You are MINE (closed)

[Asa]

Let's go... Lance will get over it.

Walking back in through the back holding tight to Greg she walked straight into Lance's office.

I will be back later the note... Is going to the police station now..

Her determination overly in check mental state keeping her cold and exact.

 

[susurrus]

If Lance had made any fuss about Gabriella's announcement she was leaving before shift's end, he was prepared to pull the cop card on him. Surprisingly enough, all that happened was, Greg saw the muscles in his jaw flex twice, then he muttered, "Get the bastard," and turned back to his paperwork.

Gabriella wasn't as reticent about going to the station this time. They went to the office where all the surveillance servers were kept, and Gabriella walked right beside Greg at every step.

Greg requested to view the recordings from that afternoon. He was shown a workstation and told to enter his credentials, then was given the code to access the archive.

Much of the recording had many comings and goings of various people, Greg's desk was to the bittom right of the screen, but the camera lens caught the entire room, including the two entry ways from outside.

Which is why Greg was shocked when a man came from off-camera, which meant he'd been inside the building long enough to get to the back side of the camera's view. This man stepped up to Greg's desk, tore a sheet from his note pad, then wrote something on it. He then began to step away, but stopped, took the paper and flipped it over.

As the man left, Greg realized the strategy here. Coming in from behind the camera, there wouldn't be a clear view of his face, since there were no cameras pointing in the other direction. Just before he started down the stairs, he stopped and turned very slightly, just enough to catch a vague glimpse of his face, but nothing definitive. Nevertheless, Greg grabbed a screenshot of this, then asked if there was anything from the downstairs lobby he could look at.

He received the archive code for the foyer, but no one with the mysterious man's stature apeared for over an hour out the front.

Greg then racked his brain for possibilities. There had to be a camera that had caught a shot of this guy's face.

Finally, he asked the clerk, "Isn't there a camera outside the north alley entrance, down by the dumpsters?"

"Sure," said the clerk, "but there's almost never any activity there until trash day. All you'll get is custodians emptying wastebaskets and such."

"Can I look anyway?"

The clerk shrugged, "It's your evening to waste," then gave Greg the code.

This time, Greg started the recording hours before he'd begun any of the others. Fast forwarding through much of it, he watched daylight creep into the alleyway and saw the lights over the dumpsters flick off. Then there was nothing for several more hours, a car or two taking a shortcut, but not much else.

Then, a shape appeared in the shadows. The shspe formed itself into the man who'd stopped at the top of the stairs. He very deliberately kept his head down, knowing there was a camera nearby. There was no way this person was a cop, but he went right to the door and punched in the security code.

Greg was afraid he was going to strike out again, but then there was a shout from elsewhere down the alley. It caused the man to look toward the sound. Immediately, Greg paused the video and grabbed another screen shot.

During all this, he'd almost forgotten Gabriella there with him. With the man's face still frozen on the screen, he looked up to where she stood...

 

[Asa]

It was just an image on a screen but every fiber of that scared young girl she once was... Was screaming to run. Her eyes were locked on Vince's eyes and in that terrifying moment there was no one around and no escape.

 

[susurrus]

Greg had never seen a look of such abject terror on Gabriella's face. This was definitely the guy. Even when he turned the screen off, she still stared at it as if the image that had been on it had etched itself into the surface.

Before he tried to comfort her, he grabbed the phone that sat on the desk and punched in a number. When the party on the other end answered, Greg started:

"Yeah, someone needs to change the code on the door back by the dumpsters. I have proof that an unauthorized intruder has gained access to that code and has entered the building, possibly on multiple occasions, to carry out activities unknown."

He then gave them information to verify his identity and when they were satisfied, hung up.

Standing, he placed his hands on Gabriella's shoulders.

"Is it Vince?" he asked, knowing from her reaction it couldn't be anybody else.

 

[Asa]

She nodded

Yeah. It's him

 

[susurrus]

Gabriella still hadn't stopped looking at the monitor, even though Greg had logged out of the camera feed. He had pictures of the man he was looking for. Now the trick was finding him.

He lifted Gabriella's face and smiled as convincingly as he could. "We'll get him. I'll show the pictures around. A guy like this can't be a total cipher. There's got to be others aside from just you who've come across him."

 

[Asa]

Tearing her eyes from the screen she looked into his eyes.

I hope so.

 

[susurrus]

Gabriella looked totally stunned by the situation. She'd been able to shrug off the possibility that it'd been Vince behind so much of this, up until a few minutes ago.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Greg suggested with a small smile. "You want to get ice cream?" He hoped he could get her out of her funk soon. He didn't like when she was so distracted, particularly by this.

 

[Asa]

Yeah... Let's get out of here.

She nodded kissing him softly to reassure him and herself that everything will be OK.

 

[susurrus]

Greg was getting good at identifying Gabriella's "I'm-not-fine-but-don't-want-to-show-it" look and tone of voice. The only plus side to it for him just then was that he wasn't the core cause of it.

They got out of the station and for the appearance of normalcy, they actually stopped for that ice cream, though Gabriella didn't quite seem into it.

"Hey, gorgeous," Greg said after they'd both finished their cones, "how about we go back to my place for a cuddle?" It wasn't what he'd rather do, but Gabriella was fairly lost in a very dark place at the moment.

 

[Asa]

She smiled a little and nodded.

Yeah... I'd like that.


She really was trying to forget and enjoy her time with Greg.

 

[susurrus]

Greg threw an arm around Gabriella's waist and guided her to the car. He helped her into the passenger seat and then they were off. He didn't say anything as they made their way back to his place, as it seemed Gabriella was lost in her own world at the moment, and even though he knew she could use a break from those dark thoughts, he wasn't sure what to say to try and draw her from them.

Finally, they reached their destination. He let them in and in the bedroom, he carefully removed Gabriella's clothes for her and helped her into the bed. Then, after stripping himself down, he joined her, pulling her up close and enfolding her as comfortingly as possible.

 

[Asa]

She snuggled close with a smile trying to rid herself of memories as she leaned up to kiss his neck softly.

------
A message was waiting for Vince at the close of business resting under a windshield wiper.

Lance,

You are going to get my Gabigirl to make a delivery. At least that's what you will tell her. I get my Gabigirl back and certain skeletons of your past remain hidden. Keep that cop out of this and you might just get what you want from Gabriella too. The delivery will be to 254 Westin drive. 9 pm should be good. Right before that cop shows up.

Vin

PS... Don't cross me.

 

[susurrus]

Lance found the message on his car on the way home for the night.

This Vince guy was bad news. Lance was mildly afraid of him, which was unusual, because Lance knew some pretty bad sons-of-bitches, and was one himself. This guy was in a class by himself. Still, it irked him no end that this fucker thought he was going to do shit for him.

He wondered what parts of his past this guy knew. Lance had done some bad things when he was younger, but it was to bad people, so did that really matter? Still, the idea of finally getting it on with Gabriella was a hell of an enticement, but Lance knew he was the last person (well, maybe second to last) Gabriella wanted anything to do with. It was fucked up, but he let her get by with what she did not only because she was one hell of a moneymaker for him, but because she was the first woman to have balls enough to stand up to him and his advances and still stick around. Most of the women who refused him stormed out of the building and never returned. For some crazy reason, Gabriella stayed. Lance admired that kind of nerve. Didn't make him want her any less, but she was no fucking wimp like the rest of the girls.

But could he turn her over to this asshole, Vince? What was he going to do to her if he got her? Keeping Greg away he understood. Last thing a guy like Vince wanted was the cops prowling around. Still, it made Lance wonder just what the fuck kind of shit Vince was capable of.

And the warning. Did he really think he scared Lance that much? Lance had the scars to show he didn't take threats well. How the hell was he going to get Gabriella to make a delivery and not be suspicious? She was a bartender, for chrissake. Bartenders don't make deliveries.

He wished the girls were still around. It seemed like Lance always thought better when he was having his cock sucked...

***

Greg just laid there with Gabriella breathing softly by his side. He wasn't sure if she was asleep, but she snuggled up tight, no indication that she was in the mood for anything but the cuddle. He wrapped his arm around her protectively, wondering what the next stage in this whole thing was...

 

[Asa]

Gabriella kissed softly at his chin.

So... Now that you have his picture... Now what?

 

[susurrus]

"In the morning, I'll take it and his name to have a search put out on him. We'll make it so he won't have a safe place to hide anymore. When he turns up, we'll hit him and hard. I know he's a tough cookie, but the police can be just as tough, and we have the training and equipment to take a bastard like him down."

 

[Asa]

Okay. I... I just worry about something happening to you.

She snuggled close against him.

 

[susurrus]

Greg gathered Gabriella in closer. "Not as much as I worry about you."

Greg was concerned about Gabriella and the men she considered her family. Sure, he'd seen that they could be just like everybody else, as well as the people he knew before meeting them in person. However, no matter how "normal" they could be, typically, it was that other world that usually was their demise. That demise was seldom pretty, and often was accompanied by great amounts of collateral damage. His biggest fear was that Gabriella would be among that collateral, either trying to back up a brother, or even just standing up for herself.

*****
Lance turned the message over and over, merely staring through the wall. He couldn't decide what to do about it.

First off: Who the fuck did this asshole Vince think he was? For that matter, who the fuck did he think Lance was? Lance hadn't gotten anywhere being somebody else's errand boy. Okay, sure, he wanted Gabriella, but then, so did fucking near every man who'd spent two seconds in her presence. Did he really want her if the only way he could get her was by raping her? If Lance got her through Vince, that'd be all it was. Besides, that'd put Vince on top of this whole fucking thing yet again.

And what did Vince think he had on him? Lance had never even heard of the asshole until he started dropping notes on Gabriella and tormenting the shit out of her. It wasn't that Lance's closet wasn't brimming over with skeletons, but ultimately, the sixty-four-thousand dollar question was: was Lance ready to become Vince's bitch, just for a chance to get into Gabriella's unwilling, but ever so fuckable pants, as well as keep the past the past?

And if Gabriella's connections were so bad-ass, why the hell didn't she just have them take the fucker down...

 

[Asa]

She still thought about calling uncle Alexi and getting Ram to show up inntown and hunt him down. She knew better than to ask for Braddock. Working and controlling him at the same time would be difficult.

You still have issues with my family dont you? Its that whole cop side I know but still...

 

[susurrus]

Greg stopped short.

"I'm sorry. I know you showed me they can be like regular folks, but my biggest concern is that with that other part of their lives, somehow you'll get taken down with them, and probably not by the cops. I know they'd defend you with the last breath in their bodies, but I also know you'd do the same for them. It's a noble thing, but considering their general line of business, it tends to get one on the wrong side of some nasty people.

"I'm sorry for how this sounds, but I'm not so concerned for them as I am for you."

 

[Asa]

Yeah I would. After my dad and brother died they were the best family I ever had and I know Alexi tried to track down all of moms former slime if even just to keepnan eye on them and make sure they didnt hurt anyone else. I also know he has handed "well wrapped" packages to the police commissioner to clean up botched cases. Hell part of me says get Ram down here have him find Vince and end this even if it is handing him over to your precinct in a nice neat little package. I am not some fragile little thing that needs protecting. Vince is gunning to learn that. I know we all have that one thing we are afraid of... Even Alexi has one I am sure but mine while it may be Vince... I am not that scared girl any more I know how to turn fear into fight.

Shr sighed and snuggled.

 

[susurrus]

"I know all that. It doesn't keep me from worrying about you. I admire your loyalty to each other, honest. I'm just hoping if they meet a gruesome end, that you don't go down with them."

He hated talking with her about her family. She felt it necessary to defend them and he couldn't buck his training. He knew both sides of the men he'd met. Hadn't experienced the people in the reports, but someone had, or the reports wouldn't exist. And Gabriella had done terrible things in the past, too, was still capable of them, but because of the feelings he held for her, he was willing to look the other way in regard to that history.

Greg had felt Gabriella tense as he talked about her brothers in the manner he tended to. It took her a couple minutes to relax again, but relax she finally did.

There was no sex. At the moment, just being together, warm body against warm body, was enough. Greg let himself sleep, knowing that presenting those pictures was going to bring up a whole host of hell.

 

[Asa]

She slept safe and close in his arms all night. The next day she went into work with a thinly veiled edge as if she were going to work with her family. She was setting herself to entertain and keep her guard way up. She was not putting up with any crap from anyone tonight.

 

[susurrus]

The next morning, they both were distracted, so no sex. Greg just hauled his ass out of bed and to work.

His first order of business was getting the pictures of Vince to the proper department. However, that was derailed by a blinking light on his phone. Picking up the message, it was regarding his call the previous evening regarding changing the security code on the alley door. He straightened them out, then got Vince's photo into the proper hands.

After a couple hours, he got another call. "Hey, Greg, this guy you're looking for. Turns out he's one bad mother. That girl you brought in to turn in her report on him, she's not the only one. Seems he's been on the radar for years. Why he hasn't been caught's a mystery. Apparently a couple of the women who've reported on him before have ended up missing or dead."

"Well, he's back. He's been in the precinct, and he's been stalking that girl."

"Yeah, hey, about that. Do you know who that woman is?"

Fuck.

"Yes I do, and right now, it's irrelevant. She's in danger, and this guy needs to be taken down." Greg didn't want to admit that the woman in question - this woman, who was dangerous, herself - was his girlfriend. It wasn't anything the police needed to be aware of at the moment.

"Okay, okay. No need to get huffy. We'll get working on it. Hopefully we can catch him before anybody else gets hurt."

Greg thanked the person on the other end and hung up. The department was going to get working on the Vince thing. That was good. That somebody almost put two and two together regarding Greg and Gabriella wasn't so good. It'd probably come out eventually, but it didn't have to come out too soon.

Eventually, it was time to get the fuck out of there. He looked forward to seeing Gabriella and telling her that the police were on Vince's trail.


****

Lance was still trying to figure out what the fuck to do. He needed to work up a plan. This Vince asshole wasn't going to wait forever.

 

[Asa]

Work droned on and she hoped that someone would start a bar fight so that she could end it even if she ended up mopping the floor with some drunk punk.