The Girl in the Middle

Tom tells a secret and gives into his desire

*Tom*

I close the door to my office and look questioningly at Zac who has placed himself behind my desk with his feet on the table like he belong here. Of course he once had, but he has never belonged in the office.

"You are never going to get anything useful out of her Tom". Zac say, apparently amused by me trying to train a daughter of the upper-class to our way of life.

Zac is the strong one. He was the first to gain control of his body which put him ahead when it came to hand to hand combat. But when it comes to his views about women and society, he isn't ahead, he is to much like Gerard.

"And why shouldn't I get that ?" I flop down across from him, placing my legs next to his on the table. "She most definitely doesn't lack the drive after Zombie's attack".

"She is destroying The Shadows". Zac pull his legs down and lean forward to look at me with a business like look. "Clay thinks of nothing but her and it hurts him so much that he uses again to forget. Kattie is a nervous wreck, just waiting for Clay to snap. Michael is still hurt. Which means that The Shadows are run by a 17 year old kid with a 15 year old girl as his most stable help".

Anywhere else I would have been worried and had it been any other 17 and 15 year olds I would have had my concerns. But I trust those two. "I have full confidence in KC and Hope, they know what they are doing". I tell him with confidence. "I am guessing that Gerard send you. Have you seen Clay lately yourself ? He has the sparkle back in his eyes". I explained. Even though I am not sure Zac would ever understand the sparkle. "He has started looking forward, he is fighting for The Shadows again. She might bring up some bad memories, but she has woken him up. She has given him back the desire to live". Can't the others see that ? It is shining from him.

"Are you sure you are just not seeing what you want to see Tom ?" Zac ask me. "She is engaged. I know he isn't exactly a friend or anything. But he is still one of ours. Don't he deserve to get her back. She would have a better life there".

"Oh if you knew what I know, you would never suggest sending her back to him". He will never understand. "Toph isn't just a typical cold and ruthless second in command to Zombie. He..".

"What did he do Tom ?"

"Do you remember Louisiana ?"

"How couldn't I remember her ? She was the closest thing we had to a mother. She was like our big sister". She had been the one caring for me, Mike, Zac and Kattie, even though she had only been 5 years older than me. She had tried to educate us when our parents failed or weren't there. She had picked us up from the amusement parks, scolded us, taken away the nightmares and grounded us when needed. "Yeah she dated Toph". Zac say.

"Exactly, she gave birth to his son". Zac had known she is pregnant, not who the father was.

"So he was the father ? But they broke up right ?"

"He couldn't have the power he strived for with The Zombies and a family with The Eagles. Louisiana didn't want to leave us kids, so they broke up. Toph didn't want the kid or a family, so he shot her point blank in the face minutes after she had given birth. He didn't even blink. Kattie was 14 years old when she pulled a newborn from his dead mother arms and stopped Toph from killing him too. 14 years old Zac !" She has never say anything, but I am sure the nightmares I still struggled with also found their way to her. "Kattie and me grew up that day. We were the ones who went to get Toph and told him he had become a father, we let him into the school to see them". The guilt still weighs me down to this day.

"Why didn't you turn him in, have him sentenced ?" Zac ask. "But I get your point. Toph don't deserve his fiance back. So this is you getting revenge".

"We were so young". I say resignedly. "And when we got old enough to do something, I confronted him and he left the underworld, so we decided to put it behind us. And no it isn't my revenge. It isn't for my sake, it's for hers. She deserves so much better".

"And how is her training coming along then ? Is she going places ?" Zac ask.

"Definitely". I am happy about the change of subject. "But she needs a very detailed program. I even had to schedule her breaks or she would be running herself down". It kind of annoys me that she has to be that stubborn.

"Make sure she takes some days of once in a while". Zac suggest. "Or her body won't have time to recover". I know he isn't saying this for her sake, he just can't help it.

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Once again Kattie found me during my evening training. I always train late in the evening. I like having the place to myself and she knows that.

"Is he getting high again ?" I ask her, when she sit down across from me.

"Probably. He never came home after selling". She sigh. "At least he has started to stay away when he falls in".

"What worries you ?" She has pulled her hair loose and is braiding it, a clear sign that she is worried and stressed.

"The upper-class boys in the park". She tells me. "They were there the day me and Amber got attacked by Zombie. And even though they never get involved, they must have seen her. Her cousin runs with that group. What if they recognised her ?"

"It's been more than a week". I point out. "They would have reacted by now. They don't expect finding her here and especially not with dark hair".

"Jack stopped me yesterday". Kattie say and let go of her hair without putting the elastic band back in. "Her cousin, that tall skinny one with the dark hair, the one who thinks he is cool because he smokes".

"I don't really care about them Kat". I admit. "I have no idea who is who and who does what".

"But he knows who I am. He is sure she is kept prisoner somewhere here and he actually suggested that being a woman I should offer myself up in exchange for her".

"Did he really say that ?" I has to suppress the urge to start laughing. "And you said what to that suggestion ?"

"Well.. I told him it is hard to make an offer to someone who doesn't exist". Kattie shrugged. "And I pointed out that I didn't know any Sarah Noble and if I did I would be sworn to silence and the price for breaking that is more than he could pay. So he started bragging about his name and his family money. So I pressed a gun to his chest and he ran of".

"He isn't a threat".

"Clay says the same. But he is searching for her. Here. What happens when her training is over and we risk him seeing her ?" Kattie ask.

"When that time comes she can hopefully handle the truth". is all I can say.

Kattie gets up and walk slowly to where I am sitting. They is a predatory quality to the way she walks, it leaves no doubt what she want. "Kattie we shouldn't, you know how much trouble it can get me in".

"Ain't I worth a bit of trouble ?" She say, straddling my lap, her hands locking around my neck.

"Damn woman you are going to be the death of me one day". I mumble as my hands grab her waist and I accept the heated kiss she offers me. I am tired of fighting what we both so clearly wants out of a none exciting respect for Michael.