Chpt 7

The day after.

That weekend was the most important weekend of the month for the residents of the cul-de-sac.

Once a month, all the men got together and played poker at one of their homes. The women on the other hand would band together at another house and have a girl's night in. This ranged from wine tasting, to lingerie parties and even live entertainment in the backyard, depending on who the woman was and how much her husband earned.

That night, the party was being held by Kelly Graham. She was a stick of a woman with a dark brown bob and thin, black rimmed glasses. Her husband was a professor at a training lab in Quebec. She herself, was French Canadian and was very snotty about it. As if her accent wasn't already pissing Lottie off, her attitude was defiantly grating on her nerves. Kelly was very fond of plastic surgery and all things that could possibly improve her ghastly looking mug.

Lottie and Nikki sat together at both their first real ladies night at Kelly's home, next door to Nikki's. From what they'd been told, it was a botox party. Meaning Nikki and Lottie had little to nothing to do, what with their flawless faces and skin.

Kelly had hired in her private doctor for the party and had started with herself. Once the doctor had arrived.

By the time all the other wives had been done, the doctor turned to Lottie and Nikki who'd said hardly anything to the other women, choosing to talk between themselves.

"which one of you would like go first?" Kelly called over in her snotty French accent, holding a cloth to her forehead where she'd just taken her shot of botox. Lottie cringed and scowled.

"Love. I'm sorry. But look at me!" she started. "Look at US!" she said pointing to Nikki's face as well as her own.

"Hunny, I'm sorry, but do we look like we need it? We're perfect. Need I stress that further? Ha, unlike you lot." She snorted almost arrogantly. Everyone else in the room was stunned into silence, apart from Nikki who was laughing behind her hand, only just managing not to spill her wine.

Xxxxxx

Over at Clare's home, across the street from Victor and Lottie's new place, the guys sat round a large dining table that had been set up ready for the poker game. To Logan's disgust, Creed was already there when he got there. And the only reason he went was because Nikki had forced him. After the morning befores little argument, which he'd lost, he'd had little to say in what was happening.

"I'm going out Logan." She'd told him matter-a-fact as she pulled on a pair on skinny jeans and a tunic style top. "so, you are too. I wont have you here alone, brooding or worse. Stalking Victor. You've turned into a paranoid creep since he's moved in."

If only she'd understood.

Now he was sat across the table from him, only separated by Vincent, who'd been dragged along for that sole purpose. If he had to sit in a room with Creed, he wasn't doing it alone.

Victor hadn't shut up yet. For a murderer with issues with his mentality, he really seemed to be the life and soul of the party. Even Vincent was enjoying his company.

Logan, however, was ready to claw his face off at the slightest comment.

"So what trade you in Vic?" one of the other men asked, throwing in a couple of dollar bills.

"I kill people." He said plain as day, a cigar hanging out of one side of him mouth as he looked at his cards. Vincent paled next to him and looked to Logan in a panic. Wolverine didn't even flick. He knew what Vic was saying was the truth. Even Vincent knew, but judging from the roar of laughter from the men around them, they clearly didn't know.

"Yea. That's a good one Vic." Another man said. "Now seriously?"

"I kill people..." He repeated.

"Sure Vic. Sure."

"He's in human resources!" Vincent blurted in order to end the conversation. Victor glanced at him with a cocked eyebrow. It was a long, very intimidating look and his son sunk down in his seat.

The conversation and the game continued.

"Logan here's a teacher." He smirked.

"You teach Logan?" Clare's husband asked, a little surprised.

"Yea..." He grunted gruffly and tossed in his hand.

"He teaches art." Vincent snickered, earning a dark glare from Logan. The boy shuffled closer to his father who jabbed him in the thigh with a claw. He was beginning to feel small and outnumbered when he glanced across the table and met the gaze of his rival. Jeremy had been dragged in on the game too and looked as bored as Vincent felt. But he didn't sympathise. The kid was moving in on what he saw as his lady.

"Maybe you two should come for a round of golf sometime." Clare's husband mentioned to Logan and Victor.

"I don't play golf." Victor snorted, trapping his cigar over an ashtray. "I like blood sports" He grinned.

Logan tensed, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Victor sniffed discreetly and smirked over at him.

"My old pal Logan knows my kinda poison, dontcha boy?" Logan merely glared at him.

"you mean like fox hunting?" a younger man asked, throwing in his hand.

"Nah. Fox huntin's fer tha birds. Though, I enjoy a good hunt. A real good hunt."

"Oh, me too!" said a man with next to him. "We've been across Asia and Africa. We've shot and hunted all the big game." He said proudly.

Victor stared at him with great distaste. His idea of hunting was animal was very different. He only hunted for what he'd use as food. Killing animals senselessly seemed a waste and a slap in the face for the animal kingdom he so greatly respected. The man seemed to shrink under his glare and Victor growled, low and dangerously.

"I wonder how good your head would look on my wall…"

"Creed…" Logan growled back in the mans defence, his fists clenching so tightly he easily bent the cards he was holding. Victor turned back to him and grinned. the two shared a moment of intense glaring before Creed finally laughed relaxed back.

"Ease up runt! we're all pals here!" his eyes glowed in the overhead lighting. Logan threw his cards on the table and reached for his beer, not breaking eye contact.

The other men remained silent, looking between the pair of animalistic men at the table with them. Vinny took the opportunity kick Jeremy in the shin under the table, causing the other boy to suddenly wail. all eyes were suddenly on him and he slumped down in his chair, rubbing his shin.

"Whats up with yer boy?" Logan muttered.

"Good question." Jeremy's dad stated, glaring at his son.

"Nothin." the boy muttered. " I'm fine." He glared over the table at Vincent who scowled back.

"As I was saying'." Vic stretched and rolled his shoulders. "I like a little blood in my games."

Victor reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a cigar tin, lighting up yet another and leaning over the table to offer Logan one. The smaller feral tensed and remained still, his nostrils flaring as his space was invaded. When he didn't take a cigar, Victor shrugged leaned back over the table to sit in his seat. "screw you then runt." He scoffed.

"can I talk ta you. Alone." Logan asked sudden, his body still tense.

Victor looked up and cocked an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Cos…" Logan growled.

"But runt!" Victor started with a smirk. "I like it here! its nice an' cosy….y'know?"

"Get outside Creed!" Logan snapped. Victor stared at him blankly before getting to his feet, cigar still in his mouth.

"Excuse us gents." He chuckled and headed for the front door, closely followed by Logan.

Once outside Logan snapped. He balled his fists and snarled. Victor seemed unfazed and puffed away on his cigar, gazing off down the street.

"I know what yer tryin' ta do Victor! It aint workin'!" He snarled up at the larger man.

"I don't know what tha fuck your talkin' 'bout runt." Victor shrugged.

"Shut up!" Logan yelled.

Across the street, Lottie's ears twitched. She heard a yell but it wasn't clear over the voices of the women in the room with her. She glanced at Nikki, who looked back.

"I hope nothing kicks off." The red head scowled and sipped her wine.

Logan gnashed his teeth in anger. An anger Vic was so far yet to return.

"Ya moved here ta ruin my life Creed! Yer always doin' shit like this!"

"Fuck you runt!" Victor spat back with a smirk. "If I wanted ta ruin your life, I'd have killed Nikki!" He leaned into Wolverine's face and grinned. "But she's too finer piece of ass to waste like that…."

That one comment was the straw that broke the camels back if you will. Logan roared and popped his claws. Victor smirked and extended his own. Logan lunged at Victor, the larger man easily dodging him as his rage made him sloppy. Inside the house, Vincent and the other men in the room heard the roar and all rushed to the windows. They watched as Victor grabbed Logan by the leg and tossed him into the flower bed. Wolverine was up in seconds and charged, slamming him claws into Victor's abdomen causing the taller man to scream in pain. As he watched, Vincent caught sight of Jeremy as he came to stand just a couple of feet away from himself. With his father and step father fighting, he took his own chance and lunged at the other boy, the two of them rolling on the floor, punches and kicks flying.

Just down the Street, Lottie and Nikki had settled back into their seats with another glass of wine each. Lottie ran a claw around the rim of the glass and absently glanced out the window and took another look as she saw Victor pin Logan to the floor of the neighbours garden and repeatedly stamp on his head. Only a few feet from them, Vincent was creaming the neighbours son, whose father was trying desperately to drag him off. The little female sighed sadly, the sigh getting Nikki's attention.

"What?" She asked, taking a large gulp of her drink.

"I hate to ruin your night…" Lottie began, "But it would appear that Logan and Victor are trying to kill each other on Clare's front lawn while your son defends my honour….."

Nikki gave a laugh, but glanced at the window and the amusement was suddenly gone as she witnessed Logan jump on Victor's back and bite his ear. "I'M GONNA KILL THEM!" she screamed and jumped from her seat, Lottie soon following, but with a little less rush in her pace.

Logan was still on Victor's back when Nikki stormed across the street and began punching them both wherever she reach.

"YOU PAIR OF NUTCASES!" she screamed. Logan lost his grip and fell. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? WHY? IN FRONT OF THE NEIGHBOURS TOO! DO YOU KNOW HOW WE LOOK NOW!" she roared and stamped Logan in the balls. Victor tried to slink away and she grabbed him by his hair, causing him to yelp. Lottie stood in the doorway of kelly's house, shaking her head.

"Logan started it!"Victor howled, trying to get his hair free.

"Did not! you did you psycho!" Logan squeaked, cradling his crotch.

"I DONT CARE WHO STARTED IT! I'M FINISHING IT!" And with that, Nikki released Victor and grabbed Logan's ear, dragging him to his feet and pulling him over to their home, still ranting. Vinny continued to kick Jeremy in the stomach until Nikki screamed at him from the front yard.

"Yes mom!" He yelped and ran back over the street, the front door slamming behind him.