“T are you alright?” Rex sits on the side of the bed sinking it to its frame. Despite the nurse’s repeated request to stop shaking him, the big man continues to rouse his twin brother. “Wake up T.”

Tyrese groans. His head is pounding, and his teeth feel like they are fused together. “He shot me, Rex.”

Attempting to sit up, Tyrese is met with a quick jab in the ribs from Rex’s fist. “You scared the jam out of me T.”

Doubled over in pain from both the gunshot wounds and the jab, Tyrese nearly vomits. “Idiot I just told you he shot me.”

“Sorry, sorry, you just had me freaked out.” Rex stammers.

“Back up Rex.” Tyrese opens his eyes and takes in the drab room. Dingy grey tile covers the floor, with half of them misaligned. An I.V. line is fed to his arm from a saline bag mounted to the wall with a screw. “Where am I?”

“Dr. Hammonds,” Rex responds standing awkwardly by the window rubbing his brawny bicep.

“He’s still alive?” Tyrese chuckles weakly. “I see he still isn’t pulling in the best customers.”

“He saved your life. Why did you wait for that guy to shoot you?” Rex squints out the window, focusing on something in the distance. “He might 've shot you in the face.”

Tyrese coughs and hovers his hand over his wound. “Ray said I am not bulletproof.”

Rex smiles and turns his head back to his brother. “You’re not.”

“I know, but I couldn’t let him know that.” Tyrese forces a smile past his pain.

The door swings open and a scrawny old man walks in holding a clipboard. “Good news, the bullet broke a rib and the others passed through without hitting any vital organs.” The skinny old man dons a tightly tailored old suit.

“Doc you should really think about working out with us,” Tyrese jests, “maybe drink some milk and a couple of protein shakes. We could have you hitting on sixty-year-olds by the end of the year.”

Dr. Hammonds frowns, looking up at the giant man lying in the hospital bed. “You should stop making jokes Tyrese you're lucky to be alive.”

Tyrese chuckles weakly, wincing at the pain. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Thanks for patching me up, Doc.”

Dr. Hammonds shakes his head, his eyes reflecting a mix of annoyance and concern. “You never cease to amaze me. Always finding trouble wherever you go.”

Rex smirks, crossing his arms over his chest. “What can we say, Doc?” Trouble has a way of finding us.”

“Well, this will only add to Leo’s reputation. It won’t help you any. Worse men will come you know. Whoever can put the big dogs down will be a hero in the Valley or Middletown. You are just painting a target on your backs.”

Stolen story; please report.

Tyrese glances at Rex, his voice filled with pride, “Hear that? We are gonna be legends." Then with a smirk, " Relax Doc, we'll be fine.”

Dr. Hammonds pulls his glasses off and lets them dangle from their tether on his chest. “Tyrese, I have known you two since you were small boys. Skinny little kids with skinned knees and eyes full of mischief.” His tone is near to scolding.

Tyrese drops his head back on the pillow and sighs. “I know, I know but we ain't kids anymore Doc.”

“Fine, fine.” The doctor places the clipboard in the slot at the foot of the bed. “Just take it easy for a while and don’t get yourselves into any more gunfights.”

Pop! Suddenly, a gunshot sounds off outside the window. Rex straightens up and plasters his face in the window. Pop! Pop! “Someone is trying to steal Leo’s truck.” Rex turns and runs for the door pulling his gun from the holster at his side.

Tyrese tries to shove off the bed, but the doctor jams a hand into his wound making him cry out in pain. Tyrese falls back on the mattress instantly covered in sweat.

“Stop this Tyrese.” The doctor flinches back from the big man. “Sorry.” He glances out the window as more shots ring out. “Don’t you see where this is going?”

“I have to help my brother right now Doc, I don’t have time for lectures.”

Dr. Hammonds jabs the big man again right on the bullet wound on his chest. “Sorry, I'm really sorry but you have to listen to me. One of you is going to die, or both of you. You have to get away from Leo. Get away from him do you hear me.” He is more demanding now, talking to Tyrese like an angry father.

Tires screech outside and lightning flashes in the window. The gunshots stop. The doctor takes a breath. “He doesn’t care about you. He is using you, Tyrese. He is using you and your brother. Can’t you see?”

Leo storms into the room and levels a glare at the doctor. Dr. Hammonds flinches back from the small man in the full-brim hat. Leo doesn’t have to reach for his gun he just holds his jacket back in a manner that lets the doctor know it is an option. Leo’s voice is cold and vehement, “What the hell are you saying, Doc?”

Dr. Hammonds backs into the wall and stammers, “I just want what is best for them.”

“You do?” Leo gestures around the room. “You want them down here with you in Middletown. Scraping together a living of slave labor and brown-nosing? You don’t think I feed them well enough Doc? Look at the suits I put them in. Look at the house they stay in now. Do you remember where they were before I found them? Do you remember the back-alley fights, they used to fight to make enough money to stay in a shack with no hot water? Roaches the size of kittens.” Leo walks up and jabs a finger in the old doctor's stomach. “They are my bodyguards now. Keep your passive garbage to yourself Doc. You don’t know how to live on the streets, you have been sheltered from them since you were a boy. I will take care of the streets you just keep the doors open when we come through.” Leo’s face turns red and spittle flings out as he lashes out at the doctor. “Understand?”

Dr. Hammonds nods and Rex walks in the door. “They got away.” He looks from Leo to the doctor to Tyrese.

“Well, who were they Rocks?” Leo growls.

Rex’s eye twitches at the insult but he regains his composure before Leo turns around. “I dunno boss.”

“Where is Carmen?” Leo hisses.

“She’s been shot, boss,” Rex answers.

“She’s dead?” Leo looks surprised.

“Not dead, in the hallway boss.” Rex gestures.

Dr. Hammonds runs out into the hall and finds Carmen bleeding in his waiting chair. He runs his hands down her bloody side and examines the wound. Leo stands impatiently with his round top hat in hand and a snarl on his face. “Well?”

“She will live bullet went straight through. No vital organs were struck. I just need to stitch her up.”

“I did good boss?” Rex raises his brows and nods.

“No, you didn’t do good, soup for brains, where is my truck?” Leo swats him with his hat.

“It was that girl boss, from Middletown, with the spikes. The thief.”

“Angel,” Leo growls.