© Jojo B 2016

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*N.E.V* The Seven Deadly Simpson Brothers

21

(Picture is Walter)

It was around 5am when I heard the boys return from patrol. As I'd suspected, I hadn't been able to fully get to sleep, but instead I had been drifting in and out, worrying about Walter in my broken dreams.

Walter entered his room quietly, not turning on the light. He fumbled around in the darkness and I heard him start to remove his clothes. I didn't know he was topless until I felt him slide in the between the sheets next to me and his bare chest brushed my arm.

"Walter," I whispered. "Are you okay?"

"Coral," he sounded surprised. "I thought you were asleep. Yeah, I'm fine. Have you been up all night?"

"I couldn't sleep," I said, snuggling closer to him.

Walter put his arms around me, "I'm sorry I worried you so much."

I couldn't get over how warm Walter's skin was. It felt smooth but I knew it wasn't flawless, he had all sorts of scars littered all over his body. I rubbed my hand over his chest, right above where his heart was and I felt Walter shiver.

"Are you okay Coral?" Walter murmured.

"I'm okay now," I said, breathing him in. "Did you find any Santiagos?"

"Not tonight," Walter replied tiredly. "It was kind of boring actually. Fighting keeps me awake, but this time I was struggling to stop yawning, and Landon almost collapsed from fatigue. He sleeps late so that makes it worse I guess."

"What about Phoenix?" I found myself asking out of curiosity.

"Phoenix was fine. As usual," Walter replied bitterly. "He would never show that he was tired. He thinks of it as being weak."

"Weak?" I frowned. "It's normal."

"I know," Walter said, tightening his grip around me in anger. "But apparently he's too strong to appear remotely human. Let's just...not talk about him."

"Okay Walter," I kissed his neck. "You're tired, we both are."

"Yeah," I felt him smile. "Goodnight."

"Night."

Walter was rubbing small circles into the back of my shoulder and I opened my eyes, sighing pleasantly. We had slept in fairly late and as it was Sunday morning, no one was in a rush. Walter, sensing my movements, opened his hazel eyes and he smiled at me.

"Morning beautiful."

I knew it was something lot's of guys said in lots of books and movies, but hearing it from Walter and having it directed at me, made it feel so much more special.

"Morning," I smiled warmly at him.

Now it was brighter, I could see up close all the marks on Walter's body. The first thing I noticed were the bruises from the snowball fight the day before.

"Wow," I said, gently touching one of the dark blue marks. "It looks so painful."

"Nah," Walter reassured me. "I've had much worse."

I winced, not exactly feeling put at ease. Allowing my eyes to trail down his topless body I saw what looked like old stab wounds, some of them short and others long, as if someone had slashed across Walter's body, rather than stuck the blade right in him.

I touched a pale white line on his chest, "What happened to you?"

Walter felt where I was feeling and thought a little, "This one was last year. Skull face got me in a fight. It wasn't so bad. A couple of inches to the left and a little bit deeper and I would have died for sure."

"And it wasn't so bad?" I raised my eyebrows, staring at Walter.

"I've had worse," he shrugged.

"Worse than almost being stabbed in the heart?" I made a pained face.

"Yep. Blue eyes got me here," Walter pointed to a scar across his side. "Smashed two of my ribs with a baseball bat and I had to have surgery. They put metal plates in there to help them heal quickly and slightly less painfully. But it still hurt like a bitch for weeks."

I'd never seen Ario very angry so I couldn't imagine him causing Walter such a serious injury. It was frightening.

"Which one was your worst?" I had to ask.

"This one," Walter put his fingers over a bullet wound on his stomach. "Diego got me right in the stomach. I was sixteen, had two surgeries and spent a month in hospital. I'd never seen the triplets cry so much, not since...well not since we were younger. They thought I was gonna die...and well from all the shit I gave them, I was surprised how much they'd miss me if I really did die."

Walter smiled fondly and the memory and I tried to imagine how scary it must have been for him and his brothers whilst Walter fought for his life in hospital only two years ago. Diego had caused that. No wonder the boys hated the Santiagos so much...but the Simpsons had likely done the same to them throughout the past too.

Without a word I gently kissed Walter's chest, then planted my lips on his side and lastly a soft kiss on stomach too. I saw, once again, the tattoo on his hip and I wondered who or what E.S was.

"Coral," Walter pulled me up so that we were lying on our sides, face to face. "It's okay, you don't have to do that. I'm fine."

I couldn't really speak in fear of actually crying. Walter's life had been on the line more times that I could have thought, and it wasn't just him. I bet his brothers had been in similar situations...and Ario and his family too. They were all lucky to be alive, and it made me wonder what the point was for taking such risks just over territory to sell drugs. There was more to life than that, and it wouldn't ever be right if anyone so young died because of it.

Walter held me as I tried not to tear up. He never mentioned his tattoo, so I didn't ask.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ever said any of that," Walter murmured quietly.

"I'm the one who asked," I replied shakily into his shoulder. "Don't apologise."

Sunday at the Simpsons' house was oddly quiet. It was 1pm and Walter's all of brothers were just waking up, except Phoenix who had been working out in the basement apparently since the crack of dawn like he did almost every day.

"Coral I think you should bring some of your stuff over here," Walter said after we'd finished eating.

"You mean come and stay with you and your brothers?" I widened my eyes.

"Yeah," Walter nodded, looking serious. "Like I said before, the Santiagos are going to find out you're with me and they know where you live. They do home invasions all the time Coral, and I don't want you getting hurt."

"Do your gang do home invasions too?" I asked him instead.

"We're not thugs," Walter shook his head.

"You just get other thugs to do it for you?" I questioned with a smile.

He grinned at me, "No actually. We just don't play the game like that."

"Okay," I said, not completely sure I understood.

"It doesn't have to be permanent," Walter said, taking hold of my hand. "But you've been alright staying here over the weekend haven't you?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I like it here with you guys, it beats being all alone. But Phoenix – "

"I'll talk to Phoenix," Walter interrupted. "Let's just go and get some of your things from your place."

"So I'm moving in before you've even talked to him about it?" I said in fear. "Walter what if he just throws me out?"

Walter clenched his jaw, "I'll make sure he doesn't do that."

"Walter," I looked down in worry.

"Trust me," Walter squeezed my hand. "I've got this."

"Okay," I nodded. "I don't have a lot of things, so it won't take long."

"That's fine," Walter smiled. "We could go out afterwards."

I nodded, "That would be nice."

"What would be nice?" Landon asked as he strolled into the kitchen half naked.

"Don't you have any clothes?" Walter immediately stopped smiling and frowned at his brother.

"Nope," Landon winked at him. "I sleep naked so you're lucky I was bothered enough to put some pants on."

Walter scowled in disgust as I let out a laugh.

"So what would be nice?" Landon got a carton of orange juice from the fridge and sat down next to me.

"That's none of your business," Walter snapped at him.

"Coral?" Landon smiled sweetly at me.

"Well..." I tried not to smile so much. "Walter and I are going to go and bring over some of my stuff."

"You're moving in?" Landon looked surprised.

"Not forever," I said quickly.

"The Santiagos know where she lives," Walter explained. "They'll see us together before long and I don't want her in danger."

"Fair enough," Landon leaned back in his seat. "You're rash so they'd love to get at you using her."

"Don't piss me off Landon," Walter balled his hands into fists.

"I wasn't trying to," Landon backed off. "I'm just saying it's a good idea."

Eli came down into the kitchen in a loose fitting jumper and some jogging bottoms.

"You look like Severn, dressed like that," Landon said when he saw him.

"I don't," Eli muttered. "I'm just cold."

Landon smiled, "How would you like to join us on a trip?"

"What?" Walter frowned at him.

"A trip where?" Eli glanced at me and Walter with curious green eyes.

"To Coral's place," Landon offered. "To help bring some of her stuff back here."

"Landon," Walter growled in anger. "None of you are coming."

"I can drive you though," Landon said, turning to look at him. "It would be a lot easier. Come on, you know it's true."

Walter hesitated, still furious. Landon was right. Taking a car would speed up the process and then Walter and I would have even more time to have for ourselves afterwards.

"It's a good idea," I said when Walter wouldn't answer. "Thanks Landon."

"Well we're going now," Walter stood up. "So get ready."

"Demanding," Landon only laughed. "Maybe you should learn how to drive and then you wouldn't have to boss anyone around."

"You're the one who offered," Walter's fists shook.

"He's only winding you up," I said to Walter gently. "Let's get our shoes."

I pulled Walter out of the kitchen by his sleeve and Landon went up to go and get changed. Eli came out after us, eating an apple.

"So Phoenix is okay with this?" he asked the two of us.

"I'll talk to him," Walter muttered, shoving his shoes on.

Eli raised his eyebrows but didn't push it. Instead he said something much worse.

"What happened between you and blue eyes anyway?" Eli questioned.

I widened my eyes and looked at Walter who had a reserved look on his face. You'd be a fool to think he was really fine though. I could tell he was close to blowing up.

"Nothing happened," I gave Eli a look. "We only talked a few times at work."

"Where's work?" Eli asked me.

"A pub called the Dartfish," I replied, not expecting him to have heard about it.

Eli looked at Walter with an expression I didn't understand and I frowned, feeling like I was missing something.

"What?" I asked them.

"Nothing," Eli shrugged. "I'm gonna get a scarf."

He disappeared upstairs and I looked at Walter, "What was that?"

"I don't know," Walter rolled his eyes. "I guess he's just cold."

That wasn't what I meant but I knew it was futile trying to press any further. A couple of minutes later Landon returned fully dressed and spinning his car keys around his index finger. Eli came down moments after and I frowned slightly.

He wasn't wearing a scarf.

"Let's go," Landon said, heading for the front door.

We followed him out into the already melting snow and out of the corner of my eye I saw Eli slip something to Walter, a knife most likely. Did they always have to carry weapons? If the police caught them with a knife or even worse, a gun, they wouldn't get off lightly.

Landon's car was in a garage on the side of the house that I'd never noticed before. There were two cars in there, both looked expensive indeed. Landon opened the slightly less flashy one and we climbed in.

"Show me the way Coral," Landon said as I sat in the passenger seat.

"Don't touch her," Walter threatened from the back seat.

I looked down and saw that Landon's hand was reaching out and about to feel my thigh.

"Its habit," Landon chuckled and put his hand back on the steering wheel. "Sorry."

It made me think about how many different girls Landon had had sit in the passenger side of his car. It had to be a lot if he was about to feel up his brother's girlfriend without even noticing.

I directed Landon to my home which took no time at all and I was shocked that I had missed it a little bit, but I was also happy to be finally moving on. I hadn't said I would stay with the Simpsons permanently, but I knew it was what Walter wanted, and to be honest once the Santiagos found out about us, I didn't think I could go back anyway.

We got out of Landon's car and walked slowly towards the rundown block of flats. I was aware it was Eli's first time seeing where I lived, but I didn't mind anymore. It was no longer all had.

"I'm pretty sure I tagged this building," Eli said as he tried to remember. "On the side somewhere."

He started heading round the side of the building where I knew Ario had sprayed his own gang sign on top of the Simpsons. I decided to stand back and wait near the front of the building as the boys round the side.

"Blue eyes," Walter snarled, cursing furiously when he no doubt saw the Santiago sign.

"Well that's just rude," I heard Landon mutter.

I walked around in the sludgy snow, thinking about the last time I'd seen Ario out here when I'd been taking the rubbish out. I stopped dead and frowned when I saw something in the snow. I bent down and wiped the snow off the item to reveal what looked like a switchblade. The handle was brown and had something scratched into it, and there was a small knob on the side which I knew would cause the deadly blade to spring out if I pressed it.

I just knew it belonged to Ario.

"Coral, you okay?" I heard Walter's voice.

I slipped the knife into my pocket and span around to face him.

"Yeah, shall we go in?" I smiled at him.

He nodded and turned to Landon and Eli who were walking back to join us.

"Remind me to spray over that tonight," he said to them.

"I'll do it myself," Eli spat. "Stupid shits."

I smiled slightly, thinking how protective the boys were being over their territory and...well over me. I didn't know why I had hidden Ario's knife or what I was planning to do with it. I doubted I would have a chance to talk to him again now that I had chosen the Simpsons, and Walter had made it very clear that the two sides were immiscible.

I tried not to worry as I led the boys up into my flat and we started loading some of my things into Landon's car. Ario's knife felt a lot heavier than it was in my pocket and it was hot, as if it was burning me through the fabric. It was probably my nerves that had me feeling that way and I told myself to calm down.

All I had to do was give it back to him, it didn't require actually talking.

***

Walter and I returned home after an evening meal together in the shopping complex. Walter had told Landon and Eli to leave my stuff in his room and that he would talk to Phoenix when we got back.

And now we were back.

I still had Ario's knife in my pocket, but that wasn't what was making me feel edgy. It was Phoenix's reaction that was making my stomach tighten more than anything. I could hear his voice in the living room and I somehow sensed that everyone was in there.

Walter opened the living room door and sure enough all the Simpson brothers were there and they seemed to be having a heated rant. Well Phoenix was. He was clearly mad about something and when he saw me he fixed me with a dark look before ignoring me completely. The boys looked serious, even the triplets, and when I heard the Dartfish being mentioned my back stiffened and I widened my eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked in a quiet voice.

Phoenix turned his gaze to me, "You really want to know?"

I frowned, "I work at the Dartfish. So yes."

Walter was shaking his head at Phoenix and I touched his knee, wanting to know what he didn't want to tell me.

"What is it Walter?" I asked him.

He looked unhappy, "Remember when I told you the less you knew about the gang, the better? Well this is what I meant. I don't want you to know."

"But I'm connected to it somehow aren't I?" I looked round at the straight faces. "I work at the Dartfish so maybe I could...help...with whatever the problem is."

Phoenix paused and then glanced at Landon who seemed to be his second hand man as well as his younger brother. Landon nodded and half shrugged and Walter again shook his head.

"Don't tell her anything," Walter said to them.

"I want to know," I argued. "Walter, please."

"She wants to know so I'll tell her," Phoenix said. "You're either in or out."

"She's joining the gang?" Gomez widened his blue eyes in shock.

"She's not joining the gang, that is to say," Phoenix said. "But I'm taking it as her agreeing to my proposal to be an accomplice."

"Coral," Walter looked at me closely. "Think about it."

"I can help you Walter," I said to him. "All of you. Right?"

Phoenix nodded and I looked back at Walter with wide eyes, "Please?"

Walter bent his head when he said, "Okay. You can tell her, but she's not doing anything stupid for you Phoenix."

Phoenix nodded again and I looked at him, waiting to hear what he had to say.

"Don't repeat this to anyone," Phoenix said to me. "Not your family or your friends, the authorities or anyone."

"I won't," I shook my head. "I promise."

"I'm going to explain to you how our gang works," Phoenix's eyes bore into mine. "From now on you're with us and you can't turn against us."

"Doesn't that mean she's in the gang though?" Gio raised his hand.

"She's not part of the gang," Phoenix snapped at him. "The gang is just the seven of us. Family only."

He probably didn't mean for his words to cause any hurt towards me, or then again maybe he did, but I understood what Phoenix was saying. I couldn't be a member of his gang because I wasn't blood, but I could be a partner, someone who helped. I'm sure I wasn't the only person with this role. Phoenix probably had a lot of connections to ensure that everything he had set up ran smoothly. I knew it was dangerous but I was clearly in too deep already and I didn't want to turn back.

This was the closest to family I'd ever had.

I wanted in.

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Thoughts on the chapter?!

J

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