So since I've been taking way too long to update, I'm splitting 18 into two parts. Didn't want to lose readers, and two months is too long to go without an update. I apologize for the wait, but the second half will hopefully be finished something this week or the next.

And sorry, no media at the moment because I'm in a rush. Will add that later, but please enjoy this short, but sweet chapter! I hope you all like it, and don't hold a grudge on me for taking so long.

Having my girl back in my arms made an unexplainable happiness settle in the pit of my stomach, but the bliss didn't last long. The ignorance that clouded my judgment slowly faded, and I was faced with the reality of what my life was.

A happy ending is not in store for me, and I knew this, but I still couldn't accept defeat. After a life of being told that defeat wasn't an option, getting back up seemed like the only thing I knew how to do - even if the odds were against me. I guess arrogance is another trait Andrew and I shared.

My mind raced through possibilities about how the next few days were going to play out, and the most disturbing thought crossed my mind. The fear that I wouldn't make it this time consumed me with worry.

Catching Sabrina up on what she had missed was almost physically difficult for me, but she got me through telling her what I needed to.

Now she's holding my hands in a desperate attempt to keep me from going in some form of panic attack. At least, it feels like I'm going to have a panic attack. Never having experienced one before, I don't know how it feels like, but I definitely feel a sense of panic right now.

I told her everything. Everything from meeting Dax, to him being responsible for the scar on my side when I rebelled against him, and I proceeded to tell her about the most recent encounter.

She gasps.

"What does he want?" Her grip tightens.

"He wants the money I never gave him." I sigh. "Plus interest."

Those blue eyes holding captive drop to the floor, searching for something, anything to say.

"What are you going to do?" Her voice barely rises above a whisper.

"Honestly?" Her gaze goes back to mine. This time, I'm the one who looks away - shame rushes over me for my lack of a plan. "I don't know."

"Well you have to figure something out." She's silent for a moment, but then she speaks up again. "You need to go to the police. You need to go there and tell them everything."

I laugh out loud. "Oh yeah, because that would just solve everything."

She sighs. "Well, what do you think you're going to do? You don't have the money. You don't have any means of protecting yourself. You don't have anything. You're just a kid, in way over his head, looking to fix your own problems. Well guess what? You can't fix this on your own!"

"You think I don't know that?" I shoot up from her bed, running my hands through my hair in desperation. "But if I go to the police they won't just find out about Dax and his followers, but my involvement as well. They'll want to know everything - how I met them, why I hung out with them, what I did while with them. It would ruin everything for me."

"Are you seriously worried about how this will make you look?" She gets up and stands in front of me. Her hands cup my cheeks as she brings her body closer to mine. "Austin, we are talking about your life here, and you're worried about your reputation?!"

"It's all I have left!" I grab both her wrists quickly and hold them firmly, but gently, against my chest. "That, and you."

Sabrina leans forward, dwindling the distance between the two of us. "What happens now?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll figure it out." It's a lie. There is nothing for me to figure out. The only thing left for me to do is count down the days until my last. At least, what I think will be my last. There's no telling what Dax will do when he comes to me and his money isn't returned.

Two small fists grab onto my shirt and tighten around the fabric. "How can I not? After what he's done to you, how can I not be terrified of what happens next?"

"Rina-" I mutter, but I'm interrupted.

"I'm scared, okay?" Her head that was just resting on my shoulder lifts and our gazes meet. The puffiness of her eyes was just starting to settle from our reunion as a couple, but now, they are starting to water again. "I'm so scared of losing you. I've only just got you back."

"Rina, hey, listen to me." I try to coax her by pulling her to me, rubbing her shoulder in an attempt to relieve her of worry. My forehead rests against hers as I take a shaky breath. "You're not going to lose me, because I'm not going anywhere. I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but he's not going to win. Not this time."

Realizing the tears streaming down her face, I move her back a few steps, forcing her to take a seat on the edge of her bed.

"But enough about that." I push back a strand of her hair behind her ear and cup her face. Closing the distance between us, I lower my voice right before our lips can meet. "Right now it's just you . . ." A huskiness enters my tone as I gently push her back against the mattress. ". . . and me."

Her gaze gravitates from my eyes down to my lips. "I . . . I think I'd be okay with that."

A small laugh escapes me. "Oh, that's good, because I know someone else who is also very okay with it."

The tension between us sizzles, growing stronger from our proximity. The world had disappeared, leaving only Sabrina and a familiar need that fills my thoughts. I don't let any more time slip away before our lips connect.

I groan in frustration when a vibration in my pocket disrupts our moment.

"Please tell me that's your phone."

"If it wasn't, " I say, "would things get interesting?"

She playfully shoves me back and I pull out my iPhone. Looking at the called ID, all hints of good natured fun is wiped from my face - my eyes turn cold as steel when I roll them. "What?" I hiss after I accept the call.

"I want you home," Andrew barks. "We need to talk."

I sigh, "What's the point. I already have a good idea of what this will be about."

When I look back at Sabrina, she has a worried look on her face. "Who is it?" She whispers, clearly thinking the worst.

My mouth forms the word 'Andrew', but no sound escapes my lips. After she nods in understanding, my attention returns to my father.

"No, you don't. Whatever you're doing, I know you'll have more interest in what I have to say. Now, Austin."

The dial tone burns my eardrums when he hangs up, leaving me more curious as to what this is all about by each passing second. "I have to go."

Before she can stop me, I'm already leaving out the door of her room. She follows hot on my tail, asking what's going on. I turn to her and give her the closure she needs. "Whatever he needs to talk to me about, it sounds important. I will call you right after, okay?"

She nods and I kiss her before leaving for the stairs that lead to the first floor.

For a second, I think I'm in the clear with having any run-ins with Sabrina's family, but at the last second, her brother Troy stands in the way of me and the front door. A heavy sigh forces my lips to part, a grunt soon following when he refuses to move.

"What are you doing here?" He eyes are glazed over with a rage I've never seen on him before. Troy was always terrified of me since I'm above him on our team, and I had quite an involvement in his freshman hazing at the beginning of the year. This different side of him always shined when it came to protecting his sister instead of saving his own ass.

"What does it look like?" The smirk I send his way is returned by a scowl.

"Look," he says, taking a few steps closer to me. "I know you care about my sister, and she clearly cares about you too, but if you ever cheat on her or do anything to hurt her again, it'll be the last time you ever see her. Have I made myself clear?"

My eyes narrow in his direction. "I'm not going to do anything to hurt her again."

"I saw her wrist. You know, after the party?" I swallow even though my throat is too dry, and Troy notices. "You're lucky I'm letting you near her after that. Don't make me regret you coming back into her life."

The defensive expression my face had been wearing this whole conversation is fading away. He is just protecting his sister - I have no right to get angry at him for the things I brought upon myself. I don't have a sister, but I know that if a guy did what I did to her, I'd skip the threats and go straight to the action.

"I won't." I assure him. "I promise."

Troy puckers his lips for a second before nodding and stepping to the side. I head to the front door and don't look back as I leave the house.

Pulling my keys out of my front pocket, I press the unlock button and my car singles that it's open with its usual chime. The ride home doesn't take long - going ten over the usual speed limit usually cuts travel time short. When I enter the driveway, the car garage comes into view. At the click of a button, the door lifts and I park my car alongside the others.

The house feels empty when I enter, because it's so quiet. Sandra is probably upstairs, trying to stay out of Andrew's hair while he works in his office.

Usually he needs complete silence while he is busy with work.

I don't need to look for my father to know where he is. Opening the glass doors of his office, Andrew looks up from his laptop right away.

"Sit," he orders, and I follow his directions automatically. After closing his laptop, he takes out a suitcase from under his desk and places it in front of me.

"What is this?" I ask, skeptically.

"Open it."

I do as he says and my mouth drops open at the contents. Bills upon bills are stacked on top of each other in an organized display. "You-" I want to say something more, but can't really find the words. For a few more seconds I'm speechless. "But I thought you said it was pointless to give them money - they'd just ask me for more."

"That may be true," he says, leaning forward in his chair. "But I'd rather lose all my money than lose my son."

My eyes widen as I look up at him, trying to figure out if those words actually came from him. His expression doesn't match his words, but his eyes glowed with sincerity. The room is still shrouded in a dumbfounded silence. It doesn't last long, though.

Andrew clears his throat, his attention now drawn back to his laptop. "Now if you don't mind, I have some work to do.

With a nod, I close the case that sits on my lap and leave for the door of the office. The smallest sliver of hope is enough to keep me optimistic. This time, when Dax comes to collect, I'll be ready for him.

And that was part 1, folks! Please tell me what you thought in the comments below, and maybe even hit that voting star if the chapter is worthy XD Thank you so much for reading, and the patience for waiting for this update, even though it's not completed! (:

While you wait for the second half of this chapter to update, go check out my story Leave Me Unraveled. But remember, it's for mature readers only! It's my first attempt at a full novel in a girl's POV, so it would mean a lot to know from more people how I'm doing.

Again, thanks for reading, and until next time!