Alas! As promised another chapter! Been working on this story non-stop, lucky you, I'm a quick writer! :D I wanna thank you commenters/readers for sticking around! You have no idea how much your encouragement helps me. xD Sorry if it's so slow, but bare with me! Santiago will grow a pair and confess soon enough!

Chapter 3

The hideout was starting to look good. Nice furnature, stripper poles galore and a nice little bar off to the corner. To tie in the decore the Saints statue centured the stairway. A little piece of heaven in a shithole kind of place searved as a symbolic point. Rise from the ashses as Pierce put it. But of course Johnny roasted the man for being a "poetic pussy". Leave it to Pierce. Shitty music lover and a writer. Not that it was a bad thing the man had a way with words. Santiago enjoyed a little poems here and there. A sample of his finest works:

Roses are Red..

Violets are Blue..

This Poem is shit..

Time to die..

Santiago wasn't one to brag, but he thought the poem was the shit! However Pierce wasn't all that thrilled. He thought he was being mocked. That was the least of the case.

Anyway, Santiago wasn't paying much attention to the girl trying her hardest to please him on the pole in front of him. His mind was elsewhere..

On a certain someone to say the least.

His mind was so clouded, he didn't pay attention to Johnny sitting down next to him. The sound of him clearing his throat derailed Santiago's thoughts.

"How is he?" The question wasn't for the sake of talking. Santiago wasn't stupid. He knew this. He tore his empty gaze from the stripper to his best friend.

"Johnny.. Can I be real with you?" Santiago was debating quickly if he should be getting drunk for this conversation. Johnny often spoke his mind. Santiago liked that fact and feared it all the same. Would the Saints follow a gay leader? The odds are, not likely. But Gatt.. He was different. They were friends.. Or so he hoped anyway.

"Let me guess.. You have feelings for the kid?" Johnny had casually leaned back in the sofa, jaw relaxed. That wasn't the case for Santiago.. The male was slack jawed in disbelief.

"And.. You cool with that?" He had to make sure. Johnny only snorted, rolling his head to crack his neck. A gesture that wasn't at all settling.

"Who you fuck isn't my buisness, Boss." He grinned with a stretch. "So, you're a fag, it's not like we're all in second grade. It's your actions that make us follow you."

"I'm not a fag.. He's just the first.." He muttered softly, but couldn't help but taunt. "You never struck me as a person with deep words..~"

"Pierce grows on ya~ But I'll recommend you keeping your attraction on the low for now.." Johnny smirked Santiago was going to answer back but his ringtone cut him off. Making the dark haired man search for his cell.

"Boss, I'm on my way.." Shaundi's voice held promise. This peaked Santiago's interest. He rested his heel on his thigh, lounging back with the phone huddled between his cheek and shoulder. "And you're gunna love my gift to you...~"

"And it's not even my birthday.. Shaundi, I'm touched.." The smirk deepened in his pierced lips when he pushed himself off the couch, clapping the phone shut, he faced Johnny, his face held remote interest.

"Party time?.."

"Oh, hell yeah.."

Jessica had struggled in Shaundi's grip when Santiago had approached the parking lot, winning grin could be compaired to a cat that had cornered a mouse. Jessica's struggle was more frantic when she saw the dark dressed man grew near.

"Do something scary, huh?" Santiago recollected with clear memory; her words exactly. "Sounds like a great idea.. Thanks for the tip, sweetheart.." His voice was low, dangerous. Shaundi was just secretly glad that she was on Santiago's side. It was obviously clear you don't fuck with any of Boss' Lieutenats. Jessica spat at the goth's feet.

"You touch me and M-.."

"Be lucky I don't hit women.." Santiago held a private policy with the female folk.. Sure, he'd shoot them, any woman man enough to confront him with a gun is definatly man enough to die by a bullet. But growing up in a household with an abusive father does shit to you. Gave Santiago some boundaries. However, Shaundi spun the woman around and threw out a right hook that knocked Mrs. Princess here off her feet and out cold on the pavement. Santiago let out a low whistle at the end result.

"Luckily, I do.~" She snarked. Little did Santiago know, she didn't take being brandy "hippy" lightly evidently. And Carlos in her opinion was a sweet guy. She couldn't figure out how they could even mess with him. She shook the hand she decked Jessica with. "What's the plan, boss?"

Santiago couldn't help but grin at this. Ohh, the possiblities swimming through his sick twisted head.

One in particular stood out quite nicely to him.

The next visit was a little more light hearted. A week had passed since last visit, and as promised, Santiago stopped by for a quick check up. He was happy to see Carlos' face light up at the sight of his attendance, Santiago didn't know his appearence could brighten up anyone's day. Carlos would be the first.

"Good to see you not giving any tubes a blow job this time~." Santiago tried for a joke, but only earned a beat red Carlos who gave a slight laugh at the vulgarity. "How're you feeling?"

"Better.. Ready to bust out of here.." The youth muttered softly. He was looking at his scraped up hands. By now they were only thin scabs. The only serious looking wound was on his cheek.. The gash across the teen's beaten face was the only thing that was taking it's time to heal and it decorated the base of his cheek, meeting the small cut on his upper lip. Santiago wondered what underneither looked like... The part hidden by the clothes? He mentally kicked himself for being a pervert.

"That could be arranged..~" He got up from the stool he had dragged near the hospital bed. Carlos sat up, ripping the I.V from his wrist with a wince to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. His movements were teetery and light headed.

"You never did answer my question from before.." Damn that kid's wicked memory. He staggered forward only to fall against Santiago's chest, his gasp muffled by the man's dark black shirt with the british logo sporting the center.

"I know.." Santiago smirked at the awkward tremble as Carlos tried to steady himself. He guided the injured teen towards a wheelchair. The nurses shouildn't mind if Carlos was checked out early.

"You're not going to tell me.. Are you?"

"M'nope.."

"Didn't think so.." Carlos gave a soft laugh as he eased into the wheelchair. His movements were anything but graceful, landing in the chair with a hitched breath and a heavy thud.

"Which reminds me.. I got you something.~" Santiago dug around his pockets for said item. He drew it out and dropped it in Carlos' lap. The youth blinked sevral times before grabbing the car keys. He turned them in his hand.

"A new car?" There was that hope. Laced in his words like some type of spice you add to your food to make it taste so much better. Santiago had to chuckle.

"Sorta.."