At the sound of a loud thud Luke Hume ran out of the living room and came face to face with Tia "Hi little brother" she greeted with tears in her eyes, Luke's eyes also filled with tears "Tia?" he asked hopefully, she nodded and opened her locket again revealing the photo from when she was young
"Yeah, it's me" she said, Luke threw his arms around Tia's waist and hugged her tight, Tia wrapped hers around his shoulders and a few tears fell down her cheeks "I missed you" he cried, she smiled and pulled away "I know, and I can't stay for long" she said, his smile fell "No you can't go again. Brendan..." Luke paused in his sentence "I know, that's why I came back, I couldn't let you guys think that I didn't care about my own brothers death. I mean I'm risking my life right now" she said chuckling,
Luke nodded and looked down at hi mother "What happened?" he asked, Tia shrugged "You know mom, always fainting" she said, Luke chuckled and grabbed his mother under the arms, he dragged her into the living room and layed her down on the couch "Why did you leave Tia?" he asked facing his older sister, she gave him a sad smile "I couldn't handle the pressure Luke, and I know it's selfish and childish for me to run away but I had to, I couldn't take it anymore" she replied feeling the guilt flood her body,
Luke nodded knowing exactly how his sister felt "I understand, but you could have come back to let us know you were okay" he said chuckling to fill the awkwardness, Tia nodded "I couldn't, if I did then you wouldn't have let me leave...well daddy wouldn't have let me leave" she said rolling her eyes, Luke nodded "Where is he anyways?" Tia asked "Left something at the office apparently" he said,
Tia nodded "I'm sorry about Brendan, I know how much you guys loved him" she said sympathetically, Luke nodded "He was killled in a gas station by some asshole who wanted to be in a gang" Luke told her, Tia clenched her eyes shut for a moment before re-opening them "He slit his throat and then took off" Luke said holding back a sob, Tia sighed and took a deep breath "Luke I have to go soon, Billy has a short temper and god knows what will happen" she said nervously, Luke had a look of confusion and worry
"Who's Billy?" he asked, Tia wrung her hands "He's a um...I don't know...he helped me find work and it's like were together but were not...I don't know how to explain it" Tia exclaimed slightly stressed, Luke nodded "So he's your boyfriend?" he asked, Tia shook her head and gave it to him straight "Were not together but he let's everyone know I'm his, no one can touch me or kiss me without him beating them till they can't even walk" she admitted, Luke's eyes widened
"Has he ever hit you?" he asked, Tia thought for a moment before changing the subject "Look Luke he's just a friend and he's helped me with a lot, I owe him" she said, Luke knew what she was doing though "Tia, has he ever hurt you?" he asked slowly, Tia nodded "Yeah but...look Luke what matters is that I'm alive and that you guys are safe, but it won't be like that if I stay here. Look I love you so much little brother, but I have to go" she said holding his head with her hands, Luke reluctantly nodded
"Okay, what do I tell mom and dad?" he asked, Tia shrugged "Don't tell dad, he'll come hunting for me and people have only recently stopped searching, not that they'd find me anyway. But tell mom she was dreaming or something. Bye little brother"
she said kissing his forehead, Luke hugged her tight and Tia put her wig back on while looking in the mirror to make sure it was perfect, she put on her sunglasses and faced Luke "No wonder they never found you" he chuckled, Tia smiled "I'll see you soon Lukey" she said, he nodded and Tia ran out of the house.
Once Tia got home she took off her blazer, wig and sunglasses before leaving the house, she put on her black headband and headed for the Four Roses, it wasn't that far from her home so it made going to work a lot easier for her, but it also meant that the boys would wonder why it took her so long "Tia" Sammy greeted as she entered the slightly crowded bar, Tia nodded in greeting and smiled
"Where's the boys?" she asked, Sammy pointed to the back where they usually sat and Tia nodded before going over to them "Sup?" she greeted, they all nodded in greeting and she noticed Billy playing pool with Bodie, she found they had always been the closest of the gang but she also knew that they had been friends way before the gang stuff
"Tia, where you been? We were about to send a search party out for you" Heco said chuckling before downing a shot, Tia rolled her eyes "I'm a girl Heco we take time to get dressed yah know" she pointed out, he nodded in understanding and looked around the bar for women "Check it out Tia" Baggy said nodding to something behind her, Tia turned her head to see Billy making out with some brunette,
Tia rolled her eyes "I don't care, we all know that if I wanted him then it would be me pressed agains't that wall" she said, the boys nodded in agreement "Still, ain't you a lil jealous?" Heco asked turning to their conversation, Tia shrugged and they all watched their gang leader make out with the woman "I'm used to it Heco, he get's to fuck different people but I don't. Though I'm pretty sure if it was him that left me then I'd be allowed to see other guys" she replied, Heco hmm'd in agreement and they all turned back around.