Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owner's, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

*Warning Rated M for Bad language (This chapter has a lot of swearing,) and Violence.

Thanks to all PM's and reviews. And once again I'm sorry Guest reviewer, but please know I do love reading what you have to say.

Previously

"If there is still one Russian out there, he would need medical assistance. The girl shot them all. I saw blood." Sam stated putting us back on the subject we should be discussing.

"We need to get more information," I looked back up to Teaspoon, who gave me a nod of approval. "We'll start by finding out who we have on the force tonight and get some solid information on the dead."

"I will head to the hotel and check on the girls. I want you all there at…" Teaspoon glanced at his watch, "One o'clock. Should be long enough to learn something,"

Cody took his leave then and left the room. I said goodbye to Sam and gave 'T' a curt nod before leaving also.

.

.

.

"Does this have anything to do with your new gun source?"

I was about to answer Teaspoon when my phone started vibrating loudly in my pocket, and once again I pressed ignore.

"I can't rule it out 'T'." I told him honestly, as you can't trust anyone in this business, "But I was assured that there was no Irish connection before I even addressed him. If Jed is doing dealings with the Pikes though, it's a sure thing that guns are involved." It was common knowledge that the Irish only really dabbled in artillery. They were useless with drugs and pussy, so they made guns their sole income and it was a good income at that.

"I was under the assumption that you had already done dealings with this new guy. Am I wrong in thinking that?" Fuck Teaspoon was on it today. I had to be very careful how I worded everything.

"I assure you Teaspoon it was still at the negotiation stages. Cody and I were heading down to see him after the wedding to test the merchandise before any deal was made."

"Where does…"

Teaspoon stopped as once again the sound of my phone sounded out. "Just answer the fucking thing." Teaspoon snapped.

Sighing I grabbed the phone from my pocket not happy.

"What?" I roared, already knowing who it was, as he had been ringing me all god damn morning.

I walked out of the room just fucking knowing that this was not going to be a conversation Teaspoon needed to hear.

"They're killing me Jimmy. I swear to fucking God .Killing. Me." Jake hissed into the phone.

"I don't give a flying fuck if they are killing you. You've been given an order and I expect you to fucking full fill it."

"I'm sitting in a hair salon. A hair salon Jimmy, I didn't sign up for this shit."

"Yeah ya' did. You were sworn in after you took an oath, that clearly stated that you were to protect and respect Teaspoon's family. They are his family. So shut the fuck up and do your job otherwise you will be assigned to the honeymoon as well. Sit back and keep them Eagle eyes open and that fucking mouth shut." My heart was pounding in my chest, "The next time you ring me it better be important."

I hung up and placed my phone back in my pocket, trying to calm my breathing before I faced Teaspoon again.

After a night with no sleep and talking to all we could get in touch with, my patience was wearing thin. I needed a sleep, a drink and a shower.

After I left the hospital last night we had found out that Jed had been seen conversing with the Pike brothers who were notorious Gun runners, who somehow were connected to Curly.

But as we started processing that information, Ike rung confirming that the dead Russian's were Alex Vagin, underboss to Demetri Yankov, men.

If he was sniffing around we were all in deep shit.

The door opened to the room where I had left Teaspoon, he had his detail close by, so obviously he was readying to leave.

"Son I have asked Buck and Ike to track Jed and his crew. With him being Kid's brother I need something concrete before we move on this."

I gave him a nod. "What about Lou?" I asked, "Do you think we need to talk with her about the wedding? I don't like that half the country know, when and where it's going to take place. It's too risky with the Russian's sniffing around."

"I agree Jimmy, but you know Lou won't." Teaspoon sighed. "I have men at the house and at Sam's. They're going through it with a fine tooth comb, if everything comes up crystal, we will be back in there tonight. Come by and we'll sit down and see what we can come up with."

"Can't wait," I said with sarcasm. I knew and Teaspoon knew that Lou won't budge, she was getting married when she wanted, be damned with everything else going on.

"Cody still in Chicago?"

"Yeah, should be back later tonight." I told him.

"Right, I'll see you tonight."

Teaspoon wrapped his arms around me and I him. With a pat on the back he left with his detail around him.

Walking back into the room I looked to Buck and Ike seeing they were both on the phone organising their crews into shifts to follow Jed and his men.

I pulled my phone back out of my pocket and sent a quick text to Kid to see how he was holding up. He was to bury two men from his crew tomorrow and with the news of Jed, I was worried where his mind was at.

Kid was hot headed at the best of times. I knew that all this drama plus the wedding was going to take its toll somewhere down the line.

*All good* He text back.

For the next hour I talked with Buck and Ike asking for ideas about the wedding, and possible solutions. I needed to have a plan before I even looked at talking with Lou.

After they left I had a lot of shit to organise with the club. I regretted even mentioning to the girls and Garrett that I would fix the place up. With the shit storm around me I didn't need to take on another project.

Another two hours I spent making calls and emails before I finally got to have a shower, grab a drink and hit the hay.

.

.

.

It had been near on a week since we were hit, and Sam's accident. In three days Louise and Kid were to be married. I was right Louise would not budge when it came to making changes to her big day. But Teaspoon, for the first time in Lou's life, put his foot down.

And all she had to do was look into his eyes and see the concern they held. So thankfully she let us change a couple of things without postponing the whole thing.

In that time we had found enough proof that Jed was tied up with the Irish. Why the Irish had any beef with us was still beyond me at this stage.

And even though we know that it was them that attacked us along with the Russians, we were no closer to pinning anything on the Pike brothers or their crew for it. We knew for sure that the dead were associates to the Pike's, hell Curly being one of them, but there was no actual proof that they were affiliated. We can't act on anything without the facts to back us up.

What pissed me off, more than not being able to link Pike's to the dead son of a bitches, was that they had the audacity to put the blame on us for the Russians being hot on our asses.

Thing was, and it wasn't a good thing, we hadn't heard anything from the Russians. If they were being this quiet after losing two of their men, and maybe a hurt Underboss, it meant that they were brewing a hell of a shit storm.

Teaspoon hadn't moved on Jed yet, but I knew he would do something sooner than later. If word got out on the street that Teaspoon was pussy footing it with Jed, then we would have others thinking it was ok to screw us over.

I approached 'T' asking if he wanted me to handle it, but he insisted that it was something he had to do. So I just left it at that.

Sam and Teaspoon had put more men on Emma and Louise, and for once they both didn't put up a fight. I think they were just as sick of Eagle as he was with them. Over the last week both parties had done my head in with the constant nagging and bitching. I was kind of glad that Teaspoon changed their security detail.

I did speak with Cody about my concerns. Jake had a lot to learn before he moved up in our world. And the biggest thing was respect.

Respect went a long way, and for Jake to moan and bitch the way he did showed he has no respect what so ever.

Emma was still shaken up from the other night, understandably so, but she refused to leave the house and had a hard time allowing Sam to.

Sam was the opposite, he was angry. He was after blood. Sam was not a violent man but being attacked has sparked something inside of him and he wants in on it all.

I talked to 'T', not sure if having Sam in on anything was a good idea, but to my surprise he agreed Sam had to be part of all the decisions concerning the Russians and Pike's.

On a brighter note, 'Sweetwater' was nearly open again. I had some of my younger crew working hard to get it done. The girls needed money and I was losing money by being closed.

Roxy, an old friend, came in and helped decorate it. I wanted it classy and sexy, not the dirty shithole it was before. She promised me she could get it done quickly and she had, let's hope this problem that I was about to see to wasn't going to delay that.

I got out of my car with Cody close behind. I didn't wait for the rest of the boys, plus Sam being on crotches made his ass slow.

I walked into the club, taking a minute to admire Roxy's handy work. The place looked spectacular. Deep dark shades of reds, with a black velvet feel, Victorian floral design covered the walls while dark stained bamboo, brushed to look antique, covered the floors.

"Wow," Cody whistled beside me.

I agreed with Cody. The place was sexy and classy, but now was not the time to sit there and goo over the fucking wallpaper and furniture.

I looked around but did not see anyone who shouldn't be there. A couple of workers were stacking glasses behind the bar, as another few were touching up some paint.

There were no girls, no Garrett and definitely no Wicks.

I headed for the office, wondering what the hell I was going to find. One of my Soldati's had been in checking on the boys when he noticed Wicks and a few friends heading for the office.

As I got further down the corridor, I sensed that we were about to have company.

I could see him, but I did not look at him, but when he placed his hands on me, to stop me, he had my full attention.

"He's busy," The gorilla looking dude informed me as I stood outside of my office.

Garrett had also called me to say that Wicks had forced his way into my club yesterday. Fired Garrett and bought this big meat head in with him.

The thing that pissed me off the most, for there was no reason why it was necessary, he had apparently called some of the girls back into work. The club was not finished, there was no way we could open, so no reason for any of the girls to be here.

"Do I look like I give a shit? Now get out of my fucking way." I warned as I heard the rest of my boys approach behind me.

The gorilla had enough sense to step aside, with his hands raised up in surrender.

Now the solid mahogany door that I stood in front of, is my door, to my office, I did not need to knock, nor did I need an invitation to step inside, but I knocked once in spite of it all.

"Fuck off," Was yelled back in answer.

I looked over my shoulder to Cody and the rest of the boys as they were approaching. Cody was smirking at me, cos he knew that shit wasn't going to fly.

With a swift kick to the door, it flew open with a few splinters flying in several directions.

I was expecting to see something, but I was not expecting to see the scene that was in front of me.

A naked girl was on her knees sobbing as Wicks stood in front of her with his pants around his ankles with his cock in his hand, with tears in his eyes.

He wasn't crying because he had been caught by me, his boss, he was crying because an equally naked Mia was standing next to him holding a gun to his balls.

I couldn't help but look her up and down after all she was a beautiful woman, a naked woman, with a hot body and a gun in her hand. My cock twitched at the sight, before my eyes really took her in.

I felt my face drop, as well as other things, and my eyes narrow as I notice some awful bruises over her body. Maybe she was hurt more than I knew last week. Her face was glued to Wicks, but she knew that they were not alone anymore.

The hand that held the gun was shaking.

"Mia honey, what's going on here?" I asked calmly, thinking she was the best to calm before anyone else.

I could hear the boys coming to join me, and I heard a few sharp intakes of breath as they too caught the sight in my office.

"Well fuck if that ain't a sight,"

I stepped closer to the girl on the floor, ignoring Cody's comment. I gave her a quick glance to see she was alright just upset by this whole situation.

"What is your name sweetheart?" I asked her softly. I don't recall seeing her here last week when I was here.

"M-Mandy," she sobbed.

"Are you hurt Mandy?"

"N-No." she hiccupped. I grabbed her chin and turned her face towards me. My eyes searched for any sign to contradict what she had said.

"Good," I told her as I looked back over at Wicks, letting my hand drop from her face. "Mandy honey, do you think you can pick up your clothes and wait in the dressing room?" I didn't want her going home, not yet.

She gave me a sad nod as her body continued to shake with her cries.

Kid came in over and helped the girl off the floor before he gathered her clothes up. I raised my eyebrows at him but he just gave me a sly smile and led the girl from the room.

I felt like I was taking the girl from one devil to then place her in the hands of another. I grabbed his elbow before he could walk out of the office. "You will keep your hands off of her," I hissed. Kid rolled his eyes at me before leading the girl out of sight.

I needed to deal with his shit before he walked down the aisle with Louise. If I didn't do it Teaspoon would and he wasn't quite as forgiving as me.

"Ike, go with him." I requested as I turned my attention back to the situation in my office.

I looked to Mia, able to see her face from this angle. Just like her body, she had some bruising and a cut on her head. They were definitely not there last time we met. Her eyes were wild as they stayed glued to Wicks.

I blew out a breath and looked to the rest of the boys and Sam.

"Wicks, Wicks, Wicks," I said as I shook my head and stood next to him, "What did you do to get yourself in this mess?" I asked, trying to keep the amusement out of my tone.

"Nothing," He snapped, but that soon turned into a cry when the sound of the trigger cocked back.

"FUCK!" he screamed as tears flowed down his face.

"Mia, come on honey ease up on the man," I asked lightly,

"I won't." She smiled obviously getting a kick out of Wicks' pain. "Why should he get to experience pleasure when we experience pain?" My blood ran cold.

"Mia you tell me what has happened and I swear to you I will deal with this. I will make sure he won't ever touch you or any other girl ever again." All trace of amusement gone.

"He hasn't touched me. But I know he has touched others." She whispered.

"What do you mean?"

Mia shook her head, and seemed flustered, "I ah… the other night…I heard the girls talking. I knew when he bought me and Mandy in here what was going to be expected of us. I won't do it." She cried pushing the guns barrel deeper into Wicks' nuts.

"You make the girls fuck you?" I sneered at him in disgrace.

"N-n-n-no…." The fool stuttered.

"DON'T YOU LIE!" Mia screamed at him. "You told Mandy she had to suck your dick, get you wet and ready before you put it in me."

I reacted to that straight away and punched Wicks, I punched him hard. He flew back into the desk. Mia eased her finger off the trigger to hold the gun to her side.

"Pull your fucking pants up," I hissed at him.

Blood flowed from his nose but he looked relieved to have the gun away from him.

"Mia, can you put your clothes on honey?"

"Yes." She picked them up and held them against her body covering as much as she could with them. "I'll go to the dressing room."

"Look at me Mia," I instructed

She lifted her head and stared me straight in the eye.

I could see faint bruises on her face and the cut on her eyebrow more clearly now.

"Have you been harmed here, before tonight?" I found myself asking.

Mia turned away from me and looked to Wicks. I grabbed her chin to turn her head back to me. "Don't look at that sick fuck and answer my question."

Mia shook her head no, but for some reason I knew she had something she wanted to say.

"What are those marks on your back and your face?"

"It didn't happen here," she told me before heading out the door with her head down, muttering something under her breath.

I watched as she snuck past the boys still with her head down. Sam quickly stretched his arm out and grabbed a hold of her arm just as I had.

"Do I know you?"

I watched for Mia's reaction. If she was worried she didn't show it. She did shake her head no, and tried to snatch her arm back.

"Sam," I warned.

"I know you." Sam insisted.

"I don't think so," She answered surely still trying to shrug his hold of her.

"Where do I know you from?" I could tell Sam was trying to think about it, but it was his hold on her arm that had my up most attention.

"Sam," I once again warned.

"I have no idea. I have never seen you before." Mia quickly rushed out. "Please, you're starting to hurt me."

"Sam,"

Sam snapped out of it but it was not forgotten. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's ok." Mia forgave him, far too quickly for my liking, before giving me one last look and leaving the room.

"I know her." Sam told me with conviction as he settled into the sofa. "Well at least I think I do." He said more to himself.

Sam had been messed up since the accident. He was angry but wasn't entirely sure who or what he was angry at the most.

While he figured it out I turned my attention to Wicks.

"What did we walk in on?"

"Oh, good question," Cody jumped on the sofa next to Sam, excited to hear what Wicks had to say. "Just give me…oooonnnneeee…second." He instructed. I watched, amused, as he quickly pulled his smokes from his pocket, pulling one from the packet. He tapped the end of it on the outside of the box before he tucked them back in his pocket to only pull out his lighter and spark up his smoke.

"Go!" He instructed Wicks, taking a long hard drag of his cigarette.

I laughed at his child like antics. He was like a school girl ready for the gossip. I gave the chair Wicks was sitting in a kick to get him to start talking.

"That girl on her knees, been here a while now. I need her to move up."

"Up to what exactly?" I questioned, playing his game, thinking he actually had a say in this place. "I mean to have your tiny dick out…"

"She can't dance for shit," He scoffed "And god only knows what that other cunt can do. Was going to see how talented their mouths were." He smirked like it was no big deal.

"I didn't think we ran that type of establishment." I stated to all that were around the room. Of course we, my boys and close friends, would sometimes take pleasure in these girls, every now and again, but we didn't pay for it, and we certainly didn't force it, it was a perk, for us and the eager girls. After seeing Mia, and hearing what she had to say it sounded like Wicks wasn't asking for permission and that was not right.

"Come on Jimmy every strip joint along this stretch of pavement does, and now so do we."

"Since when?"

"Since long before you were fucking born." He snipped.

I punched him again, "Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?"

"Sorry Jimmy I didn't mean to run my mouth." Wicks wiped blood from his mouth. "Just wondering why you give a shit in the place now."

"All you need to know is that we will be spending a lot more time down here. What I don't want or need is trouble from the pigs because suddenly we have become a brothel and I don't need trouble from the patrons when they receive a toothy fucking blow job from an un-experienced teen." I yelled. "Now get your shit out of my office,"

"Where am I meant to put my stuff?"

"Do I look like I fucking care? You got one hour." Wicks straightened himself up and held his head high as he walked past my boys. "Ah, just one minute," I sung, "I have decided that I will be running this place from now on, so I no longer need you."

"You're firing me?" He asked shocked.

"No I'm releasing you. After all I was pretty sure I never hired you in the first place. I just asked if you could watch this place for me, never said there was a permanent job." I smirked, "And I don't take kindly to disgusting fucks like you, forcing yourself on any girl."

"Why you…." He flew at me, but I was ready for him and so was Cody.

I punched him again, and so did Cody. The fucker wasn't even up to fighting back; all he could wheeze out was a threat to make me pay.

Then something struck me about what he had said earlier. He had said he had no clue what that other cunt could do. I'm guessing he was talking about Mia, and if that was true, what the hell did he mean?

"The other girl Mia," I asked him crouching over his body so I could hear his answer, "What did you mean you have no idea what she does?"

"Never seen the bitch before," He snapped, as blood spat from his mouth.

"She works here though…"

Wicks laughed without humour, "Well since you already know the fucken' answer…" I punched him again.

"Cody,"

"On it." He ran out the door to look for Mia, while Buck pulled Wicks up to his feet.

"Take him for a drive," I told Buck. I didn't need to elaborate what exactly it was I meant. He knew I never wanted to see the sorry son of a bitch again.

Ike came back in and helped Buck sling Wicks' arms over each of their shoulders and dragging him out of the office, stopping when they saw Cody was coming back.

"She's gone." He said shaking his head. "Kid said she didn't go to the dressing room." Cody sneered down at Wicks, "I asked the girl, Mandy, if she had seen Mia before, she hadn't, said the bitch was already here when she arrived."

"How did you get her here if you had no idea who the fuck she was?" I asked Wicks,

"I ain't telling you shit until you release me."

I grabbed the gun I had taken from Mia and pushed the barrel hard against his nasty junk. "You'll tell me or I swear to god I will shoot you god damn dick off and make you bleed to death slowly."

"Fuck you, I'm dead either way."

I pulled the trigger.

Ignoring his screams of pain I walked over to the desk and grabbed some tape to place over his mouth. I told Cody to drag him out into the ally so the rats can feed on him for a while.

I knew my boys didn't care what I did, but I wanted the younger guys out front to see what had become of Wick's. It does them good to see we don't fuck round.

"Do you think she's a fed?" Sam asked, seeming to not be bothered about what had just happened.

I looked to Buck. He was the best at reading people. "I don't trust her, but I don't think she's a fed." Buck then looked to Sam. "You said she seemed familiar, maybe you've seen her around the court house, on one of your cases maybe?" He questioned, seeming to look for any clue that his suspicions were off.

"No," Sam shook his head, "Well I don't think so." Letting out a frustrated cry he looked confused, "I really can't say, sorry."

"Do you think it was a good idea to get rid of Wicks?" Buck asked, seeing that there was doubt in my mind, "If he turns up…"

"Fed or not, if he turns up down the road I honestly don't think she would care. We all saw her face here tonight."

Buck nodded to me agreeing with my assessment.

After I sent Mandy home, with a very generous bonus, I sent Cody to drop Sam home after he helped Buck and Ike load Wicks in the trunk, while I asked Kid to join me for a drink.

I had promised 'T' that I would talk to him. I just hoped that I still had a friend by the end of this.

"Sorry we're not getting to Vegas for your bachelor party," handing him a scotch, before taking a seat with my own drink.

"It's alright Jimmy. It wouldn't feel right with all the shit that's been happening around us any way." The way he was so at ease with missing out his worldwide right as a groom, reminded me why he was a great friend, a brother, in the first place. Family came first for all of us.

"You all set for the big day?"

"Yeah, as ready as I will ever be," He sighed out loud. "Shit is sure going to change."

"I hope so man," I told him seriously.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked already on the defensive.

"Kid your marrying Lou. Her father, your boss," I stressed, "You can't be screwing everything that looks your way."

"I know," He snapped. "I mean I'm trying to settle on just one outside of Lou, but that shits hard."

"Kid when I mean you gotta stop, I mean you gotta stop it all. Having a whore on the side is not a good idea. You will hurt Lou, Teaspoon will hurt you."

"Lou ain't stupid Jimmy, she knows. Hell we've even talked about it."

"You have?" I asked genuinely surprised to hear that.

"Yeah," He smirked.

"What did she say?"

"She doesn't want a whore anywhere near her. She doesn't want whoever it is, around family events ever, and I cannot visit her in the weekends on holidays or on birthdays." I snorted at the idea. Only Lou would have rules for her husband and his whore. "Lou doesn't want no details about her, and definitely no babies that will pop up in the future."

"You can handle that?" I asked him.

"I think I can," He smirked.

"You better. You are one lucky son of a bitch."

"Lou knows this life style Jimmy. She is just covering her ass as well."

"That brings up a good point."

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"Well would you be so forgiving if Lou had the same deal? Someone she could fuck during the week, and come home to you in the weekends?" I chanced a quick glance at my friend. He was white as a ghost.

"She wouldn't,"

"Maybe not, but you are doing it to her so why can't she have the same privileges?"

"Fuck you Jimmy."

"What? Don't get angry with me, I'm just calling it as I see it." I was still being dead serious. I wanted to scare the fuck out of him. I cared for Louise deeply and it pains me to think that she is actually alright with Kid fucking another woman. "Think about it when your balls deep in whatever slut you chose."

"She wouldn't hurt me like that."

"But you would just as easily hurt her like it?" It was my turn to snap. "Kid, Lou grew up with us. She is like a sister to all of us. I just can't sit here and pretend that what you are thinking of doing is right, even if you do have her permission. Hell I bet Louise was ripping apart on the inside when she sat there and fed you that bullshit." I was getting angrier the more I thought about it.

"You know, deep down you know Lou is not alright with it. And if you don't then what the hell are you doing marrying her?" I hissed.

I took a couple of deep breaths as I knocked back the rest of my drink. "Just remember what I said, and if you decide to have a whore on the side, know that I will support Louise in having someone else on the side as well."

"Thanks brother, I will remember that." Kid hissed at me, getting up from his chair, readying himself to leave.

"Remember she is family too." I yelled out but Kid was gone, slamming the door shut behind him.

"For fucks sake," I yelled to myself.

I knew that this would happen. I knew that Kid was not ready for this talk but I truly had no other choice.

I took a walk around the club making notes on things I wanted changed. There wasn't much but a few things jumped out at me that I didn't like.

My phone started to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it free not even bothering to see who was calling.

"What?" I snapped,

"I knew I had seen that girl before."

"Sam?"

"The girl at the club, Mia, she was the one that was at the accident. She is the one that helped me."

"Are you fucking sure?"

"Stake my life on it."

"Meet me at the club as soon as you can." I ended the call before sending a text message for the rest of the boys to meet me here as well. It shouldn't take them long as they had only just left a couple of hours ago.

Kid was first to arrive as he only just stormed out of here. He was still pissed, but told him to check that shit at the door, this was not the time for personal shit.

While I waited for the rest of the boys I quickly rung Dana asking her to come down for a chat. With the makeover of the club I was feeling like we needed a makeover with some of the girls as well.

Dana bless her heart was old enough to be my mother. I couldn't have that on the stage.

The thing was though she was the only one apart from Garrett that I trusted in this place. So I was going to ask her to be more behind the scenes, taking care of the girls and all that jazz. I just hoped that I was able to ask this from her without making her feel shitty.

After my call I walked back out to the bar seeing we were just waiting on Ike. I had told Dana that I would send Garrett to collect her and he will also drop her home after.

"Garrett," I called,

"Yeah boss."

"I need you to pick up Dana for me in about an hour."

After I gave him the address I walked over to the bar and made myself a drink, greeting the rest of the boys.

I patted Buck on the back, "Wick's taken care of?"

"He is." He nodded.

I looked over to Sam; he looked terrible, this whole thing eating him alive.

"Where's Ike at?"

"He's here." He smiled walking through the door way.

"Sam…" I gave him to the go ahead to talk.

The boys and I sat there while Sam told us all what he had started to remember from the accident. He started to cry when he told us about the threats that were made against Emma and Lou. He didn't think he was going to live to be able to warn them, warn us.

He told us about Mia and how she was in the truck the Russians were driving. "I watched her shoot one of them, and after a scuffle she shot the other. But Alex taunted her, attacked her. I couldn't move. I was in so much pain…all I can recall is telling her to fight. I did see her shoot him, I know I did.

She walked up to me asked me if it was ok to call the cops. She told me that she would not be sticking around, and that I would be there to explain it all myself. She made the call then went back to the truck that she came from and pulled a bag from it. She also grabbed a blanket and placed it over me. That's all I can remember before I blacked out."

"And you're sure this is the same girl from the club, Mia?"

"She did have all those bruises and cuts on her." Cody added making me look his way. I had noticed them too.

"She did." I agreed.

"Why the hell was she here then? She obviously belongs to someone, has money."

"She didn't belong to them. She knew Alex, but there were definitely no feelings between the two." Sam added, "Well on her side any way."

"Drug mule." I shook my head no. It didn't fit.

"Sex slave." Kid added. I looked over to him with narrowed eyes.

"What? The Ruskies' still practice human trafficking, sex slaves being one of the reasons."

"She looked to healthy to be a slave…of any description." Buck added.

"So drug mule?"

"No I don't get that feel about her. Most drug mules use as well, and like Buck said she was too healthy." I told them.

"Alex seemed abusive maybe she was just hiding." Sam suggested.

"I don't buy that. Why the fuck would she hide in a titty bar? In my titty bar. And not only that, she came back here,"

"What do you mean?" Kid asked.

"She was here when the Russians hit the place last week…"

"Maybe they followed her?" Cody added before reaching over the bar and grabbing the bottle of whiskey.

"Why would she come back though, there has to be something here for her."

"You think she's looking for something? Stashed something?" I could see Kid was thinking over time. And I knew why. Lou's name had been bought into this to many times for his liking. And mine for that matter.

"I don't know. What I do know, I don't like. She mentioned Lou and Emma that first time and then Alex threatened them." I told them, "We need to bring Teaspoon up to date with all of this, even what went down at 'Sweetwater'. And we need all eyes finding that girl."

"Agreed," Kid told me sternly. "I don't like this hanging over our heads, especially when Louise's name keeps being mentioned."

"And Emma's." Sam grumbled.

"Alex knows who Emma and Louise are. He has met them before. The threat was made because of who they are and how close to Teaspoon they are. I have a feeling that if Alex has been sniffing around and has ties here, then it won't be long before we hear something from Demetri, and we need to be prepared for that."

"You really think that old fuck will show his face after all these years?"

"Cody I wouldn't be surprised if he's already here."

We all sat there and pondered over what has been said here tonight. If Demetri Yankov, mob boss to the Russians, was here, then we had to be on our game for whatever was about to be thrown our way.

Demetri had a flare for the dramatics. He loved to make a scene and he loved it even more if he had an audience.

He and Teaspoon hated each other. Back in the old days a lot of blood was shed on both sides and even innocent lives were lost when their feud spilled onto the streets of New York.

One thing was for sure Teaspoon was not going to take this well.