AN: *EDIT* To those of you who read my original Author's Note I was heading in a strange direction with the next set of chapters after these but I've scrapped them and they've been rewritten so I'm keeping the old rating. Thank you again to zombiegoth and AlexACheevy for your lovely reviews. Enjoy ^-^
It didn't take Ace too long to round up the rest of the Cobras, helped largely by the fact they were all at Irby's Billiards, bitching about the body. They stood to attention as Ace walked in holding Laura firmly to his side, he looked ready to kill. As they seen the state of her they understood the seriousness of the situation.
Laura had been able to rinse her hair at the hospital but it was still matted and stained, the bruise on her cheek had grown darker and appeared to cover half her face. Ace hadn't let her go since he found her at the hospital, even holding her hand defiantly as they had driven to find the Cobras.
"Was it him?" Eyeball asked, remembering his and Ace's conversation that morning.
Ace nodded in the affirmative,"He's fucking dead."
The Cobras split themselves between Vince and Ace's cars. Eyeball and Jack the only one's willing to ride with Ace in his current state.
"You drive," Ace said firmly, throwing his keys at Eyeball.
Ace pulled Laura on to his lap as Eyeball started the car. He still hadn't let her go. He hadn't decided what to do yet, he didn't trust her to be around anybody but himself but he didn't want her to come within ten miles of that fucking bastard ever again.
Peter paced his driveway, swinging his baseball bat. He knew Ace would be coming for him. He nodded to his friends who were equipped with similar weapons. Whether or not they had believed his story they had shown, some just eager for a fight, others to settle a particular beef they had with one or more of the Cobras.
Peter just needed them to distract the other Cobras so he could take on Ace. He was confident he'd be able to take him one on one. He was taller than Ace by a few inches and a bigger build plus, he told himself, this was for Laura.
Laura snuggled against Ace feeling dazed. She felt sick when she thought of how close things had gotten today. She knew where they were going and why. It scared her to think what might happen to her boyfriend but she also knew better than to say anything. She looked up to see him lost in thought. He looked so frustrated and he kept holding on to her like he was going to lose her any second. She kissed under his chin softly, the beginnings of his stubble prickling her lips. She kissed his cheek just as briefly before kissing him gently on the lips. She was going to be ok.
Eyeball parked at the end of Peter's street. Ace gestured for Vince to come over.
"Stay with her," Ace told him quietly.
Vince was the most level headed of his friends, whilst the others were hot headed and acted without thinking. They were great for a rumble though where as Vince would probably be grateful to sit this one out.
Ace kissed Laura one last time before locking her in his car. She lay on the back seat exhausted but unable to sleep, trying not to think about everything that had happened today.
Vince sat on the hood of his own car, flicking out his own switchblade... just in case he needed it.