Like a Smoking Gun

@ Divergent
Brooke winced, raising her hands to her temple and sighing. "Calvin. There are cameras and people, do you not understand that? I am upset because I don't want you to go to jail for our whole lives and you know how my father feels about mess. Have you called Luke?" She spoke so fast, she closed her eyes to rub her temple. She sucked more water down trying to drown out how unfortunate the situation was. "If you don't call him, I will."

Luke smiled, sliding his shirt off and tossing it over. "Well, I say we go to bed then," he said, grabbing her hand. He pulled her down, crashing her body onto his. "Hm, are you tired??" He asked, kissing her hair and smiling.

Lacey laughed softly as he pulled her on top of him, "A little." She said. She smiled as she held onto him. She kissed him softly, "What about you?" She asked as she ran her fingers along his jawline.

---

Calvin shook his head, "No I didn't call Luke yet. He's with his girl an I figured I shouldn't bother him." He muttered. He ran his hand over his face, "your dad is gonna be pissed." He said.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Brooke nodded her head, sitting down next to Calvin and laying a soft hand at the base of his neck. She played with the hair there and sighed, knowing Calvin's anger often got him in trouble. "We have to call Luke. This is murder, Calvin. This is more important than his time with his white panties girlfriend," she said, laying a kiss the base of his neck. "I'll call," she said, standing and walking into the bathroom.

Luke smiled again, why did he always smile so much with her? "Not at all, I'm a night owl," he said, when his phone started ringing. He glanced at it, confused by Brooke's number popping up and decided that it was probably a good idea to answer. "One sec," he said, sliding his arms off of her and grabbing the phone. As Brooke spoke, Luke became slowly more and more upset and when hung up, he put his head in his hands.

"I have to go handle something," he said, reaching for his shirt. He looked back at her, so beautiful curved around the bed and he sighed. He wanted her with him, he did not want to go. He tried to tell himself not to be selfish until the words tumbled out of his mouth, "Want to come with me?" He asked, before he could stop himself.

Lacey thought for a moment, "Sure." She said as she got up. She pulled on a pair of skinny jeans, tank top and a pair of black Vans. She grabbed her jacket, pulling it on as she walked out with him. Lacey ran her fingers through her hair as she walked with him.

---

Calvin sighed as he laid back on the bed. He knew he fucked up and didn't know what to do. He walked down, seeing Luke and his girlfriend. "Seriously Luke?" He said motioning to the blonde girl in front of him. "Hell now they can get us for kidnapping on top of the damn murder charge." He said. Calvin was only slightly losing it.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Luke lead her protectively through the street, not relaxing until he finally arrived at Calvin's house. Calvin's look of disdain set Luke on edge and he snapped back. "Seriously to me? What about you?" He could have killed Calvin for his last sentence when he say Brooke saunter out of her room, the way she always saunters; hips swinging, a t-shirt and boy shirts the only thing she wears. She exudes sex and for a small moment, Luke wondered how Calvin ever cheated.

"Calvin," she warned, blowing smoke from her cigarette. She was clearly nervous, twisting the edge of t-shirt and leading everyone inside. Her and Luke both knew that standing outside was the last place they needed to be. When they walked inside, Luke gestured to the seat next to him on the leather couch before they all sat down. He casted wary eyes at Brooke, who sighed.

"Lacey, right?" She asked, smiling and tugging on a pair of pants she grabbed from the laundry room along the way. "You wanna come with me, so we can make some snacks?" She asked, smiling and stubbing her cigarette out on the table. She knew her father would hear soon and soon enough, he'd be here or he'd be on his way.

Lacey looked at the girl in front of her, "Um...sure." She said. She stood up, not feeling Luke release her hand until she was standing. Lacey walked into the kitchen with the girl, letting her eyes glance around it. It was way different from her house. Every room was so much smaller here.

----

Calvin glared at Luke then sat in his chair. He opened a beer, taking a swig of it. "You shouldn't have brought the princess here." He muttered. "What are you going to do if someone kills her?" He asked. He took another swig of his beer.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Brooke went into the fridge, grabbing a beer and extending one to her, but Brooke knew she would never take it. "Let's be honest, sweets. They just didn't want us in there, so we're stuck in here. Disgusting, isn't it? Totally sexist," she whined, pulling herself onto the counter and taking a swig of her beer. Lacey was a doe-eyed blonde beauty, that was undeniable, but she was clearly innocent. The cliche of her and Luke's relationship almost made her laugh, and she eyed Lacey with some intense disdain: people like Lacey weren't safe for people like her.

"Anyway, kid. Where are you from?" She asked, attempting to extend some sort of conversation to fill the silence that loomed over them.

Luke ran his fingers through his hair, "I don't think you're in a place to tell me what to do anymore," he said, standing. He was angry, actually angry wasn't even close to the right word. "You really fucked us this time, Calvin. Tell me what happened, I have to cover your ass or you're gonna need to disappear for awhile," he said, shaking his head. "Luck for us, the cops obviously don't know who it is, they aren't here yet." This was a time when Luke really would call rank, something he didn't like to do. Calvin was the best hit man, but his role has just severely diminished. "You realize you're never gonna be put back on hits, right?"

Lacy looked at the girl, taking the beer from her. She set it on the counter next to her, not wanting to drink it. She looked at the girl in front of her, who was clearly the opposite of her. "I'm from manhattan." She said. She looked over towards the doorway, seeing Luke. She looked back at the girl, "How much trouble is that guy in?" She asked.

----

Calvin sighed, "I should be fine here as long as i don't go out." He said. He looked down at the floor, "Yea odds are the boss is gonna pull me out for a bit." He said. He looked at his friend, "Your gonna have to take over for a little bit." He said.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
"Oh, that's nice," Brooke said, swigging her beer and sighing. "Trouble? You mean, legally? Probably none, it's pretty easy to manipulate the system." She shrugged, swirling the beer and sighing again. "With my father? Personally? A lot, like a lot. Worse than being in legal trouble," Brooke smirked. "But, I'm saying too much for your little ears."

Luke shook his head, "You're acting like no one saw you, Calvin. This is far bigger than retaliation," he spat. "But your fucking beer down and take a look at what you just did. You're being really laissez-faire," he huffed, pacing back and forth. He honestly didn't know what to do with Calvin or this entire situation and it was the one time he wished he wasn't in this place, this role, this life.

Lacey looked at her for a moment, "I don't understand how he is so calm then." She said as she looke around the kitchen. "Shouldn't he be more worried?" She asked.

---

Calvin sighed, "I don't want to go away right now." He said as he stood up. He paced for a moment, "I'm certianly not leaving Brooke here if I have to leave." He explained.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Brooke chuckled, plopping on the ground and swiping Lacey's beer to replace her now empty bottle. "I mean, probably, but it's going to be okay. I mean, someone will figure out something," she muttered, twisting the edge of her shirt as she eyed the lights pulling into the driveway. "Let's go upstairs, shall we?" She asked, grabbing Lacey's hand to pull her upstairs.

Luke laughed, "Your gonna take the boss' girl with you? Are you insane?" He heard the wheels roll in the gravel outside and looked up. He reached instinctively for the gun usually on his hips, but it wasn't there since he ditched to not scare Lacey. "Fuck me," he spat, not knowing who would in the door.

(I figure either the retaliation or the boss, your choice!)

Lacey went with Brooke, crossing her arms as she stood in the bedroom. She looked at her, "does this happen all the time?" She asked as she sat in a chair that was in the bedroom. She was really concerned about Luke and what was happening downstairs.

----

Calvin sighed as he stood up, "Yes that's hat I plan to do." He said. He walked to the door, opening it, "It's the boss." He said. He let him in, "Hello sir." He said. Calvin crossed his arms as he waited for the boss to act. He wasn't sure to expect a lecture to go get the hit beat out of him.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Brooke opened the curtains and seeing her dad's car, she relaxed substantially. She flopped on the bed, patting the spot next to her to show Lacey she could be a lot more comfortable. "Define this," she said, grabbing a lighter from her table and flicking it on and off. "If you mean this as in someone getting in trouble, no. Not really. We're usually very organized. If you mean things like murder, drug trafficking and all that jazz, well, I'd say you should ask your boyfriend," she smiled and winked.

Luke eyed Louie as he walked into his house and followed obediently as they walked into his office. He sat down at his cliché and looming chair before turning to the boys. Luke sat down across from him, knowing his degree of trouble was significantly less than Calvin's. Luke looked back at Calvin, as Louie gestured to a seat.

"Let's make this real short and sweet, shall we boys? What the fuck were you thinking? You're lucky I've got guys on the inside to steal that surveillance footage before the cops came," Louie said, the anger ebbing up slowly in his voice. He jutted a finger at Calvin, "Welcome back to the bottom, bub."

Lacey nodded, "So Luke isn't going to get in trouble?" She asked. She stood up, walking over to sit next to Lacey. She sighed as she looked out the window. She knew she had gotten herself into trouble.

---

Calvin's eyes narrowed when he was told he was back at the bottom. "You can't put me back at the bottom." He snapped. Not realizing he had just yelled at the boss and signed his death wish. Calvin frowned when Louie mentioned to the guys behind him. Calvin fought against the guys when they grabbed his arms and dragged him out of the room, holding him still.

Louie walked out, rolling his sleeves up, "You don't make the decisions young one." He said as he grabbed Calvins hair and made him look at him. Louie slammed his fist into Calvin's gut then started to beat him. He punch him in the head, watching as the boy hit the ground. Louie looked at him, "Calvin you know what I do to vermin to mess with the flow of things around here." He said as he raised his shoe as he went to deliver the last blow.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Brooke shrugged, "Who knows," she answered, flicking the flame on and off with her lighter. "They're big boys, they can handle themselves," Brooke commented when she heard the thump and heard Calvin groan. She jumped up from her spot, running to the door before stopping. She looked back at Lacey, "For your own good, princess, and I mean this nicely, stay here." She ran down the stairs then, walking into Calvin shriveled up on the floor, bleeding. Her father cracked his knuckles before raising cold eyes to her.

"Daddy," she whispered, trying to will herself to step toward Calvin but she was glued to her spot on the floor. She looked frantically at Calvin and then searched for solace in Luke's usually calm eyes.

Luke, however, watched the beating trying to retain his reaction to some mere winces; Calvin was asking for it and Luke was trying to be okay with what was happening. Luke stiffened when Louie turned to him, "If he doesn't wake up in a little while, call Jonny. You call 911 and I oust both of you." Luke nodded, curtly, stuck hovering over Calvin as Louie made his way to the door. Louie ignored his daughter and exited the house curtly, muttering something about handling her later.

They both waited to hear the car drive away before they broke the icy silence that settled over them. "Let me help you," Brooke said, kneeling beside Calvin. She wasn't sure who she was talking to, but she felt tears welling steadily in her eyes.

Lacy bit her bottom lip lightly as she sat in her room. She heard a car leave then looked out her window for a moment. She wanted Luke to be okay. She looked over as he bedroom door opened. When she saw Luke she ran over to him and jumped into his arms. She held him close as she kissed him.

----

Calvin laid in the guest room for hours before he opened his eyes. He looked around then sat up, groaning in pain. He decided against sitting up and laid back down. He was starting to hate the life that he was in.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Luke kissed Lacy back before detaching himself from here and walking to sit down on Brooke's bed. He ran his hand over his face before searching for Lacy's calming eyes. "You okay?" He asked, assessing her from far. Obviously she didn't hate him, but he was starting to hate himself. He needed to keep her safe and he was moving too far away from that goal.

Brooke looked down at Calvin as he steered, her hands fluttered over him softly, before stopping. "Calvin?" She whispered, almost afraid to speak her name as if her father could hear her. She wanted to keep him safe, but that wasn't an option anymore.

Lacey stood up in front him, biting her bottom lip lightly. "I'm okay." She said as she took his hands. "I'm just really worried about you." She said as she kissed him softy. She sat on his lap,"Are you okay Luke?" She asked as she held his hands.

---

Calvin looked at her, "Hey." He whispered in a broken voice. He groaned as he moved slightly. He quit moving and looked at her, "I'm sorry Brooke." He whispered. He knew this was going to cause a lot of issues. "Your dad is pissed." He muttered.

@ mane;validus

@ Divergent
Luke pulled away from her again, he just didn't feel like being in contact with her and he moved her from his lap to stand. He walked across the room, pacing back and forth. "Yeah, I'm fine. I didn't do anything wrong," he muttered, but he knew that wasn't true. He didn't do anything wrong in Louie's eyes, but in the laws? He was screwed.

Brooke smiled, trying to hide the tears in her eyes and wiping her face quickly. "Hey, it's okay. I mean, that's life, right? Shit happens and we just have to deal with it," she said, trying to keep her voice level. "Can I look?" She asked, glancing down at his t-shirt, wondering if they needed to go to the hospital.

Lacey frowned as he paced then stood up. "Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?" She asked. He seemed upset with her and she wasn't use to it. "Luke." She said softly as she grabbed his hand, looking up at him. She pushed her bangs out of her face as she looked at her boyfriend.

---

Calvin stared at her for a moment then nodded. He slowly rolled his Tshirt up, wincing at every movement. "How bad?" He asked. His torso was covered in bruises and there was barely a spot of untouched skin. "It hurts really bad." He whispered.

@ mane;validus