Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 14

"It's okay, i'll be careful and will get through it" I smile as confidently as I can. "This time last week I was keeping it all from you and now, well you're the centre of it" he says looking up imagining the past. "A lot of things change, I'm growing up. I'm ready for this." I say I don't want too much to do with the gang but It's part of my life now I may as well make the most of it. "Is that so? There is a mission tomorrow how do you feel about coming along?" He asks anxiously, I nod "okay." "I'll explain tomorrow with the others but it shouldn't be too taxing and completely safe, nothing should go wrong." "Thank you for letting me be... part of your world" "actually..." Will says suddenly "I don't know whether you should it's at Walters compound I don't know if your ready" my expression is one of heartbreak, I know I messed up telling Mr Harlow but I want to be trusted. "I'll be fine, I can do it I can face that place again and you said it yourself it will be fairly safe and I want to prove myself!" I plead and Will avoids eye contact "I just don't know if you ready" he sighs "who's going?" I ask "I think I was going to send Clayton, Lucas and you but if you're not up for it I'll send danny or Julia instead" "your not going?" I question and he shakes his head "I know I said it will be safe but there is obviously an element of danger and if I'm not going the others might not wait and rush ahead if you're not ready" Will explains "I can do it, let me try at least if I struggle I won't do it again," I played a game, he thinks for a minute "okay, okay you can go it's only information collecting and you report back to me, you should be okay." I'm thankful will trust me after my cock up and I'm excited to go on a real mission.

The next day me and will were driving to the compound I was dressed in all black my hair tied in a messy bun, it was just getting dark when we approached the metal gate entrance to the trailer park. "Are you sure you're up for this?" Will ask for the fourth time today, I nod anxiously "I will be fine" Will shut off the cheap engine and opened his door "the boys will look after you." I ponder why my brother suddenly changed his attitude about me and the gang seen as though he was all 'you're not ready for gang life' to 'we have a mission tomorrow fancy joining?' I guess his numbers were low and if it isn't that hard he should trust me and I should mess up right? "So your coming on the mission tonight then?" Clayton breaks me from my thoughts by opening my car door I nod and smile playfully "I am, sorry your stuck with me," I say with a flirtatious giggle. That's my problem I always seem to flirt with anyone who gives me the least bit of attention, never really works as I've never been in a relationship longer than about 2 months. Clay shares my appearance of all-black outfit, his V-neck shirt reveals his slightly toned muscles. "That's alright I'm sure it will be a pleasure" he says politely offering his hand for me to take to help me out of the Jeep which I take openly. We follow will into the main trailer, the cold biting at my fingers.

Will gathers me, clay and Lucas into the kitchen area to brief us for our mission.  "So you'll make your way to enemy site hopefully undetected. You will then proceed past the probable guards to the nearest window. I know the Luxes have a meeting tonight so it shouldn't be hard to decipher where it's held as it's a fairly small compound, I trust you to collect as much information on future attacks, strategies and tactics stated and then make it back here without any member of the Luxes catching on, is the mission clear?" Will finalises looking at me and I nod "yes boss" Clay and Lucas say in unison. "Good, now Florence you'll have an ear piece in to be able to communicate with me at all times, I have stuff to do here so won't be attending this mission but will guide if needed. You stay together and in the event of  E90 you do what you need." Will advises aiming the last part to the boys, "what's an E90?" I vocalise "a code word for abandon mission and get the hell out basically" Lucas answers unexpectedly. I take the time to notice his soft brown eyes and fluffy dark hair, his skin is darkly tanned. I smile in thanks. "And an S90 is when things get out of hand so far you need to use physical violence and a lot of force, S for you know shooting." Will explains " your safety is priority get in, get the info and get out." I look nervously at Lucas and Clay, they both look so confident and ready compare to me "Clayton, Lucas don't let Florence out of your site!" Will says sternley "sure thing boss" Lucas says and Clayton gives me a warm smile "don't worry we'll look after her" clay says "this Mission shouldn't take you much more than up to midnight, good luck guys" Will says patting me on the back and handing me the earpiece which I swiftly put in my ear. My watch read 9:08 pm, three hours to prove myself.

I take a deep breath and get in the back of the truck that clay is driving, Lucas joins me in the back, "so you think you're already?" He says his glassy brown eyes glistening in the premature moonlight "I think so" I say simply, this is the first encounter I've had with Lucas so I thought I wouldn't waste it. "So how long have you been part of the Soutas?" I ask "about two years me and my sister joined looking for refuge, she died not long after we joined. Stupid cancer!" Lucas explains and my heart throbs regretting bringing it up "oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..." he cuts me off "it's okay you didn't know and it's good to talk about her, her name is... was Ivy she had bright auburn hair, emerald green eyes, sweet freckles, the cutest laugh and a huge love for animals quite the opposite of me actually" he smiles to himself in her memory "she sounds lovely." "She was, I think you two would've got along, she was about your age. Taken too young" I smile "we're almost there are you two ready?" Clay booms from the front and we both answer with a yes as the car rumbles to stop, I get another nervous twang but try to brush it off as and get out of the car.