Ashes - (Sequel to Dark Flame)

Ch. 2

It's been almost a month since Liam left my house, and no one has seen or heard from him since. I can't help but wish that I had asked him to stay. I walked out into the early morning air and took a deep breath. I knew that today would be just another day of hiding away in the house, away from all the violence. Mary had her baby two days ago; it was a girl and her name was Malory. In case you haven't noticed, they have a thing for name's that start with 'M'. Since they couldn't babysit Leo anymore, I had to stay home with him.

Today was the first sunday of the month, or in other words, grocery-shopping-after-church day. I put Leo in a cart with a basket soon as we got to the store, and put my gun in my back pocket, making it hidden under my cardigan. After most of the shopping was done, I realized I needed to get some bread. I walked over to the bakery, but not before bumping into someone.

"Hey, watch where you're going." The guy said. Leo began to cry.

"Don't be a jerk." I said without looking at him, immediately grabbing my child and calming him down.

"Listen, lady, I don't know who you think you...Juliet?" 

I looked up at a very familar black haired man. "Zayn?" I smiled

"You still have a fiesty personality, I see." He joked, and I nodded playfully. "Is this...?"

"Yes, his name is Leo." 

"Oh, how old is he?" Zayn asked, suddenly more interested in Leo than he was me. 

"About 6 months." 

"Wow, really? He's pretty tough." He said, referring to Leo, who had his hand wrapped around Zayn's finger. "Just like his dad."

"Have you seen him?" I asked suddenly.

It was silent for a minute. "No, none of the guys have. He's gone. He said he needed a break."

"A break? A break from what?" I asked, suddenly very curious.

"Everything, I guess. You know his dad escaped from jail? I mean, it's not like it's a big deal or anything, but they think he's fled the country."

"And gone to Florida.." I said under my breath. Thankfully, he didn't hear it.

"I can't say I blame him, ya know? Liam's been through a lot in his life. He'll come back, Juliet. I promise."

"How can you promise something like that?"

"Because he knows that Essie is still out there, in London, alive." Zayn said, sending shivers down my spine. He looked serious, his eyes filled with hurt, much like Liam's. "Keep yourself safe."

"I should say the same to you, Zayn."

"Don't worry about me." He laughed as he walked out of the doors and into the now pouring down rain. 

-

The rain that poured down a few hours ago had taken a turn for the worse. There were flood warnings and the power had gone out. I sat alone in the living room with at least 10 candles surrounding me. I began to think of a way to fix things in London. I thought about my gun; it could use a serious makeover. And my wardrobe? It couldn't consist of things like dresses and cardigans anymore. No one would ever be intimidated by someone in a cardigan. 

I laid my head back and imagined what it would look like if I was 'bad ass'. I ended up having an image that resembled what Liam wore when he went out. Leather jacket, black pants, and black boots. I looked at the hall closet, where Liam's leather jacket was, and decided to make some...adjustments. 

I grabbed my sewing kit from my bedroom and an old blue bandanna. I began to cut the bandanna up, to make patches that resembled the one that Liam had on the back. I knew that the patch already on the jacket was a symbol of the gang. I knew that I had to keep it. I stiched in the patches and sewed up the holes until the jacket looked, well, seemed new. I tried it on; it fit pretty lose, but I was okay with that. It smelled faintly of Liam, and the smell reminded me of warmth. It sent butterflies in my stomach that  had not felt in a while. I held the jacket in my arms and began to cry. Why was I crying? I thought I was stronger than this. I know Liam will come back, wont he? I hugged the jacket close to me until I fell alseep.

I dreamt about Liam, and what it would be like to be held in his arms again like I held his jacket in mine. I could feel the warm kisses on my neck and mouth. I could smell his familiar fragrance that I long for again. 

I knew the only way to get Liam to come back was to fix things in London. I had to go to Zayn, he would know what to do. I called his old number, just to see if it worked.

"Hello?" a man answered.

"Zayn?" 

"Juliet? Is everything okay?" He sounded worried.

"I'm fine, Zayn. I have a question for you."

"Okay, shoot."

"Do you ever want out of it? Like, clear your name, and be out of a gang for good?" 

"Of course I do, but I can only wish for something like that, Juliet."

"What if you made it a reality?"

"How?" He asked, suddenly interested.

"Like, fight back at the gangs. No stealing, no drug dealing. Just capturing the gangs that are making the city crumble, because I know the one you are in is doing a pretty shitty job." 

"Oh, thanks." He sighed, "You are right, though. But how does that clear my name?" 

"I'll talk to the police. They like me. We can compromise a deal." 

"What if you can't?"

"Just trust me on this, okay?" I asked.

"Okay. I trust you." He said, hanging up.

He trusts me. That's all I needed. Trust. I grabbed Leo out of his room and we went to Mary's. I asked her to watch him for a little bit, and of course, she said yes. 

I went to the police station, and opened the doors. 

"Miss. Montgomery, have another for us?" an officer asked.

"Not this time, but I do have a proposition for you."

"Okay, tell me."

"Well, you know Liam Payne's gang?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yeah, of course." He said back in a groan.

"Look, I know you guys aren't doing so well. With a lot of your men being killed and all, you really are struggling to stop the gangs."

"What are you hinting at, Miss. Montgomery?" he interuppted.

"Well, Mr. Payne's gang has sort of agreed to help."

"Help? How?" He asked, leaning forward in his chair, now interested in what I was saying.

"They are going to stop selling drugs and robbing people. They have agreed to help stop the other gangs...on one condition.."

"And what is that?" He asked.

"They only ask that their records be cleared. You see, the gang is most of what they have. It's the only job some of them have ever known. Some of them want to travel, but they can't in fear of being arrested. Some want to get actual jobs, but they can't."

"We can't just clear their names like that." He said.

"Please, I promise they will help."

"How can you promise a thing like that?"

"Just trust me on this, okay?" 

"Well, Miss. Montgomery, you have a deal." He said, standing up and shaking my hand. 

"Also, can I ask one more thing?"

"Of course." 

"Bullet proof vests for all of them, including me."

"Including you?"

"Of course, you can't expect them to stop the other gangs without me, right?" I smiled.

"You're a devious little girl, I like that. Thanks, Miss. Montgomery." He smiled, patting my back and leading me out. 

I called Zayn and told him about the deal. He told me two words that I had been hoping to hear: "We're in."