Chapter 17.

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I walked into the bathroom to make sure I looked presentable, having already showered and dressed while Sergio was still lying in my bed.

"So..." I leaned against the door frame and crossed my arms as I looked at Sergio who was sprawled on my bed looking as sexy as ever with the blanket covering him waist down while he focused on his phone as he typed. He dropped his hand and I took to studying his tattoos as he sat up against my headboard and looked at me and smiled. He had a nice smile when he wasn't being sadistic. It almost made him look like a nice person, actually not 'almost', it did. I found myself wondering if there was a part of him that was nice, that hated what he did or regretted it least –

Please, Alex. Of course not. Yup.

"If we're going to keep doing this, we need rules." He said.

"Who said we're going to continue doing this?" I asked. He tilted his head.

"You don't want to?" His brows rose and I chuckled a little nervously looking at my door. I couldn't say yes... "Yeah, that's what I thought." I could hear the smirk in his voice and I was unsure of whether it annoyed or amused me.

"First rule: you have to shut up – always." He laughed and I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously." He said getting out of the bed and this time I allowed myself to stare at him instead of trying to avoid it, he smirked back at me and I shrugged making him chuckle. "Alright, first rule: No one finds out." He said. I agreed as he got dressed.

"We both have to want it." I said, he nodded. "I'm not doing any weird stuff." I added. He didn't agree, he just smiled at me and I frowned.

"You stay out of my business, I stay out of yours." He gave me a pointed look.

"Agreed." I gave a nod. "Also, I'm not doing any weird stuff, Sergio." I added again.

"Uh-huh."

I frowned not liking the way he agreed. There was just something about it...

We both thought for a few seconds before he shook his head.

"I've got nothing." He shook his head finally, "We'll just make them up as we go along." He said.

"One more." I said.

"What?" He looked at me.

"This is completely physical." Something new for me to say, but I was very serious. "And we do no relationship-type things." I added.

"See, you understand me." He said dramatically. We laughed before his phone began ringing. His laughing ceased and I saw his smile drop into a straight line. At least he wasn't frowning anymore. He answered it as he walked out of my room.

"Clyde, you did it...? You're great... What? No, nothing changed... shut up, just check on Macen, I haven't had any feedback from him yet..."

I smiled deciding to get back to my schoolwork.

-----

I had finished most of my work and was now staring at the TV watching re-runs of Modern Family. It was weird, the last time I remember watching this much TV was just after my parents were killed when I went through a state of immense depression for a few months and even then, I wasn't watching anything, I was just staring at the pictures moving, my mind blank.

"Hey." I gave a nod to acknowledge Clyde but didn't look at him as he sat on a couch not far from the one I was on. "It must suck to be you."

I looked at him and saw him smiling at the TV. I frowned at his making fun of my situation. Idiot.

"Is there a reason you're here or is it to irritate me?" I asked. I was 100% sure if I spoke to anyone else here the way I spoke to him we would have to move Kiera into the house.

"There is, actually. We're heading to the factory again; Walter has something new for you." He said.

"Great." I muttered unenthusiastically turning the TV off as I let my sock-covered feet fall from the table while Clyde got up and walked behind my couch.

"Also," I looked down as my phone hit my chest to land on my lap, "I would say I convinced Sergio you could keep your mouth shut, but..." he leaned down from behind me so he was beside my ear, "I'm pretty sure you've done your own little bit of convincing, haven't you, Alex?" He whispered. Well, there goes the first rule... But let's be real, this was Clyde.

I didn't reply as I pulled my sneakers on and grinned grabbing my phone. Clyde laughed walking out and I shook my head following him.

It was creeping me out how well he knew Sergio. The fact that he could tell that he had just had sex was beyond weird.

I climbed into the back of the car and found myself seated beside Ben with Clyde and some guy in the front. The guy gave me a nod whilst Ben completely ignored my presence.

I was hoping we didn't have another incident like the one on Thursday night because I still hadn't healed and getting shot at was by far the most terrifying thing I had ever experienced in my life. Also, explosions weren't as cool as they looked in movies when you were close to them.

I began going through my phone and found tons of calls and messages. I opened the last one from one of the managers of my companies. He managed Horton and was just telling me how things were going. I also received some feedback from the accountant there and a couple of the directors so it appeared to be fine.

I ran through a few more messages and emails, everything seemed to be fine so I texted Jordan, Shiloh and Claire for the fun of it.

Ben's phone went off and he answered it immediately after glancing at the screen.

"Sergio?" He spoke. "What? Sure, I've got it." He frowned, "I don't know, I haven't – fine... I'll take care of it... I'm sorry." He hung up with a sigh.

I leaned my head against the window as I stared at the people in the car I was in. Sergio wasn't as aggressive after we had sex, he was actually quite relaxed. So maybe I could ask him about ending this little 'deal' we had in one of those moments because I was much less likely to get more threats then.

I decided that was what I would do, but before then, I needed more help finding Declan and I probably also needed some gun lessons, the later would be much easier. I had no idea how to go about finding a gang leader and I couldn't get Sergio to help because as far as I knew, Clyde probably already told him about it and also convinced him it was a bad idea and I would be out of my mind to look for him.

I didn't care how dangerous he was, he had answers I needed and if he killed my parents I wasn't just going to let it go. I would make him pay...

-----

The factory we went to was different. Usually we went to some place disguised as a sweet factory or a baking factory where they were actually making a shit ton of drugs but this was an 'automobile parts manufacturer' which was actually filled with tons of weapons. All kinds of weapons. I had only caught a glimpse of it from the balcony we passed on our way to Walter's little office, I wanted to know why he was here but I decided against asking.

He spent an hour telling me about this new drug they had just developed before he showed it to me and explained the prices. It would probably be harder to sell than the rest because it was unknown but I guess I could work with it. I was slightly annoyed, I had no idea what was in these things but I knew the people I was selling all of this to were going to end up homeless or dead.

I walked out of the factory beside Bruce – the guy who had been in the passenger seat earlier – and Ben who were ignoring me for the most parts while 'keeping an eye' on me as Clyde followed behind us muttering to someone on his phone.

"Alright," Clyde jogged up to us as he shoved his phone into his pocket. "We have –"

He stopped when my phone went off and I answered it muttering an apology but he just waved me off.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Yes?"Claire's voice questioned.

"Hey." I saw Clyde raise his brows but I ignored him. He might have known my friends and their names but the others didn't and I wasn't going to let them know.

"Where are you?!" She yelled making me have to pull the phone back a little.

"Uh... I'm... working... Yeah, why?"

"Don't lie to me. Alexander, you have to come by my house before we go. Are we taking your car or Shiloh's?" She asked.

"Taking my car for...? Wait, go where?" I asked confused.

"Are you fricking serious? Sarah's party? We spoke about it at school!"

"We did?" I asked confused before I shook my head, she already sounded angry, I didn't want to make it worse, "Oh – I-I mean, we did." I said.

"Did what?" Clyde frowned at me.

"Who is that? Whatever. Alex, where are you?" Claire asked.

"Uhm... I won't be coming..." I said.

"Like hell you won't!" I cringed from my phone again as she yelled into my ear, "Listen to me, Alexander: you're going to get out of your chair, close your fricking books, put something on and meet us at my house in half an hour. You got it?"

"But –" I let out an aggravated sigh as the line went dead in my ear.

"Who was that?" Clyde asked.

"Someone. Look, I need –"

"You're not going anywhere." Ben cut me off as we climbed into the car.

"Yeah, who are you?" Clyde's hand shot out and grabbed Ben's fist before he could try and swing at me.

"Ben, calm the fuck down. Shut up, Alexander." Clyde hissed, "You're not going anywhere." I grit my teeth as Clyde turned back to the steering wheel while Ben glared at me.

"I could sell." I said.

"Right. Your friends are going to buy from you? Sorry, but I'm not giving you less than a bag of ecstasy."

"I doubt a bag would be enough." I replied. He glanced at me through the rear view mirror. "It's a party." I said.

"A party?" he raised his brows.

"Yeah. Who wouldn't want to get high?" I asked.

"You better not be making shit up." He said.

I rolled my eyes.

-----

"This is what everyone always got so excited about?" Sergio's voice reminded me that he was next to me, not that I needed a reminder with most of the girls – drunk or not – and guys that we walked by openly gawking at him. It was amusing because he was too focused on being shocked by everything around us. 'Always got'? What was he talking about?

"What did you expect?" I replied. He was all 'gangsta'. Shouldn't he be used to these things? Well, this was a college party... I doubt he's been to one.

He had forced his way into following me around. I had to re-introduced him to my friends as my taxi driver (Claire remembered his name to be Diego – which I had forgotten) and we had been around them for about ten minutes before we split from them and I sold the merch they had given me. I had a bag of Quaaludes left.

Despite his lifestyle, Sergio seemed really surprised by the way everyone was acting. I guess he would be surprised about people getting excited about booze and partying since his kind probably got excited about things like guns and new drug creations.

"I should have given you more to sell." Sergio frowned as he muttered that.

I shrugged as a pair of girls stumbled up to us.

"Hey... uh... you have anything?" one girl asked. I nodded slowly. She was already incredibly wasted...

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Ecstasy." Her friend responded holding some money out to me.

"None." I replied. Sergio's eyes moved to me warningly and I clenched my teeth, "I have something better." I held the bag out to them.

"What is this?"

"Ludes. It gives a way better high, trust me." Like I would know.

They took it as Sergio received a call and walked away to answer it, as soon as the girls were gone someone spoke making my heart stop.

"Did... Did you just sell... drugs?" I turned to face Shiloh's confused but shocked face.

Oh no.

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