Chapter 2

Anna's POV.

“Yes!”

That was the last word I said, before my door came crashing down. Three masked men burst into my house. They all held guns—glock 17 to be precise; light, too light it almost felt like you were holding air. Polymer frame, but the barrel and slide? Pure steel. Fifteen rounds of 9mm in the magazine—standard, reliable, efficient and favored by most gang members. Father made sure I recognized every gun from a young age.

I sprung to my feet clenching my fist. Who the hell were these dudes? I just had that door fixed a few days earlier and they ruined it. I parted my lips to speak, but quickly shut it when I heard Aiden.

“Pl—ease, take whatever you want. J—just don't hurt us. You can have my watch, and my ring—it costs a fortune.”

No, not the diamond ring. Not the damn ring. Aiden was literally shivering, like the baby that he was—pleading to the intruders to spare our life. Sometimes, I wished he'd stand a little straighter, a little more confident and not cower at every appearance of violence. But a violent free life was what I settled for and I had found a non-violent man.

“You're not giving petty thieves my engagement ring,” I gritted out.

"It’s okay, honey. We'll get another one,” Aiden said, as he pulled my arm, trying to get me into a less opposing posture.

“You're broke, you'll never get one this expensive.”

“Oh, shut up,” someone slurred from outside the door. I felt goosebumps sprout erratically across my skin. That voice, that slur; I'd recognize it anywhere. My blood went cold and my mouth immediately became patched. That bastard, how'd he find me?

I heard footsteps bounce off the floorboards as a fourth intruder approached—their leader. His lithe frame walked into my sitting room like he owned the whole damn building. An awry smile touched his lips, as burning gray eyes the shade of ash, settled upon mine.

Fuck, I always hated the way his curly black hair fell to his face—I still hated it, even though most ladies found it attractive. Needless to say, I wasn't like most ladies.

He stopped right in front of us and bent to a crouching position, not for a second wiping the smile off.

“Please, I already told your men. They can have the ring…”

“Oh, someone please shut him up.”

One of the men stepped forward, ramming his bulky fist into Aiden's face. Aiden immediately fell unconscious. I sucked in my lower lip, biting on it. He just made me look bad in front of this psychopath.

The man raised his fist again to strike Aiden and I shot him a glare. “Don't you dare!”

He looked at his boss who tipped his chin at him and he dropped his fist.

“What do you want?” I spat. “What do you want with me? I've been away for five years, why now? What the hell do you want from me!?”

“So many questions, little sister. For now, you're coming with me.”

He rammed his fist into my face faster than I could react and knocked me out cold.

A few hours later, I felt my consciousness begin to return, accompanied by a skull-splitting headache. I felt vibrations course through me, as my reasoning returned to me in bits and pieces. We were in a car; I was at home; my birthday; Aiden; Liam. That bastard! What was he doing back in my life? I had made it clear to them that I wanted no part of our family and the bloodshed they left in their wake. Why the fuck was he back in my life on the night of my engagement? Why the fuck was he back at all?

The car ran into a gallop and I slammed my head into something hard. I finally opened my eyes and realized that I was blindfolded, my hands were tied too. That bastard!

“What do you think is going to happen now?” I heard one of the men say.

“With everything blown to shit? How the hell would I know?” another voice replied.

“Fuck. We'll be lucky to get out of this one with our lives.”

“Shh. I think she's awake.”

I felt the car stop moving, then heard the creaking of metal as a gate was opened. The car resumed its motion and soon it pulled to a stop. I heard the door of another car slam shut, then Liam's voice, “bring her out.”

Doors open, and large arms gingerly lifted me out of the car and swung me on his shoulder. Soon, I was dropped in a chair.

“Can you at least take this damn blindfold off?” I spat.

I waited for a while, expecting whoever it was to do my bidding, instead I heard the door snapped shut. I waited for a few minutes in the deafening silence, repulsed by the musty scent that clung to air.

Breathe Anna, just breathe.

Soon, I heard the door open again—then those annoying footsteps. The same one I heard a few hours ago, the same one that threatened to turn my ‘normal life' upside down. His scent wafted into my nose, and I scrunched my nose up.

“Take off the blindfold,” Liam said.

Finally, someone loosened the blindfold.

“At least, try to change your damn cologne. It'll give you away at a crime scene,” I snapped.

“Your mouth is still as sharp as ever. Five years and you haven't changed, little sister.” His smile returned, revealing perfectly white teeth. I cringed visibly.

“Five years and your hair still dangles from your forehead like a man on a rope.”

He smiled again, and gestured to a man to bring a chair. He sat, while I observed the building. It wasn't where I expected. I had expected to see Father. I had expected Liam to take me back home to Father, but where we were didn't look like home. It was probably one of our safe houses scattered across the country. If Liam hadn't taken me home, and I still hadn't seen Father, then it only meant one thing. Father knew nothing about this, and Liam was acting on his own. What trouble was he in now? What could possibly be bad enough for him to think ruining my life was a worthy price?

“Father doesn't know about this does he?”

He scoffed. “Smart, as usual.”

“You’re in trouble again, isn't it?”

“Nope.” He licked his lips, then wagged his finger between both of us. “We are in trouble.”

“Shit, what the fuck did you do this time?”

“Nothing.”

“You lying piece of shit.”

“Anna, Father was murdered.”