I slammed the phone down.

"Problem Boss," Cedrick asked coming up behind me causing me to jump. He moved rather silently for a large man.

"We're going on a trip. Bring around the Lincoln we need something more conservative and you don't have to call me, Boss... Lulu is fine."

"Right, Boss."

I rolled my eyes it was useless. Cedrick was as old school as they come. When I got into the car he looked back at me through the rear view. "Where to, Boss?"

"The warehouse on 33rd, and don't draw attention to us. Keep it slow and steady."

"You got it, Boss."

We pulled into the deserted lot. Cedrick was extra careful to make sure we weren't followed and pulled the car in between an alley to keep it out of sight. He came 'round and opened the door for me.

I knocked on the door and when no one answered I looked at Cedrick and said, "Break it in." He nodded and with one swift kick the door swung open. 

Instantaneously, we heard the clicking of a whole lot of heat now primed and ready to fire.

I pushed past Cedrick. "You Nimrods planning on filling me with sunlight?!"

In the darkness of the warehouse, I hear, "Geez Lulu, you trying to get yourself killed!"

I strode up to Delany and his eyes locked on mine. "No boys, that's what this Genius was doing."

Cedrick put away his convincer and the rest of them followed suit.

I was plenty mad. I'd seen the blood staining his shirt and tried not to cringe. So it wasn't a rumor. He really did cross boundary lines going after Bruce. The rest of the boys didn't fair much better, either. They all looked like they went several rounds in the ring.

I looked over to Cedrick. "Get them out of here. I'll decide what's to be done with them later." They looked at one another, and they looked pretty nervous. Good, I'll let them sweat it out.

"What are you doing here, Lulu?"

I grabbed hold of Delany's shirt and dragged him with me to the next room, turning on a light.

"Me? I told you NOT to go after Bruce. I TOLD you I would track him down. Not only do your actions usurp my authority but you may have just broken our treaty with the NoLuks and started a war."

"Newsflash, you ain't Shamus."

"I married the mob when I married Shamus. No one retires from the mob unless their plan is to be zipped up and buried six feet under."

Brody looked pale it was hard to tell if it was from my words or from his obvious blood loss. Again, my eyes drifted to the stain on his shirt.

"I'm fine," he grumbled.

"You're an idiot," I reprimanded, and began to unbutton his shirt. He grabbed hold of my hands, stilling them.

"I said, 'I'm fine.'" His features were set in granite, he was acting all hard-boiled.

"Save the tough guy act," I pulled my hands away, he was being a real pill. "Take it off!" I demanded and ignored his one raised eyebrow. I pulled from my purse the means to bandage him. He was staring at me hard, when our eyes met again.

"Brody Delany if you make me repeat myself one more time..." I stood back, arms crossed and watched as he undid the rest of the buttons. He ground his teeth, as I slid the shirt from his shoulders.

It wasn't a bullet wound. It looked more like some sort of knife. It was long and narrow. I tried my best to gingerly clean him up. "What were you thinking?" I asked.

Once the bandage was in place he grabbed hold of me. "What was I thinking? I was thinking about you! That's what I was thinking!"

I was suddenly trapped. "I told you I'd take care of this and I have. I know where Bruce is and I'll bring him home, today."

"Not without me your not."

"You're not coming! I will make other arrangements. You've already managed to gum up the works."

"No!" he shook me. "You listen to me. I'm not some lackey and you're not Shamus. I don't take my orders from you!"

If my arms were not locked at my side I would have slapped him right now.

"You WILL because you have NO choice but to do so."

He pushed me away from him. "So, is that how it is? You sleep with him?"

I rubbed my arms. "What?"

"Is that how you learned about Bruce? Buck? Did you sleep him?"

This time I didn't hesitate. I hauled off and hit him and he took it without retaliation.

"You aren't my keeper Brody Delany and I am not handcuffing myself to you... to anyone. You understand me?!"

He shrugged back into his shirt. "You're going to be the death of me, Lulu. You know that don't you?"

"Don't say that. I couldn't bare it if anything happened to you." I stepped up to him and started to button his shirt.

He tilted my chin forcing me to look at him. "Then it seems you and I have an understanding."

I nodded my head in agreement and touched his cheek, where my handprint still showed bright. "I'm sorry."

He smiled. "I deserved it. What's the plan?"

"You and  I go back to my place. The boys get exiled to back to Oh, Aces. I'll let Charlie deal with them. I call AJ and see if he'll be my liaison to Madame Yu. IF he agrees to go ... you stay home. IF he doesn't... you're right by my side, agreed?"

He agreed, but I knew he didn't like it.