RIVER

"Davion's been kidnapped," I sigh unhappily, changing directions to go to my house.

Thia's eyes widen a generous amount, looking utterly horrified. "WHAT?! THAT POOR BABY! WHO WAS IT?! Oh my gosh! I bet he's so scared!"

Wow.

If I ever get kidnapped, I better get a reaction like that out of her.

Suddenly, my phone starts ringing.

Answering the call, I'm unable to say a word before a man's voice fills my ear. "Hello, princess. Why'd you leave so soon? We were just getting to the fun part of the night."

Suspiciously, I grit my teeth and glance at Thia. So this is the dick that kissed my girl.

I.

Will.

Murder.

Him.

"Why don't you tell me where you live, you little goddess, and I'll come over so we can 'talk'," he continues, breathing heavily into the phone. "I'll show you the night of your life."

"Shut the f**k up, you b*stard," I snarl visciously, clutching the wheel tightly. "Expect my men. They'll be by to kill you."

"Ah! F**k! Sh*t, man! I think this is a wrong number!"

"D*mn right! Don't you ever f**king call this number again, or I won't hesitate to slaughter you where you stand!" Hanging up, I toss my phone into the cup holder, anger pulsing through my veins.

"Who was that," asks my little lady curiously, seeming to have momentarily forgotten Davion.

"Some pervert," I reply, ending the conversation.

"Pervert?" She stares at me with wide eyes, looking shocked, "Oh, River!" Her eyes harden and she holds out her hand, "Let me talk to her! I'll put her in her place! Don't worry, River, she won't call you again!"

I haven't seen her this angry before.

It's adorable.

And, d*mn, is it a turn-on.

"No," I explain, smiling lightly, "That won't be necessary. Thank you though."

She eyes me suspiciously before shrugging and backing off, "Fine. But next time," she jabs her thumb towards herself, "Let me talk to her."

"Alright," I chuckle, dropping the subject.

I should bring her back home, but if there's a kidnapper on the loose, I want her with me. I won't risk losing her too.

Last night, I had enough of a scare to last me a lifetime.

I am keeping her with me from now on. I clearly can't trust her with her parents--not while they have their own issues to work out. Her brother isn't trained, nor does he understand the workings of my world, he can't sufficiently care for her.

No, I can't trust her with anyone else. She stays with me.

"Where are we going?"

Glancing towards the lady of my thoughts, I feel my heart soften, "To my house. We need to find Davion."

Excitement brightens her gaze, "'We'? I get to help?!" Happy yet concerned, she tries to smother her grin.

Unsurely, I sigh and glance around myself, as if to be sure that no one else is there, lurking in the shadows. "Under two conditions," I warn her sternly, sending her a look. "First, you must do anything I say, when I say it."

She blushes slightly, smiling shyly in acknowledgment.

"Second, unless I tell you otherwise, don't talk to anyone. And don't you dare leave my side for any reason." Oh, hell. I can't believe I'm doing this.

Squealing over zealously, she bounces happily in her seat, unable to contain her energy. "Oh, thank you! I promise, I'll do what you say!"

"Remember," I growl, trying to get her to take this seriously, "You owe me your life."

Momentarily, she pauses, as if trying to recall the instance in which I saved her life.

"That one time," I remind her calmly, "With the spider."

"Oh! Oh, yeah!" She pales at the memory of the tiny spider on her leg. "You saved me."

I didn't, but her thinking so works fine for me.

"Right, so you have to do what I say, correct?"

She nods in agreement, narrowing her eyes at me suspiciously, "Remember. You promised that you wouldn't make me lick a wasp!"

Chuckling, I recall her fear for my future orders. "I remember, don't worry."

Sighing in releif, she reclines into the leather seat. But slowly, instead of her usual carefree joy, a shadow of worry slowly creeps onto her beautiful face.

"Don't worry, princess. We'll find him." Soothingly, I reach over and place my hand on her thigh, rubbing slow circles.

I suspect that the kidnapper was our usual tormentor. The same thorn in my side since the day that Mom died.

My loving big brother, Jo.

D*mn, I hate him.

I swear, that b*stard just loves to push my buttons. Last year, he kidnapped me in attempt to put an end to my life. Next year, he'll probably try to kill Caleb.

He is so d*mn predictable!

"How," asks Thia curiously, gazing up at me in awe.

How will we find Davion? That's a good question. "Not sure, baby. I'll get with the guys and decide how we're gonna do it."

Confused, she twists around until her body's facing me, her back resting against the door and her legs folded neatly in front of her. "'The guys'?"

Oh, she doesn't...sh*t.

"Sweetheart," I begin hesitantly, wincing as I picture what her expression might be once I reveal what should have been obvious. "I need to tell you something."

"What?" Leaning forward, she props her elbows on her knees and rests her head in her hands.

Biting my lip, I pull over to the side of the road. With a pause and a heavy heart, I begin again.

"I--I'm a, well...I'm a gangleader." Closing my eyes tightly, I brace myself for her freak out.

"You--you...you're a..."

Monster.

"THAT'S SO COOL!"

What?

"Mind blown!"

Opening my eyes, I glance her way, shocked. "What are you...?"

Clearly lost in her own world, she continues to freak out, but not in the way that I'd expected.

With wide eyes, she grins brightly, exclaiming, "I'm never would have guessed! Imagine, while I was over here doing...you know, what I do, than you were out doing--doing...what do gangleaders do?"

"Uhh..." How can I answer that? How does anyone answer a question like that? "I..."

She just smiles up at me patiently, waiting for my answer.

So, no ignoring the question...

"I um, get a lot of money?"

What am I supposed to say? "I loan people cash and then kill them when they can't pay it."

Yeah, she'll love that.

"But how?" She waves her hands around, wanting elaboration.

"I'm a loan shark." That should do it.