I walked back down towards Anthony, Ferrell, and Bane who were all watching something on Bane's phone.I cleared my voice and they looked up and Bane turned his phone off."What's up?" Bane asked."Tennessee." That was all I managed to say."What the hell is in Tennessee?" Bane asked again."Charlie and Melody..." I paused and took in a deep breath, "Hopefully."They all jumped up off the couch and raced to the car.Before I walked out the door I heard an out-of-breath sound coming toward me. I thought it was just Emily. She had in her hand a massive thing of paper in a folder.I sighed, "What Emily? I was just about to leave.""Well Charlie was looking into something and it got him kidnapped, correct?" Emily asked."Yes, it did. Now are you stating facts or is there something else you'd like to tell me?" I grunted."Well, I'd like to know why..." Emily looked around making sure no one was around us before she leaned in. "Why didn't you tell me that he thinks it might be one of the gu
I kept running. I don't know how far behind they are from me. But I know if I look, I won't get the chance to get out again."Melody!" Nick yelled, "Come on, let's just go back to the house and we can have something to eat."I was hungry and tired. I hadn't eaten since I got taken by Nick. Or slept very well either. But I'm not going to give myself up to him for food or sleep. If I have to eat or sleep in the forest...so be it.If I do eat something, how am I going to remember what is poisonous or is safe to eat? This is why I should've listened to my teachers about this kinda stuff.I heard their footsteps getting closer and closer to me. I know there's no way out of this for me. They will find me and I will be traded off for whatever the mysterious guy wants from me."Mel, come on. You have no family left. You have no place to turn to. Everyone you love dies on you. And whose fault is that?" Nick paused.I waited for an answer but none came. At that moment I felt a hand being plac
Unknowns POV"How far are you out?" James asked me."Well my flight landed about an hour ago so I should be there in about two hours. I'm coming there, no need to bring her to me. Stay there until I arrive." I responded.James sighed, "Fine. Just hurry up this girl you're obsessing over is a pain in the ass. You didn't tell me she was going to be this much trouble." "Well, find some way to make her comply till I get there." James chuckled, "Yeah right, but whatever you want goes." "That's right. So make it happen James." I suggested, "Whatever." James hung up the phone and that's when I pushed the gas pedal harder. I want her in my arms as quickly as possible. The first time we met her hair smelled like mangos. Her kindness towards others and her perfect smile. Her hands were always so smooth when I grabbed them. And the way her eyes sparkled when the sun hit her was perfect. And her perfect body shape made people turn heads. She may be broken in some ways, but to me she is mor
I stared at him and quickly tried getting out of my seat. But Nick and Mack blocked my only exits. I would climb underneath the table, but I knew I'd immediately get caught. That and who knows what's been on this floor."Oh hell no," I exclaimed."Payton, you're late. And next time knock on my door please." Nick politely suggested.I pushed Nick as hard as I could to make him get out. But damn he's a bolder. He didn't even move an inch. I'm pretty sure if he were standing up and I did that, I'd probably fall over. I only know that it wasn't Tom for one simple reason. Payton had a scar on his face on his cheek.Tom never had a scar on his face."Move Nick!" I shouted anxiously.Nick ignored me and just kept eating his food. Payton came and sat next to James, sitting directly across from me. He reached over and grabbed both of my hands. I immediately tensed up. He smiled at my actions. I then tried getting my hands away from him, but he tightened them making me stop. I forgot how stro
"But angel, you don't have a choice in the matter.""I'm not your angel, Payton! Never have been and never will be." I spat, struggling to get free from him."I will make you love me! And you will be my angel!" Payton shouted, making my eardrums ring. I pushed him with all my strength, and he finally fell over. I took the opportunity and ran towards the door. As I passed him, a few unpleasant curse words escaped his mouth.Darting toward the front door, I successfully got out, but made a mistake. I didn't move when I saw what was in front of me. I saw a familiar car and knew exactly who was here.Liam.He's here? He came here...for me? I was overjoyed that he was here to rescue me from Payton.Payton. I turned to see a very outraged Payton right behind me.I tried to run again, but he grabbed me so tight that I started to cry.Yes, Tom was violent but, Payton was more violent...especially toward Tom and sometimes toward me. Sometimes I wondered how Tom wasn't dead. That Payton didn
Banes POVMelody was like the sister me and Ferrell never had. We grew up with four other brothers. Not one single girl lived at our home. It was just us and our father.My mom left after my father found out she was having an affair with his best friend. And that whole divorce was messy. She wanted everything we owned. Not including the six of us. But luckily, my father got everything, and he had full custody of us.After she lost everything she wanted, we never heard from her or my dad's best friend ever again. Which is fine by me. They were both nasty people anyway. I'd probably run off to go hide at my father's place without his knowledge. But a few years later, we lost our youngest brother to Leukemia. He was only fifteen. It was one of the saddest days I've ever faced. Our family grew apart over the years after his death. However, Ferrell and I grew closer together.And this brother who was now driving like a manic was my best friend. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than whe
My father was alive and was working with Nick. Does that mean he's responsible for the mafia still? Or is Nick in charge? Or is it someone else?This is why I need answers. I don't know where Melody is, I don't know how my father is alive. And is my mother alive or is she dead? "Liam." Someone said, poking my shoulder. I turned to see that it was just Anthony. "What do you want now?" I angrily asked.He scratched the back of his head, "There's one more thing you need to see." I raised my eyebrow at him, "I'm sick and tired of all of you guys just not telling me what you're hiding! Maybe I should start killing people who hide stuff from me!" I yelled. Anthony gulped, and his eyes were wide. Good. He should be terrified of me, I'm a mafia leader, after all. Nothing in this world will terrify me. All except Melody."I'm sorry, sir. I just think that you wouldn't believe me if I told you." "Well, then show me."We walked up one of the flights of stairs. We stopped at one of the many d
The guys Kai had kicked out, came back in. But the one who told me to calm down looked familiar. Images of me and him playing as kids in the park. And memories of us growing up over the years until he left for college. "Nick?" I asked.He stared at me with a very blank expression."You remember me?" Nick asked, pointing at himself."Of course, I do silly. You're my best friend." I smiled, but it faded away. "Well, until you went off to college. We never talked after that. Even though we promised one another to stay in touch." Nick glanced at the other guys in the room, then back towards me. "Melody, do you remember anything else about us?" Nick asked.I looked at them each, trying to remember the slightest thing about them, "I'm sorry, I don't remember." All of them sighed in relief, which made me confused. Are they hiding something from me? And if they are, what is it?"Um... I only know Nick, and I can't remember any of you. So, can you tell me who you are?" I quietly asked. I'm
Five years later.Melody's POVEver since Liam walked out of the hospital telling me he never loved me I never saw him again. I knew from that day on I'd never see him again. Or any of his men again. And I never wanted to. He broke my heart. Though we never became a thing we had our moments. There were days we got close to kissing and all that romantic stuff. But someone would walk in and would ruin the moment. It's as if something in this world didn't want us to be together. But I never looked for him like some girls would. Why would I want someone who broke my heart? I didn't want anything to do with him or his mafia. I moved on and started over. I made a new life for myself and created a new me. I moved from New York to Washington. I know that's pretty far away from New York. But I didn't have anyone left there. I went to apologize to Thea but she already left for San Francisco. She probably wouldn't forgive me after what I did to her. How I lied to her how I yelled at her for no
"Hey mom, hey dad." I greeted walking into the kitchen."Hey sweetie, I made your favorite." My mom said putting a scrambled egg with two chocolate chip pancakes with it. And even put the best thing with it.Hash Browns. You can't go wrong with Hash Browns. "Have you seen dad, mom?" I asked glancing around the kitchen."He had some work he needed to do first.""What's up, Mrs. Fawson!" Thea shouted, barging into the house. That girl has no personal space."Hi, Thea." My mom slightly groaned. She's not a big fan of Thea. My father doesn't like her either which isn't surprising. Thea's got one of those personalities that is a tad harder to handle. Nonetheless, she's my best friend. She's the only reason why I go to school.As I finished my breakfast I noticed how fancy my mom looked. She was in one of her nicer outfits."Where are you going, mom?" I asked grabbing my backpack."Oh, I and your father are meeting with some friends. We're discussing a business opportunity today.""Oh with
I woke up, doing my morning routine. As I saw myself in the mirror. Dark circles started forming underneath my eyes. I looked exhausted and looked like I was about to kill someone. The second I thought that I decided I needed to blow some steam off. And when I mean blow steam off, I'm going to the gym. After I started my workout, I didn't stop until my hands were bleeding badly and started to bruise. I jumped in the shower that was near the gym and stayed in there for who knows how long. Once I jumped out, I put on new clothes that I'd brought with me. I then grabbed the first aid kit that was stashed away in case of blood and bruises. Which I have.I walked out of the gym and headed towards the tech room and saw something...unexpected.Wilson and Emily making out. They didn't seem to notice me, so I cleared my throat. They both looked at me and they both pushed away from each other. "Look, sir..." Wilson started before I cut him off."You can do whatever you want. Both of you are
Charlie! I felt relieved that he was okay. I hope his arms are okay, though. "Well, I was hoping you'd be out for a while longer," Payton admitted.I heard a slight chuckle from Charlie, "I was never out. Nick sucks at knocking people out.""I will shoot him." Payton threatened."You even try pulling the trigger, you will be dead before you blink an eye." Charlie threatened back. I got pulled back a bit by Nick, further away from Payton and Charlie."What are you..." I started but got cut off when Nick's hand covered my mouth."If you want anyone you care about to survive, you're going to do exactly what I say..." Nick whispered. He leaned directly next to my ear, his hot breath on my ear and a little on my neck, "I know Mack is on the driver's side of the van..."Mack? What's he doing here?"He's betrayed us one too many times for my taste. Here's what you're going to do. You're going to distract him while I knock him out. If you don't help me, I'll kill Mack first. Possibly kill
My heart started to beat so fast that my heart was going to jump out. I don't know how I'm supposed to be taking all of this. Am I supposed to say, 'Do what he wants' or, 'Don't listen to him! He's going to kill me and you, regardless of what you do.' This is why I don't develop feelings for people anymore. I've had my heart repeatedly broken, and I don't know how much more heartbreak I can take. "What's it going to be, Mr. King, helping me or fight for love? Especially when you know, regardless of what, I'll get what I want either way."Liam looked at me directly in the eyes, with what I saw in his eyes was they were dark and clouded. His face completely calm and showed no emotion. He didn't seem to have any sign that he cared what could happen next. That Liam didn't mean it when he said I love you.And that last thought terrified me to my core. I'm not ready to die! I'm 21! "Follow me." Liam grumbled. He quickly turned around towards the door and just walked out. Nick went out,
My father was holding my girl away from me...my girl! I don't care if he's family, she's family...she's my home.Home.I looked at Melody and her eyes were all red and a tad bit puffy. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, which is good. I don't need her doing something ridiculous that's going to possibly get her hurt or killed. I don't know what I'd do if she was hurt even more by them. And if she died right here, I know I'll never be the same again. I eyed Payton closely, just as Charlie had been doing. I could see it in his eyes, the way he watched each step Payton took and where Payton's eyes were at. Unfortunately, they were either at me or Melody. "Charlie, have a seat...please." Payton ordered, a smirk forming on his face.I looked at Charlie from the corner of my eye and saw all the color from his face immediately drain. We both knew what could happen to us if we didn't listen to Payton, but the thing that scared me the most was what he could do to Melody.Charlie considere
It's been a few minutes since I left her there alone with Payton. My gut told me minutes ago to rush in there to make sure she was fine. I heard yelling in there. I almost went in there, but Charlie tapped my shoulder, telling me to wait. So, I decided to listened to him and stay put. "Liam, come in here, please!" Melody shouted. I touched the door handle and that feeling that something was wrong increased significantly. As we entered the room, I noticed that Payton had gotten out of his chair and was covering Melody's mouth with one hand. His other hand had a knife near her throat.Charlie and I went for our guns when a sob came from Melody. Payton had put it right at her throat. It was close enough that if she moved, she was a goner. We both moved our hands away from our guns, and he moved the knife a bit away from her throat. I looked more closely at her and saw both hands were behind her back, while her eyes were red and puffy. Why would he do this to her? I thought he loved he
I started to wake up to someone yelling. And it wasn't just me who woke up. Bane, Ferrell, Charlie, and Anthony had also woken up. We all turned our heads towards Melody, who was screaming and crying in her sleep. All of us shot up from our spots and raced towards her. "Melody wake up." I calmly pleaded. If it isn't bad, maybe that should wake her up. She didn't wake up. Just more tears streamed down her face."Please stop!" She pleaded."What the heck is she dreaming about?" Bane asked."HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW! IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN READ MINDS OR SEE INTO PEOPLE'S MINDS!" I shouted."Yes, I... I understand." She mumbled. A few moments later, she started crying harder than before.Screw this."MELODY WAKE UP!" I shouted.Her eyes opened quickly, and she gave us all a blank stare."Mel, are you okay?" I asked. She didn't say anything and as I was just about to say it again she started to scream again."Stay away from me!" She shouted at a the wall behind us.We all looked to where sh
Looking at the view from the sky, I wondered one thing.Would I survive jumping out of a plan this high up without a parachute? Like, honestly, I'd give anything just to get away from them. They've been nothing but cruel to me the second I met them. Honestly, I don't feel welcome at the moment. Especially, every time I shifted in my seat, they all looked at me as if I were going to do something stupid. Which I might if I'm being honest with myself. "You know you should get some sleep." I turned around to see that it was Charlie who had said that."I'm okay." I mumbled. Charlie just sighed and didn't push me to sleep on the flight any further. Which I'm grateful for, especially since I'm not even tired. Okay, maybe just a little tired. But I'm not sleeping on this flight or anywhere near them. Payton and I are gonna escape with Nick, Clark, and James and then that's when I'll sleep. Well, possibly if they don't kill them first. Which is a very slim chance at this point. The weird