“We’re really heading out, right now?” I ask, looking over to Reed. It’s only a few days before Christmas and I’m surprised that we’d leave this close to the holiday. I’ve done my best to avoid both Maria and my brother over the last couple weeks. Shit isn’t easy, and it’s only getting more difficult.

“Pharaoh texted. You, me and Seamus are going. Darius is coming with Jude and Shaun and we’ll meet up with them all in a few hours.”  

“She was supposed to text you over a week ago with the details.” I don’t have to remind him, but Something seems off, and fuck me if things don’t feel like they’re heading in the wrong direction. “What’s the plan? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that something’s changed.”

Reed nods once and smirks, “You always were pretty damn observant. We aren’t headed to Mexico like we originally planned. Darius, Pharaoh and I have all been speaking and it’s more important that we light up one of the cartel’s compounds. We’ve all noticed how they’re getting closer and closer. Now they have something set up in Memphis. They’re close, and right now we believe that they don’t have a clue we know their location.”

“I get it. It’s more important to destroy the immediate threat.”

“Exactly. We don’t know why Rafael has his goons in Memphis but we’re not looking to wait around and find out.”

Reed and I go out to the garage with Seamus, making sure that we’re well supplied and prepared to take some heat. It’s bound to come our way. “How’s everything going with Maria?” Seamus asks. Of course he asks the one thing I don’t want to talk about.

“How’s what going?” I ask in a mono-tone voice. That’ll tell him I don’t want to talk about it at all, and to fuck off.

Seamus glances over to me, “Listen, we all have shit that goes on with our women. At the end of the day you just gotta deal with it.”

“Have I asked for your fuckin’ opinion, Seamus? As a matter of fact, have I asked for anyone’s opinion? Fuck no! Yet everyone wants to put their fuckin’ nose in my business and I’m tired of that. None of you have the woman you love telling you that essentially you aren’t enough for her, that she needs more then you, and the one man she wants with you is your fuckin’ brother. I thought she’d have some fun in the beginning. That’s all I thought her and I were doing with him, that it was just a little fucking fun for her to get off on and she went and caught fuckin’ feelings. Shit, it wouldn’t be like this if it was Enzo or even Trick, but it’s my brother. I fucking love her, and she...”

“Jesus...” Reed mutters lowly.

“It’s like I’m not fuckin’ enough for her and I’d be okay with that if it was anyone but Pain. Anyone but him....”

“You think it’s gonna fuck with your relationship as brothers.” Seamus says, finally getting it.

“It already has. It’s just going to get worse and I’m not gonna be able to stop it. At the end of the day one of us is gonna get hurt, or we won’t even speak to each other. I don’t want that shit. Pain and I have been through enough. He’s the only other person I can depend on, the only person I’ve ever been able to depend on.”

“Well shit, now you’ve hurt my feelings.” Seamus says to me. I just roll my eyes at him. He can try to lighten the mood with his humor but it won’t work.

“The three of you will figure this mess out, just have a little faith. You all need each other and it’s obvious.” Reed adds, and his words resonate with me. I’m not the type of man who is positive all the time. I’m a realist, I think that in most cases I see the worst before I see the best because I’d rather be prepared. It’s a way to protect myself. Expect the worst and then be happy when it doesn’t happen.

I don’t say a word, only make sure I have enough ammo for the road. The three of us know we’re bound to hit some fire. There’s no way around it. We aren’t gonna roll up to their compound and talk to them. We’re going to do one thing, and one thing only. Rip them to shreds.