AN: This is a marathon chapter so get a Pepsi and go potty before you start to read, LOL. There was a lot that had to happen for me to be happy with the chapter so it ended up long. I hope you all enjoy. I'm not sure it's my best work but Cheer previewed and gave it her stamp of aproval so again I wasn't allowed to delete it and start over. That's just my selfish way of having someone else to blame if it sucks. Just kidden girlie, you know I love you. Please review folks, that's all I have to say for now. Latta Dayz.
Puzzling Pieces
Chapter 39 – Vertigo
By TempestRaces
Hello, hello... (Hola)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (dónde estás?)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something...
I can feel –U2
"Is there a problem?" Storm asked in an icy calm voice as she started back down the stairs in a slightly bloody undershirt and dirty, torn pants, walking like she was wearing the most regal ball gown on earth. The tension was thick in the air.
"Yeah, there is. You're forgetting why you're here Storm. You didn't come down here to make out with some low rent thug. Your mind isn't on your work!"
"What my mind is on is none of your business unless I make it your business." Storm continued walking up to Taylor until she was in his face. "Taylor, I don't have time for this shit!"
"But you do have time to mess around with him," Taylor pointed at Vince. "You seriously need to work out your priorities here girl."
"You seriously need to get over this jealousy thing. You gave me up, remember that little scene Taylor? You wanting to chase all the girls you thought being with me was keeping you away from. This ring a bell?"
"This ain't about you'n me! This is about you bein down here, putting your neck out over someone that isn't shit to you! I think you're dad'd have you home so fast it'd make that pretty little empty head spin if he knew what you were pulling here Storm."
Her hand was so fast he never saw it coming as it cracked across his face. His head snapped sideways as Matty gasped and Storm cried out before she could stop herself. She'd slapped him with her bad arm. She bit her lip for a moment while she got her pain in check. Taylor refused to look at her and she could feel the rage pouring off him. Storm could feel Vince staring at her from the top of the stairs and could tell he was fighting his need to interfere and protect her. She was really grateful he was trying to let her handle her own.
"We've talked about this before but I guess it didn't stick. Not only does Carter have Stacey, a very close friend of mine whom I committed to help bring home but he also has my blood sister and mother. I'm trying to save family as well as friends so I would think you'd understand that much. Don't second guess me, don't challenge me and least of all keep your damn nose outta my business. Your continued insubordination is growing tiring for my nerves."
"My mistake." Taylor growled and headed for the front door of the house.
"Yeah, you do that. Run away. Get on then!" Storm called after Taylor as he paused at the door.
"Why shoudn't I leave? You go outta your way to make sure I know I'm not wanted every chance you get."
"I go outta my way to get a little respect. I may as well just let you treat me however you want though because the harder I try the worse you treat me. I can't do it anymore. Maybe you should just go home Taylor."
"That what you want?" Taylor asked, never turning away from the door to face the room. "You want me to leave?"
"What I want doesn't likely matter to you anyway in the grand scheme of things Taylor, so why ask? I wanted you to respect me and you said you would but you don't. I wanted you to understand that while you don't get why I feel the need to save Stacey I do and I have my own good reasons for it. You said you'd try but you didn't. I wanted you to let me live my own life but you can't. You treat me like a five year old. And a stupid five year old at that. Until you can see me as an intelligent adult who's capable of making her own decisions then I guess you should go."
"Capable of making her own decisions?" Taylor asked, unbelieving as he turned around to face Storm. "You got involved in a situation you had no business being involved in. You got involved with a man you have no business being involved with. You've been running around with a gunshot wound looking like the walking dead and now you got broken ribs. Yet you still plan to go running around after an asshole you have no business chasing anyway. Yeah, you're really good at taking care of yourself and making good decisions."
"Well, you aren't on such a winning streak yourself there hot shot!" Storm yelled.
"Do tell you little b-," Taylor never got to finish his sentence. Vince couldn't hold his words any longer.
"Finish that sentence and it'll be the last thing you ever say." He growled.
"Now I'm getting orders from the street racin punk?" Taylor asked Storm incredulously as he held onto his temper by a tread.
"Bet the street racin punk wouldn't have left Uncle Teddy alive!" Storm screamed. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Taylor, that ain't you."
"Teddy's dead Storm. I emptied half a clip into his chest." Matty said softly like he was talking to an insane person. Of course he figured his sister had finally slipped off her rocker and had become delusional. "He was as dead as that cop when we left."
"Tell that to the broken rib I got when he kicked me why don't you? He's very much alive. Which reminds me," Storm turned to face Vince, who was still three quarters of the way up the stairs. "I need the name of a good body shop. My Cadillac also met with an unfortunate accident when he ran it off the road."
"I'll take it to a friend of mine. It'll get fixed right. He can fix it while he's fixing the Maxima." Vince looked like he was on the brink of tears when he thought about his shot up car and Storm laughed softly at him, glad he'd lightened the tense moment a bit.
"I can't believe Teddy isn't dead." Matty looked totally shaken. "I thought I killed him."
"We all thought that Matty but he's very much still alive. I don't know how but he is. And he's working with Carter."
"Am I staying or goin?" Taylor asked Storm, his black eyes impossible to read, even by her, and she had figured she was the only one who could read his thoughts in any situation.
"I don't care Taylor. I really don't. I have too much to worry about right now to add your hurt feelings and bad attitude to the load. Stay or go it's all the same to me. But if you stay, you keep yourself outta my business. I can handle myself. And now I get to go call my father and tell him about Teddy." Storm sighed dejectedly and brushed her hair out of her face as she started up the stairs.
Taylor left the house and Matty followed him. Vince let Storm go on her own and walked down to meet Brian. He waited until he heard Storm's door close. "You ok Brotha?" Vince asked.
"Yeah. Storm thinks that Stacey is still alive so I guess that's something. I apologized to her and she's gonna help us but Vince, this chick is in way over our heads. I don't know if she's not even in over her own." Brian ran an agitated hand through his hair.
"She can handle her own, I'll give her that, but she's gonna need help this time. She's fighting a losing battle with her injuries and you've seen how she reacts to anyone trying to make her slow down or take time off."
"Much as I wish we could tell her to take some time to get better first, we need her too bad right now if we're gonna stand a chance of getting Stacey home." Vince could only nod.
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Storm filled her tub with hot water and bubble bath as soon as she'd entered her room and locked the door. While the tub was filling up she striped off her ruined clothes and took in her body with a sense of detachment she'd never felt before. She knew it was her ribs bruised and out of place but she couldn't find any concern in herself for it. She saw the bruises across her lower abdomen from her seatbelt but it may as well have been someone else's belly from all the concern she felt. Her shoulder was seeping blood again, but she didn't care. She felt a total sense of detachment from her own body.
She walked over to the tub and stood in the water then slid under. She stifled a cry as the almost burning hot water closed over her many injuries. She leaned back in the tub and sighed. After allowing herself a minute of just sitting she reached onto the ledge and picked up her cordless phone.
She dialed the familiar number of her father's office in the basement of the family hall. It rang twice before he answered.
"Demaret."
"It's Storm."
"How are things?" Her father knew nothing of the situation because Storm hadn't wanted to tell him. She'd known it would turn into a fight and so she'd avoided it, thinking she could take care of things all on her own, with Matty and Taylor as her crew. He thought she was in California on routine business. He wanted to know if she'd gotten the quota of money out of their clubs.
"Benny..." Storm sighed as she trailed off. She fought her feelings of inadequacy to be asking for his help at this late stage of the game.
"What is it Stormianna?" Benny's voice took on a tone of worry as it only could when his only daughter's safety came into the picture. "What's wrong?"
"It's bad Dad. Real thick." She shifted in the water and despite her best effort a small muffled cry escaped.
"What happened to you?" Benny roared, incensed his daughter was hurt. "I'm coming out there."
"You can't. I'm ok Dad I swear. I really am but things're not goin so good. I was trying to handle it on my own but I'm not good enough. I'm sorry I failed you. I need help with this one."
"Maybe you could tell me how you did that Storm." Benny sighed, worried by her last statement worse then her pain. His daughter was not prone to hysterics or to melodrama. He'd seen her break her arm in the 7th grade and try to talk him out of going to the hospital because it was nothing. She was calm and she kept a level head in all situations. She also never, under any circumstances doubted herself. If she was doing those things now she was in a real bind and Benny knew it.
"Well, I came down here to tell Stacey about Mama and Tabitha but when I found her she was in a bad place and I couldn't add to what she was already going through by telling her that her best friend and second mom were dead and murdered at that, so I just decided to hang around and keep her safe until she was in a more stable place in her home life ya know? Kid'd already been to hell and back and I didn't want to make that worse. She has no idea what I do. It was always a big joke between us. Ha ha I'm in the mob kinda deal. She thought I was really your personal driver and you were just another New York business man. I couldn't very well tell her I wasn't really joking and that my job had brought around the death of her friend and now the same nut job was after her. I mean her brother was a control freak and this guy in their house tried shit with her. How could I add to all that shit by telling her Tabitha was dead?"
"Well, you know how to deal with any asshole who 'tries shit' with little girls don't you?" Benny growled. About the only thing he didn't hold with was raping women and abusing children. They were two things he had no patience for.
"Oh, Vince isn't so bad. He was really drunk." Storm spoke without thinking and ended up hated the fact she sounded like she was justifying his behavior. "He didn't want to hurt Stacey; he wanted to get back at the brother. He went about it the wrong way but he knows that now. He's been going out of his way to help me get her back. We have an agreement."
"Get who back?"
"Stacey. Dad, Carter has Stacey and worse then that he didn't kill Mom and Tammy. He took them."
"What!" Benny roared. "What are you talking about?" The news that his ex wife might still be out there alive was pretty shocking, even to someone as jaded as Benny 'Chains' Demaret.
"He made it look like he killed them when he demolished the house. He knew it was me on the phone the whole time and he wanted us to think they were dead. He wanted revenge on me I think. And on you for letting him go to jail. And then to make the situation even more fun Stacey's brother Brian is an ex cop, who did a job for the FBI and the job was to pin Verone and the money together."
"Stormianna, this is over. Your brother and you better get your Italian asses on the first plane back to New York. You are both in over your heads and now with cops involved I want this handled quick and efficient by a crew. You got that? If that cop puts you and me together with that lumber Verone had we're all goin to hell in a hand basket."
"It gets better Dad. Do you wanna hear the rest before you start making my travel arrangements?" Storm asked sarcastically. The only answer she got was a sigh. "Teddy's not dead. He's quite alive and working with Carter. He broke two of my ribs in a fight on the highway this afternoon."
"Teddy? As in your uncle Teddy that Matty killed? Storm, don't be stupid here. Teddy's dead."
"It would certainly make life easier if he were. But trust me; he's very alive and well. He ran my Caddy off the road this afternoon and we had a fight. He got away before I could finish him. He and Carter have Stacey, Mom and Tammy. I don't know what they're planning to do with them but I do know Carter's even more pissed because me'n Taylor beat the life out of him and left him for dead. I don't know how the bastard is still alive."
"I'm coming out there Storm."
"No way Dad. The feds put you and me and Matty in the same state plus all your entourage we're royally fucked. What I need from you is intel Dad. I need to know where Carter is hiding them. I asked all the clubs to keep their eyes and ears open but it hasn't turned up anything better then a doctor Tony knows treated Carter for the injuries that me and Taylor and Vince gave him."
Benny rested his head in his hands, debating what he wanted to do. He did not want his children in the danger they would be in taking on not only an angry Carter Verone but their uncle Teddy as well. But Storm was correct when she said he could not fly out to California as was his first instinct. Then they'd all end up held for questioning and no one would be free to go after their family. He caved and decided to tell Storm and let her handle things. He was more then confident she could, and he knew when it was all said and done and she managed to run the crew that saved them all herself it would restore her flagging confidence in herself.
"He has a house in L.A. Storm. It's out in Malibu. I only know about it because I made it my business to know everything about him. He keeps that house on the low, the down low. Its deed is in his mother's name and no one knows it's there. If I hadn't felt I had to and gone digging really deep I never would have found it."
"Why did you dig so deep? Because he was working for you?"
"No, because he was dating my little girl." Emotion made her father's voice gruff, the only indication that he was upset. He'd never let on how concerned he was if he could help it but from her years living with the man Storm could tell all was not well with his world.
"I need an address Benny. I have to get Stacey back before he…" Storm trailed off. Her father didn't know what Carter had done and she planned on keeping it that way.
"I know you think you kept that a secret from me Storm, but I always knew. I didn't know how to talk to you about it so I never did but I'm sorry I put you into his influence in the first place. I wanted to kill him but someone had to take the fall when the feds got a hold of all that lumber. I know you must hate me for letting him get away with it but I had no choice." Benny didn't know how to deal with what had been done to his daughter so he'd just put it out of his mind, much as Storm had and tried not to think about it. "Listen, maybe I should stay put but I have people I trust in L.A. Storm. Take some of them with you. Don't do this all on your own. Why do you think I have so many people in my employ? If I could do it all alone I would, but I can't so I find people I can trust and I ask them for help when I need to. Take that advice and ask them for help Storm."
"Does Tony know how to find them?"
"He's one of them. He can arrange for you to have a crew to run in an hour." Benny blew out a breath and continued. "Be careful. You'n Matty are all I got."
"You got another daughter out there tonight Dad and I'm gonna find her. And then I'm gonna make sure she stays as far away from this life as she can."
"I thought you were happy with the life Storm. I thought I finally made you happy when I let you run on your own without Taylor and let you in."
"I am happy. But who knows if I had known something else maybe I wouldn't be. Maybe there would have been something else I'da wanted to do ya know? But maybe that's the busted ribs and the gunshot wound talking."
Storm blamed the fact the hot water had her so relaxed for her loose lips. She honestly hadn't intended to tell her father about the gunshot.
"You got shot?!" Her father roared.
"Just a flesh wound. It's fine. It hurts a bit but I'm fine. I'm taking a long vacation when I get them back dad. I'm taking Tabitha to the Caribbean and we're gonna spend a month doing nothing but laying in the sun, capisce? Drinking margaritas and bangin…" Storm remembered it was her father she was talking to and stopped. When he laughed at her she knew it had been the right thing to say.
"You got it little girl. Take that useless brother of yours with you."
"Matty has been a godsend. But I'm leaving him home when I take Carter's place in a few hours."
"Storm?"
"Yeah Dad?"
"What did you mean about me having another daughter? Tabitha might be your half sister but she is not my child."
"Um, of course not dad. It was a figure of speech." Storm mentally kicked herself for spilling the beans.
"You never were very good at lying to me Storm. What did you mean by the calling Tabitha my daughter." Benny's 'I'm very angry' voice was in place. The voice that Storm knew told even her that the boss meant business and her dad was not at the moment in control of the situation. 'Chains' was.
"I wasn't supposed to tell you because mom said you'd flip but Tammy's not 15, she's 16, almost 17."
"God Storm, how could you not tell me?" It was clear those dates had clicked into Benny's head.
"Mom made me promise. She said as long as you thought that she was someone else's kid you wouldn't take her away like you did me'n Matty. But she's 16 dad. That time that Mom tried to get back with you and you and she…um, well, you know…" Storm was uncomfortable thinking about her father and mom having sex. She knew it had happened, at least three times, but she really didn't want to think about the details. "And then you sent her away again? Well that was when she got pregnant with Tabitha. She's my full sister not half sister."
"Why did you keep that from me?"
Storm couldn't tell if her father was angry or shattered by the news she'd accidentally given him.
"Because I'd just found my mom and sister, I didn't want you to take Tabitha away from mom to come live with us incase mom didn't want anything to do with me afterward. I mean, you thought she was someone else's already so what difference does it make that she's not? I know it's not your fault but mom was a different kind of parent and I found her at a time in my life when I really needed her dad. I didn't want to lose her when I'd just found her. Would knowing about her have really made a difference?"
"I don't know Storm but we all need to have a long chat when this is all over ok? I trust you to bring them home but please be careful little girl."
"Always." She paused, wondering how he'd take what she was about to say. She couldn't do what she was about to do if she thought her father, her idol, the whole reason she was what she was, was mad at her or didn't love her anymore over what she'd kept from him. "I love you Daddy." It had been a long time since she'd called him daddy.
"I love you too Stormi girl. Call me as soon as it's all over." It cost him a lot to say it, just because he wasn't an openly affectionate person, but he couldn't let her go do what she was going to do without telling her he did.
"I will." Storm hung up the phone and rested her head back on the tub again. She told herself she'd just relax for a few minutes then she'd get out and get to work.
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"Taylor!" Matty called after his friend as Taylor walked toward the same river that so long ago had called to Stacey for her great escape.
"What?" Taylor called over his shoulder without slowing down.
"Would ya stop walking for a few minutes and talk to me please?" Matty called after Taylor's retreating back. Taylor stopped and turned around to face him.
"Well?"
"She'd got more then a few points. You can't get mad at her every time she dates another guy. You broke up with her."
"You should be happy about that. Not seein your sister dating some half breed jew." Taylor growled.
"Nothing in the world woulda made me happier then to have you marry my sister Taylor. I couldn't think of a person I'd want her with forever more then you. But you broke up with her. And when you did you broke her heart while you were at it. But that was between you and her so I let it go. You're my best friend and she's my sister. I didn't want to lose either of you so I let it slide. Both of you seemed ok with how it ended eventually anyway so I just put it out of my mind. But you do get pissy with her whenever she dates someone new."
"He's wrong for her."
"I'm just saying that in your mind any guy would be wrong for her because you gave her up because a how deep the two of you were getting scared you. It scared you like nothing else ever had so you dropped her. I understand why you did it Taylor but you can't take it back now that it happened. And you should know anyone as proud as my sister ain't gonna take you back after you made her look as stupid as you did by breaking it up with her to date that blonde with the big boobs, what's her name?"
"I don't even remember her name." Taylor admitted, rubbing his bald head. Much as he didn't want to admit it, what Matty was saying was the total truth. "It wasn't the only reason I broke it off with Storm. I couldn't take her bossy attitude."
"She's the boss." Matty shrugged. "Personality made her that way before circumstances did and it's never gonna change. If you can't deal with it then can't you just feel lucky that the two of you aren't together anymore and you're both free to find people to date that make you happy instead of angry all the time? If you could just give her the respect she really deserves then the two of you could at least get along. She's tough as nails and she's been doing what she knows she has to do despite all her injuries and all the personal danger she's in. It's no less then what our father would do. But while you respect Benny for it you belittle her."
"I don't want her in danger."
"Neither do I. Neither does my father. But there's more to it then that for you. You don't want to acknowledge that she's good at what she does and she belongs doing it so you try to take her down every chance you get. She's right you know? If you can't respect her for what she is and how she handles herself then you should just go home and go back to running your slot machines there. I'll stay with my sister until this job is done then I'll meet you back in New York."
"I'm stayin until Teddy and Carter are finished. Then I will go home and I will never have anything else to do with Stormianna Demaret. Ok?"
"Ok. If you can stop trying to make her feel bad while you're here." Taylor nodded. He had no words. He was very upset to be taken to task for anything by Matty. But since he couldn't tell Matty he was wrong he just kept his mouth shut and walked back toward the house.
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"She's been in there an awful long time." Brian looked concerned. "You think she's ok? She either passed out or fell asleep in the car."
"The time to tell me that was before I let her go off alone Brian." Vince growled and stood up. "I'll go check on her."
Vince had just turned the corner at the top of the stairs when Taylor and Matty walked back in and walked up to Brian.
"You workin for the cops?" Taylor growled.
"No. I told them I would but I never did. I had to tell them yes. I told you this. Not to mention Storm set me up for that shit. It was all a test she cooked up."
"Sounds like my sister." Matty answered. "Where is she?"
"She never came back down after she went upstairs. Vince went to check on her."
"This fool gonna punk her or what?" Taylor asked Brian menacingly.
"Vince?" Brian chuckled. "Not V. Once someone earns his loyalty they have it for life. He'd die for her if he thinks she's worth it, for anyone he thinks is in his care. Granted he doesn't have the best track record with girls, but then again he's not gonna take his life in his hands and play around on a girl like Storm now is he?"
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Vince knocked on Storm's bedroom door and when she didn't answer he tried the knob. Finding the door locked, he knocked again, louder this time, and called her name. She still didn't answer.
He wasn't about to break the door down so he got out his utility knife and started to pick the lock. He was thankful that interior locks were not that challenging and that he'd had the kind of childhood that helped him pick up such skills as lock picking in the first place. Once he popped the door to the room open he looked around and didn't see her, but the light was on in the bathroom.
He walked in and found Storm asleep in the tub, covered in bubbles. He figured he was a dead man for knowing she took bubble baths but he had to wake her. He ran his hand into the now cool water and then flicked the water off his hand into her face. She came too with a sputter.
"What are you doing in here?"
"When you didn't come back we got worried. And rightly so. You can't sleep in the bathtub. You could drown."
"I didn't mean to fall asleep. It's been a long few days."
"No kidden. You should go to bed. Get some rest. You'll feel better in the morning."
"I can't take the time. Now that I know where Carter is I gotta get to the girls and my mom before he moves them. I don't trust him not to find out I know where he is somehow and take off. I gotta find them, put a bullet in Carter's head, and my Uncle Teddy's and then get the girls some help. Then I am going to Cozumel with Tammy and doing nothing but turning brown for a whole month."
With a lack of modesty caused by her detachment from the situation Storm pulled the plug and stood up out of the water. She picked up a towel and went to wrap it around her body. She was shocked when Vince stopped her. "What?"
"What happened to your side and stomach?" Vince couldn't stop the barely contained fury from being audible in his voice. "It looks like someone beat on you."
"Seatbelt in my crash and my uncle kicking me. I'll be fine." Storm got the towel around herself and headed out into her room. She dressed in black leather pants and a black tee shirt. She carefully added a black leather jacket over top and turned to find Vince leaning on the doorjamb between the bathroom and her bedroom.
"You sure you're up to this?"
"Yeah."
"Ok then, let's do this."
If she was determined to go right away and not take the time for herself she needed Vince figured all he could do was go with her and give her all the help he could. Unlike Taylor, he'd already learned telling her not to do something, or that she shouldn't, or even couldn't just drove her on to make sure she did whatever it was you wished she wouldn't.
Storm marched down the stairs, Vince on her heels and turned into the living room.
"I know where he is." She didn't waste any time.
"How you know where he's at?" Taylor asked, catching the glares from Matty and Vince for running his mouth yet again.
"I called my father and asked him where Carter would hide out in L.A. and he told me. That's how I know. So I guess you're wrong about what he'd have to say about the situation Taylor. He gave me the name of a guy to fill my crew and he told me where to find Carter and Teddy." Storm turned away from Taylor, unable to deal with seeing the disrespect in his eyes. "So, I'm gonna go talk to Tony and we're leaving to go finish this from there. Who's in?"
Everyone in the room stood up, including Brian.
"I'm coming. My sister might need me when you find her."
"Ok Brian, I respect that. You still packen?"
"No, they take your gun away from you when you get fired off the force unfortunately."
"Well fortunately we keep a few extras around here. Follow me." Storm started to walk away and the guys followed her into a small room at the back of the house where Storm started to open cupboards. They were filled with various weaponry. "Take only what you think you're gonna need to save the girls and take out the two fuckers that have them. We don't need to be weighed down with tones of extra firepower, right?"
"Right." Brian and Vince answered as they looked over the guns. Brian looked grim. Vince looked almost like a kid at Christmas. He picked a Glock 19, their compact 9mm handgun. Brian ended up with a Smith and Wesson .45. Storm laughed at Vince.
"What?" Vince asked, slightly confused. Storm handed over her gun. After looking at it Vince realized he'd picked the exact same model out of the pile of a hundred different weapons. He chuckled. "I guess great minds think alike then."
"Yeah, because my dad bought me that gun when I turned 18 and it's been with me ever since. If there ever was a great mind it's my father. We're all armed so let's go."
They headed down to the Demaret's club in Matty's Caddy and met with Tony. Within 30 minutes they were back on the road with a car load of Benny's trusted men from L.A. following them in another black Sedan de Ville. Tony had also provided the exact address of Carter's house and a floor plan.
While the house was in the middle of Malibu, it was an affluent neighbourhood and the house was far removed from the street and its neighbours. Storm knew once they were inside the security fence around the perimeter of the property they were on their own.
They pulled up to a dark side street and parked the cars. The proceeded on foot to the corner lot which housed Carter's mansion.
"I think there's only one guard on this side. He must not have figured out Dad knew about this place." Storm said in a low tone. "I think we should just wait til he heads back the other way then go over here under this tree." Storm gestured over her head at the huge shade tree they were standing under.
"I don't have a better idea." One of the new guys agreed. Like that decided it they started going over the wall one at a time. Storm went first. Once the next person, who happened to be Taylor, landed on the ground he saw Storm sneaking up behind the guard. When she was within a few feet of him she aimed her silenced weapon at the back of his head and pulled the trigger. The guard went down.
They started running silently up the lawn to the sprawling mansion. Reaching the granite façade of the house they all flattened against it and looked around. There was no noise, no movement. Storm felt a prickle of unease at how under guarded the house was. In her mind it was all going down too easily. Carter should have been paranoid after they'd found him twice in his warehouse so easily. He should have been more on his guard. Yet they'd only had to take out one guard to get to the side of the house. She looked at Taylor instinctively. He'd been at her side through more battles then anyone else and she trusted his opinion on such matters, even if she didn't like him very much at that exact moment.
"Does this seem way too easy to you?" She asked him in a whisper.
"Oh yeah. Don't feel right at all."
"There should be more protection here." One of the crew Tony had appointed spoke up.
"Well, if my dad's correct then Carter doesn't even know dad knows about this place. He keeps it well hidden and off all lists of his assets. It's deeded to his mother." Storm tried to reassure both herself and the group in general.
"Well, we can either stand around out here all night and debate whether he knows we're coming or not or we can go in there, kick some ass and get the girls back. What's it gonna be?" Vince asked, looking around.
"We go in and get the girls. Let's move." Storm answered with a grimace that let them know she still wasn't totally comfortable with the situation and started to move around the perimeter of the structure, looking for a good way in. She found it in the form of a basement window. "I think we'll go in here. It's less likely that he has staff or security in the basement, plus it's more likely to be where he's keeping the girls."
Storm bent down and jimmied the window open. The room they were entering into was totally dark so she got out her little LED flashlight and turned it on. The light was super bright but it was concentrated so it was unlikely that it was visible anywhere but in the room she was shining it into. The room was full of stored items in crates but it was devoid of any threats. Storm dropped in and went over to the door to the rest of the house. She listened, ear to the door as the rest of her party dropped into the room behind her.
"You hear anything?" Matty asked his sister once he was in the house.
"Not a damn thing. We're gonna leave this room and then I want us to split up in groups of three and finish searching the basement. If you find the girls then find the other two groups and we'll muster in the room where they are. If you find anyone who's not young, female, or related to me in some way shoot to kill. Everyone here is loyal to Carter and Teddy so they can't be trusted. Kill them all if you have to."
Everyone looked grim but resigned. They weren't necessarily happy with killing people whose only sin was taking a job with the wrong boss, but they saw why it was the only way to handle the situation.
"Ok, Taylor and Matty, take Vito with you and search the center section. Brian, go with Mark and Bobby. Search the left. Me'n Vince and James will take the right. If we don't find anything we meet back here when we're done with our sections. Got it everyone?"
Everyone nodded their understanding and they carefully opened the door on the dark basement. Each team moved off to their designated area and started listening at doors then opening them and checking the rooms.
Storm lead her group around to the various rooms in their area, opening doors and finding nothing but empty rooms or rooms filled with boxes. They were almost finished when they heard a soft call from Taylor and Matty's team. They took off running in the direction of the call.
They stumbled upon Matty and Taylor unchaining Stacey, who once unchained fell like a limp rag doll to the ground. Storm ran over to her side.
"Come on kid, wake up girl."
Stacey groaned but didn't come too.
"Someone go find Brian. Now!" Storm raised her voice slightly and ordered when no one moved. "James, go! Find the rest of them and bring her brother back here." James took off and Storm went back to trying to bring Stacey around. She didn't want to do it but she was going to have to pump the girl for information to find her sister and mother.
"Storm?" Stacey finally croaked.
"Yeah kid, it's me. How you feelin?"
"Thirsty. So thirsty. He won't let me have anything to drink. And he's been drugging me. Oh god!" Stacey started to sob. "He has Mia working for him Storm! She's been drugging me."
"Shush girlie. Everything's gonna be fine." Storm looked at Vince. Neither of them were sure if they could trust Stacey's memories of the situation. Was Mia really involved with Carter? Could she really be working against Brian, the man she truly seemed to love? "Get me that carafe of water and a glass would ya?" Storm pointed to the jug of water and glass that had clearly been set just out of Stacey's reach to try and drive her crazy with wanting something she needed so badly that was always just out of reach. Vince brought them over to Storm still looking shocked to hear Mia implicated in the situation. Storm helped Stacey to sit up against a stack of boxes and then handed her the glass of water. While Stacey drank Storm made a succinct call on her cell phone. Once the girl had finished her water Storm gave her another half glass which Stacey quickly drained.
"More. I need more."
"Nope, no more. Not for now. You've been too dehydrated too long. If you drink too much right now you'll send your system into shock. You need to give yourself a chance to absorb that much first then you can have more." Stacey started to cry. "Stacey, I need you to calm down and listen to me ok?" Storm asked as the girl continued to cry.
"I'll try." Stacey sniffed.
"Did anyone who came in here to see you ever say anything about Tab or my mom?"
"Yeah." Stacey was obviously deep in thought, trying to remember. "He thought I was out cold but he said he has them upstairs in two separate bedrooms. I think. They kept me so drugged it's hard to remember. He's gonna kill them after he gets what he wants out of your father. Storm, I don't understand. What does your father have to do with people like Carter and his new accomplice?"
"Everything and nothing kid, nothin for you to sweat. I'll explain it all to you after I go get my sister and mom. Brian's gonna take you to the hospital in a minute ok?" Storm asked as Brian entered the room and rushed up to his sister, dropping on his knees beside her.
Stacey nodded tiredly; glad to see her brother and to know that for her, the ordeal was over, even if she didn't know what was going on. She sank tiredly into Brian's arms as he hugged his sister tight against him. Then something else occurred to her.
"Storm you can't go up there! If he gets a hold of you he'll hurt you like he hurt me. You can't deal with a guy like him! He'll chain you up and he might…do other things to you." Tears seeped out from under her eyelashes as she fought to remain conscious.
"Did he do anything to you other then beat you and drug you Stacey?" Storm had to know.
"No. But he wanted to." Stacey shuddered.
"I can't tell you right now how I know this but I know I can deal with him ok? I'm not all I seem and that's all I can tell you about it for now. Go with Brian and I'll see you in the hospital tomorrow ok?"
"Ok." Stacey yawned, the stress and residual drugs in her system starting to make her pass out.
"Brian, take her out of here. I called Dominic and he's going to meet you by our cars and take you to the hospital. Go out the way we got in and go straight to the fence to meet Dom. Got it?"
"Yeah. Storm…" Brian paused, not knowing how to say what he felt, having no words to express his gratitude. "Thanks for this." Brian looked at Stacey and Storm saw the love that was there. It was no less then she felt for her own sister.
"I did it as much for me as I did for you. Get on." Uncomfortable with the emotions the situation was making her feel Storm sent Brian out of the room with those gruff words. But she had a second thought and sent Bobby with him. "Go and make sure they make it off the grounds. He can't shoot with Stacey in his arms. Cover him."
"Understood." Bobby took off to follow Brian out to Dom's car.
The rest of the group left the room and started up the stairs, Storm leading the pack followed closely by Vince and Taylor. Storm had somehow managed to make sure that her brother was surrounded by Tony's men. She hadn't wanted to take him but hadn't seen how to leave him home. That didn't mean she wasn't going to make sure he stayed safe.
At the head of the stairs another guard went walking by then did a double take when he saw the group of intruders on the stairs.
"Who the fuck are you?" He yelled as he went for his gun. As he leveled his gun on Storm, who was the closest target he jerked back in silent surprise, looking at the hole in his chest. Taylor was holding his Ruger out in front of him, looking at the dead thug.
"He said that pretty loud." Storm sighed, foreseeing trouble.
"Yeah, he did." Vince answered, looking around.
They all heard running footsteps. Figuring they'd be in a better position to take care of themselves if they weren't on the stairs they moved into the open area at the top of them and without his knowledge formed a protective circle around Matty. A group of Carter's minions came charging up and saw their dead comrade and a group of armed strangers.
"Radio the boss." One called.
"Can't have that." Storm said and calmly shot the man with the radio in the head. He dropped like a stone.
The rest looked at their two fallen associates and went for their guns. The ensuing fight ended with all of Carter's men dead and Vito sporting a gunshot wound in his thigh and Vince with a rapidly blackening eye.
"Think that was all of them?" Matty asked Storm as they started through the house.
"Nope, but I hope so anyway." Storm answered. "Vince?"
"Yeah?"
"Take my brother, James and Vito and go search upstairs. If you find my mom and sister get them out of here to Vito's car and take them to the same hospital as Brian and Dom took Stacey too."
"What are you gonna do?" Vince asked, eyes narrowed.
"Me'n Taylor are gonna take care of some family business." Storm answered as she dropped the practically empty clip out of her Glock and put a fresh one in. "We'll take Mark with us."
"Be safe." Vince said, strange look in his blue eyes as he looked at Storm.
"You too. I'll catch up with you in an hour, two tops."
Conscious of the stares of the rest of the group Vince turned to leave, to lead Matty and the two Italian thugs in the search for Storm's family. He turned back to her and kissed her hard on the lips with a feeling born of uncertainly, but knowing he certainly wanted her to know where he stood as far as she was concerned.
Storm watched him go, licking her tingling lips.
"You like the punk don't you?" Taylor sighed.
"I think so." Storm answered and started quietly off down the hall, toward the front of the house. She figured that was where the library would be, and she also figured that would be where her Uncle would hold up. She almost didn't care if Carter died as long as she got to end her Uncle's sorry miserable existence.
"Why?" Taylor wasn't ready to let it drop.
"Why don't you ask me the real question on your mind?"
"Which is?" Taylor growled, not liking her assuming she knew his mind better then he did.
"Why do I like him instead of begging you to come back to me?"
"Well, ok then, why don't you want to have another shot with me?"
Because you're never gonna see me as capable and I can't live my life trying to live up to your expectations. With Vince, I honestly think he's seeing me, not someone he has to try and one up all the time. This is who I am. You need to try and see it my way. I don't want to be so damn protected. I want to take my own chances and make my own way. Vince sees that and all you saw was a need to protect me from myself."
"But you take too many risks."
"I don't take any more then you do. The only reason you have for seeing me as being the one taking too many risks is because I'm a chick. I can't accept that. I can do everything you can do and I'm just as capable of taking those risks as you are. Now shut up, draw your gun and if you kill my uncle insteada me I'll kill you and leave you here to rot along with Teddy. Capisce?"
"I get ya." Taylor growled and they paused outside the library door. Voices could be heard. One heavily accented with tones of Brooklyn Italian and the other with Latin American. Carter and Teddy, together in one room. Storm shook out her body and readied her weapon. Taylor did the same. Storm held up three fingers and started to count down. When she reached 0 she kicked the door open.
Teddy and Carter looked up in shock from where they were seated.
"Hello boys. Good to see you again Teddy. You missed out on a few of my birthdays lately so its likely time for a good old fashioned family reunion ay?"
"How'd you find us?" Carter stuttered.
"When you and I were seeing each other it turns out my dad made it his business to know everything about you. Everything. He wanted to kill you after what you did to me but he figured he'd let you take the fall for our crimes instead and then when I was older he figured I could kill you myself. That day is finally here."
"What did he do to you Storm?" Teddy asked, honestly curious. He'd never had anything against his niece because he'd never seen her as a threat to his desire to take over the Demaret Empire.
Storm brandished her gun. "Take off your shirt and show him Carter."
"I don't believe so Storm." Carter answered, looking quite nervous.
"Take it off or I'll take it off for you." Storm pulled a wicked looking hunting knife off her belt. The same knife, ironically, that she'd used to carve him up after what he'd done. He stood with a resigned sigh and removed his white silk button down shirt. The word 'rapist' stood up in stark red scar tissue against his caramel completed skin.
Having been throughally humiliated Carter came at Storm with a cry of rage.
Eager for the fight Storm set her gun down on the desk and slid effortlessly into back stance, ready for his attack. The two grappled for some time, each getting their knocks in. Carter was a large man and should have had a sizable advantage. Storm however was not a woman to be underestimated. She'd been training for the last number of years for the day she finally got to get her revenge on Carter and she was we prepared.
With her Karate training she was more then able to use his size and his own momentum back on him. She ended up panting out of breath with Carter locked in a headlock submission hold. He was pleading for her to let him go, able to sense the power of the ages old moves and the power of her fury.
"Por favor!" He called, begging.
Taylor picked up Storm's gun. "Here, finish him." He went to hand her the weapon.
"Oh, I intend to. But not with that." Storm turned her attention back to the whimpering Carter Verone. "When you did what you did it was only to make me feel powerless in the situation. You were stronger then me then and you had the upper hand. But today I have the upper hand. And as you used only your own strength and hands to harm me, I will only use my strength and hands to finish you. If you're religious Carter now would be a good time to say your prayers."
And with that and a deft movement Storm twisted his neck. It broke with a sick noise and Storm let him slide lifelessly to the ground. She felt nothing at Carter's death. He was nothing to her, to the world, but a sick man who raped women and screwed over even his friends and associates.
"I didn't know Storm, what he was." Teddy started to bargain for his life. Storm knew the signs.
"I know you didn't. Teddy, there is one thing you need to understand here." Teddy looked hopeful at Storm's familiar tone. She didn't seem too angry with him.
"Yes?"
"When you mess with my family you mess with me. I know you think we have no beefs personally but you messed with my dad and you messed with my sister and mom, who happens to be your sister I might add. What were you thinking?"
"I took good care of my sister. That brat she had with some stranger didn't fair quite so well but my sister didn't come to any harm."
"You stupid fuck. Did you get a good look at Tabitha? She's all Demaret. She's Benny's daughter. She could be my twin for fucks sake."
"She's Benny's?" Teddy was clearly shocked.
"Yeah." Storm answered, laughing to have pulled one over on her uncle. "And now you need to die like you should have back in Wibeaux."
"The only one who should have died in Wibeaux is your looser brother." Teddy sneered.
"Why do I have the funniest feeling you set Matty up to take that fall?"
"Of course I did. If the kid ever found his balls and started to work for his father everything would have been lost. Matty had to be out of the picture. If I'd known how you would have grown up then you would have had to die too. Just like you do now."
Teddy pulled out a gun. He took aim. He forgot to keep an eye on Taylor, who used his own gun to shoot Teddy's out of his hand.
"And the Jewish Calvary rides to the rescue yet again. Why are you still so protective of my bitch niece when she's not doing you anymore?" Teddy tried to make both of his opponents so mad they'd lose their cool and make mistakes. "I mean, when she was giving it up to you I could see the attraction but really, now that she gets to boss you around like the little bitch dog you are why don't you want to see her dead? She has you by the balls and she'll always be your boss as long as you're alive." Teddy laughed. "You'll always be a Jew and you'll never be one of the good fellas."
Taylor snarled and moved to aim his gun at Teddy's heart. Storm steadied him with a glace. No matter how mad Taylor was over the slur on his beloved mother and her heritage Storm was not going to let him finish what she'd started.
She'd been planning on drawing the fight with her uncle out, making it physical and beating him to a pulp before she put a period to his pathetic existence but listening to him spill his vitriol put an end to that plan. While he was focused on Taylor Storm pulled her gun and took aim. Just before she could pull the trigger, the force of a blast spun Teddy in a 360 and threw him to the ground stone dead. Storm looked up at the open door to find Matty looking slightly shocked and dazed, silhouetted by the hall light.
"I let him live the first time and it was up to me to finish the job." He choked out. "When I heard him run the same vile game as he did in Wibeaux I couldn't take it. I had to kill him." Matty was clearly shaken and scared his sister was going to be mad at him for killing Teddy instead of her. Storm went to her brother and took the gun out of his shaking hand. "He tried to break me since I was 12 years old and he almost succeeded."
"It's ok Matty. I understand. It's over." Storm took Matty into her arms and hugged him, let him sob on her shoulder. He always had been the more emotional one. "It's over big brother. Everything's gonna be fine from here. It's finally over."
"Storm!" Vince called as he ran down the stairs. "We need to talk."
Matty stood up and wiped his face, regaining his composure.
"What is it Vince?"
"We found them, and your mom's shaken but ok. Your sister though Storm, we can't wake her up. It doesn't look good." Vince hung his head with the bad news.
Storm pushed Vince out of the way as she went tearing up the stairs calling her sister's name. She found her mother sobbing over Tabitha, it having been months since the two were allowed to be in the same room. Storm dropped to her knees beside the bed and threw her head back in a silent scream. She couldn't have failed her sister twice.
Or could she?
I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure
Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders
I'm never supposed to show it, my crew ain't supposed to know it
Even if it means goin' toe to toe with a Benzino it don't matter
I'd never drag them in battles that I can handle unless I absolutely have to
I'm supposed to set an example
I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em
If some shit ever just pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em
We all fall down like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win
But the battle wages on. -Eminem