Chapter 76

We all headed to my house, Sarah included she was in as much danger as Star. Boyd had seen her and she was a loose end, the detectives Hoyt hand sent were coming in as we were going out. They wanted her to stay but we all shook our heads saying we would bring her back but right now we needed to get to my house.

"What's going on Houston? Do you want us to send a patrol car over with you?"

I wanted to say yes but if CJ's tormentors were there and saw the police it might not be good for Momma and whomever was in the house. My mind was racing what if Uncle Roy and Chris had gotten back and had been hurt or Tiny and Star. We needed to get back to my house ASAP.

Luca said that wasn't necessary he had security there already but if we needed back up we would definitely call. We all made it to the car and I was thankful we didn't have to travel far.

We got to my place and told Sarah to stay in the car and to duck down, one of us would come back and get her. She nodded and laid down in the back seat. Something was definitely wrong it was too quiet Momma should have been here, Uncle Roy and Chris should have gotten there already and I hoped maybe the phone was offline due to the bug exterminating but looking at Luca and Popeye I was grasping at straws.

We went in to find no one there. Popeye cursed and Luca went straight to the phone wanting to call his team at the hospital and to find out what had happened to his team there. I headed to the lower floor and I was grabbed from behind.

Someone turned me and tried to punch me but I was too quick I ended up punching them and they went flying. Someone else had grabbed my arm and this one did punch me in the face.

I was knocked down but before I got a chance to get up I heard Luca coming down the stairs with Popeye following him.

"Whoa guys he's the owner of the house, that's Houston. Where the hell were you two? What the hell happened? Where's Momma?"

The two guys relaxed and the one that punched me introduced himself as Adam helped me up and apologized.

They briefed us on what they had found, Wick thinking it was better if Momma went with him just in case the intruder decided to leave a message here also. They had not removed the bugs waiting to see what Luca wanted to do. Luca filled them in on what CJ had done and grinned.

"Sounds like she's had enough of this crap. Good for her. Time for this asshole to know we are onto him and his crew."

I looked at him and asked what he meant. He said that he had spoken to the other team at CJ's and our office and said that there was too much to keep track of for one person. There had to be a team. Luca agreed as did Popeye. I wasn't happy this meant we had to be on our toes.

I looked at both of them and Luca spoke, "Way ahead of you Houston, I talked to Too Mean he's sending more people over to the hospital, we need to be vigilant, and we need to catch these guys before they do any more harm."

We all agreed we needed to circle the wagons. Luca asked them where exactly Wick and Momma were and if they had any word on Tiny and Star. They said Wick and Momma were headed to the arcade. That's where Tiny and Star were at and were waiting on information from someone named Preacher.

They didn't know that the message was meant for Star, not CJ making her vulnerable with too many people at the boardwalk.

Popeye said he was going to go get Sarah from the car and bring her inside since the house was clear.

Luca's guys looked puzzled.

"Luca you forgot an important piece to the puzzle and why we need to get to Star now."

Adam looked at me and to Luca, "Why? What's going on Boss?"

Luca filled his team in on how this message was not for CJ but for Star. That Boyd had been harassing her and the other girls at the Bar and how he wished he had known so he would have done more damage to him the day before.

To say they were not happy was putting it mildly. To find out that Sarah had been in the middle of all that and if how close she was to being harmed by Boyd did not sit well with them. They took the threat seriously to the point that they wanted to personally go out and hunt Boyd down. It seemed everyone had a soft spot for the teen and the staff at the bar. This made me feel better knowing she had Tiny, Beast and Wick with her. Boyd would be a fool to try anything with both of the men with her.

I agreed with them saying it was time to put that animal down. Popeye yelled out saying he had first dibs since he had been harassing his female staff and he owed them that.

"You're welcomed to him, I don't want any part of him. I hate to say it but he scared me and now that I'm on his radar too..."

Popeye pulled her into his arms and murmured to her that she was safe and he wouldn't get a second chance to harm her.

Both of Luca's guys said whoever got to him first would be the lucky one.

I reassured Sarah that we would keep her safe and she could stay at my house till he was caught. She looked around and said she couldn't stay that she'd go with friends she protested and I shook my head.

"Nope you are stuck with us and if we are all in the same place it will be easier to protect all of you."

She accepted but said she had to go get a few things. We said we'd take her after we went and brought Star and Momma back home.

I checked my watch. Tiny knew we'd be back around this time. They should have been back already. Tiny said that he would only go to places he deemed safe but they were not privy to this new information and I said we needed to go find them. Popeye agreed.

Luca looked torn and spoke up, "Sorry, I need to go back to the hospital I know my girl said she wait for me to come back and take her to her clinic and I don't want her to go alone and from what I've seen the woman can be a handful so do you think you two can handle this here?"

I said he'd better get going. I knew Doc was not a patient person and the clinic was her baby. She had been gone too long and I said he should call the hospital and find Will to see if she had decided to go ahead without him.

"Are you serious Houston? I told that woman to stay put and…" He rushed upstairs to the phone.

Popeye and Sarah started to chuckle and he shook his head as Luca's team looked puzzled.

"Ah Popeye, how about filling us in on what woman he is talking about?"

He smiled and filled them in on Luca's soon to be fiancé, they had a million questions and I Popeye pointed at me and I tried to answer what I could. I added that she was a doctor and he had his work cut out for him.

Sarah added that she was way to pretty for him and he better be on his best behavior, Doc was not going to put up with his shenanigans.

We went upstairs. Luca was rolling his eyes and telling Carol to not leave the hospital he would be there in 10 minutes and to not leave without one of his guys around. He growled and said it louder. He looked at the phone.

"She hung up on me, my soon to be ex fiancé hung up on me, what is so wrong about caring that she is safe? I swear that woman must have been holding the door when God gave out common sense!"

I whispered to Popeye and Sarah, that it was only day 2 and did he think they'd last the week. They laughed and Luca pointed at us and mumbled, not funny.

Adam got Luca's attention and said they'd deactivate the bugs and try to find out any information on them. They asked if I wanted them to install cameras since they had the equipment in their van already. I nodded yes and thanked them. They said they should be done by the end of the day and where I want the command center to be. I showed them the spare room that would be perfect for monitoring. I showed Sarah around and told her she was welcomed to anything in the fridge and if she wanted to sleep the couch was fine or any of the bedrooms upstairs she could use. She walked around and was in awe and said if I lived her alone and I nodded. It was something I took for granted but seeing how she looked around the same way Star did made me be thankful for what I had and I promised myself that I'd help Sarah out with anything she might need.

She opened the fridge and grabbed a coke and said she might make herself some breakfast if that was okay and I nodded.

Popeye hugged her and reminded her to stay inside and not to leave. She agreed.

We started to head out. When we got outside Too Mean showed up with two other guys.

"Hey Houston, what's going on? Did they find any bugs here?" I briefed him on what was found and the other developments with Star. Luca said he'd have to go not wanting to further upset his future bride.

Too Mean said he was coming with us. He sent his two guys with Luca just in case and I agreed. CJ needed to be protected, and with Too Mean coming along with us it should be enough manpower to intimidate anyone wanting to harm Star.

"Alright, please keep a close eye on CJ and Jake. Tell CJ to call me. I will be telling her what's going on. We can't keep her in the dark or I'll be in the dog house with Luca. Oh and I'll be there later this afternoon. I have the interview for the media and I'm sure Hoyt will have it set up by the time I get there."

They left to go to the hospital and we headed to the Boardwalk. We decided to walk, just in case we came upon them, that is what I was wishing for. I needed to make sure Star was safe. CJ would never forgive me if something happened to her.

I started to walk faster wanting to get to the arcade.

"She's in good hands Houston. Tiny would die before letting anything happen to Star as would Wick. Boyd is not in the same league as either of them but I'm not too happy about hearing Preacher is with them"

I looked at him, "Whose Preacher? And why aren't you happy about this? Is he a threat? Dammit Popeye why would Tiny allow this."

He rolled his eyes, "I guarantee it wasn't Tiny's doing, like I told you before these women are out to kill me."

I smiled saying I felt the same.

"If I knew Star she sought him out. He's like the leader of this makeshift band of guys and girls that watch out for each other. They are all older than her in their twenties. He calls her little sister. When Star ran away he kept an eye out for her. Showing her the ropes and just making sure she had somewhere to sleep and food to eat. When she started to hang by the Bar and I found out they had left her behind during a snatch and grab. She was sent to Juvie and back to her Stepfather. That's when Momma found her. I got wind of it and was about to rearrange Preacher's face. But I found out that he wasn't a part of it and when he found out what his crew had done he banned those that participated in her getting caught. I Went to talk to him myself, he's arrogant and too cocky for his own good but he does have a soft spot for her. Doesn't mean I didn't set him straight, he got the picture. I just don't like those that he hangs with."

I wanted to see who this guy was. If Popeye had reservations regarding this guy then I wanted to be there to protect Star and the rest of our family.

"We have to tighten the reins on everyone. We can't let our guard down. I wouldn't wish what CJ went through on anyone. Having to witness that still haunts me. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing she is still here with me and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. I know we haven't known each other for very long but I think we are the same type of person. Family is important as is justice. We will get justice for everyone involved. We started this fight and we won't stop till we find everyone responsible. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what Adam said back at my house. I feel like we are playing catch up and I don't want to feel like this any longer."

Popeye looked at me as we continued down the boardwalk.

"You're right we are the same and are fiercely protective of our families. Just because we don't share the same family tree doesn't make us any less family. Yeah we started on the wrong foot and I never miss a chance to save a damsel in distress. We will see this through Houston. Together."

"I'm going to tell CJ you called her a damsel in distress. She's far from it, she's the bravest person I know. You should never underestimate her, she will surprise you 9 out of 10 times."

He groaned, "Please don't tell her she nearly ate me alive last time I got in her face don't you remember, or do you want my hide to get chewed. You're not playing fair Houston but I will remember this."

"I told you she's my girl and you're a day late and a dollar short."

We were at the café and I heard a bark. I turned to see Beast with Momma and a guy that looked ex-military. He had to be Luca's guy and another guy that kept scanning the area and talking to Luca's guy but no Star or Tiny.

I motioned to Popeye and he looked over, "Thank God they are safe. That's Wick Houston, the guy next to him is Preacher and the group of guys at the other table is his crew. What the heck are they doing here? And where's Star and Tiny?"

We started towards them. The Beast from Hell started to growl and Popeye tensed up. I was about to say something when we heard someone yell to get down.

Everything happened quickly.

The terror on Momma's face had me and Popeye running towards them. Gunshots rang out and screaming was all I heard. People started to run for cover making it hard for us to see where the shots came from. We heard more popping this time behind us. Popeye grabbed me and pushed me down.

"No! We need to get to them."

"We are not going to be any good to them if we are dead, stay down."

He pulled out his gun as I did the same. We moved to the fence by the café and people were still trying to jump down to the beach from the pier to get to safety.

I looked over to where I last saw them and the scene around us was pure pandemonium. I heard barking then a sharp yelp that was Beast and then a bone chilling scream. It was Star.

More gunshots were fired and then someone yelled. "Star run!"

That was the last I heard before ducking down and hoping this day would not end in tragedy.