Rescheduled

*Sandra*



I watched as Joseph's smile completely left his face. It saddened me that he couldn't enjoy much time before something else arises, although, he sure seemed to enjoy himself not long prior to this call. I was zoning out, thinking of his hands on my skin, his breath on my neck. It was getting me worked up all over again. I heard his voice raise snapping me back into the present. "We had a deal! Tomorrow, we will meet you Tommasso, not until then." It sounded like he was talking straight from that dark place inside of him. The one that turns me on, the one I don't think he had when we met before, at least not like this. I stood and walked beside him, placing my hand on his arm. When I touch him, he tends to come some. This time he wasn't. He was angry. I hadn't seen him this angry since he found me when Ryan took me. I thought back, looking up at him, about all the things we have faced together since he found me again. Well since he took me. I almost giggled out loud, but it wasn't the time. He kidnapped me and yet here I am unable to picture myself anywhere else in the universe. I know now that even had he not remembered Elizabeth, even if he didn't know me, we would have fallen in love. We would be here at this moment. He was made for me, to protect me, and make me stronger. I was made for him, to soften him, to give him peace during the war he is constantly finding himself fighting. It was meant to happen this way. I didn't realize but I had been squeezing his arm so hard I got his attention. He reached over and took my hand, finally I saw his body relax some. He mouthed, "It's okay", before focusing back on his phone call. I couldn't hear the man on the other end of the phone but the reaction he was getting from Joseph let me know it wasn't good. Suddenly, he slammed his phone down. "Jay, He wants to meet tonight. Apparently, Hector had some men attack his men, like a fucking moron." Joseph was pissed. "Why the hell would he do that? He knew the plan... We aren't ready. The drones aren't ready. I am not ready yet." Jay sounded almost worried. I hadn't heard him sound worried before. "I won't let anything happen to you brother. All you have done for us, for my Sunshine, I will stand by your side." Joseph meant what he said. He loves his men. He acts like he has never known how to love, but this is love. What he is saying, the way he treats them, they are his family. He loves them. "No sir, I will not allow you to put yourself at risk. If he jumps me, if he has an army, you will not be there to suffer for my decision to meet him." Jay took a deep breath, "I chose to face him because I wanted to catch him off guard. I do believe he has learned to play me at my own game. I will talk with the men and see what we can do." With that he turned and walked out, not giving Joseph a chance to argue with him. A loud bang forced me out of my thoughts. I flinched. I thought those triggers had gone, I guess not. "Fuck." Joseph said sighing loudly before walking towards me. "I'm sorry Sandra, I didn't mean to frighten you. I would never..." I reached for his lips, "No, you didn't scare me." I laughed nervously," I just wasn't expecting the noise."



He walked over and began picking up the broken pieces of glass he had thrown at the wall. I went to help him, and he wouldn't let me. "I want all of my inner circle, the man with the drone, and Jackson in the office now." He said out loud. It confused me until I realized he was wearing his comm. *Wait, he was wearing his comm this whole time* I watched him walking to the trash can and felt embarrassed. Did he know they could hear us? When he took me in here only a few hours prior. I took mine out and turned it off when I knew where he was taking me. Why wouldn't he do the same? I started to hear footprints coming towards the door. When the tall blonde, and untrustworthy walked in it hit me. Jackson was the reason he wore the comm. He wanted him to hear, he was taking ownership of me. Even though I was slightly turned on by the facts, I was peeved that he chose to do it like that. I think it was more that he didn't tell me he had it turned on. *Maybe it was an accident Sandra, chill* My thoughts didn't match the rising temperature in my chest. It burned and felt like I was naked in front of all these men I had come to think of as friends, or more than that, brothers. "Now is not the time," I said to myself as I walked slowly toward the office door. I needed to get out of there. He would definitely notice something was wrong, and I didn't want to make things worse. These men were headed to war, and I needed to get my priorities straight. Suddenly, he was on the phone yelling again. "Why would you do that Hector? You pushed up the timeline and my men are not ready!" He ran his hand roughly through his hair. "He did what? That mother fucker." He said slamming his hand down on his desk. I leaned against the door frame and listened as the others walked in one at a time. First Zeus, then Henry followed by Jay and Ken. They were all silently listening to Joseph's conversation. "If it were Sunshine, I would use my brain." He said through gritted teeth. I don't believe what he said, I think his brain would be the last thing he would use if someone hurt me. "Jericho was a punk ass, he deserved what he got and more. He didn't have the power to start an all-out territory war, Hector. These god damn Italian fucks can." He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He said, "Okay", three or four times before slamming the phone down.



He looked down at his desk for a few moments, deep in thought, before looking up at Zeus. After ordering him to start a territory wide lockdown and start a conference call with all his leaders, he looked at Henry. "Take Sunshine and make a meal large enough for an army. It doesn't have to be a fancy chef, just make something that will feed everyone. We are going into battle, and everyone deserves a good meal beforehand. If you need anything call Ms. Jones and have her shop it." Henry nodded, looking over at me with a half-smile. He liked it when we cooked together. Jay was ordered to make a call to the security to beef it up around each safe house. "What about the country house sir? Joseph looked over towards a picture I never noticed on the wall. It was a house, covered in roses and vines, his little piece of home in the city. It made my heart smile to think of the country house. I want to go back; I want to go home. "Definitely protect my home." I said loudly causing them all to look back at me. "Yes, ma'am." Joseph said as I walked towards him. I reached up and touched his face, "If you need some solace, my king, you know where I will be." I kissed his cheek and followed Henry out of the office towards the kitchen. The kitchens never cease to amaze me in these places, no matter how many times I walk inside of one. "What are we making?" I asked, watching Henry place his hands firmly on the stainless-steel island. "I don't know, sis, what do you think?" He walked to the large cabinet and opened the door. I thought Ms. Jones was safe wherever it was that she stayed, and I didn't want to have to call her. "What about a big pot of chili, or spaghetti." Henry smiled at me, "Chili sounds good, since the cold is starting outside." Henry grabbed some beef from the freezer, onion and bell pepper from the crisper, and some seasoning from the pantry. "Kidney beans?" I asked walking towards the canned goods. Henry looked at me, taken aback, and then slowly nodded. "Yall don't put kidney beans in your chili up here?" I asked giggling to myself. "We do, but I don't tend to use much canned goods." I shook my head at him, smiling, "Nothing fancy Chef Henry. I don't think we have time to soak them for 5 hours and cook them for another 45 minutes." Henry looked impressed at my knowledge of cooking beans. I laughed out loud this time, "Henry, girls from Ohio know how to cook too." This time he laughed. " I know." He paused for a moment, took a steady breath, and started to speak again. "Can I ask you something Sunshine?" I shook my head yes feeling a sudden weight of change in the room. "Do you trust this plan? Jay? I don't tell the brothers, but I am scared."