"Hey!! You guys what about these over here!" I smiled excitedly and waved over to Charles, Emily, and Tony. The air was crisp and chilling in the early fall morning, leaves covered the ground and kids ran around playing in the small town's farmer's market. "I honestly think these are perfect." "Don't they look a little small?" Charles picked up a small pumpkin I had pointed to before and he tossed it around. "Well, they are only to add a sense of decorations for the dinner." "I agree with Rachael, I want these." My smile widened as Emily looped her arm around mine and we both smiled at the guys, they knew they didn't stand a chance of trying to get us to change our minds.
The guys grabbed all the pumpkins we needed as Emily and I followed behind them. As we walked by some children playing Emily stared at them as if in some sort of daze. "Em? Is everything okay?" She quickly shifted her gaze onto me and flashed a bright smile. "Never better!" Her hair was now a beautiful dirty blonde and her skin seemed a bit pale but she was still gorgeous. As cheery as always she pulled me along laughing and giggling as if she hadn't been staring into space a minute ago. We caught up with the guys as they paid for the pumpkins and I gave Tony a tight hug from behind.
"The decorations have to be perfect, I promised the guys to make it nothing less." "It will be, stop stressing about it." He turned and kissed my head before embracing me tightly as we followed behind Charles and Emily. "This is going to turn into a tradition if everything goes well." "Yeah but you promised it was going to be perfect, so why if it goes well?" Tony smirked at me and pulled me close before kissing my forehead. I smiled as the four of us made our way to the car and climbed in. The next couple of hours were filled with decor shopping before we made our way to the warehouse.
The main lounge area had the furniture cleared and we replaced it with two long tables so the gangs could come together for dinner. There was one day left until Thanksgiving day and we were preparing for our family dinner. All work had been excused so everyone could relax and bond more. The gang was less about our enemies and the violence and more about protecting each other. Everyone had grown closer and from what it seemed everyone had moved on from what happened before. I watched as the guys pushed the tables together and I started fanning out the tablecloth. Once I finished I took a look around the room and smiled, the place looked amazing.
Small Thanksgiving decorations were placed randomly in the warehouse along with a few streamers and everyone was working happily together. "Rachael look!" I turned to find Emily rushing over to me with the box of small pumpkins but they were beautifully carved. Emily had cleaned each pumpkin, carved, and glued down a candle on the inside for decoration. "Oh Em, they look wonderful! You did an amazing job on these!" "Thank you! Can you give me a hand setting them up?" "Of course!" The two of us talked and laughed while setting up the last of the decorations when suddenly the guys started screaming. "Boss! Boss, one of Tony's men has arrived… He's injured!" Emily and I both looked up as they dragged him in and laid him on the sofa. I quickly stopped setting up the decorations before I rushed to his side.
I instantly recognized him, this was Bill he was Tony's go-to guy when he needed to find a big job to hit. He was a mole; he played other gangs and got close to their inside guys to find out where they hid their stash. "Get the doc here now!" I rolled up my sweater sleeves before looking down at the bloodied bandages. Several unmistakable stab wounds were covering his body and they were deep. "You tried to stop the bleeding on your own… what happened to you?" "A-ame-…" I looked into his eyes as he struggled to speak and I nodded my head at him. "Shh, it's okay don't speak relax." "Rachael I'm right here! I'm here!" I looked up as the doctor ran over and I moved out of his way as he replaced my presence next to Bill. He immediately went to work but as I tried to walk away Bill grabbed my wrist and looked up at me.
"E-Ed… Edgar….m-mo… m-mom" My eyes went wide as he slowly released his grip and passed out. "Guys I need help over here!" My guys rushed to the doctor's side as he called out orders and I rushed outside. I fished my phone out of my pocket and I called Tony. "Come on… come on pick up…" "Hey baby girl." "Tony! Hey, uh would you happen to remember the name of Edgar's mom?" "Edgar's Mom? I thought we agreed on no gang business right now?" "Tony this is important! Please tell me what her name was…" "Amelia." 'A-ame…' Bill's voice instantly filled my head and I felt my body go numb. I slowly walked inside and watched from everything unfold from afar. "Tony you need to get over here right now. Bill has been injured terribly; I think Edgar's mom tried to kill him." I stood in the corner pacing and watching closely as Bill laid on the sofa.
The doctor had stitched him up and replaced his old bandages but he still had lost a lot of blood. His once-tanned face was now pale and he looked weak, the doctor said there was a chance he wouldn't make it. He had to, Bill had a wife and two kids he couldn't leave them on Thanksgiving. Amelia knew how to leave an impression, or she knew how to hurt others and cut them deep.
"Where is he!?" Charles and Tony had burst through the door looking around frantically before they noticed Bill on the sofa. They rushed to his side before Tony stepped to the side and talked to the doctor. Charles looked over at me and I could tell he noticed the worry on my face. I nodded at him and walked outside. The cool crisp air made my reality sink in so much more. The war I thought we had finished months ago was back to bite us in the ass. There's always some screw left unloose. Always a stone we forget to turn; just like how Caliber died. How could the people I love so much constantly be in arms ay with me leading them? Why can't I seem to get this right? I took a deep breath before turning my head up to the sky. "I need your help if you can hear me, Cal, I can't do this on my own."
"Ahem.." I turned to find Charles in the doorway looking at me. He gave me a look and I knew he didn't know whether to mention the fact that I was talking to my dead fiance or not. "What is it?" "It's no mistake that Amelia is after us. Tony doesn't know much about her but she once ran in a gang with his dad." "Great.." He puffed up his big buff chest before letting out a deep sigh. "Look Rachael no matter what is after us we will handle it no matter what." "Yeah but at what cost? Who will we return home without this time?" The cold night sent a huge chilling breeze as if on cue and I hugged my shoulders tightly. I watched as Charles dropped his head and rubbed his face in frustration.
"Fuck! Why does this always happen to us!" "Charles keep your voice down; I don't want to worry everyone" "Worry everyone about what?" I looked over at Tony as he stepped out and I sighed softly. "Thank god it's only you... we were just discussing Amelia. She is the one who tried killing Bill there's no reason we shouldn't believe he was followed here." Tony looked at Charles and then back at me. "No..." "What do you mean no?" "No, he wasn't followed and if Amelia wanted Bill dead he would be. If she wanted to come after us today, she would have; it's been hours since Bill returned. She sent him back to us not as a threat or ambush but as a warning. She's not ready to attack but she will." Silence filled the air and I clenched my fist in frustration. "So what do we do!?" You guys can't just stand around speechless we don't have time to not be prepared for her!"
I looked at them both and still, there was nothing but silence. I shook my head and pushed past them both as I walked inside. "Hey! Everyone listen up, no one is to go anywhere alone or unarmed! This is not to be taken lightly at all. Until we know who and what we are dealing with let's try to stay together." "Staying together is the last of our problems." Everyone's attention turned to Bill as he stood up wincing, he was a tall broad man and his long silver hair dangled in his face. He stood to be 6'5 and anyone who could injure him like this without being dead scared me. "Look I don't know anything about this Amelia lady but her gang moves like snakes. They are strong and from what I've seen they have the numbers." Everyone looked back and forth between Bill and me. "This is protocol Bill; Thanksgiving is in one day until then we all follow protocol and we will deal with it after."
"You want to just sit around and wait?" "It's a better plan than to rush an attack we aren't ready for, you said it yourself her men are strong." I watched as Bill took a deep breath and sat back down before nodding, "Okay... fine." I felt myself let out a heavy sigh as if I was holding my breath without knowing, everything was going good, and now this. The mother of the man who almost took my life is now coming after the people I love and from the looks of Bill's injuries, she's exactly like her son. "Hey… it's gonna be okay." I felt Tony's arms wrap around my waist as he pressed his chin against the top of my head and I closed my eyes." "Why does this always happen to us?" "Well mon doux ange I'm not particularly sure, but no matter what I won't let anyone hurt you ever again." I smiled softly as Tony kissed my head and I turned to hug him tightly.
Everything felt much better in his arms but I knew that no matter how bad he wanted to he couldn't protect me every second and it was only a matter of time before I got hurt again. Thanksgiving day I stood in my office looking at myself in the mirror, I had gotten a bit plumper and I hadn't even noticed. My curves were more distinctive as my long tight nude maxi dress hugged and flattered my figure. My long red hair was in a fancy messy bun with a gem hair piece holding it all in place. I lightly dusted my cheeks with some blush before i finished with some lips gloss.
KNOCK
KNOCK
My attention was turned to the door and I took a seat at my desk before answering. "Come in…" I watched as the door opened and Charles walked in smiling, "Happy Thanksgiving Boss. You look great." I couldn't help but smile, even with another gang breathing down our necks everything felt alright. It was finally Thanksgiving and it was amazing that everyone was in high spirits. "Happy Thanksgiving Charles you look great yourself." "The guys are all here now, we are just waiting for you." "Well I guess I can't leave them waiting now can I?" He smirked as I stood and walked over to him then he threw his arm around my neck as we walked downstairs together. "Happy Thanksgiving boss!!" "Hehe Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!"
Everyone broke out into a cheer and suddenly Emily's voice broke through the noise. "Hey! Hey! Hold up you guys I want to say something!" Everyone turned their attention to Emily as she stood on the stairs and raised her glass. "First and for most I just want to say we are one badass family." "OH YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAH!!!!" I let out a giggle as the guys cheered and Tony made his way over to Charles and me. "But we are also more than just badass… we are loyal, brave, and stronger together. Over the last year we have overcome challenges together, and made friends we will have for a lifetime." Tony wrapped his arms around me bringing me into a tight hug and I kissed him softly. "I just wanted to say I'm so thankful to be a part of this family and there isn't another group of annoying grown-ass men or women I'd take a bullet for."
Everyone let out another loud cheer and Emily came down the steps as Charles raised his hand in the air. "Woooooah! My turn…." Charles looked so pale and so nervous I swear I thought his tie was too tight. "Ahem…well like Emily said it's been a very interesting and challenging year. I've personally made a once-in-a-lifetime friendship that I thought I'd never find. I've had the blessing of working next to the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on and she's more badass than any of you sorry drunks." Everyone laughed but I held my breath, he couldn't be… Charles wouldn't. "But on a more serious note, she's the love of my life and I've realized I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
I watched as Charles made his way closer to Emily before grabbing her hand and kneeling on one knee. "Emily Springfield… you have come into my life and made me want to be a better person. You have changed the way I look at life completely and shown me that even a guy like me can be truly happy. I love you Emily… I love you more than anything in this entire world. Would you please make me the happiest man on this earth and marry me… please." The room was dead silent as everyone watched Charles pull a black box out of his pocket. He flipped the top open to reveal a big diamond ring and all the girls gasped including myself. I placed my hands over Tony's and squeezed them as I held my breath watching Emily. "Charles… yes! Oh my god is that even a serious question? YES!!" I watched as the tears started flowing down her cheeks and Charles kissed her before lifting Emily into the air and spinning her around.
The room broke out into cheers as everyone rushed over to congratulate them. I stayed back and I turned away hiding my tears from everyone, but Tony was by my side wiping my tears as he shielded me from everyone else. "It's Caliber isn't it?" I nodded and I wiped my tears, "It was the last memory I had of him." He gave me a tight hug and I buried my face into his chest. "I could never understand your pain Rachael but I know that he's still with you and watching over you, I can feel his jealous rage." I couldn't help but let out a small giggle as he dried the last of my tears. "Let's be happy today okay? No more tears mon doux ange." I gave him a slight nod and once I had collected myself we joined in with everyone as they crowded Emily and Charles. "Congratulations my love!" I hugged Emily with all of my might. We needed all the love and happiness we could get.
"Thank you, Rachael! Oh my gosh, I can't even believe he proposed." "Why not? Anyone can see that Charles is madly in love with you. Hehe, it was only a matter of time I just didn't think he had the balls." "Hehe yeah, bullets are more his thing, not engagement rings." We both laughed and hugged each other tightly. After all the congratulations we all took our seats around the table. "Okay, everyone join hands." I sat at the head of the table with Tony to my right and Emily to my left. I took both of their hands and everyone followed suit before closing their eyes and bowing their heads.
"God we come to you today and we thank you for allowing us to come together. We thank you for bringing all of us together to create a strong united family. We are so thankful for you and each other. As we enjoy this meal today we ask that you help our enemies enjoy their own. We ask that while we have our weapons down you put your strongest one up, Love. I ask that no matter what happens tomorrow you stay and guide every one of us. We ask that you help everyone receive the lovely food today for the keeping of our strength. Amen."
"Amen!"
After grace, everyone cheered and clapped before we all dug into our meal while talking and laughing together. The night was filled with love and happiness as we celebrated the amazing holiday together. Even Bill was laughing and enjoying himself it seemed we were all able to put work behind us and enjoy our night as a family. I leaned back in my chair watching everyone laugh and eat, all I could do was smile. The stress of everyone worrying had fallen away for a second. They always had their guard up for me and now they could finally relax and feel appreciated. This was my family, this was what matters.