Bowmen and I run up the stairs - hoping this impossible plan would actually work to take down the North and save Goldy at the same time.

"Whatever happens, Xavier needs to die," Bowmen says.

"But the unknown number is right. If we kill Xavier, someone will just take his place. The North is quick to replace leaders and will surely have support from gangs outside of Tygerwell when news spreads," I reason.

"Well, what else do you suggest? His inner-circle is nowhere to be seen!" Bowmen growls.

We sprint to the second floor and make sure to walk slower and with a little more stealth once here. We need the element of surprise on our side if we want this to succeed. Then again, Xavier is too stupid to know what's coming.

"You're making too much noise," I grumble when Blake makes the floor creak.

"Fuck off, Rhodes," he replies.

I roll my eyes and we get to the door that leads to Xavier's room. Fat fucker over here keeps making the floor creek - which is puzzling because I have more muscle mass.

We listen in on what's being said from inside the door. "You know, Amber Marigold, you can still save them," I hear Xavier say.

There's a pause before Goldy asks: "How?"

Bowmen and I press ourselves closer against the door and then hear everything. Xavier proposing to Goldy. How the latter first has to accuse Xavier of insanity. And then Xavier explaining that Robert is Trebor. Goldy is the Sterling heir! 

This... this changes everything... I remember my parents sending out a proposal to Robert's daughter a while back. Hell, nearly everyone that belonged to a gang did. Now, I realize they were actually sending out a proposal to Trebor's daughter! I could've possibly married Goldy!

How did I not see this? Any fool should've realized Trebor was Robert backwards! 

"We can't let Xavier marry Goldy," I whisper to Bowmen.

"I agree, otherwise the North will be unstoppable and who knows what they'll do..." Bowmen says.

I turn to him with a straight face. "I was thinking more because Goldy doesn't deserve to be married to a prick like Xavier. Y'know for her happiness?" I say.

Bowmen glares at me. "That too," he says.

The bastard is always acting like he cares more about Goldy, but truth be told that can't possibly be true. Sure, he might understand her in a way I can't always, because he also has a dead family, but Goldy doesn't need someone to mirror her pain.

She needs someone that can absorb it. Take it away and make her forget. She needs someone stable like me and my family. She deserves swapping out Christmas presents and having banter at the dinner table with laughter and smiles and family. Not sitting alone with Blake in his colorless house. She won't survive that.

"Are we still down for the plan?" Bowmen asks.

"Are you sure now is a good time? With Goldy still in there?" 

"It's now or never, Rhodes. If she says 'yes', there's no going back. You can't break your word in the gang life. It's punishable by death!" Bowmen reasons.

"We're getting slaughtered down there. They were prepared for us, Bowmen. Even if this plan works, who's to say we won't get killed in anyway while trying to get out?" I ask.

"Don't worry, Calvin's holding the stairs and the rest of the guys will hold their own," Bowmen reassures me.

"Goldy will hate us for this," I warn Bowmen.

"It needs to happen. It's our only shot at stopping Xavier," Bowmen counters.

I listen in closer to the door again. Goldy's going to do it. She's going to say yes and it'll be the biggest mistake she ever makes. She won't be able to take it back. If it leaves her mouth, she'll have to live with it and that's something I, quite frankly, can't live with.

"Let's go!" I say and then we kick the door open.

We rush inside - guns raised, and Xavier is standing by Goldy that's sitting on the bed. I'd have to admit, the latter is looking sexy as hell with her red dressed ripped shorter at the front- showing off her legs that I always daydream about.

"Drop the gun!" Bowmen yells at Xavier.

Xavier only smirks and raises the gun at Amber. The golden girl doesn't so much as flinch. 

"See, this is why you can't afford to care about people. You boys are too young to know this, but being a gang leader, means letting go of all your attachments. You can kill me, great, but pulling the trigger and letting Amber Marigold's brains go spill all over my expensive bed would be easy as well," Xavier chuckles.

"Oh, we know about attachments," I smirk.

"I've got this, Guys" Goldy says through gritted teeth and tries sending us eye-signals that I can't read. She really just looks retarded now. And hot to be honest. Y'know with the showy legs...

"You can't marry him," Bowmen says.

"I can do whatever I want, Blake. I can take care of myself," Goldy sneers.

But she really can't. I might've just found out Goldy's the heir to the Sterling gang, but clearly she wasn't told much. The painting and kind smile says as much. Goldy might have been trained for this life, but she knows nothing of it. Vows and promises are taken very seriously.

"Uhm, I don't mean to uh, be a bother, but can we hurry this up? Dear Amber Marigold was going to give me an answer to my proposal," Xavier says.

"The answer is no!" Bowmen exclaims.

"Don't speak for me," Goldy growls. She's clearly getting annoyed with us, but she doesn't know how serious her answer is. Saying 'yes' means the North will be the strongest gang ever. They could do whatever they wanted.

"Sorry, Goldy, but Bowmen is right. You're not saying 'yes'. We have Xavier cornered," I say.

Amber sends me a death glare, but Xavier raises his eyebrows. "Cornered you say? The only place I'd even have a chance of getting cornered is in a circle," Xavier laughs.

"Actually, no," Bowmen says and takes out his phone.

He shows the video our unknown number sent. The one thing that'll get Xavier to yield. Because when we both begged the unknown number for something, anything, that'll give us an advantage over Xavier, he told us he can get someone Xavier cares about. 

"What is going on Blake?" Goldy asks in disbelief when she sees the video playing out.

The video is of Miss Sauvage - tied to a chair and with a gun pointed at her while her eyes are covered with a tie. Turns out Miss Sauvage means more to the North than people thought.

"Where is she?" Xavier growls.

So, our Unknown Number was right.

"You mean Miss Sauvage? Your grandmother? Well, that's for us to know. I'd say we start this off by you dropping that gun," Bowmen says.

"You can't threaten him with Miss Sauvage!" Goldy protest and Xavier gives her a look I can't exactly recognize. Surprise? Relief?

Xavier reluctantly drops his gun to the floor and I really can't believe our luck. If it wasn't for the unknown number, we'd be screwed just about now. The looks Goldy is sending us though, makes me doubt whether we're not maybe in fact, a little screwed. But with her perfect legs being all perfect, maybe I won't mind that.

"Fine, my gun is dropped. Let her go," Xavier says.

The North might have the numbers, but with whoever this unknown number is, we have the information. The knowledge. All the unknown number requested in return is that we make sure Goldy doesn't get hurt. That she stays as far away from Bowmen and me as possible if something is to go wrong. Of course we agreed.

"Oh, we're not letting her go until we have your surrender," I say.

"I'll never surrender," Xavier laughs right back - making me furious. "And if you kill me, one of my inner-circle members would take over and the support would double. You can't just kill a gang leader because you want to. You boys better learn that real quick," Xavier smirks.

How is it that he has the advantage even though we have both him and his grandmother at gun point?

"Then we'll settle this the old fashioned way. A duel. No weapons, just fists for the North's surrender," I announce.

"And of course both of your surrenders if I win," Xavier adds.

"Of course," Bowmen grumbles.

"Excellent then!" Xavier says and rubs his hands together. "Which of you will I fight?" he asks and starts rolling up his sleeves - his jacket already gone. 

"I will," Bowmen and I say simultaneously.

"Tsk tsk tsk, we have some comunication problems I see," Xavier chuckles.

Goldy stands up from the bed - her legs making me go weak - and walks over to us. Immediately I feel like a child that's going to get a lecture, but I keep my gun raised at Xavier.

"If you guys even think of hurting Miss Sauvage, I will kill you both," Goldy threatens. With the killer-glare, I know she's not joking. She's furious at us for bringing Miss Sauvage into this.

"Relax, Goldy. Miss Sauvage works for the North. It wasn't Camila who was the North's eyes. It was Miss Sauvage all along. Why do you care about what happens to her?" I ask.

"Because I can read people, Owen. And Miss Sauvage is a good person. Side or no side, you guys better not hurt her!"

"The unknown number's got her tied up. We don't know where he's got her, but it's him that got her for us. My guess is he's here. Someone in one of our inner-circles and has someone else holding Miss Sauvage at gun point," Bowmen explains.

"No, he wouldn't," Goldy whispers.

"Who will it be?" Xavier yawns from the other side of the room.

"I'll fight and you film it. We need proof," Bowmen says.

"We both know I'm the better fighter," I smirk.

Bowmen glares at me before nodding. We could waste more time on arguing who's better, but for now, I'm the more practical choice. Being a boxing champion does that. Not to mention my kick-boxing has been improved immensely as well. The only problem is that Xavier beat both Bowmen and me at the Northern ball...

I step away from Bowmen and Goldy - cracking my neck to make it lose and putting my gun on the desk. I through off my black coat and stretch out my arms - making sure I'm ready for this fight.

At the same time, Xavier is loosening his red tie and cracking his knuckles. He has this evil gleam in his eye that I can't stand.

"You filming?" I ask Bowmen.

"Yes, I'm uploading it to the web when you win," he says.

I smirk at that. "Glad to know the West finally has some faith in me."

Before Bowmen can even think about responding, I attack Xavier - trying to get him by surprise. It's to no avail as Xavier easily dodges my punch. I swing left and right and upper cut. Xavier is by far the fastest opponent I've ever had as he dodges my futile attempts with lighting fast speed and catches my fist before it can connect with his face.

"Tsk tsk tsk," Xavier says and crushes my fist in his hand. 

I cry out and I swing with my other hand, but Xavier is quick to dodge it and yanks my arm - making me flip over and fall onto my back.

I whimper in the pain, but quickly roll to the side when Xavier's foot comes down for my face. His polished shoe would without a doubt have knocked me out as it comes crashing down onto the rich dark wood. I quickly get back on my feet and a look at Goldy renews my strength.

I kick Xavier's shin and he doesn't have time to block it, but he doesn't seem bothered either as he brings his fist down. I raise my arm and wince when his blow is blocked by my forearm.

Xavier is good. It's frustrating, because he's the kinda guy that sends everyone to do his dirty work while he stays in his polished suit. How is someone that's always watching everything unfold, so good at fighting? Bowmen wouldn't even have made it for this long.

I go low when Xavier kicks high. Out of breath, I attempt to swipe for his legs, but he turns in his kick - gaining motion, and sending a second kick to my head. I fall back - avoiding the kick and quickly get back up.

The only person who might stand a better chance than me is Goldy.

I'm going to pretend it's because Xavier would be reluctant to hit the person he plans to marry. Not because Amber is actually good and will most certainly kick everyone's asses in here.

I see an open spot at Xavier's side and jab. He lets out a wince before picking up his pace and firing punches from all directions at me. I can barely keep up!

I push at Xavier - putting all my strength behind it and he's forced to take a few steps back. Feeling a little more confident, I aim to attack again, but an explosion downstairs makes us stop.

"What was that?" I ask Bowmen.

"My recruits must be on their way," Xavier smirks.

"There are more coming?" Bowmen asks.

"The North will always have more," Xavier says and genuine fear takes hold of my body as I try calculating our chances of getting out of here.

The doors burst open and our guys come running in. Jessica is right by Liam while the twins are out of breath. Sean is checking the scene out from under his bangs while Jack takes a step to the side. 

"There's too many of them on their way," Jessica suddenly says.

"We need to go," Liam adds and looks at his Jessica with so much worry.

Bowmen steps closer to Xavier and holds up his phone again - showing the video where Miss Sauvage is still tied up. "Call it off or I'll order her death," the Western leader spews. Desperation clings to every part of his expression.

I hear the north run up the stairs - getting closer and closer to Xavier's room.

"I told you boys, being a gang leader means to lose all attachments. Kill her if you must," Xavier smirks. Never have I met a more heartless man than this one right here.

"I'm calling your bluff! I'll really do it," Bowmen persists.

"Go ahead," Xavier says as the Northern recruits finally show up at the door - at least two dozen of them with violent smiles and loaded automatics. "You'll all die now in anyway," Xavier adds.

And he's definitely not bluffing.

Hey Goldies!

Our guys are in a bit of a pickle! How the hell are they getting out of this one? Are they even getting out? Please remember to vote, comment and follow me for updates!

We only have 6 chapters left and nearly 600k views! This has been one hell of a ride so far! And I enjoyed spending every moment of it with the best fans a book could ever ask for. (Did you guys notice I updated twice in one day as well?)

PS: If something doesn't make sense in this book, it's probably like that for a reason. Nothing that happens is a mistake.

~ Holly Shmit