Intertwined

Part 50: It Ends With A Bang!

BANG!

The sound resonates through the home and the slow pain of a bullet tearing flesh- sends Helen's world slowly sliding downward. 

"W...what the...what the fuck?" Helen asks as she releases Logan and backs into the wall, holding her waist, but unable to grasp the space in which the bullet entered her back.

"Mum!" Logan cries out but before he can move to her, two hands grip his shoulders and pull him away from his mother, who has backed up to the wall and has slowly slid down onto the floor- the wall behind her now streaked with blood.

"I am sorry, Logan. I didn't want it to go this way." The sorrowful, yet devilish voice fills his senses and yet the threat doesn't match the fear and confusion he has.

"Aunt...Aunt Lauren...why? Why would you..." He asks as Lauren sighs heavily and continues to point the gun at Helen. Max holds onto Logan and tries to get him behind his body- however he's too close to the counter to do so.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way, Buddy. I promise. I am so sorry." She apologizes and tears fill her eyes slightly and Helen just gapes and tries to apply pressure to her back- the bullet entering just beside her spine.

"L...Laur..." Helen tries to speak.

"Huh...I did love you. You have to know that...b...but...but that's the problem with getting involved with your work." Helen narrows her eyes as she watches Lauren step a bit closer to her- now moving her gun up to aim at Max.

"W...w...why?" Helen asks and Lauren shakes her head.

"Huh...there really is no good why- Babe. Now is there? It's quite literally just business. Truly. I am sorry. I don't want to do this. I've grown to love you and the boys. However— money is money. And I wasted so much of it getting a fucking teaching degree just to actually be able to make things work for me. Do you know how hard it is getting a teaching degree you really don't even plan on using but for one job? I mean come on- I way over committed to this bit. Years of it all just phhhh...what do you care about the years I've wasted setting this up." Her voice is almost casual- as if the strain of this situation has zero effect on her.

"A...Akash...h...hired...hired you?"

"I hate to be this person- but duh! He set it all up. Everything. And I must say- and I'm bragging a bit here I suppose- but I am BOSS at what I do. Truly. If I could open up a hit man's academy—fuck- I would be richer than fucking all those old mother fuckers on Wall Street and in the Capital. I swear. I would teach my skills and...huh sorry- it is that adhd though- that's the problem I have. That's my bad." She boasts and then apologizes, distracting herself. Max steps sideways to try and grab a knife- but Lauren shoots his hand- shattering every bone in it- but the slight distraction gives Logan enough time to rush behind the counter to hide. "Fucking rude, Dude! Seriously, Max. Can't fucking wait your turn."

"Lauren, why would you do all this?!" Max painfully asks as he clutches his hand to his chest.

"Money- I've said that. It just...it got complicated for a good while. Earning both your trusts and fuck—setting up that entire goose chase with mediums and fucking dogs and shit. Hiring a fucking artist to paint that fucking mural— fuck! Half a years income and work just to have it made and then stowed away in that basement. Not to mention all the work I had to do with chemists and doctors. It is just so hard finding unethical brainiacs- just so you're all aware. Just don't do it. The amount of hush money you need is not worth it in the slightest."

"C...chemists? Doctors?" Helen painfully breathes out.

"You didn't actually think Mo had a brain aneurysm did you? And conveniently happened to crash into a pregnant woman's car- to where that woman went into labor and then just died? No! He was being poisoned through some of my contacts and that 'father' of hers was big into Heroin so a couple fucking hook ups could get him to do whatever the fuck I wanted him too. And Georgia was so easy to be convinced by that man's bullshit. Huh...money runs the world you two and yet neither of you figured that one out. Like seriously." She remarks and everyone's insides twists. "I hate to say that doing the kids will be the hardest for me though. Adults- even ones with history like ours isn't bad...but...but getting rid of the littles...that's what's really tough ya know. I almost had Lukas with that Rex kid- would've been fucking easy and hands clean- and Logan... well Akash fucked up a bit there— but Luna— god, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm gonna have to do with her. That one breaks me ya know. I basically raised her."