Guns and Money | Closed.

It was mid summer, the sun was blasting overhead. Luke was staring out at a target through the scope of a rifle. It was important to keep well practised, keep his skills honed. A loud crack rattled through the isolated valley, that Luke now called home.

It had been a few years since Luke came home. The war had changed him deeply, he now preferred to be alone, and avoided town as much as possible. The peace of the valley was what he needed after the chaos of combat. A light vibration niggled at his leg. It was his phone, very few people had his number.

"I need you, can you come to the compound?" could be read over the small led screen. Luke sighed, it was just the sort of cryptic message he expected from Mr McGwire, one of his oldest friends from school. He stood up with is rifle, and headed towards the small two bedroom house hidden by the trees. He pulled his phone out, "1 Day" he messaged back.

Genevieve to most, Viv to less, and Evie to only a special few. And one of those special few was standing in front of her, telling her to stay here, even longer. "Dad. Please," Viv stood, putting up a hand to stop him. "I don't need to stay here. I'm an adult, I've got pepper spray in my car, my purse, and at least 3 more you gave me, that I've just hidden around my apartment." He stopped her, "I know, but circumstances have changed, this is for the best. I've called someone in, Evie." This stopped her, "Dad, you're not fucking serious. I'm not twelve, I don't need a bodyguard." Viv stood, standing just an inch shorter than her father. As she stood, her father turned and left, "It's non-negotiable, Evie." Viv sat back, hating the name he called more than usual. She was 28, why did he need to protect her like this.

As the sun set over the valley, Luke finished packing away his rifle. He sighed loudly, knowing that if McGwire had reached out, it was serious. McGwire ran a crime syndicate, so usually handled his problems himself. The pair had grown up together, and remained friends. Luke joined the army, while McGwire built his underground gambling ring into something much bigger.

Luke had told him, early on that he didn't care about what McGwire did, as long as it didn't involve Kidnapping, or sex slavery. As far as Luke knew, McGwire had kept that promise. Luke packed away a pistol, and a concealable shotgun.

As morning came, Luke set off towards the compound, on his Motorbike. Dressed all in black leathers, his helmet concealing his face. He pulled into the McGwire compound, just after 11am.

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Viv and her father were out waiting. Her father standing tall and stoic, Viv standing tall and stubborn. She'd woken up early just to talk her father out of this. "It's ridiculous. You've never had to do this before." She pointed out, angry, just as a cyclist pulled into the compound. Viv huffed,but refused to pout or cross her arms. She had told her dad she wasn't young anymore, and she wasn't giving him any arguing points on that.
Mcgwire stepped forward, his pissed off daughter stepping up next to him a moment later. He greeted his guest, "Luke, it's been too long." He said, cheerful demeanor coming out in a jovial tone.
@ A Drop On the Window

Luke pulled in, seeing the increased security. He stopped his bike in front of Mr McGwire, and pulled his helmet off. "Hey friend, it has been awhile, who's this lovely lady?" he said. He had never met Viv, but had heard that McGwire had been married at one point.

He climbed off his Motorbike, and opened up the seat. "Do you mind?" he asked her father as he pulled out his handgun, and went to tuck it in his waistband. He turned looking at him, "So what is it that made you reach out?" he asked.

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Viv interuptted her father before he could introduce her to this man as "Evie". She refused to shake his hand, so she crossed her arms while speaking. "I'm Genevieve. His daughter." She says dully. McGwire smiles, keeping up his demeanor. "The reason I reached out, was things around here are changing, and I have reason to believe that my daughter, Viv, might need a little more protection on the daily."

Luke smiled at Genevieve, "Please to meet you finally Genevieve," he said lightly. He walked up towards McGwire, 'And the reason all the existing security, won't be enough?" he asked lightly looking around at all the guards.

Luke walked with his friend into the home slowly. McGwire smiled softly, "I wanted someone I could trust," he said.
Luke looked over at Viv momentarily, "Her place, or mine?" he asked.

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Viv looked up instantly. She knew she could trust this guy --since her dad did-- , but she didn't want to disrupt her life on her father's whim. "My place." She said, "I want to keep my life as normal as possible." She nodded to the man, "I'm sure you understand the need for normalcy, ....I don't think you've introduced yourself," Viv points out, asking blatantly for a name.

Luke looked at Viv, then back at McGwire. "Sorry, My name is Luke, I knew your father in school," he said.

McGwire sighed heavily "to be honest where ever you think you can protect her, she's stubborn though," he said honestly.

Luke nodded and moved over to Viv, "I can protect you at your place, on two conditions, Always do what I say, and Never argue with me," he said.

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Viv's eyes flashed. "You'll be in my home. You follow my rules." She relented after a minute, uncrossing her arms. "If it pertains to my or your safety, I'll defer to you, but otherwise, I do what I need, you do what you need." Viv wasn't stupid, so she understood Luke's need to be able to keep them safe, but she wasn't getting bossed around in her own goddamn home.

@ A Drop On the Window

Luke smirked seeing her reaction, "I like her, she has your attitude," he said to her father. He looked back at her, "I can live with that," he accepted. He moved toward McGwire, "so how bad are these guys?" he asked. He wanted to know what to expect, not that anything much phased him anymore, after fighting in the war.

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Viv broke in, "Apparently, pretty goddamn bad if he feels like he has to pawn me off on some buff babysitter." McGwire placed a hand on his daughters shoulder, "She's not wrong, pretty goddamn bad."

@ A Drop On the Window

Luke nodded gently, "well that's good to know, I'll do my best to keep her safe," he said lightly. He moved over towards the window, out of habit. He turned to face her, "Viv, when are likely to be ready to head back to your place?" he asked lightly.

His attention was pulled away from the conversation, as a commotion started outside, followed by several loud gun shots. Luke's eyes snapped to look for the source, as he quickly pulled his pistol from his waistband.

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"Now, i guess." Viv replied. She was ready to be away from her dad. She stepped away from him, only to be startled by gunshots. Her eyes followed Luke's, and she immediately tensed up. She had a natural aversions to guns, as most people did.

@ A Drop On the Window

Luke's eye's scanned the area, looking for the shooters. He moved Viv and her father back from the window. "Well now, is probably a good start," he said lightly. He looked her over for a second, "stay here," he told her and her dad.

Luke made his way out to his bike, and pulled some more things out from under his seat. The bike was an old black Harley, that Luke had spent some time customizing. He felt a bullet whiz by his head, and he quickly turned firing back towards the metal gate.

Moments later he made his way back inside, and tossed down a bag. He then unzipped his leather jacket. "Gather what your necessities, and put them in the bag, if they don't all fit, you don't need everything," he said to Viv.

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Viv didn't move. There was nothing that she needed from the compound. "Are we going somewhere?" She asked.
She was concerned about the gunshots from outside. They hadn't stopped, and now he wanted them to go outside? Sounded likea deathwish.

Luke tossed his jacket to her, "yeah I thought we might get you far away from here," he said. He looked at her father, "Is there a back way out?" he asked. He turned back to Viv, "put the jacket on, it's got kevlar in it," he instructed.

He moved back to the window, and immediately dropped to the floor as a bang rang out over the compound, and the glass shattered above him. "Are you fucking kidding me," he snapped looking at her father, "You have some explaining to do, once I get her out of here."

He moved over to Viv, "seriously, you have two choices right now Viv, I'm not going to be here when they get through your father's gates, so you can either stay here with him, or come with me," he leveled with her.

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