Storm nodded his head and Dmitri looked away from him and out the window. He’d saved Al’s daughters’ lives, getting the three of them and their aunt out of danger. He would ensure they remained safe and alive, and his debt to Al Michaels would finally be cleared.
* * * *
Lauren stood by the window that overlooked the woods. She didn’t even remember coming here, or how she even got to Mary’s house. She worried about her sisters and Aunt May, but Mary Higgins ensured her that they were safe and out of New York. She hadn’t stepped foot outside of Mary’s house to venture into the town she had heard so much about. She only started working out again in the last two weeks and now began to run.
She hadn’t wanted to be seen by anyone, even now with the bruising all gone and her ability to walk normal and with no pain. Instead she remained indoors, tormented by the tragedies in her life and the second near death experience that cost her her partner Frankie’s life. If he was even dead. He had to be. Mary didn’t have any information for her and she’d warned her that Lauren couldn’t contact anyone. It was for her safety, and theirs.
She hadn’t prayed to God in years. She assumed there couldn’t possibly be one with all the violence and evildoers so prominent in the world. If there were a God then why would he allow so much violence? Why would he take two parents away from three young girls? Why would he allow thugs, gangbangers, and murderers to continue their evil ways?
She’d been over it in her mind a thousand times, yet she still believed in God. She was just temporarily on strike against him.
She questioned Frankie as if he could still hear her. Why couldn’t you just wait for backup?
She closed her eyes and heard and saw the shots ring out, colliding against his body. He was shot so many times.
She shook her head and ran her hand over her own scars. A bullet wound to her ribs, one to her upper thigh, and one against her shoulder that was the least damaging. All scarred, all requiring surgery, and the one to her ribs nearly cost her her life. She hadn’t even known she was shot until after, as paramedics looked her over and the chaos of the crime scene continued. She’d killed eight gang members and Aces.
She pulled her lip between her teeth. Now the son of a bitch’s brothers and his friends wanted revenge.
She worried about her au
nt and her sisters but apparently Mary Higgins had friends in high and low places. They’d gotten them all to safety in separate areas. When three thugs attempted to kill her in the hospital, Mary’s friends had been ready. Of course Lauren couldn’t remember any of it. She was drugged up and out of it.
But now she was finally ready to train again, and prepare for what was to come. Working the streets of NYC and being on the force showed her the realities of people like members of the Tenth Street gang. They were a notorious gang that spanned across borders like Mexico, Columbia, and Guatemala They knew blood, death, intimidation, and dying only for their oath to the gang. Police were scum, lowlifes who were trying to destroy that oath and their ways of gaining power and strength. The uniforms, the badges they wore, made them instant targets. This gang was known to hate cops and have members that killed them. There was no respect for the law, or for rules other than their own and their ruler. A ruler she’d killed.
She knew from crime scenes she’d come across what these monsters were capable of and those images would never fade from her mind. They would be her focus while gaining her strength and preparing to protect her family.
She reached into the drawer by the side of her bed and pulled her Glock from there. She checked her weapon and then secured it onto her waist and under her jogging hoodie, behind her waist. She wouldn’t take any chances.
She pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail and then grabbed her sunglasses. As she headed downstairs, she embraced the feel of the old world charm of the house, and the way Mary decorated it. She especially loved the room she was staying in, and the large windows with stained glass above them.
“Good morning, Lauren, how are you doing today?” Beth, Mary’s in-house helper and friend, asked.
“Determined,” Lauren said then gave a soft smile.
Beth nodded her head. “Good. I made some eggs and bacon. Would you like to have breakfast before your run or are you grabbing a protein shake?”
Beth was beginning to learn Lauren’s routine. She was such a sweet woman, and tough, just like Mary.
“I’m going to grab the protein shake. I lost a lot of weight besides muscle that I need to gain back. Are you going into town today?” she asked.
“Sure am, what do you need?”
“I might go, too. I’ll just need directions to the local store.”
“I can bring you.”
“No, I think it’s better if I go alone and no one sees us together. Precaution ya know?”
Beth pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and gave a sad expression. “The likelihood that these men will find you in Pearl is pretty slim.”
“Not a chance I’m willing to take with your life or with Mary’s. I would have died back there in New York if Mary didn’t have such resourceful friends. Friends she still hasn’t told me about,” Lauren teased as she heard Mary approaching from the other room. She had great hearing and was on guard. That was something she may have to maintain for years to come.
“I’ll tell you all about them if need be. The point is that you’re safe and so are your sisters and your aunt,” Mary announced, joining them. Mary looked her over.
“Going for a run?”
“Yes, and then I’ll come back, shower, and check out the town.”