Hey guys,

I can't believe this book is over. I remember when I started this, I had no idea it would have gotten this big.

After this chapter, there will soon be a epilogue. This isn't a chapter, more like a follow up.

I won't be writing a sequel, because I personally don't think this book should have one.

My next book is already up!!!!! I have updated the prologue, and it would be lovely if you guys would like to follow me there.

It's called My Brother Says I'm Dangerous. You can find it by going onto my profile.

Thank you to everyone who helped me out. The people who sent me covers, advice, and kind words. To the people who helped me make the cast list, and to those who simply let me rant to them. If I haven't answered your messages, I am trying to answer as many as I can.

Thanks so much to everyone, I am incredibly blessed x

Love Lisa xxxx

<><><><>

I remember once when my Dad came back. I was about fourteen. We had sold some of his old basketball trophies for a little extra money. He was so mad. He said that we had gotten rid of the last of his glory days. He said it was the only memory he had of his old life. My Mom and him were high school sweethearts. She fell pregnant with me senior year. Dad gave up his scholarship to college, and married her.

I didn't leave the house for a week he beat me so bad. Quentin came over which made it all worse. My Mother tried to stop them, but she didn't even have a chance. They knew the best way to hurt her was through me.

Bianca made me promise that I would tell her if it went to far. I don't know why, there was nothing she could have done. But I did. She was always worried that Quentin would make it sexual. But it was never like that. They didn't want that. They just wanted to see the pain.

There was always a feeling in the pit of my stomach before something like this happened. A feeling of desperation. Fear.

It's not there this time.

<><><><>

"Harper I want you to wait in the car." Alex says seriously.

"No." I say simply.

"I don't want you hurt." He says.

"I won't be." I say back. "It's going to end today." He stays silent, as we sharply turn into my street. 

"How are we even going to play this? Are we just getting Wendy and getting out?" Jake asks desperately.

"I don't know." Cole bites his lip.

"I can't." I say. "It has to end. It can't go on any longer."

We have no more time to argue, as we pull into the driveway. I jump out, the others close behind me. I use my key, opening the door. I run in, looking around.

"Hello Harper." Trent says smoothly. "I was wondering how long it would take." He sits on the couch, next to Evan. My Dad sits in his armchair, Quentin sitting next to him. Mum stands in the kitchen door. Her eyes widen when she sees us, and hurries over.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"I'm dealing with business." Trent says smoothly.

"Go away Harper." My Dad growls. I frown, taken aback. He should be angry. I'm late, and I interrupted.

"What?" I question.

"No, Drew." Trent chuckles. "Harper can stay. Why not?" Dad just glares at him, not retaliating. Something I have never seen before.

"Trent, of course we were going to pay you back-" Quentin tries, but is cut off.

"You know what Quentin?" Trent chuckles. "I don't think you were."

"What's going on?" I ask softly.

"You see Harper." Trent stands up, adjusting his suit. "Your Father and Quentin have always been customers of mine. But as you know, they have the habit of... disappearing for long periods of time." He stands in front of my Father. "With my money." He finishes sternly.

"Trent, I need more time." Dad says, standing up.

"I'm not giving you anymore time." Trent says smiling. "It's over Drew."

"If you give me more time, you'll get it." Dad begs desperately. "Wendy gets paid next week, and-"

"I'm a businessman Drew." Trent says. "And your stuffing around is getting in the way of that. I just accepted a major deal, which is taking my business to the next level. That's why I'm here today. I'm clearing all my old feuds with old customers. You had to expect a visit from me sometime. Surely."

"And it will be settled Trent." Quentin persuades. "As soon as we get the money-"

"You'll disappear again!" Trent laughs. "I know your pattern, we've been doing this for almost twenty years."

"Mate, come on, give us a break." Drew says, clawing at last straws. "Wendy won't work more shifts, she doesn't understand-"

"I have never cared how you got my money Drew." Trent says sternly. "Why should I, it doesn't affect me. But now I am here to offer you a deal."

"Mate, please-"

"And stop calling me mate." He spits. "I am not your mate." He adjusts his tie, walking away from him. "Ok." He smiles. "If you and Quentin leave town today, I will let go of all your debt. Everything goes away. But if you come back, and I assure you I will know, it's going to end very badly for you."

"You can't do that." Quentin spits.

"I think I can." He growls. "If you don't leave today, you won't last a week."

"Well." Dad says, trying to take charge of this situation. "I can't leave, I'm not leaving my family again."

"To be honest Drew, I think by forcing you to leave I'm doing them a favor." Trent smiles. "And if you ever come back, trust me, I will find out. I have a lot of powerful connections now, and they are only going to get stronger. You will regret it."

Dad looks at Quentin, desperately. It seems like they have no way out.

"Fine." Dad says quickly. "We'll leave."

"Of course you will." Trent laughs. "You have an hour." Drew spits at him, one last attempt to keep his dignity. Him and Quentin disappear upstairs, and Trent turns to us.

"Wendy." He says. "If they come back, I want to know. Use it to your advantage, I don't care. If they step foot back into this town they will no longer be breathing."

"Why are you doing this?" Mom asks. "All this time, we have barely spoken-"

"This has nothing to do with personal issues." Trent says. "As I said, I have agreed to a major deal, which is going to take my business to a new level. I don't want any old customers getting in the way."

"You mean the deal that took Will's medication off of him?" Zane growls.

"Man, let it go." Evan smirks, standing up. "He had an expiration date on him from the beginning-" He stops, as Zane lunges at him, but Cole catches his arm, not letting go.

"You piece of shit." He growls.

"Now, now." Trent says smoothly, stepping into the middle. "To me, this is all business. But the way I see it, it has brought something positive. Drew and Quentin will no longer be bothering you again."

"Will is going to die because of you." I spit.

"And I am truly sorry for that." He says. "I wouldn't wish a five year old's death on anyone."

"Bullshit." Cole says. "All those times you stalled, made us suffer, using the drugs as leverage."

"That was more me." Evan smirks. "I found it pretty amusing."

"My son likes to take less of a business approach to things." Trent says sternly. "Something that I assure you, he will pay the consequences for. He is actually about to go spend a good two years in Mexico, learning the importance and hard work that is put in to this business."

"We are going to have nothing more to do with you." Cole states. "Understood? Nothing. We don't talk. We don't communicate. You leave us, Harper, and her Mom alone."

"As long as Drew and Quentin do not make a reappearance, of course." He says smoothly.

"Now get out." Zane finishes.

"Come on Evan." Trent says, heading for the door. Evan walks past me, glaring.

"See you later Princess." He spits.

"I can assure you you won't." I spit back. He walks out the door, and Trent pauses.

"I know this won't make you feel any better." He says. "But the man who is making this deal with me, is using the medication for his four year old daughter, who is in the same situation as Will. I have a heart, gentleman. It's just business."

He shuts the door, and I look at the boys. Zane tears up, facing away from us. Jake sits on the couch, defeated. Alex holds my hand, holding me close.

"We will figure something out." Cole confirms. "I promise."

"How do you know?" Zane yells desperately. "You might not be able to fix this one Cole! This one might just be too big for the mighty Cole!"

"I am trying my best!" Cole yells back.

"Well it's not good enough!"

"Guys." Jake says softly, hanging up his phone. I didn't even know it rang. "We should go."
Zane and Cole stop, looking at Jake.

"Is it Will?" Zane asks, choking up.

"We need to go." He finishes.

<><><><>

Cole spends the car ride explaining Will's illness to Mom, and she seems to know it pretty well.

"If I got a good look at him, I might be able to help." She says. Cole wanted her to come, not only because of Will, but because he didn't want her to be there when Quentin and Drew came down the stairs.

"Thank you." Zane says, looking out the window. We pull into the driveway, and Zane sprints into the house. My Mom squeezes my hand, on the way in. 

"It's going to be ok." She says. "It's over." I nod, happy that she is safe. We go in together, and shut the door behind us.

"Where is he?" Cole asks.

"In his room." Hayden says, his lip trembling. "He's going to die, isn't he?"

"Stay downstairs." He says gruffly, hugging him briefly.

We follow him upstairs, and enter his room, where Scarlett, Bianca, Jake and Zane already are. Will is sleeping in the bed.

"Where are the others?" Alex asks.

"I made them stay downstairs." Scarlett says.

"I'll go stay with them." Bianca says, standing up.

"Thank you." Cole says. Mom is already standing over Will, taking his pulse and temperature.

"So ever since the accident he's been taking this medication?" She asks. Scarlett nods, walking over.

"I've been helping give it to him, I'm a nursing student." She says. "But to be honest this is way out of my league."

"That's ok." My Mom says reassuringly. "You've done a good job. You've done exactly what you should have done."

Zane hugs her, and she breathes a sigh of relief. Will starts to stir, and my Mom smiles.

"Hi Will." She says brightly. "I'm Wendy."

"This is Harper's Mom." Zane says. "She just wants to talk to you, she's going to help you get better."

"It hurts." Will says, his bottom lip trembling.

"I know." Mom says, smiling gently. "Is your heart hurting?" Will nods.

"It burns."

"You've been brave." My Mom says. "I don't know if I could have coped with that." Will starts to cough hard, and Mom sits him up. "I need you take deep, long breaths." She continues, keeping a hand on his chest. "Can you do that?" Will nods, and Mom stands up, walking out the room with us.

"What should we do?" Cole asks.

"I'll go make Trent give us those drugs." Zane growls.

"To be honest, I don't think that will help anymore." Mum says gently. "The drugs aren't going to do much, if anything, it's now helping it along. It was a good temporary fix, but it's not going to help now."

They all stay silent, not wanting to admit that maybe it's over.

"I think you should risk the surgery." Mum says quietly.

"No!" Zane says quickly.

"He's too young." Scarlett adds.

"He hasn't got much longer." Mum says. "I'm telling you this bluntly. The pills, the breathing, will only get him so far. I have connections at the hospital, I could get him in tonight if need be."

"Is there any other option?" Cole asks desperately.

"Surgery is your best shot." Mom says. "I'm sorry." Cole looks at Zane, who shakes his head.

"What if it doesn't work?" He asks.

"Then we know we have done everything we could."

<><><><>

Waiting rooms are places where people sit, hoping that everything is going to be alright. Time stops.

It's strange how fast this is all happening. It feels like a jigsaw puzzle that's nearly finished, but we can't find the pieces fast enough.

My Mother made a call, and they told her to bring Will in. Everybody is waiting for news. It's one in the morning now. Zane and Scarlett have gone to get coffee. Hayden and Vincent have gone for a walk. Asher, the twins, Jake and Cole are asleep on these uncomfortable plastic chairs. Bianca went home, we will let her know when something happens. Mum is talking to the nurses on her station.

Alex has fallen asleep on my shoulder, holding my hand. I don't know what is going to happen between us. But I know it's going to be good.

<><><><>

"Hey guys." It's been hours, and we are all waiting together. Seeing that doctor come through those double doors is a blessing.

We all stand up, meeting her, standing with my Mum.

"He's out of surgery." She smiles. "He finished, and so far, he's alright." Zane lets out a sigh, half crying.

"It went well." Mum smiles.

"Of course, he's not out of the woods yet." The doctor tells us. "He has a long recovery in front of him. But I'm very glad you brought him in."

"Can we see him?" Zane asks.

"He isn't awake yet." Mum says. "But you guys can come to his room and wait there instead." Everybody follows her. Alex holds me back, pulling me closer.

"What?" I laugh. "Aren't you happy?"

"Of course I am." He says. "Because now I can do this." He places his lips on mine, moving them gently, creating fireworks.

And everything fell into place.