•~•
That morning at seven AM, Amy went downstairs to start her day. She had another shift at the hospital for later that morning and quickly ran into the kitchen for a bite to eat. Although, she wasn't expecting to enter the kitchen and see every member waiting for her. Mighty, Manic, Knuckles, and Gadget sat at the table. Ray and Rouge sat on the counter, and Shadow and Mephiles sat beside the table. She stopped at the entrance as all the member's eyes fell upon her when she appeared in the doorway. "…Oh, good morning, everyone," she stated, feeling wariness.
Shadow approached her, looking serious in expression. "Rose, we need to talk to you," he stated cautiously.
Amy walked further into the kitchen as her ears twitched nervously. She sensed terrible news looming. "Sure, uh, what's going on?"
"Take a seat, sweetheart," Rouge gestured.
Shadow guided Amy to sit at the kitchen table and sat her at one of the available seats. "We found something this morning that's brought some concern. We want you to be aware of it."
Shadow moved the letter in front of her for her to read. Amy's jade eyes read the note: "We're going to kidnap and kill your bitch doctor. Stay out of our line of business."
Amy's stomach suddenly dropped as she finished the last word. Her face paled noticeably. "Is this…real?"
Shadow placed a hand on her shoulder, seeing she was visibly shaken. "We're not sure yet," he replied. "However, we'll find out and ensure nothing happens to you."
Amy looked up at Shadow nervously. "I-I don't understand. Why would someone want to hurt me?"
"They probably don't have anything against you," Mighty interjected. "There are people who know about your connection to Shadow. They're trying to hurt him by coming after you," he explained.
"We've already informed Vector and Espio. They're coming over now to investigate for us," Shadow informed.
"But I have to go to work," she argued.
"—Unfortunately, that won't be happening," another voice stated. Everyone turned only to spot Espio, and Vector entering the kitchen as if on cue.
Amy turned around in her chair. "Why not? I'm a resident intern. They need me there."
Espio crossed his arms over his chest. "The hospital director Ms. Vanilla has already put you on a temporary leave for the time being until this can be cleared," he explained.
"Wait, the hospital already knows?" Amy questioned.
Espio nodded. "Yes, there was some form of a threat left at the hospital regarding you. Ms. Vanilla wants to take all precautions for your safety and the hospital. We just finished coming back with that intel."
"…This is just great," Amy sighed sarcastically. She stood and stormed out of the kitchen.
"Amy!" Rouge called after her.
"I've got her," Shadow stated before heading after her.
Once his brother was gone, Mephiles turned to address the rest. "For the time being, we're on lockdown. The only ones allowed to leave the compound are those assigned for our next afternoon mission," Mephiles informed. "Shadow will have some of you stationed here at the compound if anything happens," he announced. "We'll talk to Enerjak and get to the bottom of this threat."
"Understood," everyone said in unison.
"Well, I need to check on my dad," Knuckles announced. "He hasn't answered any of my calls or text messages." Espio, Vector, and Mephiles exchanged subtle glances before looking away. The three watched as Knuckles exited the kitchen while he looked down at his phone.
"Hey, mind if I tag along?" Gadget inquired, following the echidna. "You know, just as a precaution?" he offered.
"Sure thing, man," Knuckles smiled.
•~•
Meanwhile, upstairs, Amy was on her bed, curled up and clutching a pillow to her chest. Shadow opened the door and spotted her lying in bed facing the wall. He frowned, seeing her current state. "Rose…" He walked over to her bedside, sat on the edge, and touched her waist softly.
"I-I don't understand how this could've happened?" she mumbled while she turned over to look at him. "I thought we kept our relationship under wraps well enough."
Shadow's ears went back apprehensively. "About that, I have a confession to make…"
The rose-colored hedgehog sat upright, still clutching her pillow to her chest. "What?"
"When we were in Tech City, some Suppression members passed through during our visit. They spotted us while we were there and were tailing us for most of the first day," he explained.
Amy looked stunned to hear this revelation. She had no idea, which bothered her since she hadn't felt the instinct that they were being followed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to be worried or have it ruin our trip. You were already dealing with your cousin. It would have added to that," he tried to justify.
She leaned forward, eager to learn more. "What did they want?"
"They were there mostly to gain intel…on you," he worded carefully.
"Wait, how do you know for sure?"
"Because…after we had dinner that night. I wandered off and told you I was having a cigarette break, but I lied. I confronted them about following us. That's when I learned why they were there and hadn't made any moves. They saw you and were trying to figure out if you were someone important to me."
Amy felt her stomach drop, and her eyes began to water. "I'm tired of being kept in the dark, Shadow. I don't like being lied to..."
He stared at her apologetically. "Trust me. I get it, babe. All I want is for you to be safe. I do everything to keep you from knowing about the club business. The less you know, the safer you are."
"You keep saying that, Shadow." She closed her eyes. "But apparently, it's not working…"
He frowned at her comment. She did have a point. "Look, Amy—"
"It's true!" she snapped. "Go ahead and leave! I'm stuck in here for the foreseeable future anyway…" He watched her flop on her side, facing away from him again. She buried her face into her pillow. He could tell she was angry—maybe not with him directly, but with the whole situation, mainly since it affected her career.
"I have another mission, so I'll be out most of the day. I'm leaving Mighty and Manic here to keep watch over you. Don't leave their sight," he instructed. He stood and closed her blinds before he walked back toward her door. "I'm going to take out this threat, I promise." He reached for the door handle and opened it, looking at her one last time with a frown. "I love you, Amy."
There was a long silence before he heard, "…I love you too."
He displayed a small smile before closing the door behind him. Once he was gone, Amy allowed the tears to stream down her face. Her body shook as she cried. She was scared for her safety…perhaps this was what everyone had warned her about.
As Shadow made his way downstairs, Mighty was heading upstairs. The two stopped on the staircase. "How's she doing, man?" Mighty inquired.
"Not good. I filled her in on what happened in Tech City," Shadow admitted. "She's scared."
"Poor kid," Mighty sighed, shaking his head. "Who knows what's running through her head right now."
"I'm assigning you and Manic to guard her today. Please take good care of her. Keep her company and get her mind off this matter," Shadow urged. "I'm worried about her."
"Don't worry, Shadow. She's in good hands with us," Mighty pledged. "I'll do my best to distract her and bring up her spirit."
Shadow nodded curtly. "I appreciate it." He walked around them and went downstairs. "Text me if anything changes."
•~•
Later that morning, Shadow, Mephiles, and Ray went out to see the distribution process of the drugs. Enerjak wanted them to be fully involved in seeing how everything was processed. They met at a seedier part of Mercia and entered an abandoned apartment building with construction caution tape and fencing. Finitevus, Thrash, and Bark were there as well. When Shadow, Mephiles, and Ray strolled up, they heard the butt end of a conversation from Finitevus. "Again, I apologize for his deception on all of us. It won't happen again, sir."
Enerjak nodded. "I know it won't," he replied. "We're lucky we caught it early before it could worsen." His eyes turned to the newest arrivals. "Gentlemen, lovely to see you again."
"Morning," Shadow stated while he coolly shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Well, now that everyone is here. Let's begin our tour." Enerjak and his four bodyguards guided the Brothers into the apartment building. Shadow looked at the scenery before a thought crossed his mind. "How do you manage to hang out in this place? No one calls in complaining of Mobians loitering?" Shadow questioned.
"That's a good question," Enerjak noted. "We do get some calls into the authority. However, the police department for this district is under our thumb. They look the other way for us," he smirked.
Mephiles eyes widened. "You have that much control over the police department?"
"Of course. How do you think we've been able to be in business for so long," he chuckled. Suddenly Enerjak snapped his fingers as they entered the laundry room. "Boys."
Shadow, Mephiles, and Ray watched as his bodyguards moved the washing machine and dryer to the side and lifted a secret door under a rug. They observed as they lifted the secret door open that showed a staircase leading to a downstairs cellar.
"Fascinating," Mephiles mumbled.
"Follow me," Enerjak encouraged with a wiggled finger. The three M.C. members followed Enerjak down the stairs, followed by his four bodyguards. Once down there, they stared at Enerjak's distributors, who were most of Finitevus' working girls. They all worked diligently at their stations, measuring, weighing, and storing the individualized baggies of drugs.
"Wow, you've got it down to a T," Shadow noted as he stared around the room. However, Shadow saw someone familiar in the corner of the room and noticed it was Lien-Da. She also caught his eye and gave him a flirty wink in his direction. Shadow quickly stiffened and looked away to avert all attention in her direction. Mephiles also picked up on it and chuckled before he eyed someone of interest.
"Yes, he certainly does…" Mephiles hovered behind one of the working girls, eying her enviously. She looked gorgeous from the backside. The girl grimaced as she looked over her shoulder and huffed under her breath at his leering gaze.
Finitevus snapped his fingers, catching Mephiles' attention. "Leave my girls alone," he ordered. "They're too busy to entertain you right now."
"He's right, you know," Enerjak seconded. "You'll have to request their other talent at night. Drug distributors by day, sex workers at night."
Mephiles backed away. "My apologies."
"How many dealers do you currently have?" Mephiles questioned.
Enerjak rested his hands on his cane handle. "As of right now, twenty-two. However, we're still expanding."
The group headed back upstairs through the secret door. Enerjak and his bodyguards led the group back outside into the parking lot. "I'm quite impressed with your operation," Mephiles commended. "You seem to be in the know for everything in this industry."
He grinned arrogantly. "I've been around for some time and know a thing or two."
"Speaking of which," Shadow segued. "I was hoping to discuss something with you regarding the other cartel," he worded carefully.
"What is it?" he inquired curiously.
"I'm concerned for my old lady's safety. We found something today, and we were wondering if you could identify and validate it for us."
Before Enerjak could question further, everyone was drawn to the apartment's entrance and parking lot. A car sped into the parking lot, crashing through the sliding metal mesh gate, and hurtled towards the group at full speed.
"Look out!" Bark shouted.
Enerjak's bodyguard quickly shielded and ushered him to safety while two withdrew their guns, ready for battle.
Everyone dispersed in different directions as the car rolled down its windows, and two members of the Suppression Squad appeared from the backseats of the vehicle on either side. They positioned their automatic rifles out of the car and began sporadically shooting at the group. Shadow and Mephiles ducked behind some dumpsters and whipped out their weapons. "Not again," Shadow cursed.
In the meantime, Ray cowered under a parked car and kept his hands over his head as he shook, completely terrified. He still wondered why he wanted to join this line of business. Finitevus, Bark, and Thrash did their best to fend off their attackers as they shot back, hiding behind one of the walls of the building. They ducked out from their hiding positions and attacked the vehicle several times, hitting it and shattering the back window. Enerjak hid behind in his parked car, which had bulletproof glass.
One of his bodyguards jumped out in front of the oncoming vehicle and heroically shot straight at the driver. The driver ducked, missing a bullet that shattered the front windshield. However, when that occurred, the driver did not stop driving and ran over him.
"Ken!" Enerjak shouted.
Everyone watched as the other echidna's body rolled over the car's hood before landing with a hard thud on the pavement. Enerjak left the safety of his car just as the other vehicle passed by. "Sir, don't!" another bodyguard with a weapon shouted.
One of the shooters aimed at Enerjak's bodyguard near the car and took two shots. One hit the bodyguard straight between the eyes, blowing his brains out. The debris hit Enerjak in the face and chest, and the second bullet hit Enerjak in the arm, causing him to stumble backward into his car.
"Shit!" Mephiles cursed.
"Damn it!" Finitevus breathed as he and his men came out from their hiding position.
The vehicle drove off laughing maniacally, leaving destruction in its wake. Everyone reconvened except for Shadow, determined to follow the car to find out where they were stationed. He ran towards his motorcycle, hopped on, and raced after them.
"Brother, wait!" Mephiles called after him, but it was too late. Shadow disappeared down the road on his motorcycle.
•~•
Mighty, Amy, and Manic sat on the couch together in the living room and watched television. Manic sat to Amy's left while he munched on a bowl of greasy potato chips with his eyes fixated on a crappy sitcom re-run. Meanwhile, Amy sat in the middle with her knees up to her chest as she stared at the TV ahead of her. She tried to block out all her worries and concerns, but they plagued her as she stared at the TV. Mighty sat on the right side with one arm draped over the back of the couch behind her. He glanced over at Amy and saw her face was void of expression as if she was disassociating.
"Hey kid, how you holdin' up?" the armadillo whispered.
"You have to ask?" she mumbled, not bothering to turn to look at him.
Manic began laughing with a mouth full of chips as he pointed at the TV, making their moment feel insincere. The other two glared in his direction, thinking he was laughing at her last comment. Manic coughed up bits of chip debris before glancing at the other two beside him. "Sorry, guys," he apologized. "This show is actually funny, and I'm not even stoned. Who would've thought this humor still holds up in today's age?"
Mighty reached for the remote and turned off the TV. Manic deflated when the screen went black. "Hey, what gives? I was watching that," he whined.
"Screw your stupid sitcom, you idiot! Amy needs us right now, and you're not helping!" Mighty berated.
The green hedgehog snapped his fingers in realization. "Ohhh, right. Gotcha." Manic offered the bowl of chips to Amy. "Chips, milady?" he asked in a forced middle age accent, trying to make her laugh.
Amy shook her head, not bothering to look at him. "No thanks, Manic."
His pierced ears dropped at his failed attempt. "Right-o then." He placed the bowl of chips on the coffee table in front of him.
Mighty rolled his eyes at Manic's idiocy before wrapping his arm around her and bringing her closer. "What can we do for you, sweetheart?"
Amy shook her head before closing her eyes and bringing her hands up to hide her face as she wept. Manic cringed, hopped up, and took this as his cue to exit. He winced from his injured leg. "Imma get her some tissues," he gestured with a thumb wag. "You're up, Might." The green hedgehog limped out of the room to give them a moment. Mighty was much better at consoling people when they were down than he was. He knew he could handle it by himself.
"Get it all out," he encouraged. Mighty embraced the pink hedgehog as she sobbed in his arms. "Sweetheart, you're safe here with me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, kid," he pledged while he stroked her quills soothingly. Amy continued to cry and shake in his arms, remaining silent. "Ames, talk to me…Tell me what's going on up there."
Amy finally lifted her head from his shoulder and sniffed. "This isn't normal, Mighty. How can you promise me safety?" she challenged. "Are you and the others going to guard me for the rest of my life?" She wiped at her eyes with the back of her arm. "Everyone just expects me to be calm and not to worry, but I can't stop thinking about it!"
Manic returned to the room, holding out a tissue box. Mighty accepted it and handed it over to her. "I get it, and I honestly don't know how else to ensure you on this. You're just going to have to trust me," he grinned sincerely. "And to answer the other part of the question, we won't have to guard you for the rest of your life because right now, we're working on finding the threat and eliminating it so you can rest easy for good," he explained.
Amy took one of the tissues and wiped her eyes and nose.
Manic staggered to the coffee table, sat on it, and winced slightly. "Doc, I know it's hard to hear us tell you to be calm in this situation, but we're a family. We don't let enemies fuck with our family. We go to war to protect them," he pointed out. "And you're a part of our family."
"He's right, you know," another voice chimed in. It was Rouge as she carried a load of laundry into the living room from downstairs.
Amy looked over to the white bat. "Rouge…"
"Let me tell you a story," she began as she sat beside her. "A few years ago, I was in a position like you were. There was a threat made against me. I felt like how you're feeling right now: vulnerable, scared, helpless, and paranoid. Knuckles assured me that no harm would come my way, and I didn't believe him either."
Amy sniffled. "What did you do?"
"Cry mostly, but Knuckles was right. They found the threat and took him out. The whole time Shadow, Mighty, and Manic had my back. They protected, checked in on me, and made me feel safe."
"Thanks for the testimonial," Manic winked.
Rouge chuckled. "These boys aren't lying when they tell you they'd put their own life down to keep you alive," she added.
"Besides…We already lost someone before we came to this new procedure," Mighty alluded.
Amy blinked a few times as she came to the realization. "You mean…"
The three nodded unanimously as the pieces came together. They had come up with this new plan after Maria's demise. They no longer took any threats as a joke. Everything was taken seriously to keep females in the club safe.
"I told you this when we promised to keep you safe from your ex. We've got your back, kid," Mighty winked. "Now, let's see that gorgeous smile of yours."
Amy couldn't help but blush and turned away as a small smile crept up. "What did we talk about when it came to you flirting with me?" she scolded playfully. He brought her into a good-natured headlock and gave her a nuggy. "Hey," she whined with a laugh.
"Sorry, it's difficult when you've got a gorgeous girl sitting there. I hate seeing pretty girls cry," he chuckled.
She pried her head out of his hold and swatted at him lightheartedly. "Oh, shut up."
Rouge smiled, seeing Amy come out of her funk. She knew the flirting was just harmless fun between the two. The white bat got up and left the room with the laundry basket to head upstairs.
Mighty grinned mischievously. "Make me!" he shouted, pinning her on the couch and tickling her sides.
Amy cried out into a fit of giggles as she tried to break free. "Mighty, stop, ah! Stop it!" she laughed while wiggling underneath him.
"Ooooh," Manic sang with a pointed finger. "If Shadow saw this, he'd be pissed," he teased.
Mighty let up his jestful nature and sat upright, releasing his hold on Amy and allowing her to sit up. "Oh, calm down. She's practically my kid sister."
Manic scratched his head in thought. "I dunno. Do brothers normally tickle their sisters like that? Because I sure don't with Sonia. She'd punch me in the face if I ever tried that," he thought as he stroked his chin.
Mighty grimaced at the idea. "Okay, shut up. You're just making it weird now."
Manic was about to add another comment when his phone suddenly rang. He pulled it out and brought it up to his ear. "Yo," he answered casually. The other two stared at him as he listened to the conversation on the other end. "Right, okay then…See you in fifteen." He hung up the phone and lowered it from his face.
"What happened? Who was it?" Mighty questioned.
"That was Mephiles. One of our business associates was shot. They're bringing him over here for Amy to patch up."
Amy rose to her feet, returning to work mode, and headed for her office. She felt thankful she could focus on something else for the time being. "I'll prepare the office," she announced.
•~•
At that same time, Knuckles and Gadget finally arrived on Angel Island to check in on Locke. Knuckles closed his car door as the two approached Locke's cabin up the road. The echidna looked down at his phone one last time. This was the eighth time he had called, and still, he had not answered. "Come on, what gives, dad?" he mumbled in frustration.
Gadget walked next to him. "If I had to make a guess, Locke lost the charger to his phone again," he tsked. "You know how he is regarding organization and technology."
"You're probably right," he concurred. "The old man is always—" He stopped walking midsentence, causing Gadget to stop, too.
"Sir?" Gadget questioned, looking at his face. He looked like he had gone sick.
Knuckles did not respond as he stared straight ahead. He felt his stomach drop when he saw the front door was left wide open. "Dad..?"
Gadget looked in the same direction and saw the state of the front house. "Oh my…"
Suddenly, Knuckles raced off into a sprint toward the house. Gadget followed closely behind him, feeling nervous about what they'd find inside. Once inside, Knuckles frantically looked all over the living room when they both got inside. However, they were both greeted by a familiar stench—decaying flesh. "Oh, fuck…" Knuckles covered his nose with one of his large hands as he rushed around the room. He could see bullet holes in the walls, blood smeared on the floor, and his father's personal belongings strewn all over the room. It looked like a tornado had gone in and destroyed the place. "Dad!" he yelled, hoping to find his father, but he stifled a cough. The smell was pretty unbearable.
"Locke?" Gadget pulled a bandana around his neck to cover his muzzle and block out the putrid stench. He headed toward one corner of the room. He coughed himself, suppressing from throwing up.
"Dad!" Knuckles cried louder. He scrambled over to his father's body, lying on its side in a dried-up pool of blood. His father's body was already in the process of decaying as flies buzzed around his corpse. It was evident that he had been dead for a couple of days at this rate. "Oh, no, no, no," he croaked. "Dad…" Tears streamed down Knuckles' face as he was inconsolable.
"Shit," Gadget cursed as he whipped out his phone. "We have to let the others know."
Knuckles bowed his head and wailed loudly in agony.
•~•
At that same time, back at the compound, Amy was busy tending to Enerjak on her examination table in her office. Mephiles, Finitevus, Bark, Thrash, and Enerjak's last two bodyguards brought him back. Inside the office were Enerjak, Amy, Mighty, and Mephiles. The president loomed in the office's doorway, carefully studying Amy's every move while she worked on their superior.
The older echidna groaned in pain and gritted his teeth together as Amy worked on pulling out the bullet from his shoulder. Once again, Mighty played the nurse role, helping Amy in surgery. Enerjak yelped as Amy finally removed the bloody bullet from his shoulder. "Fucking hell…"
Amy's ears went back nervously as she stared at her patient. Just from her first introduction, she could tell he was well respected. She didn't want to get on his wrong side, especially since she knew little about him. "My apologies. I know that wasn't pleasant to feel."
"Sir, I can assure you, you're in the best hands," Mephiles avowed.
Enerjak huffed and puffed as he came down from the pain surge. "No, no, it's quite all right. I know she's doing her job."
Amy nodded her head, gesturing for Mighty to come over. She held some surgical cloth against his bleeding wound. "Hold this for me and keep pressure on it, okay?" she instructed.
Mighty shifted over and placed his gloved hands against the cloth to hold in position while Amy ambled around the room for different supplies.
Mephiles' eyes glanced at Enerjak, who was still in plenty of pain. "What would you like us to do about the men who attacked us? It's your call."
Amy couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation. She was surprised Mephiles chose to have club conversations right before her. She pretended to be focused on plunging her syringe into some pain medication. "We need to locate them. They wanted me dead after all," Enerjak replied.
"Very well," Mephiles responded. "My brother is tracking them down this very moment."
"You're very fortunate," Amy commented, breaking into their conversation. "Two or three more inches, the bullet would have hit an artery, and you would've been dead."
"Thank you for patching me up," he commended. "I appreciate your help."
Amy gave him a small smile. "No problem." She injected the syringe into his arm while Mighty kept holding the cloth against his arm. "This is just a pain medication. It should ease your pain some."
He hissed, feeling a burning sensation in his arm after she finished her injection. "Pardon me, but I don't believe I caught your name initially when they brought me in."
She disposed of the syringe. "Oh, my name is Amy Rose," she introduced herself. Mephiles' eyes drifted from the female hedgehog to the echidna, listening to their interaction.
Enerjak gave a curt nod. "I wish I could properly introduce myself in a more natural setting than this," he excused. "However, my name is Enerjak," he replied, extending his good arm for her to shake.
She smiled pleasantly and shook his hand in return. "It's nice to meet you, sir."
Enerjak watched as Amy walked over to the counter to grab some gauze. "Are you one of these gentlemen's old ladies by chance?"
She turned around to look at him for a moment. "I'm Shadow's girlfriend," she answered. She glanced at the black and red armadillo. "I've got it from here, Mighty."
The armadillo backed off, removed his bloodied gloves, disposed of them, and walked to the sink to wash up. Amy compacted the wound and then began to wrap it accordingly. "Shadow seemed worried about you earlier when we met. He was in the process of telling me about it when we were attacked. It appeared he wanted my assistance, so I must ask. What happened?"
Mighty cautiously glanced over his shoulder while washing his hands at the sink. He was eager to hear what would be said. Amy finished wrapping his wound and appeared uncomfortable. She did not know how to respond to his question. Was she allowed to talk about this? Did this classify as club business even though she wasn't technically involved? "Um, ask them." She took off her bloodied gloves and threw them away. "I'll be right back," Enerjak watched her exit the room quickly past the hawkish president.
The echidna sat upright and stared directly at Mephiles. "What's going on?"
Mephiles sighed. "Ms. Rose received a death threat today. It was left on our front porch. We believe it may be linked to Dr. Starline and his business."
"Death threat?" Enerjak repeated, alarmed.
Mephiles nodded again. "Yes, we checked security footage and could not catch any suspects on camera to rule them out."
"Do you still have the letter by chance?" he inquired curiously.
"We do." Mephiles quickly fetched the letter and handed it to the echidna.
Enerjak studied the letter calmly before looking back at Mighty and Mephiles, eager to hear his thoughts. "This is not a threat from any cartel I know of."
Mephiles raised a brow. "You're certain?"
"One hundred percent."
"But isn't that what cartels do? You know, targeting loved ones or family members?" Mighty challenged.
At that moment, Amy had walked by the doorway behind Mephiles just as she heard those words leave his mouth. Everyone froze when they spotted the pink hedgehog lingering by the door. She stared at the three, who all looked away in shame before she backed away and headed in the opposite direction. It was apparent they didn't want her to hear that.
Mighty cringed internally for accidentally allowing that information to slip. He rested a hand on his forehead. "Fuck…"
"She was bound to find out the truth eventually," Mephiles dismissed nonchalantly.
Enerjak looked at the two males. "At any rate, yes, cartels normally target family members, but they don't write up letters warning them about doing it. They brutally kill them first, then write up letters in their blood to explain why," he explained gravely. "We're not the type to warn ahead of time with a letter."
"Who do you suppose this is from, then?" Mephiles inquired.
"I can't say, but this is not something Starline would utilize as a threat," the echidna explained while mentioning the head of the other cartel. "If he wanted to threaten you into cutting ties with me, she'd be dead already as warning one."
Mephiles stroked his chin as he mulled over the information. "Interesting…"
"Maybe it was another outlaw gang?" Mighty speculated.
Mephiles crossed his arms over his chest as he dwelled on who had threatened Amy. The threat had come out of seemingly nowhere and at the most opportune moment—a time when he was beginning to conspire on how to rid of her himself. Espio flashed through his mind for a minute before his phone rang abruptly. Mephiles pulled out his phone and noticed who was calling: Shadow. He quickly answered. "Brother, I've been worried. What's happening?"
"I managed to track down the guys who attacked us. They're located at 8th and main," he explained.
Mephiles walked further into the room and put his phone on speaker so everyone could hear. "I'm here with Enerjak and Mighty now. He wants to make a move against those who attacked him."
Enerjak leaned closer to the phone in Mephiles' outstretched hand. "Shadow, I will have Mephiles send out some of your guys to join you. Do not engage until backup arrives," he instructed.
"Understood, sir."
With that done, Mephiles hung up. "Send Bark, Thrasher, and Mighty out to aid Shadow," Enerjak instructed.
"But I'm supposed to watch after Amy," Mighty interjected cautiously to remind him of his post.
"I'll ensure she's protected here at your home base," Enerjak informed. "I still have my last two guards with me. They're standing outside on watch anyway."
"He's right," Mephiles concurred. "I'll be here with Manic as another form of backup."
Mighty rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "All right, then."
"We've got this all handled, sir," Mephiles pledged. "We'll leave you here to rest in the meantime."
"Kill those bastards," he instructed sternly before he laid back down on the examination table to rest.
However, Manic limped down the hall just as Mighty and Mephiles left the office. "Guys, we've got another issue."
"For fuck's sake, now what?" Mephiles groaned.
"Deputy Silver is here and wants to talk to Amy."
Mighty and Mephiles exchanged glances at one another. "…Perfect timing," Mephiles droned.
•~•
Amy spoke to Deputy Silver outside on the driveway about her death threat. Mighty, Manic, and Mephiles stood in the background. Mephiles leaned against one of the posts on the porch while his eyes watched Amy intently. He was eager to see if she'd say the wrong things only to cause more headaches for them. He knew she was scared. Would there be a chance she'd ask for Silver's help causing more officers to come sniffing around? Mighty leaned his arms along the front porch railing while watching Amy. Manic and Rouge, on the other hand, sat on the bench and smoked a cigarette.
Amy crossed her arms over her chest as she spoke to the silver hedgehog. "Honestly, I'm fine, officer," she lied.
"Are you sure?" Silver questioned with skepticism. "I just finished talking to Ms. Vanilla at the hospital. She's unsure why anyone would want to threaten a sweet, caring, talented resident. She's concerned."
Amy's ears drooped momentarily. "I-I don't know why anyone would want to threaten me either," she agreed. "But Detective Vector and Espio promised me they'd handle this."
Deputy Silver placed a hand on his left hip. "Hm, I see." If Amy were relying on them to uncover the truth, she'd be gravely mistaken for putting her trust in them. He glanced to his left, where he spotted the bikers watching his conversation with Amy like a hawk. They were like her personal guard dogs waiting for the signal to attack. Shaking his head at them, he turned so his back faced them. Silver didn't want them to hear or read his lips. He purposely made sure to block Amy so that they couldn't see or hear her response as well. "Look, I don't know how many more times I need to keep saying this, but I can help you. I'm sure they're telling you the same thing, but I'm the one that won't go against my promise."
She looked into his eyes and could genuinely hear the honesty in his voice. He did want to help her, but the M.C. also had her back. If she asked for his help, it would only cause more issues. Internally, she struggled with the idea of rejecting his offer. "That's very sweet, deputy, but I'll be fine. I'm sure it's just some sick practical joke to scare me."
Silver looked disappointed in her answer. It appeared that this M.C. had brainwashed her already. They had complete control over her actions. "It's your call, Amy." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't hesitate to call me day or night if you need anything."
She nodded as she watched him walk off. "Of course."
Amy approached the group of bikers anxiously waiting for her on the front porch. She walked up the steps just as Silver entered his car and drove off. Mephiles slithered over to her side as his reptilian eyes bore into hers. Mighty and Manic hung out in the back, continuing to listen. "What did he want?" the president probed.
"An anonymous tip told him about my death threat," she explained. "He was questioning me about it. Then he asked if I wanted his help."
"And what did you say to him?" he pressed.
She gulped, feeling like she was under scrutiny. "I-I told him that I wasn't concerned that it was real and that I felt safe," she answered.
His eyelids lowered sensually, and he smirked charmingly at her, pleased by her response. "That's a good girl, Ms. Rose."
Amy and Rouge shot him a funny look at his comment once he wasn't looking at the pink hedgehog. His statement made them both oddly uncomfortable.
"Hopefully, he won't be back sniffing around here for clues," Rouge added.
Mighty headed for the steps off the front porch. "I guess we should get going then."
Amy's ears perked. "Wait, you're leaving too?"
Mighty stopped near the steps. "Shit, that's right. I forgot to tell you. Shadow called. He needs backup, so a few of the guys and I are meeting with him."
She frowned and rubbed at her right wrist nervously. "Wait, what about protecting me?"
"Manic and Finitevus will stay behind to watch over you with both of Enerjak's bodyguards."
"Not to mention, I'll also be here to keep you safe, my dear," Mephiles added from behind.
Amy couldn't help but replay Deputy Silver's words in her mind. I'm sure they're telling you the same thing, but I'm the one that won't go against my promise. She feigned acceptance of this decision. "Oh, well, stay safe."
Rouge stood from her sitting position and approached the pink hedgehog. She placed a hand on her shoulder while they watched the boys leave. Mighty, Finitevus, Thrash, and Bark collectively climbed onto the back of their bikes and geared up. Amy, Mephiles, Manic, and Rouge watched from the porch as the boys rode out of the compound and down the streets. The subtle roar of their engines died off once they were out of sight.
The group began to head back inside and scattered amongst different parts of the house. Amy followed behind the white bat as another thought crossed her mind. "Rouge," she whispered from behind her.
The white bat paused and turned to look at her. "What's up?"
"Can I talk to you in private?" she asked quietly.
Rouge nodded. "Of course, hon. Follow me downstairs," she instructed. Rouge led Amy to the basement, where they could talk in private. Once downstairs, Rouge turned to face her as she hopped on the pool table. "What did you want to talk about?"
"How much do you know about club business?" Amy interrogated.
Rouge shrugged. "Not much, hon. Knuckles tends to keep me in the dark."
"Shadow does the same thing with me," Amy concurred. "But you must know what they really do for a living…" she surmised.
Rouge glanced down at her nails while crossing one leg over the other. "Of course! They sell illegal guns to other gangs and high bidders. I've pretty much been able to figure that out."
She looked away nervously. "What if I were to tell you I believe they're now involved with a cartel…"
Rouge shot her an alarmed look. "No way," she dismissed. "The one thing I know about this club is that they don't mess with drugs. They've always been very adamant on keeping drugs out of Mercia."
Amy rubbed her left arm. "I don't know, Rouge. I think they've gotten involved in something serious."
"I-I don't understand. What's brought on all this speculation?"
"That guy they brought in for me to patch up," she started. "He and Mephiles were discussing the death threat left this morning and whether it involved anything with their opposition. I heard Mighty mention a cartel; I had just walked by when they discussed it. They all went silent when they realized I had overheard them."
Rouge looked concerned by the news. "This has to be some mistake…"
Before Amy could say another word, they heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Ray, and he glanced over the railing at the two girls. "Excuse me, ladies, but you are wanted upstairs."
"Why?" Rouge asked.
"Detective Espio arrived and has some news for the group," he informed. Amy and Rouge returned upstairs and spotted Espio surrounded by Mephiles and Manic. Manic had a gutted expression, while Mephiles shook his head in pity. The atmosphere suddenly shifted, and Amy and Rouge could tell something big had happened.
"Espio, what's going on?" Rouge inquired.
Manic, Mephiles, and Espio turned to look at the two girls approaching them. Espio looked somber in expression. "I have unfortunate news to bring your way," he began.
Rouge felt a chill run down her spine from his tone, and Amy felt the white bat grab her hand for reassurance.
"…Locke was murdered," Espio announced.
•~•
Meanwhile, with Shadow, the vice president hid in wait behind a large dumpster outside the run-down-looking apartment complex. With his gun drawn and ready, he looked over his shoulder behind him as footsteps approached. He looked relieved when he spotted Mighty, Thrash, and Finitevus arrive as backup. "It's about time," he scoffed.
The group huddled down behind the dumpster near Shadow. "Apologies for the delay," Finitevus apologized. "I'm afraid we were tied up with the authorities without notice."
"Same shit, different day," Shadow tsked while rolling his eyes. However, he did a double-take when he realized Mighty was there. "Hold on. What are you doing here? I thought I gave you orders to guard Amy," he whispered harshly.
The armadillo put his hands up defensively. "I know, but your brother ordered me to be your backup. Besides, Manic, Mephiles, and Enerjak's two bodyguards are back at the house keeping watch. She'll be fine," he assured.
Shadow sighed. "Fine, you're here now. I guess that's all that matters."
"What's the plan?" Thrash questioned.
"I surveyed the group heading into that apartment complex. Only two Suppression members left the vehicle I tracked," he gestured with a nod towards the building. "We need to infiltrate, get answers, and eliminate the threat," he explained.
The others pulled out their weapons of choice, various handguns. Mighty undid the safety lock on his gun. "I'm ready whenever you are."
The group managed to approach the complex sneakily. One by one, the members made their way by crouching or running to their newest hiding position: whether it was a parked car, tree, or another dumpster. Eventually, everyone went to the apartment's front door, where the opposing M.C. members were stationed. Shadow made a countdown on his fingers to his crew behind them as they prepared to kick down the door. He held up three fingers and slowly put them down before he held one finger in the air. He raised his left foot and kicked it into the door, kicking it wide open with great force. The Brothers M.C. infiltrated the apartment as they heard screams of horror from inside the apartment.
With their guns drawn, Shadow, Finitevus, Mighty, and Thrash entered the living room part of the apartment. They spotted a confused and terrified family of chipmunks huddled on the couch together. The father, a grey chipmunk, kept his arms wrapped around his wife and his daughter protectively. "Please don't hurt us," he pleaded. His family shook in terror in his arms.
Shadow kept his gun pointed at the father. "We don't want to hurt you, but tell us where those Suppression members are," he demanded. The others quickly scoped the area out, checking other rooms for the hiding members. Unfortunately, all the rooms were clear for now and were nowhere to be found.
"I don't know. I-I don't know w-where they are," the father stammered.
Mighty and the others came back to the living room. "It's clear, Shadow," Thrash announced, keeping his gun ready.
The dark hedgehog placed his focus back on the father. "Who are you to them anyway? What is your affiliation?" Shadow interrogated.
"I'm the driver," he stated. "That's all they hired me to do. Honest!"
"You must know where they might go at this point. I didn't see them leave the premise since you got back," Shadow continued.
"I swear, I don't," he assured. "They said they'd kill my family if I didn't help them. Please, I don't want them to get hurt."
Shadow eyed the crying chipmunk daughter, burying her face into her mother's chest. He softened momentarily, knowing he'd never let harm come to an innocent child. "I can promise you. We're nothing like them. We want to know where those guys went."
"Okay," the father replied in defeat. "I'll tell you…"
Shadow looked at the mother for a moment, who held his gaze. "You," he pointed. "Take the girl and get out of here. We don't want to have to hurt anyone." The wife looked at her husband apprehensively before he nodded. The wife ushered her terrified daughter out of the apartment and past the other M.C. members. Now alone, Shadow lowered his gun. "So, where are they?"
The father eyed a closet behind them. "There's a secret door to another apartment next door," he said quietly. "They're in there," he pointed.
However, before anyone could act, the Suppression members returned through the front door with hostages. "Not so fast, or we'll kill the females," one of the Suppression members announced.
Mighty's eyes widened in alarm as he recognized one of the members. "Jeffrey?"
Jeffrey St. Croix, an ex-Brothers of Chaos member, stood with the mother captive. He had one arm under her neck while his other hand pointed his pistol at her temple. The other member, Patch D' Coolette, had the girl in his grasp by the back of the hair and his gun pointed under her chin. "Good to see you again, Might," Jeffrey smirked arrogantly. The husband looked anxious as he saw his family in the gang's possession.
Shadow narrowed his brows and aimed his weapon in the skunk's direction. Mighty, Finitevus, and Thrash mimicked Shadow's actions. "You joined the Suppression?" Shadow seethed.
Jeffrey shrugged. "I told you I missed the respect I had when I wore that leather cut. You kicked me out, so I found a new club to take me in."
Shadow eyed the daughter and mother they had managed to grab on their way out. "Let the females go," he ordered. "They have nothing to do with this."
"And why would I do that," Jeffrey challenged. "You're here to kill us, aren't you? These two make perfect shields. I know how the M.C. operates."
"Why are you doing this?" Shadow questioned.
"Because you joined the drug industry—that's Suppression territory." Jeffrey cracked a grin. "Ain't it funny? Remember when I suggested entering the drug business at that school charity event? You all shot it down back then. Now, look at you. Bunch of hypocrites…"
Shadow grimaced, still disgusted with how they had ended up like this. "Times have changed."
"I can see that now."
"Did you leave that threatening message on our front porch this morning?" Mighty questioned.
"Message?" Jeffrey repeated, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Based on his response, it appeared he had nothing to do with it. "Never mind, just let them go already. You would never hurt a female, Jeff," Mighty reminded.
Jeffrey lifted an amused brow. "I wouldn't?" He casually fired off one round, blowing out the wife's brains. The daughter screamed in terror as she watched her mother fall to the ground, dead. Some of the wife's blood splattered onto Shadow's shirt and jacket. The father began to sob as he fell to his knees, clutching the carpet beneath him. He wailed in terror.
Shadow's eyes widened in horror as he prepared to pull the trigger. "You fucking piece of shit!" he screamed.
Patch suddenly shoved the daughter over to Jeffrey, whom he secured in the exact grip. The daughter squirmed in his grasp while she continued to sob uncontrollably. Jeffrey kept a hardened and unfazed expression. "As Shadow said, times have changed. Try me again, and I'll show you what I'm truly capable of."
Mighty stared at the deceased female lying on the carpet as her head oozed blood. His blue eyes landed on the skunk again. "What the fuck, Jeffrey!"
Finitevus clenched his teeth as he glared at the skunk. "What the hell do you want?" he shouted.
"Put your weapons down and surrender."
"Not a chance in hell," Shadow barked. "Who's to say you won't end up killing the girl as well?"
"That's a risk you'll have to take." Suddenly a bullet whizzed past Jeffrey's head, hitting the wall behind him. He glared at the culprit, the husband on his knees, holding out a hidden gun he had found under the couch. His arms shook as he aimed it in Jeffrey's direction. "You killed my wife," he sobbed.
Jeffrey growled. "You son of a…" He moved his gun away from the daughter's head in his direction and shot the husband in the gut.
The girl screamed as Jeffrey released his hold, allowing her to flee. He took a few shots at the other members but missed. A shoot-out occurred within the building. Shadow ducked behind a kitchen counter as bullets whizzed past him. Realizing they were outnumbered, Patch shot at the girl, hitting her in the chest, and fled. Mighty's eyes widened as he saw the young girl collapse. "No!"
Jeffrey was quick behind him. Finitevus and Thrash ran after them, taking shots but missed. Shadow looked at the daughter and husband bleeding near the deceased wife. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Urgently, he looked at his men. "We need to help them!"
The husband stared at his daughter as she bled out and took her last few breaths. "Sarah…"
Finitevus ran towards the door. "We can't. We need to get out of here. The police will be here soon."
Everyone ran out of the building except for Shadow. He glanced at the father, who had just watched his wife and daughter perish. His breathing slowed down as he took his final breath. Shadow frowned at the sight. He was utterly helpless. "I'm so sorry…"
•~•
While lying in bed, Amy could hear the roars of the engines coming into the compound. She sat in bed and wiped her eyes as she peeked from behind her window's curtains. She noticed Shadow, Mighty, and the others had returned home. She crept out of her bedroom and knelt by the upstairs staircase to eavesdrop when they came in. When Shadow entered, Mephiles was the first to greet him at the door. He noticed his clothes were covered in splattered blood. "What happened?" he questioned.
Shadow looked exhausted as he placed his keys in a dish on the table by the front door. "A lot happened," he confirmed. "We're all fine."
"That's good to hear," he nodded slowly.
Shadow walked further into the house as Mephiles followed behind him. "How's Amy?" he inquired.
The two ended up by the staircase, the perfect area where the pink hedgehog could hear their conversation. "She's okay, I suppose," Mephiles shrugged. "However, I must warn you, brother. She knows the truth now."
Shadow eyed his older brother, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
"She knows about our involvement with the cartel," he clarified.
Shadow closed his eyes, sighed, and dragged a hand down his wary face. This was another problem he'd have to deal with. "Shit…"
"It wasn't me," he defended. "She accidentally overheard it."
"I'll go talk to her, but I need to clean up before she sees me," he explained, gesturing to his filthy appearance. Hearing him approaching her, Amy quickly and quietly scampered back into her bedroom as she heard him ascending the staircase.
He didn't see or hear her as he passed Amy's cracked-open bedroom door. Unbeknownst to him, Amy peeked into the hall, where she spotted his blood-stained clothes. She gasped at first, wondering if he had been injured, although it appeared he was in good health, so she could conclude it was not his blood. However, she was able to quickly piece together that whatever his mission was today ended in bloodshed. Shadow entered the bathroom to take a shower first.
Amy walked back over to her bed and sat down on the edge. After today's events, everything had been a whirlwind. First, she received a death threat and learned that Locke had been brutally murdered. Things were starting to accelerate around here, and not for the better. She had spent much of the day crying in fear for her safety, but her tears had shifted to losing her dear friend. Not much had been said about what exactly had happened to Locke, only that he had been murdered and dead for a few days. However, Amy had to wonder if the opposing cartel had some link to his demise. At this moment, she felt completely numb, like she could shed no more tears. She flopped backward onto her mattress and stared at the ceiling in thought.
Her bedroom door cracked open several minutes later, and Shadow appeared in the doorway. He was clean and shirtless from his shower and wore long pajama pants. He stood there for a moment in the dark, trying to determine if Amy was asleep. "Rose, you still awake?" he asked quietly.
The pink hedgehog rolled over on her side, reached for the lamp on her nightstand, and turned it on. "Yes."
Seeing her sitting in her PJs in the center of her bed, Shadow closed the door behind him and entered her room. Amy kept her head down, unable to even look at him as he sat beside her on the bed's edge. He could tell she had a lot on her mind from her body language alone. "Amy, about Locke…" he began carefully. "I am so sorry. I know you two grew close recently," he apologized sincerely.
Amy kept her hands in her lap as she stared at the floor. "He didn't deserve to go out that way."
Shadow sighed. "I know, which is why I vow to get retribution for his death," he said, feeling his fists tighten at his sides.
Amy closed her eyes, disappointed by his response. "How is more violence going to solve this problem exactly?" she challenged, feeling her tone edge. "It's only a matter of time before this comes in my direction."
Relaxing his tense stance, Shadow rested a hand on her knee as he looked at her sincerely. He shook his head slowly, adamantly disagreeing with her previous comment. "I'd never let that happen."
Amy swiped Shadow's hand from resting on her knee, and her brows creased. "You promise me this time and time again but look what happened to Locke," she challenged. "And to make matters worse, I find out you've gotten the club involved with a cartel. Are you insane, Shadow?"
He grimaced. "It's not true…we-"
"—Stop lying to me. I know what I heard," she snapped.
Shadow sulked in defeat. "Fine, I'll give you the truth. I didn't realize drugs would be part of the guns' deal we made," he began.
Amy scoffed under her breath and crossed her arms over her chest. "Let me guess. This was Mephiles' decision?"
Shadow bowed his head in disappointment. "Yes. The deal we made was complicated. He promised me if I helped get the votes, he'd let me leave the club with you."
Amy sighed in disappointment. "Shadow, your brother…He can't be trusted. I know you don't want to hear it, but it's true."
"He's helping protect the club," Shadow challenged.
"No, he's protecting himself," she snapped back. "You guys are only three weeks into this, and look what's happened so far. What's this going to look like in a month?"
Shadow pondered the question. She had a point. "I thought I knew what we were getting into, but as it turns out, we're in over our heads," he agreed.
"And what about today's mission?" she probed.
"What about it?"
She fiddled with her hands. "I saw how you looked when you came home. You had blood all over your clothes…Did you kill someone today?"
There was a moment of silence before he answered. "No, I didn't kill anyone but failed to save someone..."
"Guns, cartels, drugs, and murder," she listed. Amy rose from sitting on her bed and walked to her bedroom door. "I love you, Shadow, but I-I don't know if I can keep doing this."
Shadow felt his body freeze at her words. Her insinuation made his stomach sink. "You want to end our relationship?"
Amy couldn't bear to look him in the eye and instead looked off to the side. "I don't know yet…I can't imagine life without you. There's just a lot of danger around." She reached for the door handle to her bedroom door and opened it. "I'd like for you to sleep in your room tonight. I'll need time to think."
Shadow stood and made his way out of her room. He stopped outside her bedroom, feeling the world's weight on his shoulders. "Amy, I know this isn't much, but I'm sorry. I never wanted this to happen."
"I know that." She rested her head against the doorframe. "I guess I finally understand why you were so resistant to starting a relationship with me. It's like what everyone has tried to warn me about. This lifestyle is dangerous, right?"
Mephiles had been eavesdropping in on the couple's dispute outside her bedroom door. He smirked victoriously, hearing their disagreement. It looked like more cracks were finally forming.
AN: I hope you enjoyed reading the latest chapter. Please remember to leave a review. Please...