Page 47 of Jobe

“Know you’ve got eyes on Mackenna’s center. After looking at the kidnapping and murder of Teresa, knowing that Tito’s pregnant ex-girlfriend is there, and Mac’s on their radar…”

“Got her and them covered,” Jobe declared.

Nodding, Shane said, “Knew you did. But the chief wants to make sure you‘re in the loop.”

Jobe felt his heart pound uncharacteristically and the familiar feeling of losing control of a mission swept through him. Pulling in a deep breath, he let it out slowly utilizing one of the methods taught by the counselor in dealing with stress.Fuck, I’ve gotta stay cool.He could feel the eyes of his comrades on him and it pissed him off. “I’ve got this,” he growled.

“What’s going on?” Tony asked, turning the attention back to the detectives.

Shane hesitated. “The dead girl had words carved into her stomach.The bitch is next.”

At that, the air in the room changed. The temperature dropped. Ice. Cold.

“At first, it was assumed by the homicide detectives that it was just a random threat, but they had nothing to tie it to.”

“And now?” Jobe asked, his voice barely recognizable to himself as he sat up straighter, hands clenched into fists.

“Got intel that says it’s about some woman who’s running a center. Something to do with the Sixer’s leader’s girlfriend.”

“Fuck!” Jobe growled as he stood quickly, his chair falling backward in his haste. He started around the table to head toward the door when his way was suddenly blocked by the massive twins.

Looking at his two best friends, he said menacingly, “You do not want to be in my way, bros.”

Tony stood quietly and turned toward the men squaring off next to him. “Stand down, all of you.”

The stance of the three barely relaxed, but the military training was too hard to ignore. Jobe’s body was locked, his mind centered on one thing and that was taking Tito Montalvo down.

“Jobe, I gotta have your head in the mission.”

Jobe’s gaze cut over to his former Captain’s, seeing understanding, not censure. But also a determined stare that brooked no question.

“We got Terrance, Doug, and two others in the surveillance room twenty-four seven watching the center, along with our other video feed contracts. You know Mackenna agreed to talk to the residents and those that have business outside the center are getting escorts. We’ve grown and got the manpower to take care of it.”

“She and the center are on the radar of the police as well,” Matt assured. “Hourly passes with marked patrol cars.”

The room was deadly silent for a moment, all eyes on Jobe. Using all the training he could muster, he controlled his breathing, his mind beginning to clear of the consuming rage he felt. Then, uncharacteristically, he confessed, “Fucked up years ago. Been breathing but not living for a long time. I just got her back and I’ll be goddamned if I lose her to some shithead punk.”

Tony walked the three steps that it took to get to Jobe, standing right in his space. The two were almost the same height, so eye contact was easy to obtain…easy to hold. “We all fucked up years ago, one way or the other. Mine was knowing you needed help to stay in the field but not pushing you harder to take care of home. That’s on me. That’s on all of us that were there.”

Jobe jerked back at Tony’s words, shaking his head. “No, sir. That was squarely on me. My decision. My fuck up.”

“Not in my book. Brothers don’t let brothers fall without taking care of everything—and that included the girl back home. If you’d broken up with her for the right reasons, we would have been good in standing down. But we all knew it wasn’t right and not one of us took it upon ourselves to help that situation. We just took care of you in the field. And that, Jobe…is on us.”

Jobe was silent as his gaze moved from Tony’s to Gabe’s to Vinny’s, seeing the same guilt in each one. No words came past the lump in his throat…so he stood tall giving them a head nod in acknowledgment.

Tony continued, “We didn’t take care of Mackenna then, but we sure as hell will now. I promise you—promise—we will see her safe. But we plan, we work together, and we keep our heads in the mission.”

Blinking hard, Jobe nodded. This time was different. This time, he was not afraid of losing control. This time, he agreed that his brothers had control as well. This time Mackenna would be protected…her heart as well as everything else.

Sitting back down to the table, the group began to plan.

* * *

Another gathering sat at a table, finding little comfort with the news being shared, but comfort in each other. Mackenna, at the New Beginning’s dining table, was surrounded by Rose, Carla, Jenita, Gabby, Little John, and the other women staying at the center. She had just told them about Teresa and sat as they processed the information. After the tears, now came the fears.

Gabby sat stoically for a moment before asking, “Do we know who did this?”

Mackenna felt all the eyes looking at her as she sucked her lips in, trying to think of what to say. Slowly letting out the breath she was holding, she said honestly, “I was told by the police that they suspect her former gang, the River Street Kings to be involved. But…” she said, turning to Gabby, “they also suspect the Sixers.”

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