A loud knock sounded at my door at 7:46. Mr. Greggs was running late. I opened the door revealing the tired old man, dressed to the T in a navy dress shirt and black dress pants. His black shoes looked as though they'd been polished this morning.

"You're looking snazzy, Mr. Greggs," I complimented him as I leaned against the doorframe. "Though a little tardy."

"I got held up by Ms. Smith at the lobby complaining about the lack of security at the front. Who in their right mind wants to break into this shit building? I told her that at least she could get the physical description of any intruder who tries because she spends so much time at the front. She didn't take it well."

I laughed, "You two drive each other crazy." I had never seen two such similar people dislike each other so much.

"She drives me crazy," he clarified. "You're off to work?" He inquired nodding at my clothes. I'm sure he was pleased to see me dressed before nine in the morning.

"I was waiting for you," I grinned at him.

He guffawed as he walked slowly up the stairs with his tired limbs, "Always the smooth talker."

"Someone's gotta keep you on your toes!" I chuckled, shutting the door to my apartment.

I dumped my cup of coffee in the sink and skipped down the steps towards the lobby, pulling out my phone as I caught a glimpse of Ms. Smith in order to pretend to be texting someone.

"Good morning, Emily," Ms. Smith's rigid voice filled the empty space loudly.

"Oh, Ms. Smith, I didn't see you there," I replied pushing the door open and holding it with one arm to indicate I had somewhere to be. The cold air bit at my cheeks. It was freezing outside.

"I saw a car drop you off a few days ago," she stated.

"A car?" I shrugged my shoulders feigning ignorance.

"I think it was an Audi? I caught a glimpse of the license plate actually. S3-"

"-You did not memorize the license plate," I looked at her incredulously.

"It stuck out," she said defensively.

Sure. "Well, this has been fun, but I really should head out."

"Where are you off to?" She inquired nosily. This woman had no sense of decency. She was relentless, I'd give her that. She literally did not care what I thought about her. And I had thoughts alright.

"Work," I gave her a tight lipped smile.

"Oh what must that be like?" She threw her head back and cackled. This woman was insane. I was sure of it.

"On that note," I nodded at her before exiting the apartment building. If I missed my bus, I was dropping off sleeping pills at Ms. Smith's door. Was there such a thing as sleeping brownies? Edibles' cousins if you will. That's what I needed. I should double check about the felony charges involved in giving people sleeping pills. I pulled out my phone.

Emily: Is it a felony to leave sleeping pills in someone's food?

Dad: Are you involved in date rape?

Emily: Never mind. This thought has spiralled into a criminal offence very quickly.

Dad: Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Dad: Pay the fine if you don't want to do the time (only applicable in minor charges)

Emily:...thanks, dad

Dad: Check out this website about how we're being surveilled 24/7-

I stuffed my phone back into my pocket. The bus made a stop and I followed the line of passengers out, making my way across the yard and into the lobby of the condo. I waved at the concierge at the front desk and travelled to apartment 4D.

I knocked in the most irritating way possible - incessantly, loudly, and out of tune. The longer Daniel took to answer the door, the more annoying my knocking became. Eventually I heard him yell that the door was open. I frowned. That was unlike him.

I tested the handle seeing that it was unlocked and creaked it open slowly. Daniel sat at the far end of the living room without moving. His eyes were shut and his face looked pained.

"Daniel?" I asked worriedly, "are you okay?"

He groaned, "I can't move, Emily." His eyes opened and I could see the fear behind them. I immediately began to do a physical check.

"Did you take your pain killers? The cold weather can be known to be difficult on joints?"

"I lost the last prescription I had yesterday. I keep a spare at my brother's gym." He replied.

"Okay, I'll just call your brother." I pulled my phone out and dialled Lucas's number. You've reached Lucas Miller. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.

"Hi, Lucas. This is Emily, the-uh nurse. Please call me back as soon as possible." I ended the call in frustration.

"He's not answering," Daniel groaned.

I called again. You've reached Lucas Miller. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.

"Hi, Lucas. Emily again. The uh-nurse. This is kind of an emergency so please call back as soon as you can."

I sighed calling again. You've reached Lucas Miller. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.

"This is Emily. The nurse. Again. When I said 'kind of an emergency,' I meant I really need you to get back to me right away. Right. Thanks."

"Emily. I'm a drug addict. I need to pop my pills." Daniel whined, but I could see the true pain behind his humor. He hadn't moved his neck since I arrived.

"Do you know where Lucas's gym is?" I asked Daniel, kneeling next to him.

"Yeah. But I'm not supposed to go there without Lucas knowing." Daniel explained.

"Well, we don't have much of a choice, do we?"

"I can't move, Em," Daniel said quietly.

"I know, honey." I stood up from beside Daniel abruptly. I pulled my phone out and dialled the number for a cab before getting the address to the gym from Daniel. "Don't move until I get back!" I yelled as I crossed the hallway.

"Ha-ha. You're hilarious." Daniel replied drily.

I sped down the elevator and entered the cab giving him the address for the gym.

I tried Lucas again as we drove. You've reached Lucas Miller. Leave a message and I'll get back to you. I was getting sick of that voicemail.

The taxi drove through a relatively rough looking neighborhood before pulling up in front of a gym called Body Armour. It was a small looking building with a couple cars parked in front of it. I noticed Lucas's black Audi right away. It stood out, especially in a neighborhood like this.

I pulled out my credit card to pay for the trip.

"Should I wait for you, ma'am?" The cab driver asked twisting around in his tattered seat to look at me. "This ain't the best area to be alone in."

I shook my head shooting him a small smile, "I'll be fine, thank you." I wasn't paying for him to sit around and wait for me outside. I'd just call another cab on my way back to Daniel.

I opened the cab door and jogged to the front entrance of the gym, opening it and hearing a bell chime. The inside had a large boxing ring smack dab in the middle and punching bags and speed bags littered around it.

There were men crowded all around, some smoking or fighting, most shirtless. I noticed Lucas in the middle of the boxing ring with his back towards me. He was holding up a boxing punch mitt in each hand as a row of what looked like teenage boys took turns either punching or kicking at his padded hands.

"Hey, doll. What can I help a pretty thing like you with?" I looked to my side to see a sweaty, balding man who I doubted had actually used this gym before. Or any gym for that matter. He held a cigarette between two chubby fingers as he grinned at me, a gold tooth in mouth. Dear lord, was this the available dating pool for me?

"I'm just looking for Lucas," I stated, walking away from the man and towards the boxing ring.

His large, round body quickly stepped in front of me, "Whoa. Don't hurt yourself there, princess. You need to pay for a pass if you want to walk through these doors. Here, let me help you find the office," he put his hand on my waist and began to push me away from the ring.

"Hey! Let go of me, you creep!" I thrashed at his arm, trying to remove it off my waist and my skin recoiled at the fact that he seemed to rejoice from my struggling. I glanced around at the other men loitering the gym to see no one even lifting an eye to the brute currently man handling me.

"Get the fuck out, Frank." Lucas' stern voice interrupted and I turned my attention to his shirtless muscular figure looming over from the boxing ring.

Frank dropped his hands from my waist and grunted, shoving the doors open on his way out. I smoothed out my clothes letting out a breath of relief.

Lucas stepped over the ropes around the boxing ring and walked over to me in concern, "What are you doing here?" He snapped. His body glistened in sweat and I could see his tattoos as clear as day, right in front of my face

They flitted all across his broad chest and down his arms.

"Daniel ran out of pain killers. He said you keep an extra bottle here." I explained.

Without a word he stepped into an office on the side of the gym and returned in a moment with a hoodie over his rippled body and a bottle of pain killers in hand.

"I'll be back, boys," he called out from the door and all the teenagers groaned as they watched us leave in disappointment.

I stood in the middle of the gym, unsure of where to go from here. Was I supposed to call a cab for myself?

"Well, are you coming?" He asked, raising his eyebrow inquisitively.

"Oh! Right," I replied, rushing to the door and following Lucas to his car, my heart racing.