~Xavier~
It was early in the morning Ariah still had some time before she was expected to wake up so Xavier stepped outside to grab a soda and answering Axel's call. "I still can't believe you told Gunner you knew who he was." "Well I'm tired of his shit always trying to get his damn hands on our shit. It's time we take all these other assholes down. Look what happened today." Xavier lowly yelled. "I know you are scared to lose the Queen especially after taking this long to find her, but you know the asshat had a point Ari will never give up her job. There could be hundreds of reasons down this road she could end up in there. You got to find a way to show anger in just the right way you are justified to be angry and concerned but don't go over bored on it." "That was actually good advice." He said popping the soda open. "Did you find what I asked for?" "Not only did we find the warehouse. We got thirty of them fuckers." Axel said taking a deep breath.
"That being said Reaper I don't think Gunner is using Ariah just for her badge I think the rumors about him having feelings for her were right?" "What have you found out?" "Well all the texts and phone calls he's been monitoring her and having her watched once in awhile if she is on their side. He was genuinely scared tonight for her Xav, we all were. He stayed with her instead of bailing like he should have because Hunter went and found proof against him at the scene of the shooting and he's giving it to Russo soon as he gets here. He stayed with her Xav. Gunner also found forty Shadow members and according to our inside source he has them in his play room and he is being just as demented as your psycho ass to those little fucks. We need to make sure we take him down. I don't think we have to worry too much about her safety though when she crosses lines though man. I don't trust his faggiety ass but something tells me he aint going to let anything hurt just yet either."
"I don't give a flying fuck he can't be trusted. He's so mentally disturbed there's' nothing saying he won't lose interest change his mind and take her down how many other girls has he wiped out years ago did he wipe out because he got bored in his teens. Just because he hasn't been with anyone for a few years don't mean he can't go back to that mind frame. Besides how well do you think it will go for him when she finds out it was his dad who killed hers?" "How well do you think she'll take it when she finds out her dad took a bullet for his best friend because of mafia long time war. Look man we got all the info and safe houses and all the other places of the Shadows and we will gather up the rest of the rats after we blow their places tonight. We also are keeping close tabs on Gunner and his two in command. Killian is the only one we have to worry about he is by far the smartest one. Now go back in there and take care of our girl she's going to wake up any minute now." "Just stay on top of it. See you in few hours.
~Ariah~
Feeling something heavy on waist and hands, finally opening my eyes to see Xavier head sleeping on my tummy hand resting over mind. Looking around the room I realized where I am remembering what happened. Looking loser at Xavier's features yeah he definitely did not get the right rest. He must have been so anxious; I wonder how well this will go down will he threaten me to quit? Will he walk away? Tears threatening to fill and fall from her eyes the thought of him walking away. She wasn't too sure on how she could be able to handle it. Knowing the only reason why just the thought would feel like her soul was ripping in two. He slowly opened his eyes to see her looking at him sweetly eyes glistened a little as she was running her fingers through his little bit of hair. Lifting up to get a better look at her still leaning on her bed arm and hand propped up to rest his side chin and lower jaw on.
"You scared the hell out of me ya know? I was wrapping up a meeting way cross town, when Hunter called me. Never felt my whole body heart soul every thing just drop from my body. Blood running cold. You have any idea how I got here because now that I have to think about it I don't even remember how I got here so quick." He said shaking his head eyes closing tight for a minute. "You have any idea what that did to me, knowing you were in danger and hurt in ways I couldn't help or protect you from. How useless I felt. I don't think you know just how lost and empty I am without you Ari. You are my very fucking life source and I was sitting there on the other side of that building not being able to anything." He said calmly staring at her.
"I get it Xavier. It's not like I did this to you on purpose. I didn't set out yesterday thinking hey you know what sounds fun to do today. This is part of my job, hell this is part of being a decent human being. I was at a street near a corner talking to three friends for a little bit getting us our favorite things because we were both having long days. I wanted to go home eat with you snuggle up on the couch and then let out the steam of the day in the shower together. I didn't think I would be here. You know with my job this is always going to be a chance. Even if it wasn't just living in this city filled with all the damn gang crime and chit it will always be a chance. I wasn't even on duty when this happened I was a regular civilian at the time. Do you understand that. Being a regular person. I will always do whatever I can on duty or not to help protect someone else especially a friend because that's just who I am Xavier I can't change that, I wouldn't even if I could. I am so sorry I worried you. I'm sorry the pain this brought on you and I never meant to do it. I will do everything I can do the best of my ability not to end up here again if I can help it." She promised him holding his cheek in her hand looking deep in his eyes.
"I understand all that. I just needed you to see things from my point of view. I won't' ever ask you to change that. I won't ask you to give your job knowing how hard you struggle to get there. Knowing how amazing you are at it. Knowing how much it means to you. I just I love you Ari and it just hit me to my core." He said grabbing her hand. "I know. I know I do. I'm still sorry. You know though that I will always come back for you. You know I love you so you really don't need to worry this much I'll always find my way back to you. You just have to keep the trust, that faith in me." "Say it again." He said eyes widened slowly moving up to her. "Have faith in me?" "No you know what I mean. Say it again Angel." "I love you Xavier." "Say it again." Xavier now up in her face cupping it with both hands. "I love you Xavier." Smashing his lips to her.
"Am I interrupting something?" Phoenix asked walking in the room. "Yes." "No." Xavier and Ari said at the same time Xavier glaring to Nix, and Ari glaring playfully at Xavier. "How are you feeling this morning?" Nix said coming around to give her a hug which she awkwardly accepted. "I'm perfectly fine. How are you how's your shoulder last thing I remember was you getting hit and shooting out those damn tires." Looking him over. "I'm fine went straight through noting but a scratch compared to you. You scared the hell out of me you know?" Nix said making sure she held eye contact with him. "Yeah seems it's a gift I have." She teased still holding Xavier's hadn't as he was sitting right next to her on her bed barely able to fit him. "If anything ever happens like that with us again promise you won't do that again. I wouldn't be able to live with myself should anything worse happen to you Ari." Nix said grabbing her hand, for Xavier to smack it away.
"Come now Moretti we must not touch things that aren't ours." Xavier you teased. "Be nice love." She said resting her head to his chest. "I make no such promises. I'll check into the matter soon. I'm sure papa Russo will brief me when he comes in here later to rip me a new one. Maybe you shouldn't be here when he gets here." "It's been four months baby. He's got to meet me at some point. Hell the way we be, he'll be meeting me when we tell him he's a grandpa." He said loud enough for Nix to hear and cringe as Xavier nibbled on his ear. "You'll meet him soon enough he may still be bitter about a couple months back the whole media thing, he still wants to shoot you ya know." She told him. "Maybe they should meet no time like the present. All these doctors and nurses to tend to him." Nix teased sitting back in the chair next to her bed. "Why are you still here, haven't you done enough with your presence?" Xavier asked him in a low growl of annoyance.
"Ariah is my friend maybe my best friend now, knowing she'd take a bullet for me five in fact. Look whatever you need, whatever you want just say the word and I'll make sure you have it." "No thank you Nix, I already have one man trying not give the world on a damn platter I don't need another. All due respect and all. If I can't get it myself I can do without you both know that by now." Before they could argue the doctor cut them off. "How are you feeling this morning Mrs. Medina?" "I'm sorry." "What?" Nix and Ari said at the same time. "Oh well Mr. Medina said you were his intended and directed us to address you as Mrs. Medina." Doctor asked confused. "Don't look at me like that it's going to happen at some point just wanted you to get used to it. I think it sound perfect nice ring to it no?" "No." Nix said with an evil smirk answering him back.
"Anyway I am feeling fine. Now when can I go home." "Well that's the thing we wanted to keep you for observation over night again. However upon your husbands requests for proof that's necessary we can't provide that your blood work is great, your response is perfect and based on everything else we see you being fine. No irritation, no fevers, no clots, no nausea. You are fine but you will still be down for about a week or two now if you promise me you will take it easy and stay on rest I will let you leave around seven and eight tonight. Based on the agreed upon guidelines I have already gone over with your man here." "Guidelines?" She asked back. "Yes, you can't go home alone and Mr. Medina has already informed you will be staying with him as he has a doctor on call, we can let you go on these terms." Doctor said with his hands crossing over holding her chart. "Unless you would like to stay?" Doctor shrugged to her.
"You can always come stay and my place. I have a doctor on call as well." Nix said with a wink. "I think I would rather pass a kidney stone Moretti thanks though. I can go home with the hubby here." She teased making Xavier have to adjust himself as he got a semi instantly and heart beating in happiness. "Alright than. We will need to do some tests with her alone for most of the day just to make sure she is well enough to be and go on her own. So if you have anything else to do now would be the time sir and we will see you at seven?" The doctor asked as nurses came along side of him to help get her in a wheel chair to get scanned. "No." Xavier and Nix said at the same time as they glared at each other, Ariah looking at Nix weirdly too. "Please baby. I have my phone somewhere and I will stay in constant texting contact. Besides if you go and get whatever you need done now, than maybe we can have a couple of days to lounge around together tonight and tomorrow." Rubbing his chest with a playful voice.
~Phoenix~
"You answer when I call, or text you?" "Yup." Popping the p at the end of the word. "Fine. I'll make sure to bring you clothes and anything else you need, if you need something specific tell me before six. I will be back." Lifting her in the chair himself and kissing her sweetly. He took a step back. "I'll hit you up later as well let me know once you get settled. Thank you Ari, really thank you." Phoenix said in a serious tone and soft eyes. He knew he would not be standing let alone breathing if not for her. "Don't sweat it Nix, I know if the roles were reversed you would have done the same." She waved him off. After she was wheeled away both men kept same pace with each other walking out the building both having a driver waiting for them. "So Medina. How long have you known?" Nix asked with a fake smile on his face. "Is this how you really fish for information, need to update your methods man." He said as they were still in the same pace as it slowed down still making their way to both cars.
"Trust me Xavier if you truly knew my methods even you would put me in the psyche word. What is it that you want?" "What the hell would make you think I need or want anything from you pathetic ass?" Xavier stopped turning to look at the twisted man to his right. "Well we all want something. You can't be in this business and not know how everything really works. Come one now it's no secret neither of care or think very much of each other. You had every opportunity, any chance this whole time to sell me out to Hunter, to Ari to anyone really. One would have to wonder why you haven't you know how much more business you could get with me out of the way. Yet I'm still out walking. So that could only be because you yourself have something deeper to hide. It seem to me the only logical solution of you keeping your trap shut is because you yourself are not ready to explain just how you know all the truth about me without outing yourself. Maybe you don't have that much faith in either Ari or yourself if you this scared to lose her on letting her know the truth." Nix was a serious face and smug tone did nothing but irk Xavier's anger even further.
"I fear nothing and have my full faith in that woman in there. Let's get a few things straight between you and me right now. You are not my competition in any way shape or form. Period. That simple. In your own psychotic soul you know that is straight fact, or you wouldn't go out of your way so many times to try to take me down. You are out enjoying your freedom right now because I gave it to you. I wish it so, I can take it and everything away in blink of an eye. Keep that in mind. Enjoy it now while you got it Moretti. I know more than you think I do. Tell me Gunner who you expect to get the love form a taken woman when you already wronged? How do you think she will feel to know your father shot hers in cold blood. How your father took the last family she has? We'll be settling all this soon don't worry Nix." Xavier said walking into his car as the driver had his door open. "Bullshit!" Nix yelled to him. "Bullshit. You fucking with me." He snapped adding taking three steps closer to him.
"You know me so damn well or so you think. You think I really waste my time in lying or lying to a piss stain like you?" George shutting his door, Nix watched as they left the parking lot. Grabbing his phone. "Boss?" "When you looked up Ariahs information who did it list as her biological father?" "Caleb, I think yeah Caleb Alderman he was some construction owner guy." "FUCK!" Phoenix roared in his car as they drove to his main warehouse. "Hey man how is she?" Killian asked with Liam on his side wiping their hands after just getting done carving on the Shadow members. "Caleb Alderman is Ari's dad." "Fuck you serious?" Killian asked him. "Why the hell didn't we piece that shit together earlier?" Liam asked. "It didn't state in her report it went on about the step in dad Russo, when they did a search on him it was very much nothing out of ordinary for his position." "When did you piece this together?" Killian asked red flags waving all around him. "FUCKING MEDINA! I KNEW IT! That fucking little bastard is REAPER!!" Phoenix rage roaring through his body. "You better have something there for me when I get there." "Sure do Boss we still have a couple special guests including the third in command of the Shadows." Feeling so blind to all the signs he should have seen. Sending a text to Jared to get into anything he can find on possible locations for or under Reaper's real name as well as some others.
~Xavier~
Fire trucks were going all through the rough parts of the city as Xavier had his men blow every single building that had anything to with the Shadow gang even if it had people in it. Making sure it looked like a regular gang war, he had his special op team making sure they place Gunners people responsible and evidence of their own products and people behind. They found many as they themselves were there trying to wipe the new damn pests out. They may have brought some more people than Xavier sent but they were definitely not as strong or smart in combat and explosives. Seeing as they left their unconscious bodies near the sites. Walking away from an empty parking lot in the middle of the woods he noticed there was a car parked three spaces form him with an older man leaning against it with his hands in the pockets of his leather Jacket. "Xavier." The man said with a slight nod. "Chief Russo?" Before Xavier could blink Tony had pointed and fired his gun straight at him making him kneel to the floor in shock.
The bullet grazed his side just under his rib looking up at the man who tossed a kit at him to patch it up. "I told my Ari I was going to shoot you." He said holstering his gun. "Can't say I didn't have it coming." He said sitting flat on the concrete opening the kit to clean his area. "You're much bigger than I remember you. Same attitude still though." Tony said shaking his head. "Do I know you Chief?" "Once upon a time." He smirked. "How did you know I was here? What do you want?" Finishing his patch and cleaning the area around him. Putting the kit back in Tony's car. "You have something I want." He said with his arms opening out in his jacket. "What would that be?" "Titan Walker. I know you have him and I know he's there." Tony said pointing down to where the warehouse was hidden. "How do you assume I have this man?" "Let's not bullshit me Reaper. You have the man who is the reason my kid got five new holes in her body and you will take me to him so I can get what any other father deserves when someone fucks with your family. You will do this or so help me God I will call your father up and we'll both give you such a damn beating you'll wish your mama had swallowed you whole." Tony said in a voice that even scared him a little.
"Tony. Uncle Tony? All this time? Seriously?" Xavier mind reeling in realization of the his father other best friend who was the cop who was there also when Ariahs father died. Tony begged them for the longest time to go straight but Angelo couldn't disappoint and get out of family business. Tony took Ariah and got her off the grid not being able to handle the thought of losing her the same way he lost Caleb, never harboring any ill will to Angelo he kept in touch and met him once a year. "Does she know?" Xavier asked getting scared. "No, not yet. Think it'd be best if you told her your story first but you need to do it soon I've already come from seeing her. You better have your praying knees ready when the time comes, because believe you me kid they going to bleeding." Tony let out a shudder as Xavier got him into the door that he was considered his playroom. His men were wide eyed and standing far back as they could get, the men he considers his brothers were right there mouths dropped with them not even noticing Xavier and tony coming in. Looking at the scene in front of them even they took a quick breath. With his sleeves rolled and sliding his hair back. "What took you so long ol' friend. Did you walk here with your walker?" Angelo smirked to him.
"You know me ol' man family first." He smirked to him. "You tied that wrong getting sloppy, Angie." Tony said going over to readjust he knot on the man hanging upside down and over half his skin missing. One eye gone hanging loosely, every nail on the body removed and every bone in the legs broken. The back hamstrings slit. "I know you want him son, but this is one you wont get your hands on." Angelo said with a look in his eyes Xavier never seen before even if he wanted to the two fathers before him even he was nervous too. This went much deeper for them. There was only so much information the hanging decoration in front of them. "Are there any others?" Xavier turned to Axel. "That is the last one still breathing that anyone can track, we left their families alone if they had no knowledge of what they were doing which none of them did. That was the one rule to join if they found out a member told they slaughtered them, and the family. He is the last one." Axel made sure of that all their men did. Even the mole. The men did nothing but listen to the screams of the piece od shit in front of them and forever being haunted by the two men avenging a friends right as a member in the family fatherly rights.
~Ariah~
Two weeks off it was her first day back and she was heart broken with the file in front of her. Jace had placed on her desk, being the only one who knew where her spare key was. Her office was littered with Flowers form all her friends who loved her. Looking at the ones next to her desk. Picking up the card. 'Words can never say how thankful I am for you Ari, hope you bounce back quick. Anything you need remember I'm one call away. Love Nix." Reading it over one more time before throwing the whole gift in the trash. There's no way this could be true. Thinking about the scene that just went down with Noah.
An hour ago
" Ari I got something I need to tell you." "Hi Jace, I'm fine how are you?" Ari teased him as he dropped the two files on her desk. Looking through it her mouth and heart stopped. Pictures of Noah being caught with all the explosions of the Shadow's and Gunner's men. She knew all the nicknames of the higher ups but not the real identity. We also found his prints on the scene with the Shadows in the alley where they were before they got away and shot you. They weren't just shooting at some random guy on the street Ari they all were only shooting for Phoenix, they thought since you've been seen with him that you are in his pocket so they were hoping once you got in front of him the way you did they had you both like a twofer. Noah is the puppet." Jace said with a sad serious look. "He's in hold up right now waiting for you and I o question him Hunter is on another scene with some of the other gang members."
"Well then let's not keep him waiting." She replied emotionlessly she needed to be professional lots of practice of covering her emotions until she was alone. Walking in the door looking at both of them he hung his head a little there was no way out of this and he knew it. "Turn the camera off, have them clear the room." Ariah said to Jace about the back room which he made happen. Looking back to Jace with a nod ot confirm they were alone with no eyes or ears. Looking at him with a straight face and silence for so long. "Ari I'm not sorry for anything I've done so I won't waste your time and say I am. I am sorry for hurting and lying to you." Noah said and they all knew he meant it. "I believe that." Crossing her arms.
"How long have you been screwing us over? Have you tampered with any evidence while you been here?" She asked diving into the important questions. "No. I never messed with any evidence that has been filed or logged into the system. I honestly didn't need to. Other than that I'm not going to give any other information. We all know how this will work. What the only options I have are. I'm content in all the choices I have made up to this point I wouldn't go back and change anything if I could. Only regret I have is lying to you. You are a good person and you don't deserve. My only advice to you would be to leave. Transfer out and get out of this God forsaken town before you get hurt any further, any more than you don't deserve to be. Do it now Ari and don't even tell ANYONE where you're going, and most of all don't look back here. You have come so far building yourself back together over all this time. Staying here will just break you all over again. As your friend I'm begging you just pack up and run Ari." Noah said his hands cuffed on the table eye contact solid with her so he knew she heard him.
"You think staying here will hurt me more than I deserve because people are going to break me with all of their lies like you have done? Like Phoenix Moretti has, or should I call him Gunner?" She held up her hand under her chin like she was wondering which sounded better. "Did you talk to him lately?" "I know enough right now. Is he the Don?" "You know very well I won't answer that. I may have not told you I was mafia but I have never lied to you. Whatever you may think you know or feel about Nix right now you need to only believe that he would never hurt you. If you need information that bad you know as well as I do how to get it." He said with a smirk. "Ari I think we got enough now. We both know we aint going to get anywhere here." Jace said holding the door open for him. "Do you want us to book him or send him back to the feds. "Send him to the State, until he goes to trial. No need to waste our space or the feds on a puppet." Walking away from the other officer and Jace who only nodded.
Looking down at her phone she knew she needed to press send. She did not have enough proof to get Phoenix. They got a lot of info on the other's that were there, however she was struggling with the higherups on that side. She also wasn't finding anything out the Reaper side. It was all so crazy it was like everything was because the Shadow gang and Moretti's, she knew there was still the bigger one out there. This was too easy to get both these sides she was lost in thought to herself realizing she wasn't going to get any answers thinking about it. 'We need to talk. Meet me out on the ol train tracks near the woods of my place. Please come alone I need someone to talk to.' Hitting send she hoped she was doing the right thing. She had enough on this person to book him but it was killing her however she would do it. The crimes against Moretti was to unforgiveable. Sending another text to Hunter not being stupid enough to go meet somewhere alone. Ignoring him in asking her to wait for him to go hideout in case she needed back up. In her heart she knew she wouldn't need it, least hope she wouldn't.
She was sitting on the tree log starring out the track and opened field with the trees and forest behind her. "Pretty place." He said sitting down next to her. "How long Kills?" "How long what love bug?" Killian teased her. "How long were going to keep lying to me about who you guys are? About Gunner being Moretti?" His eyes widened mouth dropped she wasn't even looking at him. "It wasn't going to be too much longer." Looking down ashamed a little to have gotten caught. "Is true? Did you guys really sell people? The rapes reported, the kill counts on the kids. Is that all true?" She asked closing her eyes tight fearing the answer she felt she already knew but his hesitation. "Most of it is true the bombing of the kids wasn't intentional some members were aiming for the place next door and no one knew they would be to the place next door on a field trip. Everything else our men have done." Killian said lowly. "That's all I can tell you. Nix has so much more to tell you. You have no idea how mush deeper this goes. It even goes back to your father. Ari so much ahs been kept from you. You need to know everything. Come back with me and you'll find out everything you want to know I swear you will be safe." Killian said as a gunshot flew by him.
"What the hell. Get down." Killian said getting on top of her. Two of his men were shooting at her. "The fuck you think you're doing. "Your selling us out to the fucking FEDS! You're a damn rat." One said shooting at them. Killian pulled out his gun shooting back. Five other men came up shooting at them and charging into them. Ari going blow to blow with two of the men and they were having trouble keeping up with her. Until they all dropped with Hunter standing behind them. "Ariah get back away from him." Hunter urged her. "Ariah stay put. You don't know who he really is." Killian said standing in front of her. The rocks above them were loosening up and starting to fall down a little bit. "Ariah he's Gunners man. Please come here." Hunter urged her again. "NO! Ari stay with me. I can give you everything you're looking for just come with me you don't know who he really is. He's a damn snake. Everything that's happened is your guys fault." Killian yelled firing three shots to him in anger. "HUNTER! Killian no. Ariah yelled Hunter dodging all the bullets he fired back and got shot back in his shoulder as one of Killian shot him twice in the chest before the lost consciousness.
"Killian! Killian!" There was nothing she could do they both knew it. "It's alright Ari. I'm sorry for everything we did and took from you Ari. Don't trust them they are the same. Run Ari." Killian said as his life left his eyes. Brought down by his own men. "Ariah? I called it in. For what it's worth I don't think he set you up I think he was followed. He must have some moles running around. Do you really think he was Gunners second? Hey easy come here." Hunter told her helping her up. "Thank you for coming Hunter. I would probably be dead. She stood slowly up after she closed his eyes and placed him gently on the floor. "He's dead because of me." Tears filling her eyes. "He died because of his own men." "I called him out here." "You were doing your job." "If I had done it better he would still be here." "You can't blame yourself for other peopled actions. There is nothing you could have done different that wouldn't have ended in this not with his own men turning on him." Hunter said hugging her close to him. The other officers cars were driving so fast in that a few of them made the little cliff above them start to shake and loosen more of the rocks.
"Hunter, is there something you need to tell me?" "Hunter had taken a couple steps back. "What do you mean?" "Killian you said you were the same, what does that mean. He told me not to trust you or anyone because you're the same. I'll ask you again Hunter do you have something you need to tell me." A rock fell on her head catching them all by surprise. Ariahs vision was fading in Hunter caught her just before she hit the floor. "Ari? Ari? Shit. Medic please get a medic over here." Hunter taking a bandana from his pocket trying to keep pressure on the side from her head where the blood was leaking from it would definitely need stitches. Picking up his phone. "Hey man you got a problem.