Dazzled and Dazed

by Harley McRide

  “Laugh all you want, but your mom is gonna have something weird in there,” Jet argued as we pulled into the lot where the practice field was. Things were going to be okay. I spotted my brothers’ cars and parked next to Falon’s and laughed as I saw Falon on the sidewalk. The man was talking trash already to the boys who were on the practice field.

  We got out of the car, and we heard Falon yell, “My woman will kick your ass all over this field if you touch me. It doesn’t matter that she’s carrying my perfect son. He is giving her the strength to fight for me.”

  I rolled my eyes and looked at Jet who was already shaking his head in shame. Yeah, Falon was an O’Malley, though, I’m almost positive he was adopted. Cal and Mace stood right by their truck with Josh. As we approached, I saw them whisper something to the young man who nodded but still looked around a little unsure of himself. This was the first outing the kid had since leaving the hospital, I didn’t blame him for being gun shy. But Mace and Cal seemed to be developing a good relationship with him. That was what he needed, an anchor.

  Xavier was coming to watch over Josh while we practiced. I watched the young man intently as his eyes swept the field we were to practice on. He noticeably relaxed when the other team began to leave and Xavier walked up.

  “Hey,” I said to Fin and Tony who walked up as well. “Is that the 42nd?”

  “Yep, just finished up,” Fin said with a grin. “I think we can kick their ass. Also, the 45th was here earlier; they aren’t too bad this year.”

  We waited as the 42nd finished their practice and rolled our eyes when Falon tried to taunt them, the only good part was, that Falon was good at getting into people’s heads, and from the looks of it, when it came to the 42nd, it worked.

  I sat my bag down and looked around as the guys started to leave the field. We all stood and shook the hands of the men we knew; this league was going to be fun. Some of these guys I hadn’t seen in a really long time, several of the men I had gone to school with.

  “Sean,” I heard someone say, and I turned and smiled at Lt. Rinks, a man I had gone to high school with.

  “Hey, Brian, how you doing?” I asked.

  “Good,” Rinks said, and then Falon stepped up.

  “Hey, Brian, how’s your sister?”

  I froze because I knew my brother had busted Gena Rinks’ cherry at homecoming his senior year. I also knew that Brian was so pissed when Falon announced in the locker room the next day that Gena was the best lay he ever had. It led to a fight on the football field, and Brian had been kicked out of school. I grimaced when I saw Brian’s face turn red and he stared at Falon.

  “You are a dick,” Brian grumbled, and Falon looked at him innocently.

  “How am I a dick? I asked how Gena was, I haven’t seen her since we graduated. I was just wondering. Geesh, if anyone is a dick it’s you,” Falon said.

  Brian stuck his finger in Falon’s face, “This time when I kick your ass, no one will be there to stop me.”

  Falon frowned, “Is this ‘cause Gena is a dancer at ‘Lola’s House of Pleasure?’ I mean, I gave her a twenty the last time I was in there. Figured that was a good tip. Did she come home and complain?”

  Brian’s face turned redder, and then he exploded, and Falon had the good sense to fucking run while I held in my laughter as long as I could. Damn, Falon was a prick, but like I said, he was good at getting in people’s heads. He probably had the dirt on all the guys on the teams.

  “Falon, stop dicking around,” Fin called as we took the field.

  Our positions had already been set; Tony was the pitcher, Fin first base, Mace Second, Cal third, Michael was a catcher, Bry was left field, Falon was center field, the rest were either pinch hitters or back-ups. The good part was we had excellent back-ups when they could be here, that is. Reed was still at the office monitoring, and Ranger called and was going to be late. Harm and Taylor were rotators when need be.

  There were two practice fields and right now, we glanced over and saw the 48th was on that field. Fin chuckled and said, “Well, hopefully, Timmons won’t be pitching, the bastard hates you, Falon.”

  “Why?” Falon asked shocked.

  “His sister…” Fin started, and Falon threw his glove on the ground.

  “I am a married man, you all need to forget about the past and move past that shit. I swear, it’s like we’re in grade school again and you all are threatening to tattle on me. Whoever I fucked before Mel is history, a memory, and so get over it.”

  Tony laughed loudly and rolled his eyes, “Once a man-whore you never live that shit down, hell you probably fucked half of the guys on the forces sisters, mothers or daughters.”

  Falon grinned and said, “When you got it you got it. Ask Mel, I definitely have it.”

  “Can we practice? I have some shit I need to do after we’re done here?” I said, and Fin looked at me.

  “It’s your night off,” Jet whispered.

  I grinned sheepishly. “I know, but Brit wants to go over and see our house, so she can make changes before we move back in.”

  “Pussy whipped already?” Mace laughed, and I glared at him.

  “At least I have a pussy.”

  “That is cold,” Mace said with a straight face.

  I saw Josh out of the corner of my eye, Xavier was sitting on the benches with him. Our dad, Anthony Sr., and Caine Sanders climbed up the bleachers and sat down next to the duo as well. I motioned with my head. “Josh doing okay?”

  Mace rubbed the back of his neck. “As well as can be expected. When we told him Xavier would be here to guard him, he relaxed, so I think it’s a good sign.”

  Fin nodded, “Good, since the young boys seemed to have stopped turning up dead, I can’t help but think we stopped that part at least.”

  “Yeah, well, we need to make sure we keep it stopped,” Cal said firmly.

  “Practice, we can talk in our meeting tomorrow,” I said.

  Everyone nodded, and we began to take our places. For thirty minutes we warmed up, tossing the ball around and running a little around the bases. Then Dad and Anthony Sr. got up to tell us what we were doing wrong. It was like old times and time seemed to fly as we ran through the paces. Damn, I didn’t realize I needed this, and I turned and looked at Jet who was smiling and yelling shit at Falon. Yeah, Jet needed this, too.

  Anthony Sr. picked up a bat and walked to home base and yelled loudly, “Field practice.” We all nodded, and then he began to hit balls out into the outfield and infield as Dad worked with Tony pitching. Yeah, we were a little rusty, but this was the first practice. But things seemed to click and get better, all of us moving together like the old days with our new family thrown in. Shit, this showed how much of a family we were.

  I saw out of the corner of my eye a group of off-duty cops walking across the street, and I grinned. Yeah, the 45th were coming to talk some smack. I saw Falon look at the people walking across the street and I laughed and shook my head. He was eyeing all of them and probably mentally going through the dirt he had on them. I only knew two by name, and one of them was Lt. Eva Reynolds. I should have noticed they were all still in uniform, but for some reason, it didn’t register. Hell, we were right across the street from the station, it seemed the norm. My focus went back to Falon even though I heard my dad call out a greeting to Eva.

  “Down, boy,” I called. “We gotta save some of that for game day.”

  Falon shrugged, “It’s cool. I haven’t slept with any of them or their family members.”

  Our dad shook his head, “You better not, that is Eva Reynolds your woman’s new friend. I am pretty sure Mel will cut your dick off if you piss her off. Plus, I am setting Eve up with Taylor next week, so don’t fuck that friendship up. Eva is a nice woman. She just seems lonely.”

  Falon laughed and said, “I knew she looked familiar, the newest in the ‘Reilly’s Girls Club.'”

  Our father laughed and yelled, “Keep yapping, I will sick your mother on Mel and have her help
decorate the nursery pink.”

  “Oh, hell no,” he called, and I laughed loudly.

  I saw Xavier and Josh stand and move to the end of the bleacher and get close to each other. Josh was saying something that upset him because he kept shaking his head to Xavier.

  “Hydrate!” Reilly yelled, and we all ran to the dugout to get our water bottles. I noticed the 48th was packing up, well...Jako Juarez was packing up, and he grabbed his bag and began to walk until Eva Reynolds stopped him. I saw the three other officers stop when Eve motioned for them while I took a drink. Then Eva smiled and pointed to the outfield where the pair walked looking like they were talking intently. I turned back to my brothers getting ready to ask if they heard any rumors flying.

  But I saw Xavier motion to Cal and Mace, and I frowned. I hoped nothing happened with Josh already, that would suck. I was turned with my back to the other field where the 48th were practicing staring at Cal whose face suddenly hardened. I froze because if my brother was pissed, something had happened.

  Jet came to my side, and he said quietly, “What the fuck?”

  “I don’t know, man, but Cal is about ready to fucking explode, something is wrong with Josh,” I said.

  “Fuck no, look,” Jet said, and I turned. My brothers had turned as well, and we watched the guys from the 48th running bases. Except for Jako Juarez who was standing in the outfield with Eva and they appeared to be arguing.

  Like seriously arguing. I saw Jako throw out a hand and push Eva back a few steps. She instantly came forward with concealed rage on her face. What in the fuck? I thought and took a step toward them at the same time the three officers did. But Eva shook her head at them, so I stopped as well.

  Eva swung her arm out wide and began poking Jako in the chest. I felt the tension in the group rise when Jako got down in Eva’s face and yell back at her. Although we couldn’t hear what was being said, their body language was more than enough. “Hey, isn’t that one of the cops that were with Ranger when Petal got nabbed? What was his name?” Dad asked, his voice shaking with anger.

  “Jako Juarez, he seemed to be a solid guy. Talked to him a few times about the gangs,” Tony said quietly.

  “We just gonna stand here?” Dad said, and Fin put his hand on Dad’s shoulder.

  “Dad, it’s obviously police business. We will watch to make sure, but look, even the guys from the 48th aren’t approaching, and they are closer. Cops argue all the time. She brought backup, it is handled.”

  “I don’t like it,” Dad said. When I looked back, I saw Jako push Eva again, and then bend down and grab his bag.

  “What the fuck?” Jet said.

  But he wasn’t talking about Jako and Eva, he pulled my arm, and I looked back at Mace and Cal who were both turned and staring at Jako like they wanted to kill him. Josh looked pale, and Xavier moved until he was standing in front of Josh, blocking him from something. Cal and Mace began to move after saying something to Xavier, which made the man push Josh behind the bleacher and shield him with his own body. I heard someone yell and turned, this was fucking crazy, what the fuck was going on?

  I saw Fin take a step as Jako turned and looked at the bleachers. Eva seemed to be yelling at him and grabbed his arm as he began to walk to where Josh and Xavier were. We all went tense as Dad growled and snapped, “Oh hell no.”

  Then everything happened at once. Jako raised his arm and pointed at Josh. I saw the men from the 48th practice, they had stopped, and two of them were running from the dugout where they had been. But they stopped and turned and ran back to the dugout, the rest of the team was already digging in their bags but what was happening still didn’t penetrate yet. It wasn’t until I focused on Jako’s hand and saw the gun that I finally moved. Then gunfire filled the air.

  “Fuck, Xavier!” I yelled as I saw Mace and Cal begin to run toward Jako. My brothers and the rest of our team came unglued and began running. It was Eva who pulled out a gun and held it up yelling at Jako as the man shot again in Josh’s and Xavier's direction. We had just gotten to the edge of their field. We weren’t going to make it in time, something bad was going to happen, dammit, and we were unprepared. Fuck, we were playing baseball, why would we ever think to bring a weapon to a ball field?

  “Motherfucker, drop it!” Eva yelled again. Her backup yelling as well and running toward them.

  Dad yelled, “Eva!”

  We all watched as Jako turned in slow motion and fired. Lt. Eva Reynolds jerked as the bullet slammed into her and she screamed loudly. Jako turned again and pointed toward the bleachers and fired. I knew Xavier had Josh covered, but we needed to get Jako under control. I could see the line of men from our field as well as his field run toward Jako, it was like we were in slow motion. What the fuck, was all that kept running through my head as I ran, and when I heard another shot ring through the air, and then watched as Jako turned again and fired at Eva who was sitting up now with tears streaming down her face and her expression was etched in pain. I could see the blood on her shoulder and arm as she collapsed back and fired the last shot that went right through Jako’s head and dropped him where he stood.

  We all stopped and stared for a moment before we snapped out of it. Fuck, what the hell was going on? Mace and Cal reached Eva first and pulled her away from Jako’s body as she cried and shook her head.

  I heard her saying over and over, “All I wanted to know was why he checked out the files where forms had gone missing.” Dad got to her first and leaned down and whispered into her ear. The other officers were on their radios calling it in.

  I felt someone run up behind me, and I turned and saw Xavier and Josh. I frowned and said, “You need to get him back.”

  Xavier shook his head. “Josh remembers.”

  Fin turned and said, “Remembers what?”

  Josh said, “Him, he was the one who took me to the fight and dumped me afterward.”

  Fin looked back at Jako and shook his head. “No, he worked with Ranger.”

  “It is him,” Josh said. “It is all I remember, just him.”

  The field was filled with police in minutes. I think the 45ths precinct emptied when they heard the shots. As we walked back to the dugout, Tony was shaking his head.

  “We need to call Briggs. If what Josh is remembering is correct, we have a huge problem here.”

  “Problem hell, we have more than a problem,” I said and looked back where Dad was moving already with the stretcher that was carrying Eva. He was holding her hand while she cried. “This is going to shake the whole police force with one of their own involved in something like this.”

  “We need to find out how Jako ties into all of this. It could be the piece we were waiting for to break this shit wide open,” Tony said, and we were all quiet. “You guys all need to make sure we are hypervigilant right now. I would suspect since we already assumed the Russians know we are on to them, with Jako being killed, they are going to clean up their messes. And I hate to say it, but we are one big fucking mess.”

  “Until we can talk to Eva, or Ranger gives us the information, we would be speculating right now. We deal with the Russians and keep moving our plan along,” Cal said. “We just need to find the right thread and pull it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Brit

  “Let me down,” I laughed as Sean ran up the stairs with me cradled in his arms this time and not over either of their shoulders. I couldn’t decide which one was hotter. I saw Jet moving slower up the stairs, and I smiled softly at him. We would still need to be careful, but considering he stayed out of the fray, he’d be okay. Sean didn’t stop until we were in our room. He tossed me on the bed and looked around desperately.

  “Where are they?” Sean growled.

  Jet shut and locked the door and looked at me with a grin. “I think he’s talking about the handcuffs this time.”

  “Uh...shouldn’t we talk about this?” I laughed.

  “Oh, hell no, you’re listening to my mother way too much. I’m so not
wearing a ‘watermelon’ colored shirt and tie to my wedding. We have given you too much leeway, and you’re going to understand that when we draw a line, it is drawn, there is no erasing it,” Sean said in a frustrated tone.

  “It’s my wedding, too, and I liked the idea, it’s the perfect color for both of you,” I said firmly until I saw the look on his face. “But, maybe.”

  “But what, honey?” Jet said laughing and walked toward me.

  “I may have been a little hasty,” I said.

  “Hasty? No, hasty is booking us into the Brooklyn Aquarium in the dolphin’s arena without asking was hasty. Ordering the ten thousand dollar cake that is in the shape of a huge fucking clam was hasty. But the shirts, yeah, over the line, we will pick what we are wearing,” Sean said, and I grinned.

  “What about—” I said.

  “I love you, dammit. Jet loves you. Woman, we have shown you six ways from Sunday that we do. But I will not wear a goddamn watermelon shirt and striped suspenders with a fucking top hat—like ever!” Sean yelled, running a hand through his hair as he searched the drawers.

  “It was a suggestion.” I laughed as I watched Sean open and close drawers.

  “Suggestion my ass, I saw the shirts in the closet. Did you think I wouldn’t find them? WHERE ARE THE DAMN HANDCUFFS?” Sean yelled.

  “Right here, Sean,” Jet laughed and threw them through the air with a tube of lube.

  “Thank you!” Sean said and pulled off his shirt.

  “Wait!” I laughed.

  “Now what?” Jet said, pulling off his shirt as well.

  “What if I promise I will talk to your mother, and we will go with the pearl green shirts,” I said seductively.

  “Seriously?” Sean snarled. “Black shirt, tie, shoes, socks, underwear, all of it black, no other fucking color.”

  “Is there any way we can have sex, and then have the argument about the colors of a damn shirt?” Jet said with what sounded like hope in his voice.

  I pouted my lips. “But it’s our wedding.”

  Sean took a deep breath, looked at the ceiling, and counted to himself. “Woman,” he said with a growl. “I will tan that ass if I have any color other than black in my closet the day of the wedding.”