thicker than blood

“What if safe isn’t good enough?” Near death experiences and loss of life was not something he could tolerate any longer. Things were supposed to be in synch with Adrian home and in many ways they were. They were stronger and better with his older brother back in the fold but as long as they were under their mother’s thumb, danger was the only thing they’d know. Right now they were scrambling for gigs that would fill their bank accounts. Secret missions that it wasn’t necessary to bring her in on, just so they could have money of their own and plan for a future. What happened when she found out about the night. That Adrian quickly and willingly pulled the trigger, not to save the score but to save the girl.

Looking up at Devin, Santiago knew he couldn’t put her or Birdie through what he had before. Leaving wasn’t an option. Pushing her away wasn’t an option. “I gotta know I can take care of my brother…my family…” His arm moved instinctively to wrap around her waist. Holding her closer, pulling her tighter until he was unwilling to let go. He needed the realization that she was here. That what he was feeling right now wasn’t a dream. That in spite of his current mistakes, she still loved him. “I can’t put Adrian in the position again. I can’t have Rafe calling you and giving you a rundown so you won’t be worried. Luna…I…not again.” 

Pushing himself up from the seat, Santiago turned and faced Devin. Wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to his body. When he thought he could communicate his thoughts coherently, he pulled back, staring down at her. “Give me a timeline. I’m getting us out of this and away. This won’t be Birdie’s life. I won’t have you scared or her…I won’t explain to her why family is gone or worse…dead…We’re getting out of this.”

Safe had to be good enough, because there wasn’t much else that Devin could hope for at the end of the day even on the worst when they didn’t see eye to eye. Safe meant that he was home, that he would be able to tuck his daughter in at night and live to see another day, no matter how much trouble it meant or the fights they would endure.because they had another day to figure it all out. Another day, another night, and another chance to right the mistakes they continued to make when her stubbornness matched his own. “Safe is good enough tonight,” she murmured. It was good enough for now. 

“That wasn’t your fault,” she told him, wanting to believe it wasn’t when Smurf was running the show behind the scenes whether she was present there or not on this job. She was the reason they were all a part of this life, having not only led them down the path but given them all the tools to continue down it when they could have been someone else. “It wasn’t. It’s never been your fault.” Her words were barely brushing against his skin, knowing that most of what she said these days were taken with a grain of salt with all the animosity and disconnection between them, but she never blamed him for everything. Just enough to make her heart ache. 

It wasn’t supposed to go that way. It should have been a done deal. In and out without tipping off the mark but it didn’t work that way. In the end, Luna was hurt and Santi was sure Adrian had destroyed his room by the steady sounds of destruction that rang out through the house. One thing he did know, his brother’s aim was still precise. It took one round to send the man to the ground. It was a mess. One he was left thinking through to clean up. He’d gone back to the scene. The house was spotless. There was no sign of their entry or larceny. The body was gone and buried but the guilt remained. He wasn’t a saint. He’d never claimed to be, but he’d hurt his family. He knew what Luna had fought through in her youth. Just like he knew the promises, Adrian had made to her. This job was his idea and everything had gone wrong. 

The what ifs rang out loudly in his mind. Had they been thirty seconds later, Luna would have been hurt or worse. If Adrian’s aim would have been off, death would have been the only option for them. That would leave Birdie without a father and Devin filled with regret for even coming back to him. Santiago didn’t say anything. He took a seat at the counter. She was there waiting for him. She’d seen everything play out since they’d returned home. 

Burying his face in his hands, Santiago didn’t allow himself to cry. Exhaling loudly, he lifted his head again, “I fucked up Dev. I fucked up so bad.” This made it clear to him. There was only one option for him and his family, out. They needed to work to get out.

@fortifiedkingdom

Devin hated this part. She knew it came with the territory of loving a man that was meant for war, but the one that he fought wasn't only with others but within himself as she clutched the counter until her knuckles faded towards white. Not quiet there, not yet. And not this time would she be the one with knees knocking and pushed out the door with a baby in her arms, sent packing because things got messy once before. He promised that it wouldn't be the same again, even if her heart struggled to believe him completely -- it still loved that damn man, more than her mind could logically tell her to cut tail and run with what money she'd stashed up and finish her degree anywhere else with Birdie in her arms once more.

Word had reached her immediately, Rafe calling ahead to alert her to what happened which she knew was slightly in turn to make sure that Luci knew too despite their walking around on eggshells around each other. Devin didn't believe it would stay that way for much longer, not when Rafe was stuck behind the rest when it came to clean up while Adrian got Luna out and Santiago finished what they'd started; another job. Still, she wasn't completely sure she knew how her reaction was going to be when he came back until he was seated on the other side of the counter while she watched him slowly come to terms with what happened.

“Where’s your head at?” Santiago didn’t really need to ask. He knew the answer to that question. Weeks had passed since the whole uprising that resulted in a hole in the wall. Damaged hand and nose had healed but did anything else. “Maybe a job will help take your mind off things. Or at least give you a different way to focus your energy.” He was a hypocrite. He spent just as much time sulking and angry but at least he had the shop as a distraction. Then there was Birdie when he was home. He had a way of appearing like everything was fine but there were still moments that got under his skin. Especially when it came to the frequency that Devin wasn’t home at night, at least not until late, and Luna was the one picking his daughter up from school on those days. “Might be risky. I just finished three cars for a customer. Full customization. We’re talking a couple of grand. He paid me in cash. You only use cash when you don’t want your moves tracked.” Taking a seat next to Rafe. “Address is on file with his paper work. I say we scope it for a week or two. See if it’s worth the hit. Break the safe. Take some stacks. Maybe pick up a few things worth selling to get more cash. Reset expectations around here and let everyone know we’re still in the game.”

For : Anyone, Open

It was time. The family had taken a few months off, allowed things to fall back into place since Adrian’s release and Devin’s return home. It wasn’t that money was drying up. They were smart. Laundering and cleaning movie through their respective legitimate businesses. The bar was doing better than it ever had since the renovations had been completed in the spring. The customs shop that was Santiago’s baby had a wait list for vehicles to service. They looked like they were doing things the right way and that made Saint or anyone like him angry that they couldn’t catch the Jiménez family in anything. It didn’t stop them from showing up, especially Saint. 

Smurf, however, was tired of playing it nice. She wanted more, especially now that all her boys were reunited. The pressure to pull another job, started two weeks after Adrian returned home. Santiago had managed to keep her at bay. He even sent her away for a few weeks to give them all a chance to settle. To wrap his mind around having his family back and how he could avoid screwing it all up again. He had to figure out Luciana’s place in all of this too. She was a contact. An asset. But she definitely wasn’t his biggest fan and Santiago wasn’t sure she could be trusted. He’d spent enough time thinking and now it was time to get back to business. 

“We need to pull a job.” 

He didn’t start the conversation with hello. Hi. How are you. Nothing. Just straight to business. “Secure enough of a bag to keep her quiet until the New Year.” It was dangerous. They all had something to lose some more than others. “I’ve got a few ideas but I want to know how you feel. What you’re thinking.”