Adrenaline. What a fascinating drug. A response to something dangerous, yet exciting. Your body betrays you sometimes when you've spiked yourself with a hormone so strong that you feel it acts for you, against you. Do you fight or flight? I was trained for the obvious answer.

"Oh Ex, you've made it one hell of a challenge to find you," The humor in his voice was sickening. Satisfaction. It sounded the exact same as I remembered it to be.

"How did you find me?" I asked, still turned away from him, still smoking my cigarette. Show no fear. Because I don't fear.

"How did you know it was me?" He countered.

"A cop is dead."

Nash's sinister laughter escaped his lips.

I turned around and stared at him straight in the face. His gun was pointed a few inches away from my forehead but it didn't bother me. He still had the same face, it was as if he hadn't aged at all. His skin was still clear as day and his cheekbones were prominent like mine were. His hair was light blonde as usual, and his eyes held the same charm as mine did as did his smile. Everyone fell for it. If we weren't so different, people would think we were brothers.

His smile widened when he saw my face. "Eli, Eli. You're packing a punch, huh?" He eyed my muscles. "Grown up since you've been gone."

"You going to kill me or not?" I snapped.

Nash dropped his arm and put the gun back into the front of his pants. Then laughed. "Eli, I'm not going to kill you. You'd be worthless to me if I did. Oh no, but I need you," His voice was warm, but it held a cool tone behind it. "We go way back, Ex, I believe in second chances."

"Last I remember, you barely gave anyone a first chance," I muttered.

"I've given you plenty. I always made exceptions for you."

I felt a vibrate in my pocket.

"So where are we going?" I cut right to the chase and threw the butt of my smoke to the side.

"Since when did you start planning out your day?" He laughed and kicked the crumbles on the ground. There was a subtle threat on his face just by the way he smiled. "Oh, that'll change quick."

Nash motioned for me to follow but I felt dead in my tracks. I stared at him, challenging him with stubbornness.

He didn't have to pull his gun back out for me to know the stakes behind this. I had no choice in the matter - I wasn't an idiot and I haven't forgotten.

Still though, my shoes turned into cement blocks rather quickly.

I felt an ache in my chest while nodding. "I need to make a phone call first." I muttered, eying his expressions to observe his behaviour.

He didn't break his stare with me until I spoke again. I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not a rat, Nash, you should know that more than anyone. I don't think it'd be wise for my sudden absence to go unrecorded, don't you?"

He laughed again, then nodded. "One minute, Ex."

I walked away from him, away from hearing distance, but I knew he was watching my every move. Normally I'd never turn my back on him, but I knew he couldn't do anything. Not yet.

I reached in my back pocket and retrieved my phone and called the first person on my call list.

It didn't take more than two rings for her to pick up. "Eli, where are you?" Her voice was so pure, it killed me. "You must be nervous, huh?" She spoke softly, slight humour for all she could muster on a day like today.

I remained silent on the phone for a few moments. I was running out of time, running out of ideas. Running out of a plan. I cleared my throat. "There's been a change of plans."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

I side eyed Nash and spoke quieter. "Tyler called me. It's an emergency. I have to leave right now."

"Is he okay?"

I stayed quiet.

"Come get me, I'll go with you," She said with a rush, worry striking fast.

"No," I sternly answered, then swallowed hard. "Your brother needs you. I'll handle it myself, just... I have to go."

"Eli... Are you sure everything is okay?" She stressed. She knew me more than I gave her credit for.

I'm so sorry...

The aching in my chest intensified. "I love you more than anything pretty girl," I muttered quick then hung up. I couldn't bare hear her response.

I dropped my phone on the ground and stomped it in with my boot, letting it crack and break in pieces. I turned around and followed Nash in silence.

Of course, Nash wasn't subtle with the amount of illegal money he possessed. We walked along the runway to the private plane he selfishly bought.

I looked at my surroundings which were in the middle of nowhere and walked up the plane steps, with Nash close behind me.

Inside the plane was a young man who wore a suit and stood next to the drinks. I glanced around the other seats in the small plane and internally scoffed at the luxury. I couldn't deny missing these days sometimes.

"I'd think the others would be here," I commented quietly.

Nash walked up behind me. "We have things to discuss. Take a seat."

I stood still and watched him go to his seat in the back, a perfect opportunity to see the other seats even though it was empty. He nodded to the seat next to him across the table. "Don't tell me you've forgotten where you sit?"

I walked over and plopped in my seat. "I left before you've acquired a plane."

"Regardless, it was always beside me. The two leaders, planning together and ruling together," Nash smiled.

I stared into his incredibly light eyes. I frowned with realization. "You were at the fair in April. You gave... You we're holding the key to the haunted house." I said with an accusatory tone.

Nash cleared his throat when the boy came over with a bucket of ice and a bottle of champagne. "You were always one to get straight to the point," He chuckled. "I was wondering if you'd recognize me, but you seemed rather distracted," he mused.

I glared at the stranger who was seemingly startled by my presence. Nash snapped his fingers and the man left through doors, out of hearing range, without a word.

"You've cleaned up well," He grinned and poured us both a drink in the long skinny glasses. "Made quite the life here, haven't you, Ex?"

I observed his every movement silently.

He chuckled and slid the glass towards me while I eyed him closely. "Your look may have changed, but you still have the same eerie quiet to you."

I trained my eyes on him for a long while, gaining any information as I could. He pertained excitement, and nervousness. He was tapping his pinky against his glass, which he only did when he was uncertain of something.

Nash had an egotistical expression, but it was fraud. My presence made him edgy, but why?

He's been waiting for this day, for a long time.

"How long have you been following me?" I growled.

Nash paused his pinky. "It doesn't matter how far you decide to run away from this, Eli. You're still the same fucked up kid I picked up off the streets all those years ago. The only difference now is that you've aged. You may be fooling the public but I know you better than anyone else." His voice portrayed business now. He was resentful and it was the authoritative voice I was waiting for.

My eyes remained trained on his.

"You can be mad, fine. Be angry at me for knowing who you really are. What, have you forgotten while you've made a cozy life in a small town surrounded by delusion? Let me remind you, Ex. You're a savage. You fend for yourself because the people around you mean nothing to you. How often did you remind the boys and me about that? You're a rabid pitbull, my friend. One day back in my world and you will crumble back into your old ways."

It took me a few moments to respond, due to build up anger. I had to play my cards right. "And what makes you think I'll be coming back?"

"Ah, that's why I thought we would have a little chat. The boys and I are ready to welcome you back with open arms, Ex," He spoke in a soft tone. "Don't let yourself forget that you... Ha, you were the worst one of us all. We're willing to put the past behind us."

"At what cost?" I narrowed my eyes, invested in the stakes.

Nash smiled. "It must have been so tiring to be constantly running."

I flash of the many terrible things I've done came at me like a loaded bus, full speed. I played the leader, for then, I became the leader.

I learned forward. "What makes you so sure that I won't kill you the second you turn your back?"

Nash stared at me with uncertainty until his eyes flickered with fire. He smiled and set down his glass all while never breaking eye contact. "You wouldn't kill your family."

I breathed out a slow breath, attempting to calm myself down.

"Funny isn't it?" Nash spoke with nonchalance. "How loyal you can be even when you're holding onto a grudge. At the end of the day, I am your family, Eli. You have no one else but me when shit gets real."

I scoffed. "I have more than you, Nash. You're just a memory."

He raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're still wearing my ring."

I glanced down at the two rings I inherited from Nash.

"I have ways of maintaining your loyalty," Nash spoke over the silence.

A laugh crept out of my lips and I kept the smile on my face while rubbing my face from the headache I developed. "There's a reason why I haven't come back."

"Ah, but you owe me."

I grinned and shook my head. "You had it coming. Call it collateral damage."

Nash sipped his champagne dry. "She's a pretty girl, Eli. You've managed to score quite a catch from what I've seen."

The smile on my face wiped clean as I glared at him.

"It was hard tracking you down, I must say. You've covered your tracks well. There is one way you managed to screw up though, as I suspected you eventually would. Drug habits have always made you sloppy. When you disappeared, it was only a matter of time before you were on the fiend again. I just had to wait for it to unfold."

He poured another glass and topped off mine. He gestured to me to drink before he continued talking. "I suppose it was a good thing that Billy owed me a favour from a few years back. I seemed to luck out. How interesting is it that generosity could reward you?"

My eyes tightened. "Billy?"

"You know, I thought for sure I was going to have to bail you out of jail for killing that guy. I was almost certain that you forgot all that I've taught you. But then, poof. "His hands gestured an explosion. "You suddenly disappeared and my connection to you vanished. A full year of thinking you caught on and fled the country again. Paranoia and you never mixed very well. But one day, to my luck, it came to my attention that you returned home. I wondered what was keeping you there. It was come to my attention that you've returned a lot stronger than when you left, according to Billy. I was lucky again that you've managed to maintain your loyalty. I suppose it wasn't very smart to help your friend Tony with his little habits. I thought you killed him, I was shocked when Billy told me he was alive."

I listened to him in shock. He's been watching me for years, and I had no idea. He's been watching me since before I even went to rehab, and I was clueless. He's waited so long.

"You seem to have a lot of money to waste, Eli. If I recall, I was missing a lot of money when you left my house. Three million to be exact." He sipped on his drink again. The way he spoke as if he didn't mind, was completely and utterly disturbing.

"You've been watching me through Billy," I stated.

"Correct."

"How long have you been watching me in town?"

"When Darius flew down to see for himself the new and improved Eli, he was intrigued to see you've created a little life for yourself here."

"The man in the hoodies," I muttered.

"Yeah, your shorty is a looker, but I'm not surprised. It'd be quite a shame if something were to happen to her."

I slammed my fist on the table. "You won't fucking touch her, let alone come anywhere near her." I growled.

Nash nodded. "I can do whatever the fuck I want, Eli. You know this."

I glared into his testing eyes. The tension in my jaw was enough to crack molars but I had to keep it together. Keep it together. "You fucking bastard," I muttered. "If you touch her I'll fucking kil-

"I won't," Nash smiled. "If you come home, I'll forget all about my fascination with her. You see? I just want to have a civil conversation with my brother. You don't betray me, and I won't come after your prize. Simple rules, don't you think?"

"Well Nash, I've betrayed you in the past so what makes you think I won't be able to fuck you over now?" I asked with a low tone. I wanted to bash his face in. I already felt sick to my stomach by the situation, but now it was travelling to my heart.

"Because you wouldn't take that risk."

I sarcastically huffed. "You think I haven't thought about it? I've come up with a back up plan in case your dead ass ever came back."

"Yes, I see. I'm sure you've come up with a brilliant plan, Eli. You've always been the smartest one of the group. But you see, you're out numbered and yes, I figured you might counter and be a little upset by these conditions. So just to prove to you how clear I am, I've eliminated a potential problem. The funeral wasn't a coincidence, I needed you to come here. I am everywhere. If I want to fuck your girlfriend and discard her afterwards, I will. I can picture her brooding screams now as I scramble her insides... but I won't. I'm doing you a large favor by giving you an ultimatum, Ex. One less family member to fool."

"You killed her father?" Nash was always instructing the rules, I'd thought it'd have been Marcus.

"Tyler morgan, Lacey Miller, Zoey Morgan, Miles Winter- I can see in your eyes that these names mean something to you," Nash smirked. "Addresses-"

"Enough."

"Lets not forget the most important of them all, your most treasured joy. Your heart. Miss Aria Amelia Winter."

I fought back my emotions that were on the very edge of tipping me over. "What do I have to do?"

"You've managed to take a lot away from me, Eli. Materialistic's like my gun and my money, fine. But you've taken away my trust too. It's a shame really," Nash shook his head. "Tsk, tsk. Let's not forget about my dear sister too, you took something away from her and I feel it is only right to tack on her debts."

I leaned my head back by the mention. "Jane?"

"I remember warning you of your limits, but you couldn't help yourself could you? You've always tested my patience, I almost admired it. No one else was able to do so," Nash smiled, intrigued.

"You're bringing up the cheap lay I had with your sister? I'd focus your attention on something a little more worth it." I hadn't thought of Jane in years. She was a pawn to get back at Nash for one of the many things he's done to me.

"You fucked her and left her without a word," Nash snapped. "You took away her sanity, her pride. Shouldn't I settle the score?"

My fists clenched under the table.

Nash smiled and tapped the glass with his fingernails. "The mere mention of Aria is a great trigger to you. She's worth more than I originally thought. Interesting."

"Your money is gone," I muttered. He stayed silent just as I was to him. "I'll give you what you want, Nash. Keep her out of it," I sighed.

Nash only smiled at my comment. I knew him better than anyone else, as he did me. I knew that he would keep his word only to break it in my most vulnerable state. She was no longer safe. None of them were.

"I had a feeling you'd be ready to come home, brother," Nash smiled.

I nodded slowly. Home. What a pity.

"But you need to build my trust back up and prove it," Nash's low, authoritative voice came back. He pressed a button on his phone and suddenly, a brand new face appeared from the other side of the plane.

The man was wearing a suit and I froze. His face stared right back into mine while I stared through him. He was familiar. "I know you," I said with a frown. "What the fuck, You. You're the guy from the party."

Nash clasped his hands under his chin. "You don't remember Adam?"

I stared at the man who turned his attention toward nash when he flicked his hand. The motherfucker was at the party I went to with Aria. I wondered who knew him personally there. Did Miles know him? Aria? We did do business together years ago and I completely forgot about him. I didn't care about worthless lives like his, so I pushed him into the back of my memory where he belonged.

The man took a small red box from his jacket pocket and walked away.

Nash opened the box and took out a bag of white powder, then proceeded to sprawl it all over the table.

I froze and stared at the powder, my eyes glazing over while my throat began to burn with want. I was terrified of the dust but I wanted it. I craved it. Nash always had the most pure substance.

Nash speaking broke me out of my ongoing gaze. "Prove it."

I stared at him and back down at the blow.

Contemplation. Two years of progress would go down the drain. All the times I had suffered from withdrawals and cravings, would be for nothing. All the hard work I put into my relationship to make Aria proud of me, she'd never look at me the same. Tyler and Lacey would finally give up on me. If my mom was really watching over me, she'd lose all hope in me.

I'd spiral back down to the worthless piece of shit I tried so hard not to be.

I constricted my shaking hands as I pulled out my credit card. Inside my wallet, I took a shortened glance at a photo of me and Aria together, smiling brightly in a photo booth. We couldn't stop laughing that day.

This was all for her. I'd do everything for her.

I pushed a pile into a large line, just as it used to be. The biggest split in the group. When the line was perfectly aligned, I put my credit card away but this time refused to look at the photo. I couldn't. I was living a different life now.

I dipped my head low to the table and plugged my right nostril. Then, for the first time in two years, snorted one of the biggest lines of coke I've ever had before.

I'm home.