Brother's Keeper: Ch. 15
By: The Confused One
A/N: I know it's been forever since I've updated, and I'm very sorry. I have no excuse besides the fact that I'm not the least bit organized or focused. LOL I need to discipline myself. I know. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Please enjoy and remember to review. Thanks.
Ken Harrison had come in early. Something just felt wrong, and he wanted answers about his partner. Taking advantage of the quiet, he grabbed a cup of coffee and grabbed the phone. He called the records room and had Dillon Mullen's file sent up.
Ken waited a little impatiently, but the file finally arrived, and he began looking through it. So far there was nothing, but he wasn't about to give up. He sighed softly and closed it when Dillon walked in. He smiled at his partner, and placed it under some other files. "Morning."
Dillon frowned. Taking a sip of his coffee, he sighed and leaned back in his seat. "You're early…"
Ken nodded. "Thought I'd get some paperwork done." He glanced at the phone. Looking back up at Dillon, he ventured, "Did you call Atlantic City?" Dillon had promised to.
Dillon looked up and nodded. "Of course. We're just waiting for them to get back to us now." Seeing Ken nod, Dillon went back to his paperwork.
Ken tapped his pen on a file and watched Dillon for a moment. He no longer trusted him. He'd been jumpy since this case started. Something was wrong. With a sigh, he looked back down at the case file on Bobby and got back to work. He'd call Atlantic City himself when Dillon got up.
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Sitting there, trying to read, Bobby found himself glancing at Deakins. He couldn't concentrate on anything. There was too much on his mind. Too many things he was worried about. He was so distracted, any pain he was in was barely registering.
He had no idea where exactly things stood between him and Alex, and that bothered him. He knew she loved him, and he loved her. But they hadn't had a chance to talk, and they wouldn't for some time, because of the wire. She had told Deakins, Mike, and Carolyn, though. He was convinced that that meant something. It had to.
The other prevalent thought running through Bobby's head was Alex's safety. The longer she was gone, the more time he had to think. These guys weren't above attacking him, obviously. He wouldn't put it past them to go after her either. But he had insulated her enough, right? He had disinterested them enough about her, right? They wouldn't even know she existed. They wouldn't go looking for her. Surely.
Trying to dislodge those thoughts, Bobby glanced at Deakins again. He had been good about all of this, surprisingly good. Bobby sighed softly. He was grateful. Things could be so much worse. He had a lot to be grateful for. Deakins, Mike, and Carolyn were just three of them. He wasn't sure he had done anything to deserve such loyalty from his friends, but right now, he'd take it. He needed the help. These guys had to be found and stopped. Things would only escalate, if they got desperate. They were already after him.
Deakins looked up, noting how Bobby kept looking his way. Bobby's mind was obviously going a million miles a minute. Concerned, he ventured, "What's wrong, Bobby?"
Brought out of his thoughts, Bobby thought about it a moment. He finally ventured, "Eames…"
Furrowing his brow, Deakins put his magazine down. "What about her?"
Bobby glanced at the door. "Was it…a good…idea…to send her…home?"
Not following and barely understanding him, Deakins shook his head. "She's fine, Bobby. She needed some real rest."
Bobby nodded. Deakins was right. He couldn't be selfish and let his fears overrun his better judgment. Trying to push his fears aside, he tried to relax. Looking back down at the newspaper he had in his hand now, he tried to ignore the nagging feeling that something else was about to happen and about to happen to Alex.
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Reaching her bedroom, Alex was sure she was going to make it. Out of nowhere she felt a large body slam into her from her side. Hitting the ground hard, she cried out. Searing pain went up her side, but she ignored it. With a grunt, she punched her attacker hard in the face and tried to get out from under them.
Grabbing her arms, Chris pinned her down. Leaning forward, he hissed into her ear, "Stop struggling."
Ignoring him, she continuing to fight and squirm under him. "Who are you? What do you want?" She met his eyes and decided they were two of the coldest brown eyes she had ever seen. They were absolutely nothing like Bobby's. She only allowed herself a moment of fear before struggling further.
Chris struggled to keep control over her. He growled, "We just want you, so you can get our money back." They weren't planning on hurting her, much.
Alex suddenly understood exactly what was going on. Glaring daggers at Chris, Alex spat, "Like hell I am." She kneed him. Ignoring his cry of pain, she was able to wiggle out from his grasp and scrambled to her feet.
Looking down at Chris, she didn't see it coming. The only thing that registered was the blinding pain, as her head snapped to the side and she fell back against the dresser. Breathing hard she looked up and realized all three of them were there. She defiantly snarled, "You're not using me to get what you want. I'm not going to tell him to give you the money. You can just forget about using me to deliver your message."
Joey laughed a mirthless laugh. Walking over to her, he shook his head and stroked her cheek. "I don't need you to tell him anything, sweetheart. I just need you, period."
Alex turned her head away from him. A cold chill came over her as she realized what he meant. They weren't taking her anywhere without a fight. Immediately launching herself to the nightstand, she was running on adrenalin and hope that she could still reach that gun.
Joey stepped in her way and pushed her back to the dresser. He snarled, "What is it you're so desperate to get to? What were you coming for in here? Hmm?"
Alex glared daggers at him. She lamely insisted, "Nothing."
Joey slapped her. "It's not nice to lie to people." He smirked. "Let's just find out." He moved away from her and headed over to her bed.
Alex made a move to stop him again, but Chris was off the floor now. Grabbing her arm, he wrenched it behind her back. When she struggled, he shoved her to the ground. He kicked her. "That is for kneeing me." Moving to the floor, he turned her over onto her stomach. Sitting on top of her, he looked at John.
Alex grunted. Fighting against the pain she was in, Alex tried to get Chris off of her. She watched as Joey moved her mattress around. He playfully replied, "Well, there's nothing there…"
Alex's attention was immediately diverted when she saw the rope in John's hand. He handed it to Chris. Feeling the rope against her skin, Alex fought harder. Chris would have none of it. He tightened his grip as he finished tying her hands. John shook his head. "Fighting us is just going to cause you more pain."
Alex rolled her eyes and sneered, "I think I'll be the judge of that." She tried to flex her wrists, but her hands were tied tight.
Chris moved off of her. He dragged her to her feet and really took her in. "No wonder he likes you. You are a feisty one. Pretty too." He stroked her cheek.
John noted the disgusted look on Alex's face. Watching her turn her head away from Chris, he shook his head. "Leave her alone, man."
Ignoring all of them, Joey finally opened the drawer to her nightstand. His eyes lit up and he smirked. He turned to face Alex, who was watching with steely eyes. "So this is what you were trying to get to."
Alex's blood ran cold. She now had absolutely no leverage. Her hands were tied. She was outnumbered, and they had her gun. Staring him down, true fear gripped her, but she refused to show it. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. She stubbornly insisted, "He's not going to give you money for me."
Joey laughed and shook his head. He walked past her and picked up one of the fallen pictures from her dresser. "I would have to disagree on that one. You two seem pretty…cozy here. You know what he told us though? He told us you were a good fuck and nothing more. Didn't even mention that you worked together. Just slipped his mind."
Under other circumstances she would have laughed. She knew exactly why Bobby had said what he said. He was trying to protect her again. As it was, her mouth twitched into the beginnings of a smile. "Yeah, he's bad about that. Forgets the important details. Absolutely drives me crazy."
Disgusted and annoyed, Joey threw the picture down, shattering the glass. "Laugh it up while you can. You won't for long." He looked at Chris and John. "Let's go."
Alex watched Chris grin. He gripped her arm hard, sending pain through her body. She fought not to react. She stubbornly drug her feet. Hearing the gun cock behind her though, she knew she didn't have much of a choice but to do as they said.