Angelina wasn’t sure what to expect when she sat down. Detached and nearly aloof she held her emotions at bay, being civil and hospitable, but nothing more. She’d given too much to lower those walls again. Stan had not been the last man to walk out on her, but he’d been the first, and the most important, the one soul she’d promised ot love and cherish forever…and then he’d left her, left that promise, and the baby they had made from within it. Hazels ran the length of his face, noticing the stubble and thinking it a nice touch, though she had always preferred him clean shaven…the other reminded her too much of his near jump off the wagon years back. It was ironic really; that she’d marry a recovering alcoholic and own a bar, but the issue had been a small one compared to the situation now…though she’d have given anything for that to be their biggest issue now.
He drank from the glass of water and she followed suit, nodding as he asked her to listen. ”You have my attention.” She’d listen, she’d do her best to believe, and most importantly she’d try not to judge…key word being try. She saw the turmoil of that night wash over him as he began the tale, her own eyes slanting as she realized how very much things she held dear had played a part of this and she’d never even known. Knowing who’d taken what during the split up made sense. Toby was the mechanic, or grease monkey, and Freb had always had a brain for numbers, of course Sphinx would take care of the cars…though she doubted he’d enjoyed the task. ”We got lucky the fire didn’t catch to the neighboring houses, it took nearly three stations to get it out completely.” Information given softly and without emotion, simply a fact of what had occurred that night. Shania had managed to get her truck out and Angelina had even saved the Lamborghini and Impala SS, though the Feds had impounded them along with Shania’s truck for a time. She’d eventually gotten them back, determined to keep as much of the crew’s things the same, figuring they’d be back soon…real soon and that they’d be upset if things weren’t as they’d been. But she’d been wrong nothing had been the same, everything had changed, and the items she’d done her best to preserve only made her sadder as she saw them day and night. It’s why she’d eventually taken up full residence in the apartment and let her bouncers or dj’s stay at Tumblers…it’d been easier that way.
She’d always wondered what had happened to them, she’d heard the police sirens, but by the time she’d finished saving the few vehicles she could they’d been gone in puffs of smoke. She’d read the papers and heard of Tumbler’s arrest. Had contemplated going to see him, but the two times she’d tried calling to arrange the meeting she’d hung up. She’d gotten questioned and audited at the Club but otherwise had escaped mainly unharmed. She listened to him explain about Chicago, realizing he’d been nearer to Desiree than he’d probably ever known, not next door but closer than she’d been the past four years. The idea of him cooking amused her for a moment, she’d barely been able to get him to make breakfast before…though he’d always been better at it than the other men, well some of them. The little amusement she’d gained at his mental image faded as he told of the competing booster and the blackmail, fists clenching to keep her emotions in check. Knowing he’d let the man’s threat on her and Desiree drive him to do it. She hated being used as a pawn, always had and knowing he’d gotten used in such a way because of them hurt her as well as made her angry at him. Stan should have known better, she wasn’t some weak child that couldn’t take care of herself, she’d faced vampires, werewolves, shifters, and ragging drunks. She’d learned to surround herself with strong supporters and workers so when she couldn’t fight the fight she’d always have backup. Like Craig or Jason now.
The knowledge that the ring had been busted up because of Tumbler didn’t surprise her, but it made her confirm more her suspicions that Sphinx wasn’t dead as she and Sasha had been lead to believe. That meant her friend was going to need her more than ever and despite her own issues Angelina would gladly take the place of the blonde, the woman had been a godsend. She’d helped with Desiree as each year the girl got more and more like herself. She truly believed she was being punished in some ways, though for what she could never tell. The girl had gotten as stubborn as a mule and was as hotheaded as Sphinx. In truth they’d joked once that Elden and Desiree had opposite fathers and she believe that in some ways they took polar opposites to the actual blood within them. He’d finished his story with saying he’d come home, but where was home? He’d ignored this place for ten years, yes for his own justified reasons, but the reality was still there, it’d still happened. The drink of water was sipped momentarily as she thought this all over, thinking clearly for a time before speaking.
”I wish you had warned us. The panic your actions caused, on all, it nearly killed some of us.” Thinking of the sobbing Laurie Ann she’d had to nearly drag away from the house, finally forcing her to move away to distance herself from the pain the area caused. Some of them had gotten angry, others had been said, Angelina had simply chosen to try and feel nothing…but she’d failed utterly. ”The houses almost went into foreclosure, I managed to get them back from the bank, but nearly lost the club in the process. Sasha moved away, hell everyone moved away, but I stayed.” She’d stayed because even as she told everyone else to move on, had forced them all to believe it for the best and that she was doing so too…she’d never given up. Deep down she’d always hoped to be wrong…that they’d come back. ”I finally sent Desiree off to boarding school, she needed a broader life experience and having her here with only Eldne as company was bad for both of them, though she didn’t think so. Sigh given as she thought of the angry words exchanged when she’d told the then 14 year old she was going away, though she could come back for summers. ”I know she’s got a crush on him, but I think it’s something more…Elden, Sasha’s boy, he reminds me of you more than Sphinx. Moody and always thinking.” Deciding she should say what she felt on his whole ordeal with the blackmailing Angelina chewed on her lip before speaking. ”You walked away from us, you could have walked away from that horrible man. I have never been someone that’s weak, Stan. You know this, I could have handled whatever trouble he threw at us…I’d have gladly done it to have you back. Maybe then we wouldn’t be where we are now…” It was harsh but true, if he’d come back sooner, maybe the hole in her heart wouldn’t have been so big, maybe she’d have been able to face the wrath of their child better and subcum to the desire to hold him once more…as it was now she couldn’t, didn’t even dare, and wasn’t even sure she could anymore.
Another sip of water as she explained what had happened to the ladies she’d been able to stay in touch with. ”Laurie Ann went to New Mexico, became a school art teacher. Nancy, gods poor Nancy, the press massacred her. She finally got a nice gig as a professor teaching criminology but the things they said about her?” Head shaken as she recalled having to turn the tv off a lot back then, sheltering Desiree from as much of the problems as she could. ”Sasha moved on to become a detective, she’s doing real good for herself, and unlike the others came back every summer. Though I think Elden played a part in that. I know Pergatori, Tori as she goes by now, kinda went everywhere. I don’t really know what all she’s been up to, just that she’s been around. Sway…” A pause came here, contemplating how to explain what had just occurred upstairs in her apartment while not causing alarm for him. ”She seemed to have vanished into thin air, though she recently came back into the picture…she’s got some major issues to work through.” It was all she’d say on the woman for now, she herself wasn’t even sure what all could be done at this point just that Sway needed her and she’d do what she could to help. ”Shania went back on tour, but cancelled after the feds harassed her to death. I think she got it the worse other than Nancy, though being audited wasn’t fun for me either.” That had been a stressful time, wondering what all they could get her for but finally being left alone when they couldn’t really tie any of her club’s profits to the boosting ring. Shania had lost her truck, though I finally got it out of impound along with the others I’d saved, after…after…they’d announced Sphinx was dead.” She paused her scared to ask for the answer, but wanting and needing to know for Sasha’s sake. ”He isn’t is he?” The worry evident as she ask the question, praying not but almost expecting it to be true.
It was with that question she ended her talking, too worn out from that stretch of conversation alone to progress anymore without feedback. They hadn’t even gotten into the issues of themselves or Desiree yet, and Angelina wasn’t sure they’d even be able to in the time frame before the afternoon rush came in.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Angelina Uris
An Angel In Waiting
Club Alien Owner
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Waiting on an angel.
One to carry me home.
Hope you come to see me soon,
cause I don't want to go alone,
I don't want to go alone.
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