How Things Are

forty seven

"No!" Teedo through me over his massive shoulders. "I ride that thing!"

I punched and kicked. When that didn't work I resorted to biting and pinching. "You're going. Stop whining. This is our ride."

Whatever that was, wasn't a ride. It had fins or wings. It might have been asleep based on how still it was but I didn't want to wake it up and ask for a ride.

Joey was holding in his laughter at my fear of the beast. "She never saw an airplane before. It won't eat you if you stop screaming."

"Let's just ask the tiger to pull a carriage or something," I whisper

"Are you insane?" Jr asks. What in the world is wrong with this Mafia?

"If they can get it to jump through fire, they can get it to pull a carriage with 12 people." Joey's comment made Teedo shove him.

"We're not riding a tiger Tibby. We're getting on the airplane," Teedo walked past Joey, next to Lucas "And stop giving her ideas Joey or you'll regret it."

Lucas went inside the airplane beast. "We're getting in its stomach?" You could see me cowardly shrivel as Teedo entered next. "Are you sure we can't ask Ringmaster to borrow his tiger?" I whisper to Lucas. Surely he has the most sense out of all of them.

"Sit down Tibby," I swear I could see the corner of his mouth lift for a moment. He found my pain funny.

Youngblood laughs as well. When Teedo drops me onto a seat the beast begins to roar. I jump up and run across its furry stomach toward its exit. Before I make it close Lucas grabs me and sits me in the seat next to him.
He looks annoyed as he somehow clicks something onto me that holds me into the seat.

"Calm yourself." Lucas begins to talk to Teedo as I take heavy breaths. In. Out. In. Out. My heart slows and I focus. These seats remind me of the ones in Lucas's office. I look at what he tied me down with. It's a seat belt like the one in Lucas's car.
Teedo
I study the creature more. "Is this... a big car?"

"No. It's a giant bird." Joey's expression tells me he's lying, but just in case I stay quiet and still.

Teedo walks over after his conversation with Lucas and sits on my other side. He digs in his bag and pulls out a pill for me to take. "No. I'm uninjured and rather not go through that again."

He sighs "It's not for healing. Just take it."

I put it in my hand but don't take it.

"Put it in your mouth and swallow Tibs."

Staring at the pill, memories come back. "It won't give you pain either."

I can see the sympathy in Teedos eyes. I hate it. Putting the pill in, I swallow without water. My eyes get heavy. Lucas's voice comes into my mind.  "How long will she be out?"

"She'll wake up by the time the plane lands." I can feel Teedo relax in his seat. "I'm gonna catch up on sleep myself."

"Good. I could use the quiet." Hating the way Youngblood sounds in my head, I give in to my drowsiness and fall deep into sleep.

When I wake up I'm in a bed in a nice hotel. There's a view not as nice as Lucas but close. I can hear the shower running so I begin to explore the room a bit more. This room screams Lucas. His late-night drinks, art he hangs. There's a fresh suit hanging that sure is for him. I can smell his body wash coming from the bathroom. So I decided to leave the other rooms alone.

By the time I'm done exploring, I see him walking out of his room fresh and ready to go. He looks me up and down. When I noticed he wasn't saying anything I looked at myself and realized I was changed and clean.

"Who did this?"

He walks past me and then gets something out of the fridge. "We're leaving soon." He tosses a sandwich. "Eat this."

"Where are we going?" Speaking with a full mouth. He looks focused.

"To a meeting." Giving me his glare "You will behave. You haven't lately. Ordinary, if one of my soldiers acted as disrespectful as you have been they would be punished by now." Turning away and getting himself something to eat, "however I need you to help me find Derek. Not to mention my younger brothers woman misses you."

I open my mouth to ask about her but I remember the last time I did. This wasn't just a test but a threat. He could do anything to me at anytime, he's just been patient. I chose to just nod when he turns to look at me.

"Good." We walk toward the door to leave, "My brother may be dear to me Tibby, but there are times I need to put people in their place. If that means taking her off his hands to better my Mafia, he knows I will."

With that we both walk out together where another creature elevator waits. This time I didn't hesitate to enter. Remaining silent.

There was a long car Teedo called a limousine waiting for us. Only half his men tagged along. I forgot how cruel Lucas could be. Traveling together makes you forget things I suppose. He'll always have that dark side to him. No matter how relaxed he gets. I need to focus on the job.

The others could feel the tension. There was no speaking. Not even from Joey. The ride seemed like ours only to last a few moments.
However, when we exited the car I couldn't help but to recognize the building. Long ago. Lost in my memory. Puzzling trying to put the pieces together as we enter and head to the top floor. My steps moved slower. More heavy. The echo was louder as we got closer his office.

The door opened and we entered. No one said anything but they knew. By the looks on their face they knew. How could they? How could Lucas?

The man sitting at the head of the nice, long oak table. His wide smile as I entered last and took a seat furthest from him. My hands became clammy. The air conditioning did nothing for me. Gulping, remembering Lucas words. He was warning me for this moment. How foolishly could I forget this city. His city.

"Hello my neice!" He smiles "It's good to see you again."