Loveless♣

Chapter 24

Two gunshots were fired.
Bella's breath caught in her throat.
She looked,in shock,at Esteban who had fallen to the pavement.There was a pool of blood gathering around his head,matting his hair and painting it a deep shade of red.
He was dead.
She began to shake as she saw two figures approaching from a distance menacingly, each on either side of the street.
She nearly broke down in relief when she recognized who they were.
"Claw!"she cried out."Cobra!"
"Shit,Bella,are you okay?Thank God we got here on time."
She ran down the stairs and flew into Cobra's large arms.He held a gun.
So did Claw,who was at the other end of the street,his gun still pointed at Esteban's lifeless body.He carefully tiptoed around him,then nudged him with his foot.
He nodded at Bella and Cobra.
"He's dead...again."He withdrew his gun and put it in his back pocket.Then he crossed the street to meet them."Come here,little Bella."
Bella,her face still wet with tears,went into his open arms.
"I told you not to get involved in this shit.You are so stubborn,"he said,burying his face in her hair.
"Don't scold me,I nearly died a second ago."
"How's he even alive?" Cobra asked,confused."I thought you killed him years ago."
Bella sniffed and shrugged."I dunno...maybe I missed."
She released herself from his hug and wiped her face with her palms.She smiled at the both of them.Then she looked at Esteban.
"I can't believe he was alive.I owe you big time,guys."
"No,you don't,Bella.We're family.I'm just glad you called us soon as you got the text.We got one,too,"Cobra said.
Her face fell."So you know."
"Yeah,"Claw answered,looking at Esteban."Sebastian's getting released.CJ's mobilising his boys to get rid of all Sebastian's gang members.There's about to be a full on gang war,Bella."
"And you're about to be in the middle of it,"Cobra added sadly."You know why."
Bella sighed heavily.
"Shit."
"You need to get the hell out of here.Out of the country,"Claw said,his tone stern.
Bella frowned."I'm not leaving.I've never been one to run from a fight,and I won't start now."
The door opened and Joshua stood in the door way.He raised his hands up in surrender because immediately,Claw and Cobra cocked their guns at him.
He looked at Bella,a deep scowl on his face.
"Guys,guys..chill.This is Joshua.He's a friend.I brought him along."
Claw whipped his head to her."What?!Are you trying to get him killed?Anyone you're involved with is in potential danger,Isabella.He's a walking target."
"Lower your guns," Bella said firmly.
They looked slowly at Joshua,then at Bella.They obeyed her command.
Joshua lowered his hands,and glared at Bella,but didn't speak.
"You're tryna get yourself killed,aren't you?"Claw asked her hotly."You got a threat text,and still came to the warzone.You very nearly got yourself killed by CJ's right hand man who,by the way,you shot a few years ago!Now you walking about with this pretty boy?Best believe you're gonna get him killed."
"I can take care of myself!" Bella yelled.
"You're a fucking target!Scratch that,you're the main target and you fucking know why!"
"Calm down,Claw," Cobra said.He was the larger one but he seemed gentler than his partner,Joshua noticed.He was watching the three of them quietly,observing their interaction.He needed to get more information about what the hell was going on and remaining mute seemed to have given him an advantage.
"Bella,"Cobra said,turning to her."You need to leave.That's an order."
Bella frowned."I don't do well with orders."She folded her arms across her chest defiantly."Look,boys,I thank you for your help. Like you said,we're family,that's why I call you first whenever there's a problem I can't handle alone.I knew there would be opposition today and I needed backup and you were there.We've always had each other's backs.But you need to understand that I can take care of myself. I have been doing so for years now."
"Bella-"
"I can't run forever, Cobra.We all knew sooner or later that Bash would get released,and when he does a lot of shit is gonna go down.All hell's gonna break loose.They're gonna come after me and I won't run again.I'll be ready."
The boys paused,then looked at each other and sighed.
"I guess it's time,huh?"Claw said in defeat.
Cobra touched his shoulder."Yeah,it is.No more running."
"We fight till this shit is over.Finally."
Bella unfolded her arms and hugged him.
"Finally,"she said.
"Man,"Cobra murmured,looking around."And to think this used to be our hood.We made some of our maddest memories here."
Joshua looked at the environment. Bella grew up here?In this rundown infested environment? He looked at her,surprised,with a new wave of respect flooding through him.He finally understood her..her attitude towards the world.Why she exuded such confidence.Why she acted like she didn't give a damn.She must have gone through a lot of hardship growing up amongst thugs and learning to survive by using a gun.This neighborhood had helped build her character.
"Look what's left of it...trash.This is all CJ's fault,"Claw said angrily,clenching his fist.
"And mine,"Bella added,her voice tinged with regret."Our hood wasn't always like this... until that night," her voice trailed off.
The boys looked at each other,then at her but didn't say a word.
She was right.
Bella looked at Joshua.He had been standing patiently.She turned back to Claw and Cobra.
"Guys,I have an injured boy in the house.He's Terry's cousin,Mrs Rochelle's baby boy.Y'all remember?"
"No way,"Cobra said,straightening up and smiling. "He was a nothing but a tiny tot when we were growing up.Shit,he's injured?Where is he?"
"Inside," Bella said,gesturing to the house."And Joshua's Terry's brother in law," she told them.
They looked at Joshua.
"For reals?"
He shrugged."Sort of."
They assessed him for a few seconds.
"You from the hood,Josh?" Claw asked,cocking his head at him.
Joshua folded his arms.He disliked being called Josh by people he barely knew.But these people were armed and he wasn't about to take any chances with his life.
"Sort of,"he replied again.
"Huh,"Cobra said."You give vague answers.I take it you don't let on much about yourself, right?"
Joshua shrugged again.
Claw smirked and decided that he liked him."Know how to protect yourself,Josh?"
"Every nigga who done been through hell and back knows how to protect himself,"Joshua replied.
Claw smiled."Cold."He looked at Bella."At least you ain't with a pussy,B.That's good."
Bella frowned."We're not exactly together."
Cobra frowned. "Then what's he to ya?"
Bella looked at Joshua for a second."A friend,"she said."A good friend."
"Well as long as y'all are tight,you'd better be careful.We're going to handle Esteban."
Bella nodded.
"You have to hide,B," Claw said softly."If you get hurt,blood's gonna run the streets.You know what you mean to the gang. "
Bella pursed her lips and nodded.
"We have to leave now.I'll keep a low profile and stay in touch," she said."Thanks again."
"Hey,don't mention," Cobra replied,drawing her into a bear hug.He looked at Joshua."You take care of our Bella,a'ight?She can be as hardheaded as a mule."
Joshua smiled a little."That I'm well aware of."
Bella released herself and rolled her eyes.
"Bye,guys."
"Bye,Isabella," they replied and watched her enter into the house with Joshua.