P R O L O G U E

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P R O L O G U E

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It all started on the outskirts of a town in the early 2000s where in a yard—one that looks like every other yard—had two boys within its confines. Two identically looking boys if it wasn't for the fact their hair were of two contrasting colours, blonde and dark brown.

They were young and dressed up in small T-shirts and shorts, tumbling messily amongst the dust in their garden, built up from the lack of rain that's fallen over the past few weeks. The grass beneath their feet slowly but surely losing its colour, turning to a bright yellow that almost matched the sun itself.

A woman exited the house and made her way down each small step with a cautious way about her. Her fingers glided over the banister, intricate and delicate of a touch against the wood. She wore a floral design dress—as she always did—and had an apron over her as well.

As if they'd seen an angel, the boys paused their rough and tumble games and sprinted to their mother in great excitement, wrapping their small arms around her legs happily.

"Mama," the boy started—the eldest one—stood there with the smallest of a frown on his face, "when's dad coming home?"

He was every bit his father's son, curious and fearless, but he was still a child and the child missed his father terribly.

His mother however, leaned down to their level and ruffled her hands through both their hair, saying in her usual quiet voice, "don't worry about your father. He'll be back soon; he always is, isn't he?"

The other boy, slightly smaller than his brother and with a small whine, jumped once as if he was huffing in frustration, "but he's been gone for ages."

The woman sighed. What could she do? The last time Damien called her was two days ago and he did mention he'd be caught up on the way back. Her children understood that their dad wasn't always going to be around; he had responsibilities. Giving them up would put his family in danger and he couldn't risk that.

It was always towards the end of his trips that they got impatient like it was almost a sign that he'd be coming home soon.

"I know, my babies, but we just have to be patient...like he said." both of them nodded before their mother pulled them inside for dinner, which was already laid out on the table in their places.

Their mother closed the backyard door behind her, locking it as she always did in the evenings in case she'd forget to do it before going to bed. She settled at one end of the table where normally, she sat across her husband.

The kitchen wasn't too small, big enough that they could fit the table in there without a struggle. Dishes stacked on one side of the sink ready to be put away and several glasses and mugs in the cupboards above felt the warmth of the sun that evening, shining through the windows and illuminating into the kitchen.

"Come on, you two. Eat up. Remember what your father said. We have to be hopeful like he asked us to be," she explained to them, tucking into her own food as the boys ravenously ate next to her, "this is like every other mission so he'll be fine. Dad's just caught up, at the moment."

The woman was always strong for her boys, but sometimes when Damien was away, she'd miss him. Understandable considering they were married and loved each other. It was such pure love that it made her forget everything about their lives, but since he left, she often cried at the thought of not being with him.

Her sons didn't know, of course and she preferred to keep it that way. Jessica worked at the local cafe on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to provide for the boys whilst their father was away with the gang. She did her job and cared for her children the best she could despite struggling on some days.

Upon glancing to her left, she saw Damien in her eldest son, Owen. From the way the boy carried himself and acted, she could tell he'd grow up to be exactly like Damien.

...and sometimes that scared her.

It's said that the eldest son of the leader of the gang would be next to take his place and for Jessica, it seemed her son Owen was next in line.

That was tradition, but Damien was never the eldest son in the family. He had numerous older brothers who completely blew their chances of becoming a leader and though he rather opposed the idea at first, Damien was the only man who had the guts to take on the role. He knew his priorities and that made him an unlikeable contender to his brothers.

However, Damien wanted Owen to take over when he was older. Sure she was terrified, but she knew the sacrifices she'd have to make when choosing to be with this man. One of her children would have to take over one way or another.

Suddenly, Damien's sister, Kiara entered the kitchen—probably after using her own key to the house—coaxed in sweat as she ran a hand through her long locks of hair. She had a small smile on her face as she placed her hand upon the small bump of her stomach.

"Hey, Jess, Damien back yet?" she asked. Jessica knew Kiara visited every day to check if her brother was back so she can give him a good beating for leaving her behind for a mission she knew more about than he did.

It wasn't down to Damien, though because he was too much of a sucker to let her sulk around. Alfonso—her husband—ensured to Damien that she stay at the compound for her sake as it was the baby's.

Kiara was pregnant by about two months and though she was enjoying the peace and quiet, she wished she went on that mission with the boys.

"No, K, he isn't. I heard they were on their way back. A huge success it was apparently," Jessica said, hiding her smile for the sake of not spoiling everything for the boys, "we just hope they come back without any trouble."

"God almighty, of course, they're not gonna get in trouble. What shit are they gonna run into that they can't handle?" she spoke loudly and Owen prodded Jaxon lightly, quietly telling him to cover his ears.

"I think I should be more concerned about the kind of language you expose my sons to, but they already know to much from their father," the woman spoke with a laugh, "he's such a blabbermouth sometimes."

"Of course, he is. He's his mother's son and she could talk endlessly about anything. You name it." it came as a shock how easy it was for Damien to open up to Jessica for he was never really one to express too much emotion when they were at school. Damien's past with his father and brothers didn't really help in him allowing himself to open up to others; he had learnt from a young age that he could only depend on himself.

"I'm more surprised they don't use that language," Kiara said, her tone almost impressed as she grabbed an apple from the side and bit into it. Jessica smiled proudly at her boys as they ate their food silently like they usually did because just like their dad, it was rather difficult to get them focused once their attention was on food.

"What can I say? My boys know better and you know what Damien said if he found out a rude word came out of their mouths." the boys knew their mother spoke so highly of them and they never got tired of hearing it, but for the sake of their mother, they preferred to stay quiet and accept the praise when it was given.


After dinner, Jessica cleaned up the plates as her sons played in the back garden with Darren, another kid from just next door and who often came through the broken wooden fence to play with Owen and Jaxon after lunch and dinner.

She kept the key next to her, reminding herself to lock the door once the boys were inside.

Jessica often looked at her sons and saw her husband in them. Both the boys were a mix of him and that made her heart swell with so much pride. Owen had his father's dark brown hair and her blue eyes whereas her younger son, Jaxon had her blonde hair and his father's hazel eyes. Still, both had aspects of their father that she never expected would show so much.

Kiara rambled on whilst Jessica stood and washed the plates and even though she never usually listened, Kiara never minded. It was a peaceful day and the sun's orange rays of heat radiated on the whole gang compound of another hot summer's day.

"Look, I better get going and get the dogs some food ready for them. Make sure you talk to Alfonso tonight so you can find out where the hell those guys are," Kiara said and she nodded turning to her to wave goodbye, soap and bubbles covering her hand. She headed out through the back door, saying goodbye to the boys and Darren.

Later on, the birds chirped quietly as Jessica sat in a garden chair under the roofing of her house, watching over her boys and Darren as they played and basked in the remaining sunlight.

"My mom said that when dad comes home, he's bringing a surprise for me," Darren boasted, standing tall and proud as both of Jess' boys looked at him in amazement.

"Really? That's so cool. Our mom said dad's bringing us a surprise as well," Owen exclaimed and Jessica lightly laughing, knowing he was right. Damien loved his boys just as much as she did and every time he came home from one of his missions, he always brought a little something for his sons.

The man never failed to separate his private life with gang life. He felt he had to if he didn't want his sons turning out like he did as a teenager. It was an incredibly rough life for him and Kiara, something he wouldn't want the same happening to his children.

"Darren! Dinner's ready!" Darren's mother shouts from next door and he's immediately on his feet and running through the fence and next door. How she managed to shout so loud from inside their house next was something Jessica would never be able to understand.

Owen and Jaxon were used to him running next door without saying goodbye because just like them, he had a love for food. They never thought of it as rude and simply went about their day as if he was never there to begin with.

The boys continued to play until everything was beginning to get darker and the sun was setting over the horizon and then their mother took them to the compound's main hall where everyone was to meet the gang coming back from their mission.

A range of people—mothers, children, brothers, sisters and families—excitedly waited, talking amongst one another. Alcohol, beverages and good food were settled around at tables for a celebration of the return.

Jessica had let her sons wander off to play close by whilst she anxiously waited, her fingers looping around a loose thread on her dress. She'd fixed her hair up earlier that evening and put on some red lipstick before leaving the house.

"Oh, god, he's gonna think I'm so fat," Kiara says, as she cupped her cheeks with both hands. She went up to Jessica who only giggled slightly, "he's so excited to see me, but I didn't even have time to get ready before coming here. I also smell like the dogs."

The woman next to her—amused by Kiara's fretting over her appearance—giggled lightly. She was never one to care about the way she looked because Alfonso fell in love with how she was as a person. With a fiery spirit, it was difficult to reel her in and growing up with no one but brothers made it more tolerable to put up with men.

Damien didn't mind him being around his sister, but that was only because he didn't think she'd fall in love with him. Oh, how wrong he was. It was when they started doing activities couples did together that he noticed the signs and though Jessica warned him this would happen, he purposely ignored the signs.

"Well, luckily, the man likes dogs," Jess said lightly, earning a small laugh from Kiara, "and you don't look fat. You're pregnant with his child, he loves you and he misses you."

As her eyes scanned back over the crowd, she noticed her sons sat patiently on a bench a few metres away from her. Her younger son, Jaxon had in his hand a stick of cotton candy, tearing some off and offering it to his brother.

"Here, have some, Owe. It's so good," he spoke, biting some off from the stick. Owen's eyes weren't trained on Jaxon, though. They were dead set ahead of him, waiting for the very second he sees his dad in view in the distance.

"I'll have some later. Dad's coming home, but if this is another false alarm, I'm going to throw a fit," the child muttered, remembering the exact evening this happened. It was slightly similar to their current position, but they were sat close to their mother and ended up going home crying whilst feeling sick due to how much they ate, "don't let mom catch you with that. You know she doesn't like us eating too much candy after supper."

The younger brother scoffed, putting some more cotton candy in his mouth, "I know, I know—but you won't tell her, will you?"

Out of the two, it was always obvious Owen was more responsible. He held himself quite high and as he should, of course. The child was already serious although sometimes, he was a bit too...austere. At first, people assumed it was something he got from his mother, but after a while, people began to realise it was a streak he got from his father even if Damien lacked the seriousness most of the time.

However, true to his twin brother, he would swear to never say a word. They were brought into the world together so they relied on the other one in everything. There was no room for petty fighting or making each other angry when Owen swore to his father that he'd always take care of Jaxon.

Out of the two, Owen was always going to be the leader, the one to make critical decisions and make the sacrifices because he's always had the guts to do so. Jaxon was always going to be the follower and he never minded. He was always happy as long as he was by Owen's side as a loyal brother and friend.

They waited together amongst the rest of the town who stayed behind. Time moved slowly as it drifted on and on to the point where Jaxon was one second away from falling asleep. It is past our bedtime, Owen thought, watching as his brother's eyes slowly fluttered shut before snapping open once again.

"Oh my goodness, Frederick!" a woman shouted in the crowd. The boys perked up at that knowing full well that if there was the return of one man, the rest followed after.

She had ran all the way to him as he made his way as quickly as he could despite limping on a foot. The two embraced each other as multiple people soon came over the distance, cheers of heroism running through the gathered folks.

Crying mother's, children and partners reunited with their loved ones, but Jessica's feet carried her forward in search of her husband. Around her, people were deeply in hysterics of happiness and lifted spirits though she kept searching for Damien amongst the crowd.

A few metres away from her, surrounded by other adults, Owen and Jaxon were waiting anxiously for their dad as more people arrived and celebrations were beginning to be put in place.

Suddenly, a shout from their right caused them to snap their heads over, Jaxon's hand on his brother's arm as they noticed a man holding his arms out, reaching for them after so long, "boys!"

A smile lit up Owen's face like fireworks as his small hand went to grab onto his brother, his eyes never leaving their dad as if he'd look away for even second and he'd disappear completely. They both ran to their dad's arms in light laughs when he picked them both up in each arm and bringing them closer to him. They wound their arms around his neck as he pressed a kiss on the side of their heads before letting them down firmly on their feet.

"Damien Bowers is back!" someone roared, causing an eruption of cheers for the celebrations had begun and it was another great success for Damien and his gang.

Alfonso had found Kiara and opposite to what she was thinking, he peppered her whole face in kisses with a hand firmly on her growing belly. His forehead leaning against her's and bright grins on both their faces. Jessica also greeted Alfonso with a quick hug and a smile before her eyes scanned over the crowd once again, knowing Damien was back but couldn't find him.

"Jessica!" a sudden shout from Damien as he caught sight of his wife shot through the air sharp like a knife, something she caught sight of and immediately ran to him as fast as her legs could carry her. He'd thrown his arms around her desperately after not feeling her touch for what seemed like years. Their lips collided in a fiery kiss, his rough hand reaching to wipe a stray tear from her cheek, "fuck, I've missed you, love."

"I-I've missed you too," she sobbed out, hands clutching her husband's jacket, "oh God, you have no idea how much I've missed you."

Damien grinned at the hold she had on him, glancing down at his sons and giving them a wink. Their smiles so childlike and innocent only brightened at the sight of their parents reunited once again.

The place erupted into a party of celebration due to a gang's leader's safe return and the heroicness of the members who joined him on the mission. Cheers and hollers heard over the music as more alcohol and juice fueled the people throughout the late hours of the night.

It was truly a celebration fit for a king.

Damien remained sat on the edge of the dancefloor as he sometimes did when he hasn't consumed enough beer to energise himself for a dance with his wife. Owen and Jaxon had run off with the other kids whilst Jessica stayed with Damien, their hands interlaced together tightly, "the boys must've been asking about my whereabouts."

Jessica hummed lightly, "it was painful because I didn't know when you'd be back; they missed you. They missed their dad, but they're pretty happy you're here now. Look at them."

They both looked over to the kids playing around, watching the way their boys played. The gang's future lay on Damien's sons and even though Owen would be the one to take on that role, he knows he wouldn't be anywhere without Jaxon and vise versa. His youngest son's existence was something Owen relied on because it was his priority to protect him; that instinct's been there since birth.

"I heard..." the woman started, "that Darren's dad has a present for him."

Her husband chuckled lightly, knowing Darren could never stay tight-lipped about such matters. He was there himself when the man wanted to make it a surprise so the less people that knew, the better, but Damien doubted telling his son was a good idea.

Damien shook his head, "of course, you've heard. Who else? I knew it was a bad idea to tell the boy, but Jacob insisted on telling him."

The two carried on with their conversations before Damien proudly announced himself reenergised, helping Jessica to her feet before pulling her in the direction of the dancefloor along with other couples. Music blared loudly as the two danced, weaving past other people with joyous smiles on their faces.

Meanwhile, Alfonso stared fondly down at Kiara—who had a small pout on her face from having to avoid dancing too wildly as she usually did—his hand firmly on her belly as he laughed lightly at something she said.

It seemed such a perfect night filled with nothing but elation for another success of the Bowers Gang.

Something sliced through the air like cold ice, causing the music to suddenly stop. People stopped dancing and stood confused, in heavy dazes until a loud bang shot through the air and by God, their instincts kicked in rapidly.

Alfonso and Kiara made their way to Damien, a stern look on his

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