Pointing fingers and placing blame

Brian’s POV
I sat at the table in our living room, plans of our territory and other districts before us. Matt’s office door was closed, the whole in the wall next to it describing my inner turmoil pretty well. I clenched my fists underneath the table, been trying to keep my composure but it was hard and I was failing more and more.

When the Berry’s arrived, Zack and Jimmy were trying to clue them in on the whole situation. They started from the scene, marking it on the pages of the territory plan, they tried to come up with a radius in which direction the kidnapper had taken our girls.

Just thinking about Emery was making my heart clench in my chest. Would they harm the girls? Trying to get information out of them or would they try to hand them over to Pagano right away?

Would they get the ransom on their heads and sell us out? We should be gearing up for battle, soon it would be on our doorsteps either way.

I would make sure the Vipers would fucking pay for taking what’s mine. I swear to god if Emery was harmed, there would be no mercy from my side. I would kill every living being which sided with the Vipers not giving a care in the world, if they had anything to do with this or not.

I wanted revenge, and I would get it. I needed to have Emery back in my arms, safely and unharmed and if that wouldn’t happen soon, I had the tendency to go insane.

“You got anything to add, Gates?” MB asked and looked at me from the side. I lifted my head up and he frowned a little “You okay?” He asked again when I didn’t reply.

I shoved my chair back and it clattered down to the floor, I turned without another word and headed to Johnny’s security office, I had to find something that we could use. Shads was right, I couldn’t just fucking sit here and do planning for nothing.

“Gates! Yo! Damn it, Brian!” Jimmy stopped me with a hand to my shoulder “This is important, come over have a look at the plan, maybe we missed something you saw?! Maybe that is the hint we need to find a trail on the girls.” Jimmy pleaded with me his eyes full of concern and suppressed anger.

“I know what you feel, Brian. I-I… We all do. We want them back, we would like to go out there blazing guns and all with you, believe me. We want those fuckers to pay, too. But fuck… we need to make sure we don’t run into a suicide mission or make it even worse for the girls.” Jimmy said and I stared at him blankly. I heard his voice and I understood it but the rage and guilt inside of me was gnarring so hard on my mind, it was drowning out all rational thoughts.

“We see what this does to you and Shads, and they belong to us, we know that. We want them back just as bad. But we can’t risk the Golden Vipers to find out more than they should. If they hear of you and Shads going batshit crazy, they know just what they do. You know those ruthless fuckers. How they treat captives, how they use women, how they rape and-”

“Shut up! I don’t need to hear another word.” I snapped shoving him a step away, the voices in my head maddening me. Emery’s pleading voice for help, her fearful eyes, my voice telling her I would let nothing happen to her and her sister, her laugh dying down and her voice disappearing all completely.

I held my hands to my ears and tried to silence the madness “Fuck! FUCK!” I stumbled away, and this time Jimmy didn’t follow. But I didn’t go to the monitoring room as planned, I stumbled to the back entrance, and before thinking twice I was out the door.

I pulled the car keys out of my pocket and went around to the garage, I saw one car missing, Shads favorite and could already guess that the fucker had probably the same idea. I took my car and started it up, opening the garage and driving off.

At first I wasn’t too sure where to go, but then I remembered that in a bar the other day in area 5 I had run in with one of the Vipers. Maybe it was just a lucky shot, but I would head over there anyway, and see if I could find any hints on these guys hideout.

I sped through the first four area’s until I arrived at the destination. I climbed out of the car and walked into the crowded place, shit I hadn’t realized it was so late already and that the place would be full of people, I didn’t need that many onlookers.

I pushed my way through the crowd, most of the people took one look at me and made space for me to go through. I must look as worse as I felt, destruction must be oozing out of my pores.

I settled down and signaled for a glass. The bar keeper put the whiskey without ice before me and stored the bottle only a hand away from me with a nod. I replied the nod and turned around. I scanned the crowd for gold and black, hoping again that this day, would proof not to be the worlds end, but so far no luck.

I shot gunned the drink and poured another, the burn soothing a little of the ache inside me, but by far not enough.
I just lifted the drink to my lips when a voice sounded beside me “All alone?” The silky voice asked and I didn’t even bother to turn around, maybe she would get the hint.

I swallowed the drink again with two big gulps and set the glass onto the counter “If you are not into talking, I could think about a thing or two we could do that doesn’t involve-” The voice beside me asked again, and this time I turned my head, the woman was nice to look at but trying way too hard, and I didn’t have an eye for any other woman, probably never would, especially not now, when my woman was taken from me and in misery, because I failed her.

“You better go” I growled out “Find someone else to play with, before I make you” I added and heard her huff out a breathe “We could have fun-” she started again and this time I met her eyes “Go, or you will regret it” I snapped and her eyes widened and then she scrambled of probably seeing the threat and promise in my eyes.

I saw a black jacket, I wasn’t too sure if it really meant he was one of the Vipers, but I wouldn’t give the chance away to find something out. I pushed my way through the crowd and grabbed the guy by the collar. I shoved him out of the door, before any of his friends noticed he was gone.

“Dude, what the fuck?!” He pushed me away and looked at me with narrowed eyes. I looked him up and down and didn’t know where to place him, he was wearing gold and black, but not the jacket the Golden Vipers would, was he a trainee or some shit? Was he on patrol?

“We have some business to discuss” I took a step closer but he met me head on “What business would we two have in common?” He lifted his eyebrow without backing down.

“You know, who I am?” I asked a smirk coming over my face. “I know who you are, Gates. That’s why I know we don’t have any business” He replied and I took another step towards him.

“What are you doing in our area?” I asked narrowing my eyes, my hands were itching for a fight and a good beating, but maybe Jimmy was right and I couldn’t bring them even more onto our trail?!

“What did it look like, Gates? I was having a drink and playing pool.” He snapped back and I grabbed his collar. He was probably my height, but I was sure I could take him without breaking in sweat.

“And since when are you allowed into our territory? What is this shit about?” I asked and shook him a little, he lifted his arms and pushed me away “I didn’t do anything, and I am not interested in making any trouble, so lay the fuck off.” He took a step around me but I kicked out my leg and hit him in the knee, he tumbled and fell to the other.

“Fuck you! What is wrong with you, asshole?!” He groaned holding his knee and I walked around him, smiling “Now, we try again. Why are you here and what are your bosses up to?” I asked and he looked up, slowly coming back to his feet.

“I have no fucking idea what you are talking about. I am not here as GV, I am off shift and wanted to have some fun with my friends who aren’t in the scene” He hissed back, readying for battle and I smirked; now that’s something I would enjoy.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know, asshole. I want information or you will disappear without a trace” I swung my fist “GATES!” Johnny’s voice sounded from behind us and I stopped right before hitting the guy.

“What the hell?!” He came running closer and the Viper or not had took the chance to run off into the bar disappearing into the crowd.

I narrowed my eyes at Johnny “What the hell was that about, Christ?” I asked and he stopped in front of me with a concerned look. “We have a situation with Shads… We gotta get back, he disappeared on us and is driving drunk around town.”
“So? Wouldn’t be the first time?!” I shrugged thinking of a plan to get the guy back and maybe taking him with me, maybe he would spill his guts after a little night in our cell basement?!

I took a step forward back into the direction of the bar, when Johnny walked around me stopping me from walking any further.

“Brian, stop it. This guy won’t know shit, if he is not back at the Gold Viper territory. Believe me, if he knew anything, he would be in their compound now. Now, get back into the car and follow me. I might have found a clue… but I need your help” Johnny took off without another word and I debated with myself, what if he was just trying to get me to follow him?

Or did he really have found something? Fucking hell!

I took a step towards the bar and then turned around heading after Johnny, damn that little dipshit.

I saw him driving off and got into my car and drove behind him. When I arrived back at the compound I saw that Jimmy and Zack were just climbing out of a car, hands bloody and I frowned.

“What were you guys doing?! And where is Shads?” His car was the only one still missing.
“Well, Shads is drunk off his ass… Beat some poor sob nearly to death, we dropped the guy off at some hospital… Shads took off again, needing time. And where the hell have you been?” Zack asked wiping his hands on his jeans.

“Investigating” I replied and dared Johnny to say anything else. But he kept silent, for his own good.

“I hope Matt will be home soon, he shouldn’t be driving, we shouldn’t have let him drive off like that” Jimmy mused and Zack shrugged “Did you want to end like the guy on the sidewalk? Because that’s the mood our boss is in right now.”

I saw the table was empty, plans gone, so were the Berry brothers, I hope they would find something, we could always count on them but this situation was nothing like we ever had before.

“You told the Berry’s this is high priority, right?” I turned and looked at the others, they rolled their eyes nearly all at the same time “Dude, we are not dumb. Of course. They went off right away, getting to all their contacts, we also included The Body, he will check as well. We will have a hint soon. You know we are on your side, right?” Zack said and I sighed closing my eyes for a moment. I knew that and still, this waiting was killing me.

“Your cut opened up again, you are bleeding on the floor” Jimmy said and when I opened my eyes I saw the blood running from my hand, weird I hadn’t even felt it.
I lifted my hand and saw the cut, it didn’t look deep, was just at a sensitive area, which was good, it would remind me of my failure.
“Why don’t you take a shower, we will have a look at the camera’s again and watch out for Shads to come home and then we plan a new approach and hear if they got any news for us?” Jimmy asked and I was about to shake my head, but then decided against it.

I turned and went to my room, as soon as the door closed behind me I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I swallowed thickly seeing the rumpled sheets on my bed, where the shirt lay that Emery had been wearing the night before.

I took a step closer and lifted the shirt up, I held it to my nose and inhaled, her sweet scent was still lingering in the fabric. I balled it in my fist throwing it away, it bringing back memories I had no right to have, not as long as I was here safe and Emery was god knows where, those assholes doing unspeakable things to her.

I gasped for air, my lungs feeling like they were being squeezed together, no air coming through. I stumbled backwards and out of the room. I couldn’t be in there, couldn’t sleep there, thoughts overwhelming me.

I hit the wall in the living room and tried to suck air into my lungs, this never happened before, what the hell was happening to me. Slowly when I looked at my surroundings I could breathe again.

I let myself drop down on the floor, my back against the wall my head in my hands. What could I do? Why couldn’t I find a fucking hint on them?! I was doing this shit for all my life, and now when I needed all my skills I had no idea what to do… what was wrong?!

The main entrance opened and closed and Matt stumbled in. His eyes were small and bloodshot, I had never seen him look worse to be honest. He held a hand out to steady himself on the wall and looked around.

He seemed to be satisfied to see the air was clear “Found anything?!” I ruined his moment and his eyes widened and then he looked down to my sitting position.

“Do I look like I found something?” He slurred and I pushed myself up walking closer to him, his hands were crusted with blood, probably not his.

“Nothing?” I asked again, and hell I knew I was walking on dangerous territory, provoking him, but wasn’t he my last hope to have found anything today? When I had failed?!

Matt took a step forward and looked me dead in the eye “Nothing, Gates. Now get out of my way and be useful for a change” He snapped and that was just what I needed, him rubbing me the wrong way.

“Well? You say I am not useful, look at fucking you. Coming home stumbling and swaying. I bet you made a big progress in finding your girlfriend, or did you drink to forget? Found another already?” A low fucking blow, I knew it, and just as I said it Matt’s fist connected to my jaw and I stumbled back, fine… I earned that one.

“Don’t you dare say something like that again, or I will forget that you are one of my best friends, I am not in the mood for your bullshit” Matt growled and seemed a lot steadier now in his movements. At least it would be fair fight now.

“Well if it wasn’t for you, the girls would still be here, right? You had to fucking pick up the distracting call!” I said the words and hadn’t even realized what I meant before the words were out.

“I? I was the one being distracted, well hell! I was on the phone talking, because I am the goddamn boss, you should have been on the look-out! If it was anyone’s fault it was yours!” Matt grabbed a hold of my shirt but I shoved him off.

“Don’t turn this shirt around, you left your girlfriend and that’s why she went off with Emery. I just followed your fucking orders, if it wasn’t for you-” Another blow, but this time to my ribcage and again the air that I needed abandoned me.
“You-” I straightened myself up and took the moment of distraction and hit Matt in the stomach, he doubled over and I added a hook to his chin. But instead of falling over, like any other opponent had done, he narrowed his bloodshot eyes at me, spit out some blood and came charging at me, he ran me over and we landed hard onto the floor, his fist connected with my eye and I felt my brain rattling in my skull.

“Fucking hell, don’t blame me for your-” Matt started and I just kicked him off, turning the upper hand around when suddenly Zack, Jimmy and Johnny were pulling us to our feet.

Matt and I were staring daggers at each other “What the fuck is wrong with you two?! Do you think this shit is helping someone?! Do you think the girls would want to see you guys ripping out each other throats, blaming each other!?” Zack yelled at us while Johnny slowly let go of me and Jimmy did the same with Matt. Zack standing in the middle arms to both sides and looking from me to Matt and back…

“Yeah, lets fucking beat each other to a bloody pulp because, we don’t need all our strength when we get the girls back… no fuck, should I get you some guns to help with the situation?! Damn, what is going on in your heads… You know, if finding them isn’t important enough to try and stay with a level head, maybe you to should be out of the loop and Johnny, Jimmy and I will get the job done, because like this, we don’t need you.”

Jo’s POV
Em and I were just talking when the door burst back open and two men looked down at Em and me with a sinister grin. “I see you have both had enough time to come to your senses,” the big man said stepping towards Emery. “Must be you are ready to talk now! C’mon, Red, you’re first,” he said, referring to the red wig that was still on Emery’s head.

I clenched my fist, what were they planning now? They wouldn’t separate us, would they? I wouldn’t stand to be alone here and not even have my sister.

“No! I’m not going anywhere with you!” He reached out to grab her arm but she immediately wrestled it away from him, earning a hard blow to the face in return. I cringed and wanted to get up and defend her, but the other guy at the door was giving me a smile and daring me to move, so he could have his way with me.

“When I say come, bitch, you come,” he hissed, before grabbing Emery and dragging her struggling form out of the room.

“No! Jo! No!” Em cried, and my heart was breaking, as soon as the door was falling closed I headed to it, trying to open it again, hearing my sisters heartbreaking cries. I fell down to the floor and sobbed, what were they planning to do with us? What were they doing to my sister right now?!

I don’t know how long I sat near the door on the cold floor, the tears had stopped, but only because I was too exhausted to cry.

When the door opened it almost banged right into me. Another guy with a gold and black jacket stood in the door. “You, come!” He commanded and when I wasn’t fast enough getting up he hauled me up and roughly pushed me through the door leading me down to the second door on the right.

There was another guy waiting, a wooden stool stood in the middle and he shoved me towards it. “Sit!”
I fell onto my knees scrabbling the skin on the hard floor and heard a chuckle behind me. I lifted myself up and sat down on the chair, facing the two guys.

“Boss will be here in a second. But he told us to have a closer look at you” The one stepped closer and I shrank back in my chair, afraid of what he would do to me, whishing myself back into Matt’s arms, hoping he would hold me and protect me, but when I felt a cold hand on my cheek, the image of Matt disappeared and a shudder ran down my spine at the foul stank of the guy in front of me.

“You think, Billy would notice if we had a little fun before he arrived?” He asked the guy at the door and my eyes widened in horror. Oh god!

“What you say, doll? If you spread your legs for those filthy Avenged guys, why not for me?” He pushed himself between my legs and his hand grabbed my cheek hard, making me look into his face.

“I could think of a couple of things, that I would do to that little body, I bet I know some tricks those bastards couldn’t show you… Which one did you let in? Gates? Wasn’t he the guy for blondes? Or maybe Rev, he has a thing for the innocent looking, right?” He lifted my face higher, that we were only inches apart, I tried to pull away, but his grip was painful, probably leaving bruises already.

“Tell me, bitch! I want to know, who I will taunt later with the details of what I did to you” He continued and his hand landed on my thigh, my eyes widened and I tried to shut everything out, no move, no sign of anything. I felt like I was watching the scene from above and not experiencing it from my own body.

“I don’t think that they had a special type, dude. I guess they all shared the bitch of the house” He said taking a step forward too, looking me up and down “And didn’t these guys had a great idea with that-” Just when he finished the sentence the door burst open and the guy with the missing teeth walked in.

He looked at the scene and narrowed his eyes “Did I tell you, you had permission to fuck with the captive? No, now get the fuck off and bring the other back to the room. I need my time here” He snapped and looked at me as soon as the other guys left.

“Now, we can do this the easy or the hard way, what should it be?” He asked and I pressed my lips together, not a word would he get from me.

“The hard way? I’m fine with that, doll.” He stepped closer and then around my chair, his hands landed on my shoulders, his nails gigging into my skin “What is your name? We should share that much, right?” He whispered in my ear, his lips brushing my ear shell and I tried not to gag.

“Joann” I replied the fake name and he laughed loudly “Wow, that was easy, wasn’t it. I thought you wanted to act all tough?”

“Joann, what a beautiful name… now let me see…” He wandered his hands up from my shoulders to my neck, almost meeting the hairline of the wig and my hair underneath, I was trembling with fear, would he find out?!

“Oh, well what is this?” He ripped the wig off my head with might, the pins securing it digging into my skin than being ripped free and I hissed.

“Okay, look brunette looks so much better on you anyway, now tell me again, what is your name?!” He asked and was now in front of me, his arms crossed “Joann” I answered and he sighed “Why do you girls think, that lying will get you somewhere? Believe me it will only make it worse.” He slapped me and the loud crack echoing in the mostly empty room.

I lifted my hand up to hold my cheek but he narrowed his eyes “Your name, or I swear to god your sister- Is she your sister?!” He asked frowning and I looked away.

“She is, huh? Ah that hurts so much more, should I tell you what I will do to her, when you won’t cooperate?” He asked and I swallowed, I was sure he wasn’t playing games and that made me even more anxious.

“Jolie.” I said quietly “Jolie, you don’t have to hide your name. We will get everything out of you, that we want anyway, believe me. Ah look at your face, a bruise is forming already, and I didn’t really touch you… such a sensitive skin, huh?” He grinned and pulled something out of his pocket, I flinched afraid of what he would do which made him laugh.

“Look at me, doll. This is for you boyfriend, he will love to see a picture of you” He took a Polaroid picture and looked at it “Beautiful all bound and bruised, I bet he loves it. I did the same to your sister, sadly she was unconscious already.” He said as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Now, I will prepare a nice message for your guys and see how they will react. This shall be fun, right?!” He laughed and opened the door “Get her back to the room, she can take care of the other… We have something to do.” He looked at the picture again and laughed loudly, the guys from earlier came and grabbed my arms dragging me back to the other room where I found Emery on the mattress.

Her eyes were closed, I quickly moved to her and lifted her head up, pushing her blonde hair form her face and looking at her with concern “Lights out, ladies… It’s time to sleep, and you never know what nightly visitors you get, so be prepared.” With that the guy switched off the light leaving me and Em alone in the dark, for the first night of we had no idea how many.

Notes

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