Becoming Lodge

Threats

Camila held onto Jughead crying softly in his arms while he tried to comfort her. Jughead was spinning how the hell did this happen? Where the hell were they and where was Veronica? Amber Chavez stood angrily in front of them both two guys standing near her. "Where's your boss?" Amber demanded of Jughead holding a gun in her hand. "What a beautiful little girl would be such a shame to kill her before her mother got here. Don't you think?" She demanded pushing the hair from her eyes. "Make her stop that sniveling. Having a mother like hers I'm surprised that this child is so weak." Amber taunted Jughead.
"You're making a huge mistake." Jughead said warningly watching Amber approach Camila and himself. Jughead turned shielding Camila from Amber. "She will kill you. You touch one hair on the little ones head she will kill you. Make no mistake about that." He said his blue eyes betraying the anger he felt. "And if she doesn't I will. I promise you that."
"She threatened my child. It's only fair I threaten hers. Difference is I will kill hers not just scare."
"Get your goddamn hands off of me!" Veronica's voice echoed in the room when the door opened. Jughead watched in horror as Veronica was pushed into the room her heel catching on the uneven floors. Sending Veronica onto the floor unceremoniously. "You stupid bitch!" Veronica snapped pulling herself to her feet brushing her skirt off. Veronica's attention immediately drawn from Amber to Jughead standing not far from her Camila sobbing in his arms. "Are you fucking serious now?" Veronica snapped her eyes flashing a deadly fire in them one that set Jughead on edge immediately.
"Mommy!" Camila cried out reaching for Veronica immediately. "I scared!" She cries for Veronica arms outstretched pleadingly.
Veronica spun on her heels to face Amber pulling herself up straightening her back feeling like the room was quite literally spinning. "Your issue isn't with them. It's with me. Let them go you and I will deal with this the two of us."
Amber laughed humorously. "You aren't very bright are you? You think you hold all the cards when in fact that's the furthest thing from the truth. So which one you want to watch die first? Your child or your Capo?"
"I have a much better idea." Veronica snapped an idea taking root in her head. She just had to get to the gun in her garter that these idiots had missed when they patted her down. "You let them both go without a mark and I don't kill you and everyone in this family of yours. Make no mistake about it. Either you let them go or I kill you all right here. Right now and take the business as my own." Veronica quipped knowing that she was trying to buy time to get her plan situated. Fangs and Sweatpea had started into place once they all realized the truth of what happened to Jughead and Camila.
Amber laughed discharging the fire arm in Jughead and Camila's general direction. The loud popping sound echoing off the walls. Camila screamed in sheer horror. Camila's scream and terror took any logic from Veronica. She rushed at Amber taking the blonde off guard both hitting the floor. The look in Veronica's eyes wild and terrifying. Amber's gun went flying in Jughead's direction. Jughead tried to grab it quickly but was stopped by one of the men holding a shotgun pointing at Camila. "I will kill her if you take one more step in that direction."
Weighing his odds Jughead stepped backwards four against two not such great odds. Ones he normally would take in any other circumstance. But with Camila here there wasn't a chance in hell Jughead would risk it. "I want mommy." Camila whispered burying her head into his collar. "Pwease Juggy.. my mommy." Fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.
"It's ok princess. Mommy's ok." Jughead whispered back kissing her forehead to comfort her.
Veronica's head snapped back when Amber grabbed her by the hair pulling Veronica to her feet. The five inches she had in height advantage struck Amber as she stared at the girl. Veronica stood to her feet as Amber used her other hand to punch her in the face. The fire igniting in Veronica like Jughead had never seen before. Spinning to face Amber Veronica quickly got the upper hand returning the blow to Amber's cheek feeling the bone break under the force. Stunned Amber released Veronica. Another gunshot going off in the building eliciting another scream from Camila. The man next to Jughead smirked meeting his eyes. "I've always loved a girl fight." He snickered before he grabbed Camila roughly out of Jughead's arms holding the child by her shirt. "I just need to up the ante. Lodge!" He bellowed distracting Veronica from the fight with Amber. "Does she belong to you?" He demanded Camila struggling against his grasp. Her eyes red rimmed and terrified causing Veronica to pause momentarily.
"LET HER GO!" Veronica replied feeling like her heart would stop at any moment. My baby! She screamed silently my baby. Please God my baby. Veronica felt the tears in her eyes ones she would not shed she promised herself. "Let her go or I swear on everything..." Veronica trailed off watching the man throw Camila onto the floor where she landed not far from Veronica's feet. "You all just made the biggest mistake of your lives." Camila stumbled to her feet reaching for Veronica. Veronica stepped forward stopped immediately by a blow to the back of her legs bringing her to her knees.
Amber took the shotgun from the man her gun misplaced during the struggle. Not realizing Jughead had gotten a hold of it in the chaos. Amber quickly grabbed Camila pulling her towards her. Camila began to scream and fight back hitting Amber whereever she could reach. "Shut up you spoiled, entitled little bitch!" Amber cried momentarily placing the shot gun down to strike Camila across the face. That was all it took for Amber to seal her fate. Jughead took that opportunity to throw his weight at the guy who stood beside him. Knocking him to the floor. The gun in his hand scattering across the floor towards Camila's feet. Camila kicked her feet screaming sending the gun towards Veronica who picked it up. Racking the slide immediately Veronica spun shooting the man closest to her and Amber. The guy dropped the gun in his hand crumpling to the floor. Veronica grabbed Camila bringing her to her body the anger evident now uncontrollable. Angrily Veronica fired another shot at the guy by the door who was struggling to pull his weapon out of his shoulder holster. Amber raised the shot gun at Veronica and Camila a wide smile on her face. A soft pop echoed in the room. Amber's eyes darkened blood pooling on her white T-shirt. The shotgun dropped to the floor going off barely missing Veronica and Camila. Camila screamed burying her head in Veronica's shoulder. Amber sunk to the floor horror on her face. "Who's the stupid bitch now?" Jughead demanded rushing forward to where Veronica and Camila stood clinging to each other. Without another word Jughead wrapped Veronica and Camila in his arms breathing for the first time in what felt like hours now. "My girls. You ok?"
Veronica pulled away handing Camila to Jughead once again slipping the gun she was most familiar with from her garter belt her eyes darkening. "Oh Amber you cocky stupid worthless bitch. I hope you survive this injury. I can't wait for you to see what I do to your child after what you have done to mine." Veronica snapped before she issued a sharp kick to Amber's side.
Fangs, Toni and SweetPea entered the small room guns drawn. Amber's son being drug behind by another girl Veronica couldn't remember the name of but promised herself she would find out. "Did we miss the party?" SweetPea demanded irritated he had missed out on all the fun. Jughead met his eye nodding his head while he surveyed the scene around him. "Damn.." he mumbled. "Boss? You good?" He asked Jughead who stood silently watching Veronica.
Veronica was shaking violently. "I'm good. Looks like two dead bodies.. him..He's just unconscious.. her who knows the shot to her gut could go one of two ways depending on what organs were hit.." Jughead trailed off watching the small blond boy began to cry hugging Amber's limp almost lifeless body. "Reina.." Jughead began confused on what they would be doing with the child. Veronica met his eyes the wildness vivid. "What are we going to do with him?"
"We're gonna kill him obviously." Veronica replied startled that was even a question. "Would you like to do the honors or should I? That's really the only question we have to pose." Veronica replied coldly knowing deep down she couldn't do it herself. Especially with Camila in the room. "Amber?" She demanded kicking her sharply again. The girl at her feet opened her eyes. "I have a surprise for you."
Amber's eyes were glassy the life fading slowly. She coughed blood coming from her mouth. "Please.." she whispered as she took in the surroundings. Her son holding tightly onto her.
"Oh so now.. now you are begging for me to spare your child when you wouldn't spare mine? I don't think so.. do you remember our first meeting? I warned you about what would happen. Women in our line of work cannot ever appear weak. You my dear have just set women backwards in their movement. What you failed to realize is that I always have a plan. I always have a way." She snapped stepping forward. Shooting in the direction of the child who dropped onto Amber's chest. Amber screamed once taking all the rest of her energy. Her arms wrapped around her child believing him to be dead. "Last words?" Veronica demanded. Amber's eyes fluttered closing briefly.
"Fuck you." Amber mumbled. Veronica shot her in the head ending her suffering.
"No fuck you!" Veronica snapped the child on Amber's chest screaming and burying his head into her chest. "Someone deal with this!" Veronica demanded. Jughead slid the gun out of her hand. Startling Veronica how she hadn't noticed him so close to her was beyond her. "Juggy.. I know what has to be done.. can you do it? I don't think I can. Sorry guys looks like it's three bodies now not two." She said offhandedly trying to maintain the composure she felt slipping through her fingertips. The little boy huddled on the floor covered in his mother's blood. He looked terrified when he cried.
   Camila in Jughead's arms watched him curiously. "Mommy?" Camila struggled to get out of Jughead's arms. Against his  better judgement Jughead  put Camila down on the floor. Startled when Camila ran over to the little boy and wrapped her arms around him. "It's ok. Don't cry. I will sing for you." She said softly when his blue eyes met hers.
   Veronica met Jughead's eyes confused on what to do now.Camila comforted the little boy who hugged her back crying harder. "I want my mommy." He said soflty. Camila stroked his hair the same way she had seen Jughead do to Veronica on many occasions.
   "Jug?" Veronica demanded not trusting herself to do what was right or what needed to be done. Knowing that the woman lying on the floor wouldn't be contemplating what to do like Veronica was. Veronica was assured of that. "Let's burn this whole building down while they are all inside. Hopefully the child gets out ok." She whispered softly to Jughead.
   Jughead shook his head at her. "He's a witness Reina. I'm not sure if that's a good idea. He can talk to the police."
    "How about I take him back to Riverdale with me?" The dark haired girl Veronica did not know piped in soflty. "We can put him in a foster home there. Take him away from this. There are foster homes on the south side that can help with this problem. Change his name.. his identity he's what four? Five? We can make it work. He won't talk there. Even if he did..No one will listen. It's a short term solution."
    Veronica met her eyes solidly. "Maybe..." Veronica trailed off feeling a sort of shame she had no idea who this girl was just that she worked for them.
    Smiling softly at Veronica she pushed her short hair from her face. "Willow.." she replied knowing that Veronica wasn't sure who she was. "SweetPea is my brother." She whispered the pieces falling into place realization dawning on Veronica. "What do you think Veronica? It's your call."
    "Jughead?" Veronica turned to him looking for answers. "Thoughts?"
    "I don't know.." he replied spinning the ideas in his head. "I do know that we need to go like now though. The cops will be here soon. Far too much gunfire."
   "You're right. Camila.." Veronica called. Camila stood up brushing her skirt off reminding Veronica too much of herself. Camila grabbed the little boys hand walking over to Veronica leading him with her.  "Burn it down." Veronica clutched Camila's hand firmly in her own leading both small children out the door of the room. Feeling as if she was making a huge mistake taking this child with her.  Veronica pulled the necklace off the child's neck and threw it at Amber's body. Hearing the dog tags clicking on the tile where they landed by her target. "Burn it down NOW!" Veronica replied once more leaving the horrors of the day behind. Hearing the fire begin to crackle the smoke began to billow. The smells of gasoline, fire and burning flesh stung Veronica's nose. Nodding her head Veronica slid into the awaiting limo pulling Camila onto her lap breathing in the comforting smell of her child. Driving away from the scene Veronica glanced back watching an explosion rock the warehouse district. Veronica pulled Camila away from her enough to look over her daughter to make sure that she was truly ok. Camila had a red mark across her face where she had been smacked. Veronica felt her throat close up anger almost pushing her over the edge. She glared at the little boy who huddled into the seat across from her trying to make himself smaller then he was. His whimpering irritating Veronica. "Would you kindly shut the fuck up?" She snapped at him.
   "Mommy!" Camila looked at her angrily. "He scared."
   "He should be!" Veronica snapped at Camila. "He should be dead.." Veronica mumbled softly to Jughead who looked at her curiously.
    Jughead placed his hand on her leg. "I'm sorry." He said simply angry at himself for having gotten them into this position.
   "It's not your fault. I should've killed the bitch months ago when I realized how unhinged she truly was. Thank you." Veronica whispered. "How's your head?" She tenderly touched the mark on his head where he had been struck.
   "Thank you for what? And I'm fine. A slight headache, but nothing a little alcohol and some Advil won't cure." Jughead replied.
    "For keeping Camila safe. Thank you for protecting my heart when I couldn't." She whispered back tears filling her eyes immediately falling rapidly.
    "Always! I will always protect her, just like I will always protect you. Now and forever. My Reina.." he replied pulling her closely to him. Veronica began to cry helplesssly in his arms reminded of the fact she almost lost them both today. Two of the people she loved more then anything else in this world.
   "My Juggy." She replied into his chest. Veronica smiled to herself knowing in her heart that Jughead's words were sincere. He would always be there for her and Camila. They were his family much like he was hers. "I love you Jughead."
   "I love you too but you already know that."
   "I do..I finally do." She replied the truth of the words striking both Jughead and Veronica. "I understand now everything you have always said."

This chapter is dedicated to @the_Parker_J I hope this is what you were thinking. Thank you for the idea.. however we just took the train off the track heading to the ocean. I think we just changed the ending 😉