"Innocence died screaming, honey, ask me I should know."

*************

Nikolas's POV

"Where the hell have you been?" Alex's very loud voice was the first thing I heard this morning as he pushed past me and walked into the house, "And why weren't you picking up my calls?"

I closed the door and rushed a hand over my face, rubbing my eyes tiredly. I groaned in pain as I massaged my temple, wincing, my head was fucking pounding, "Can you not shout?" I grumbled out, I needed more sleep and rest. What time is it, anyway?

"I am not shouting," He paused in his steps and turned to me, narrowing his eyes suspiciously, "Why do you look like shit," He pushed his hands into his jacket's pocket, "And why is it so fucking cold in here?" He whined as he looked around the house before he headed toward the heating panel and turned it on, rubbing his hands and blowing in them ever so dramatically.

He walked back to me, his dissatisfied gaze on my bare chest and he rolled his eyes, "Can you put something on you?" He whined again, why is he so loud, "I don't want to have to look at your body and be motivated to go the gym right now."

I shot him a glare and walked past him toward my room. I pulled the sweater off my bed and slipped it over my body, my gaze falling over the black shirt Natalie wore the other night. My fingers itched and I took it into my grip, my fist tightened over the thin material, slowly bringing it up to my nose, and just like expected, it still smelled like her, all sweet and delicate.

Against my better judgment, my chest tightened and I let the shirt fall back into the bed's edge. I wasn't planning to remove it from there anytime soon, maybe it will give me the illusion that she is still here, that she is coming back, that last night wasn't the last time I'll ever see her.

I pushed past all the chaotic emotions clouding my chest, I'd rather focus on the pounding of my head; At least, it hurts less than whatever is pressing so tight under my ribcage. I hefted out a loud breath from my lungs as I exited the room and headed toward the kitchen. Alex had already settled there, his jacket hanging over one of the chairs, his gaze occupied by his phone as he read through some emails, all while munching on the apple in his hand. Where did he even get that from? I don't remember buying apples.

I tried to ignore him as I placed two or seven spoons of coffee into the machine and turned it on. I slumped over the chair, pressing my elbows over the table, and I rested my head in my hands, my fingers tightly gripping at the strands of my hair, wanting to rip them off from the immense pain surging and throbbing against my skull.

Feeling his eyes on me, I lazily lifted my head up to meet his confused gaze. He rolled his eyes, as if my presence alone annoys him so much, "Why are you ignoring me?" He asked, "I told you we need to talk," He carried on, and I realized maybe I shouldn't be too sad over the fact that Natalie left me, I still have him to act like the wife I never asked for and annoy me with every passing second, "Are you not talking to me on purpose?" His eyes narrowed at me, "You know I am the one who is mad at you, right?" He is still talking, "You should be the one coming and begging for my forgiveness."

I got up to my feet, briefly ignoring him as I took a cup and poured the much-needed coffee into it, "Let me have my caffeine first, and then we can fight," I grumbled, the ache in my head not stopping and his whining wasn't helping my case at the moment.

I turned around, ready to sit back when he said, "Hold on," I looked at him as he got up to his feet, "Hold this," He extended his half-eaten apple, pushing it into my free hand before he took the coffee cup from me and settled down, and ever so casually started sipping on it.

I shot him a hard glare, "You are so lucky my gun is inside," I grumbled as I turned around, throwing the stupid apple at the sink, and poured myself another cup of coffee before I sat down.

He was silent at first, allowing me to get back to myself as I drank my coffee, wishing this hangover into nothingness. The sound of a click had me lift my eyes up, glaring at him and the way he had his phone tilted, "Did you just take my picture?"

He smiled, staring at the screen, and nodded, "Yeah, you look so miserable," He sounded beyond thrilled at the fact. He turned the phone around to show me and I was one second away from snatching it from him and smashing it against the wall. His grin widened, "In case someone asks who is the hotter brother, I can just show them this and prove it's me."

I took my last gulp and slammed the cup back over the table, rather harshly, my energy being restored slowly. Alex rolled his eyes at my dramatic behavior and he placed the phone away, "Go ahead," I said, ushering him to start whatever this intervention is all about.

He leaned forward into his seat, resting his arms over the table, his fingers impatiently tapping over the wood, "Well, how about we start with the fact that you set a kid on fire?"

I crossed my arm over my chest and leaned back, "You're making me feel as if I lit a match and threw it at him," I rolled my eyes, why are they making a big deal out of it, "You didn't see the place he is keeping him in, there are more security there than I have, both inside and outside the house, I knew they will get him out quickly, there was no danger on him at all," I added, "As I said, he won't get hurt, I promise that much," I meant it, "But none of you can stop me from using him as a bait."

It's what Isaac does to me, it's exactly what I'll do to him.

Alex facepalmed. He actually facepalmed, "God, you drive me crazy," He said with utter annoyance, "And here I thought that mob mentality was leaving your thick head," He said while poking the side of my head, rather harshly.

I pushed his hand away and he looked like he is about to jump at me, "What if something happened, there was no guarantee that the fire wasn't gonna hurt him," His eyes hardened, "He is a kid, Nikolas, a literal kid, it's not his fault that Isaac...adopted him or whatever."

"He is Natalie's brother apparently, what would've you told her?" His eyebrow raised, "If he got hurt, how would've you explained yourself, huh?" He wasn't planning on dropping this anytime soon, "Hey Nate, I kind of set your baby brother on fire but no biggie, let's just go have dinner," He mocked.

My jaw ticked, my fingers curling into the inside of my palm, "Let's look at the glass half-full, nothing happened to him."

"What the hell is wrong with you these days?!" He snapped, his voice rising, "Firstly, you are not telling me about anything you're doing or planning, where is Mia for example?" Accusation flared in his tone, he sees the worst in me, doesn't he? To be honest, I don't blame him if he does.

"Also how in god's name is Ronald and Natalie related and why is Isaac so damn interested in their family?" He shook his head, frustration seeping with each word, "You are pushing me away for some fucked up reason, keeping me in the dark," The muscles of his jaw worked, the look in his eyes changed into one of pure distaste, "And on top of that, you go and bring her here," And here is our biggest issue. The main reason he is actually here now.

He and I will never see eye to eye on this; Which is why it's better to ignore it, but looks like he is not leaving till he forces us to argue yet again about this.

"Did you forget all that she did?" His eyebrow raised, "Would you like for me to remind you?" He added, "Do you want me to refresh your memory?" He mocked, "The whole fucking yacht incident, it was only her, we both almost died that day and it was her fucking fault, helping Isaac all this time, it was just her," Air pushed out of my lungs, harsh and hoarse, my fingers tightened over the table's edge as I fought to control myself, "She is the one giving him all this power, and she can take it away like this, so why isn't she?"

I let my eyelids glide down, my jaw tightening, he could never understand my position in this, "She is the one who gave up on you when you were begging her not to," He isn't going to stop now, is he, "Even with every fucked up thing you did to me, when she let go of you, I stood by your side and I begged you to fight back-"

"It always goes back to there, doesn't it?" I said, my voice strangely low and more contained compared to his. It's a dick move on my side but I have to do this. Ashton was right; Alex is better off far away from me. He will be only a distraction, bringing out the morals I don't have, forcing the good in me to win over the bad. Him, Natalie...they are all just a distraction, they will only hold me back.

The only purpose of this second chance I got is to end Isaac, it's the only thing that makes sense. And I will do it, at all costs. I will cross all the boundaries and jump past the limit they try to contain me within. I have to, it's the only way.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"It always goes back to the...fucked up things I did to you," I repeated his previous words, trigging him some more. Fury reigned with confusion in his eyes, "Don't, Nikolas," He warned me, because he knows me, he knows what I am doing.

My eyebrow raised, "If you didn't forgive me, why are you here right now," I carried on and his jaw worked, his expression shifting, "Stop-" He warned again and I shook my head, "Just say it, we both know it, the only reason you are sticking around is to clear out the guilt of what you did, come on, Alex, just say it," I stressed out, needing to push him to the edge, "Say it, you didn't forgive me for what I did, and you never wi-"

"Of course, I didn't!" He snapped, his voice bellowing all around us, the chair screeching as he angrily shot up to his feet. That look in his eyes is a one I haven't seen in so long...since he tied me down in that room, unable to kill me and also unable to let me go.

"How can I, huh," He grated out in pure fury and I got up as well, facing him, "How can I when I fucking saw it with my own eyes," I nodded my head, my chest contracting in ways I didn't understand, "I know," I whispered.

He shook his head, "You know nothing," The amount of rage in his eyes proved that I've taken it way too far by mentioning this. He told me before that if he is sticking by my side, the only thing I am supposed to do is never ever mention that past again, but here I am, bringing it up on purpose so I can push him as far from me as possible.

Feels convenient actually, to gradually lose all those I care about in one day. It was bound to happen anyway.

I nodded, "I do know, I was there, remember-" Was it my tone, or the meaning behind my words, but seconds only and he was in my face, his hands clutching into my sweatshirt and pushing me back against the counter, "What the fuck is your problem!" He snapped, his eyes blazing with anger and underneath it, there was hurt and I never wanted to hurt him again, not after all I'd done. For a second there, I wanted to take it back, tell him about everything troubling my mind but if he stays by my side, helping me, pulling me up every time I fall, he will get hurt more.

"I am just stating facts-" I added and with his tight grip, he pushed his fists against my chest, shutting me up, "You are a fucking asshole, you know that," He said, "I know what you are doing and just because you are doing it on purpose, you've proven that you don't deserve all that I did for you."

I nodded, "I am glad you finally realized that," I said, my calm tone a total contradiction to all that was pushing and pulling at my chest, "I am sorry your grand plan to fix Nikolas didn't work."

Lines etched between his eyebrows, "Fix you?" He said, "You think that's what I am doing?"

I nodded, "What else-" I questioned, "What else was Natalie for?"

He shook his head, disappointment flaring in his gaze, "How old are you, huh? Do you think you can be fixed after this age and all these years?" He shook his head, "The answer is no, I know that because the same goes for me, brother," He said and his grip over me loosened, "That shit inside your head, it will stay with you forever, but it's only up to you to control it, to look past it, concentrate on other parts-" He shook his head again, scoffing, "But that never works for you, because when you see that you took a step forward, you purposely take ten backward."

"I am not trying to fix you, Nikolas," He said, "Natalie; I only hoped she would give you a place to run to when shit hits the fan, a small good part that could help you look past the bad when you need to," He shook his head, "I have that, and it's the only thing keeping me intact, and all I wanted was for you to have something remotely similar," I swallowed past the acrid taste in my mouth, because I no longer have that, "But given what you're doing lately, you don't even deserve that."

I don't deserve him, or her; that was already imprinted deep down in my brain.

"What are you two doing?" My mother's scared voice was the only thing to place a pause on whatever is happening. Alex's hand left my clothes, his head turning back, and his eyes falling on her. She took a few steps inside, her shocked gaze flickered between us both in bewilderment, "Are you fighting again?" Her eyes were wide, terrified of that fact even, "After everything you've both been through together, you can't-"

"Look lady, believe me, no one cares about what you think," Alex's unbothered words interrupted her.

My jaw tightened, "Alex-"

He looked back at me, rolling his eyes, "What? You gonna scold me for insulting your mother, you know that I hate her, so there is nothing new here-"

"Alex, I know you are mad at me," She spoke, grabbing his attention again, "But don't let it out on your brother, it's not his fault-" The rest of her words hitched when he stepped toward her, her throat bobbed and her eyes grew wider at his closeness. I edged forward, getting myself ready, in case this goes south, which it will. When it comes to her, I can expect everything from him.

"Mad at you?" He scoffed at her, "There is a difference between that and the fact that I can't stand you," He added, "To be mad at you, I'd have to care, and I really don't give a flying fuck about you."

"Alex, it's enough," I grated out.

He turned to me and shook his head, "No, no, it's not, I mean when was the last time we were gathered around like this, come on," Mockery flared in his tone, "Let's reminisce the past, shall we? All the good memories we shared, god, I don't know where to start even-" He really knows how to play on someone's nerves, doesn't he-

"Oh true," he looked at her, still mocking, "I forgot to thank you, right? For helping me get my daughter back," He shook his head, "Thank you, really, thank you because I almost died that day because of you."

I curled and uncurled my fist, containing myself, the memory fresh still in my head, "Thank you for being the worst mother ever for him," He pointed at me, not even addressing himself because he really could never see her as his mother too, "Thank you, for playing with Frank and letting Isaac play with you, thank you for wreaking havoc over all of us, because everything that happened, to him or to me or to anyone close to us, it happened only because of you."

Silently, she stared back at him, the tears gathering in her eyes, and standing at the threshold, refusing to fall down yet, "You are the most selfish person I know, and don't think I am bitter because you threw me away," He scoffed, "I am actually grateful for that, probably the only good thing you did," He shook his head, "To grow up around you, that would've been another nightmare, I mean we already have a proof of it over here," His words hinted at me and I rushed a hand over my face, badly trying to hold myself back from lashing out on him, but I needed to accept that we both see her in different lights. Truth is, he isn't entirely wrong either, but I also don't want her to be hurt anymore.

"To be honest, I really wish you died that day," He added and I interjected, "Alex, stop-" He turned to me and shook his head, "No, come on, think about it, think how different things could've been," He added, his gaze flickering again to her, "Isaac would've been either dead now or at least he wouldn't have all that power he got because of you."

She lowered her gaze to the floor, and I saw the few tears that trickled down her cheek. My chest ached, it tightened because I couldn't judge her for all the wrong things she did, I wasn't any better, "You know what the fucked up part is, I really do think that Frank is better than you, maybe even Isaac is better," He scoffed, "At least they don't hide their true colors, but you," Her pained eyes flickered up to him as he carried on, not planning to leave until he lets it all out, "You lie, you manipulate, you pretend and you fake," He shook his head, "You can never be trusted and I don't know how Nikolas is trusting you now."

He started to cross the line when he muttered the next words, inching so close to her, "Before I leave, I just want you to know that...I hate you so much," He whispered the words, the truth resonating and slapping her in the face, one heartache after another, "And when you meet your end, which I hope is soon, just remember that I didn't forgive you for everything you did, and I never will."

I couldn't take it anymore, I marched forward, my hands on his back, pulling him away and slamming his body against the wall beside her, "Enough, I said!" I shot out loudly, my chest heaving with the fury clouding it as I held him down with a smoldering glare.

Alex met my anger with silence, he only stared back at me, his gaze flickering to my fisted hand, the one I was so close to planting it on his face if I didn't grasp into control at the last second. His jaw worked, but there was no rage in his gaze anymore, it was just utter disappointment and underneath it all, hurt.

"Do it," His voice was low now, his eyes on mine, challenging, daring, "It's the one thing you haven't done yet."

I loosened my grip and her fingers clutched into my clothes, tugging at my shirt and pulling me backward, "Nik, please, stop this, both of you, just stop," She tried to say over choked words.

Air harshly pushed out of my lungs and I completely let go of him, stepping away as he pushed himself off the wall. The look we exchanged proved that I got what I wanted, I pushed him as far as possible from me. And this thing between us, it just can never be easily fixed.

"Morning!" Emma's cheerful voice interrupted us. She halted to a pause by the kitchen's entrance, Roman beside her, his arm thrown over her shoulders. Their eyes drifted between the three of us, assessing the situation and understanding, the thick tension swirling around the small space couldn't be ignored.

Emma turned and whispered to Roman, "I think this is a bad time, let's run away."

Alex wasn't going to stand and witness more of me or...my mother, "When she turns her back on you again, don't you dare come crying to me," He grumbled out as he pushed past me and walked away, his shoulder brushing mine and he exited the kitchen, then the house, the main door slamming behind him with a loud thud.

I wanted to go after him, maybe explain my position in all of this but I stopped myself. Emma's wide eyes flickered from where Alex went off to then back to us, "I am kind of team Alex on this one," She whispered to Roman but I heard her nevertheless. I shot her a glare and she gulped down, tugging at Roman's arm and pulling him along as they disappeared inside.

My mother rested her hand over my arm, "If me being here will make you two fight like this, then I am leaving," She shook her head and my eyes met her tear-filled ones, "I can't let this happen again, Nikolas," I started to decline but she interrupted me, "The one thing that was giving me a bit of peace was the fact that you too were finally together, by each other's side after all this time, so please Nik, don't drift apart now, not after all that happened, I will leave and-"

I placed my hand over hers, shaking my head, "No, you are not going anywhere," I hefted out a low tired breath, "Believe me, this isn't just about you," I had to push him away, for his own good, "It's better off like this," Was it really? "Isaac is planning something now, I don't know what, all I know is that I have to take advantage of everything presented ahead of me to get to him."

Joseph has been helping me since Mia's supposed death, he is spreading the word around the big families, gathering around whoever is against Isaac's ways of ruling. Rebelling against your own leader is the first step. I have to surround him from all sides, turn everyone against him.

I took my mother, his only guarantee, away from him.

Threatening his position, his power, it will have him wavering and the second that happens, I will threaten the other thing he cares about...that little boy.

When I am done, he will have nothing left, only then I will be able to rip his heart out without being scared of the consequences. Only then I would be able to watch him breathe his last with the guarantee that everyone that I care about is safe.

She squeezed my hand, "Nik, I get it, you think killing Isaac is the only reason for your existence, but the way you're going on about this, it might cost you everyone around you," She shook her head, "So just think, is it worth it?"

Isn't it?

Deciding to ignore those words and what they meant, I edged backward, "I have to go now, if you need anything, call me," I mumbled, my energy getting depleted as I walked past her and into my room. I took a shower to get back to myself and changed my clothes before I exited the house, clearing my mind from all that happened in the last two days. I needed to focus on one thing and one thing only.

I drove toward my old apartment, to get some documents and semi-important things that are left there still. I left the car in the parking lot and went down, heading for the elevator. The odd silence around me was interrupted with the wind blowing into the small area, a very cold violent wave slapping me in the face and I slowed my pace, sensing something out of the ordinary, something alarming.

Carefully and discreetly, my hand went and pulled my gun out. I used my other hand to pull the safety off as I kept moving forward, giving them the illusion that I am unaware of their presence yet but I could hear the silenced footsteps in the small area, their echo couldn't go missed by me.

Tightening my grip over the gun, I slowed down, waiting for him to get even closer and when the chance presented itself, I whirled around so fast, my gun pointed and the sight of one of Isaac's men had me firing at his head without much of blinking. My jaw ticked when another one came from behind me, his arms wrapping over my neck, tightening his grip and trying to pull me away. I groaned and slammed the back of my head harshly against his, enough for him to loosen his grip and with my hands over his arms, I turned my body, facing him as I twisted his fucking arms down, hearing the sweet sound of bones cracking.

He screamed, blood spurring off his nose from when I slammed him in the face. I didn't hesitate as I kicked him away, pushing him backward and to the ground. At the same instant, more of them came, three, maybe four men...still, it wasn't anything I haven't done before.

They tried to surround me from every corner, "You could come with us without a fight," The one right in front of me said, ever so confident, "But if you insist, we gonna have to break an arm or leg before it."

I smiled at him, taking a step closer, "It's your face that I am gonna break," I threatened and he groaned in anger as he marched forward at me. At the same time, another one from behind me tried to take the advantage. I kicked the one in front of me in the stomach, making him stagger backward, and used my elbow to slam into the other one's face and it was all a blur after.

The adrenaline pumped into my veins as I slammed my fist into whoever came ahead of me, all while fighting the others on my sides. I didn't give them the chance to beat me down, I wasn't born yesterday, I've had worst fights before. Their scream of agony satisfied the monster deep down in me, the blood tainted my hands and clothes as I knocked half of them down.

I groaned as I dove my shoulder into the first one's body, driving him away before I slammed his head against the wall. He fell down, all of my assaults taking a toll on him till he became a limp body over the floor. The one who dared to threaten me tried to attack me from behind but my reflexes were faster and when I had him hooked under my hold, my arm wrapped around his neck from the back, so very tight, holding him down at his shoulder as I swiftly twisted my arm, the bone popping and breaking him just as I promised.

But at that exact same instant, one of them took advantage of my busy situation and threw something like a powder at my face, it had me blinking, and that's all they needed, a second only where my concentration wavers, a second of distraction as the other guy behind me pressed the needle into my neck, quickly emptying its content into my veins.

A groan rumbled from my chest, the rage blinding me as I rushed my hand over my neck. My vision blurred for a second or two but the drug didn't knock me down immediately as I expected. Seeing red only, I twirled around, holding the guy who did the act with a murderous glare. His eyes grew wide, expecting me to lose consciousness right away.

His shocked state helped me as I moved forward, gathering whatever strength I had left to knock the gun out of his grip. He struggled against me but one shot to the head and he was gone. The gun slipped down from my grip, the metal felt weirdly heavy in my hand, my muscles failing to carry on with the simplest task. My chest felt tight, the oxygen refusing to get sucked in and my balance faltered, the drug moving in my blood and hitting the right nerves to drag me down but I tried to fight against it still, refusing to give up yet.

"What the hell are you made of," I heard a hissed voice before I felt the coldness of the needle press again into my skin, stripping away any flicker of consciousness I had left with the second dose.

Everything turned into a blur, sounds and voices faded, almost instantly. Seconds only, and everything turned utterly black.

***************

My head throbbed, the pain pulsing through each and every nerve as I fought against my heavy eyelids, forcing myself awake. I dragged them open but they fell down right away. The ache pressing at the back of my head, traveled down to my neck, holding every alive nerve in my being with a tight painful grip.

What's happening?

Air harshly pushed out of my chest and I moved my head from right to left, trying to get back to myself. Coldness rocked down through my body, the air humid and biting at my exposed skin. Blurriness swarmed my vision and I slowly blinked, once and twice till I started to get a clear image, the hazy memories rushing back in bits and pieces.

How long have I been knocked down?

I tried to move my hands to rub at my face but couldn't. The feeling of being tied down was the only thing that restored my consciousness so rapidly. My body shot forward in my seat, my wide eyes falling into the ropes binding my arms to the chair. What the fuck?!

My jaw tightened, grinding as the fury enveloped me whole, my eyes lifting up and roaming around me, trying to comprehend my surroundings. A light bulb hung down from the ceiling and when my eyes fell on it, I winced, unable to make sense of anything.

I groaned as I tried to move my arms, as hard as I can get myself to, hoping to free myself of these goddamn ropes. How did I give him the chance to get to me? The fucking shit, what the hell does he want this time?

I wanted to scream in frustration when the ropes bit into my skin with every try, drawing blood out from their tight harsh hold as I failed to get them off, the drug in my veins weakening me beyond measures.

"I saw as they tied the ropes so tight," A soft voice came from the further corner of the room. My wide eyes shot in the voice's direction but I couldn't see a goddamn thing due to the shadow reflecting off the stupid lamp, "You won't be able to free yourself," I recognized the voice, I could fucking recognize this voice everywhere and anywhere.

She moved her body over the bench at the end of the small humid cell, now coming into view. Unlike me, she wasn't tied down to anything. My eyes grew even wider at her sight, here, in the same fucking room as me. I am not hallucinating apparently. How did this fucking happen? What does he want from her?

"So don't waste your energy," She mumbled, her eyes hard as they looked back at me, or at least trying to be, reflecting how bothered she was that we are stuck in the same room. It was what she always did, pulling the hard strong act when deep down, the fear was slowly eating at her nerves. She was terrified.

My heart was beating so fucking fast, my brain struggling to make sense of this situation or the reason behind all of this. My muscles contracted painfully as I realized if he was to hurt her, I am tied down and helpless...I won't be able to save her.

This only proved one thing; that no matter how far I push them all away, they will still get hurt and threatened. They will still be used against me at every chance. Playing on my weaknesses, it's the only thing he knows how to do.

But I gotta give it to him, by bringing Cara into this, Isaac just hit the jackpot.

Because in a weird twisted way, all that I am doing, every single damn thing, it goes back to her.

Maybe, in some way, I can wipe all the blood off my hands, maybe I can make up for all those fucked up twisted things I've done due to this lifestyle I was forced into, but the one thing I can never make up or atone for is the sin I committed against her.

The truth is I can never truly make amends for the hurt I caused her. No apology will feel fitting. No way to erase it from her mind. No way to make up for it. It's why I do what I do; it's why whenever I see that I took a step forward, I take ten steps backward. It's why whenever I see happiness up close, I purposely run away in the opposite direction.

Maybe if I keep ruining myself, maybe then only I can taste a flicker of that atonement.

The scars I left on her soul, maybe they lightened by now due to time and distance, but they didn't disappear, which is why I will always live with the pain that I pained someone this much.

***************

Five hours ago...

Cara's POV

"Mommy," Lilly said as she tugged at my coat, "Just a second, baby," I said as I unbuckled a sleeping Max from his car seat and took him into my arms. Lilly kept tugging at the edge of my coat, not giving up yet, "But Mommy, look-"

I backed away from the car, closing the door, "Lilly, sweetie, just a second I said," I mumbled, without looking at her side yet as I pulled Max's bag from the backseat. Linda walked to my side immediately, helping me by taking the bag along with the other groceries.

I gave her a wide appreciative smile. On some days, she drops by and helps me with these two wild kids and I am beyond grateful for that. Sometimes, it just gets too much to handle by myself, especially when Alex is at work.

When he is home, he tries his absolute best as well, but our kids are no piece of cake, I tell you.

"Mommy," Lilly's voice raised, a bit frustrated but also scared as she so harshly pulled at my pants, using my leg to hide behind it.

Alarmed by her behavior, I turned around to look at her, "Baby, what is it-" The words hitched in my throat when I understood what she was pointing at. My eyes widened at the sight of the three men stepping closer and crowding our space. I instantly moved backward, one arm tightening over my Max, my other hand wrapping around Lilly's arm and pushing her behind me.

Linda held into Lilly, pulling her back and I covered Max with both of my arms, the fear tightening my chest beyond measures. I don't need to be a genius to understand who they are or let the dangerous vibe emitting off them get by me. I've seen such men before, I've lived with them for two long years.

The one in the middle, the older one, his face a bit familiar but also not. He stepped forward, and the other two stayed behind. My eyes were on him only. His dark hair was neatly pulled back, a few grey strands covered the sides, barely noticeable even. He radiated power, it dripped from him with every step he took closer. He was built well, tall and not to be messed with. His hand were tucked into the pockets of his long black coat, his gaze went from me to Max in my arms before his eyes met mine again, brown, dark and utterly dangerous.

A few wrinkles were visible at the side of his eyes, especially when his expression shifted, the corner of his lips pulling up in amusement as he said, "I don't think we met before."

My jaw tightened, "But I can guess who you are," I said, knowing very well who he is. Some of his familiar features clicked, adding to the vibe radiating off him in waves.

He nodded, satisfied, "Then, you probably can guess the things I am capable of doing," He took another step forward to me and I stumbled backward, "Stay away!" I shot out, "If you dare come near him-" My heart felt like it could jump out of the confines of my chest, the fearful tears rushing to my eyes at the thought of him or any of them near my little boy.

My hand cradled his small head and he stirred in my embrace, his small hands moving over my chest, probably waking up but I kept him all tucked up to my body, refusing any of this. I would die before I let them lay a finger on him.

"Oh, no," Isaac shook his head, so casually, "You've mistaken my intentions over here," He shook his head again, "I am not here for your kids," His eyes flickered behind me, falling on Lilly and he gave her a wink. I could feel her little hands fisting over my pants, scared as well, "I mean come on, he is a baby, I am not that heartless," He added, his eyes on Max now and something about his tone didn't feel sincere at all.

"I wouldn't, that if you don't give me a reason to, of course," He added, the threat in his words not to be missed, "Give her the boy," He said, nodding his head toward Linda, "Let her take the kids inside and you...you will come with me."

My eyes widened, "What?"

"It's you that I need," He explained, "I won't hurt you, I promise," This time, his promise sounded so genuine, "A day or two, and I will bring you back here to your family, don't make a scene and come with me, and no one would get hurt," He pulled his hands from his pockets, running one of them through his hair, fixing what the light wind blew, "So, Cara, be smart."

I shook my head, not understanding, "What do you want from me?"

He shrugged, "A very small thing."

I shook my head, "No, no, no way, not again," I shot out, "I am not going anywhere with you. I've done this before and well," My jaw tightened, glaring at him, "Learned my lesson the hard way."

"I am not actually asking you," He said and the other two men stepped forward, heading toward us. My eyes grew wide and I moved backward, protecting Max in my arms as Linda took a hold of Lilly but one of the man pushed past me, "No!" I shot out when he started to pull Lilly out of Linda's hold, "Leave her!" Linda screamed at him, trying to pull her back and I moved, kicking him in the legs, trying to do anything I can.

"Mommy!" Lilly cried out when the man pulled her away and into his arms. My eyes widened and I quickly pushed Max into Linda's arm as I rushed to her, my fist slamming into the man's arms in a haze, "Leave me daughter alone!" I snapped, my hands clutching into her arms as I finally managed to take her away from him and into my arms, wrapping her up in my embrace. Her terrified hands clutched into my clothes, burying her face into my shoulder, crying and so very scared.

The man moved aside and Isaac came into view again, "What do you want from us, we didn't do anything to you!" I shot out, unable to handle this as I rubbed my hand over Lilly's shaking back.

I guess it's, like father like son after all. Staring at this man, I couldn't help but notice that the apple didn't fall far form the tree.

Isaac nodded, "I said I am not here to hurt any of you, so don't make me," He stressed out again. Lilly sniffled and pulled her head from my shoulder, her eyes going to the dangerous man standing ahead of us. He gazed back at her, a small smile pulling at his lips, trying to be all friendly, "She is cute...a small little Leya," He commented as he lifted his hand to her face but I immediately pushed it away.

His eyebrow raised, "Although I dont think this world needs two of her," He scoffed, mumbling the next words in utter annoyance, "One is more than enough."

Okay, ex-father-in-law, let's bitch about your wife, shall we?

His hand moved and wrapped around my arm, rather harshly, his tone turning serious now, "Put her down and come with me, we don't need to make a massacre out of this, am I right," He said, his expression shifting, exposing the mad man who would just do about anything, who would go as far as hurting my kids.

I can't risk that...

Lilly moved in my embrace, her hand going to his over my arm, pushing at it and landing a very light punch, "Go away!" She shot out, the tears lining her lashes as she glared at him.

He chuckled, amused, "You're lucky I like kids," He said and I focused my attention back on her, my hand on her cheek, turning her face to me as I kissed her head, "It's okay, baby," I mumbled, "You will go inside with Linda, stay by your brother's side, and I will be back before you know it," I mumbled to her as I turned around, placing her down by Linda's side, who was clutching into Max with all of her power.

I left another kiss over Lilly's forehead as I whispered, "Tell dad not to worry, okay?"

I was a fool to think that part of our lives was over, that we were finally happy and peaceful. They sure know how to pick a moment and strike back unexpectedly.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing solid and thick as I let go of her, my eyes lifting up to Linda, "Call Alex right away," I said, my eyes on my little boy, peacefully sleeping still, so innocent and unaware. With the fear wavering in her eyes, she nodded her head assuringly as she held Lilly up so close.

My heart rattled in my chest as I turned around, one of the men held into my arm, pulling me to the car that halted at the road ahead of us just now. His grip tightened, making sure I am not going to escape, or attempt anything rational; I couldn't, not when my kid's life could be at risk.

It all happened in a blur after, him pushing me into the car, not so gently, Lilly's cries as she called for me again and the next thing was the cold needle pressing into my arm. In a span of seconds only, my eyes rolled back, my head collapsing against the seat and the darkness welcomed me in.

***************

I don't know how long I was out of it, all I could gather when I woke up was the fact I am trapped in a small damp cell. Nothing made any sense, why am I even here? What could he possibly want from me for god's sake? My questions got answered rather quickly when the metallic door rattled. My gaze shot there as it got opened, a few men tumbled inside, bringing an unconscious Nikolas into the same room as me.

My eyes grew wide as I took into his state, very lost in the possibilities. If he was able to get Nikolas even, then...then rest in peace me. No words were exchanged with me from their side as they tied him up to the chair, very tightly, leaving the both of us alone in here before they left.

I gulped down, wrapping my arms around myself, shivering at the coldness. I pressed my body against the furthest corner, my eyes on him only, waiting for his consciousness to kick in, maybe he has some answers. My eyes on his arms, good, at least he is all tied up. My jaw ticked. It's his fault I am here, all the bad things always goes back to him, doesn't it?

After he woke up and noticed my presence, his shocked eyes held mine for a very long minute, as if thinking something through and I rubbed a hand over my throat, "Why am I here?"

Lines pulled between his eyebrows, "I was going to ask the same thing," He muttered, just as clueless as me. Great, just great.

His gaze flickered to his tied up arms, his jaw working in frustration before he looked back at me, "Can you uh...put our differences aside for one second only and help me get these off."

I shot him a hard glare, "I am not gonna help you." In his wildest dream I will let him loose, especially in a locked room that's containing the both of us...

"If I am free of this, I will be able to get the both of us out of here," He explained his motives and I shook my head, crossing my arms over my chest, "Well then, I'd rather die here."

A harsh breath pushed off his lungs and before he could whine some more, the lock rattled and the door opened again. This time Isaac was the one to step inside, his gaze first fell on Nikolas, "Oh, so you finally woke up," He commented, coming to a pause behind him.

He rested his hand over Nikolas's shoulder to which he tried to shrug away but failed, "They told me they had to put three doses in you to knock you down, so probably you'll get poisnened of that and die," He tapped his hand over his shoulder, ever so casually, "Just giving you some heads-up."

This man is something alright...

"What the hell do you want?" Nikolas shot out but Isaac ignored him as he stepped forward and sat down down beside me, all of his attention on me only, "You know something, I actually like you," Isaac said, and my eyebrows pulled closer at his words, "In the situation you were forced into, you acted the total opposite to how Leya did, and I admire you for that," He added, his tone somewhat sincere.

I am really so confused. I am unable to understand this man or his motives.

"And to be honest, I kind of feel bad for you," His head tilted to the side, "No one took your revenge, right?" He added, adding more into my confusion, "You know, the whole brother thing and what not, I dont think Alex avenged you the way he should've," He carried on, "True, he tried to kill him, but dying isn't painful, so now," He pointed at Nikolas's side, "I want you to witness what painful looks like firsthand."

He looked back at Nikolas, who seemed to be trying to assess those words as well. My eyes drifted to the man who stepped closer to the chair, something in his hands. He placed what looked like a small motor on the floor, and connected to it was a black device held in the man's grip as he stood right in front of Nikolas. The device had two small metals coming out from it...oh no, those are not any metals, it looked like an electrode. Oh my god, is he going to-

"Robert, turn it on, let's give him a small taste first," Isaac said, proving my assumptions right as the man leaned down and pressed some buttons, before he pressed his hand over Nikolas's shoulder, holding him down and pushing the device into his chest. My eyes grew wide, because I could even hear as the static sound from the electric shock as it left the device and tumbled into his body.

Nikolas's eyes pressed shut at the pain, his jaw contracting as he pushed his head backward, the veins of his neck popping out under the effect.

"Now, raise the voltage some more, we need this to be more fun," Isaac added, my shocked gaze flickered to him, "Why am I here?!" I shot out again, I dont need to witness this. What the hell is this man's problem?

Isaac leaned closer to me, "You see, Robert is gonna keep doing it, and he won't stop until you say so," He said, as if this just a daily normal occurrence, "It's in your hands only to stop his pain, so will you?" His lips curved up a smile, "But first, I need you to remember all the pain he made you go through, all those years away from home, used and taken advantage of," My hand fisted over my thigh, why was he bringing the past that I was moving on from, "Wouldn't you want him to go through a somewhat similar pain?"

My jaw tightened, "I only want to go home to my husband and kids, I don't care about the vendetta you have for your son," I shook my head, "Don't bring me into the middle of it, because I could care less about him or you."

"Exactly, which makes this the more fun," He added.

Fun? "You're sick," The words left my mouth as a whisper and he shook his head, "Actually I am perfectly healthy but okay."

He turned to them, "Carry on."

This time, the guy topped up the intensity and when he pressed the device into Nikolas's body again, the shock was a hundred times worse than before and a loud groan rumbled from him, unable to hold the immense pain back, his hands tightening over the armrest, he looked like he would break it as he tried to hold and cling on.

True to Isaac's words, the guy didn't stop. He pulled it back one second and pushed it again, giving him one shock after another.

He kept increasing the voltage with every second, and when he pressed it this time, it was brutal, the pain tore up Nikolas's throat as a scream that hit the four walls and bounced back as an echo. Redness rushed over the skin of his neck, the popped veins looked like they would explode if he gets exposed to this yet another time, but they didn't care and they didn't stop, not even when blood dripped down the side of his mouth.

My heart lifted to my throat and in the same moment my stomach completely bottomed out. I pressed my eyes shut, unable to handle anymore of this, "Stop," I whispered, my nails digging into my thighs as I tried to contain myself.

"What did you say?" Isaac questioned and I turned to him, my gaze hardening, my jaw tightening, "I said, stop it!" I grated out, because I was only human, I wasn't like them, I couldn't witness something horrifying as this and be okay with it, no matter who is at the receiving end of it.

Isaac chuckled, "You really have a pure heart, don't you," He got up to his feet, walking up to Nikolas and ushered the man to stop. He finally turned the device off and I tried to even my breathing down. How can they do this? How can they be okay with all of this?

I was happy far away in my home, why do I have to be here? I don't want to be a part of any of this.

Nikolas's chest heaved out one strangled breath after another, the back of his head pressing against the chair as he tried to gather his strength. He pried his eyelids open and Isaac paused by the chair, his palms pressing over the armrest as he leaned down, leveling himself with him.

Nikolas glared back, but no words came out of his side, the blood still dripping down from the corner of his mouth, "I was hoping we'd reach the voltage that will kill you, but well," He tilted his head to the side, "We are just getting started anyway. I am no way near done with you and she will be all I need to get what I want out of you."

Nikolas's jaw worked, he only stared back at Isaac in pure disdain. Their faces were so close, and I would be lying if I say it didn't satisfy me when Nikolas edged his head foward, and purposely spat the blood in his mouth at Isaac's face, "Go to hell," He grated out, his voice hoarse and tight.

That was enough to snap Isaac off. He wiped at his face, his hand moved and wrapped over the back of Nikolas's hair, harshly pulling his head backward, "Now, that wasn't very nice," He grumbled out before he snatched the device from Robert, "Turn it to the maximum," He ordered and the man obliged.

"If I am going to hell, son, then I promise I will be dragging you along with me," He said with an edge before he pressed the electrodes back into Nikolas's body, this time not backing away as the shock tumbled out of the device in waves.

I pressed a hand to my mouth, unable to imagine how painful that had to me. The way Nikolas's body writhed underneath the attack was an enough proof of the intensity of the electric waves tumbling into his body now.

The shock this time knocked him down and it was just then that Isaac backed his hand away, freeing him of that torture and staring down at his unconscious son in pure victory.

He leaned down, hissing at him one more thing that made no sense to me, but proved that this was just the beginning, "You touch what's mine, I will touch what's yours."

************************************

So, you all wanted Cara and Nik to have a face-to-face confrontation; I said it will happen but I never said it will be easy or simple xD

Prepare for more blood and sweat, lol ;)

Don't forget to drop down your opinions and thoughts.

See ya in Blue Ribbon next time! Love ya <3