~Magnolia Knight~

"I see that Ethan has a girl." Blake states through his clenched jaw, as we all look at his twin and Grace dancing happily to the rythme of the music. "He could have told me." I can see the annoyance for his twin in his eyes.

When Ethan decides to walk towards us with Grace, Elijah excuses himself to meet someone for business, because it's his duty as a leader. I don't think much of it, but give Grace an encouragement smile when she finds herself in front of my two scary brothers. To my surprise, she is more than comfortable with them throughout the conversation.

I smirk at how Ethan is around her. He is just so protective and caring, making sure she is fine. It's sweet.

I make my way out of there, when I see Gab randomly walking through the crowd, heading towards the bar. I catch up to him, a hand holding my dress so it wouldn't drag on the floor behind me as I slalom between the bodies. I grip my hand on his arm, making him spin around in less than a second, a murderous glare on his face. He softens his look, when he sees me before greeting me.

"Follow me Lia, I want you to meet someone." He says before walking towards his original destination. "You look beautiful by the way."

I compliment him back, his dark suit fitting him perfectly, and then I follow behind him. His tall figure blocks me from seeing who he wants me to meet, so I walk a little to the side and catch a glimpse of the mystery person . My lips tugs upwards and I push a smiling Gab to the side, so I could reach the girl I first met a couple of months back.

"Hi girl !" Thunder squeals, when she sees me and brings her arms around me to bring me closer. I haven't seen this brunette girl since the day Jace "died", because she is appart of his close circle of the gang. She managed to get in his Gang thanks to her snipper skills. I hung out with her at Raven mansion when Jace was busy with work and now here I find her at this ball.

I watch as Gab's hand sneaks around her waist and that's when it clics. They are freaking together ! I knew it ! It must have been since day one, because I could already smell the sexual tension between the two of them when they were in a room together.

"Since when !?" I shoot unable to wait to get the answer to my question, which makes them laugh.

"A few months Mags." Thunder says and I give a little encouragement punch to Gab who immediately scolds me for it. I tell them how happy I am for them and we continue chatting for a little while, catching up. Thunder can't help herself, but to ask thousand questions about my brother, which describes her person perfectly. Always so curious about everything, but still making sure I am safe. I missed her, I can't deny that.

We decide to sit down at a table, so we wouldn't bother the guests at the bar and my eyes catch the one of Leo across the room, who eyes me carefully to make sure I am in good hands. He nods his head, when I point towards Gab to say that I am well.

Suddenly, a heavy door slams close, making a loud sound echo through the room and my eyes immediately search in panic of the origine of the tantrum. All heads seem to turn towards the same place, which is the entry hall. Gasps can be distinguished through the music that hasn't stop playing from the orchestra and I wonder what the Hell is going on. I look at my brothers, who all seem to wear a cold expression, but it quickly disappears when they get to see who just walked through the door.

Seconds later, I find myself breathing out the air I was holding, when I see the one and only Jace Reed, looking around the room with a furious glare. He is wearing a slick black suit, his guns peaking out of every pocket, which is a message towards everyone around him and I suddenly get angry at how careless he can be in a room full of people that come from mafia. They think he is fucking dead, and he finds it funny to put in a whole show ?!

I stand up from the chair I was casually having a conversation on, only to get the fuming attention from Jace on me. His eyes find mine for a few seconds, before he starts walking towards me, his hand on a gun, while his eyes glide over my body to check me out. Of course he does that, but why the hell does it seem like he wants to kill someone, I wouldn't say it's a good timing for that.

I don't get to say a word, when he finally stands in front of me, because he harshly grabs me by the upper arm. This action causes some mouvement on my right side that I can see in the corner of my eyes and I know for a fact that it's my brothers.

"Next time look at your fucking phone, when I text you or there will be consequences !" He spates with such anger that it nearly makes me want to pull away from fear. "Gab, same goes on for you !" He hisses again, as he turns to his right hand man. Gab looks just as confused as me at this point, people are slowly starting to mind their own business, but I can sense that something is not right with Jace right now. Something is going on and must be big to let him loose control like this.

"Jace ! What the fuck is going on ?!" I demand to know, as he tries to pull me towards the other side of the room, without giving me any more information. My brothers are already by my side, eying Jace's firm grip on my arm, but at this point he doesn't care at all and warns me with a authoritative look.

"We need to get the hell out of here NOW !" Jace urges me and gives a warning look towards my brothers, as if he knew something was to go wrong and we was right...

The second we start walking towards the exit, hell breaks free.

Windows explode, shattered glass goes flying through the room, and people start screaming and ordering orders to their guards. Gun shots are fired, and I find myself getting pushed towards the closest wall by Jace's body. Groups of men, all wearing black fill the room up in seconds, coming from every entry possible and I can't help, but to fear what is going to happen next. I hear Greyson yell my name, but I don't get to answer as I am violently pushed against a wall, which makes the air knock out of my lungs.

That's when I feel Jace's body protecting me by trapping me between the wall and himself. He starts firing bullets and I can't help, but to feel afraid of everyone in here. There are woman, children, man who are maybe not the most innocent, but still... this place is a death zone.

"You knew this was going to happen ?" I try asking Jace through the shooting, but thankfully the words are heard and he answers me right after pushing us as one towards the side to avoid a bullet.

"Yes" he breaths out and grabs my hand, before starting to run towards a safer place to keep cover. "I called you so many fucking times to warn you and you didn't answer... I thought I was already too late." He turns his face to look at me, once he knows that we are safe from the bullets and gently strokes my cheek with his thumb. He presses his lips against mine, and I can feel the burning need for the few seconds where our skins touch. He pulls away to look at me with his green eyes, taking in every single feature of my face into his mind, as if he was scared to lose me. "Gosh you are beautiful..."

When his soft words are spoken, an other explosion is heard way closer to us than it should, which makes Jace tense.

"These mother fucking Italians don't know who the hell they are messing with" Jace spits and let's go of me to grab two guns, each in one hand. "I first need to get you the fuck out of here, princess, it's not safe."

"Give me a gun, I can handle it." I say, but he doesn't listen to me, as his head is already turned towards the hall, his hand both up to kill whoever is in his way. "Jace !" I urge, but still he ignores me too focused to not get killed.

"Not now, Princess. This is not good, they are everywhere, and made sure to block every exit." He seems very deep in his thoughts, as he wears a cold expression on his face and I take this as my cue to shut up and wait. His eyes fall on something behind the wall, which takes his attention right away, but my view is blocked. "I need you to stay here. Cover for me and don't move !"

"But-"

"Magnolia don't disobey me right now. Are we clear ?" He insists and shoves a gun in my hands, while his eyes bore into mine, as if he was trying to see what I planning to do. I nod and he doesn't waist a second, before he disappears behind the wall. I cover for him, as he runs through the hall that is filled with dead bodies and manage to shoot the sniper that was already aiming for his head. Himself kills a few Italians with his gun and once he is out of bullets, he uses his bate hands. I let out a shaky breath, when he arrives at a the end of the hall and disappears. What the hell.

A mouvement on my right side, makes me spin around just in time to dodge a punch that is thrown at me. I notice a skull tattoo on his knuckle on the man and it is enough for me to grab one of my knives that is hidden under my dress to try to stab his chest. Just before I could do so, he manages to cut my arm with one of his own knives, making me let out a yelp of pain. He was aware of my next move, as if he was warned of my skills.

With full force I knee him in the balls, making him fall to the ground with a loud thud, which is the perfect timing to cut his throat. His body falls numbly to my feet and I let out a shaky breath.

Immediately, I remember Jace and turn to the hall, after making sure no body is trying to kill me.

My heart stops and falls to my stomach when I see him covered in blood walking side to side with Ethan and Grace. Grace seems to be in a critical condition and seconds away from death, as she is carried by Ethan who's face is pale and worried to death.

I run towards them and check to see if Jace is hurt somewhere, because the amount of blood on him is concerning. I want to ask him about himself and Grace, but he is quicker and cuts me off.

"Who hurt you ?" Jace burst and I frown at his question, before looking at my cut on the arm that is bleeding considerably. He looks worried and cups my cheek to ask me if I am okay, but I assure him that it's fine.

"Are you hurt ?" I question him and look at my brother, where I don't miss the tears that fall from his eyes. "Is Grace going to be okay ?" Ethan lays her on the ground and puts pressure on what looks like a bullet wound on her stomach. It bleeds out at on alarming speed, which can mean nothing, but good news. And I think we all know it.

"It's not my blood, I am fine." Jace responds and grabs my hand when he sees the fearful look in my eyes. He takes me a bit to the side so Ethan wouldn't hear what he has to say and wipes the tears that have fallen down my cheeks." But if we don't get out of here now, and get her to a hospital, she will not survive."