I nervously wrung my hands in circles, anticipating ANYTHING Ashton would say.

I waited for the dreaded yelling or for his features to be over taken by his anger.

Instead, there we sat, in complete silence for the entire ride.

I didn't dare say a word.

I was sure Ashton could identify my voice at very least.

Ashley also kept her mouth glued shut, shooting me nervous glances every so often. Maybe it was the wrong idea to get her slightly involved.

And Marco, poor Marco.

He looked the most shook up of us all.

Noticeable sweat beads formed across his brow, forcing him to remove his hands from the wheel and wipe his face frequently.

I hoped it was because of the heat, not the fact Ashton stared calmly but deathly straight ahead not uttering a peep to even his brother whom I'd convinced to betray him..

"We're here fratello, looks like every other van beat us here too. So it was a painfully slow ride, good to know." Marco sped out, lowering his voice towards the end.

I watched as he nervously ran his hands through his hair, stealing a glance at his brothers stiff demeanor.

Instead of acknowledging Marco had spoken, Ashton got out of the car walking around the van to my door and opening it. He then gently took me by the arm, helping me out of the car while I kept my eyes trained on the ground.

Everyone from Ashton's gang or whatever shifted their way inside the club. I, slower than frozen molasses, dragged my feet along the pavement dreading what would happen next.

I knew that Ashton knew.

I mean what an idiotic plan anyway? Who thinks that they can go to school with a kid for practically their entire life then suddenly disguise themselves with a wig, colored contacts, couple dabs of makeup, and a corset?

"I need 7 girls on the stage, don't care which ones."

Ashton stood in the middle of the barren club like a traffic director, literally he was a traffic director.

My stomach did sickening flips reminding me where I was.

He places everyone specifically where he wanted them, and even had a few of the girls working the bar which I'm pretty sure is illegal.

As if anything that was about to happen was legal.

Very few of Ashton's men stayed visible, he had them hidden behind doors ready to charge at a foreign word or in the basement listening for commotion. At least 30 stayed outside ready to notify Ashton of Oso's arrival.

Above each of the tables, were swinging cages large enough to fit elephants, even though I doubted that's what they were for.

Ashton and Marco lifted girl after girl up to fill the cages and I pondered on how they would get down.

I focused on anything except the weak attempts the girls made at escaping or the way most seemed too drained to even try.

you are partly to blame for this,

you will be responsible for these lives that balance on a thread

3 girls left standing cluelessly, including me.

The other two that weren't me, were forced to go with some men waiting on an inside balcony that overlooked the entire club.

and then there was one..

Ashley was made to wait behind the stage several women ago, so I knew I was stopped in my tracks.

I knew this would be the moment he'd unleash his wrath.

Ashton began to circle me like prey, slowly on the prowl for my every move and I swear a new vein surfaced in his forehead each minute I stood shaking there.

I gulped unintentionally, dragging his eyes back up to my face.

"And you," He finally stopped circling me.

"It looks like we have no need for you here.. But I knew that already didn't I.. what was your name again?"

He looked at me directly in my eyes, everything in him daring me to lie deeper.

I found myself scared, no petrified, at the way his body shook uncontrollably with pure anger.

"Mad-mad-Madi.."

He was closer than I deemed possible, making any other words I may have said travel back to the pit of my stomach.

"But I knew that already."

He whispered in a cold tone I couldn't have even imagined.

He gripped my waist in both hands tightly for a moment, inhaling deeply before turning to face Marco.

"And you brother, the worst of them all."

Marco stopped dead in his tracks of trying to escape out the back door and turned his whole body to face Ashton.

"I'm sorry Ashton! It's my fault! I'm the one-"

"STOP SPEAKING!" He roared at me, causing me to cower like a pitiful puppy.

"You betrayed me for, for her! How could you ?

This is BLOOD that connects us, stronger than fir—"

Marco cut him off with a deep, haunting laugh stepping closer and in that moment I wondered why none of us let the other finish our thoughts.

"NO, you brother, are the worst of them all. YOU betrayed US. Your blood. YOUR ARMY. You brought us to a war for her!"

He gestured toward me angrily, getting closer and closer to Ashton with each forced word.

"I say, we give Oso what he wants, huh guys? Who cares if the bitch lives or dies?"

Marco now was in reach of Ashton and he wasted no time hooking him in the jaw with a right blow.

My stomach dropped through my asshole.

No wonder it had been so easy to get Marco on board with my ridiculously impulsive plan.

He wanted me dead.

How much more naive could I possibly be?

Likely none of these people gave a fuck about my life, take a look around.

At least 50 girls were scattered about the club fearing for their own life and here I was flaunting mine.

Fuck

FUCK

They had both fallen to the ground during the scrap, Ashton gaining the advantage over Marco. I stood silently with everyone else in the room relentlessly beating into my head how I had no place here. Mind fucked over the fact I'd chosen this while a handful were forced.

Both of their faces show cased the purest form of rage.

I had missed it with a blink, Ashton had his gun directly pointed in Marco's face. The room was so silent, you could slice it with a knife and I wondered if he would murder his own brother right here over something I'd started.

Scar would, the thought encased me.

"Leave now.

Take her and you will keep her safe or GOD SO FUCKING HELP ME, I will have you exiled and then, I will kill you by my own hands."

Ashton's voice bounced throughout the room, and Marco panted heavily glaring upwards.

Getting up first, Ashton held his hand for his brother to grab. Instead, he got up on his own, pushing off of the ground and grabbing my forearm aggressively jolting me towards the door.

Ashton gently stopped him, grabbing my face in both of his hands.

"I'm sorry."

Gently pecking my lips, I was yanked away once more by Marco. We finally reached the door only for someone from the outside to open it up for us.

In walked at least 50 men I'd never seen before,nearly trampling my still body. They circled around the territory quickly filling the room with their masses.

Lastly, he came into the room.

In all of his glory, he had a Cheshire Cat grin planted on his fat face and his eyes zero'd in on me.

I noticed he was completely soaked with blood, his bald head splatter painted with it.

"Ahh, no need to fight boys, your plan worked!" Oso's eyes held mine in a sickly sweet way.

"I'm interested."

What do you predict happens next?

Will Marco and Ashton make up before it's too late?

What's 9+10?