4. Lucky Pennies Aren't All That Lucky

I was thankful for that moment when you first woke up.

That flicker of a second where everything was peaceful, where there was silence and no voices speaking of gangs and violence and threats aimed at me.

Everything was perfect.

That is until reality decided to smack me in the face.

The noise that came out of mouth sounded barely human, as the memories of the previous night hit me - including the pain. "Good God, Ash, couldn't you have given me something for this damn pain." I gritted out, "Least you could do."

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when a figure stood up from the chair in the corner.

"Sorry - I knew it wore off, I just wanted you to wake up." Ash apologized, "The medicine will make you sleepy."

I let out a gasp, clasping my hand to chest. "You - you scared me."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Sorry about that."

I watched him, feeling guarded. "You aren't going to kill me, right?"

Ash rolled his eyes, "No. We are not going to kill you."

"But, you're a gang right?" I pushed, wincing as I tried to sit up.

He sighed. "You would call it a gang - it isn't that at all. We would be the good guys anyways." He pushed.

"The good guys." My voice fell flat. "You're in a gang! That means you aren't exactly great. I need some luck."

"Borrow this," Ash winked, reaching into his pocket to produce a penny. "It's my lucky penny, just for you."

I took it from his palm. I needed any help I could get. "Thanks." My voice fell flat. "That doesn't help anything though."

Ash rolled his eyes. "We are all here for certain reasons. We aren't just here because we think it is 'cool' This was the only choice we had."

"They forced you to be in here!" I shrieked, my eyes widening in alarm.

Ash smacked a hand to his forehead. "No - you don't-"

"I thought I heard an annoying voice." Riley rolled his eyes, appraising me. "And I was right - the drama queen has risen from the dead."

"I'm not dramatic." I sighed. "You're the one who carries a gun and is in a gang! You could shoot me!"

"I wish." He grumbled, his nose wrinkling. "Sadly, we all have orders not to harm you. And gang?" He snorted, shaking his head.

"Orders?" My tone had curiosity written all over it. "What - wait, no? I'm not getting tied into this-"

I was cut off by Ash mumbling "Too late..."

I didn't pause to ponder that thought. "...I demand you release me! I want to leave."

"Sorry, Doll." Jace had walked through the door, a smirk etched onto his face. "In your condition and with all this shit happening, you aren't leaving."

"Right." I hissed sarcastically, gripping my stomach in pain. "Do you have any ibuprofen?" I hissed to Ash.

"I'll get you something stronger." He was quick to stand up, rifling through the cabinets that lined the walls of the room.

"And what do you mean with 'all this shit happening'." I continued, pressing my hands to my temples to try to keep the throbbing at bay. "I just want to go home." I could feel my adrenaline draining and the situation finally dawning on me. My exhaustion had made itself present and suddenly, I had the urge to cry.

"Are you stupid?" He hissed, "Do you not realize the direness of what is happening?"

"No, because none of you are bothering to tell me!" I bit my lip. "You - you suck at being a cop!"

Riley burst out laughing, his arms wrapping around his waist. "I don't think you can really consider us cops anymore, cupcake - we're crooked, remember? We could be considered imposters." He choked out, still laughing.

My eyes narrowed at him, "You suck. I am leaving." I pushed myself off the couch, stumbling at a head rush that hit me.

"Dammit! You're going to hurt yourself!" Jace gripped my arm, pushing myself back on the couch.

"Don't touch me." I flinched away from his hand.

He sighed, holding his hands up in surrender. "Fine, can you just sit down and we can explain all this?"

"Savannah! I heard you were causing some trouble." I stifled a groan when Cameron strolled in, a smirk spread across his face. "Aw, look at you - all innocent and cute." He cooed.

I watched him with a guarded look. "I'm not causing any problems what so ever. I just want to leave."

"Sure, just stroll out with a concussion, a black eye, and two broken ribs, not to mention those cuts on your arm - uh huh - genius idea." He dead-panned, rolling his eyes. "I personally thought you were smarter than this."

I stuck my tongue out at him, before freezing. "Black eye?" Letting out a groan, I shrunk into the couch, pulling the blanket that someone had laid over me tighter. "How bad is it?"

"You sure got a shiner, one K.O?" He questioned and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Ash scurried back in, a glass of water secured in one of his hands. "Savannah - just swallow this pill.

"I bet you're trying to kill me." I muttered, accepting the medication from him and popping it into my mouth, eager to rid myself of the pain.

"Some are more willing than others." Riley muttered "You're what? Two feet tall? I could squash you with my thumb." He sneered.

"If my ribs didn't feel like they were giving birth, I would march over there and kick your sorry ass-"

"Savannah! A lady mustn't ever swear." Cameron chided, but he quickly pursed his lips. "On second thought, I don't think you could be considered a lady..."

I think I had started cursing him out.

"Careful, Savannah," Xavier started, as he too, joined us in the tiny room. "We wouldn't want your blood-pressure getting too high."

"What is this?" I muttered, shutting my eyes. "A party?"

Jace cleared his throat. "As much as I don't want to interrupt all this... fun... We do have matters to discuss."

"Jace," Cameron shook his head, sighing dramatically. "Always business."

Jace shot him a dangerous look.

"Well, this was fun." I dragged out, shifting myself slightly. "Maybe, I should go..."

Jace's arms crossed. "Nope."

Deciding it was best not to answer, I watched the men in front of me with narrowed eyes.

Cameron let out a long sigh. "Okay. Riley will go ahead and make you some hot chocolate and we can talk."

"No f-" Riley began, but was interrupted by Jace.

"I think that's a good idea." He leveled his gaze on Riley, who had stiffened, exited the room, swearing under his breath.

"Hot chocolate?" I had perked up. "Fine, I'll stay for just one cup, before I leave."

"I wouldn't bet on it." Ash muttered. "Okay, let's go."

A mug was settled between my palms, my eyes narrowed at the cop sitting across from me on the sofa.

"Can't you just tell me?" I sighed, shifting slightly. Cameron had chucked an afghan on me, clucking like a mother hen around me.

Jace hesitated. "I don't want you to flip your shit."

"I don't believe that will happen..." I mumbled, tracing the rim of my mug with my fingertip. "Don't you think it would be better if I just knew?"

I was still trying to force the group of men to tell me, what exactly was going on. They were more than just a little but hesitant and I could tell they didn't want to scare me, so I wouldn't run.

"Of course, I suppose." His head tilted slightly and he inhaled. "Last night you were targeted by Ricardo, and his men."

"Who are they?" I questioned and his expression grew distant. "A family I suppose." His lips pursed. "That's what they claim, but they recruit men and blackmail in order to gain more power for themselves."

"Power?" My eyebrows had drawn together and I didn't miss the way Riley and Xavier exchanged looks.

Jace seemed to struggle for words, before he sighed, "Money."

My mouth popped open. "How does that work?"

"Haven't you heard, money equals power?"

I nodded hesitantly, "How does this tie in with you?"

More glances exchanged.

"Have you ever heard of the Kingston's?" Riley finally smirked, as he crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"Of course - but, I'm not sure I understand..."

The Kingston family was one of the richest empires in the world. Not only were the rolling around in their business's money, but it rumored that they had sunk themselves into something deeper.

Something illegal.

The name was familiar, but there were no faces that could be connected to it.

"This is Jace Kingston." Riley gestured to the cop and my jaw fell open.

"In fact, Ash and two others are all heirs to the massive empire the Kingston's have made."

Still trying to wrap my brain around the fact I was seated in front of some of the richest people in the world, I shook my head. "And this Ricardo wants in on your money?"

A hint of a smile played at Cameron's lips. "Not exactly."

And then his expression deepened into something I had never seen among Cameron's face.

Hate.

"It goes deeper than that - things you would never be able to understand. Originally they did - but, it got so much deeper than that." Xavier sighed, his gaze flickering to the stony expressions of all the men in the room.

"Are you guy's enemies?" I asked curiously, sinking deeper into the comforts of the blanket.

Jace snorted and my face reddened. "I suppose you could call our relationship that - we do have our disagreements. Though, that term seems a bit premature."

Still blushing, I shot a weak scowl at him. "Disagreements?"

He shook his head. "Nothing you need to know."

"Right, because I wasn't just attacked because them."

Jace cleared his throat. "Just, if you hear that name when you aren't with any of us - run in the opposite direction and let us know."

"Run?" I stated, sourly.

Jace chuckled "Look at your face, Savannah, you think you can survive another beat down by them? I think you can understand just how dangerous they can be."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "They caught me at a bad time. I'm sure I could kick some ass.

He rolled his eyes, pushing his brown hair out of his eyes. "Right. A girl against a guy, who is twice her weight, that sounds very promising."

He continued, his smirk still centered on his face. "But, speaking of fighting - I think we'll need to teach you some basic self-defense. Last night only proved to us, that you don't have any experience at all."

"That's not true!" I protested, wincing as a flare of pain picked up from my ribs. "I know how to throw a punch!"

Cameron bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Make a fist?"

I did as he requested, raising my hand up to show them all. Their eyebrows cocked and they-

...all broke out laughing.

"You don't tuck your thumb in, little Sav. You leave it out so you don't break your hand." Cameron chortled, his face morphed into a grin.

My fist fell and I quickly tucked my hand under the blanket. "That - that doesn't matter."

I was quick to change the subject, sticking my tongue out at their amused expressions. "Okay, recap. You, the Kingston's, have a disagreement, with the Nixon's, who attacked me because of power?"

"Like we all said, it goes much deeper than that, but I suppose that is the basic version." Jace replied stiffly.

I gritted my teeth. "I don't see why you can't tell me what happened."

Jace sighed, running a hand over his face. I could already see some stubble growing in, decorating, which only succeeded in making him look sexier. I shook my head at the distracting thoughts, honing in on the conversation.

"We've always been stronger and they know that. Yet, they still try to contest that." He shook his head.

"I don't understand," I was more than just a little bit frustrated. "How do you have more power? Can't you just go to the cops, for real, if these guys are annoying you? You have so much money - I don't understand why that wouldn't work."

"If we tell the cops, we all lose, Savannah! You don't understand. The fact is that Ricardo attacked you because they knew you were in link to us and you were the weakest link. It is how it goes in this business."

"But, what are they trying to achieve?!" I exclaimed.

Jace narrowed his eyes at me. "We've been at a stalemate and by doing this, things have changed. You may be able to improve our situation!"

"What in the ever loving hell are you talking about?" I whispered, feeling the fear grow in me.

"You could help us - we could be done with this forever. We could have her back!"

"Jace, man..." Cameron started, his voice a warning.

"Her? I am not some bait in your little games." I hissed, tears beginning to well in my yes.

"It wouldn't matter anyway." Jace sneered. "They're coming after you now and they want you, dead or alive. You're in relation to us now and they make sure to take out anyone that could potentially give us a gain. And if killing you could potentially weaken us - they would do it."

Hysterical feelings began to bubble within me. "I have some lunatics after me - that is not okay! I have to leave!"

"You wouldn't be safe out of the country either." He sneered. "Loyalties and allies range everywhere."

"You're heartless." I whispered at him, wiping at the tears.

Feeling myself beginning to shake, my words began to blend together. "I have a life! I can't just stay here because of your little problem. I have a job! I have school and art and friends! Plus, I need to contact my family."

Jace snorted. "I have all your records and your contact with your parents has been dwindling. They live in a fucking different state. You think they're going to wonder if you don't talk to them for a few days? They're both busy people."

"I hate you." I whispered, tears beginning to make their appearance. "I hate you."

He looked regretful as he swallowed. "Savannah-"

I shook my head, standing up. "No - I, I need to rest and think about all of this."

"There's more."

I stiffened. "What else is there to say?"

He sighed. "With them a danger out there - they will jump at the next chance to take you. They didn't take you this time to show what they can do. Savannah, you're staying here."

"You're kidding." I choked out.

"No,"

I didn't wait another moment - turning on my heel and making it for the door - feeling more confused than ever.

So much for lucky pennies. I was throwing this one away.

Thank you rinapoo33 for the cover you made for me! Its gorgeous!