out of the cold.'
So I leave it to Tempest, she and Princess are trading turns. It is all my fault that it has taken this long and I am sorry, I have had so much to deal with lately. Just wanted to say sorry to Princess, Tempest, and you readers! Thanks for the understanding and hope you all review! Much love, Cheer Girl