West-side territory. I'm in the fucking West-side territory and I hate it.

Calvin shows Sean and me the room we're sharing, and I turn back to the West-side's second in command when we enter. That guy usually doesn't say much. Keeps to himself.

Unless, I have recently learned, he has food apparently.

"Blake would probably meet with you soon," the ginger says before walking off.

It's disturbing how much trust the West is showing us. Considering that we saved their asses, I guess it's due. Especially since my own second in command, Matt is still in Isabella. If Xavier is smart, he'd kill him. And if he's stupid, he'll try to hold Matt hostage until we save him.

I'm hoping he's stupid.

Sean says he'll shower first. I nod and use the opportunity to check the room out while he takes his sweet time. Here's no camera's - which is good. And two single beds - which is even better if I'm going to be honest. I know Sean and the guy turns into the bloody terminator when he's sleeping.

When Sean is done, I take my own time under the hot rushing water as well. I hiss when the water hits all the tiny cuts on my body, but I can feel the swelling in my face reduce, which is good when Goldy's running around somewhere. Don't want her making comments on my bruised face.

I can just picture her saying: 'Well, it's an improvement. Props to the person who tried to fix your face.'

Feeling a lot better, I step out of the shower and climb back into my old, bloodied tux. Blake didn't offer clothes and I wouldn't have accepted it in anyway.

At 4 AM, we get the call to meet Bowmen at his study.

The twins are back from dropping Jessica off, so with Sean, we walk into the large study with our heads held high. Like we're unstoppable. Not like we have a member in the clutches of yet another enemy.

"The North has shown their hand," Bowmen says when the door is closed.

Calvin is standing next to his leader and Jack stands by Liam. The latter is sitting in a chair and is trying his very best to not show how weakened he is due to the blood loss and hole in his stomach.

"It would appear so," I respond.

Bowmen sighs. "I hate you, you hate me, but we have a common enemy and though I really want you either dead or out of this town, I think it's best if we deal with the North first. Not only do they want us both dead, but Xavier wanted to kill Amber last night as well. If not for Lynch, she'd probably be dead," Bowmen explains.

"You want what? Us to team up?" I snort.

Bowmen narrows his eyes when he looks at me. "No, of course not. Teaming up with you will never happen. All I'm saying is that I have two men down and you have one captured. The North seems to be in an abundance of gang members while we only have seven standing members combined-"

"I can stand," Liam tries to interrupt his leader.

Bowmen glares at him for a second. "Don't interrupt me and don't pretend you're not struggling to even sit," he says before returning his glare at me. 

Liam goes quiet and lowers his head.

"Can you get to a point?" Sean, my driver, asks next to me.

"Of course," Bowmen says with a nasty look at Sean. "I'd say, since the rest of our actual gang is spread across the country, that we both stay here, in my house until the North is dealt with. According to Jack, Xavier already has spies watching the house. He wants us to get separated," Bowmen explains, "because then it'll be easier to take us down."

I nod at that, because it makes sense. The twins told me that they were followed by some Northern thugs when they drove Jessica home and they had to spend a while trying to shake them off before they could actually drop Jessica off.

Xavier wants to pick us off one by one.

"What about my family?" I ask.

Bowmen shrugs, "Send them away. I told my mother to go back to Paris for a while. It's safer that way with your father's... condition-"

"The only reason my dad is in a wheel chair is because your father shot him in the spine!" I interrupt and then Bowmen and I fall into our usual argument.

"You guys were the ones that stepped into our territory and opened fire and killed our original leaders!" Bowmen shoots back.

"Only because you were planning to attack first!" I growl.

Bowmen goes quiet and takes a breath. "I don't expect you to believe me when I say we didn't want to do anything to you guys. We were at the top, why would we have wanted to jeopardize the East?" Bowmen asks.

I'm about to tell him that he's right and that I don't believe him, but Bowmen speaks before I can get a word out.

"Can we argue about this another time? We have to talk about getting your things here," Bowmen sighs and pushes his hair back.

"Well," I say, "how do you suggest we get our things? The North will pick us off if we split up."

That's what gangs love doing. When we're together, it's harder to take us out. Gang shootings usually come when another gang isn't expecting it or doesn't have all their members with them. I guess that's why we targeted the West when it was just the three Bowmen men...

"We'll all go together," Bowmen explains, "First your place for clothes, computers, guns and whatever. You need to tell your family to get packing. The rest of your guys can only call their people. I need to make a stop at the Western storage and lock it up before Xavier decides to get rid of my supplies. Sorry, but business for you is also going to have to be shut down if you want your whores to be safe. Until the North is dealt with, we can't afford any risks."

"What about Goldy?" I ask, because whenever I close my eyes, I see Xavier aiming that gun at her while I'm hopelessly sprawled across the floor. 

Last night was... I don't feel fear too often, but when Xavier was pointing that gun at Goldy, I felt scared. 

Bowmen nods, "That's where the tricky part comes in... The North is watching the house, so we'll have to send our best driver to go out, lose the tail and head to Jessica's house so he can grab Amber's things and get back here. I know Jessica is mad at Amber, but she'll listen when we tell her to pack Amber's things. She won't want her parents getting exposed," Bowmen explains.

I nod, because it makes sense. Jessica should know that if Amber continues to stay there, something bad will happen. Amber won't have a choice but to stay here as well.

"Makes sense," I mumble, "and I guess you already know who you're sending."

I hand Bowmen a glare.

"Rhodes, we know Sean is the best driver between West and East," Bowmen says.

"I already got one member in the Northern clutches. Why should I be the one to make all the sacrifices?" I sneer.

Even though I know Sean is our best bet, I still haven't processed Matt's situation too much.

My gang is my brothers. Knowing what the North could be doing to Matt is making me restless with worry.

"Rhodes," Bowmen sighs.

"It's Sean's choice," I finally declare and we all look at the best driver in Tygerwell. Maybe in the country.

Sean's dark brown hair is hanging over his eyes and he's leaning against the wall - making him seem intimidating in a way. With his permanent scowl, he looks us over.

"Amber's been nothing but good. I'll do it for her," he says.

And I know it's a sacrifice, because getting split up from the group is a very, very big risk.

I nod my approval and look back at Bowmen as a new issue enters his expression.

"That brings us to my final point we have to discus," Bowmen sighs.

"What?"

"The bet..."

"What about it?"

"Amber knows..."

My bones freeze at that. That can't be good... That can't be good at all. And really, not because it makes everything 100 times more complicated, but rather because Goldy will think I'm the biggest jerk. I want her to like me...

"How long has she known?" I ask.

Bowmen shakes his head. "I don't know, but it changes a few things... We can't play her like this anymore. It's not fair to her," Bowmen explains.

"It changes nothing," I growl.

"Rhodes, she knows about the bet," Bowmen sighs again.

"Sure, she knows about the bet, but she thinks that telling us that, will end the bet. It changes nothing, because I still want you out of Tygerwell and now... Now I want the golden girl too," I declare.

Bowmen quirks his eyebrow and crosses his arms to look intimidating.

"Then the bet is still on," Bowmen says.

"Yes, and this time, the stakes are higher," I reply.

Bowmen nods. I nod. The meeting is dismissed.

I leave the room and right before we get ready to drive for my house, Bowmen grabs my arm. I shrug him off and send a glare.

"I actually like Amber. If all this is to just get me out of town, we can come to another bargain," Bowmen pauses before saying: "I'll give up half of my territory if you leave Amber for me."

It's a crazy offer. One I'll be stupid to refuse.

"Why are you being so desperate, Bowmen?" I ask with a sneer.

He smirks and it sends my blood boiling. 

"Well, let's just say Amber kissed me out of her own free will and now I've acquired quite a taste for gold," Bowmen says.

I see red and almost actually punch the guy right here. I have to use all my self-restraint to not strangle him in front of his gang and ruin everything for us. I swear to God that when the North is dealt with, I'll kill the bastard.

And it's not just a pride thing, when I make my choice. I'm an idiot for what I'm about to say, but I guess that's what Goldy does. She turns guys into idiots if they know her for just a second.

"There's no bargain that you can offer for Goldy. I'm determined to get her," I growl.

Bowmen nods. "We'll see who she picks," he says before we're off.

And somehow, getting Goldy is more important than anything. It's more important than having Tygerwell. It's more important than surviving the North.

And if I'm being honest, when you're a guy whose dream it is to find what your parents have, and you finally meet the girl that can offer you even more, it's more important than my own life.

Living in a house with the girl I want and my enemy that wants her as well, is going to be hard.

Hey goldies!

I want to check some ships. This is going to be interesting, because I'm posting all the ships I've seen so far...

Blamber (Blake & Amber)

Amwen (Owen & Amber)

Mysterious Amber (MF & Amber)

Xamber (Xavier & Amber - y'all are the pirates of this book lol)

Camber (Calvin & Amber - an instagram thing)

Amynch (Lynch & Amber)

Blawen (Blake & Owen - I know y'all are out there)

Jessiam (Liam & Jessy)

Other (For y'all random ass shippers)

Please remember to VOTE, COMMENT and FOLLOW!!!!!

~ Holly Shmit