Warning: Sexual content and violence
Making a Stand
Tim's Pov
"You actually think Max is going to listen to you?" Curly asked hands
in his coat pocket as we made out way to the Dingo where we'd arranged to met up with him.
" Nah, but at least I'll be able to tell Love I tried, sides I wanna
see his reaction when I mention Brig that way we know where stand," I
said taking a long drag on my cigarette.
I was getting married in a month, and this was the last thing needed
to be dealing with right now.
" I really want to get this handled as soon as possible," I said
sighing as I thought of Love's reaction to my face.
"Love will kill me if I'm all bruised up next month when we get
hitched."
"Yeah, I think we all heard here last night when she saw your face
for the first time," Curly said chuckling.
His soon to be sister in law had a temper that matched her hair.
"Here we go," I mumbled as we entered the Dingo spotting the shady
looking group situated in the back.
"Max," I said nodding in greeting as we shook hands.
"Shepard, Curly," He said nodding at as both as we settled in on the
other side of the booth.
" You going to tell me what this is about, cause we've never had any
friction between us," I asked cutting straight to the point.
"Oh its not personal, as a matter of fact I want one thing only, and
if given to me I'll leave."
"And just what is this one thing?" I asked knowing I all ready knew
the answer."
" Me," said a soft voice that made us all turn.
Brig's POV
I knew the boys wanted to protect me, but the thought of seeing any of them hurt was more than I could bear. It was time to tell the
truth and let all the secrets I'd been keeping out. I'd followed Tim
and Curly here cause I knew it would lead me to Max. Better to face
him head on then to hide like a coward behind the others. Seeing Max
in person again made me want to puke, and the smirk that he held made
my blood boil.
"Just the lady I was looking for," He said smiling as the other boys
looked on in shock.
Colin, and Troy sat beside him, having always been second in command.
They were quick on their feet, knew how to keep their mouths shut,
and fought like warriors. I would trust them with my life, cause they
were always loyal.
" How you doing fellas!" I said grinning as I slid in next to Tim and
Curly who had just managed to close their mouths.
" I know what this is about, this aint about turf or any of the other
bulls shit Max may have spouted to get the crew down here, am I right
Max?" I asked bearing my teeth.
"This is about me plain and simple."
"You shouldn't have left like that," He said as everyone watched us
sensing the tension.
"I had a damn good reason for leaving that way, but I suppose he
failed to mention that to ya right?" I asked taking in Colin and
Troy's confused expressions.
"Maybe we should fill them in on everything eh Max?" I asked refusing
to flinch as he came across the table mere inched from my face.
He would never raise his hand to me in public, especially not with
Colin and Troy there. Despite him being their leader they would take
my side , and bring him to his knees faster than I could blink.
"You do it and I'll fucking kill you," He whispered just low enough
for me to hear.
"Isn't that what you were planning on any ways?" I asked smiling as
Tim shoved him back in his own.
"Listen up, and listen closely, I knew we would be moving which is
why I bowed down as leader, my reasons for leaving Max are my own,
and I'm not about to have an all out war in this place over it."
"I'm happy here, and my heart belongs to someone else," I said
holding up my left hand to flash the newly acquired ring there.
Smiling at the congratulations Colin and Troy gave I Shivered at the
pure hatred that rose in Max's eyes.
"You want a fight Max?" I asked sneering when he shrugged.
"Fight me, bare handed, no knifes, no chains, no tricks, if I win you
step down I tell the true story of why I left and I get to be leader
until I pick my successor."
"And if I win?"
" I'll keep my mouth shut and you can keep control of the crew," I
said knowing I had backed him in to a corner.
If I opened my mouth he'd lose everything, respect, the boys loyalty,
his reputation would be ruined.
" I accept, Friday at 10:00, in the vacant lot," He said nodding to
Colin and Troy who waved at me half heartedly before leaving.
"You crazy broad what the hell did you just do!" Tim yelled making me
turn to him with cold eyes.
"Trust me, I can take what he dishes out," I said as we locked eyes
an understanding forming between us.
"Darry will flip," He said shaking his head as we got up from the
booths and headed out.
"It's the only way I can insure no one gets hurt, my boys are rough,
and when Max leads they can be ruthless, I can't have any of your
boys getting killed out there cause of me," I said shaking my head as
I shivered.
"Who's to say he won't kill you?"
" My boys would step in before they let they happen, they were loyal
to me for a long time, and I know for a fact they don't like the way
Max has been handling things," I said shaking my head as I thought
about my occasional talks with Curran.
"You have to remember I grew up with those boys, went to bat for
them, taken some horrible beatings to keep em safe," I said shaking
my head as I thought about my time as leader.
" Even though I split, they're still family," I said shrugging as Tim
nodded his head in understanding.
Darry's Pov
"You agreed to what!" I asked looking at the girl who now stood
before the gang with her held high, and a scowl on her lips.
"What other choice did I have, my boys don't give a shit about anyone
here, but they won't let Max do too much damage to me," She said
stubbornly.
"Brig he's crazy there's no telling what he'll do."
"Its my problem, he came here because of me."
"If its your problem, its mine now, you're going to be my wife for
Christ's sake," I said wincing when everyone gasped.
"Did we forget to mention that?" Brig asked laughing as everyone's
gaze was drawn to the ring on her left hand.
" Hah I all ready knew!" Love said making me laugh as she stuck out
her tongue and jumped on Tim's back.
"Shit, congratulations man," Two- bit said swigging on his ever
present can of beer.
" Thanks man, but back to the subject at hand," I said turning to my
still scowling girlfriend.
" I used to run them, trust me, I know how this will go."
"Look man, maybe its now my place, but I know about leading a crew,
and she knows her boys, we're all gonna be there to back her up if
anything happens, but seems like this is her fight, she has a lot of
pay she owes Max," Tim said quietly making me sigh.
"Looks like I'm out voted!" I said throwing my hands up in the air as
I stormed out, Brig close on my heels.
Love's pov
"Well that went well," I mumbled wrapping my arms around Tim's waist.
"As well as could be expected," He said shrugging as he leaned back
on my holding my hand to his heart.
"Can we get out of her for a while?" I asked eager to be away from
the stress and drama that had taken over our lives.
From planning the wedding to the trouble with the Spiders we hadn't
seen much of each other.
"Yeah, we have to go look at the church tonight any way," He said
bestowing me with the smile that so few actually got to see.
"We're out of here guys," I said letting out a whoop when Tim picked
me up and swung me in to his arms.
"Practicing for next month!" Steve yelled laughing harder when I
flipped him the bird. I still couldn't stand him except in small
doses.
"Hi baby," I said grinning as I buried my face in to his chest.
"Hey yourself, seems like I asked you to marry me a few months ago,
and I haven't seen you sense," He said chuckling as he set me down in
front of the car.
" I know its been crazy," I said glad to have some time to ourselves.
"So Bucks throwing a huge party in our honor next weekend," he said
smiling as I held his hand, and listened to him talk.
I loved Tim's voice, the rich baritone that could seduce or put the
fear of God in to you. He had a way of speaking with such calm, and
so quietly it sent chills down my spine. Watching his face I couldn't
hide the adoration and love I had come to have for him. He was my
rock, my protector, and the only one I could see myself spending the
rest of my life with.
"You ready to go see Father Pat?" He asked reaching out to squeeze my
thigh.
When you're Catholic before you can get married in a church,
you have to go through couple counseling.
"Yeap, ready for him to try and bring you back over to the good
side?" I said laughing at the lecturing Tim had suffered through for
me.
"Last one right?" He said growling as he rolled his eyes, and we
pulled it he parking lot.
" I love you," I whispered grinning mischievously when he gestured
towards the back seat.
"We have 30 minutes right?" I asked giggling as I crawled in to the
back seat with him right behind me.
Sighing as he devoured my mouth I was careful of the tender bruises
that marred his face.
"Love you don't know what you do to me," he gasped breathing hard as
he drew the shirt over my head.
Like always when we were together we saw nothing but each other.
Shivering until he placed his naked chest against my own I wrapped my
arms around his muscled back.
Purring I revealed in the warmth his hands left on my body.
"Hurry Timmy," I whispered huskily grinning at the sound of his
zipper being lowered.
Leaving the car 30 minutes later I couldn't feel any shame, despite
the prayer that I didn't go to hell for what we'd just done in a
church parking lot.
Tim's POV
Wrapping my arm around Love's waist I grinned at her flushed face.
She was always full of surprises, and I liked that she was willing to
be daring at times. It was what made is so easy to envision us being
in it for the long run. Well that and the fact that I'd break a guys
jaw for just looking at her wrong. For once Father Pat kept and
short, and sweet and soon he was leaving us to be alone in the church.
" This is where my parents got married," Love whispered holding my
hand and we made out way around the intimate church.
" I just hope we're as happy as they are." I replied thinking back to
how happy they had always seemed.
"Its fated, we have to be, the Curtis Kismet," She said laughing when
I glanced at her.
" Oh I never told you, its this legend that we know from the minute
we meet that person, that we're going to be together, as a matter of
fact, there's never been a divorce in my family for as long as I can
remember."
"Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack, my Dad met my mom when she was fourteen, and told
him I'm going to marry you one day, my Grandfather met my Grandma at
sixteen, and they were together ever since."
" I can't even think of any of my family that's happy now," I said
shaking my head in wonder.
"I remember telling you I wanted to marry you once, but I must've
been like 12," She said blushing as she shook her head.
" Yeah, you were, and I didn't take you seriously, but maybe I should
have," I said laughing as we made our way out of the church.