I blinked, still not believing that the man in front of me was Rob Dixon.

Jace’s father.

But even as I blinked, almost rubbing my eyes as if to clear them, it was still the same man stood by the stairs with an amused smirk on his face and his hands in his pockets looking far more relaxed than the situation should have allowed him to be.

My own shock however must not even have been in the same league as Jace’s, because he was still staring at his father wide eyed looking like he was frozen to the spot.

Rob looked away from his son and over to me “Who would have though the agency causing me so much trouble would have employed my son’s old flame.” He almost spoke to himself, clearly amused at the coincidence of it all. He cocked his brow as he looked me over; taking in the little clothing I was wearing “On second thoughts, maybe the flame is not so old.”

“You’re the drug lord?” I manage to choke out finally.

He grimaced “I don’t particularly like that term, it sounds so common. I prefer CEO to a distributing business.”

Lee gave a slight chuckle at his boss’s words, clearly feeling the need to suck up to him. “They thought I was the one running the show apparently.”

Rob took in Lee’s words “That is the impression I wanted to give people when I sold you the club.” He suddenly remembered something and casually pointed behind him and up the stairs “Was it my eyes playing tricks on me or was one of my men being carried out of here earlier with a fork in his eye?”

I almost laughed.

“Yup. You can thank little miss die hard over there for that one.” Lee gestured towards me.

Rob looked at me, an expression that showed he was a little impressed “Very creative. No wonder my son carried a torch for you all those years.”

“Because I use cutlery to blind people?” I suggested, my anger slowly replacing my shock.

His lip twitched “Because you were always different from the other bimbos he brought home, and even though you were as quiet as a mouse you always had that air of feistiness about you.”

A slight flush of pride washed over my body, before I realised I was currently making small talk with my target “Are you going to keep complimenting me or are you actually going to kill me?”

“Oh I’m going to kill you.” Rob replied straight away, as if there was no question about it.

And that is when Jace finally reacted.

“You son of a bitch!” He growled, and before I knew what was happening he had lunged for his father, not taking into account the half a dozen men with guns who stood in his path. He even knocked one of them out of the way.

But before he could reach his target, two of the men stood in his way both pointing guns inches away from his face. Jace’s fists balled next to him and I could tell he was debating on taking his chances with the weapons and attempt to swing at his dad again.

“I would think very carefully before you make any rash actions Jace.” Rob spoke to him calmly, however there was the same air of authority in his face that a powerful man should have.

Jace laughed, but there was not a hint of humour. “You’d shoot your own son?”

Rob’s face remained stone. “I wouldn’t be the one pulling the trigger.”

The air around the room got colder by the second as the two men stared at each other, Jace’s eyes coated in anger and hatred.

“You slimy heartless bastard.” Jace hissed through gritted teeth, looking straight past the gun barrels in front of him and burning his eyes into his father “This is what you’ve been busy doing while me and mum have been struggling to keep a roof over our heads? This is why you couldn’t help your own son when he came to you begging just so we wouldn’t be sleeping in the streets!”

Jace’s angry yells didn’t even make Rob flinch, and his words must have washed straight over his head as he shrugged “I had a business to run and I didn’t have time for your financial problems.”

I honestly have never seen so much fury in one persons face than I did now as I stared at Jace. He lunged forward again, sending his fist into the face of one of the guys holding a gun to his face so suddenly he tumbled onto the ground before he could figure out what happened.

My eyes widened as I realised he didn’t care anymore and if he made any more moves he would get himself killed. I was over to him before anyone could stand in my way, and as he raised his fist to the second guy, who would have pulled the trigger before Jace got a hit in, I grabbed it and restrained him as best as I could. Considering his anger was fuelling his strength, it was near enough impossible.

“Jace. JACE!” I yelled in his face, trying to get through to him. I stood in front of him and it was only when I grabbed his face and forced him to look at me did he finally stop thrashing and struggling. I was a little taken back as his eyes met mine, and I swear they were actually red from fury. “Don’t get yourself killed.” I ordered in a whisper, hating the hint of desperation in my voice.

His jaw flexed as he stared into my eyes, and I slowly felt and saw him calm down enough that I knew he would not go on another rampage just yet.

“Isn’t that adorable.” Rob commented, sarcasm lining his voice “After all these years and she’s still stupid enough to come back to you.”

I’m no hypocrite normally, but even I realised that was exactly what I became as I turned to face Rob and dived for him ready to rip his throat out mere seconds after I ordered Jace not to get himself killed by doing anything rash.

I felt an arm slip around my stomach and pull me back forcefully before I got too far. Jace held me so my back was pressed up against his stomach, the grip around me firm as he obviously knew that my temper was on a shorter fuse than his was right now.

“Why don’t you grow a set of balls and come a little closer so I can kick you so hard in the jaw nothing will ever come back to you.” I challenge him, holding my arms out and moving my hands in a ‘bring it’ motion.

I needed to hit something, and the only something that would do right now was him.

He grinned, not bothered by my threat at all.

Like father like son...

“And there was me thinking you were the same pushover you were when you were dating my son all those years ago, turns out you’ve grown a backbone.” He stated whilst cocking his brow showing me he was actually impressed.

“Again, step from behind your human fucking shields and I’ll break all of your bones dickhead.” I hissed at him, feeling the grip around my waist tighten as Jace pulled me back a little more.

“Not to disrupt your death threats young lady, but I should probably point out its hard to take you seriously considering the clothes you are wearing.” Lee chimed in lifting a finger to get our attention “Or should I say not wearing.”

I gritted my teeth together as I pulled forcefully out of Jace’s grasp and wrapped the hoodie tighter around me, zipping it up so at least it would stop falling opened to reveal my not so threatening laced underwear.

“I wasn’t complaining.” Rob commented with his eyes still on my body and a smirk to his lips, which was causing my skin to crawl.

I saw Jace tense next to me and basically heard his teeth grind together as he held back.

“No offence Rob, but can we just hurry up and shoot them because this place is starting to bore me.” Lee spoke, sounding just as bored as he claimed to be.

I saw a flash of anger in Rob’s eyes, before he hastily covered it with a smirk. He called over one of the men with the guns and ordered for them to hand over their weapon, which they obediently did. I met Jace’s eyes, and I found myself swallowing as I tried to think of anything that could prolong this moment enough for us to try and get the hell out of here.

The smirk on Rob’s lips stayed there, the nasty twist to it sending a chill up my spine. He really was going to do this; he was going to shoot his own son.

To my utter shock, Rob lifted the gun and pulled the trigger.

At Lee.

My eyes widened as did everyone’s in the room, silence echoing around as Lee instantly dropped to the ground face first and the blood began to trickle out of his skull and onto the concrete.

“You’ve been a tremendous attribute to this business Lee, but I’m afraid your time with us has just run its course.” Rob spoke to the body on the floor, the faint smirk still at the corner of his mouth. He looked up me and Jace before adding “And he was starting to piss me off.”

I couldn’t not find words to say right now. Rob had just shot his second in command. He had just killed a member of his own team and had a smirk on his face as he did it. I kill people and to be fair I can do it without batting an eyelid, but killing a member of my own team? Killing a friend?

That is cold beyond ways that shocks even me.

“Anyway, as for you two...” Rob cocked his head, debating on what to do with us “...I guess there is plenty of time to play. The fun doesn’t have to end now after all.”

He moved out of the way, and with the hand still holding the gun gestured towards the stairs hinting for us to go. My jaw almost touched the ground as this man continued to amaze me with his decisions.

“You’re letting us go?” Jace asked, the shock he must be feeling never showing as his voice was cold.

“As I said, plenty more time to play son.” Rob grinned and Jace’s face scrunched with disgust at the name.

Neither of us moved yet, much to his intolerance. He sighed impatiently “I would hurry up and take the offer because it’s about to close in 30 seconds.”

Jace and I caught each other’s eye again, and with a small nod to him I began to walk towards the stairs, Jace following closely behind. I quickly swiped the mobile phone off one of the tables as I walked by, sliding it into the pocket of my hoodie before anyone saw. As we reached the foot of the stairs, we were mere feet away from Rob.

Mine and Jace’s eyes never left him, not trusting him for a second. As we got closer to him I found Jace suddenly in front of me, pushing me protectively behind him as we walked up the stairs backwards, not doubting for a second if we turned our backs he would shoot us right in them.

“I’ll see you both extremely soon.” Rob called up to us as we reached the door, and by the tone of his voice I had no doubt that he would be keeping that promise.

As soon as we reached the main bit of the church, I grabbed Jace’s hand and ran out of the crappy old church until we were in the graveyard; the feel of the grass was on my bare feet as I remembered I had no shoes on. Neither did Jace. Neither of us we’re wearing what you would call suitable public attire either.

The fact that we were both partially naked and barefooted didn’t stop me as I carried on running, dragging him along with me until we were in a field and the church was a tiny blimp in my view.

“What are we meant to do now?” Jace asked, anger still lining his voice from the encounter he had just had with his estranged father. He dropped onto the grass, his elbow on his knees as he roughly ran a hand through his short hair “We have no car, no money and we are both on the verge of indecent exposure.”

I pulled the phone out of my pocket, flipping it open and pressing the speed dial. I put the phone next to my ear, waiting for it to connect and looked at Jace, who was nodding his head as if to say ‘of course you would have thought of stealing the phone through all of that.’

“We call for a lift.” I told him, before I heard Chris pick up.

***

“He’s WHAT?!” Chris exclaims as he sits straight up on the sofa, staring at Jace with his eyes wide.

“He’s my dad.” Jace admits reluctantly.

We had got back to the house just over half an hour ago, and after getting cleaned up and dressed (which was fun explaining to Chris why we were half naked in the first place) all 3 of us were sat in the living room and me and Jace were filling Chris in. Drake and Connor must have been out on a job because apparently they had not been home all day.

“Holy Shit!” Chris breathed out as he rubbed his forehead as if the revelation was too much to handle “Well, that was a nice twist to the story wasn’t it?” he mutters bitterly.

Jace snorts “Tell me about it.”

He was sat on the single sofa, obviously wanting to keep a distance as he was still worked up over the fact that the man we had been hunting for all along was in fact his father. The man who had recruited one of his best friends as a drug dealer and was killing innocent people was his dad.

“I know this isn’t something you wanna hear mate, but we could use this to our advantage.” Chris informs him, carefully saying his words knowing Jace was about an inch away from exploding.

I shake my head cutting in “Not in this case.”

Chris turned to me and furred his brows in confusion “He’s got a direct link to the target. It could be helpful.”

Again, I shake my head and Jace cuts in annoyed that he was being kept out of the loop “Care to explain what you two are talking about?”

I turn to meet his eyes, really not wanting to tell him what we were talking about but knowing I had no choice. I don’t think this topic of conversation would help his anger.

“Well?” He asks again impatiently as neither me nor Chris respond, Chris obviously figuring out in his head why it wouldn’t work and leaving me to explain this one. Asshole.

“Basically when we have someone who is a direct link to the target, we can use them as bait.” I explain to Jace, taking a breath as I continue “The target would normally gladly give themselves up to save a member of their family or a friend.”

Jace burst out laughing, no humour in it at all. “Ah I see. Too bad my dad doesn’t give a shit about me or that would have been a pretty good plan.” He tried to hide it, but I knew him too well and instantly spotted the hurt in his eyes as he admitted those words. “Daddy dearest would never give up his own ass to save mine.”

An awkward silence echoed around the room as Chris leans back into the sofa, not knowing what to say.

I finally break it “He did mention the actual agency, and not just me as an agent.” I suddenly remember realising it could be important.

Jace is staring straight ahead of him, deep in his own thoughts. My chest tightened as I felt like I wanted to go over there, comfort him and tell him its okay. That his dad’s behaviour did not reflect him.

“You think that’s the reason why he let you go?” Chris questions, the crease in his brow telling me he was thinking it through.

“Maybe. I mean if the agency has bothered his business before, he doesn’t just want to take out a single agent but he might want to get rid of the agency as a whole? Or just information about the agency?” I suggested, and Chris nods his head along to my words agreeing.

“Probably. Right what we are going to do-”

“Woahhh, hold on a minute.” I cut Chris off, holding my hand up to motion him to carry on no further “I am not doing anything tonight. It has been a hell of a long day and I want nothing more than to sleep. We can talk about this further tomorrow, right now I am officially off the clock.”

Chris widens his eyes in shock, a proud twist to the corner of his lips. I guess it must be a shock to hear me not want to talk about work. Normally that is what I wrap my life around, and it was always the guys sighing in frustration because they were tired of hearing me go over everything. But right now, I just simply had enough for the day.

“I don’t know what happened in that basement...” Chris began, and mine and Jace’s eyes snapped to each others, both of us having the faintest of smiles on our lips “...but the Faith that came out of it that does not want to talk about work, I want her to stay please?”

I laugh slightly, and Jace smiles before speaking “I’m all up for bed.” He declares while pushing himself to his feet and looking at me “You coming?”

I actually had to stop the small smile from appearing on my face at just how casually he had said it, and how right it had sounded coming out of his mouth. I nodded and turned to Chris, who had a smirk on his face and was just about to utter something dirty (Don’t ask me how I knew, I just knew) when I heard the sound of a door being smashed in for the second time today.

Me and Chris were immediately on our feet, both of us reaching for the gun taped under the coffee table which I let him have and I settled for the vase on top of the table, turning and smashing it over the head of one of the guys in black that had kicked the door in. I looked up saw about 10 guys in black all in our living room, Chris had managed to shoot 2 of them while Jace was fighting off a couple more but neither of the boys were doing well.

Anger ran through my body. This was our home. They had come into our fucking home!

I punched one of the guys in front of me, swinging my other arm around to hit the next one that stepped to me and I received a few punches while I was at it as well. I went into the kitchen and was now next to Chris who had been disarmed. In the midst of hitting anything dressed in black, I looked over to where Jace was and felt my stomach drop.

“Jace!” I yelled over as one of the guys pulled out a taser, and the next thing I know Jace’s eyes have rolled to the back of his head and he is fitting as the electricity runs through him. He collapsed to the ground unconscious.

I push one of the guys out of my way violently to make my way to him, when in the corner of my eye I see one of the guys behind Chris pulling out another taser and walking towards him. I instantly go to run over to him and kill the guy behind him, when suddenly I was unable to move as I felt something zap me in the back. I began to spasm as everything went blurry, the electricity ran through my body making me lose all train of thought as I tried to keep conscious, but knew I was fighting a losing battle.

Then everything went black.

..