Bad Desire: New Beginnings - Fast Forward

Chapter 116

(part 4)

- a few hours later -

"It's so weird being back in this place." George said as he looked around. "It feels like nothing changed."

It brought back so many memories, both good and bad and you could see how much each person in this room was appreciating it.

"Do you still speak to Jess? I bet she's still causing trouble."

Jay and Matt couldn't help but laugh because things for Jess had truly changed the most. These two may still be in the game and acting just as they used to but it wasn't that way for Jess.

"Yeah we speak." Jay began. "She has five kids now so a lot less trouble is being caused."

"No fucking way." Joe's mouth dropped open, as he couldn't quite believe it.

They had obviously known Jess with kids but not expected her to go to have so many. Ellie was a huge shock so five was even more insane.

"Still with Jack Lawrence?"

"Yeah, they're still together." Jay nodded and the shock was evident for each of them.

"No seriously, I can't believe that. What happened to the old Jess?" George laughed, thinking back to the days when all she cared about was the gang and going out.

"She's long gone." Matt remarked, knowing that there was zero chance they would ever see that side of her again. "She's a full on family woman now."

"It's good for her though." Jay added when he realised that the stunned expressions weren't disappearing. "She's happy."

"I guess that's all that matters, right?" Brent looked to each of them to which they all agreed.

"What about you lot? What's changed?"

Matt was genuinely curious about what they were all doing now. It wasn't easy to escape this gang life once you were in it so there was always a chance that they were still trapped, in some way.

"Married." Joe held up his hand, this time leaving both Jay and Matt in shock. "A kid too."

"And Isabella and I are still together with two kids."

Hearing the guys fill them in on their lives was such a strange feeling. They had all grown up and changed in so many ways yet being face to face with them now made everything feel the same. It didn't matter how much time was put between them, they still managed to come together and act as though no time had passed.

"Jay, can I speak to you for a minute?" Brent quietly captured his attention while the rest of them got lost in conversation.

Getting up from where he was sat, he followed Brent out into the kitchen and waited for him to speak. His tone had been edgy and there was that slightly worried look on his face that Jay recognised from back when he was in charge.

"What's wrong?"

Pausing, Brent skimmed his eyes around the kitchen as if stalling before he finally spoke up.

"Us being here isn't a random visit..."

Jay had guessed that the moment they had walked in the door, so it wasn't such a surprise. He had just been waiting for one of them to finally come out and explain.

"We came for a reason and it's because you're going to need this extra help."

"What do you mean?" Jay asked, slightly offended that he had just assumed that.

"Buddy has a lot of men working for him and when I say a lot, I don't just mean another couple added to his gang. He has other gangs joining battle with him to try to take this gang down. There are way too many for you lot to take on your own."

Jay was now listening more intently than he previously had done. He didn't know why he hadn't expected this; of course everyone would want to get in on the drama.

"If you go ahead with this, you're going to lose men... there is no doubt about that so you need to be sure it's what you want to do."

"I won't be losing anyone." Jay began shaking his head, not wanting to believe it.

He had trained this gang to be strong and he had confidence in them but also himself to keep them safe. He never lost men because they worked as a team and they always had one another's back. He was determined to not let that change when they needed it the most.

"Jay, think about this rationally. There is going to be ten times the amount of men after you than there are you after them. There is no chance of you all coming out of this alive."

Brent was serious at this point and he looked beyond concerned that Jay hadn't seen this coming.

"That's why we want to help you. It's not going to prevent you from losing men but it will increase the chances of succeeding in taking my shit excuse of a father down. Myself, George and Joe are prepared to step in on this. We were a team from day one and that lives through to today."

There were so many emotions running through Jay as he heard Brent speak. He was overwhelmed with the sense of loyalty and pure gratefulness. He couldn't believe that Brent, George and Joe had all showed up today and agreed to step in one something they knew was a death trap. They didn't have to do this. They didn't have to involve themselves in something that could them killed again. However, they were doing it because they still cared and because they looked to Matt and Jay like brothers.

"You would do that?" He asked and Brent could see just how much this meant to him.

"Of course brother." Brent laid a hand on his shoulder. "We're going to take him down and keep as many people as we can safe in the process."

Although this wasn't going as Jay had originally planned and that things were beginning to look more hopeless than he had expected, he was still motivated. He needed to do this not only for the gang but for everyone in their lives. For as long as Buddy was alive, none of them would be safe and they needed to change that.

**

:(:(:))