Adriana P.O.V.

Tears streamed out of my eyes as I watched Ajax punched Jake in the temple, cleanly knocking him out. I tried to speak and scream around my gag as Tom dragged Jake out of the room. Worry and fear instantly swept through me; what were they going to do to him?!

Ajax turned back to me and grinned widely. He sat down in a chair by me, slowly running hand up my thigh, making me screw my eyes shut and fresh tears threaten to fall.

"I am sure you are very confused, my love. But I am ready to explain everything to you. Just be quite for me ok?"

He tapped the tip of my nose, making me jump. His hand steadily crept up my leg as he began to talk,

"I don't really blame you for not remembering me, darling. You're aware your father and my uncle were friends in high-school?"

I nodded as much as I could.

"Well, they were still friends when we were little. We spent a summer together as kids, little Adriana."

I frowned, trying to remember ever hanging out with the Collins boys.

Ajax looked thoughtful for a second,

"Let's see...I think you were four and I was seven. Jake was there too."

He gave me a toothy grin,

"Both me and Jake liked you back then. See, the difference with him was that he discovered girls in freshman year and forgot ALL about you. But I never did."

I let out a squeak when his hand reached the top of my thigh. With all my strength I moved my chair away from him, making him chuckle. He placed a finger under my chin,

"See my love, I have always known since I was a kid I would take over the gang. I also knew that involved getting a wife strong enough to help me with the gang."

My heart stopped. Was he really thinking what I was hearing?

He smiled at me softly, reaching behind him and pulled out a small box. A ring box.

My eyes went wide. What was he doing?

He untied my one hand, leaving the other hand tightly bound. He whispered,

"I chose you when I was seven years old. I have kept track of you for your whole life. I have protected you and you didn't even know it. Who do you think drove your abusive Dad away from you? Who do you think told Aunt May that time when Norman was trying to rape you to call Jake?"

I could only stare at him, my mind whirling. Was he stalking me my whole life? Was he watching my every move and I hadn't even known it?

He smiled at me, an actual look of love flashing across his face,

"I wanted you to have a normal life so I kept away. I watched you grow up from a cute feisty child, into a sexy feisty adult. But,"

He frowned and a deep anger replaced the love on his face,

"Something went wrong in my plan. You fell in love with Jake, the playboy that will never care about you, and not me, the one who has always, and always will, love you."

Suddenly, he grabbed my free hand, possessiveness gleaming on his face,

"With this ring, I will show you that. I chose you as a co-boss of the gang, as a lover, as my wife."

He opened the box and pulled out a beautiful ring.

It was two vipers intertwined. They were made of gold and the detail in each scale was stunning. The vipers had their mouths open and the fangs held the most beautiful blood red ruby.

When he grabbed my hand I tried to snatch it away. That was an engagement ring! I didn't want to marry anyone right now, especially not this psycho!

When Ajax saw my struggle his dark blue eyes grew stormy and angry. Before I knew what was happening, a hard slap was delivered to my face, making my head whip to the side. His face looked crazed as he chuckled and snatched up my hand, slamming the ring onto my ring finger. It fit perfectly.

Ajax stood up and gave me a sparkling smile.

"Now you are mine. Don't worry my love, once we get back home you will have a new family."

He leaned down and kissed under my jaw softly, making me instinctively shiver.

"And I will make you happy so that you smile like you did all those years ago."

Then he walked away, jerking his thumb to me while talking to a man standing guard by the door.

"Drive her to my jet. Make no stops."

The man nodded and stepped towards me. He was in a casual suit with sunglasses on. He didn't even pause as he picked up the back of the chair, lifting me up like I weighed nothing.

As he picked me up, my mouth brushed his shoulder, making the gag fall off. I spit it out and yelled,

"Ajax! What are you doing to Jake?! Get back here, you asshole!"

Ajax froze in the doorway and slowly turned to me, giving me a splitting grin,

"Your Jake is just fine, along with your little bastard brother. I'm even taking care of your little admirer Norman."

Then his grin turned sickening,

"And your Madison is having the time of her life with Tom right now I'd bet."

Tears started to stream down my face with fear. This was all my fault.

It was my fault everyone I cared about was getting hurt.

Ajax started to walk away again and I cried out again,

"Ajax! Please don't hurt them! I'll do anything! Please let them go!"

Ajax paused slightly but ignored me and continued to walk. Desperate now, I screamed,

"I'll marry you! I will willingly follow you to LA and do whatever you want! Just don't hurt them!"

Ajax spun around on his heel and gave me a large genuinely thrilled smile,

"Really? You mean it?"

I quickly nodded my head. I did mean it. I would do anything for them. I loved them all so preciously.

Ajax snapped his fingers and the ropes holding my hands behind my back fell, freeing me.

"Then prove it, my love."

He held out his arms and smiled at me.

I shakily stood up on my feet and make it look like I was rubbing my rope burned wrists behind me but I was really tucking the cord in the back pocket of my jeans.

Fighting the urge the glare at him or run away as fast as I could, I shyly walked towards him, keeping my head low so my hair hid my face. When I was close enough that I could smell his overly strong cologne and his large chest was in my vision I paused and whispered,

"I'm shy if he's here."

Ajax caught on what I was talking about and gestured for the guard to leave. He silently moved out of the room, leaving me and Ajax alone.

"Love?"

Ajax slipped a finger under my chin and lifted it, making me look him in the eye.

"Dont be scared, precious."

I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed to every powerful being I knew.

Dear God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Nachos, if any of you out there is tuning into my life at the moment, please help me and forgive me.

I stood up on my tiptoes and wound my arms around his neck, trying to pull him down to me since I was so short. He obliged readily.

I pressed my lips against his gingerly, not wanting to have much contact but he seemed to be having none of that. He spun me around and gently pushed me against the wall, enthusiastically moving his lips against mine.

I slowly lowered my hands in the guise of running my hands over his chest. He groaned in approval and pressed against me harder. This was just plain disgusting.

When my hands reached his hips I quickly moved my hands to my back pockets and pulled out the rope. His tongue pushed against my lips and when I held my lips tightly together, refusing him entrance, he wound his fingers through my hair and tugged, making me gasp.

While he was distracted I moved the rope, which was tightly balled in my fists, behind his back and moved my hips against his. He finally pulled back, gasping for breath and rested his forehead against mine, his soulless dark eyes boring into mine.

"W-Wow I love you."

For a second, just for a tiny second, my heart twitched. I don't think any girl is immune to a guy saying he loves her, no matter who it is. Then the firm fear which had installed itself in my heart replaced it but this time there was determination. I would save myself and my friends. I could save myself and my friends. I had to.

I slipped behind him and pressed a trail of kisses down his neck. He titled his neck to me, baring it to me. When I reached the joint of his collarbone I nipped the sensitive skin. He gasped and I watched as his eyes fluttered shut. Now was my chance.

As fast as I could humanely move, I moved the rope up and pressed it as hard as I could against his windpipe.

Ajax made a chocking sound, which I could tell was from surprise. His hands flew up to his throat and tugged at the rope, which I held tight. I wrapped my legs around his waist and applied more pressure, making him chock more.

He tried rearing and shaking, even slamming me into the wall, trying to get me off but I ignored the pain in my head as my brain was shaken and the pain in my back and focused on everything he was threatening to take away from me.

A picture of Madison and I snuggling while watching Megamind, laughing our asses off.

A picture of Norman and I kissing under the apple trees.

A picture of Zero laughing with me and his mum over a meatloaf.

A picture of my Dad and my Mom kissing my cheeks, hugging my tightly.

Then there was Jake, my high school heartthrob. Out of all our memories, I remember him holding my hand in the school nurses office.

With newfound resolve, I tightened the rope even more and Ajax finally collapsed, chocking and thrashing.

After about of minute of constant struggle, he finally went limp.

Gasping for breath, I struggled away from him and stared unseeingly at what I had done.

It started to sink in: I had killed a person.

Bile stung the back of my throat and I sank to the ground, my legs too weak to hold me up after the adrenaline had left me.

I buried my face in my hands and started to weep.

This wasn't a few "boo hoo" tears. This was screaming and sobbing and snot streaming down your face tears.

I don't really know how long I cried. I don't really know when or how the police got there. I don't really know when Jake, black and blue with bruises, started holding me there on the dirty floor of my old apartment. I don't really know when Mr. and Mrs. Collins got there, hugging me and Jake tightly, tears streaming down Mrs. Collins face.

All I knew was that I felt numb.

Numb and unfeeling.

~~~~~~~~~

"Common and play with me Adriana!"

It had been a week.

Rosalyn tugged on my sleeve as I stared blankly at the wall. Madison had already been by to see me, a few minor bruises but nothing too major or scarring.

Reece was taking care of her for me.

Even Norman had been by, bringing with him, after some research, my favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Its a shame it did nothing but melt.

Zero came by with Crystal, and he bore a black eye that was puffy and swollen. It looked painful despite him saying it didn't even hurt anymore.

What they didn't know was that every time they came to see me, it sent guilt and pain somewhere deep inside of me.

This was all my fault. What happened to them was my fault.

A single tear fell down my cheek. The guilt was crushing.

A gentle knock sounded at my door. When I didn't say anything, the person took it as an invite to come in. For the first time in days, my eyes showed emotion by widening in surprise. It was Mrs. Collins.

She walked over to me in her sharp crisp suit and shiny black heels. She reached my pile of blankets where I had buried myself and lowered herself next to me. She popped a criss cross applesauce and peered at me. When I simply blinked at her she sighed and looked up at the ceiling before beginning to talk,

"I doubt anyone really knows what you are going through, but I have some news for you. You didn't kill Ajax."

I froze and stared at her in shock. I was a-a murderer? I didn't kill anyone?

"You simply knocked him out. The police have him in custody and he wont ever be coming out of federal prison. He is out of your life."

She paused and a look of surprise crossed her normally stoic face when she saw my finger.

"You are still wearing the ring?"

I nodded and decided to speak for the first time since the accident,

"It reminds me of what I am."

She raised an eyebrow in confusion so I explained,

"In a space of six months I have hurt everyone I care about. Ive been with you six months, Mrs. Collins and I nearly had everyone I care about killed. I'm like the snake on this ring. I bring nothing good to people."

Mrs. Collins's face softened and she reached out and cupped my cheek, taking me by surprise. She whispered softly,

"You know Adriana, in life we don't get to decide what we are given. Its like you are given sugar cookie dough. No matter what you do, no matter what shape you make it, no matter what you put in it, its a sugar cookie. It will taste like one and look like it. But what you put in it decides it. You could make your life taste sweet, or you could make it bitter. You will only get out what you put in."

Well, she was talking food and that was my second language, so I got what she was saying. But she wasn't finished yet, so she continued to speak,

"You also don't get to decide who you love in this life. It will always sneak up on you. At least, it did for me."

She chuckled and smiled at me,

"Me and George aren't really the traditional couple are we? But that doesn't matter, all that matters is that we love each other. You know, not very many people get the privilege of having that kind of connecting love. I believe you have it with my son."

She stood up and brushed off imaginary dust from her suit jacket. She walked towards the door of my room, my eyes following her the entire time. Before she closed the door she paused and stuck her head back in,

"Don't throw away what you have with my son. Go see him, he is beyond himself with worry."

Then she closed the door, leaving me again in the dark room and my thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~

I flew through the hallways, whirling around corners and barreling past poor maids. My bare-feet thrummed against the carpet and hardwood as I ran through the house looking for Jake.

I loved him. I loved him so much it hurts.

My lungs screamed and burned from the actual exercise, but my heart was still racing and aching with a clear but not entirely unpleasant pain. One was from the fact I had eaten too much cookies in my lifetime and the other was from the amount of love I felt welling up from the very tips of my toes. I sent a thought to my mom,

'Loving someone is beautiful, Mom. I'm trying to live that beautiful life you told me be live, and it starts with Jake.'

I whirled around the corner and found myself looking into the Collin's underused private club room. Seriously their house was like Willy Wonka's factory.

He was staring blankly at the wall, looking worried. It took everything in me not to laugh when I saw he had a beard. Oh man it did nothing for him.

I cleared my throat shyly from the entrance of the room and Jake perked up, turning to look at me. His eyes sparkled like gems when he saw me, which warmed my heart.

"Ri?"

He stood up and stared at me. We simply stared at each other for a few seconds before my feet started to move toward him. Next thing I knew, I was running to him, as fast as my feet could carry.

I launched myself into his arms and hugged him close. He spun me around and buried his face in my neck, taking a deep breath. His arms held me so tightly it almost hurt and I chocked out into his ear,

"Never let me go."

His grip tightened unbelievably more and whispered back,

"Never."

~~~~~~~~~~