[h3][i]Alexandria Mason[/i][/h3]
[hr]

Lex shot off a text to Vee:

[indent][i][color=a187be]They called me out to the FIELD so if you HAPPEN to drop by my office, I won't be there! (I'm so excited!)[/color][/i][/indent]

The jeep she was driving drifted slowly to the outside line of her lane and, in typical fashion, she nearly overreacted when yanking the steering wheel back into place. She knew she shouldn't be texting and driving but she so excited, she had to tell someone. Her relationship with Vivian wasn't exactly a standard friendship but, if Lex was being honest, it was basically the only friendship she had, at least within the Syndicate. So, Vivian was the one she texted. 

She arrived at the edge of the docks, a common place for some of the business they encountered. It allowed for easy transportation and have very little oversight by the authorities. She pulled her favorite .45 out from the glove compartment and grabbed the clip she had put in the center console. She loaded the clip and cocked the gun, pulling a shot in place in case it was needed. She stepped out of the jeep, placing her gun in her concealed holster. The breeze blew the smell of stale water and algae in her lungs. She sniffled a bit and headed toward the main docking house, hoping she wouldn't have to look too hard to find the reason for the message.

She stepped inside the dock house. Two of the syndicate's grunt men were sitting in folding chairs, flipping cards between them. The air hung heavy with the smell of marijuana. Lex glanced around for some sort of injured person or strung out prostitute. She saw nothing. One of the grunt men, Dean, looked up from his pile of cards. A slimy grin creeped across his face. Lex's heart sank. They had had a few interactions in the past and none of them were pleasant memories. One particular memory still gave Lex nightmares.

"Hey there, princess." He said. "What brings you out to our side of town?" He looked her up and down in the same fashion a person would pour over a dinner menu.

"I received a text that my services were needed." Her voice came out small and defeated. Dean got up from his seat and made his way over to her. The other man, whose name she didn't know, remained seated but watched the interaction unfold. Dean stepped right up to her, grasping a piece of her loose hanging hair. Her body stiffened as his breath rolled across her neck. She nearly gagged at the scent of alcohol and weed that clung to it.

"Oh. Your services are definitely needed." His hand traced her collarbone, up around her shoulder, across her neck and around to her other shoulder. Lex mustered what should could when she pushed his hand off of her. Her chin tilted up.

"You're looking in the wrong place, I don't offer [i]those[/i] services. We have other girls for that, if your needed is so great." She spit out her reply, hoping her voice didn't betray her fear. Dean simply smirked again. 

"I don't like easy pickings." He stared into her eyes, his own denim blue eyes looking back, gibing her chills. His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned into her ear. "I remember how you like it too." Nausea hit Lex full force.

"Sorry," she said, "the answer is still no." She turned to walk out but the man had other ideas. He grabbed her arm roughly, attempting to pull her to him. She whipped back, using her momentum to aid in swinging her fist to his nose. The crack she felt under her knuckles told her that she had hit her mark. It probably wasn't broken, but it incapacitated him enough that he released her. As his hand when to his face, she grabbed a hold of both of his shoulder, dipping him down and bringing her knee into his groin. He let out a loud moan and dropped to the floor. She yanked her pistol out from under shirt and held it toward the other seated man. He held his hand up in submission. "This why you thought I should bring my gun? Hm?" She stared at his face, her expression begging him to lie to her. He remained silent. She kicked at Dean. "I'm letting someone know you guys have weed out here. The higher ups are gonna be pissed. Bye Dean, buddy."

She backed out the door with her gun still pointed toward the offending men. Once she felt the air outside hit her back, she turned, jogging back to her jeep. She hopped inside and burst into tears. Her hands were shaking so badly that she had to try three times before she could get her keys in the ignition. She got the vehicle started and peeled out of the parking lot. She decided to head to The Crest in hopes that someone would be there to act as her fortress of solitude.