Punk left the next morning, making sure he got home in plenty time before his father, waiting in his house for him to come home in an eruption.
"Phil!" He yelled immediately, not even half way in the door, slamming his bag down and making his way into the living room where Punk was sitting, "You better have some good explanation that will justify why the hell you weren't there two nights ago at Invictus." Jack warned, gritting his teeth as Punk stood up.
"I was doing a job." He put his hands up, "I was out, I told Dean and Sami to keep an eye on the place. They called me, and the time I got back, the place was already destroyed and the guys had left." Punk said, "It wasn't my fault." He testified as Jack grunted and began walking around the living room in thought.
"I've never heard of these guys before, Phil." Jack said.
"Well they claim to have been here for longer than us. Said we've stolen their business. People come to us now instead of them." Punk said, "Call themselves The Union." Punk said as AJ shook his head.
"Loan sharks?" Jack asked as Punk nodded, "They're cleaner than us. People come to us now because we aren't afraid." He said.
"Exactly." Punk nodded, "What do you plan on doing?" He asked.
"I've been back and forth to your Uncle's because we're thinking of joining up." Jack said, leaning over the back of the couch as Punk looked over at him, "I know that we've always been in partnership, but he's thinking of moving down here, letting his locals know. It's easier, and… the bigger the better." Jack said, "Maybe then these loan sharks will piss off back to whichever basement they came from." Jack said as Punk nodded.
"Is there anything you need me to do?" Punk asked.
"Of course." Jack said, "I need you to look into these loan sharks." Jack asked as Punk nodded, "Find out about them. Where they originated. Names. Faces. Everything." Jack said as Punk nodded.
"Alright, I'm on it." Punk said, grabbing his jacket and walking away when his father called him back, his heart sinking with his firm words.
"And I need you to stop lying to me." He said as Punk turned around slowly, looking him in the eye, "I know you were with that April girl." He said as Punk swallowed loudly, "More than once? She must be a keeper." Jack smiled, circling Punk who kept his eye on him.
"What I do with her is none of your business." Punk said, "She has nothing to do with anything."
"If I find out that she's holding you back from doing your job, I will not hesitate to blow her pretty little brains out." He said coldly, looking at Punk who stood still like a statue, "Am I clear?" He spat.
"I told you to stop spying on me… and her." Punk said.
"Am I clear?" Jack repeated. He was anxious about his son getting too familiar with this girl. He wouldn't have his son off his A game because of some stupid little girl. He needed him. And anyway, he'd be damned if his son even knew what to do in a relationship.
"Yes." Punk said.
"Good." Jack said, backing away from in Punks space. He could see he had angered his son, and there was no doubt about it, his son was a lot bigger and stronger than he was or ever was for that matter, but he knew he wouldn't raise a hand or step on his toes anymore. He knew that every word he said was true. He would go and hurt April if she continued to quote on quote, hold him back.
"You promise me you'll stay away from her." Punk said.
"I promise." Jack nodded, "As long as she isn't becoming a distraction for you. We might very well be going to war, and I need my son by my side." Jack said, "Ok?"
Punk just nodded, "Ok." He said quietly. He would damn near kill his father if he was to even put his hands on April. In fact, he'd kill anyone who tried to hurt her, and it was only now that he realised how much he really cared about her and her safety. But how could he protect her when he worked with those she needed protection from.
"And up… back down. Bend your knee's, that's it." AJ smiled whilst having her younger class in, the one Toni joined in at, ranging from ages four to seven. It was adorable to see them all so concentrated, so young and adorable. They all reminded her of herself when she was that age, so eager to learn and so passionate about ballet.
The class was just finishing off, and all parents of the children had came to collect their daughter's, including Elise who she was actually heading for dinner with straight after. Toni included too.
"Hey, baby. How'd you do?" Elise smiled as Toni came running towards her. The little girl was always so excited to show and tell her mother what she had learned at each lesson.
"Had fun, mommy." Toni smiled up to her mother who smiled.
"You ready for your dinner?" Elise asked as she nodded.
"I'm ready for my dinner." AJ smiled, approaching them with her bag slung over her shoulder as the studio emptied out. She was so hungry, and was ready to enjoy a good dinner with her friend. She hated that she had to lie to Elise about her and Punk, and what was going on with them. She felt like she was betraying her, but she just had to find the right time, and she had to discuss with Punk on whether or not they were telling people yet. They'd barely just admitted to each other that they liked one another. Maybe it was too soon to start telling the world. She could sense he was still weary of her and scared of her not liking what he tells her. She didn't know how it was going to work, but she wanted it to.
"I could so eat a really good pizza right now." Elise admired whilst leaving the studio as AJ locked up.
"Oh, that does sound-"
"April… April Mendez?"
AJ turned around to the voice calling on her as she looked up and down at the man in the suit, looking on at her and extended his hand, "I'm John Blakely. Director. Have I caught you at a bad time?" The man asked as AJ turned around to Elise who just nodded with approval.
"No… I have a few minutes." She smiled to him.
"Great." He smiled, "I'm directing a theatre production of Swan Lake in a few months time." He said, "But… don't worry, it's not what everyone is fed up of seeing." He said quickly, "I admired your good contrasted with evil performance a few nights ago."
"Thank you." AJ smiled, "But where is this going?" She asked, not sure what the man was really getting at.
"I'd like you to star in the production." He said, "You do your own choreography, and the girls you danced with a few nights ago, I'd like for them to join too." He said as she looked up at him in disbelief. And there she was thinking that fall of embarrassment had ruined her life.
"Really?" She said in a high pitched tone.
"Really." The man smiled, "You are… incredible. There's no one else I'd rather have." He said, "I'll leave you my number. I'll give you time to think about it." He said, taking out a business card and handing it to AJ who took it gracefully, looking at the phone number on it and smiling.
"Thank you." She smiled to herself.
"No. Thank you." He placed his hand on her shoulder, "I think this could be something really special." He said, "Have a great night." He said, walking on by as AJ turned round to Elise who was smiling, having listened into the conversation with Toni.
"This is insane." AJ gasped as she carefully put the business card the man had gave her into the side compartment of her bag, "A production… starring me." She pressed her hand on her chest. She'd danced in productions. Quite a few actually, but she hadn't starred in any. She'd just been a back up dancer here and there.
"I think we deserve to celebrate." Elise said as AJ smiled, feeling her wrap her around her as she leaned into her with a smile, accepting the almost congratulations hug as they walked down the street. Thing were pretty good right now. She had a great friend, a great opportunity with work, and… yes… she had a great boyfriend. She seen him as great. She didn't care what other people thought of him. She knew and wanted to get to know more of the real him. Things were looking pretty good for her.
"Ok. These guys are from southern California. Well… most of them." Punk said as he walked into his father's office in Invictus, "This guy here-" Punk placed down a mug shot on the desk in front of his father, "Jason Conway. Pretty dirty guy. Done time for armed robbery, assault, petty theft, but got let go for a pressed charge of attempted rape." Punk said as his father leaned back on his chair, "He's your main guy." Punk said.
"What else did you find?" Jack asked.
"Ok, well… they don't work like us. What they do is… well they double cross. Unlike us, when people come to us, they give us a target, we take them out and take the money. What they do is... they'll take the money, and then kill the people who give them the money. So basically they kill their own customers? It's pretty cruel." Punk said.
"So why do they think we're taking their business when we're the ones that do the job right, and they just kill off all the people who make offers for them?" Jack said as Punk shrugged.
"Easier." Punk said, "Also, they're all part of some Hispanic religion." He added, "Might not mean much, but I'm sure there's a reason for it." He shrugged, "They all have the same tattoo on their hands. It's like a half moon going through a star." Punk said, "And that's all I got." He said to his dad who nodded.
"Ok… alright, that's enough for just now. Thanks, son." He said, biting the end of his pen as he leaned back on his chair.
"When is Uncle Dennis coming down with all his crew?" Punk asked.
"In a week or two. He'll need to find a place to stay." Jack said, "Maybe he'll be able to figure something out." He said as Punk nodded.
"Ok. Well I'm gonna shoot off." Punk said as Jack nodded, watching his son walk away, calling him back for just a second.
"What is it with this April girl then?" He asked as Punk paused, taking his hand from the door handle that he was about to open, turning around as his father spun from side to side on his chair, "There must be a catch. Or is her pussy just that good?" He laughed.
"Hey, don't talk about her like that." He shook his head.
"Well tell me then." Jack said, "What is it with her?"
"I don't know." Punk shrugged. He didn't want to say anything that he was thinking in his mind. His father was way too judgemental. He'd no doubt start laughing if he said he had strong feelings for AJ, "I just enjoy her company, alright." Punk said.
"Ok." Jack nodded, "I'm just warning you now. Don't get too attached to her. She'll tell you she's ok with what you do, and then one day someone kinder will come along, someone who doesn't kill for a living." Jack said, "Don't fall in love with the girl, Phil."
"I've been seeing her for a few days, dad. I don't think I'm in love with her." He said.
"Yeah? But then those few days will turn into weeks, months, years. You'll put a ring on her finger, you'll have children, you'll want to be with your family. And you know fine well you can't do that whilst working here."
"You done it." Punk said.
"And look where it left me." Jack said, "A daughter who hates me and moved away. A dead wife who was never really happy, and a son who I've trained into a monster." He said, "Is that where you want to end up?" He asked.
"You're thinking about it way too much." Punk said, "It's just casual. We aren't… we aren't getting married tomorrow." He said, laughing lightly, "Alright, just… calm down." He told his father, "I'll see you later." He said, turning back around and opening the office door to leave, walking out and hearing his father speak quietly.
"If you knew what was best. You'd stay away from her."
Will he stay away from April though? Who knows. What will April say to the offer she's been given? More on these guys who invaded Invictus. Will we see an April and Jack encounter soon? Stay tuned and REVIEW!