Page 29
Story: C is For Corruption
Her continued conversation with the others faded to background noise as I finished my meal. My mind was busyreviewing what needed to happen at the meeting later, and nothing else registered. It wasn’t until I insisted on doing the cleanup that I zoned back into the present.
I gathered the plates from the table and walked into the kitchen, where Victoria was shooing Dawn away from the sink, insisting that she take care of the dishes since Dawn had cooked for all of us.
“Let us take care of it,” I interjected, putting the plates in the sink and a hand on Victoria’s shoulder. “The meal was delicious as always.” Victoria made another shooing motion and Dawn smiled despite narrowing her eyes before she huffed and left us to clean up.
“Thanks for the assist, I didn’t think she was going to let me do anything,” Victoria said.
“She probably wouldn’t have. You’ll have to come around a little more before she stops treating you like a guest.” I chuckled, scraping off food into the garbage disposal and rinsing dishes before handing them to Victoria to put into the dishwasher. “It took her ages to even start using the dishwasher.”
“You’d think with me hopping between Craig and Leighton’s bed, she’d have either dropped the politeness or ratched it up to an uncomfortable level.” Victoria chuckled.
“Nah, Dawn’s not judgemental like that. She’s seen it all living in the southside and has always made it clear to us that she just wanted us happy and healthy.” I chuckled, my memories of Dawn through the years playing like a flip book in my mind. “And I’ve heard a few stories growing up. She was quite the character herself before she settled down.”
“So, no weird politeness politics if she catches me slipping into your room tonight then?” Victoria grinned, taking the next dish from my hand, before turning serious. “Just to sleepthough. I miss you, you’re so busy lately that I feel like the only time I could possibly get with you is cuddled up asleep.”
I grimaced, not only at her words but at the knowledge I was about to reject her offer. “As much as I wish we could, Love, tonight isn’t a good night. Me, Leighton, and Joey are meeting our people and I’m not sure how long that’s going to take.”
“I could come.” She said, not an ounce of hesitation in her voice.
“No,” I replied quickly, then sighed, realizing how that probably sounded. “Not because I think you need to stay put, but because this is Horsemen business.”
“Okay, and?” Victoria huffed, putting her hands on her hips and turning to face me fully.
I turned to face her fully, fighting the urge to tug my hair after the conversation at the dinner table. “You’re not a Horsemen, Victoria. A partner, yes, but you don’t have the training or experience to weigh in on our business.”
“I realize that I’m not officially a member of your boy’s club,” she spat, “But I’ve been through enough bothwithandforthe Horsemen. When is it going to be enough to have some kind of voice or stakes here?”
“Don’t make me the asshole here, damn it. Yes, you’ve been through a lot with us, and yes, whoever mixed you up in our business was using you to target us, but don’t forgetPrincess, that every damned time, it’s been our skill that’s saved your ass. Let’s say I let you come, one, you aren’t part of the organization, your mere presence will cause people to questionourauthority. But let’s say for argument’s sake, they accept the bullshit reasoning that you’re there for your protection. You are safer here. You had, what, a few weeks of self defense training while everything has been going to shit? You don’t have the skills to protect yourself if shit goes sideways at the meeting place. And the odds aren’t in our fucking favor right now, Victoria. Somuch so that Craig is staying behind becauseheunderstands that his injuries currently make him a liability.”
The entire time I was speaking, Victoria merely stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. She weighed my words for a moment, and I could see the wheels in her head turning. “I… see your point. I don’t want to, everything in me says you’re being an Az-hole.” She sighed heavily, letting her arms fall to her sides. “I’m tired of being left behind, and I’m tired of beingreactiverather thanproactiveto keep not only myself safe, but you four as well.” I opened my mouth to speak, and she made a ‘shut’ motion with her hand.
“Shut it. I’m talking, you got your monologue,” she snapped, “I know I don’t have the skills to be useful, I’m aware that my presence will be a distraction if something goes sideways and you have to worry about getting me out alive on top of yourselves. Do you think that I don’t fuckingknowhow useless I’ve been to you all this entire time? Sure, Joey trained me enough with a gun that I can aim and fire, and stand a decent chance of hitting what I meant to, most of the time. I’m reasonably sure I can keep myself from getting dragged off. But if you think I’m fucking going anywhere, Az-hole, you’ve got another thing coming. I’ve been through hell with you four! And back! So if your reasoning for me not contributing is because I’ve not got the skills, fine, help me develop them. If not directly, then give me something to work toward!”
“Fucking hell, woman, why can’t you just be our peace?!” I bellowed. Victoria drew back like I’d slapped her, and I could see the wind leave her sails. “Christ, I didn’t mean to scream that at you, but fuck’s sake, Victoria. There’s nothing wrong with just being the calm in our storm. Weneedthat.”
“I…” She faltered, looking away from me. “I’m not trying to… be a problem. I…” I reached for her, seeing the struggle on her face so clearly. But she pulled away from me. “I want to beyour peace, but what’s wrong with me also wanting to be a shield for the men I love? So I don’t… have to lose any more of you?”
I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs stroking her cheeks as I held her gaze. “You’re not a problem, Love. That’s not at all what I meant by that. You’re just so busy trying to dive on the sword for us you haven’t stopped to consider that you’ve picked the wrong battle. One day, you will have the skills to be our shield; I promise you that. But right now, the best way to be that shield is to be the softness we come home to.” I slid a hand down and grabbed one of hers before bringing them to rest just over my heart. “This is what we need you to protect, Love. Not our bodies.”
“Hey guys—” Craig’s sudden interruption caused us both to jump away from each other. I turned to look at him, where he leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen with a smirk on his face. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to go over a few things before it got much later. I’m tired, and I’d like to catch a little sleep. I’m starting to get too damn old for this middle of the night shit.”
I nodded, turning back to Victoria with a questioning look. She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek, her expression soft. She brushed past me and kissed Craig’s cheek similarly before leaving the kitchen.
“Alright, what did you want to go over?” I asked, motioning in the direction of Ian’s office.
“First, I…” Craig trailed off, his expression thoughtful. “Neither of you were wrong there, you know? She wasn’t made for this life, but she’s found herself in it nonetheless. And no one in this life gets tojustbe a shield.” His voice was soft as we fell in step with each other toward Ian’s office. “None of us want her in this, but sheisin it. And, Az, we’ve made members of people who’ve been through less… There are—”
“We’re not having this conversation. If the time comes that I have to reconcile with it, I will, but we’re not discussing it. And I swear to God, if you tell her we’ve brought in people for less…"
“I’m not planning on giving hermoreammo. I’m injured, not brain dead.” Craig snarked.
I glanced at my wristwatch and saw that it was closing in on three in the morning. Craig wasn’t the only one getting too damned old for these late nights, and I still had at least another hour of reports to work through when we got back to the Innocenti’s.
“Alright, so that just leaves Todd.” I said to Phil before muttering under my breath. “What sort of mobster is named Todd?”
I must not have spoken as quietly as I thought because Phil chuckled before calling the man to stand before us. He had a similar build to Joey, but his face was forgettable, and I couldn’t help wondering why Phil hadn’t suggested him for the recon jobs I’d assigned already. I briefly considered calling back one of the others and swapping them out as Todd studied me, Joey, and Leighton, waiting for our orders. Someone like him could easily be looked over and forgotten by a target.
“Only thing left for now is sweeping the buildings on Elm for any bugs planted in our absence. There’s already a crew securing the area, and another dealing with cleanup. So, it’s your lucky day, Todd, you get the bug sweep job.”
I gathered the plates from the table and walked into the kitchen, where Victoria was shooing Dawn away from the sink, insisting that she take care of the dishes since Dawn had cooked for all of us.
“Let us take care of it,” I interjected, putting the plates in the sink and a hand on Victoria’s shoulder. “The meal was delicious as always.” Victoria made another shooing motion and Dawn smiled despite narrowing her eyes before she huffed and left us to clean up.
“Thanks for the assist, I didn’t think she was going to let me do anything,” Victoria said.
“She probably wouldn’t have. You’ll have to come around a little more before she stops treating you like a guest.” I chuckled, scraping off food into the garbage disposal and rinsing dishes before handing them to Victoria to put into the dishwasher. “It took her ages to even start using the dishwasher.”
“You’d think with me hopping between Craig and Leighton’s bed, she’d have either dropped the politeness or ratched it up to an uncomfortable level.” Victoria chuckled.
“Nah, Dawn’s not judgemental like that. She’s seen it all living in the southside and has always made it clear to us that she just wanted us happy and healthy.” I chuckled, my memories of Dawn through the years playing like a flip book in my mind. “And I’ve heard a few stories growing up. She was quite the character herself before she settled down.”
“So, no weird politeness politics if she catches me slipping into your room tonight then?” Victoria grinned, taking the next dish from my hand, before turning serious. “Just to sleepthough. I miss you, you’re so busy lately that I feel like the only time I could possibly get with you is cuddled up asleep.”
I grimaced, not only at her words but at the knowledge I was about to reject her offer. “As much as I wish we could, Love, tonight isn’t a good night. Me, Leighton, and Joey are meeting our people and I’m not sure how long that’s going to take.”
“I could come.” She said, not an ounce of hesitation in her voice.
“No,” I replied quickly, then sighed, realizing how that probably sounded. “Not because I think you need to stay put, but because this is Horsemen business.”
“Okay, and?” Victoria huffed, putting her hands on her hips and turning to face me fully.
I turned to face her fully, fighting the urge to tug my hair after the conversation at the dinner table. “You’re not a Horsemen, Victoria. A partner, yes, but you don’t have the training or experience to weigh in on our business.”
“I realize that I’m not officially a member of your boy’s club,” she spat, “But I’ve been through enough bothwithandforthe Horsemen. When is it going to be enough to have some kind of voice or stakes here?”
“Don’t make me the asshole here, damn it. Yes, you’ve been through a lot with us, and yes, whoever mixed you up in our business was using you to target us, but don’t forgetPrincess, that every damned time, it’s been our skill that’s saved your ass. Let’s say I let you come, one, you aren’t part of the organization, your mere presence will cause people to questionourauthority. But let’s say for argument’s sake, they accept the bullshit reasoning that you’re there for your protection. You are safer here. You had, what, a few weeks of self defense training while everything has been going to shit? You don’t have the skills to protect yourself if shit goes sideways at the meeting place. And the odds aren’t in our fucking favor right now, Victoria. Somuch so that Craig is staying behind becauseheunderstands that his injuries currently make him a liability.”
The entire time I was speaking, Victoria merely stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. She weighed my words for a moment, and I could see the wheels in her head turning. “I… see your point. I don’t want to, everything in me says you’re being an Az-hole.” She sighed heavily, letting her arms fall to her sides. “I’m tired of being left behind, and I’m tired of beingreactiverather thanproactiveto keep not only myself safe, but you four as well.” I opened my mouth to speak, and she made a ‘shut’ motion with her hand.
“Shut it. I’m talking, you got your monologue,” she snapped, “I know I don’t have the skills to be useful, I’m aware that my presence will be a distraction if something goes sideways and you have to worry about getting me out alive on top of yourselves. Do you think that I don’t fuckingknowhow useless I’ve been to you all this entire time? Sure, Joey trained me enough with a gun that I can aim and fire, and stand a decent chance of hitting what I meant to, most of the time. I’m reasonably sure I can keep myself from getting dragged off. But if you think I’m fucking going anywhere, Az-hole, you’ve got another thing coming. I’ve been through hell with you four! And back! So if your reasoning for me not contributing is because I’ve not got the skills, fine, help me develop them. If not directly, then give me something to work toward!”
“Fucking hell, woman, why can’t you just be our peace?!” I bellowed. Victoria drew back like I’d slapped her, and I could see the wind leave her sails. “Christ, I didn’t mean to scream that at you, but fuck’s sake, Victoria. There’s nothing wrong with just being the calm in our storm. Weneedthat.”
“I…” She faltered, looking away from me. “I’m not trying to… be a problem. I…” I reached for her, seeing the struggle on her face so clearly. But she pulled away from me. “I want to beyour peace, but what’s wrong with me also wanting to be a shield for the men I love? So I don’t… have to lose any more of you?”
I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs stroking her cheeks as I held her gaze. “You’re not a problem, Love. That’s not at all what I meant by that. You’re just so busy trying to dive on the sword for us you haven’t stopped to consider that you’ve picked the wrong battle. One day, you will have the skills to be our shield; I promise you that. But right now, the best way to be that shield is to be the softness we come home to.” I slid a hand down and grabbed one of hers before bringing them to rest just over my heart. “This is what we need you to protect, Love. Not our bodies.”
“Hey guys—” Craig’s sudden interruption caused us both to jump away from each other. I turned to look at him, where he leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen with a smirk on his face. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to go over a few things before it got much later. I’m tired, and I’d like to catch a little sleep. I’m starting to get too damn old for this middle of the night shit.”
I nodded, turning back to Victoria with a questioning look. She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek, her expression soft. She brushed past me and kissed Craig’s cheek similarly before leaving the kitchen.
“Alright, what did you want to go over?” I asked, motioning in the direction of Ian’s office.
“First, I…” Craig trailed off, his expression thoughtful. “Neither of you were wrong there, you know? She wasn’t made for this life, but she’s found herself in it nonetheless. And no one in this life gets tojustbe a shield.” His voice was soft as we fell in step with each other toward Ian’s office. “None of us want her in this, but sheisin it. And, Az, we’ve made members of people who’ve been through less… There are—”
“We’re not having this conversation. If the time comes that I have to reconcile with it, I will, but we’re not discussing it. And I swear to God, if you tell her we’ve brought in people for less…"
“I’m not planning on giving hermoreammo. I’m injured, not brain dead.” Craig snarked.
I glanced at my wristwatch and saw that it was closing in on three in the morning. Craig wasn’t the only one getting too damned old for these late nights, and I still had at least another hour of reports to work through when we got back to the Innocenti’s.
“Alright, so that just leaves Todd.” I said to Phil before muttering under my breath. “What sort of mobster is named Todd?”
I must not have spoken as quietly as I thought because Phil chuckled before calling the man to stand before us. He had a similar build to Joey, but his face was forgettable, and I couldn’t help wondering why Phil hadn’t suggested him for the recon jobs I’d assigned already. I briefly considered calling back one of the others and swapping them out as Todd studied me, Joey, and Leighton, waiting for our orders. Someone like him could easily be looked over and forgotten by a target.
“Only thing left for now is sweeping the buildings on Elm for any bugs planted in our absence. There’s already a crew securing the area, and another dealing with cleanup. So, it’s your lucky day, Todd, you get the bug sweep job.”
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