AN: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews folks! Here is chapter 2 for you to all enjoy, or at least I hope so. BTW, her first name is actually Arabella which is a good, strong, traditional Italian name. You'll find out later how she came to have her middle name as Stormianna, and I do know someone whose middle name is Storm. It's a guy, but his mom really did name him Storm so it's not like it's not a real name. Anyway, yeah, she could have had a more traditional name I guess, but it still would have been an Italian name, and many of them are not 'normal' in our words. Her family is too old school to name her American names. Anyways, on with the show.

Velocity Shift

By - Tempest Races

Chapter 2 – Tiger by the Tail

Matty was seated with Taylor, Marbles and Chris in his father's good old boys club later that night, each of them nursing a drink. They were just catching up on old times. While Matty got to see a fair amount of his cousin and Taylor, none of them got to see much of Marbles and they didn't get too many opportunities to all get together. Out of the blue Taylor looked right at Matty and just stared at him for a solid minute. Matty shrugged, wondering what Taylor was thinking. Taylor decided to fill him in.

"I just don't know what you're thinkin Matty." Taylor growled. "You know you don't belong in the old man's shadow. Hell, your sister belongs more then you ever will. You tried and it didn't work out. Pick something else to do." Taylor might have let Storm think the issue was closed but there was no way he was going to watch his best friend ruin himself over a life of crime.

"You think I haven't been trying to get a 'real' job Taylor? Shit, over 14 job interviews in a year. I can't hide where I got all my experience from and I'm too damn old to hand out resumes with no previous jobs on them." Matty sighed and looked Taylor in his eyes. "You been talkin to Storm or somethin? You sound just like her." Matty watched with interest as Taylor's gaze moved away from his own. Interesting; He almost looks guilty, Matty mused.

"I talked to her a bit when I was waitin on you but not about this. I just don't think it's a good idea for you to step up Matty. Take Storm's advice and move outta here." Chris seemed to second Taylor's opinion but Marbles didn't look as sure.

"My whole life's here. I won't go without Storm and she won't leave New York."

"Storm's a big girl. I think she'd be ok if you got a job outta state. Brothers and sisters do that all the time, live in different places." Taylor sighed, feeling like he was talking to a 12 year old.

"I've been lookin out for my sister a lotta years Taylor and I'm not gonna just take off on her now." Matty looked around at the bar full of his father's cronies. It hurt that Taylor was right, that Storm belonged in the crowd more then he did. Ok, so he didn't want in on the life, he had still been born into it. What was wrong with him? He was still Benny Chain's child, but for some reason he couldn't follow in the old man's footsteps. But yet his sister, were she a boy, would already be running the scene, she'd be the center of attention.

Taylor chuckled.

"You sure you been lookin out for her? Sure it doesn't happen the other way around?"

Chris and Marbles laughed at Matty's expense. Matty gave them all a dirty look.

"Storm might think she's the toughest thing goin but she's not. I mean, she sure is tough, and street smart, but her attitude that she can take on the whole world with no help tends to get her in over her head. I've had to bail her out of past situations that she thought were manageable just so she wouldn't do something stupid."

"Storm, do something stupid? Like what?" Marbles asked, leaning forward with rapt interest. He'd always been a little more then fond of Matty's sister but he kept it to himself. He and Storm were almost the same age and they'd started out as good friends in the private school that all the children of New York's notorious went to. He knew that while his feelings had grown for her, her's had not reciprocated for him. But one thing he knew about Storm by virtue of having spent so much time with her was the girl was normally coldly calculating. She didn't make mistakes.

"You know Storm, just guys runnin game and her takin exception to it. She can handle herself too well. This one guy called her baby or sweet cheeks or somethin and slapped her ass. Rude? For sure. Stupid thing to do to Benny Chain's daughter, Storm's temper or not? Hell yeah. But that serious a deal? Naw. Before anyone knew what had happened or what she was planning, Storm had a 9mm Glock pressed against the guy's temple. In public no less, she did it in the middle of a crowded club. She'd as soona shot him as look at him. I had to get her to put the gun away and get her outta there before she did something she couldn't take back."

Matty couldn't explain why he felt the need to keep, in his words, taking care of his sister but he did. Her temper was legendary, handed down to her from her father. You didn't piss off Benny Chains and the same could be said of Storm Demaret. But the world they lived in was not the one their great grandfather had ruled in the 40's. Mobsters did not have the carte blanche life they once did. The world didn't scramble to open doors for them anymore, didn't hand them everything they wanted. Hell, look at how Matty himself was fairing with getting a job. People weren't as scared to say no anymore. They had to share turf with the Russians now. It was a different world.

The police were not as easy to buy off anymore. There'd been one too many crackdowns on police corruption and the cops the Demaret's and the other 4 big families had owned were slowly being caught one by one. Matty was worried that one day his sister would do something that no one, not even their father could cover up for her. It was the one thing Matty could pick out that made her unsuitable for their father's job. She didn't have her father's ability to control her rage. Benny could make a man do what he wanted with one cold look, and then deal with the problem in private. Storm had a shoot first ask later approach that was too flashy for their life.

"Girl's a firecracker." Chris laughed, trying to lighten the suddenly somber mood. "Makes me wish she wasn't my first cousin."

"Christ Chris that's my damn sister you're talking about!" Matty groaned and slapped his cousin on the back of his head.

"I know man but I'm not dead, or blind."

"She's got a smart mouth and a bad attitude." Taylor grumbled and sat back in the booth. "But I think if you wanted to move out west and get a job in sports she'd find a way to take care of herself." Taylor knew he was trying to push Matty into moving but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to see him hurt or dead, and in Taylor's opinion those were the only two possible results of Matty following in his father's footsteps. He didn't have the nerve to do what had to be done. In Benny's world if you hesitated you were dead. It took split second reaction times and an ability to go on your gut instinct to make it in their life and Taylor just didn't see the cutthroat tendencies in Matty. "I'll keep an eye on her for you if you go."

"I will not go without my sister. End of story, end of discussion." Matty growled and sat back in his seat also.

"And none of this explains how I'm gonna get my shot." Marbles grinned. "I need a hookup Matty."

"You shoulda asked Storm. She's the old man's favorite anyway, not me." Matty sighed.

"Yeah, but Benny sees her as Daddy's little girl. I doubt he'd appreciate her asking him to give me a job. He'd just be pissed at me for bringing her into the situation in any circumstances."

"You're right. You know, I almost wish he would take her in, let her step up." Matty mused. His friends gave he shocked looks. He continued. "If it got out that Benny was bringing his daughter in then it could get out his son was out all together. Storm wants it more then anything and she could learn to be good at it. Everyone thinks that I'm working for the old man when I'm not and I don't have much of a head for the business anyway."

"He'll never take her on Matty. Don't be stupid." Taylor shot down the thought. "And well he shouldn't. She's got no place in this world. It's no place for a woman. Sure she talks a good game, and she plays a good game too and it all looks impressive. But when it comes down to it she's not strong enough and not mentally capable of handling the life."

"Don't let her hear you say that." Chris thought of the fight that would be occurring if Storm had heard Taylor put down the female sex, and Storm in particular in that manner. She didn't tend to observe the traditional female and male roles and Chris knew she'd think nothing of going toe to toe with Taylor. The thing he didn't know was if Taylor would let her run her game, or smack her down a few, either literally or figuratively.

"I think Stormianna could surprise you and most of the guys who think like you." Matty contradicted Taylor immediately. "I'm not saying I really want her in because I don't want to think of her getting hurt or going to prison, but don't kid yourself Taylor. Woman or no, Storm has what it takes. But Dad likely never will see it just because of what you said. She should already be married to a nice Italian boy." Matty mocked his father. "A few kids'll settle her down. I should find her someone from the old country to marry. Someone who can control her, keep her occupied."

"She still drive around in that crazy ass car?" Marbles asked, remembering Storm's favorite pastime. Namely her imported car and tuning it for extreme speeds.

"Yeah, damn thing has a name. It's like her boyfriend or somthin." Matty grinned, thinking about his sister and how much she loved her 'crazy ass car'. "Dad hates the thing because he caught her racin it downtown a few months ago. I still don't know how she got the money to buy it and I don't know if I wanna know. The old man swears up and down that he didn't give it to her. He doesn't understand why her Cadillac hasn't moved since she got it."

"Crazy ass car? Racin in the streets?" Taylor looked at Matty. "Your sister is one of those idiot kids who set up races in the streets?"

"Yeah. She's pretty good at it from what I understand. Dad hates it though. Storm doesn't have a lot of hobbies and we can't make her give this one up. Of course no one tells Storm anything if she doesn't want to hear it anyway."

"You and your dad let that girl get away with too much." Taylor shared his opinion and started to regret his rash decision to go with Storm. He had no doubt her meeting to 'go for a drive' would turn into one of these organized street races Matty had just said she participated in.

Taylor had no problem with driving fast when the situation called for it. He just didn't think a person should go out and do it on purpose for the sole reason of driving fast. He preferred a vehicle that would keep him safe in an accident and damn the people in the other cars. His van had seen him through a lot of situations and he didn't care too much about how fast it could go as long as it started and had a place to hide his crowbar and gun.

"She's sneaky about it. Hard to stop her under the best circumstances, let alone when you have no idea what she's up to." Matty laughed. He loved his sister's confidence and ability to do what she wanted; no matter who thought she couldn't or shouldn't do it. But as much as he loved that about her he worried about how much trouble it could get her into too.

There was a general noise around the door to the bar and the four guys looked up to watch Teddy walk into the club. People went right over to greet him. After saying hello to several people he knew he went and sat down with Matty and his friends. They talked a while. Teddy shook Taylor's hand. Teddy went over to the bar and slapped some backs. A few of the men made motions like they were on the phone and laughed in Matty's direction.

"That's all I'll ever be to those guys you know? Matty Dimes, Matty Phone calls, that's all I'll ever be." Matty looked very sad. He didn't care about working with his dad or not at that moment. He just wanted some respect for once. To be treated like an adult instead of a scared little boy.

"Never mind those guys." Taylor reassured Matty, as his uncle motioned him from the bar subtly.

"'Scuse me. I'll see ya later." Matty told his friends and walked over to his uncle.

"Teddy Deserve. That guy gets kissed more then the mezuzah." Taylor chuckled, talking to Chris and Marbles.

"Someday you'll be walking in here with Teddy." Chris told Taylor, almost sounding envious. His old man's legal troubles had put a period to their time in the world of organized crime. Chris knew if his father got caught one more time it was life in jail for him, but the life of running a restaurant didn't really appeal.

"No. He'll use me when it suits him and he knows I'll do the work. But my mother's a Jew and you know what that means to them." Taylor made a dismissive gesture and took a drink.

He knew he'd never be good enough for Benny and Teddy to promote higher then the errand boy and general tough guy he was to them right now. To become a made man, a wise guy, a real player in the game you had to be able to trace your heritage back to the old country for five generations. You had to show you were of pure Italian blood. Sicilian blood. Taylor knew quite well he wasn't and nothing could change that. Hell, he had no desire to. He was proud of his heritage. But it meant that he'd never run on a crew, run a crew. He'd always be on the outside, with guys like Matty or Chris who liked him being his line to the inside. Always an employee, never a boss.

But he wouldn't change his heritage for anything. He was so proud of it he'd gotten a Star of David tattoo on his left bicep. A move that, according to his own religious beliefs was forbidden. While it was only a myth it would keep him out of a Jewish burial it was true to be buried with it in a Jewish cemetery they would all assume he repented for defiling his body the way he had. He never would. He wasn't sorry he was so proud of where he'd come from and if he ended up buried in the section of the cemetery with the other people who'd refused to repent then so be it. He didn't plan on going there for a long time anyway. His heritage was both his blessing and his curse. He was who he was, and he wouldn't change that. But it would have been nice to know that someday he could be higher in the organization then hired tough guy. And it was because of his Jewish heritage that Taylor knew his boss's wouldn't see him as good enough for his date tonight.

Taylor knew exactly what Benny and Teddy for that matter, would have to say about him taking Storm out too. They'd hate it. They would expect her to date a boy who could trace his heritage back as far as she could. For all the modern ideas and changes the years had made to the sociological structure of the mob a lot of their ideas were distinctly old fashioned. He wondered if that wasn't what was behind his desire to take her out more then any real interest in her.

He meant what he told Matty and the other guys. He did find her too outspoken and spoiled. She was raised in privilege, with every opportunity and she did sometimes act like the spoiled child she was. She could also be fun and she was pretty in a dark, very fit sort of way. He figured he'd know if they had anything in common after she picked him up in a few minutes. On that thought Taylor stood up. All of a sudden he didn't want Storm's family to know they were going out together. It was going to be more of a headache then he wanted to face. The sly glances and smirking smiles from Chris and Marbles and the anger from Teddy, not to mention he wasn't sure what to expect from Matty. One thing he knew was Matty would never in his life think Taylor wasn't good enough to date his sister. On that front Matty would give his whole hearted blessing. However Taylor didn't have a great track record for the longevity or faithfulness of his relationships and Matty knew all about it. Taylor knew Matty's concern would stem from a desire to protect his sister from hurt, not from any idea's she was too far above Taylor. So Taylor thought it would be best if he met Storm out front, away from the eyes of their associates.

Even as he started to slide out of the booth the front door of the club opened and Storm stepped in. He watched her pause just inside the door, noted her self-assured air. She didn't belong in the bar; it was a club for the men of her father's world to wind down and talk shop and she'd never been accepted into that world or the society. But just because of how she carried herself, how she walked in like she owned the place, not her father, no one would dare say anything to her about not belonging. She got away with so much just based on her 'I'm a Demaret and Benny Chains is my father so bow before me' attitude. It was that exact attitude that made her both so infuriating to him and so very intriguing. Being with her was like catching a tiger by the tail. The only question in this case was would he be mauled by her, or could he make the cat purr?

Storm looked around the smoky room, noting her father's friends and her Uncle Teddy leading her brother out the back door. Not good, she thought. She couldn't think of a single thing that her brother and uncle would need to talk about outside other then Matty's involvement with one of Teddy's schemes. Her green gaze slid slowly around the room as she walked farther into it, being stopped here and there along the way as people said hello to her and told her to carry their well wishes to her father. She replied to them all with courtesy but tried to keep moving. She was scanning for Taylor.

Taylor watched her walk into the better lit section of the bar, watched her tuck a chunk of hair behind her ear as she straightened her black hooded sweatshirt across her shoulders and twitched her pants to fall over the top of one of her boots. She didn't look like she was dressed for a night out, she looked ready to go for a jog or home to bed. Another of her father's friends stopped her to chat. She talked for a brief moment before moving farther into the room. Her eyes finally stopped on her cousin and Taylor. She walked their way with purpose. Taylor felt that piercing gaze all the way to his toes. How did she look at him like she knew all his sins in one glance?

"Hey boys. How's it goin?" Storm stood looking at the three of them with her hands on her hips.

"You not worried about what your dad would say if he caught you in here?" Chris asked, smiling. He knew just what Taylor did. She didn't belong and her dad wouldn't be happy with her for her presence. But her dad was no where to be found at this moment. Not to mention that Matty seemed to have been born with his own fear of his father plus Storm's share too. No one had ever gotten away with talking to Benny the way Storm could. And she never had the slightest qualm about it either.

"Naw, he wouldn't be happy 'bout it but he'd deal." Storm returned his smile. "He gave up on making me act like a lady a long time ago."

"You look like a frumpy old lady in that getup." Marbles laughed at his childhood pal. Storm struck a pose.

"You don't think I look hot? I thought this baggy sweater did great things for my figure!"

"Think again." Marbles laughed, playing along.

"I got somethin for later, don't worry 'bout it. I do know better then to show up in here in an outfit that'll send them all runnin to my dad goin 'You daughter was at Pizzo's last night and dressed like a streetwalka at that!' These guys grew up in an era where girls dressed way different then they do today. You don't grow up in Benny's house without learnin a few things about getting out of the house in one piece. You think Matty's bad about my outfits!" Storm shook her head and sat down on a chair which she turned backwards and straddled. "You boys got plans tonight?" Storm was starting to have doubts about taking Taylor around her friends. He wouldn't like them and he wouldn't fit in. She was half hoping he would have decided to stay with the boys.

"Not really. Me'n Chris thought we might head down around that club Overdrive later. What about you Taylor?" Marbles looked at the bigger man.

"I got stuff to do." Taylor said in his normal growl.

"Where's Matty?" Storm asked, trying to pump them for information on why her brother went with Teddy without them knowing it.

"He left with Teddy." Chris replied. Storm internalized her groan. She wanted to shout that she knew that much, she really needed to know what Teddy had wanted.

"With Teddy? What did Teddy want with Matty?" She asked, forcing a confused look to cloud her eyes.

"You know Teddy, he didn't really let us in on anything, just called Matty out with him." Chris never knew what to believe about his cousin. She was good at play acting and hiding her true thoughts. He figured her being confused was one of those acts but he couldn't prove it so he kept his thoughts to himself.

"Well, I just stopped in to see what you boys were up to. I really should head out. Catch you all later." Storm stood up and headed to the door. Taylor stood up and looked at the two men still seated at the table.

"I should be goin too." Taylor slid out of the booth.

"Yeah. I bet you should be goin." Chris smirked. "Ya lucky bastard. She ain't your cousin."

"I got my own shit to take care of. This ain't got nothin to do with her." Taylor protested and turned to walk away. He sauntered out of the bar.

"You buy that Taylor, our Taylor, isn't chasin Storm Demaret outta here like a dog after a bitch?" Chris asked, a sly smirk on his face.

"He does say she drives him nuts." Marbles told Chris as they watched Taylor walk out of the bar.

"That's what he says, but that's not what his eyes say when he looks at her." Chris was still smirking. "And I don't imagine Matty's gonna like it much. That girl could chew up half the guys in New York and Matty still looks out for her like she's a little girl in Catholic school that he has to protect from all the lecherous men in the world."

"Matty's figured that she had a crush on Taylor for forever. I doubt he'll be surprised." Marbles looked at Chris thoughtfully. "How are they ever gonna get along if Storm thinks she should be stepping into her father's place and Taylor thinks she should just accept that her place as a woman is in the home and kitchen and forget all about where her father's money comes from?"

"I don't think Taylor's in any relationship for the long haul Marbles. He'll never stick around long enough for it to matter."

"How's he gonna just sleep with Matty's sister and then never call her? Don't you think she'd tell Matty? And Taylor is Matty's best friend. I don't think Taylor will do anything that will come between his friendship with Matty. And doin the old hump'n dump to Matty's little sister would end that friendship. And if Matty told his dad, it would likely end Taylor's life. I mean, I bet both Benny and Teddy think their little Storm is New York's oldest virgin."

"I don't think this thing with her and Taylor will ever get that far." Chris brushed off Marble's worries. "They'll realize they have nothing in common and break it off long before it ever goes that far."

"I hope so. I don't want to see the end of our crew come about because Taylor couldn't keep it in his pants over Matty's sister."

Marbles and Chris left to go to the club they'd talked about earlier to finish out thier evening.