Puzzling Pieces

Chapter 35 - All Hell Breaks Loose

By Cheerthis95

Stacey awoke to find her hands and feet shackled to the walls as she blinked, trying to remember exactly what happened. She remembered Brian talking to her, a man in a suit coming in and asking to talk to him. She remembered thinking he was a cop. She remembered Storm coming in and leaving. Then she had fell into a light, drugged morpheme doze and had overheard Brian, Dom, and someone else talking about how someone had passed out cold. She remembered trying to move her head her lead feeling arms weighted arms to ask but the nurse's injection of nausea medicine, morpheme, and other drugs made it impossible. She heard them leave after Brian's familiar ring-tone of his phone going off. Then she heard her door open again. Then she felt herself being swooped up and the Iv that had supplied the very drugs keeping her in a sleep state being ripped out and she heard voices, still not able to move or open her eyes.

"Are you sure this is the girl he wanted?" One voice asked in a hiss like tone as she was feeling like she was levitating.

"Yeah, leverage since that bitch tried to take him down." The second voice replied. Stacey jolted awake at that last recollection to see the darkened room and the chains around her wrist that were cutting through her wrist. They were being rubbed raw by the pressure of the clamps cutting into her skin. She related the chains that held her feet, hands, arms, legs, and waist to the wall in an upright position to like being held in the olden days of being in a dungeon.

"Hey Princess. Storm just might be dead. Wanna party with me?" The familiar voice snarled with a smile. Carter Verone, Stacey realized. She had seen pictures of him from Brian and Roman's involvement with him. Her heart about stopped. He finally stepped into the light. His face was bruised and his arm was in a sling.

"You wish. I'm bettin she got a hold of you." Stacey smiled as sweet as she could, though fake. She gained a small piece of satisfaction from seeing him damaged.

"You little…" Carter raised his hand, almost loosing control then retracting it recovering his composure, much like he had with the detective he had tortured with the rat.

"Go ahead, Carter. Kill me." Stacey smirked emphasizing his name, loving that her new found attitude had a hold on him. "I mean, what more can you do but kill me?" Stacey asked, her gaze meeting his, not backing down.

"That's what you want, isn't it, little girl?' He sneered, getting close to her face. He said like he had some big revelation and was onto her.

"No." Stacey bit her lip, pretending that she had been found out. She was good at playing mind games too. If she could psyche him out to keep him from killing her, then so be it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Shit, shit, shit." Taylor muttered though gritted teeth as he drove back to the hospital. He had one hand on the wheel and one on his cell, continually paging Storm. Why the hell wasn't she answering, he wondered, his mind going crazy. She was going to be mad enough about Verone being gone and if he called Matty like he was debating, she'd massacre him. He parked his car and started to get out.

"Put your hands up! NOW." A voice commanded over a megaphone and suddenly he was surrounded by SWAT. He stuck his hands up, his mind reeling as he was thrown to the ground. Was this where Storm was? Had they got her too? "You're under arrest." Three officers grabbed him and had trouble though. They had trouble at first taking his large, muscular frame down, and then they handcuffed him immediately as they pressed his face against the cold, wet pavement.

"For what?" Taylor asked after they pulled him up, him shrugging his shoulders, since he couldn't fix his collar, a habit he had when acting indignant.

"Suspicion of money laundering, drug transporting, dealing, manufacturing, I can go on. Keep your mouth shut and we might let you get out on bail. You're being brought in for questioning and we'll see how it goes." The officer informed him, his eyes on the road as he drove and as Taylor, in the back seat, leaned forward, his face on the steel grate separating him from the front of the police car. He decided to play it cool and cooperate or show out. He lost that cool when the officer pulled him out of the squad car rather harshly and head butted him. Then he was attacked by a flurry of blue uniforms, stunning him with a taser.

"You got one call, 5 minutes. Let's go, tough guy." Another officer, wearing a shield told Taylor hours later as Taylor woke up, finding himself in a cell, sitting against the wall on the floor. That was the final straw, he was calling Matty.

"Hello." Matty's familiar, New York accented voice answered.

"Matty, listen, I only got five minutes. I don't know where Storm is, Carter escaped. I'm in jail. I need you down here to bail me out." Taylor glanced around, keeping his voice as low as he could.

"I TOLD YOU TO PROTECT HER, what the hell? How is …" Matty's voice was raised, panic dwelling in his mind since he hadn't heard from her and that Taylor wasn't around her to protect her.

"Matty, you know I love her. I tried my damnedest. You know how she is. If that kid wasn't such a big deal to her, and she wasn't mixed up with all those people…look, you gonna come get me or what?" Taylor asked, his voice agitated. He gave him the location and the needed details.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm on my way. I'll have my cell on me. I'm sorry, Tay. I know it's not easy to protect her and I'm sorry. We'll straighten it out." Matty sighed, his conscience, like always making him feel guilty for his actions. That was Matty Demaret.

"Just hurry so we can find her." Taylor hung up the phone. He was ushered back to the jail and sat there, deep in thought.

"Taylor Reese, you're bailed out." Another guard yelled only 15 minutes later. Taylor looked around, almost confused. "You wanna stay, Pretty boy?" The guard asked, his attitude making Taylor look of confusion filter away into a grimace. He hated police officers but arrogant police were the worst.

"Yeah, I'm outta here. Damn, you unlock and lock doors all day, don't feel so superior, it could bite you in the ass later." He muttered as he stiffly sauntered out. He went through the gates, accounted for his stuff, and headed for the double doors leading to his unexpected, earlier than he had thought freedom.

"Hey Brotha, you need a ride?" Vince asked outside in his car, leaning over form the driver's seat, opening the passenger door as he talked via rolled down passenger window.

"You're the last fuckin person I woulda expected. How you know I was here? You call the cops on me?" Taylor asked, getting in.

"Yeah, I sicced the cops on yo ass, then paid my hard earned money to get your ass out, genius." Vince shot back with his scratchy, deep voice. Taylor dialed Matty, not responding for a second.

"Ok, I'll find out who did. Where we goin? Is storm okay?" He asked as the phone rang in his left ear, held by his shoulder, waiting for Matty to answer.

"She was still wit Brian and Mia. You left to go to the warehouse, she passed out on us. The wound was worse than she wanted to admit." Vince said, shifting to the last gear after getting on the highway.

"Shit, no answer." Taylor growled, and then left a message. "That's Storm for ya." He said, replying to Vince as he took as he took several consecutive drags from his cigarette. "So, I'll ask again. Where she at now? The hospital? She's a wanted woman, she better not be there, I got took down there at the hospital. Tell me she's not there." Taylor shook his head, shivering, and Vince turned up the heat for him.

"We figured that. You know Dom, right? His sister, Mia, is almost a doctor. She's in her second year of med school and we took her back to our place. Mia sedated her right after she got her there. She should be waking up soon." Vince informed him as he kept on driving, his eyes on the road.

"Great. She'll be pissed, you might wanna sedate her again." Taylor put out his cigarette and leaned back, exhausted.

"Why's that? Won't she be happy she got the wound taken care of and I doubt she'd let us near her again to even try." Vince reasoned.

"Well, considering I called her brother to come down here, and Verone's on the loose, she's gonna kill me and go on a rampage." Taylor sighed yet again.

"And that would be new how?" Vince asked, grinning, jokingly.

"No, you haven't seen the gist of her temper or it to it's fullest. When she looses it, she gets reckless. Well, not reckless, she gets in a state where she'll do shit no matter the evidence, consequence, and nothing can stop her. She looses all sense of being halfway nice and goes on autopilot and goes nuts. You ain't seen nothin yet. She's on good behavior. Was, anyways." Taylor warned as his cell phone rang.

"Shit.' Vince grumbled, seeing red and blue lights flashing gaining on them. "Hang on, I'm gonna loose them." He warned as Taylor nodded.

"Hello." Taylor answered his phone with one hand while griping the seat while Vince hit full speed, sliding around corners, taking alleys, and changing direction at every given chance.

"I'm at the airport. Lucky for you. I was only a state away and I'm already here. I got your message." Matty said, not in a good mood. He lost his good nature when it came to Storm and her being in any sort of danger. Family was everything.

"Can we swing by the airport? We lost 'em, you did good." Taylor nodded, covering the mouth of the phone for a minute.

"Tell him to take off waling to a cab to go to the gas station 2 miles down the road. We'll pick him up there." Vince nodded, making yet another turn around and driving the opposite direction. Taylor relayed the info and hung up. They picked him up, heading for the Toretto's yet once more. Almost there, it was now Vince's phone now ringing.

"Vince, we got problems. Get back here." Dominic said, not giving Vince a chance to even say hello.

"What's up, Dawg?" Vince asked as Matty and Taylor talked in low voices. He didn't know if he could trust them, he knew they were mob related and bonafied killers. He didn't trust them, in all honesty.

"Stacey's missin and kidnapped more than likely. Brian and all of us had to come back here so hurry your ass up. Storm's stirring, I don't know where her man is. Get back here before I have to worry bout your ass too." Dominic growled, irritated and stressed, as part of his crew watched him intently. He hated the fact that his crew was yet again in danger.

"Taylor's wit me and we're a few blocks away. Keep your pants on.' Vince said sharply, then hung up, silent. He didn't want to tell the two men with him, who seemed to think Storm's being in town was Stace's fault the news. He may have had problems and been an ass to her, but she as part of the team now and he was protective of the team. Her being messed with messed with his team.

"What's the latest? Storm doin ok?" Taylor asked, not liking the troubled look on Vince's face.

"Why is it always Storm? Storm can handle herself, man. You of all people should know that. No wonder she left you. And, no, not okay. Storm's not the only one in trouble, though I'm not dismissing concern for her." Vince snapped, making Taylor crack his knuckles. "I know you blame Stacey, but the girl is innocent and drug into all this cuz of bullshit so can we please stop bein concerned with only Storm? I know she's great, that I agree. But realize Stacey could be dead. She's disappeared at the hospital." Vince growled, his frustration and exhaustion feeding and coercing him into a full going off speech. Taylor stiffened, reaching for his gun, though it had been put under the seat and hid as they were being chased.

"Tay, take it easy." Matty leaned up from the back seat, his hand on his hot headed friend's shoulder. "Vince, is it? We do realize Stacey's involved in this and we know your crew is too. We all just need to work together and off this ass." Matty, being the level headed one as always, making sense to both Taylor and Vince. They both nodded, in silence.

At the Toretto house, Storm was just waking up. She sat up, rubbing her head, the drugs giving her a slight headache. It took her a minute her a minute to get her bearings as she swung her feet over the bed. She stumbled out the door, looking at the bedrooms she had been placed in without permission from her. She took a look around and knew this had to be Stacey's room. It was decked out in homecoming ribbons, cheerleading dolls and figurines, trophies, and tons of pictures. She stopped, her gaze on a picture of Stacey, Tammy, and Storm herself. Tammy and Stacey was dressed fully in cheerleading uniforms, their hair and the full nine yards while Storm was dressed in 'normal' clothes. It was the day of the girl's first cheerleading game together and Strom had flown in just to see them cheer.

"Socialite extraordinaire.' She muttered as she shook off the memory, now just painful, and tried to shuffle her non cooperating feet and rubbing her head. She saw the stairs and headed for them, creeping down them quietly. She was going to kill them all for drugging her and she intended to take them all by 'storm'. She hadn't earned her name for nothing.

"Brian, you okay?" She heard one of the girls ask. It was Letty, she reasoned, because Mia' s voice was softer and not so tough sounding.

"No. No, I'm not. They searched the whole fucking hospital for her and nothing. Not a damn thing. I was only gone for like 5 minutes to go to the bathroom.' Brian paced, running a hand through his hair nervously. Letty grabbed him and sat him down in annoyance.

"Tell me you're not talkin about Stacey." Storm came down the stairs in a flash, hearing him say that. She took in a deep breath to keep from starting to swing or run her mouth.

"Yeah, I'm afraid I am." Brian stared at the girl he was finding he had more and more in common with her, them being linked by Verone.

"Why the fuck did you leave her?" she asked as the top of her lungs,

"Because someone took her, thank you. Like we would leave her there unprotected." Leon interjected, making Storm glare at him for his simple, not needed, not wanted answer.

"What did you do that was so important, may I ask? I think I have an idea where you were, O'Connor." Taylor walked in, behind Vince, making everyone's eyes open in surprise.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Brian's eyes flashed in anger, his body stiffening.

"You okay, Strom?" Matty walked in, taking off his long black leather coat.

"What the fuck?! Taylor Reese, you didn't!" Storm slapped Taylor as hard as she could on his chest.

"Storm, calm down." Matty pleaded, in his soothing peacemaker voice as Brian and Taylor had a stare down.

"I will not. I told you to go home, stay home. I can handle myself." Storm yelled, her face getting red, her blood pressure rising in pure anger.

"Obviously you needed some help." Taylor quipped, still holding Brian's icy eyes.

"She had us." Brain glared, his voice with the same loudness to match Taylor's.

"So, who did you call, blue eyes?" Taylor got into Brian's face.

"Cuz, you better stop. I ain't a cop. Back up." Brian raised a fist.

"Ok, everybody stop! Yelling won't get back Stacey, stop the shit so we can find the ass who's responsible for this." Dominic yelled, holding up his hands.

""He's right" Mia nodded in agreement.

"Note to you, miss Peacemaker slash doctor, don't drug me again if you don't want to deal with me.' Storm ordered to Mia as she pointed to her, making Mia roll her eyes and walking out, as not to say anything. "Ok, I'ma head out to finish up the job. You betta notta killed him, Tay." Storm moved towards the door, throwing on the long black coat. She was subdued by Taylor and Vince stepping in her way an blocking the door.

"Storm, we need to talk." Vince said, looking at Taylor.

"What, you two working together now? That's some shit." Storm shook her head in annoyance and tried to get past the both of them. "Spill the deal and move it." She growled, the pain in her shooting through her, though she ignored them.

"Verone's escaped." They both said, though not meaning to say it in unison.

A/N: I leave it to Temp now. I had more but scratched it out, leaving a cliffy is a good thing, right? Hope you guys enjoyed and I hope it was good, lol. Sorry to take so long. Hospital visits suck, lol. Later yawl, love cheer