It's been a few days and Thea was still missing. The boys and I shared a guest room in the Pearson's household whilst Chris and some of the other FBI team were camping out in Bryson's office, not wanting to give up on their boss's daughter. My dad and his team ended up going back to their positions after helping out as much as they could but the information that my dad's security team provided, was more than enough for Bryson.

I haven't been able to sleep for the past few days due to Thea. Anastasia has been attending to her job as usual with that fake chirpy smile and made up some excuse for all our teachers so they don't get all suspicious but I knew deep down that she worried for her step-daughter. Bryson had heavy eye bags, his eyes growing tired and his face growing slimmer due to the worry whilst the twins were just out and about, searching every inch of this damn neighbourhood.

Where the fuck would Ken take Thea?

It was now around midday as Aubree had been on her phone non-stop. That was the only way Aubree could take her mind off things and would actually stop worrying. And that is by going on social media or just have sex with Marco. Marco has been worried sick about Aubree's heath as she too, stopped eating and only took a bite from a lettuce.

"Aubree, that phone will kill you," I said, leaning against the door frame of her bedroom door.

Aubree looked up and rolled her eyes. "I don't give a shit now leave me alone."

Marco emerged from her bathroom as he scratched his head, sighing heavily before nodding at me. I nodded back in response, closing the door behind me before turning around to meet Thea's room, her door wide open.

I inhaled slowly before walking towards her large room and when my foot stepped inside her premises, I let out a heavy, shaky breath as her scent immediately sneaked into my nostrils. I bit my lip as I crossed my arms, walking further into her room to see that there has not been a single mess at all. My eyes scanned all over the beautiful, tidy room before they landed on her window sill.

I smiled at the memory where we had our meeting the second time. I chuckled at her shocked expression that was permanently stuck in my mind as I realised now that her voice soothed me. A picture frame of her and I were sitting on her vanity as I had to force my eyes to rip away from it before my tears would get the better of me.

Clenching my jaw, I stormed out of her room and down the stairs to see everyone gathering around. I arched an eyebrow as I approached the living room to see a small group of FBI members putting on their bullet jacket and checking if their guns had enough bullets. I turned to my left to see Bryson and Chris looking down at the map, concentrating really hard.

"What's going on?" I asked, bemused.

Bryson turned around and sighed, taking me by the shoulder before he guided me to the kitchen to see Luke standing there, fury evident in his eyes. I tilted my head to the side as Bryson took a step back, letting Luke explain.

"What is it?" I questioned, again.

"Remember how I said I'd check up on Carl?" Luke questioned back as I nodded in response, wanting him to hurry up. "He's been going to this warehouse and meeting with a man called Ken Martin."

My eyes widened as I clenched my fist. "And?"

"I made sure that I was as invisible as I could be and it turns out that Thea is being held captive there," Luke answered as he grabbed something from behind the counter and raised it up.

I narrowed my eyebrows at Carl who's lips were taped with his hands tied firmly together. Anger boiled inside of me as I marched towards Carl and threw a punch at his eye as Luke's hold on him loosened then was dropped onto the floor. I straddled Carl's waist and threw a few more punches to his face before I was being pulled away by both Bryson and Luke.

I looked down at my knuckles to see that they were bleeding.

I death-glared down at Carl who shivered under my gaze as he tried moving away from me. Just as I was about to throw another punch, one of the FBI members dragged him away from my sight as I turned around to face Bryson, noticing that he was narrowing his eyebrows at me.

"Are you okay?" Bryson dared to ask.

"He fucking betrayed me," I answered through gritted teeth. "I let him in and this is what happens."

"I think we should go find Thea now," Luke pressed on as he grabbed a bullet proof jacket from the counter and wore it on whilst Bryson stared at him wide-eyed.

"This is my job," Bryson said as he looked down at Luke.

"Thea's my friend," Luke replied. "Plus, I can use my own two fists."

Before Bryson could reply, Luke made his way to the front door with Marco, all geared up before they both exited the house. Bryson looked at me whilst I pushed past him, taking a bullet proof jacket from someone's hand before wearing it on.

"Xavier, Thea wouldn't want you to get hurt," Bryson said, taking my shoulder.

"Thea needs me," I replied, coldly. "She needs us."

Bryson looked around the room to find that his team mates were all exhausted as they tiredly geared up. But what surprised me the most was that Bryson told all of them to stand down and those who weren't tired were to come with him. Unfortunately, only three of his team mates managed to get over their exhaustion, including Chris, as Bryson sighed heavily.

"We need at least another group of five," Bryson muttered under his breath.

Clenching and unclenching my jaw, contemplating whether to call for back up or not, I ran a hand through my hair as I paced around with everyone's eyes on me. Sighing in defeat, I pulled out my phone and forced myself to dial the number for back up, only for Thea's sake.

After a few word exchanges to the person on the other line, I nodded towards Bryson who looked at me stunned, "let's go."

~

~

~

The warehouse was obviously abandoned and old. Layers of brick was decaying as the place looked like a dumpster, something I would never ever set foot in. I sighed, looking up to find myself staring up at the old sign as it said; Timber and Metal's Pick Up.

What the fuck?

Shaking my head, pushing away unnecessary thoughts, I watched Bryson used his fingers to his buddies as a signal for them to surround the warehouse. Bryson looked at me and nodded for me to come with him as I looked behind at Marco and Luke who were ordered to wait inside the car incase Ken would escape from like, a secret passage way or some shit.

Bryson and I walked to the two front garage, rusty doors that were half open as we cautiously examined our surroundings for security cameras. I could hear muffled voices coming from inside as I pushed down the urge to just run in there, grab Thea then run back out but I knew that Ken Martin was a dangerous man and that he wouldn't let us leave without a fight.

Once our backs were attached to the shabby Warehouse wall, Bryson peeked inside to try and catch a glimpse and when he looked up at me, he nodded with teary eyes. I frowned at him before he spoke into his earpiece about moving in.

Not letting this situation faze me at all, I heard gunshots coming from inside that had my heart beat accelerate. Before I could ask what was going on, Bryson loaded his gun before walking inside as I clenched my fist, ready to pound it against someone.

Our backs were bent and low as my eyes cautiously scanned the dim light room. It smelt as if rats had died in here and were just left here to rot. I nearly gagged at the smell just when I caught a short glimpse of Thea's gorgeous but tired face.

"She's here," I whispered, unable to keep the words in my mouth, to Bryson who gave me the 'I know now shut the hell up' look.

I found a man in his thirties walking out of a mini office in the far corner with a smirk plastered on his hideous face. His hair was shabby as he was growing a beard. I looked at Bryson who nodded at me, confirming my thoughts that, that was definitely Ken Martin, the douche bag.

We waited for his group to walk out as well but once we saw no one, Bryson and I emerged from our hiding place as I found Chris and his team mate fighting with two other guys. Thea was forced to watch the both of them fight as I grinded my teeth together, having the urge to punch Ken's smirk off his face.

"Enjoying the move sweet pea?" I heard Ken question.

"I can't wait till you rot in jail," Thea spat in response.

I clenched my fists so tightly, I swear I could feel my nails digging in the inside of palms. I watched Bryson hand me his gun as I rolled my eyes, holding it safely in my hands as I watched Bryson sneak up on Ken who was busy having his back faced towards us.

But just before Bryson could tackle him down, Ken whirled around and punched Bryson's jaw, making him collapse onto the ground. My feet moved on their own accord, throwing Bryson his gun as adrenaline pumped in my veins whilst I landed a kick on one side of Ken's face. I watched Ken collapse onto the ground and before I could do anything further, he took out a gun from behind and pointed it at me as I quickly raised both of my hands up.

"Drop your weapon or she gets it," Ken said, scrambling to get up before turning Thea's chair around.

My stomach dropped when I saw fresh bruises marked on Thea's face as her brown eyes were red and puffy. Her fearful eyes widened as they made eye contact with mine as she shook her head rapidly before the gun was aimed right at the side of her head, speechless.

"Don't hurt her," Bryson said, fear laced in his voice as he dropped his gun on the floor. "There. Now let her go."

"Oh so you're the perfect daddy that Thea has been babbling on about before she left her mother," Ken replied with a menacing laugh.

"I said let her go," Bryson whispered in a low voice, his eyebrows narrowing down at Ken who was busily distracted on throwing daggers at Bryson with his eyes.

I moved my feet very slowly, one by one as I rounded Ken who was throwing accusations at Bryson who took them in, not wanting to say anything that would have Ken pull the trigger. I gulped nervously when suddenly, the gun was aimed at me.

"Don't shoot him!" Thea shouted, tears running down her pale cheeks.

"Don't move a single muscle boy," Ken threatened as Bryson stiffened.

The next words caused my stomach to do a back flip.

"Drop the fucking weapon or you get it asshole," a familiar voice announced as I turned my head around to find Derek with a gun in his hands, pointing directly at Ken who turned around to see who the intruder was.

I heard another gun load loudly before I turned my head around to see one of Derek's friend, aiming at Ken who slowly but carefully, placed the gun down in surrender. When Ken was dragging time, I found myself scanning for Chris and his team mate but to only find them handcuffing Ken's friends who were both cursing noisily.

"Hurry the fuck up," Derek threatened violently as he stepped forward with his gun. Derek looked confident with his eyebrows knotted together and his arms bent and steady.

My goddamn backup.

Ken sighed heavily in defeat before completely letting go of his gun whilst Bryson took that advantage to grab Ken's wrist and pulled them behind his back as he let out an agonising scream. I laughed when I saw Ken tried to fight off Bryson but only failed to do so before he was being practically dragged out of the warehouse.

I watched Derek take out a pocket knife from his pocket before cutting the ropes loose from Thea's hands to only find her tossing her body into my wide arms. She stinks, sure, but she was safe in my arms. I tightened my arms around her small, fragile body as my heart was thumping against its cage.

"Thank you," her voice was muffled.

"Always here," I whispered in response before soothing her damp hair.

She pulled away from my embrace and turned around to look at Derek who gave her a half smile. She gave him a tight hug but only lasted for a few seconds before Chris led her outside of the warehouse as I could hear sirens nearing by.

Derek nodded at his blonde friend to go on without him, leaving us in peace as I crossed my arms and chuckled. "You saved my life man."

"I'll always have your back-," Derek replied as we did a bro hug. "-cousin."

Derek and I were related by blood as he was my mom's nephew. He and I used to be really close until a girl came in between us and ruined everything so that was when a war broke out between him and I.

But what I never knew was that another girl would bring us together again.