"I feel like we haven't spent any real time, just us together in forever" Lana said hugging me tight in her doorway.

"I know me too" I said before letting her go.

"I need your gun safe" I told her showing her the briefcase.

"Sure" she shut the door "come on, I'll open it up"

I knew Lana had the safe for Ghost and whatever he made need to store, a 6' standing iron gun safe, that she opened up at the spin combo and swung the door open "here ya go"

I put the briefcase in there and she shut the door, spinning the silver wheel, closing it. I instantly felt relief.

"Let's order food and watch tv. I really just need some best friend time" I said sadly

"I'll have to call in sick to work but it's okay, I need a day off anyway. What happened after you went inside last night?" She asked grabbing her cell phone.

"It's not only that, but he was so cold and disconnected today, which I understand but he screamed in my face with so much anger and hatred in his eyes Lana, it was scary, he was scary" I explained

Her face fell in sympathy

"I'm sorry Hail"

"I hate Rex so much! He's such a dick! Bennie thinks he testing me but I think he's just a giant dick" I huffed "I told Cole to enjoy his father tonight while I was here" I laughed making her laugh with me.

"Oh my God, I just got a great idea!" I exclaimed "let's go get a tattoo! If you don't want one that's okay but yeah" I said nodding my head at her "I want a new tattoo"

"Down! I know the best artist in Vegas, I'll call her up, get ready!" She shoo'd me off

———————-

"Oh my...God!" I squealed in delight looking at my new ink in front of the full length mirror "it's perfect"

I looked down under my belly button, just above my pubic bone, was a black Phoenix with wings open hovered in flight, done in thin lines.

It was something to remind me that I'm stronger than I think, and I'll always fight to rise up strong, instead of running away like the weak shell of the person I was 2 months ago.

"What do you think?" I asked Lana, who was getting script written on her wrist, so she could see it before it got covered up.

"Love it" she said through clenched teeth "Holy shit the wrist hurts!" She panted out.

Once Lana's was finished, we left, and picked up food on the way back to her house so we could lock ourselves in for a ladies night.

We had just changed into our pajamas and got comfy the couch with food when Lana got up saying she had something for me.

She came back into the living room with her hands behind her back like a little kid making me laugh at her and tilt my head at her "What?" I ask

She smiled and brought her hands in front of her "here" and handed me a framed picture of me and Cole on his bike, the one Lana had taken of us in front of her house.

We looked cute and happy and I couldn't help but smile when I looked at it.

"Thank you for this" I said with mixed emotions

"Don't worry Hailey, Rex will go home and Cole will be back to his normal self" she said.

"He can't leave soon enough" I sighed "we were supposed to be dealing with Ryan and it's like he's completely forgotten...And, whatever happened last night has him completely shut down and ten steps back from where things were between us" I explained "I love him so much but it's like living in constant fear he's going to be taken from me somehow, either another woman or dead" I explained to her

"I get that. I feel that same way about Ghost, but I just try to remember that he already picked me and let everybody know that he did, that has to count for something" she said with a shrug of her shoulder.

"Yeah I know, but it's so hard with all these outside influences, I just want him all to myself and not have to share him with everyone else. Making it known I'm his old lady, doesn't stop all these bitches from trying, and some days all he has left over for me is spread thin" I complained

"Is he worth it?" She asked as she studied me

"Of course" I answered with no hesitation

"Then suck it up buttercup, I've watched you get stronger and stronger day by day and week by week, you're finding you again. You've done that! Cole may have been behind you encouraging you but you've gotten stronger on your own. I have no doubt you're going to stand up for yourself and for Cole, against whoever that may be, Rex or another woman" she said with a an eyebrow up and a nod.

"This is why I'm glad you're my best friend and that you came home this morning and made time for me, I love you, you've been the only one there for me that I can count on" I gave her a hug "and you always gas me up better than anyone else" I said making her laugh.

"I'm serious Lana, thank you. Now, let's go get this ladies night started"

"Anytime, I know this is hard. Sounds good, you can have first pick of the movie and the wine" she said as we walked into the living room.

After a few movies it was just about 2am and we were both a little buzzed, neither of us had heard from Cole or Ghost.

We were laying in the couch, each of us at opposite ends, blankets around us giving a false layer of protection.

Out of nowhere, Lana's front door exploded inward and five big guys wearing cuts busted through the door making Lana and I scream as we scrambled to our feet off the couch.

"What the fuck?!" I yelled

"This one" a tall and lanky with black hair nodded towards me.

My eyes fell to my purse where my gun was on the bar top when one of the biggest, most muscular guys, made a step towards me making me automatically raise my hands in a fighting stance, like Bennie taught me, making Mr Muscles stop and laugh at me.

"Don't think because I'm a woman I won't fuck you the fuck up" I said in warning, but inside I was scared shitless, knowing I'd do very little damage against the brick wall of a man in front of me, even with the boxing and fight training Bennie gave me.

He made no move towards me

"What do you want?" I asked not lowering my hands.

"Grab her" the tall lanky guy told Mr Muscles Annoyed

I broke into a run towards the room that held the gun safe before he could grab me, just making it into the room, slamming the door in his face and locking it.

He kicked, yelled and pounded on the reenforced door that Ghost put up, and thank god he did, it was the only thing keeping me safe.

There is a phone on a charging dock sitting on the desk and I grab it dialing Coles cell.

Rex answers

Fuck

"I need Cole now!" I yell at the old bastard

"Coles busy right now Bitch, you enjoy your road trip home now" and the line went dead and so did my insides.

Rex did this?

Is he working with Ryan?

My heart sank.

Does Cole know?

I'm going to die.

This is it.

Knowing the door won't hold Mr Muscles off forever, I step up to the safe and try to remember the number sequence Lana typed in earlier.

I could hear Lana screaming in the living room. I didn't know if it was from pain or anger but she was still alive and awake.

I turned my focus to the safe and I started punching in combos, then I heard it, the digital double beep that let me know I got it unlocked. I spun the wheel and yanked the heavy door open revealing several guns.

Before I could even grab one, Mr Muscles unloaded his clip into the door. He was going to get in.

I reached for the first pistol I saw and popped the clip, seeing it full, I slammed it back in and set myself, with my feet planted I held the gun out in front of me, resting the butt of the revolver in the palm of my left hand for stability. I released the safety.

"Come onnnn bitch" I whispered ready

With one last hard kick the reenforced door final flew open and I unloaded my clip into Mr Muscles in front of me before it even registered in his brain that I was standing there with a gun.

Even after he fell I kept pulling the trigger until my gun clicked empty.

I heard foot steps coming down the hall and I grabbed 2 more guns, stuffing one in my back waistband, not waiting to see who it was coming, I fired again; dropping the lanky guy.

Hot tears were running down my face now as I tried to wipe them. Another guy appeared at the end of the hallway and I raised my gun

"Stop!" He called and yanked Lana in front of him

"Let her GO!" I screamed "I'll shoot you either way, You're working for Rex right? Well, Rex wants me gone, not her" I warned him and Lana looked at me in shock at the mention of Rex's involvement.

"You do know who she's with right? You do know Ghost right?" I kept asking questions trying to move closer.

"I shot two of you already. Let her Go and then fucking run! You'll get away from us easier than Ghost" I kept pushing that they will have to deal with Ghost thinking they will back off and leave.

"If I kill you both, he won't know who did her" he said with clenched teeth and tightened his grip on her.

Well shit I didn't think of that

"Now go get that briefcase bitch" he said and cocked the hammer on his gun against Lana's head.