Brothers, Friends, and Loyalty

Prolog

The city of Chicago was growing dark, as the sun slid behind a blanket of grey and dismal clouds; you could smell the rain in the air as it was coming fast like a thief. The thunder could be heard off in the distance with cannon like roar. People were scurrying around the streets trying to get home before the storm would hit. Gargoyles high above the streets watched with cold gruesome faces and eyes, looking over the city watching the people below as they hurried around between buildings with their bundles and bags and such trying to avoid any conflict with one another.

As the storm rolled in everyone passed back and forth as quickly as possible, no one took noticed of him as he stood alone on the corner watching everyone from under his black flat brimmed cowboy hat. It was pulled kind of low on his head as his cool steel eyes scanned the area, every store front, and alleyway, trying to decide what he should do.

It started to sprinkle rain as he pulled out his silver pocket watch and opened it and swore, "7:30... Damn!" He snapped up the collar on his faded black leather duster and pulled it up around his face. He looked at his watch again "Their late!" He looked up and down the street one more time and realized there were only a few people now; he decided to move from the corner light to someplace a little dryer.

He walked to a nearby building with a small out cropping wear the rain wasn't so bad, as his back hit the wall, something caught his ear and then his eye down the street. An elderly woman was having a tug-o-war with a young punk, and her purse was the rope. She was screaming for help when the kid hip checked her to get her purse and started running towards him. Luke pulled himself into the dark alleyway next to the building he was leaning on. As the lady could be heard screaming down the way, Luke could hear the sound of scampering feet hitting the ground, coming closer to him, as they slowed to take the corner into the alley, an arm reached out hitting the kid in chest making him flip from his feet to his ass in a tenth of a seconded slamming to the ground with a hard thud. Luke grabbed the punk by his collar under his chin, pulling him to his feet then to the wall of the alley, " What the hell!" the kid yelped in a scared voice," What in god's name are you doing?" grabbing the big hands of the dark man. Luke's hat was down so the punk couldn't see his face." You're hurting me asshole!"

"That's the whole point isn't it?" As Luke started to press harder on the punk's chest and proceeded to lift him off the ground. The kid started to gasp for air a little when Luke let one hand off him, and grabbed the purse out of the kid's hand, "Is this yours?" looking at the purse, "Sure doesn't look like your color, and definitely doesn't go with your outfit." The mugger tried to grab the purse and missed

"You have no right" Luke put more pressure on his chest causing him to wince in pain.

"I don't?" With a sly grin on his face, "And you have the right to take it from that lady? Sounds like double standards to me." Luke pulled his head up just enough so he could see his eyes. "I'm only going to tell you once Shithead" His voice calm, and eyes cold as steel, "so listen very carefully, and I will be sure to use small words so you will understand." The man stopped struggling as he spoke and stared at the man weathered face, "I have no patients for people that take advantage and hurting of others, and man... you just crossed the line with me" In one swift move Luke threw the kid across the alley to the other wall knocking the wind out of him. As he gasped to catch his breath, he was finally able to get a better look at the man that was controlling him. Looking up from the ground and seeing black cowboy boots, faded black jeans, silver belt-buckle, black tee-shirt, and the thing that caught his eye the most was very large pistol on his hip in an out of the old west holster with one contrast on the black leather, a seven pointed silver and gold shield with the word Sheriff in bold lettering on it. The man started to get to his feet as Luke walked towards him making him back up against the wall.

As the man looked for a way to escape in a breathless voice he gasp "Are you going to arrest me?" As he then glanced back down at the badge.

"Well technically..." Luke paused "I can't, I'm not in my jurisdiction" spinning the punk around to assume the position against the wall, frisking him and pulling his wallet out of his back pocket "But here is what I can do," Checking the makeshift ID, "21yr old Mr. Josh Collins, which I'm pretty sure that's not your real name. You have Choice #1; I can kick the living shit out of you, then take you over to that little old lady and let her give you an ole lady ass beating, then have Chicago PD come pick you up for theft and assault and a few other offences I can think of or..." pausing again, "Choice #2; you can take the purse back to her and ask her to forgive you and she might smack you, which you will take gratefully." Luke turned him around to look into his eyes to get his point across. "Then find a new profession other than crime, because if I ever catch you again, I will personally make your life a living hell... Understand!" Luke's voice was very calm, collective and to the point. And it seemed Luke's steel gaze was piercing the man's very soul, "So what's it going to be." The look on the young man's face was either that of guilt or pain from the ass whooping Luke had given him. With a deep sigh josh looked at the ground in shame,

"Believe it or not, that is my name and this is the first time I have ever done this, but I don't know what to do" Luke reached into his pocket pulled out $100 bucks then shuffled threw a few cards he had and pulled a certain one out; Handing Josh the purse, the card and the $100.

"You know what to do Josh." Looking at him with a smirk, "call that number on that card when you are ready to change." They both walked out of the alley towards the woman and a couple bystander's that stopped to help, they all stood in awe as josh walked over to the woman and handed her the purse and apologized for what had happened and the offered to help her home. Luke chuckled when she smacked him with her purse then handed her things for him to carry. The lady turned her attention towards Luke standing in the distance and smiled; Luke tipped his Stetson towards her, smiled and winked as they all dispersed from the scene.

"Well... that was fun" he mumbled to himself pulling his watch out again. It was 7:45 as he scanned the street once more, and there was no one around but a few parked cars, at least he thought, the rain was a slow drizzle when he started in the direction of his truck. Thunder echoed between the buildings as he walked down the street towards the parking lot swearing under his breath, "damn jackasses, I wonder what happened to those bastards" he stopped on the corner and pulled out a Zippo and a smoke and lit it taking a drag off it."I really gotta quit these things."Thinking to himself and Taking another drag.

He look both ways as he was about to step off the curb when out of the corner of his eye he noticed a dark SUV was moving slowly towards him, " I don't think they are the ones I was waiting for " his gut told him and turned right instead of crossing the street. He promptly picked up the pace, moving swiftly towards the other corner, he noticed the SUV picking up speed and realizing he might be In trouble "Shit! Derek where are you when I need you." swearing aloud.

Luke flipped his smoke into the street as he turned the corner fast; trying not to slip on the wet concrete, the sound of wet tires and a roaring engine came around the corner fast with windows rolled down. Luke's hand dropped to his pistol pulling it free from its holster, knowing that this day might have been a bad idea.