I went back to bed after the conversation with Rafael. Jace crawled in next to me and I slept until that afternoon when Rafael said he was sending in his man to inform the gang on Valentine's demise. I go back to sleep until I hear a knock downstairs. I go and crouch behind a wall on the stairs and listen in on Rafael and someone else's conversation. "wassup man" the dark-haired guy says "nothing much man hows it been going" Rafael asks "not too good. actually, that's why im here" the guys says "what's going on" asks Rafael. "Valentine and Jonathan were reported dead this afternoon and we were told this was were the next in line would be," the guy says "oh man that sucks but yeah shes upstairs. um, she doesn't know a lot about this do you mind if I go get her" Rafael says. after that, I dart up the stairs and sit on the landing. rafael and the other guy are in front of me. im kind of embarrassed because of the fact that im only in an old gray wife beater and my underwear. "hey clary" the dark-haired guy says. I recognize him now that he's not out of the dark doorway. "hey Jordan" I respond "listen clary Jordan is going to take you to talk to the gang that your dad ran" he says "you can trust this guy stick with him and you'll be fine" Rafael says "why you instead of the others" I ask Jordan "I never really liked your dad or your brother. no offense" he says "don't worry I didn't like them either" I tell him. " I kind of figured you wouldn't," he says. "we have to hurry so can you run upstairs and put some pants on. don't put on the usual gaming t-shirt. nobody respects a nerd" he teases "but for real id just stick with the wife beater. that and the tattoos look pretty badass," he says "oh and brings a gun" he adds. I grin and run upstairs to put on some skinny jeans and my combat boots. I tuck the gun into the waistband of my jeans and feel the cool metal against my back. I go back downstairs and walk with Jordan out to his bike. he tells me to get on and neither of us bothers with helmets. he takes off and eventually we end up at a warehouse. we go inside and all eyes are on me. "hold on. this four-foot redhead is supposed to run the gang" says a voice that's easy to recognize. "I may be short but my Harley is still bigger than yours," I say to the dark head of hair. "I bet mine runs faster though," he says "I proved it didn't even after I wrecked mine" I laugh "come here red. give the old bat a hug" the man says and wraps his big arms around me. "now it would have been lovely to know that you were valentines daughter before I went and lost $200" he says. "well i think if I can make two hundred bucks off of a dumbass I don't have to tell him anything" I laugh "well I'd love to talk about my losing streak but we have business" he says. "alright what's going down?" I ask the crowd of people. I know a lot of them but a few of them are new faces. "well I think you have been informed you are the new leader so we need to get you filled in and then discuss what we need to do next in certain areas" says an old friend of mine called freaky Pete. "alright lets get started". jordan sits me down at the head of the table and stands behind my right shoulder. rafael told me that means that he is kind of like my bodyguard. "well we were working on bringing in a gun shipment before valentine passed but we still don't know where we need to meet up. the last spot got compromised by another gang located there. and we lost a man so we need to pick a new one" said Pangborn. "where are they bringing it in from?" I ask "going by water from Maine," bat says. "where was the original place?" I ask "in Massachusetts," Pete says." where does this other gang pick up?" I ask "New Hampshire," Jordan says "so why don't we try the docks in Rhode Island. it's a little closer to home and it's out of state for them" I suggest "we would have to take back roads obviously but its still a shorter ride and there aren't any big gangs around the docks" bat says "why didn't we make her our leader sooner" says a guy I don't know. "ok so now we need to talk about how we are going to deal with Hodge" says Pangborn "why do we need to deal this guy" I ask "he is the one who tipped off the other gang and shot brother Jeremiah" bat says "if he killed one of our own shouldn't we give him the same punishment?" I ask "we plan on that but we can't get some important information out of him," says Pete "whats the information?" I ask "this gang is planning an attack but we don't know when or where," says another guy I don't know "are there any important things going on right now. a specific shipment. a party" "yea we have a few that's why we can't just guess when it will be" Jordan says "where is he?" I ask "downstairs" bat says "Jordan let me talk to him," I say. the men start grinning and Jordan leads me downstairs. we walk into a dirty cement room and I see the man in question tied to a chair. "so it doesn't look like you've got him to bad off. have you tried threatening his life?" I ask. I don't know why I am willing to do what im about to do but I feel a need to protect these people and the others who affiliate with the gang so im willing to put a cap in his ass. "we wanted to go easy considering he was one of us" he said "well the key word there is 'was'" I tell him. "Hodge right?" I ask. the man looks at me with hatred. his eye is black and his face is bloody. "so im going to give you one chance to tell me when and where this attack is going down and then im going to put a bullet in your head" I tell him "oh baby. no sweet little thing like yourself could handle a gun" he says. for some reason, I get very angry about this. I laugh at his statement then pull out my pistol and shoot his right shoulder. he screams in pain. I grin trying to scare him. "now one more chance and then I'll show you what a sweet little thing like me will do to a little man like you," I say crouching down in front of him and putting the barrel of my gun on his manhood "oh look mines bigger than yours" I say with an evil grin as a show off my gun then put it back in its position "fine. the anniversary party at the gang's community home. it's in two weeks" he says. "what time?" I demand "10 pm," he says. "how many men are coming?" I ask "7" I grin "good boy," I say "you want to take care of this mess Jordan?" I ask wickedly "my pleasure," he says. "ok im going to go let everyone know and figure out how to handle it. have fun" I say and strut back upstairs. "the attack was planned to go down at the anniversary party in two weeks at the community home," I tell them "what time?" asks bat "10 pm," I say, "I think we should move the party to a different location and send a few men out to handle the attack" I say "how?" asks Pangborn. "10 men all armed wait inside. make it seems like we are having the party and be waiting for them" I say "how do we know we won't be outnumbered" asks bat "they are sending in seven men" I say "what about clean up?" asks Pete. "do we not have people for that?" I ask "we did until Rafael left," Jordan says as he walks back to his position behind me "I'll see what I can do. if worst comes to worst we will have to clean up ourselves," I say "we don't know how" bat says "I do" I tell him. "my father didn't teach you guys to shit" I laugh. "he taught us a few things but you are right he didn't teach us some of the important shit" Pete says "what did he teach you?" I ask "he taught me how to shoot," bat says "taught me how to ride a Harley," Jordan says "taught me how to fight," Pete says "im not going to say what he taught me," said uncle Malachi "I am too old for your father to teach me anything" says a voice I have not heard in years. "grandpa?" I ask. (her mother's father) "how you been, baby girl?" he asks stretching his arms out for a hug. I hesitate for a moment looking at his pants. he looks down and notices what im looking at. he pulls a gun from his waistband and tosses it on the table. "sorry about that" he says. I run up and hug him and I instantly feel closer to home. "I heard about Valentine and I came down here to check on you," he says. "your grandpa Oskar and I always said you would end up being the leader of this pack of animals," he says with a laugh. everyone laughs along. "she's doing a damn good job so far," says uncle Malachi. "well why don't you guys take a break from the big stuff and let me talk to my only granddaughter?" asks my grandpa "we all need a beer anyway" says bat "no all of you need to figure out how you became a four-foot redheads, little bitch" says Jordan with a laugh "says her new lap dog" says Pete with a grin "actually he's her guard dog" says bat chuckling. "at least im not a bitch" Jordan says with a laugh. they all head to the bar room and grandpa and I follow. I grab us both a beer and we talk about the updates on our lives "so your mother told me that she heard from a friend that Valentine and Jonathan were hurting you" says grandpa "what did they do to you Clarrissa?" he asks "I go by clary now" I say trying to change the subject "I like that. but quit trying to change the subject" he says. I sigh in annoyance. "Valentine got violent after mom left. jonathan was just" I sip my beer not wanting to talk about Jonathan. "what did he do clary" my grandpa pushes "he hurt me in ways that id prefer not to talk about with his grandfather," I say "clary," he says sternly "he raped me," I say slightly lower than my normal voice. I sip my beer and stare at the wall. "when?" asked my grandpa "it depends which time you are talking about" I say giving him the hint that it happened more than once. "how long was this going on for?" he asks "a few years" I admit. "why didn't you come to me?" he asks "I tried once but then grandpa Oskar got sick and I needed to help take care of him plus Jonathan hadn't started in on it yet" I say "im sorry I didn't help you" he says "you didn't know. no one knew until a few months ago" I tell him. "who all knows?" he asks "Rafael, my close friends, and my boyfriend" I tell him "boyfriend?" he questions "yep" I say popping the 'p' "can I meet him?" he asks. "maybe. how long are you going to be in town?" I ask. " I leave tomorrow afternoon" he answers. "well why don't you follow me home tonight and ill introduce you" I suggest "yea that'ed be great," he says. we finish our beers and sit back down at the long wooden table in the meeting room. "so what else is happening?" I ask. "we need you to bring something for the party" bat says. "any suggestions?" I ask. "booze," everyone says in unison. I laugh "well this is gonna be fun. is that everything" I ask they all nod. "alright then" I get up from the chair but I am immediately sat back down by Jordan. I see my grandpa grinning "bang the hammer" bat says with a wicked grin. I pick it up and bang it firmly on the table with a grin. they all hoop and holler and then we all head home after saying goodbyes. grandpa follows me to the bar and as we enter the VIP area after making it through the crowded floor everyone looks completely confused "Everyone, meet grandpa" I say knowing damn well this is going to scare the shit out of them.