Rain Drenched Promises

Chapter 8

Mid June 2006

Location- Greystone

Jason found Sonny sitting in the darkened living room sipping a drink. The house was silent beside the sound of ice hitting the side of the glass as his hand shook with nervous energy.

Jason stepped back into the foyer without saying a word and asked Max, "How long has he been like this?"

"He's not that bad right now. He hasn't been acting , um you know, extra excited about things or anything."

"How long?"

"A few weeks, I guess. But today is worse. Mr. C is just tense..."

"About?"

"Don't you know?"

"Max," Jason gave him a fed up look "tell me."

" The Morales family took out three of our guys tonight."

Guilt shot throw Jason like an arrow aimed at the part of him who always handled situations like this before they could get out of hand. He shouldn't have left town.

But he couldn't stay, not after sitting in his Penthouse the night before Sam left thinking, " Sam won't be the last woman I can't give what she wants. And I don't have the energy to keep fooling myself into thinking any woman will settle for what I have left to give."

Years ago he took his one shot at forever. Everything since had been doomed by him not being able to let go of the hurt of losing Carly, losing their chance at a life away from here.

He knew it. And he told himself it was fine to be that way. Burned once but not twice.

Unlike Carly who always went back for more long after it made sense. She hung on past the bitter end and then hung on some more.

If Carly asked him, point blank, "Did I break you when I slept with Sonny?"

He would have to say, " No, just a piece of me. The best piece." because he couldn't lie to her.

But she wouldn't ask that question in those words and so he could dodge that particular ugly truth. Keep it from her and himself.

Though that was just a unspoken game they played. They had both added up the cost of that night too many times to not know the score by now.

And I remember

what she said to me
How she swore

that it never would end
I remember how she held me,

oh so tight
Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then

Against the windWe were running

against the wind
We were young and

strong and we were running
Against the wind

Bob Segar

Jason pushed it out of his mind like he had countless times before. Time to go to work.

He walked back into the living room and flipped on the lights. Sonny sat in the same spot .

"You lied to me when I called." Jason said

" I got it handled."

" Did you get in extra guys from out of town? We have to hit back at Morales with twice what he sent at us. And then hit him again before he has a chance to recover. What do you have set up?"

"It's happening right now."

"Where?'

"The Morales are holed up in a warehouse on Pier 39. That's where I sent the men."

Jason jogged out of the room. He pulled his cell phone out and dialed as he headed for his motorcycle.

Damn, voice mail.

"Hey, I can't make it tonight. Tell Morgan I will read him two stories next time and tell Michael I'll play as much of that racing video game as he wants. I know I gotta make up for when I was out of town but it's going to have to wait. " He climbed on his bike. " And Carly...don't go anywhere without the guards, you or the boys, got it?"

Jason hung up , started his bike and hit the gas hard, back to the daily grind.

Against the wind
I'm still running against the wind
Well I'm older now but still running
Against the wind
Against the wind
Against the wind...

Bob Segar