Ryder

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I wait patiently for the men.

Those who live in the country should be here in 3 days or less, but those living outside it, a week at most.

A week.

A week Rose has to spend with her father.

Fuck, I should just go. I can't let her suffer like this while I just...sit here, waiting for backup.

I groan.

Ethan and Lucas stir in the couch next to me, asleep as Will snores loudly on his seat.

I scoff.

I can't even think about sleep right now. My head is pounding. I'm going crazy, everything feels suffocating.

Rose. Are you ok? Are you safe? I miss you. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. I'm sorry I can't be there with you. I'm coming to get you.

Just wait for me. Please.

I put my head in my hands and rub my forehead.

They need to hurry up before I lose my patience and book a flight to Italy.

I trust you, Rose. I'll do your plan perfectly and kill all the bastards that tried to keep to away from me.

This battle is finally beginning and I'm not coming home unless you're in my arms.

Rose

I lay back in my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to think.

Going up against my father in his home base is like trying to escape quicksand.

If there's nothing to grab, you drown. At the same time when you reach out, you're trusting the object with your life.

In this case, I'm holding on to Caleb and trusting him not to let me drown while help comes, from Ryder hopefully.

Caleb is...like an unknown to me.

He's a person I'm not sure I can trust or not. He brought me here under his father's orders, threatened me multiple times and even betrayed Ryder who he's probably known for years.

What makes me so certain he won't go behind my back? What if he's been putting on an act for me so I trust him just so he can go back to my father and snitch?

I can't trust him until I'm sure he's on my side. If he brings the men, I can access the situation from there. I just hope I didn't make a mistake even giving him this one chance.

I sigh and turn on my side.

The empty space beside me seems to grow colder and colder each time I look at it.

The king sized bed feels wide and long being by myself this way. I curl into the sheets and snuggle tighter with the covers.

Ryder... It's cold alone on this bed. Train hard and come get me.

The door swings open and a waiter walks in with a plate.

"Your dinner." She mumbles under her breath and leaves the tray next to me on my bed.

"Tell him I'm not hungry." I glare at the girl, unable to control my emotions.

I don't want anything from him. He's done enough.

The girl quivers and tears spring to her eyes.

"The boss said if you didn't eat it, he-he would make me eat it w-with poison. He said he would shove it down my throat and wait for me to finally do something r-right. Die." The girl sobs and shakes as she states at me.

Of course he did. Always willing to kill off innocents for his own agenda.

"Please eat t-the food. I have to watch you until you're done and bring him the empty plate. Please help me. Please." She grabs her apron and clenches her fists, trying to stop herself from shaking.

This is why I can't be what my father wants me to be. he's ruthless and cruel and he expects me to be the same when I take on his position.

I nod and she thanks me over and over while handing me my food.

I have to take my dad out. This kinda power doesn't belong with a man like him. He treats his staff like shit, doesn't care about his men, and abuses his own family.

I take a bite of the rice and stew, chewing slowly.

I can't just defeat them and leave all these people here to suffer. All the people like this maid who have to keep their heads down or else they die. I don't like it.

I look up at the girl and find her sitting against the wall, looking exhausted. She can't be more than 15. Her brown eyes look dead and her black long hair falls stringy and limp on her shoulders. So petite and small, she definitely isn't eating right.

An idea pops in my head and I think I'm starting to understand what I have to do here. Who I really have to save other than myself.

These people who go through things much worse than what I experienced, every day.

"What's your name?" I ask.

She blinks at me a couple of times and lowers her head, avoiding eye contact.

"Lily." She whispers.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

She stares at me then nods.

"Then will you help me?"

She looks around her feet then up back at me.

"With what?"

"I'm trying to take my father out from the inside out and I need you to get as many people as possible on our side. You won't be threatened ever again, and I'll give you as much money as you all need for your new lives."

She nods quickly and smiles.

"I'll do anything to get out of here."

So will I.

I really did get soft, didn't I? I shouldn't care about these people, and how can I know I can trust this Lily girl not to tell my father everything I just said? Still...

She has the same look in her eyes as I did back when I was about to leave 3 years ago. That desperation shows clearly in her eyes and she'll really do anything to get out this prison.

I hope I'm right.

Everything that has led up to this second is why I have to try to ruin my father in every way I can. From his people to him himself.

Ryder, me, my mom, Caleb, my father. We were all already tangled in this web before we knew it would push us to where we are now.

This is where it's all going to happen.

And this fight is just beginning to get interesting.
______________________________________

1.29M

2/25/19

Im so sorry guys I know I suck. I wont take such a long break next time I update i hope i can at least update once a week.

The story is honestly ending and the next couple of chapters are it.

I hope u guys can forgive mw and I'm so thanking for all the views and votes and comments even when I left for so long.

Love you all

Ciao.