Chapter Text
Jeremy approached the farmhouse on foot. Light was on the horizon as he scuffled into bushes overlooking the area. He pushed away the thought that his brothers had been with Ryan most of the night, instead searching for any sign that his crew were still here. There were no vehicles in sight and no movement except for the animals in their pens.
By placing, Alex, Gavin and himself in a fictitious dangerous situation, there was no way any of them would want to be left behind. Still, he stuck to cover, moving slowly as he approached the main house. He was only armed with his side arm and his personal knife. It was twin to the one he had given Matt when they had turned eighteen, just before finding Trevor.
Twin to the one that had buried itself in his side.
He pushed that thought away, concentrating on moving silently. He jimmied open the back door with his knife, slipping inside into the dim with silenced gun in hand. As much as he wished to run down into the basement, where Alex’s phone said they had set up, he quickly checked the above floors. He found signs that his crew had been here, a whisky bottle on the table, the Fakes symbol carved into wood.
He heard nothing so he finally approached the basement. He opened the door a crack, peering down into the dark, the lights having been shut off. He had no choice but to flick the lights by the door and suck in a breath. From his view, he could see his brothers, seated side by side near the bottom of the stairs, both still.
He came down, gun raised, eye’s locked on them. Trevor’s head was flopped back, the lights illuminating a busted face. His eyes were black and closed, the handsome features completely disfigured by split and swollen flesh. His shirt had been cut away, his chest also a tapestry of bruising, the end of one arm was a hand covered in blood. His long legs were also exposed, showing weeping and blistered flesh amongst the downy hair.
Matt’s face was just as bad, made more dramatic by the fact his glasses were shoved onto a face that was too big for them. His shirt was still on but there was slices in it, highlighted by rusted brown in the material. His hand also ended in a mess, Jeremy could see more clearly that he was missing fingers. His pants had also been sliced away at the knees, one foot shorter than the other on the side. This was almost missed as down his calf, strips of skin was missing, the blood almost obscuring the realisation Matt had lost two toes to match his fingers.
Jeremy’s gun hand fell, letting the weapon hang by his hip as he brought a hand to his face, covering his mouth. This was no face changing Edgar. This wasn’t something for a job, some asshole who had fucked the crew over in business. This was for him. Because of him. His brothers were sitting there, lifeless and still because they had hurt him.
Now they were hurt in return.
He turned on his heel, the gun coming up between himself and Ryan, the sandy haired man moving out from the shadows with his hands up.
“They’re not dead.” Ryan said softly, Jeremy tightening his grip, stabbing forwards with the gun.
“Back the fuck off Rye!” he threatened and Ryan obeyed, taking a step back and nodding towards the pair.
“I made sure they didn’t die. Geoff and Michael left soon after your call. They couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t want to go save you,” he gave a soft laugh, Jeremy glaring at him as Ryan rolled his shoulders in a shrug, “You had Geoff pretty dam convinced. Wasn’t fair, playing on his emotions like that. You knew if any of the crew were in danger, he would put that first.”
“But you didn’t believe it?”
“Obviously not. I know you Jeremy. I’ve told you time and time again. We are the same. I knew what was happening because had our roles been reversed, it is exactly what I would have done. I am curious though... Al and Gavin?” Jeremy hesitated before answering, unnerved by Ryan's deep dulcet voice, the enchanting effect it could have speaking to the darkness inside him.
“They’re- they’re alive. I locked them in the interrogation room.” Ryan nodded and took a step forward, Jeremy taking a step back keeping the distance the same.
“Stop, please.” He said, his voice trembling, “Don’t make me do it.”
Ryan stopped, hands still in the air, gazing at him fondly.
“Alright then. I won’t make you do a thing. You’re in charge my prince.”
“Don’t call me that!” Jeremy snapped, threatening Ryan with his weapon.
“Why not? You are still a prince are you not? To thine own self be true. You are a prince as I am a king. That is not something that can be denied even though we are outside the kingdom.”
Ryan being here was confusing Jeremy. The scent of blood enticing the dark that lived inside him. His feelings were all confused, mixed up. It was so hard to think, staring into those intense eyes, hearing that voice speak so softly. Ryan had walked him through his first few kills. Ryan had brought things out inside him that he had never felt before. He brought the dark but he also brought the gold. This dark monster wrapped inside a handsome golden body. Hands that made Jeremy tremble with need, want he had never felt before. Somehow Ryan had grown so wrapped up around everything inside Jeremy. The man loved when Ryan hurt him.
“Jeremy? Are we still not partners? Do you not long for the light as I do? It’s sitting there, behind you.” Ryan's words poured into his brain, Jeremy’s eyes flickering between his brothers and his lover, his gun shaking in his grip for the first time. He couldn’t think, the roar was growing louder. The emptiness inside him called to him to fill it.
“Shut up!” He yelled, pulling a hand from his weapon to touch his head, grabbing at his own hair.
Kill him...
Kill them...
Just kill...
Kill and everything will be good again...
“NO! Shut up! Shut up!” Jeremy shouted, shaking his head trying to clear it. Ryan's voice and expression was all concern as the gun wavered back and forth before him.
“Prince Jeremy? Lil’J?” he tried to soothe but Jeremy glared at him, his face hard and hand steady again.
“You got handcuffs down here?” he asked and Ryan nodded, gesturing towards his impromptu workspace, “Good, get them.” Jeremy ordered, his voice going dead again. Ryan shuffled, grabbing the cuffs and letting them dangle from his fingers. Jeremy gestured with his gun to the barrister at the bottom of the stairs, walking back to keep distance between them.
“Secure yourself there, hands behind you.” He commanded backing it up with a sharp cry of, “NOW!” when Ryan cocked his head at him. Ryan moved forward, his stride graceful, folding himself down smoothly to kneel before the stairs. Jeremy heard the clicks and approached cautiously. He kept the gun trained on Ryan's face as his mentor watched him carefully.
“I obey my prince. Remember? I promised.” Ryan said as Jeremy gave a tug, testing the strength of the cuffs. Ryan's arm under his palm was warm and Jeremy became aware of the blood flecks on Ryan’s bicep and the edges of his shirt. His mind supplied images side by side, both of how they got there and a memory of Jeremy licking similar markings from Ryan’s skin before.
He jerked back as if burned and Ryan looked carefully between his upper arm and Jeremy, eye’s knowing.
“I can free you my Lil’J.” Ryan said softly and Jeremy moved back now he knew Ryan was secure, turning to his brothers.
“Shut up. I need to think.” He said, tucking his gun away as he went to Matt first. He lifted the face so it was straight, cradling it his hands.
“Matt? Matty? Come on, wake up.” He said softly, fingers checking for pulse and resisting the urge to shake his battered brother.
“I’ve been using mostly water and love taps to keep them up but if you like there is adrenaline on the bench.” Ryan supplied helpfully. Jeremy’s fingers dug into matts cheeks before he remembered to loosen them. He tried calling Matts name a bit longer, Ryan watching him amused.
“What are you trying to do Jeremy? Are you choosing them over the crew? Over me? Look at them. Their pathetic and weak and not worthy of you.” Jeremy rounded on Ryan, tears in his eyes.
“You don’t understand do you? Their my brothers! I cannot believe you fucked me, lied to me then left me to go collect them! What happened to all your promises? Giving me a choice?”
“I’ve obeyed you haven’t I? Am I kneeling here now at your order? And I never lied about this. I said Geoff had a job. I asked you to trust me to tell you later. If anything, you betrayed me. But it’s ok. I forgive you Jeremy.” Jeremy scoffed, unable to argue with the man, moving back to his inspection. Matt was just unconscious but deeply so. As Jeremy suspected, fingers were indeed missing. Ryan had also cut out the letters LIL J into matt’s upper arm. Jeremy saw that and looked over at Ryan who was smiling fondly at him.
“My little token. He said he was the one who stabbed you.” Ryan said by explanation. Jeremy flinched, reminded on why he hadn’t seen his brothers in so long. Seeing them in this condition had brought out all his protective instincts, overriding his own anger. He looked back at Matt and saw boy the boy he had met so many years ago but also the man that could not understand him anymore. A man who so misread the situation, he had almost killed Jeremy.
He swallowed hard and backed up into the bench, looking from matt to Trevor. He had asked Trevor to trust him. He had said he would explain later. But they never gave Jeremy a chance. They never gave him a choice either. Look at him now, ready to throw away everything, to risk his life for them. Because it was what was expected.
“They left me.” he said quietly and Ryan nodded, shifting slightly, stretching his arms back as he leant forward.
“They did. They said you sent them away. How do you think that conversation would have gone down if it were me?”
“You’d order me to be silent and still. You would have fought the whole crew single handed.” Jeremy said slowly, looking from the broken bodies to Ryan's clear face. He smiled wide at Jeremy.
“That’s right. Say the word my Prince and I will present you with the bodies of any who dare to raise your ire.” Jeremy breathed in shakily, forcing his gaze away, squeezing his hands together. He was so torn. He loved his brothers but Ryan was something else. Something more intense, more binding then simple love. He knew that if he left with Matt and Trevor, he’d have to put Ryan down. Otherwise they would soon find themselves back in Ryan's kingdom, this time with no outside help to come for them.
“J-Jer...me..” A weak voice mouthed his name and luck had Jeremy falling before Matt who was stirring instead of seeing the look of pure mad rage that flittered across Ryan's face.
“Matt?” Jeremy called helping his oldest friend to lift his head to look at him. Through swollen black eye’s Jeremy could see a sliver of the soft brown that he had looked into for years. Something had busted in one eye filling it with blood but the other was as clear as remembered.
“You... came...” Matt breathed and Jeremy nodded, heart swelling at the hope and love in Matt’s voice. So what if matt stabbed him? So what if they had grown apart even before he had moved out. It mattered nothing they had abandoned him to save themselves. This was Matt.
He never had anything but everything he had he shared with Jeremy. Cold nights as terror clutched at him, Matt had held him tight. Whenever loneliness threatened to pull him under, matt had been there with a joke and a game. He had first killed to save matt from pneumonia. The money from that hit going towards the hotel they had stayed in.
Matt had made him into this.
Matt didn’t notice Jeremy’s face changing, so focused on the fact he was here.
“Knew... it... knew you would...rescue... us...” he gave a small grunt of pain that slipped out from under his control. He rolled an eye trying to see Trevor.
“Trevor?” he asked, wanting to know if he lived. Jeremy let numbness settle over him, betrayal fading so he could check Trevor. When he pulled the head forward, he saw something he hadn’t noticed before. Trevor was missing most of an ear and a few teeth. As he patted Trevor down, his mind supplied him with memories much as it had for Matt.
Trevor, broken and sniffling, only wanting Jeremy’s touch, quivering in fear during the night. Trevor, tall and confident, swinging around the lounge room, tap dancing on the table for the amusement of his brothers. Trevor, cuddled into his side, lazily flicking through movies. The night, one of the few good times before Jeremy moved out, when the three had gone too Trevor’s marks house and replaced all the doors with hippy beads, laughing hard when they saw the footage of a family freaking out.
He pressed hard to the side of the neck but it was no lie. There was no pulse, no rise and fall of a chest. Trevor had drowned in his own blood when his head had gone back and he had slipped unconsciousness. Jeremy rocked back on his heels then fell to his ass, ducking his head and putting his hands through his hair.
“Jeremy?” Ryan asked softly as Matt struggled to inspect Trevor.
“Trevor?” Matt called in his broken voice. Jeremy closed his eyes tight; doing everything, he could not to drown himself. It was too much. Too much. Dark self and golden glow. Pain and grief and anger and rage all pulling him in different directions. He wished he couldn’t feel a fucking thing. Trevor was dead. He was dead and it was real and he wasn’t coming back.
“Jeremy, are you alright?” Ryan asked again, straining against his restraints as matt found strength to wiggle in his own, having taken in Jeremy’s reaction and Trevor’s head where it had flopped forward.
“Trevor? No... No he’s not...” Matt cried and Jeremy snapped, hands becoming fists and slamming into the ground beside him.
“He’s dead!” he yelled at Matt who flinched back at the fury on Jeremy’s face. He couldn’t comprehend Trevor was gone and why Jeremy turned that anger on him. He was about to find out as Jeremy got to his feet, grabbing either arm of Matts chair and glaring down at him. Matt pulled his head back from the hate twisting the features of his oldest brother into a monstrous parody.
“Why couldn’t you leave well enough alone!? He’s dead because of you! I said back off! I told you! But you never listen to me! You do your own fucking thing and expect me to clean up your god damn messes! Well guess what matt?! I CAN’T BRING BACK THE DEAD!” He roared in matt’s face, the man cringing and sobbing beneath him. Then Jeremy was gone, turning to point a finger at Ryan.
“You killed him!” Jeremy accused Ryan who just gazed at him steadily.
“His head went back and you where down here before I could correct it.” He said calmly, not even blinking as Jeremy made angry strides towards him. He went with the strike, looking back as soon as he could, expression not changing.
“It was an unfortunate misjudgement. I shouldn’t have cut things so close.” Ryan said his voice still even. Jeremy hit him again then again, echoing the swelling of his brothers on Ryan’s face. The gent took it stoically, not crying out, not objecting. Jeremy was sobbing and roaring unintelligibly as he smashed his fist again and again into Ryan. Then as he pulled back his fist, he saw the flash of Trevor’s features over Ryan's face and he couldn’t bring himself to strike again.
“Are you ok?” Ryan asked, his voice weeding through the pain and Jeremy choked on a sob.
“No. No I’m not ok.” He said shattered and Ryan's voice was shushing him.
“Come here.” He ordered and Jeremy pressed himself against Ryan’s chest, the gent tilting his head over Jeremy’s unable to hug him. Jeremy sobbed into the blood flecked shirt, wanting his king to take it all away. Why did he want to make his own choices so bad? His own choices caused only hurt and pain.
“Jeremy? Jeremy please! What are you doing? Jeremy.” Matt was crying out for him from behind him. Jeremy squeezed his eyes shut, trying to tune him out. The pleading was raw against his exposed core. Jeremy didn’t want to take care of anyone else right now. As if Ryan could read his mind, his lover started to whisper into his ear, helping Jeremy focus on something else besides the desperate pleading of his brother.
“He had hurt you. I’m sorry he died like that. That was...unscheduled. But he deserved no less for how he treated you. Are you their guard dog? To come to heel whenever they call? Why ever else did they keep you around then to use you for your strength? Your brother is dead, but did Matt care how it affected you? No. He didn’t. He called for Trevor. Not you.” Jeremy sniffled, fisting Ryan's shirt in one hand and the other fist pressed to his thigh, the feeling of his fingers digging into his palm grounding him.
“I called for you. I cared about you. I have no need of your strength Jeremy. I have no weakness, no tendency to make stupid, unconsidered decision. And when the occasional mistake is made, like today, I will own up to it. I didn’t expect anything less than the punishment you gave me. I would never insist you take it for me. Your mine Jeremy, but that just means your mine to protect. To love. To care for.”
“DON’T LISTEN!” Matts voice shrieked, cutting through the haze that had been growing as Jeremy listened to Ryan's voice.
“Can’t you see you’ve been brainwashed! Trevor is fucking dead Jeremy and you’re snuggling with his FUCKING MURDERER!” Matt was desperate, scared for his life and overwhelmed by Trevor’s death. His body was a giant mess and he didn’t remember a time when something didn’t hurt. Jeremy was his only hope, the love they once had shared needed to come through.
“He’s manipulating you! If anyone is using you it’s the monster you’re fucking crying against! Jeremy please! Please fucking shoot him and we can leave! Don’t let Trevor die for nothing! He died because we love you and we couldn’t stand to see you being hurt! Ryan tortured you just like he tortured us! We saw the markings!”
“Jeremy, he’s talking about our little love marks. That was a claiming, Matt. Not a torture. Trust me, he begged me to hurt him. And I obey my prince.” Ryan laughed at Jeremy’s remaining brother who shook his head, setting it to ringing again as he pulled at his bound arms, wanting to snatch Jeremy and flee.
“He’s a monster! They all are! You don’t belong there. You belonged with us! Please, let’s take Trevor and get out! Fucking leave! Please! Jeremy, remember us? Remember everything we’ve shared? You can’t turn your back on that! Haven’t we been happy? Didn’t we all love one another!?” Jeremy did remember, lifting his head from Ryan’s chest to look over at Matt. Trevor’s body was almost peaceful looking compared to the desperation on the swollen face of his surviving family.
“I love you Jeremy. Your crew loves you. I’m sure the three of you were happy once upon a time, but that time is over. How about that empty space you told me of? The space we filled together? Can you really go back to just the two of you? Just you and Matt, always looking over your shoulder, always fearful for your fragile burden? He’ll never accept what you need. You heard what he called me. You know what he’d think of you.”
“Jeremy just fucking shoot him!”
“Here you’re treasured, respected. No one looks down on you. No one will use you like a meat shield. We’ll be partners, equals. I accept you. I help you. You’d never want with me, together we’d take everything we need.”
“Damn it Jeremy! Just move away from him please! Stop fucking listening! He’s killed Trevor! He’s a monster! Chopped us into bits, please!” Matt broke down, heaving and gagging from the force of his sobs. Jeremy slowly shifted, standing up and turning away from Ryan who strained after him.
“Jeremy? Jeremy you can’t be serious?” Ryan asked incredulous. He watched as Jeremy took up a knife, moving towards Matt and sawing at the bounds that kept him in the chair. When his arms were free, matt threw himself into Jeremy’s arms, sobbing wildly, the two rocking together. Ryan stared unable to believe it, hearing Jeremy crying with his remaining brother.
“I’m getting you out of here.” He heard Jeremy assure his shaggy friend who only held him closer with his savaged arms.
“Jeremy, Jeremy... oh thank god Jeremy, you came back to me.” Matt was crying and Jeremy gently pushed him back into the chair so he could free his legs.
“Jeremy.” Ryan’s voice throbbed with power behind him, but he kept working, Matts good hand patting through his hair, his mouth wording random praises and words of love.
“My prince, you walk up those stairs, you’ll have to kill me.” he promised and Jeremy looked over his shoulder.
“You remember what you said when you promised to obey me?” He asked Ryan not giving him time to answer, “Then I am ordering to shut your mouth and not speak to me or matt.” Ryan stared at him long and hard before he sat back on his heels, mouth becoming a straight line.
“Jeremy, we need to take him with us. We need to take Trevor out of this place. Please, we can’t leave him here.” Matt begged and Jeremy shushed him, throwing the knife aside and taking matt’s face in his hands. Matt’s hands gripped his arms, the three remaining fingers on one side feeling strange as they gripped him.
“I will not leave either of you down here. I promise you.” He pulled matt close, pressing the softest of kisses to matt’s lips, feeling him relax under his grip as he became reassured of Jeremy’s love. He let matt’s head cradle on his shoulder as he cried into matts neck. They both took a long time crying and grieving together, consoling one another as their brothers body cooled beside them and his murderer looked on.
Finally their tears ran out, the human body only able to cry for so long. Matt was near unconscious again, only Jeremy’s broad shoulders stopping him from falling out of his chair. Jeremy rubbed circles into his back, one of the few places Ryan hadn’t worked up too.
“Trevor...” Matt whimpered and Jeremy echoed him following up the name with his regret.
“Trevor, I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough. I’m sorry I didn’t check you first.” He murmured and pressed himself against Matt, breathing deep the scent of his brother through the acidic smell of sweat and blood.
“Let’s go. Please.” Matt begged and Jeremy nodded into him, taking another deep breath before leaning back. He cupped matts cheek, their eyes meeting.
“I love you Matt.” He said sincerely, eyes welling once more. Matts unhurt hand pressed against the back of Jeremy’s.
“I love you to Jeremy.” He answered then all the air rushed out as Jeremy pulled the trigger, bullets shredding through his brothers heart. Matt looked to him, confused, mouth open but unable to form any words.
“I love you.” Jeremy said again as the light faded. There was no high this time, no golden light seeping through his pores. Just him and the emptiness where his brothers once lived. Jeremy was hollow, everything that made him human dyeing with the light in matts eyes. There was nothing. He was nothing.
With a grunt, Ryan broke his thumb so he could slip the handcuffs from his wrist. Now free, he came forward, pulling the weapon from Jeremy’s hand and sitting behind him so he could pool the Lad onto his lap. Jeremy had a tight grip on Matt’s body, bringing it down with them, hugging it like it was his security blanket.
Ryan folded his arms around them both, rocking and crooning quietly. Jeremy was shaking and nothing Ryan could do could still it. Underneath his hands his apprentice shattered into piece’s, eyes wide and mind gone, retreated fully from having to comprehend what Ryan had pushed him towards. As he held the man that now belonged solely to him, the tiny slice of humanity that Jeremy brought out of him whispered he had pushed too hard and too far.
Geoff found a mess when he returned, holding his wrist to his nose as he came down the stairs. His fury exasperated when he found them. They had fallen asleep against the counter, Ryan's head tipped over Jeremy’s shoulder, the lad sleeping on Ryan's shoulder. Blood covered him fully, clearly having come from the body across their entwined legs. They had arms around each other, tight even in sleep. It was clear Ryan had been beaten in the face and Jeremy’s face was tear swollen.
Alex was behind Geoff and stopped the other two from coming in and making noise. Instead they were sent to prepare two cremations as the gents entered the basement and together, moved the body in the chair out to be prepared for funeral. They weren’t normally fussed on giving funerals to traitors but it seemed the state Jeremy was in, he’d appreciate it.
The two killers were so out of it, that even though the gents worked as quietly as they could, they didn’t stir, not even when the body across their legs was carried away.
Ryan couldn’t believe how deeply he had allowed himself to sleep when Geoff woke him with a cautious hand. He bared his teeth, clutching Jeremy tighter before he realised whose face was hovering by his. Jeremy didn’t even twitch and only the feel of his heart beating against Ryan's chest assured him the Lad hadn’t died of his grief.
“What happened?” Geoff asked softly and Ryan nodded up towards the bench. There, hidden behind the tin filled with stink and things Geoff would rather not look at was Ryan's phone, having died in its recording position. Geoff pocketed it to Ryan assuring him softly, “Jeremy is loyal to us now. Only to us. He’s mine.”
Jeremy came to standing outside in the fresh air. He had been washed down and changed but he had no memory of that. Just that he was staring at two bomb fires, side by side, watching his brothers go up in smoke. He blinked purposely, shifting slightly and finding out he had arms wrapped around his waist and a head resting their chin on his shoulder.
“You back baby?” A voice rumbled in his ear, the pet name odd but somehow welcoming. He looked and meet Ryan's eyes. Ryan gave him that soft loving smile that made his heart pound. He didn’t answer, instead looking around them. Geoff was standing directly beside them, looking to Jeremy curiously and giving his own smile when the lads eyes found his. He placed a hand on the younger mans free shoulder.
“Hey buddy. Don’t worry, we’re square, alls forgiven. You proved who you’ll side with.” Geoff smiled a little wider as Jeremy’s brows pulled together then relaxed at his words. He still said nothing, looking past Geoff to see Alex who was looking to the fire’s. He glanced over once then did a quick double take, waving a crossed hand at him. Jeremy turned to the other side, leaning his head slightly forward to see by Ryan’s head.
Gavin was closet, standing with his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels as he watched the fires consume. He looked to Jeremy and gave him a wide cocky grin.
“Still team lads Lil’J?” he asked and didn’t seem to concerned when Jeremy stayed silent. Gavin nudged the hard man beside him, Michael nudging him back harder.
“I can see he’s looking at me moron.” He snarled derisively then meet the gaze directed at him, “You right there Lil’J?” he asked.
“We’re all concerned about you baby. What I tell you? We are the family you need. The family who love you and accept you.” Ryan lifted his head, turning the lad in his arms and pulling him close. Jeremy leant his head against Ryan’s chest, hearing the heartbeat in one ear as well as the soft crinkle of the fire in the other.
One arm stayed wrapped around his waist, Ryan moving the other one up to its place gripping Jeremy’s neck. Geoff's heavy hand fell on his shoulder, then Alex’s giant paw spread over his shoulder blade. He saw Michael step by Gavin and place his hand on the other shoulder. Jeremy looked to Gavin and extended his own hand away from Ryan, inviting the last lad to take it. He did, stepping close, his fingers gripped tight around Jeremy’s.
“You’re one of us Jeremy. Through and through.” Said Geoff.
“You’re a Lad Lil’J, didn’t I tell you, you would be?” Gavin remarked knowingly.
“Proved yourself better then we could have asked. Thank you.” Admired Alex, sure to praise him for his sacrifice.
“If you pull another stunt like that, I’m going to kick your ass. But hey, welcome” Michael put in affectionately.
“Mine. Yours. Ours. You and me Lil’J. Just you and me now with our crew. There is no one and nothing that can separate us now.” Ryan rumbled in his ear, pitched low enough that Jeremy wasn’t sure the others heard it.
“Guys?” He croaked, everyone stepping closer to hear what Jeremy would say.
“Can I get our crew logo tattooed as a crest?” The crew laughed, Jeremy pulling back from Ryan to look around, smiling. His old family were dead and gone. He had loved them and would miss them sure. But his future didn’t lay in playing happy families with his brothers. It lay in fire and destruction, bullets and knives, money and fast cars. It lay with these men, all as twisted and demented as himself.
Jeremy had too much blood on his hands, had to big a craving for more to go back. It was always too late, even before the first time Ryan had guided him into killing. He had already become emptied of feeling, of true human responses. Ryan, the light he had showed him and the life he lead here with his crew had showed him how to fill it up.
Trevor and Matt took another chunk with them as they became ash, but Jeremy knew, saw it in the faces surrounding him, firelight in all their eyes. That the Fake AH crew would soon fill that emptiness inside him with sweet golden deaths in the name of power and money...
He was broken but in this company, he was whole.
-The knock at the door surprised him. No one should know where he lives. He was a shadow, a mystery, an enigma. He grabbed his white mask, tying it across his eyes as he got up from the couch, cheeto packets crinkling down into the mess of take away containers and soft drink strewn about the floor. The game was paused and the heavy smell of smoke was fixed to his purple hoodie.
Another knock as he leant over his computer where it was set up in the corner. He clicked to the security feed for right outside his door and sighed, recognising the man stood in front of it. What a hassle. He went to the door, opening it wide, the old wound where a bullet had passed through his shoulder blade aching. He leant against the open door, head cocked at the detective standing before him.
“Look, I already told you everything I know.” He said bored, “I don’t appreciate you getting all up in my digs either my man.” The tall broad shouldered man, rolled his eyes and his shoulders, looking up and down the hall.
“You gonna let me in wanker?” said a deep voice with a British accent.
“I got a choice? Shit, later dude.” Said the masked guy who tried to swing the door shut. The detective stuck his foot in then barged past, mask lifting his arms in a large sigh.
“Sure, come in, have a seat.” He muttered sarcastic as the detective turned towards him.
“You didn’t tell me everything when I help you out did you?” he got right to the point and the guy shrugged, not caring about the angry tone directed at him. Not really caring about anything.
“I warned you I wouldn’t turn my old crew in. What I did give you however was enough to earn you that pretty badge so on the whole I’d say were square.”
“stop taking the piss. He works with your old crew. Has done since before you left.” The mask sighed heavily again, walking by and flopping down on his couch, the angry detective following him and blocking the view to the TV with folded arm, glaring down at the apathetic guy below him.
“Ok, what? Your playing the pronoun game and I’d like to play my game so spit it out already.”
The man growled, slipping a hand into his jacket pocket to produce a photo. A tall, dark blonde man with a large nose grinning as he escorted a woman on his arm from a night club.
“Word is, the Fake AH crew took care of a bounty on one of their own. A Gavino free, hacker extraordinaire. He worked with you before you came crawling to me Ray, you should have told me.”
Ray shrugged gesturing wide with his controller falling from his fingers once more.
“Ok, hey Dan, I know your just the informant on a few hits I’ve done, and we don’t know each other very well, but fancy patching me up and declaring me dead so I can flee Los Santos and my old crew. Oh by the way, Your dear little baby brother Gavvey wavey Gruchy, who I totally didn’t know was your brother for ages, is alive and well and killing more people then I can count.” He smirked up at Dan who was positively fuming, his rage sliding of Ray like water off a ducks back.
“But yeah man. I should have told you straight away. Your right, my bad. Now can you move? I was in the middle of a wave.”-