With Love, a Gangster

Chapter 08: We've been raided

Jace's POV

We sat by the pool and I began  talking.

"Lia, it is me Aiden. I've been here all along. I never gave up. I tried looking for you but it was like you were wiped off the map." I told her.

"I wasn't wiped off the map Aiden, I just went to college." I replied.

"Oh, college! I even forgot people went there."

She turned and looked at me. Her eyes displayed a soft emotion I couldn't relate to.

"What happened to you?" She asked with a serious look.

I turned to look over at the pool. The water vibrated as the wind slide across.

"Lots that can't be undone Lia."

I couldn't look her in the eyes. I didn't want her to see the monster I'd become and I didn't want to be vulnerable with her.

She suddenly held my arm and nudged it lightly. I turned to look at her silently.

"I'm sorry I left." She said with a frown.

"C'mon Lia, none of what happened is your fault."

"I'm back now and I'm here to stay." She said looking up at me.

"I mean where else can you go? You're safer here with me." I said chuckling.

She stared at me silently, not fond of my joke.

"Lia c'mon, don't gimmi a sour face. I'm joking."

"I missed you Aiden." She said placing her head on my shoulder.

I stroked her hair silently. I didn't know what to say.

My phone rang loudly getting both our attentions.

"Yo Jace where you at?! Some crazy shxt went down. Some under cover agents raided our shxt and took some of our guys. Get down here man!" Toni shouted from the other end of the line.

"Aite! I'mma be there in a minute." I replied.

"Hol' up! You can't come to the crib those guys are smart. They'll be expecting us to come. Meet me at Dukee's."

"Yeah you're right."

I slipped my phone in my pocket and looked over at Lia. I was about to tell her that I had to go but she interrupted me.

"Go do what you gotta do. I'll be here when you get back."

   She paused  and forced a smirk. "I mean, where else can I go?"

   I didn't know how to reply to her. I couldn't read her words. I didn't know if she was joking or being serious.

"Can you get me Hershey? I haven't had that in ages." She said right before I closed the door.

"I'll get you some."

I turnt around and left, my head spinning. I took a deep breath as I got in my car. That way I could switch into game mode and not be too soft with emotions, which would prevent me from doing things right.

I pull up into the parking lot infront of Dukee's convenient store. Tony was leaning on the wall at the side of the building. I switched off the car engine and got out the car. Tony noticed me and turned to face me. I walked up to him and immediately noticed he looked pissed and confused.

"What's going on Toni?" I asked.

"Some crazy things went down man. I left the crib early this morning to help my girl shop for her momma then I got a call from Clain that the crib's been raided by some undercover agents. They took all our supplies and all the guys down there. Clain's the only one that escaped, he's laying low at his grandma's." Toni told me.

"That sounds like we have a rat in our system. Did he tell you anything else that they did?" I replied rubbing my hand across my chin.

"Oh yeah. He did say they kept asking for you. One guy even punched one of our dudes because he laughed and said you don't exist."

"Yeah it's something that was planned. I was supposed to go to the crib at five this morning but slept in.

"But you never sleep in. That girl really got yo head." He joked.

"Man shut up!"

He only laughed.

"So did you tell our guys over at our other branches what went down?" I ask him.

"Yeah I did. Nothing happened at any of our other branches. Everything is on speed."

"You seeing this Toni? It's definitely a fking set up. These guys are good. No law organization has ever come this far. They're  a threat."

"It's the same thing I'm here thinkin' bout too. So what we gon' do?"

"Talk to Clain and see if he's seen any badges or symbols for these dudes. I want to know more about them. Also we either have a rat in the system or these guys are just too good." I told him.

"Yeah I'll get that done."

"Also line up the guys and tell them to be on the look out and tighten their guard coz those idiots on the other side will see this as an opportunity to act up."

"Yeah, I'm on it."

"Be careful Toni. This is serious shxt."

"I'll be aight! Get yo stuff done." He reply.

I nodded then walked away from him. As I walk to my car I felt like someone was watching me. I got in my car and started the engine. I took a break to look I around, but saw no one. I then reversed the car and speed away.

On my way to the crib I thought about all the guys and girls in my circle. Trying to think about anyone I didn't suspect before.

I parked at the front of the bulding where everything went down. The front door was kicked in and the place deserted. I slowly opened the car door and got out.

  I leaned on my car door and looked around. I didn't go in, I still felt like I was being followed. I didn't want to get cornered in there, I also wanted to see who was brave enough to be following me around.

"The fk you want!? Stop hiding and get out here!" I shouted.

The place was quiet and for a split second, I thought I was talking to myself. I folded my arms,  and looked around the empty street. After a few seconds I heard rustling in the bushes at the left side of where my car was parked. I turned my attention to it and a woman stepped out.

  She was dressed in a tight black suit, and had a gun on her waist and on her left thigh. She slowly walked over to me with her hands up. Her dark curly hair was tied in a bun. She'd sticked some knock out darts in her hair and I knew she wasn't one to play with just by looking at those darts.. She walked closer to me then stopped.