"Oi! you can at least try to be gentle, lukey Luke." I said as I was shoved, again.

"For the last time, it's Luke!" Blondie said, giving me another shove, while I swallowed another scream of pain because of the sloppily tied bandage on my thigh.

After being shoved in one of their cars, my hands were tied behind my back and I was blindfolded.

I passed out due to the excruciating pain but thankfully the knife was still in my thigh, so I didn't lose too much blood.

I woke up as the car came to a stop and I heard doors opening and a lot of movements.

I was grabbed by my arm and pulled out of the car. I felt pain in every step I took but I didn't show it. It was then that I noticed that the knife had been pulled out of my thigh and the wound was wrapped in bandages.

I frowned at that.

They could've just left it there.

Why the special treatment?

I was now being walked through, what I assume, is a corridor and all I could do was trust that they wouldn't let me walk into a door or a wall.

'Or a person.'

You're weird.

'And offended.'

"Keep walking!" A voice, that I recognised as Jack's, said, shoving me again, making me stumble a little.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I not notice myself sitting down for a cup of tea?!" I retorted, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "I am walking!"

I heard him scoff while I rolled my eyes.

I knew exactly why these guys were irritated and unreasonable.

I was getting on their nerves. I mean, I always do. I'm a professional at it. But here, I'm a hostage. I'm their hostage and everyone expects their hostage to be scared and vulnerable.

And I was none of those things. I learnt this when I started fighting that people gain strength when you show your weakness.

We must have reached the end of the corridor as I was jerked to a stop. I heard some low exchange of words and then the opening of a door.

I was yet again shoved into a room and made to sit on a chair a little further in.

My hands were still tied behind my back and the rope was pulled hard enough to make sure that I couldn't move them. I could feel the rope digging and cutting into my skin because of how tight it was.

"Take off her blindfold." Said a gruff voice.

I heard movement from beside me and then felt the blindfold pulled off of my face, making me squint due to the sudden light.

It took me a moment to blink the blurriness away and when I did, I was met with a dark themed room which looked every bit of a mafia headquarter that I could imagine.

Even though the room was dark themed, I couldn't help but grimace at the colour scheme which was a dull green, as it gave me the creeps. It also had a weird royal touch to it due to the large chandelier hanging in the centre.

Right opposite to me was a desk, in front of a large chair, where sat a man, who I assumed was Mr. King.

I kept my face void of any emotions as I stared at the middle aged, oddly attractive man, sitting in front of me with his feet placed on the table.

He was clad in a grey suit which was probably custom made. His hair was tied back in a man bun and a dark stubble covered the lower half of his face.

"So, we finally meet, huh?" He said, in a familiar deep voice that I heard over the phone. "Not the way I expected us to meet though, I'll admit."

I shrugged. "It was long overdue, and I give your hospitality, a -3, by the way."

I heard Jack scoff while King let out a small chuckle, lowering his feet from the table. "I apologise for that, sweetheart. Untie her."

He ordered, making me narrow my eyes at him in suspicion. "But boss, what if she tries-" Luke started but one glance from King shut him up.

"Untie her." King repeated, looking back at me with a sickly sweet smile.

He moved his hand to one of the drawers before pulling out a shiny object and placing it on the table, facing me. "I'm sure she's smart enough to not try anything." He said, twirling the gun with his finger close to the trigger.

I gritted my teeth, before raising my eyebrow in amusement. "You think I'm scared of dying?"

King leaned back in his chair with a smug smirk on his face. "No. But you are scared to losing some people. Isn't that the reason why you're here?"

I continued glaring at him and I hated that I couldn't find anything to say in return.

He was right.

I noticed King nodding at someone and I felt the ropes on my wrist loosening and then completely come off.

I brought my wrist forward and slightly rub at the red marks, trying to sooth the pain.

I couldn't help but notice the irony as I've always tried to mask my weakness. I was so busy doing that, that I forgot not to create anymore of such weaknesses.

I only had one weakness when all of this started and that was Lexi, and I like to think that I did a pretty good job at protecting her but I didn't realise that coming back here could put me in a position that I am in right now.

"Let's talk businesses now, shall we?" King said, leaning on his elbows on the table. "I want you to fight for me."

"And I want a spaceship, but I guess we'll both end up disappointed." I shrugged crossing my arms over my chest.

King let out a low chuckle. "I don't think you understand the situation you are in, Miles. All your friends and family, including the boy who makes heart eyes at you, are under my radar. I don't think you have much of a choice."

"I always have a choice." I said, tilted my head to the side. "I've left the country before, leaving everything behind. What makes you think I won't do that again? So instead of ordering me to be your bitch, I say we make a deal."

King scanned my face with a calculated expression as I internally prayed that he buys what I just said. "You have." He said, shifting to stand from his seat. "Even though I'm 90% sure that you won't do that, I'd like to hear your end of the bargain."

He rounded the table and came to the front and leaned on it with his hands shoved in his pocket.

"First, I'm not joining your gang."

"Great start." King scoffed rolling his eyes.

"Let me finish." I hissed. "I'll fight for you as a part-timer. That way we both get what we want."

"And what exactly is it, that I want?" He tilted his head to the side.

I simply smirked at him. "To save your gang?"

He frowned at that.

"You think you're the only one good at research? I've done my homework too." I said, smugly before leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. "Your gang is dying, the funds are dwindling and your fighters, who were your only source of income, are no good either. Your drug smuggling business is down the drain too because your ships were busted at the docks. All you have left is arms smuggling business and me, to help you raise your funds through fights."

I noticed his left eye twitch as he heard every word intently. A small smirk grew on his face as he raised my hands to slow clap. "Not bad."

I made sure I sounded informative and not threatening because no matter the condition of his gang, he still is a gangleader and won't think twice before choosing to kill.

"I know." I raised an eyebrow smugly. "So, according to my calculations, and the number of people who bet on me in a fight, if I give you a 80% share from ten of my fights, that would be enough for you to pick up business for your gang. What say?"

"I'll be honest Miles, I didn't expect you to be so sly." King smirked, twirling the gun in his hand and walking towards me. "90%. And 15 fights."

My jaw clenched at that as I knew that it could take me months to get this deal over with.

"12 fights." I retorted, making his smirk widen as he reached me.

He extended his hand to the side and a phone was placed on his palm. "15, or this guy becomes my punching bag for the month." He said, showing me the screen.

I squinted to see a very agitated Ryder pacing in front of his house.

I clenched my jaw before looking up to glare at him. "Fine."

"Great!" King suddenly cheered, startling me. "So I guess we won't be needing you anymore." He pointed to a guy at the side who had a kit and looked like a tattoo artist.

I gaped at that and tried not to imagine what would have happened if I hadn't thought fast enough.

"Alright, now. To a more important topic. What happened to your leg?" King asked taking a seat on one of the sofas facing me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Your pups happened, your majesty." I spat, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

His expression changed into a shocked one as he jumped to his feet. "Them? My men did that to you?" He asked, making me frown at his psychotic behaviour.

He walked to my side where I noticed that Luke was standing. "Now now, what did I very clearly tell you, Brad?"

Luke's eyes widened as King stopped in front of him. "Uh- it's Luke Boss- She-"

The sound of a gun cocking made him stop talking as my eyes widened. "Okay then, Luke. What did I very specifically tell you?"

"Boss- you- I mean-"

"Speak up!" King roared as Luke shook like a leaf. King was pointing the gun at Luke's head, making imaginary designs.

"To- to bring her to you, unharmed." Like rushed out, eyeing the gun, in fear.

I noticed, a very worried Jack looking at Luke but the fear in his eyes was different. It wasn't fear for himself, he was scared for Luke.

"And how is this unharmed?" He said glancing back at me.

"Boss- we had-"

"You know I can't have you in my gang if you don't know how to obey me Luke." King said, digging the gun in Luke's temples, making him shut his eyes in fear.

"STOP!" A voice yelled. It took me a second to realise that the voice was my own.

King turned to me with his eyebrows raised, while Luke looked at me in shock.

"Let him be. I didn't make it easy for them to bring me here, anyway." I said, grimacing at my words.

God, I'm gonna regret this.

King tilted his head to the side before turning back to Luke. "Well, I guess you're a lucky man." King said, patting his cheek, making him let out a shaky breath.

"I'm letting him live as a welcome gift to you, Miles." King said, turning to me, with a sadistic smile, making me roll my eyes. "It was nice dealing with you."

He extended his hand towards me while I looked at it.

I remembered watching Ryder on King's phone and I knew, there's no backing out of this.

I sighed, firmly grabbing his hand and shaking it, sealing the deal.

*****

I limped up the steps of my house and punched in the code before walking in.

Just as I took off my shoes, wincing in pain, every now and then. I heard several footsteps and looked up wide-eyed to see the whole group running towards me with worried faces.

"Oh my God." Mia breathed out, rushing towards me and pulling me into a hug.

One by one everyone joined in on the hug, sniffleing every now and then.

"Guys, uh I know you were all worried and stuff but my thigh is still kind of punctured." I said in a strained voice making everyone back up immediately.

I let out a long breath before, looking up to walk into the living room but I stopped at the sight of two very tense looking figures in front of me.

In front of me stood Alec and Ryder, both at a distance from each other but had their eyes focused on me. Alec was straight up glaring at me while I couldn't put a finger on the look on Ryder's face.

I gulped, switching between looking at the two. The others noticed the change in the mood and grew silent.

I pursed my lips as I knew I'm gonna hear a hell lot from Alec for getting stabbed again,

so I winced.

Yes, I bent and winced, grabbing my wounded thigh.

I saw Alec groan, before he rushed forward to help me, walk into the living room.

I was settled on the couch when his glare at me intensified. I winced a little more, even though I've already been in this kind of pain before, and it wasn't foreign to me.

"Oh no... no amount of wincing is going to get you out of this one." Alec said, before he grabbed his first aid kit off the floor.

I frowned as I saw that it was already open and a lot of things were used.

My eyes widened in realisation. "Lex! Where is she? Is she okay? That mothe-"

"I'm here, geez. Calm down, mom. I was in the bathroom." She rounded the couch I was on, before stopping in front of me, beside Alec who was cutting off the sloppily done bandages off me. "You are the one who got kidnapped."

I couldn't help but glance at Alec, as Lexi spoke but I shook my head to focus on the present. "I wasn't kidnapped."

Everyone looked at me in disbelief.

"I was just picked up for a meeting." I muttered, leaning back on the couch.

"Emily, this isn't funny." Alec's voice boomed through the room, as I looked at him wide-eyed. "You used to fight, you came back home all bruised up and I had to stitch you up almost every night but now you're getting kidnapped?"

I couldn't help but look at him wide-eyed like a child being scolded as he has never yelled at me like this before. He has always supported me for whatever I wanted to do.

"It's not like I wanted to get kidnapper, Alec. It was a surprise for me too." I retorted, with a frown.

"Then why do you keep getting involved in messed up shit like this?!" He half yelled, making me eyes widen further.

"Alec..." I breathed out as I looked at him shake his head.

He didn't speak at all, while he continued to stitch me up. All my attempts to talk to him were in vain.

I noticed Ryder leaning against a wall opposite to the couch I was sitting on, as he continued to look at nothing in particular.

Not gonna lie, I was pretty shocked to see Ryder and Alec in the same room when I walked in because the last time they were, the result wasn't pretty.

As soon as Alec was done with dressing my wound, he packed the first aid kit, and walked up the stairs, ignoring my calls.

I couldn't help but glance at Lex and sure enough she was looking at his back in worry.

"Hey uh- could you make sure if he's okay?" I grabbed her arm, making her nod quickly as I smiled up at her.

I knew I fucked up for sure this time because Alec is not the one to swear and the fact that he did, just makes me feel like a brat.

I felt someone patting my back. "It's okay Em. He was pretty shaken up when we told him what happened and we couldn't file a missing person's report before 24 hours either." Cole said, making me sigh.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Mia said, sniffleing softly, making me smile in return.

"Me too." Perri squeaked, wiping her nose. "I need to ask you so much, but you should probably rest right now."

"Yeah we're all staying over anyway." Dylan said, making me chuckle and nod. "Want help reaching your room?"

I was about to take him up on his offer but a deep voice cut me off.

"I'll help her with that." Ryder announced, walking towards me and holding out his hand for me to take.

"Or he could do that." Dylan said, awkwardly before rolling off the couch like a sack of potatoes.

I looked up at him to see the same emotion that I couldn't put a finger on, in his eyes.

I couldn't help but remember the last conversation we had and everything that I said to him that I didn't mean at all.

I took a deep breath before putting my hand in his, before he pulled me off the couch.

Here we go.

*Authors note*