Beneath The Bad.

Chapter 14. Fading Shadows.

Alex's days blurred together as he spent more time with Sunshine, her warmth and light seeping into his soul. He found himself laughing, smiling and feeling alive again. But with each passing moment, his grip on his gangster persona began to slip away.

His edge grew softer, his heart less hardened. He started to see a different life, one where he didn't have to be constantly on guard, where he could be vulnerable and still be loved. But not everyone was pleased with the new Alex.

Jackson always listening to Alex tell him about Sunshine, he got worried, he thought he was being to soft and he's loosing his grip on everything. The new Alex was just to soft for him and he didn't like that at all. He got tired of the name “Sunshine”, each time they came together to talk, So he made a choice- report Alex's weakness to Reed, hoping to restore the hardened gangster they once knew.

He walks up to Reed, “can I talk to you?, I want to tell you something”.

“I'm listening”, Reed said while sipping his vodka.

“Well it's about Alex, I'm worried for him”.

“Why? what's happening?, Go straight to the point and stop wasting time boy!”

“O-oh alright, well Alex is seeing this girl, and I feel she's making him go soft, I mean, Alex is loosing his grip, and I'm sure that's bad for us right, because once he grows soft like this, the others might follow suit, so I'm just worried for him that's all, I want him back in shape”.

“Well that's interesting, that explains his constant movement, he's hardly around. hmm, so tell me, what's her name and what does she do”.

“From what Alex told me, she has a flower stand and her name is Sunshine”.

Reed laughed “What kind of stupid name is that, what ever happened to names like Emily, Ava, Olivia” he chuckled, “Well thank you for telling me, don't worry, he'll be back in shape. Where's he now?”

“Well he went to finish up some business with David”.

“Alright when he's back then”.

Alex got back late, exhausted and parched, before he could even rest, he heard his name so loudly from Reed. “What now?” He said within himself angrily.

Walking into the office, Reed was facing the window, looking up at the dark sky with no stars.

Alex cleared his throat to notify him that's he's hear.

Reed turned around, “So tell me boy, how's that gorgeous lady doing?”

Alex was confused and scared hoping that Reed wasn't referring to Sunshine. So he acted like he didn't understand the question, “I don't understand”.

Reed giggled, “you seriously don't understand what I'm talking about? Okay let me be more specific, Flower stand, Sunshine..? ring any bells ?”.

Alex's eyes widened in shock and fright, “Um... I-I don't know what you're talki—”

“Listen up kid, I didn't call you for a question and answer section, I just want to tell you that if I ever see you with her again, her blood will be on your hands”. He growled, his eyes blazing with warning. “Now get out”.

Alex was torn apart by the threat, his heart heavy with the weight of his secrets.

Walking to the yard, he meet Jackson, puffing on a cigarette.

Pacing up and down, Jackson asked him what was wrong, “Its like Reed got people watching me because how the blood hell did he know about Sunshine, I know I was discreet with seeing her, so just how!!!"

Jackson knew between himself that Reed has spoken to him and that his plan had worked. “Calm down dude, here take”. He offered him the cigarette.

“I don't want that..., Now I have to stay away from her to keep her safe”. He signed.

Unknowingly to Alex, Jackson's betrayal had set the the wheels in motion, and the consequences of his actions would soon unfold. Alex's world went back to the shadows that he thought he was coming out of.

He stayed away from Sunshine for months, the distance aching like an open wound. Everyday she hope and anticipated for him to walk up to her flower stand like he always does.

But Alex couldn't shake off the question- how did Reed find out about her?