The meeting concluded a short while after, and I was free to go. The three of us walked out in silence.

Just as we exited the building, I turned to them and said, "give me your number,"seeing their confused faces I clarified, "so that I can contact you for our sessions."

They gave it to me and we stood awkwardly.

"I have to go now," I said, "I'll text you the details of our first lesson and-"

"I'm not coming," James declared.

"Neither am I," Cole jerked his thumb towards James, "not with Mr. Pompous over here."

"Well I'm not going to let my grades drop just because you both can't resolve your issues," I replied, crossing my arms.

"These are more than mere issues," James sneered.

I sighed, "I get that, but I don't want my grades affected because of you two," I pointed at them, "so how about we work out a compromise?"

"Let's hear it," Cole said.

"You come at separate times," I suggested, "that way, you get tutored, I get better grades and you don't have to be in each other's presence."

Both boys considered the option and agreed. We shook hands, they glared at each other, and parted ways.

I walked over to the car park and saw my brothers looking around frantically. When they saw me, they relaxed and smiled. We went to the car.

"Shotgun!" Oscar yelled and ran towards the car.

"Shotgun!" I shouted and overtook Oscar and sat in the passenger seat.

"Riss, sit in the back," Oscar said, crossing his arms and trying to look intimidating.

"No," I replied.

"I called shotgun."

"And I was quicker." I smirked, "I'm not moving because I win."

"Sorry little brother," Daimen chuckled, "she wins."

"Not fair!" Oscar pouted, but sat in the back.

Daimen got in the driver's seat and started the car, "what did Mrs.Woods want?"

"She wanted me to tutor two students," I answered causally.

"Who?" Julian asked, looking up from his phone.

"James and Cole."

There was a deadly silence. Daimen paused, then switched off the engine and looked at me, "what?"

"She wanted me to tutor James and Cole," I said nonchalantly.

"But you said no, right?" Brandon asked.

I bit my lip, "not exactly."

"Ah," Oscar said, "so, you accepted to tutor two boys, who are the leaders of two separate gangs, and they both hate each other to the pits of Hell, even after we told you they are dangerous and to be avoided?"

"Yep, that pretty much sums it up," I chuckled nervously.

Oscar nodded, "okay, just making sure. Now, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"Mrs. Woods said it would boost my grades," I knew this was a weak argument, however.

"That's not an excuse to put yourself in danger!" Will shot back.

"I have a gun and I worked out a compromise with them," I answered, forcing myself to keep calm.

"What compromise?" Oscar asked.

"That I would only tutor one of them at a time. That way, they don't have to be in each other's presence and my grades aren't affected negatively. Plus, the danger is technically halved," I stated matter of factly.

"Oh ,well, that makes it alright then!" Daimen retorted.

I blinked and looked at him, "I can never tell when you're being serious or sarcastic."

Daimen shot me a look, "Iris, please."

"How about we talk about this at home with the others?" I suggested.

"Fine," Daimen gritted out.

"Oh, by the way," I remembered something, "Grace asked if I wanted to hang out with her and the others today. Can I?"

Brandon shook his head, "sorry Riss, there's an important mafia meeting that we have to attend- including you."

I was slightly disappointed, but I didn't really mind, "oh okay. Hey, Oscar, can I borrow a charger? My phone's dead."

"Sure," Oscar handed it to me and I plugged it in the car. A short while later, it charged and I was able to unlock it.

I had a text from Grace asking about later and another one from and unknown number. I texted Grace saying I wouldn't be able to come and opened the other text.

I froze when I read it. My hands shook slightly and my breathing became rapid and heavy. I grappled for control over my emotions and built up the emotionless facade.

"Riss, you okay?" Brandon asked.

I turned, "just fine," I lied, saving the number, deleting the text and switching my phone off.

X ()

"Absolutely not," I stated, glaring at the abomination Shirley wanted me to wear.

"Please! You'll look gorgeous in this!" Shirley pleaded. For the last hour, she'd been trying to get me ready for the mafia party. I wanted to wear jeans and a shirt, she wanted me to wear a gaudy dress.

"Shirley," I said gently, "there is no way I'm going to wear that dress."

Shirley groaned, but finally consented. Begrudgingly, she put the dress away and got out some jeans and a white shirt with a jacket to match. I allowed her to apply little bit of make up.

"Thanks Shirley," I sighed, getting up.

"No worries Iris," she grinned back, "good luck!"

I exited the dressing room and went to the living room. My family were sitting there- apart from Elijah.

"Where's Eli?" I asked.

"He's meeting us there- has some business to take care of first," Will replied, "ready to go?"

"Sure," I shrugged and followed my family outside.

The text message kept playing in my mind as I sat in the car. I stayed quiet and gazed out of the window.

"Right, Riss what's wrong?" Oscar asked.

Startled, I snapped out of my reverie, "sorry, what?"

"I asked what's wrong," Oscar repeated from his spot in the first row in front of me at the back.

"Why would you think something is wrong?" I chuckled nervously.

"Well, first, you didn't notice me take your sweets," he started, "and second, you've been unnaturally quiet."

I narrowed me eyes at him, "we'll talk about the sweets later. Nothing is wrong. I'm just tired."

"I don't believe you," Damien said.

"Oh look, we're here," I said, thanking whatever divine being was up there for providing me with that distraction.

We rolled up to a gravel parking in front of a huge mansion. Me and my family walked through the huge oak doors.

We were lead to a huge ballroom. The floor was marble and there were greek styled white columns supporting the roof. In the centre of the ceiling was a diamond chandelier with guests lingering underneath it. On the edges of the room were four long tables covered with cloth that had food displayed on it. Faint music was coming from a small band that played in the corner.

My phone buzzed and I saw I had another text message. I gritted my teeth and exhaled deeply before deleting the message. I put my phone back in the pocket and surveyed the crowd.

"There's Mr. Castellano," Oscar whispered to me, pointing subtlety.

"Excellent," I murmured, "he owes me something. Be right back."

"Woah, woah, woah, where are you going?" Oscar whispered frantically.

"To go say hi," I said in a 'duh' tone.

"You can't just go say 'hi' to one of the most powerful mafia boss in the world!" Oscar looked scandalised.

"Watch me," I said and walked over, ignoring my family's whispered protests behind me.

"Hello Mr. Castellano," I stood behind the man. He was tall and broad shouldered with black hair and sharp gray eyes.

"Who are-" he turned around and his eyebrows rose in surprise, "Iris?"

"Hello," I smiled, "I believe you owe me something?"

Castellano rolled his eyes, but laughed, "yes, I believe I do," he took out his wallet and handed me some money, "Will this do?"

I held it to the light and nodded seriously, shaking his hand, "this will do," then, I dropped the act and grinned, "how have you been the last few years?"

"Good, good, you?"

"Now that," I paused, "is a long story."

"I'd be delighted to hear it sometime," Castellano grinned.

"Iris? Is that you?" A familiar voice asked.

"Sam!" I cried out and embraced the girl, "it's so good to see you again!"

Sam grinned, her green eyes twinkling, "you too! How have you been?"

"I've been good," I laughed at her enthusiastic behaviour, "I'm living with my family now."

Sam smiled, "that's great! Where are they?"

I turned and saw my family staring at me with shocked expressions. I forgot to mention that I was close friends with quite a few of the people here. Whoops.

"Sam, meet the family. Family, meet Sam," I introduced them and they shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, Miss. Castellano," Elijah had whispered something to Dad, but abruptly stopped and greeted Sam when he saw us approach.

"You too," she replied.

"Sam," I asked, "where's Dan?"

"Someone say my name?"

"Speak of the Devil and he shall arrive," I fake groaned.

"Aw, I know you care about me, Iris," Dan slung an arm around mine and his sister's shoulder, "ever since that nasty mission we had where-"

"I think it's best if we don't dwell on that," I hastily interrupted, casting a furtive glance towards my family.

Dan nodded understandingly and removed his arm from my shoulder, "anyway, how are you?"

"Good, thanks," I answered. My phone pinged and I got another text from the unknown number, "please excuse me one second."

I quickly walked to a secluded corner of the hall. With shaky hands, I re-read the text.

"Hello, Iris West-Brown."

I hastily shoved the phone away and turned to meet the next person.

There were two men. One was young with orange hair and brown eyes while the other was quite old with greying hair and blue eyes.

"Hello, Miss. West-Brown," the young man said formally, "I am Nathan and this is my father, Demetri."

"Pleasure to meet you both," I smiled.

Demetri said, "Pós eísai?" ().

"Eímai kalá, esý?" I replied I the same tongue ()

Demetri and Nathan looked pleasantly surprised. They asked how I knew Greek fluently, and I told them an old friend and taught me. We talked for a while until the doors slammed open and an instant hush descended upon the crowd.

An old man stepped into the room and the crowd parted for him like the Red Sea. He was tall and domineering with white hair and a weathered face. His blue eyes were cruel and he clutched an expensive waking stick in a black gloved hand. He radiated power, authority and danger.

"Vlákas," Demetri murmured, glaring at the man ().

The new arrival scanned the room and stopped when he saw me. I raised my head challengingly and looked him in the eye.

"I presume," his voice was quiet, yet it echoed in the silence, "that you are my granddaughter?"

"Well, that would depend on who you are," I replied, flinty.

"My name is Richard West," he declared grandly, looking at me critically, "did Elise finally get rid of you and decide to burden us instead?"

I raised an eyebrow coolly, "she died and I was taken in by my family."

West shrugged, "same thing," he glared at the crowd, "can I help someone?"

Immediately, everyone went back to their conversations. However, I noticed they avoided West and the noise level diminished. West beckoned to me and I strode forward confidently.

"I hope you realise," West said very softly as we watched my brothers and parents come over, "that no matter how much you try to deceive and swindle your way into this family, you will never truly belong. You will not get a single penny from us."

"Contrary to what you and Elizabeth May think, I don't care about money. I spent most of my life with barely anything to get by and I understand the true value of it. Don't judge a book by its cover," I kept smiling throughout this entire speech. My family approached and we formed a small circle.

West narrowed his eyes at me, "you know, I've always upheld the belief that women and girls should be seen and not heard."

"And I've always upheld the belief that sexist pigs, if seen, should be hurt," I smiled with fake sweetness. Oscar coughed and my other brothers tried to hide their smiles. Mom was grinning proudly.

A tiny flicker of anger passed across West's features, but he concealed it quickly. He turned to Dad, "my son, how nice it is to see you."

"Father," Dad replied stiffly, "I see you've met my daughter."

"Yes," West replied with equal stiffness. Immediately, he launched into a discussion about the Mafia business.

My phone buzzed again and I hesitantly opened my messages. Sure enough, I had another text from 'Mysterious Texter'. I hurriedly excused myself from the conversation.

Who the hell is sending me this?! I thought, then paused. The solution to finding out who he/she is was so obvious I was shocked I didn't think of it before. My finger hovered above the call button when I received an unknown call.

"Hello?" I asked.

"In the potted plant by the entrance is a gun. In five minutes, some people are going to storm this place," the other person said.

"Who are-" the call ended and I frowned.

I walked over to the potted plant. As casually as possible, I looked inside it and found a gun hidden in the foliage. I placed it in my pocket and went back to my family and West.

"Everything okay, Iris?" Eli asked.

"Yeah," I lied, "just fine."

David, Elijah and West went back to their conversation. Oscar was raiding the buffet while his twin was trying to drag him away. Julian was engaged in a serious discussion with someone else.

"Dai," I murmured quietly so only he could hear, "in less than two minutes some people are going to storm the place."

Dai's face didn't betray any emotion, but his voice had a slight edge of panic, "how do you know?"

"I have a source," I replied evasively, "and I have a gun."

"What do we-"

Suddenly, the door burst open and about twenty people wearing masks charged in, waving their guns around. Several people flinched and stumbled, but no one screamed. I pulled out my gun and pointed it at the leader.

"Put the gun down," I ordered, my voice deadly calm.

"Iris West-Allen," the leader mocked.

"I go by Iris West-Brown nowadays," I shrugged, "now give me a good reason to not shoot you."

"I know where Alex is."

The words made me freeze. I tightened my hold on the gun. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw my brothers and some others take out their guns and waiting for my signal to shoot.

"For four years you've tormented yourself over the most of your best friend," he continued, his voice soft and sympathetic, "and for weeks you've gotten confirmation that he's alive! All you have to do is hand yourself over and I'll take you to him."

I looked at him, "for years I've tormented and for weeks I've waited."

"I know," he said.

"I think I can wait longer," I cocked the gun and shot him. He dodged and screamed 'now!'

The hall was alive with the sounds of guns going off. I tried to locate the leader and found him running towards the door.

I sprinted towards him, shooting anyone who tried to stop me. The floor was wet with blood and I tried not to slip. I skidded to a halt at the door and saw him heading outside. I ran after him and shot him in the leg.

"Ah!" He cried out and clutched is the wound.

I stood over him and pointed the gun at him, "where is Alex?"

"I can't tell you," he groaned, "not until I hand you over to the Boss."

"Wrong answer, but I'll give you one more chance to redeem yourself," I cocked the gun, "who is the Boss?"

"I can't tell you."

"You're out," I snarled and shot him. His blood splattered against the stones and his eyes glazed unseeingly at the azure sky.

I heard the quiet crunch of someone stepping on stones behind me. I whirled around, but was too slow. I felt the depressingly familiar metal bar hitting my head and I was down like a sack of potatoes, landing in the pool of blood. A pair of black shoes appeared in my vision before everything went black.