“It was surreal, I gotta tell you, Chelle.”

Brian had his arms wrapped around his fiancée’s waist; they were in bed early just enjoying each other’s company after being apart for a while. Michelle had been away on business, she worked as a beauty consultant in several towns outside of New Huntington.

Brian had left the guys after they’d talked to Elijah about the campaign. Even though they tried to get him to stay. He’d insisted on leaving since he wanted to pick Michelle up from the train station. And then he tried telling Matt he should go home to Val…that hadn’t gone down so well…

Michelle tilted her head to look up at him. He kissed her softly on the lips. Then pulled his head back to look at her.

She smiled. “What’d your dad think?”

Brian laughed, lightly. “He was raving about it when he called earlier. Thought it would make a huge difference to the campaign.” He touched her face with the tips of his fingers before letting his hand fall to the side. “I agree with him.”

Michelle nodded as she rested her cheek against his chest, snuggling into him. “How’d my sister take it?”

A faint frown ghosted across his face as he remembered Valary’s reaction; he’d only heard about it second hand, but. “She was stunned. Matt told me afterward that she couldn’t speak.” He shook his head slowly. “If I’d been her…” He sighed and nuzzled into Michelle’s hair. She shifted and cuddled into him. He smiled and closed his eyes letting that thought drift away as he fell asleep.

* * * * *

The rest of the guys were too keyed up to sleep and they couldn’t go home; too much risk. So, they stayed holed up in Eli’s studio. Drinks were cracked open, food passed around and soft classical – yes, classical – music was playing in the background. Oddly congruent to the mood in the room.

The four young men were spread around the room each deep in their own thoughts.

Johnny, seated on a rolling stool, shut his eyes as he rested his forehead against the cool surface of his beer bottle. The images that were playing on the back of his eyelids were so vivid that it was almost as if he were reliving the moment all over again. A movie on repeat. The music was a soundtrack in his head; his own bass tones holding it all together. He shivered at the memory…

Matthew was sitting silently next to him a Jack clutched tightly between his big palms a deep expression of concentration on his face. Jason was foremost in his mind; the shock and anger on his face the biggest factor. The fear, though… Matthew couldn’t fathom it.

Jimmy was lying on the floor newspaper open on his stomach as he muttered under his breath to himself – “Boring…boring…call that news? Boring…crap…shit...”

Zacky was seated next to him phone in hand, noodling about on some social media site, brow furrowed darkly.

“What’re you doing?” Jimmy finally murmured, as he stopped talking to himself. Zacky glanced up.

“What?”

Jimmy rolled his eyes and nodded to the phone. “Why are you on Twitter?” The mechanic just rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the screen.

“Zacky…” Jimmy whined. Zacky shook his head. Johnny opened his eyes and looked over at them.

“Is there anything on Papa Gates’ campaign?”

Zacky snorted. “It’s the only thing worth talking about, according to social media.”

“Yeah?” Matthew surfaced from his silent meditation as he tipped his bottle to his mouth. His friend nodded as a dry smirk flickered across his lips.

“People are stunned. It’s crazy shit.” He held up his phone to show one of the Tweets on the screen. “They’re all pretty much like this… ‘Those guys are crazy! And wasn’t that the fucking T-One?? #extone #crazy #creedwillshitonthat #election09’

Matthew frowned. “The Creed…” his voice trailed off as he rubbed at his knee.

His cell phone rang then, jarring everyone else out of the quiet. He answered with a frown, which deepened when he realised who it was.

“Hey, hun…we’re still…yeah…I won’t be home for a while…I know. I’m sorry. Just…promise me one thing? Don’t let Johnston get to you.” He closed his eyes for a moment, lines drawn tight around them as his fingers gripped his phone hard. “Promise me.” He exhaled, a rough sound and nodded at whatever Val had said on the other end of the line. Then he clicked his phone off, tossing it on the sound desk.

“Shads?” Zacky raised his eyebrows at his friend.

Matthew shook his head slowly. “She has to go back to work.” His mind was churning now, a million miles a minute, thinking on what he’d just told his wife. Johnston…

“Worried?” the mechanic murmured, carefully.

Matthew said, distractedly, “I’d be a fool not to be.”

“Do you think Elliott would actually do anything?” Zacky asked, sounding surprised by the notion, not noticing that his friend wasn’t really paying attention. Matthew shrugged as he leaned his head back and rubbed his knee more. “Matt?”

“Wouldn’t put it passed him.”

Zacky shook his head expression strained. “Is there anything you can do?”

The former commander snorted, humourlessly as he stood and headed for the door, not answering his friend. The others all stopped what they were doing and jerked their heads in his direction.

“Where’re you going?” Jimmy asked, speaking everyone’s mind. Matthew paused in the doorway as he glanced back at them. Emotions flitted across his face then settled as his gaze hardened.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said before stalking out the door.

Jimmy grimaced and muttered, “That’s not what I asked…”

Zacky rolled his eyes in an empathetic gesture before he went back to his phone. Johnny slouched down further on his seat and closed his eyes again. Jimmy sighed and flicked to the comic section of the paper and settled down to wait.

* * * * *

Jason stood in the Creed’s visitors’ parking lot his gaze fixed on the front of the building that was his work place. Had been for so many years, seven years to be exact, for him at least…longer for his former friend.

He’d never imagined that things would change the way they had. Not so dramatically. The vision was always that one day Shadows would take over from Eskino as the General…well until all thisstarted happening…

“Berry.”

He stiffened at the voice that came from behind him. He didn’t turn though as he realised he’d been so absorbed in his own thoughts he’d never heard his bike pull up next to him. Jaw clenching, he remained silent as he waited. He wasn’t going to be the one to say the first word.

“Jason,” Matthew’s voice was tight. “We need to talk.”

“Do we?” Jason kept his tone empty of emotion. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down. It was hard enough knowing what his friend was doing; knowing what he had to do because of it. Matthew sighed as soft as a whisper.

“You need to know why I’m doing this.”

Jason gritted his teeth. “I don’t want to know.”

“Jason.”

“No!” Jason growled. “Do not tell me.” He finally turned to face his old friend. It was hard, so very hard but he managed to look him in the eyes as he repeated with as much conviction as possible, “Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

Matthew’s brow furrowed as he slid his shades down his nose and stared back at him. “You sure ‘bout that, Commander?” There was a wry edge to the honorific. Jason glared back at him. Matthew’s lip twitched. “Struck a nerve, did I?”

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and gripped his biceps. “You need to leave.”

“Or what?” Matthew lifted an eyebrow. The challenge was there now. Jason sensed it. He felt that he was walking a knife’s edge and either way he looked would end in someone getting hurt. He didn’t want that…

The T-One straightened his back, lifting his chin as he spoke in as formal a tone as he could, distancing himself from any notion of sentimentality. “You need to leave before I am forced to have you arrested.”

Matthew’s features twisted in disbelief then his lip curled slightly as he sneered, “This is the second time you’ve failed to do your duty. I would’ve arrested me at the campaign. No hesitation.”

Jason snorted. “You said I wouldn’t until I was sure.”

Matthew rolled his eyes. “You know me well enough to know that wasn’t a once off, Jason.”

“Do I?” Jason bit out. “I never suspected this of you in the first place. Out of all of us, you were always voted the most likely to become General if Eskino bowed out.”

The former Commander blinked, surprised but only for a moment. Though, long enough for Jason to catch it.

“You didn’t think that, Shads?”

Matthew shifted his weight as he slid his shades back to cover his eyes, masking his expression. “No. I thought that was where I was headed.” His voice was cold. Obviously, that was not a conversation he wanted to follow through. So, Jason dropped it.

“You really should go.”

Matthew narrowed his eyes at him. “You let me go, you won’t get another chance to stop us.”

Jason’s body stiffened at his statement. “We’ll see. I’d watch myself if I were you.”

The bigger male chuckled as he swung his leg over the seat of his bike and settled down on it. “One more thing, Jason.”

The Commander tilted his head slightly, acknowledging that he was prepared to listen.

“How much influence does Johnston have over The Creed?” Matthew sounded genuinely curious. That unsettled Jason. And the thing was, he wasn’t actually sure of the answer himself. He shook his head slowly.

“I’m not at liberty to say.” I don’t even fucking know…

Matthew nodded as if that were the response he expected. He started up his bike but sat for a moment longer, frowning over his shades. Jason cocked an eyebrow at him. He shook his head and laughed slightly.

“Be seeing you.”

Jason scowled at him. He laughed more as he backed out of the spot and gunned the engine, speeding out of the lot.

* * * * *

Elliott stood in the General’s office, looking out the window and narrowed his eyes as he observed the tense standoff between Berry and Shadows. He turned to the soldier who was standing in the doorway.

“Put out a code red. I want Shadows followed when he leaves.” He grimaced. “And get the Commander up here. Now.”

The soldier saluted and left as Elliott turned in time to see Shadows gunning it out of the parking lot. A cold smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as he saw the unmarked vehicle that pulled out to follow him.

“Mayor Johnston?” There was surprise in the voice that came from the doorway.

The Mayor turned his head, giving the Commander his profile. “Commander.”

“You wanted to see me.”

Elliott nodded and looked calmly at the young commander. “You’re to pull the trigger on Shadows and his friends.”

Jason paled but only slightly as he set his jaw, steeling his mind. “You have information on their whereabouts, sir?”

“I’ve already got someone following Shadows. You will need to coordinate with him.”

Jason saluted stiffly then turned on his heel to do as he was commanded. Elliott watched him go then returned to the window to wait.

* * * * *

“Elijah!”

Eli was in his study and frowned when he heard Melissa’s urgent voice coming down the hall. She burst through the door, phone in hand.

“What is it?” He remained calm even though he could see how anxious she was. Which was unusual in itself. She was the ice woman. Nothing ever bothered her.

Melissa paused for breath. “It’s your…brother.” She thrust the phone at him. He raised his eyes at the abruptness of her actions; however, he took it without a word to her and held it up to his ear.

“Peter?” His eyes widened slightly as he listened and he grabbed hold of the edge of his desk, hard. “Code red!? Are you certain?” He closed his eyes and almost growled. “Damn it all to Hell, Pete.”

Melissa stepped forward and opened her mouth, looking even more anxious. He held up one finger, shaking his head as he continued to speak to his brother.

“What do I do?” Consternation creased his brow. “Oh. You really think they’ll get away?” That thought surprised him. He knew how efficient The Creed was when pursuing fugitives; because that was technically what Matthew and his friends were.

His brother was attempting to reassure him… “I know. I know. But, his friends…” Elijah sighed. “He can’t protect them on his own. Not against the whole Creed.” He slammed his fist down on the desk. “No! Dammit! You what?” He groaned at something Eskino said. “No. You can’t do that. You’re still the General. Even if you took yourself off the case.”

He stood, agitated. Melissa watched as he began to pace the floor. He didn’t say another word, his brother obviously steering the rest of the conversation. After several more minutes he hung up and turned to look at his assistant. She straightened.

“Sir?”

He frowned at her. “Make the call.”

“The call?” Her voice almost squeaked on the word. Elijah’s eyes took on a steely cast.

“Make the call.”

Melissa stared at him for a long moment, gauging how serious he was. He glared at her.

“For Christ’s sake. Make the goddamned call!”

She swallowed hard, but nodded and turned to stride out of the office. Elijah watched her go, hoping fervently that he’d made the right decision. If he hadn’t, it didn’t bear thinking.

Notes

So, after this chapter I have four more written. I feel that after those four there will be only a few more chapters and then I will be able to start the sequel. Thank you for reading :)