❤️* hugs you*

-Ivy

"I would take a step away from Alex if I were you." I heard the click of his gun and I immediately took a step back, distancing myself from the confused boy in front of me.

Aaron was innocent and he definitely didn't deserve to be pulled further into this huge mess that I called my life. I could tell that he was already struggling so much with his own problems and the thought of burdening him with mine made the pit in my stomach even larger.

He had confided in me with his mom and I had promised to keep it between the two of us. His situation was in a way similar to mine, I had also lost my mother and even tho it wasn't the same I'd like to think that it has brought us closer together.

The Voids had the house surrounded and it was no use in fighting back or try to talk some sense into him for that matter. Lucas was no doubt one of my best friends and I knew very well that he would do anything to keep me safe, but that also meant keeping me away from all parts of my past.

Both he and Blaze had first-handed watched me slowly break apart over something as little as a reminder of the abuse I had experienced living in this exact house.

On the edge of my sight, I saw that Lucas slowly lowered his gun, but still, he kept it in his hand ready to use it if necessary. Lucas Accardio was not a man known to show mercy to his enemies.

For everyone it was, you could imagine the shocked expressions on their faces when the Void's most trusted men had decided that I was now under their protection. That they had to take a special liking towards an innocent and slightly nerdy girl that had no connections in the gang community.

The room was dead silent except for my racing heart that made it very hard for me to stay calm.

"Well well, what do we have here." He was now facing me. His usual sparkling green eyes that would lit up when we were arguing about something silly from the Bachelors were now replaced with revenge.

I knew he had planned to take revenge over my brothers on my behalf and he had only heard the stories, to him Aaron resembled my older brother in age and was therefore the target.

"Who the hell are you!?" He exclaimed before he walked straight up to him.

"Ah, ah. I wouldn't get so close if I were you. Your house is surrounded and any escape attempt would just make your death more painful. You know what? If you agree to step back and surrender I will make sure your death will be quick." Lucas spoke with such coldness that I became unsure if this was the same kind-hearted boy that I thought I knew.

I could tell Aaron was having an internal battle with himself and I silently begged him to not do anything stupid.

"You know it wasn't so hard to track you down Sorellina. The damn Italians should at least try to hide you better, I mean a normal house in a quiet street? It wasn't exactly hard to find the address in the school register." Lucas slowly leaned closer to me and bopped my nose.

He moved his hot breath against my ear and moved studied me before tucking a loose piece of hair behind my ear.

"You can be glad that I was one to find you first. We wouldn't want you to be kidnapped again, would we? He whispered, his voice laced with poison.

Leo slowly trailed his finger against my chin and down my exposed neck.

I felt Aaron's intense stare bore through the side of my head as I once again thought of what my next move would be. The situation nothing like I had previously imagined. I felt physically sick to my stomach and by every second that passed by an easy way of this seemed almost impossible.

As if sent by god the front door was suddenly pulled open by no other than my oldest brother Mason. He looked different... powerful.

He was wearing a black expensive-looking suit and long gone was my caring and loving Mase, this was a man that judging by his stone-cold expression you wouldn't want to mess with. I desperately wanted to run up to him and indulge him in a big warm hug, but Lucas's hard grip on my wrist held me back.

I couldn't help but wonder how to get past the armed guards outside, but I guess he must have sorted it out somehow.

"Oh look at that! If it isn't the oldest Moretti himself. Care to join our little reunion?" He chuckled to himself and I shuddered at the foreign and cold sound. I now refused to believe it was him.

I looked confused between both of them. Did they already know each other?

The atmosphere in our living room was tense and I could feel myself starting to panic. That was until someone gently grabbed my free hand and gave it a little squeeze. It wasn't much but it made me feel safer.

I carefully looked to my side where he was standing, looking down at the ground. Aaron was facing Lucas, giving him the perfect opportunity to escape through the backdoor that was located by the kitchen.

Except for my hand that was resting in his, I was completely trapped by my so-called friend. He had to run now when had the opportunity.

I carefully wiggled my hand out of his grip and that made him finally look up from the floor and face me. His eyes traveled over my body. From my bruised arm to my head that twisted in a weird way to aloud me to look over Lucas's shoulder.

Aaron looked angry and tried to give him the best smile I could make. I must have looked insane with my dissolved hair, a pair of my favorite sweatpants, and an old band tee, but his face softened slightly and I swear I saw his lips tilt slightly upward.

Seeing that Mason and Lucas seemed to have a very intense starring competition, I grabbed the opportunity.

"Aaron you need to get out of here right now." I pleaded.

He looked at me confused before shaking his head. Aaron stood completely still and I could feel the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

"Please just go," I begged, letting out a large sob.

That must have caught Lucas and Mason's attention because suddenly I was being pulled further away from Aaron.

Lucas roughly pulled my back into his chest making me face both my brother and my...friend. Before I even had the opportunity to fight back he placed the barrow of his gun against the side of my head.

The cold metal rested against me as a painful reminder that this was perhaps the end of my life. I was 17, almost eighteen years old. On the inside, I was screaming for myself to wake up from this horrible nightmare and return to my friends in New York. Where I still had Olivia, Xander, and Leo. I wanted my best friend Lucas back and I wanted to see Blaze.

I didn't know if Blaze was involved in all this shit but seeing that Lucas had brought at least 15 men from the Void, something big must have happened there since I had left.

"If you know what's best for you then you release my little sister right now." Mason hissed.

I felt Lucas's chest rumble with laughter and he was not taking his threats seriously, that stupid shit. I seriously start to wonder if he has been this fucked up all the time and I have just been too blind to see it because this guy is seriously messed up.

My wrists were throbbing in pain but I managed to muster together all my strength before I shove my elbow into his guts and then I quickly stepped on Lucas's foot as hard as I could.

He instantly loosened his grip and I fell on my knees, thanking God that Xander taught me some self Defense at the fight club. I quickly pulled myself up and inspected the damage on my arms and wrists.

Multiple red and purplish bruises were scattered all over my forearms, as well as his fingerprints. I moved my gaze over to my brother that was busy tying Lucas up with some thick rope.

When he was done he quickly turned to me pulling me into a big hug. This very much reminded me of the time when he came into my room after my brothers had kidnapped me. I was angry and sad, but as soon as Mason had hugged me, everything became... Lighter.

I carefully rubbed circles on his back while he held me, being careful with my arms. Our hug was interrupted by the front door that suddenly kicked open.

I instantly pull away from Mason, looking up at him with a panicked expression. Only to find that him smirking at me.

"Shh don't worry it's just Axel, Carson, and Damon." He reassured me. And soon after we were joined by the rest of my siblings. All of them dirty and bloody?

I rushed towards them pulling Carson into a quick hug before moving on to Axel. Damon gave me a small nod which I returned.

"What the hell happened to you guys? You look like you just came home from war!" I exclaimed looking at their dirty clothes and bloody hands.

"Well someone had to deal with those damn guards outside," Damon muttered.

Did my brothers kill someone? Please tell me they aren't involved in this. I started pacing back and forward trying desperately to calm myself down.

No, No, No

"Alex, are you okay?"

I stopped pacing and turn to Aaron who once again had appeared by my side. I poke his chest with my finger.

"You! What were you thinking? When I tell you to leave, you need to leave! What if he decided to kill you huh? I can't..." I rambled hitting his hard chest.

He cut me off by cradling my face in his large hands, forcing me to look at him.

"I wasn't going to leave you alone with that psycho. Who knows what would have done to you if I weren't here, just look at your hands, Alex!" Aaron shouted.

"Why do you care? All you've done since was being an asshole to me." I said, my voice hoarse from screaming.

He looks down at me, his green eyes looking sad. I shouldn't have said that.

"I am just trying to keep you safe." He responded, dropping his hands from my face. Aaron turned away from me and started walking towards the staircase. Oh no, he is not walking away from our conversation.

"Why? Why do you have to act like this?" I run after him trying to catch up with his long strides.

I reach for his shoulder, making him face me again.

"Because I am a monster, Alex! I ruin everything and no matter what I do everyone I love dies. I couldn't even protect you from that man! I can't risk getting attached to you Alex and then loose you. Just look at what happened earlier, I couldn't protect you, you could have been kidnapped or even killed."

"Lucas wouldn't have done that, I promise I'm gonna be okay just please..." I tried to reason with him.

"Please understand that you can't be friends with me." He said before he turned his back on me and left.

I carefully grabbed his arms, pulling him towards me. I then circled my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest.

"Watch me."