"Why aren't you and Sydney close as brother and sister? She's a sweet girl" Wheezie says looking up at Topper.

"Sweet girl?" Topper raises his eyebrow. "She's far from a sweet girl. She's a complete bitch " Topper says looking at Wheezie with a frown.

"I know Sydney probably even more than you do Top. Sydney is the kind of person that is nice to people who respect her, if you disrespect her she won't stand for it. I think you have a cool sister Top, I wouldn't mess it up." Wheezie says while looking my brother straight into the eye's.

"Cool sister?" Topper says look at Wheezie with a smirk on his face.

"Is there an echo out here?" Wheezie says rolling her eyes

                                                                ••••••••

Meanwhile at the Shatoue me, Kie, JJ, Pope, and John B are having another meeting. JJ is leaning against the wall stressed the fuck out and vaping telling them about what happened at Lana's and how we saw the same men again.

“At that point, I was just, like… I'm waiting for death.” Walking out of the house I sat down next to Pope, “oh, okay, so you saw the guys that shot at us, right?”

“Yeah.” JJ was distressed as he nodded, pulling a joint from where it sat tucked behind his ear, “did you get a good description of them?” He nodded in reply to Pope’s question, “what did they look like? Anything.” Kiara and Pope were interested now, invested and prying together, “Anything we can bring to a police report?” A simple one word answer was given along with a firm singular nod, “burly.”

“Burly?”

“Yeah. You know, like…” JJ made a motion with his arms, not conveying the description very well at all, “that's not very helpful.”

“Okay, well, no, like the type of guy at my dad's garage. I mean, you guys know he made cargo hides for drug smugglers. I can tell you with full confidence, these boys, these killers… they're square groupers.”

“They're square groupers, like narco square grouper?”

“Like Pablo Escobar square grouper?” I sighed, agitated as Pope and JJ went back and forth, “yeah, man.”

“You guys, not everything is a kingpin movie.” I agreed with Kiara on that part but still this was serious and they did look the part.

“What does this square grouper look like?”

“Like they were in a motorcycle gang riding a pristine expensive white boat.” JJ nodded pointing at me, before speaking to Pope to target at the boys sarcastic question, “you guys weren't there.”

Pope fired back, annoyed now, “you don't know what to look for.”

“Dude! I wasn't taking little mental Polaroids the entire time. I was under duress, okay? But I can tell you… I can tell you by the way that Ms. Lana was screaming… that these guys are serious, serious hombres, man.”

“It’s true she was screaming and crying, all cut up and hurt, she was hysteric, they dislocated her shoulder,” I licked my lips continuing, “they trashed her place and beat her all because they wanted Sydney”

I shook my head at the thought, “It's a heavy vibe right now, okay?”

I nodded thinking as everyone sat back and calmed down, “they looked scruffy, long sleeved shirts, boots, both had dark hair and facial hair. One of them was wearing a cotton bib, that’s all I remember, we didn’t exactly have the best spot to catch any faces,” Kiara looked confused, “what’s a cotton bib?”

“It’s an old cowboy shirt, the other guy was in a hoodie, all black but jeans.”

“I'm not liking this very much.”

I look over at JJ from my seat on the couch "JJ"

"Yeah" he says looking over at me

I reach my hand out for the vape. "give that to me please". JJ hands the vape over and I take 3 inhales letting the strawberry scent pass through my lungs, then exhaling it out again.

"What would those men want from you the ones that chased us through the marsh?" Kie says from her spot in the corner of the porch.

"I don't know Kie" I say shrugging take one last inhale of the vape before handing it back to JJ.

"Maybe a friend or relative done something like bad to them and they want you for revenge on them?" Pope says

Before I can respond JJ chimes in, immediately getting defensive "Don't worry Cupcake. No one is gonna hurt you as long as I'm here". I look at JJ and smile,

"Thanks J" I look back at Pope and ask "but why me? "

“Ok sorry but how can you concentrate with that thing crowing at you?”

“JJ loves the rooster.” JJ nodded intensely and Kiara agreed, “I love the rooster.” I laughed at them quietly as they continued on, “let me think.”

"Is there anyone you can think of that could get involved with these men?" Kie ask looking at me. I look up and see John B staring at me with a worried a tired look. I can tell that he's stressed out about this whole situation. I mean who wouldn't be.

I look at Kie again "I don't know. Topper? I can't think of anyone else."

"As much as I don't like Topper, I don't think he would be involved with guys like these" Pope's says looking at me, I nod as JJ chimes in once again.

" Yeah these guys seemed serious"

I nod again not really paying attention to what there saying until it hits me. My dad....it got to be my asshole of a father. "Shit". John B straightened up after hearing my whispered cursing. Immediately looking at me with worry I watch as he walks over toward my seat "What"

I look at John B, "I think it might have something to do with my dad and your dad John B" I look at the pouges as they all exchange worry filled looks at one another, knowing exactly what I meant about it was my father. They were all there during that whole shit show. All except JJ, who looks at me and asks "Why"

I look at JJ frustrated but immediately after seeing the way the light reflects on his tanned skin I soften up the slightest bit. "Because he's a liar, a cheat, a thief and a fucking druggie. Money made him a greedy and selfish bastered. So much so that he left me, my mom and Topper for some young ass women. He also was the last person to see Big John before he went missing" JJ blinks dumbfounded as Pope speaks up with a shrug and a nod "Good point.....No offence Sydney" He looks at me with a sheepish look as if saying sorry.

"None take" I nod with my arms crossed. I feeling my phone vibrate, I reach into my back pocket pulling it out to see a new text from Topper

Shit Head 🖕 : SYDNEY GET YOUR ASS HOME NOW!!

Sydney: Why?

Shit Head 🖕 : NOW WE NEED TO TALK

Sydney: ughh fine

I turn my phone off and put it back into my back pocket "I need to go, Topper texted me wants to talk" I say standing up "I'll be back give me like 2 hours"

"Let us know what he says " Kie says looking up at me. I nod and salute

"Will do"

                                                                     ••••••••

I see Topper come out onto the roof "What do you want to talk about? Make it quick"

"Whats the rush" He says as he sits down next to me.

"I'm still passed at you since the party"

"About the party, you seemed quite close with the pouges"

I stiffen at the mention of the pouges "What do you mean?"

"You were talking to JJ and you were protective of John B"

"Maybe because you were beating up and drowning him" I snap back "Also JJ was offering me a drink, is that a fucking crime?"

"Doesn't matter. Yeah it's just like you gotta be careful of the Pogues. There all low lives"

"Don't say that Topper, you don't know them" I frown

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry they that THREY put a gun to my head" He snaps while motioning a finger gun at his head. "You know what that feels like?"

"No. I don't know how it feels. But to be fair YOU threw the first punch Topper"

"Thats my bad" he says sarcastically. "I deserve that"

"I didn't say that"

"You realise I'm just trying to protect my younger sister"

"You've never cared about me before, why start now?"

"Why can't you just be grateful for once?" he snaps

"Maybe because your a shit brother. have you ever thought about that?"

"I'm a shit brother? So that means your just going to hang out with them"

"I can hang out with who you I want. Don't dictate who I can and can't hang out with"

"Oh so your hanging out with them" he scoffs

"What do you-"

"Yeah yeah hangout with criminals"

"What do you expect from me Topper???"

"Does Rafe know?"

I stand up and walk towards the window " So your gonna just walk away."

"Yeah I am, I can't deal with this"