War Games

*Joseph*

I watched as Sandra stomped off towards Tanya. I could tell soon after we went to investigate the commotion that she believed the girl may have had more to do with this mess with Five than she was acting like she did. I am sure she has trauma, and maybe she doesn't realize what she is playing with here, but I know Sandra will handle it. I walked towards the office with Jay when I heard something that sounded close to "what the fuck.." and some more mumbles come out of my girl as she dragged Tanya away. I noticed she wasn't on the crutches anymore, but she still was limping behind her. Zeus looked almost lost standing there alone in the foyer. Jay called for him snapping him out of his trance-like state and he joined us in the office before Jay locked the door. He pointed to his ear and we all turned off comms, not to keep Sandra out, but in case anyone else could catch the frequency. "I know Santino promised to wait boss, but some of the guards in the North house messaged me and said that more Italian guys are coming in up there. They saw some large SUV-type vehicles with tinted windows pass through multiple times today. We burned down his main house, but not the other ones they kept up there. That bitch had several. We need to talk with the girl." He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall behind him. He was frustrated. "We can't talk to her right now," I said remembering what Henry had told us earlier. "Boss, I know she is having a rough go, but we need this information." He said sharply. "I will talk to Henry myself," he added when I didn't respond fast enough. "Jay, the girl is not stable," Zeus said telling me Henry had spoken with him about it too. I shot him a questioning look and he nodded at me. "I know that Henry told me when I requested a new guard for Tanya." When he said her name Zeus had an obvious change in his demeanor. "Does she think Tanya made Five want to kiss her?" He asked out loud to no one. I didn't know what to say to him. I know how Zeus is and it wouldn't take much for him to build bulletproof walls around himself again. "You will have to talk to her Z." Seemed like the best answer I could come up with. I looked over at Jay who was still standing tense staring at me. "Brother, I don't know if we can talk with the girl. Talk to Henry and see what is going on with her. If she is capable, we will have her brought here to talk." I said giving my final ruling. I won't force a mentally unstable woman to expose herself to more trauma just to protect my brotherhood. I sometimes forget with Jay's training he will do whatever it takes.

I heard a small knock on the office door so I motioned for Jay to open it. When she walked in, like the first time, my breath left my lungs. I don't think their will ever be a day when I don't have my breath taken from her walking across my office floor. However, she was looking straight at Zeus. "You need to talk to her. She didn't want Five, she wanted to be with you, but she most definitely flirted with him. She said she got lonely and didn't realize he took it so seriously. You can do that to these guys. I already gave her my lengthy opinion Z, but I think she needs to hear it from you too." She was fuming. I tried hard not to giggle at her hard stance. Firm, as tall as she could be, with her arms crossed, and her lips thin. Yes, she was pissed. I smiled and she caught it out of the corner of her eye. "I know you think I am cute when I am angry boss, but this is unacceptable. I had this conversation with her before. Five is a good guard, and he doesn't deserve to suffer because she led him to believe there was something instead of smoke and mirrors." I nodded at her but couldn't seem to get my smile to fade. Maybe it was her fierceness or the memory of what I had done in the office not that long ago, but I felt a little giddy in my heart. I guess it could have been the pain meds or the fact that we were slowly reaching the witching hour. "I am taking this fiesty killer with me and we are going to sleep in a warm, nonhospital bed." I stood up slowly, but once I was up I had her hand and was halfway down the hall. I was tired. She probably thought I was going to take her again, but I wasn't up to it. I truly just wanted to lay there, in a king-size bed, with this beautiful woman in my arms until we both slept peacefully together. When we got into the room, I didn't even feel like pouring a drink. I looked over at Sandra just as a large yawn escaped her little pink lips. I licked my lips, but the thought of trying that again gave me an unnatural amount of pain.

She went and got cleaned up before changing into her pajamas. Next, she helped me shower and apply fresh bandages. I watched as she worked admiring her. She had truly had come so far since that girl behind the iron bars. My stomach ached when I realized she was probably well versed in dressing wounds, thinking of that monster, and feeling relief again that he was gone. I reached up and touched her cheek and she smiled at me sweetly melting me with just a look. "God I love you, darling," I said as she slid into bed beside me. She replied and kissed me softly. I watched as she drifted easily off to sleep laying beside me warm and protected. I thought about all the sleepless nights I had caused her in the past week as I ran my fingers through her hair. The thought of her crying, scared, and alone put that sick feeling right back in the bottom of my stomach. I closed my eyes and tried to fight the darkness with her bright light. I thought of her face to block out the sight of the gun pointed at me. I thought of her voice to block out the sounds from that room. Eventually, I drifted as well.

*It's cold out, everything feels numb. Why is it so cold in here? I looked up and everything was dark. "Joseph!" I heard a voice coming through the darkness, screaming for me. "Joseph please." I still couldn't move. It was like I was trapped, tied down, frozen. I tried to walk but my limbs were unmoving. What the hell is wrong with me? I yelled but no sound came out. "Please?" The girl was crying. Why was she crying? I wanted to help her! I wanted to make everything better, but I still couldn't move. I was terrified. Suddenly, I couldn't breathe. "Hello?" I tried to speak again but was met with more silence. "Joseph, I am here." I finally felt something warm on my face. Something warm and soft. I opened my eyes again and could see grey eyes staring back at me. "JOSEPH!" The voice was screaming now. "You are safe now, Boss."* I opened my eyes. The lights were dim in the room I was in. The grey eyes followed me out of my dream. "Are you okay? You scared me." The eyes were squinted and misty. "I think I am okay. Bad dream," I mumbled still disoriented. "Joseph look at me, It's Sandra." I knew who she was, just needed to shake off the dread I was still feeling. I have never reacted this way to something before. I was never that scared to die. I think I am more scared to leave her. I don't want to fail her,

hurt her, and leave her unprotected. I grabbed her and pulled her to me, squeezing her hard. " I know who you are darling, I could never forget you. I was just still half asleep." I said before kissing her.

I felt a sharp pain in my stomach and realized I had pulled her whole body on top of my wounds. I gently lifted her away from it and let out a long breath. She sat there staring at me, not smiling, but concentrating very hard. "I think you should talk to someone Jo," She said finally after her studies had been completed. "I will tell Henry to send his Psych." She said matter of factly, not giving me the chance to refuse. When I looked back at her I just shrugged. I had just frightened her again, I wasn't going to argue with her about not talking to someone. All I can do is wish that Psychiatrist the best of luck because I am not someone who can be helped. As soon as I get my shit together about this shooting I'll be okay. "get some rest my beautiful queen" I said rubbing her cheek with my fingertips. I looked at the clock realizing I must have been asleep longer than I thought. It was almost time for the morning meeting I usually have with my guys. She closed her eyes as I caressed her. Eventually, she was asleep again. I slowly inched away from her and out of the bed. It took me a bit, and some real pain, but I got myself dressed and headed for the door. I didn't recognize the guard by the door which irritated me some. I like to have familiar men close by me. When I got to the bottom hall, I could tell the security and manpower had almost tripled. This made me nervous. When I walked up to Jay, the look on his face worried me more. "What the hell is going on down here brother?"