Breathe

*Joseph*

I watched Ryan fall to the floor. She shot him. She did it. Why would I let her do that? She was shaking still pointing the gun. I ran my hand down her arm to her hand taking the gun from her. "He's dead?" she said as more of a question. Henry walked around us and went to Ryan. Kicking his gun away he leaned down for a minute looking for a pulse. "Is he dead?" Sandra asked again. Henry shook his head yes standing back up, and calling for a clean-up crew. I knew he would be. She aimed for his head. She looked up at me with tears streaming down her cheeks, "He's gone Joseph, I killed him!" She started sobbing. I pulled her into my chest. She was trembling. "C'mon my queen, let's get you home." She nodded into my chest. I picked her up and carried her back out the door. "Z grab Ark, let's go." He nodded and did as I asked. Jay told the rest of the army to get the South back to how it was before. Pan was told to check on Candy and get control of his territory. When Jay entered the vehicle he turned to look at me. "Is she okay?" He said breathing heavily. "Did she get shot?" Zeus asked next. Before I could answer she pulled her head away from me, "I shot him Jay, I'm sorry." She still had tears coming down. I looked up at him scowling, why was she apologizing to him? "It's okay Sunshine, he was a monster, you just put him down," Henry told her, which was the truth. Taking a life rips a part of you though. I knew that, we all did. "Are we taking Ark to the safe house?" Z asked. I nodded, "He won't be leaving. I feel we need more information from him. I dont know what he knows about Takara." I said quietly. Sandra sat up and looked at me, no longer crying. "Ryan said Luca has Takara. He said she is his slave." She trembled when she said it. I think I did too. Sandra didn't know what that meant fully, but I did.

Luca kept these women in a room. They weren't allowed to wear any actual clothes. They had to wear lingerie all the time. He made them shower every morning and get completely shaved. They had to wear a certain make-up. Had to weigh a certain amount. They even had to have a certain color of hair. He would go do business all day and then come back and make them service him. He would whip them if he had a hard day. He would make them dance for him, or strip for him and his friends. His friends weren't allowed to touch him. He was very possessive. How was I going to save this girl without causing a war for the whole damn brotherhood? I looked down at Sandra knowing I had to figure it out. I could pay someone to take her place. What was I thinking? I could never do that. Not when I know what he does to them. Luca tended to get bored of these girls. Sometimes they would end up at the South Hotel, high and looking for work. Dime was instructed to send them to get help. I would have to figure it out. We had to do it. She needed us to do it. It would get done. She started to fall asleep which made me feel a little better. It was getting late. Luckily she was able to rest. I was afraid she wouldn't be. The boogeyman was gone. She had slayed him herself. I laid my head back closing my eyes as well. "How are we going to save her Bro?" I heard Zeus ask me quietly. I could tell he was thinking the same thing I was. I looked over at him and shook my head. I had no idea. "We have to," was all I could say. He shook his head yes in agreement. I looked back to Henry asking if he called ahead about Ark. He told me they had set up a cage in the basement. "Basically they set up a kennel for a dog, he can't get out, he can't climb out. He will be stuck. They left a chair, a bucket, and some water bottles." Henry smiled at me. He had a lot of hate towards Ark now. Well, we all did. I ordered Henry and Zeus to take him to his cage when we got there. "I am going to kill him after we get all we need," I said sharply. "I don't need another escape on my hands."

When we pulled up to the house I slowly woke Sandra up. She didn't jump, she looked up at me and softly smiled. "I think I am going to head up to our floor if that's okay. I need a shower. I am tired." I nodded at her kissing her gently as she got out. She looked over seeing Ark being removed from the back. She looked up at me her eyes darting between mine. "He will be gone by morning my queen," I said putting my hand on her cheek. She relaxed some walking towards him. I had beaten him pretty badly already. She punched him hard in the face. "That was for Tanya." She said before turning and walking towards the house. "Take him to his cage." They both looked at me nodding before walking towards the storm door. "Zeus you may go check on Tanya before we start. Henry checks on the South. Jay, I want a word. Everyone meets down in the basement at midnight." I said looking at each of them. I walked towards Jay on the porch. He looked right into my eyes. He wasn't worried. "Why did she apologize?" It had been bothering me all the way home. "I told her not to shoot him unless she had to boss. I told her it darkens your soul to take a life." He kept eye contact as he spoke. He wasn't wrong. "Well, you are going to tell her she did nothing wrong. She doesn't need to feel like you are looking at her differently." I said sharply. "I don't look at her differently Smoke, but why did you allow her to do that to herself?" He was being quite sharp himself. "She wanted to. I told her I would never control her outside of the bedroom." I said adding in a piece of unneeded information so he remembered whose queen she was. "Yes boss, I understand." he looked away. Good. "I am going to go check on her, Meet you at midnight," I said walking into the house.

When I got to our room she was sitting in a towel on the edge of our bed. She had a small whiskey glass in her hand. The light beautifully glittered across her damp shoulders. "Hello darling, Are you okay?" I asked walking closer to her. She looked up at me and smiled reaching for my hand. "Is it bad that I am okay? I don't feel guilty Jo, I feel peaceful." She looked up at me with her grey eyes shining. No darkness. Just passion. "That's perfectly okay my goddess, He was a monster. What Henry told you was correct." I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Is it bad that all I can think about is being inside of you?" She leaned her head back giving me complete access to her neck. I leaned down and bit her softly hearing a moan in my ear. She let go of her towel making her completely naked in front of me. I stood up and took her glass sitting it on the dresser. I looked down at her and my heart started beating harder. I could never get bored with this woman. I loved her. Every inch of her. Especially her brain. I walked over to her pushing her back on the bed. It took me seconds to become as naked as she was. I crawled on top of her and she spread her legs open for me. I reached my hand down instantly finding her clit. She was already wet and ready for me to slide inside of her. She gasped as I entered her completely. "I love you, my queen," I whispered in her ear as I slowly went in and out, She opened her eyes looking directly into mine. I saw the darkness appear across her face. She wanted me to take her. I placed my hand around her throat and pushed her legs up high. I went as hard and deep as I could. Over and over while she screamed for me. I felt her tense and start to release and I slowed. I waited for her to relax and then started again. "Please." She begged as she started to come close again. I smiled at her pressing my lips to hers hard. I went in as deep as I could and we exploded together. I bit down into her shoulder as the pleasure waves overtook me. I released her throat and looked into her beautiful grey eyes. Once we relaxed I hated to move out of her. I knew this was my true peace. Being inside of her was my favorite spot. "I love you too my king," she said smiling up at me.

I got up slowly exiting her watching her tremble as I did. "Don't get dressed, I have a few things I need to take care of and I want to come back to my naked woman in our bed," I smirked at her while she bit her lip tempting me to stay in bed with her. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. I pulled my pants and shirt back on. "Keep that thought my beautiful girl," I said as I covered her up. She smiled at me mischievously before closing her eyes. I placed her comm on the nightstand beside her phone. "If you need me, darling, your comm is right here." She nodded but didn't open her eyes. I turned to walk out and heard her speak up, "Don't allow him to live." I turned around promising this would be his last day before walking out of the door. When I got to the basement the others were all there waiting for me. Ark looked up when I entered the room.

"Hello Boss, I got some information you need. I won't tell you unless you let me live." He smiled.