Jax (POV)

I slid into Bren’s car and pulled the door shut, my head falling towards the door frame. My stomach felt like it was in a knot, acid rose into my throat as I wondered if there was any chance that this was going to turn out ok. There was a chill in the night air and I hoped Bren would hurry. I looked into the passenger mirror and could see Fuchsia leaning on her car.

The car lights illuminated the area enough for me to see. She and Bren appeared to be arguing about something. Fuchsia’s arms were frantically moving until she placed both her hands over her face. I flinched as I realized she was crying. Bren stared at her silently. My body trembled as I placed my fingers on the handle. I wanted to go and comfort Fuchsia but I couldn’t get my body to move. I looked up again in time to see Bren pull her into a hug. Her body convulsed as she cried into his shoulder.

I caught sight of Sina as she walked around the car, she placed a hand on Fuchsia’s shoulder and said something to the two of them. Fuchsia pulled back and wiped her tears away and nodded. She stood up straight and then got in her car. Sina walked back around and got in the driver’s seat. Bren looked at their car for a minute before heading towards me. I shifted uncomfortably in the seat, my hands clenched tightly together in my lap. Should I ask him what happened?

Bren sat down heavily into his seat, leaned his head back onto the headrest and sighed. I unclenched my hands and nervously flexed my left hand before placing it onto Bren’s leg.

Bren opened his eyes and turned his head towards me, his eyes were red and glassy. Had he also cried?

I started to reach for his face but he surprised me as he turned towards me and quickly wrapped his arms around me. He buried his head in my neck and breathed in deeply. I didn’t know what to do as I slowly let my fingers touch his back only to be pushed away. Bren turned around and placed his hands tightly on the steering wheel. What was going on? Why did he push me away?

I felt the tears building in my eyes. I looked out the window in front of me and asked, “what did you and Fuchsia argue about?”

Bren pressed the ignition button on the car and it hummed quietly. He looked coldly out onto the road and said, “we don’t have a good plan and Fuchsia isn’t thinking clearly. I am afraid she is going to do something that is going to make things worse than they already are.”

I looked at him and asked, “what do you think she is going to do?”

Bren looked into the rearview mirror and said, “she thinks she is going to walk in there and offer herself instead of you.”

I grabbed Bren’s arm. “She can’t do that! Bren, promise me you won’t let her do that!”

He squeezed the steering wheel and said, “dammit, Jax do you have any idea how hard this is? Fuchsia doesn't want to pick between you and her mother. She wants to believe that there is another option. I want to believe there is another option too!”

Bren stopped talking and was silent. Sina pulled up beside us and tapped the horn to get our attention. Bren looked over and nodded. Sina pulled in front of us and we followed her out onto the road. I waited patiently for Bren to say something, anything. Bren put the car in self-driving mode and turned slightly to look at me. He said, “do you really want to know why we were arguing?”

I swallowed and wondered if I really did, but nodded yes anyway.

Bren reached into his pocket and grabbed a cigarette out and lit it. He took a long draw and breathed out.

The car filled with the sweet and spicy smell of his cigarettes and I fought back a wave of nausea but my face didn’t hide it well and Bren said, “dammit, I’m sorry,” as he opened the windows and threw his cigarette out.

He frustratingly looked back at me and said, “Fuchsia was hysterical, she doesn't want to pick between you and her mother. She told me she plans on confronting them and offering herself instead of you. I told her, NO! She yelled at me and asked if I really care about you!”

Bren covered his face while shaking his head and said, “of course I fucking do! I wish that there was another way!”

He looked up at me again, a few tears escaping his eyes and said, “I don’t want to lose you Jax!”

I looked away from Bren and stared out the window. What could I say? Bren had put his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. We sat in silence as I tried to figure out something to say. Despite everything that was happening I seemed to at least be thinking a little clearer.

I sat up straight, trying to seem confident in what I was about to say. “I have to go and we both know that. It is unlikely that they will do anything to me, especially if we give them reason not to. We can give them half of what they want but they won’t know that until after the trade has taken place. They won’t hurt me because they know if they do, Fuchsia will never give them the data.”

Bren rubbed his forehead. “I don’t want to send you! But this sounds like the best option we have. Let’s call Fuchsia and get them to pull over and talk to them.”

***

We all loaded into Fuchsia's car to talk. The conversation was rough, Fuchsia fought it the whole time but we eventually convinced her that it was the best option. I was sitting behind Sina and couldn’t help but see Fuchsia was cradling something in her lap. It looked like a box. I leaned forward in between the front seats. Fuchsia moved her fingers off the top enough for me to see the label, Bit Box 327. What was up with this box?

I reached forward and poked Fuchsia. She turned and looked at me and I said, “umm, why do you have that box?” Fuchsia looked down at the box and her fingers tightened around it. I sat back feeling a little scared because I had even asked. There were moments where Fuchsia could seem terrifying, and this was one of those moments. She gave me a side glance, squinting her eyes at me. Then she looked back down at the box.

Fuchsia said, “this is all of the research data from your father’s lab. It also contains some research that your father was working on without my knowledge.” Fuchsia pressed her nails into the top of the box.

I wanted to ask more, but judging from Fuchsia’s response it would have to wait.

Bren and I got back into his car and we continued to our destination, to the place they were holding Keri.

I tried to relax, but my cravings for Blue Cryo were becoming a bit unbearable. I have been trying to ignore it but I think my stress level is making it worse. Bren reached over and tapped my shoulder and said, “are you ok?”

I slapped his hand away without meaning to and was quick to say, “I'm sorry!”

He looked at me concerningly still but said, “it’s ok.”

I didn’t want to talk about what was going on in my head right now. I didn’t want to think about what was going to happen once they got me. I just needed to push it all out of my head as much as I could.

***

We pulled into a mostly abandoned part of town, it is the area that is close to where they are holding Keri. We got out and talked with Fuchsia and Sina. It was decided that Fuchsia, Bren, and I would go in his car and Sina would wait with the other car close by. Fuchsia said some last things to Sina and then crawled into the back seat of Bren's car. Bren and I started to head back to the car but Sina pulled me back and said "Jax, be careful!" I nodded and smiled and then walked on to the car. I looked back at Sina, one of her hands visible as it held tightly to the door on Fuchsia's car. Her hand glistened in the artificial light, it was a rare sight to see them uncovered and I welcomed the distraction. My mind wandered and I lost track of the moment until we arrived at our destination.

The coordinates that Lance had given us had led us to what appeared to be an old, abandoned building. I looked towards the steps that led to the entrance and I could see two men standing outside smoking. One of them entered the building probably to alert the people inside that we had arrived. We stepped outside the car. The night air was cold and uninviting, but my attention was drawn towards the sky. The stars sparkled above me and the moon offered quite a bit of light which I was thankful for since there was little artificial light in this abandoned area. I heard talking and returned my vision to the building, I could see several men walking towards us. The closer they got I could tell one of them was Mr. Creso. Behind him were several other men and as my vision adjusted I could see Lance. My stomach knotted and I felt sick, I wanted to run until I saw Keri beside him. She looked like she had a black eye and a cut lip. I felt anger surface as I saw what they had done to her. Fuchsia reached over and grabbed my arm, I could feel her body shaking. This was too much, she handed me the blank data drive and turned me toward her and gave me a hug. Mr. Creso's deep voice made me flinch as I heard him say, “It’s good to see you again Liam! Why don’t you come this way and I will send the woman to your friends.”

Bren grabbed my arm and prevented me from walking any farther. He stepped in front of me and raised his voice and said we will send him over at the same time you release the woman.

Mr. Creso looked at Bren and said, "I'm sorry, I don't think we have been introduced. Liam who is this friend of yours."

I could feel Bren's grip tighten around my arm, and an uncomfortable silence filled the air. I hid behind Bren, unable to speak.

Mr. Creso waved a dramatically dismissive arm in the air and said, "I suppose it doesn't matter. I can do as you ask."

Bren pulled me close beside him and leaned in close and said, “I will get you back, I promise! I love you!” My heart jumped as I heard him say those words and I fought back my tears.

Mr. Creso laughed and said, "let's not waste anymore of each other's time" ​and shoved Keri towards us.

I could tell Bren was hesitant about letting me go, but his grip finally released and I walked towards the men. Keri stumbled past me and almost fell but I caught her. She looked at me, her face tired and I could tell she was in pain. I mouthed, “I’m sorry,” and then we both walked on.

When I finally reached the other side, Mr. Creso was waiting for me. He held out a hand and said, "give me the data device, Liam." I had forgotten, I had been squeezing it tightly in my hand. This felt strangely reminiscent of the past and I felt myself begin to slip. Desperately, I tried to ground myself as the past started to rush back up to haunt me, images and voices began to fill my head. I heard someone laugh, and my attention was drawn to them. I cringed as I saw it was Lance, he was standing beside Mr. Creso and staring at me. The disgust and hate I felt for him was enough to bring me fully back to the present and remind me of my situation. I unclenched my fist and dropped the device into Mr. Creso’s hand.

I averted my attention quickly, not wanting to see the two people that I hated most in this world. I instead turned around to make sure Keri had made it safely to the others. I wanted to see their faces once more because I feared this might be the last time I would. Fuchsia was hugging her mother and Bren was looking my way. I wanted to run back to them but I knew that wouldn’t end well. I jumped when I felt someone grab my wrist and I turned my head in their direction to see what was happening. A man stood behind me placing something around my wrists. I tried pulling them apart but whatever it was just cut into my wrists. I heard Mr. Creso talking to his men, but the only thing that registered in my head were the words, “get the doctor and kill the others.”

My heart was beating so loud I couldn’t hear anything else being said. My body was heavy and cold sweat had begun to cover my body. My legs felt like they were going to collapse and I was dizzy. I jerked away from the person holding me and looked in horror at my friends. I tried to focus in front of me, my vision was narrowing and the darkness was encroaching. I somehow found the strength to yell, “get out, it’s a trap!” Someone hit the back of my legs and I fell hard, my face plummeted to the ground as I was unable to catch myself. I pulled my face up trying to see my friends as I heard gunfire erupt. I could see Bren grab Fuchsia and Keri and they ran to the other side of his car. Bullets ricochet off the car and plumes of smoke made it impossible for me to see what was happening.

Mr. Creso grabbed me by the back of the neck and pulled me to my feet, I gritted my teeth in pain. I felt blood trickle down my face where I must have cut myself when I hit the ground. Mr Creso’s said, “let’s go.” I pulled away angry and scared and he squeezed tighter on my neck. I heard tires squeal, perhaps another car, more gunfire. I tried to turn around and see what was happening but Mr. Creso hit me with something hard and my body collapsed.

The world spun around me and my vision blurred as the last thing I heard were the words, “boss they got away!”