Aftermath

*Joseph*

Luca was angry and wanted to meet with me at a mutual location. I didn't talk trade over the phone so I didn't have time to explain. We agreed on a meeting. I am sure he is confused. I never go into his territories. We have a gentlemen's agreement. Luca was a monster, similar to me. He would understand my anger. We could never best each other so eventually we just reached a truce. I accepted the meeting so I could make sure he understood the brotherhood meant no disrespect and wouldn't go against the deal we made all those years ago. Zeus had called ahead and told Ark to ready some rooms for us for the next few days. He agreed but was hesitant. Henry called the doctor and he was going to meet us there to check out Sandra. She was so bruised and beaten. I wanted to beat him to death where he sat but she had been through enough, and she comes first. Before my revenge, before my monster. I would make him suffer. I can't imagine what I would have done if I hadn't found her. I would burn the state to the ground to get back to her. I realized I was holding her tightly and tried to loosen my grip, I was so afraid she would disappear. I ran my fingers through her hair and felt tears trying to form once again in my eyes. I couldn't let them see me cry. I hadn't cried in so long, but when I saw her beaten and tied up, half-naked across that bed, I couldn't control it. My beautiful Sunshine. I hurt so badly for her. I wanted so badly to take it all away. "Hey, boss?" Henry interrupted my thoughts, which I was grateful for. I looked at him to tell him to continue but quietly. He was afraid that we couldn't trust Ark enough right now. He was uncomfortable with the idea of taking my precious Sandra around all his unknown men as well. I couldn't say I disagreed with him, but I would never let her out of my sight again. I looked down at her and smiled. "I wouldn't suggest anyone come near her." He knew me, he knew I meant I would end them if they did. He looked at Zeus, "You might want to call Ark back and tell him the girl is off limits to anyone there." Zeus agreed, calling him back quickly after. Ark said he understood and hung up to prepare for us. Henry was staring off making it obvious to me he was thinking hard about something. "What's wrong Henry?" He shrugged his shoulders. "We felt something was off when we were at Ark's place, we all did, Do you think I should do some investigating during our stay?" I thought about it, he wasn't wrong, something felt off in there. I agreed with him to do some investigating but to be careful. One problem at a time. I wanted to focus on Sandra. I wanted to focus on finally getting rid of Ryan for good. I wanted to focus on moving on with my beautiful Sunshine. First I had to deal with Luca. I don't need a war.

When we pulled up in front of the place I softly said Sandra's name in her ear. She jumped awake, fear in her eyes, flinching from the pain. This made me instantly want to kill the trash in the trunk. "I'm sorry I frightened you, darling, We are here." When she looked into my eyes she relaxed and smiled at me, "I must have been sleeping well." She leaned up and kissed me again, flinching more. "We have a doctor here to look at you, hopefully, he can help with some of that pain." Jay opened the car door and I helped her get out slowly. "What about?" She pointed towards the trunk. I felt my blood turn cold at the thought of him. "He will stay there, if he dies, he dies," I said sharply. She nodded and leaned her head against my arm. I picked her up and carried her through the door with the rest following us. Ark welcomed us, showing us to our rooms. I told them we would meet after the doctor had a chance to check on Sandra and I got her to bed. They nodded and headed to their rooms to get cleaned up and changed. When we got to the room, the doctor was waiting. Sitting her on the bed I helped her remove her jacket and hoodie. She flinched tearing up as she had to move around. The doctor moved closer and bent down in front of her. For the first time, I thought I saw sympathy in his eyes. He gently lifted her chin and felt the bones in her face. She didn't move. "She will need to remove her clothing Smoke, So I can see any other injuries." She heard the words and grabbed my hand tight. I leaned down kissing her forehead. I whispered in her ear, "I got you, baby, You're okay, I trust the doctor." She nodded slowly lifting her arms above her head. I helped her remove the rest of her clothing. He told her to stand and she did. Her body was heavily bruised and welted. I felt my rage start to grow, but swallowed it so I could keep helping her feel safe. She kept eye contact with me as he documented the wounds on her body. I watched as the doctor shook his head and wrote stuff down. He leaned down to look at her bottom and she tensed. "That's enough doc, you got enough." I grabbed a robe from the bathroom door and wrapped her in it, letting her sit back down on the bed. He looked down at his notebook shaking his head again. When he looked back up I could see the uncomfortable feelings cross over his face.

"Is there any internal damage?" He asked looking down between her legs. "No!" She said angrily staring up at him. "I am sorry miss, I have to ask." He walked over to me with a few bottles. "Pain meds, antibiotics, and a sedative. She needs rest, so she can heal." He reached into his bag again reaching me an ointment. "To help with the bruises and open cuts." He looked down at her again apologizing for having to invade her privacy. He told me that Ark had paid him on arrival and to call if anything changed. I shook his hand thanking him for coming to check on her. He gets paid handsomely but he usually can't come on such short notice. He turned to walk out of the room but turned at the door. "I don't know what monster hurt this beautiful woman, but I hope you ripped his fucking head off." he turned and continued to walk out of the door. I walked over and sat beside Sandra, she was looking at the floor. "You know I think that is the most that man has ever spoken to me." I smiled. She looked up at me and still had tears in her eyes. "Please don't cry Sand, I am so sorry I let this happen to you, I will make him wish he was dead every day until you no longer feel the pain he caused." I was pleading with her. She looked up and put her hand on her favorite spot on my cheek. "It's not your fault Jo, I don't blame you." She laid her head on my arm. "Well I will get you something to eat so you can take these meds, then we will get you clean and in something comfortable, so you can rest." She looked up at me and stuck her tongue out. "I can't eat boss, I just want to shower and sleep." She smiled at me. Oh, how I missed her snarky comments. "You are most beautiful and shall always get as you wish." I reached for her hand and helped her steady herself. I helped her undress and then undressed myself getting into the hot shower with her. I grabbed one of the new loofas left for us in the room making it as sudsy as I could. I told her to hold the shelf on the wall so I could wash her body. I gently cleaned her from her neck to her toes. Then lathered shampoo into her hair. "I am sorry we did not have your shampoo darling, We were on short notice." she just kept her eyes closed and smiled. After rinsing her off she turned towards me and pulled my lips to hers, she moaned into my mouth.

She looked up at me biting her lip. "I can't baby, You're hurt, It will hurt you." She closed her eyes shaking her head no. "I want you to take me to paradise."