Book II: Chapter Twelve

Storm walked down the long narrow corridor, briefly glancing at the apartment numbers. His heart hammered out of control when he reached her door.

Apartment 205.

He hesitated for a mere second before banging hard on the door. She took her sweet time to answer. Patiently he waited on the side, thinking about his crazy afternoon.

He couldn’t believe he was there. If it was any other person he wouldn’t. But this was Dean, his baby brother. Like Victoria and Starr, he would do anything for him. He’d risk his life and his job for him. Because when it’s all said and done, family is all that matters.

He understood Dean’s anger and frustration and he could handle it. But seeing the disappointment in his eyes had almost killed him and that’s what had sent him flying to this dodgy part of town.

At least this shit-hole was clean. It wasn’t like the rest of rat-infested slum flats in the surrounding areas. For a federal agent he would have thought she’d find herself better accommodation!

“Storm?” A female’s voice startled him.

He glanced at her, and blinked rapidly, trying to think if he knew the woman beside him. Then it him; it was her and he barely recognized her. The clothes, makeup and fancy updo which gave her the professional look were gone now. She looked so different…plain.

“Amanda,” he greeted her coolly, his cold blue eyes carefully sizing her up.

“You have no business being here. I don’t work the BAU, no thanks to you!”

The words were barely out her of her mouth when he violently slammed her against her apartment door.

“You want to try that again, Amanda?” He sneered.

The last time he was so angry was when Jade had held Victoria hostage two years ago. As much as he didn’t like the way that night had ended, he would kill again in a heartbeat if his family was threatened. And Boyd had done just that; not in so many words, but he’d given him food for thought.

“I just meant since I don’t work for you anymore, you shouldn’t be here that’s all!” Amanda cried in a small voice, tears shimmering in her eyes.

 “You may not work for me, but the moment you neglected to report the fucking Digitag, you made it my business! Now, open the door and let’s get inside,” he growled icily.

“Please---you’re hurting me!” She sniffled, and that enraged him even more.

“No, this is nothing. It will hurt a whole lot more if you don’t start talking. We can do this right here, right now or inside. Your choice!” His eyes turned to stones and his upper lip curled viciously as he reached around her, yanked open the door and nudged her inside.

“Where’s the Digitag?” He got straight to the point.

God, her insolence was ripping his patience apart!

She saw the world only through her limited point of view. He wished he could make her understand trouble they were all in because of her carelessness. Roughing her up would seem like foreplay when Boyd and his goons got wind of her.

“I lost it---I can’t remember where!” She replied, her voice caught in her throat, and her words tumbled all over the place. He knew she was lying. The fact that she wasn’t even trying hard at her lies was an insult.

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Amanda! My wife and son were threatened because of those fucking files, so you will talk because I have the whole night!” He slammed his hand on the wall and glared at her.

In the heat of the moment, he yanked her off her seat and shook her wildly until her loud screams finally got through to him. He shoved her off, and she sagged against the stove. He saw her wince in pain, and he felt like one of the criminals he worked very hard to send away. He wanted to apologize and help her to her feet, but he was still too livid. Instead, he turned away from her, and tried to separate himself from the situation…temporarily.

“Fine I’ll tell you about the Digitag!” Her words brought him instant relief. At last, she’d come to her senses.

“But I want immunity! I’ve lost my job, and I can’t lose any more than I already have. I don’t know what’s in those files, but I’m guessing it’s pretty huge for Internal Affairs to get involved and for you to rock up here. So, what do you say?” Amanda continued, trying to re-establish her position and take control of a situation which was clearly not in her hands.

“You’re fucking insane!” Storm threw his hands in the air, and dispelled a frustrated sigh. Just when he thought she’s coming around she starts talking about immunity. Did she even know what the word meant?

“Take it or leave it and Storm, I wonder what Internal Affairs will say when they find out you’ve been harassing a key witness in the case!” She dealt her low blow. He had no doubt she’d been saving it for the right moment.

“Are you threatening me? Bitch, you don’t want to get me started. I know people who can make this problem…including you, disappear if you don’t start talking soon!” Of course his insane amount of money could get it done, but he wouldn’t go that far.

He only wanted to scare her, without backing himself in a corner and promising her things he knew he couldn’t give. Like immunity! Did she really think it was that easy to get immunity? For fucks sake it didn’t fall from trees.

Something in his words must have scared her, because when she opened her mouth next she was singing a different tune.

“Alfonso Paloma!” She screamed and buried her face in her hands. “I left it at his place.”