Because Mom Wasn't Enough

My mistakes I've made won't leave me alone

Vic's POV

Jo came storming back inside with Mark and Cali trailing behind her, looking shaken. Her face was red, and her eyes were black with rage. I noticed small red dots splattered all over her. As happy as I was to see her, I've spent the last three hours panicking. I knew how dangerous these gangs are, I so did not want her involved with this...

"Where the hell have you been!? And what are you covered in?" I yelled as I got up from the couch and followed her through to the bathroom. "You can't just walk out like that!"

"Where did I say I was going? And it's what you think it is." She sassed me back.

"Blood!? Fuck Jo! Why are you covered in blood? I don't want you around these people anymore, you're going to get killed!" I can't let her be this risky, when will she listen to me? She wet a paper towel and tried to rub the blood from her face.

"Killed!? For your information, the boy, my friend, whose blood this is? Yeah, he's dead! He died protecting me! This is the second time someone's died for me, so obviously someone's trying to kill me. I'm safer now than I ever would be if I left. Do you want it to be my blood splattered all over you next time?" I took a breath.

"Jo why are you doing this? Do you even understand what's happening? You don't even seem scared."

"Scared!? Ha! Because I so badly just want to drop dead. I don't care if I'm ripped from all the people I love. Yeah, Vic, let's give Mike an army of people, guns, and the motivation to kill you. Would you be scared? Hell Vic, I'm scared as fuck, and yet this is the only thing I can do to protect all of you from dying at the hands of my own brother, your son! I'm trying to keep all of us alive because no one else will! I'm doing this for you Vic!" I didn't know what to say. I stared at her in shock as tears rolled down her face. I just wrapped my arms around her and let her cry.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, I just...I love you, baby, and I don't want to see you get hurt." I brought her over to the couch and pulled her onto my lap. Jo sniffled and I dried her face with my sweatshirt sleeve. She started to relax a little and I decided to talk to her again. "Jo, are you sure we can't do anything else about this? Like there's no other options besides you going out there on your own? Can't we call the police or something?" She shook her head.

"No, the police don't give two shits about that side of town. No one does. That's why it's gotten this bad, I mean, murder is a normal Sunday afternoon. People have tried before but the cops just laugh in their face because they know there's nothing they could do. These people are strong, Vic. The only way to beat them is with another gang. Fight fire with fire right? The Bulldogs know the other group's fight patterns and know how to keep everyone safe."

"But that guy you knew, Pitbull or something?"

"Bulldog."

"Right. Anyway, didn't you say he got killed? And this other kid? Him too? What makes you think that they're fit to keep you safe?" She sighed.

"Vic, do you know what happened that night, when Bulldog was killed?"

"No, I just heard on the News he and two other guys were shot and killed."

"And that there was another shooter?"

"Yeah something like that." Jo shifted and faced me.

"I was there that night. It was the night Mom died and I hurt my ankle. I was going to take a short cut back to the warehouse, but Sam held me up. I had dumped him earlier that night and he thought I had been cheating on him or whatever. Anyway, he kind of attacked me, and Bull showed up. He beat up Sam before another man from Sam's group shot him. Bull gave me that letter, and his gun. I...I shot Sam and the other guy..." I felt all the blood rush from my head. I probably would have passed out if I hadn't been sitting.

"W-Wait, so you k-killed them?" I asked shakily. She nodded her head slowly. Oh my god, my daughter is a murderer. I looked away and ran my fingers through my hair is disstress. "Oh my god. Does anyone know? Did any one see you?" I asked urgently.

"No, no one knows...I mean, except the Bulldogs, and maybe the other group, but no one important. It's not like anyone cares anyways." I sighed and tried to come up with a solution in my head. "Really Vic, I know what I'm doing. Everything's going to be okay. I'm not going to let them hurt you guys."

"I' worried about you, not me." I ruffled her hair and kissed her head. "I love you so much, Jo."

"I love you too, Dad."

A/N: Sorry for not updating for so long but it's finally here! Hope you like it!