THE DULL HUM OF FLICKERING warehouse lights buzzed overhead as Chris and Matt stood in the middle of the cold, empty space.

The air was thick with the sharp scent of oil and rust, a fitting backdrop for the kind of deal they were about to finish.

A black SUV rolled up to the entrance, its headlights casting long shadows as it came to a stop.

Out stepped Hector "El Gato" Mendoza, a man whose reputation was known far beyond the city. El Gato wasn't just a drug lord—he was a master manipulator, always playing with people's weaknesses.

His men followed him, armed and alert, forming a circle around the brothers.

Matt's fists were clenched tight, his jaw twitching as they watched Hector approach. The large duffel bag at their feet felt like a weight pulling them both further down a path Matt was desperate to escape.

Chris shot a quick glance at his brother. "Keep it together, Matt," he muttered under his breath, but he could already sense Matt's simmering rage.

Hector stopped in front of them, his sleek black suit unruffled, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. His smile was that of a predator—sharp, cold, and merciless.

"You boys are becoming quite reliable," Hector said smoothly, his voice like silk. "I like that. Makes my job easier."

His smile faltered as he took in the tension radiating off Matt. "Though, I sense not everyone is happy."

Matt's eyes blazed. He was seconds from snapping, but Chris stepped forward, trying to deflect the growing tension. "It's all here," Chris said, nudging the duffel bag with his foot. "Like you asked. We're done, Hector."

Hector's smile returned, but this time there was something darker in his expression. He snapped his fingers, and one of his men grabbed the bag, unzipping it to inspect the contents.

Matt's breathing was ragged, his pulse thundering in his ears. Every deal, every threat Hector made, was another reminder of how trapped they were.

His mind raced.

This had to end.

They couldn't keep doing this.

"You think you can just walk away now?" Hector asked, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "That's not how it works."

Matt's body went rigid. "We're done, Mendoza," he snarled, stepping forward, his muscles coiled like a spring. "This is the last drop. You hear me?"

Hector didn't flinch. He met Matt's gaze, calm as ever. "Last drop? No, no, Matt. You don't just get to walk away." His voice was casual, but the threat beneath it was unmistakable.

Before Matt could make a move, Chris saw the explosion coming and quickly interjected. "We don't have time for this," he said, trying to stay cool.

Chris run his fingers over his head and turned to Matt "What about the girl with the pink headband? Maybe she can help us." He whispered

Matt's reaction was immediate—violent. He spun on Chris, his eyes wide with fury. "What the fuck did you just say?" His voice was low, dangerous. His entire body trembled with barely controlled rage.

Chris blinked, taken aback by the sudden outburst. He hadn't expected Matt to react like this. "I—" Chris stammered, his hands up defensively, "I just thought—She helped us before"

"You thought?" Matt advanced on him, shoving Chris back hard. "You thought you'd bring her into this? You thought I'd let you drag her into this hellhole?"

Hector's interest was piqued. He took a step forward, eyes gleaming as he glanced between the two brothers. "The girl with the pink headband?"

His tone was deceptively light, like a predator sniffing fresh prey. "Sounds like she's important to you, Matt."

Chris cursed under his breath. He hadn't meant for this to happen. Matt was unraveling fast, and Hector was honing in on it, like a shark circling blood.

Matt's head snapped toward Hector, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "Don't. You. Fucking. Dare." His voice was a growl, every word dripping with the kind of threat that sent chills through anyone who heard it.

Hector's smile widened, a twisted sense of amusement lighting up his eyes. "Ah, so she is important." He took another step closer, his voice soft and menacing. "Maybe she's the key to making sure you boys stay in line. I like that. What's her name, Matt? Where does she live?"

Matt himself couldn't answer the first question and it made his heart wrench.

But that was it. The last thread of Matt's control snapped. He lunged at Hector, pure fury in his eyes. "I'll fucking kill you!" he roared, his voice echoing through the warehouse as he swung a fist toward Hector's face.

But before he could connect, three of Hector's men were on him, wrestling him to the ground. Matt thrashed against their grip, his strength fuelled by his rage, but they held him down,

And suddenly he heard a click. As he felt something touch the back of his head.

In that moment he knew there was a gun digging into his hair.

"Matt! Stop!" Chris shouted, rushing forward but knowing it was useless. Matt was in a blind rage now—nothing could stop him.

Hector crouched down next to Matt, his grin infuriatingly calm. "You care about her that much, huh? How sweet," he said mockingly. "Don't worry, Matt. I won't kill her. Not unless you give me a reason to."

Matt's body went rigid. His breath came in ragged gasps, and for a moment, his entire world seemed to narrow to the sound of Hector's voice, each word a hammer driving nails into his chest.

"You're going to keep delivering for me, Matt," Hector continued, his voice soft and dangerous. "And if you even think about backing out again, well... let's just say the girl with the pink headband might not be so lucky next time."

Chris, desperate to save the situation, stepped forward, his hands raised in surrender. "Hector, look, this is all just a misunderstanding. We don't want any trouble. We'll keep delivering. Just leave her out of it, alright? She's got nothing to do with this."

Hector rose to his full height, towering over Matt, who was still struggling beneath the weight of his men.

He looked at Chris, the smile returning to his face. "Oh, she has everything to do with this now. She's your leverage, Matt. She's your leash. And trust me, I'll be keeping a close eye on her from now on."

Matt's vision blurred with rage, his muscles straining against the men holding him down.

Every fiber of his being screamed at him to fight, to tear Hector apart with his bare hands. But Chris was already stepping in, his voice low, fast, trying to placate the monster in front of them.

"We'll keep the deliveries coming, Hector," Chris promised. "You've got our word."

Hector gave a satisfied nod, stepping back. "Good. That's what I like to hear."

With a sharp gesture, Hector's men released Matt, and he staggered to his feet, breathing heavily, his eyes still locked on Hector with unbridled hatred. But he stayed silent, his body shaking with barely restrained fury.

"Now, boys," Hector said, turning to leave, "remember what happens if you disappoint me. The girl... will pay the price." He gave them one last smile before disappearing into the shadows, his men following him out.

As soon as they were gone, Matt exploded again, slamming his fist into the nearest wall with a roar of frustration.

His knuckles split open, blood dripping onto the cold concrete, but he didn't care. All he could see, all he could think about, was her—you—the girl with the pink headband.

Chris grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him to stop. "Matt! We'll figure this out, alright? We'll get her out of this."

Matt spun around, his face twisted in fury. "This is your fault!" he shouted, shoving Chris again. "You brought her into this! You think I can just stand by and let him hurt her?!"

Chris's expression was grim, but he didn't back down. "We didn't have a choice, Matt. Now we have to play smart. If you go after Hector, we're both dead. She's dead. We need a plan."

Matt stood there, chest heaving, his mind racing. Every instinct told him to go after Hector, to take him down before he could get anywhere near her.

But Chris was right—they needed a plan. They couldn't afford to lose control.

"We'll protect her," Chris said firmly, meeting Matt's wild eyes. "But we need to think."

Matt didn't respond. He just stood there, fists clenched, staring at the spot where Hector had disappeared, knowing that from now on, everything had changed. Hector had found his weakness, and that weakness was you.

Matt paced back and forth in the warehouse, his knuckles still bleeding from where he'd punched the wall.

The sting was barely registering through the fire coursing through his veins. Every time he thought of Hector's smug smile, every time the image of you—her—flashed in his mind, that burning rage only intensified.

Chris watched his brother with wary eyes, arms crossed as he leaned against one of the rusted support beams.

The echo of Hector's threats still lingered in the cold air, thick like smoke, choking both of them with the reality of what had just happened.

Matt finally stopped, turning to Chris with a deadly look. "We need to end him. Now."

Chris exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "You're not thinking straight, Matt. Going after him like this is suicide. You know that."

Matt's eyes flashed, the muscles in his jaw twitching as he stepped closer to Chris. "You heard what he said, Chris. He knows about her now. He's gonna use her to control us. He'll put a fucking gun to her head if we don't keep delivering for him, and you're telling me to wait?" His voice was thick with frustration, each word biting.

Chris kept his cool, meeting Matt's gaze with a steady resolve. "Yeah, I'm telling you to wait because storming into Hector's world with a gun is gonna get her killed faster than anything else. You want to protect her, right? Then stop acting like a goddamn lunatic and think."

Matt's chest heaved with fury, but he didn't reply. His mind was clouded with the images of what Hector might do, how this could spiral out of control.

And the worst part? He wished he never told you any of this.

You had no idea the kind of danger you were in, how deeply you were entangled in his life now, just by association.

Chris pushed himself off the rusted support beam and stood face-to-face with Matt, his tone softer but no less serious. "We're not leaving her in the dark. She needs to know."

Matt scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "You think she'll understand any of this? Hell, I don't want her to understand. I don't want her anywhere near this!"

Chris sighed. "She's already in it, Matt. Hector knows. He'll come after her no matter what, and if you keep her in the dark, you're giving him the upper hand."

Matt slammed his fist into his palm, frustration rolling off him in waves. He didn't want to drag you into this mess—into his nightmare.

You were the one good thing in his life, the one part that wasn't tainted by the world he'd been sucked into. The thought of Hector getting anywhere near you made him sick.

"Fine," Matt muttered under his breath, turning his back to Chris. "But she's not staying out of my sight. Not for a second."

Chris nodded. "Agreed. Let's go talk to her—now. Before Hector's men can make a move."

Matt shot him a glance, eyes burning with determination. "We stick to her like glue."

As they drove through the dim streets toward your house, Matt's thoughts were a whirlwind. He wasn't just angry anymore—he was terrified.

Hector knew enough to put you in danger, and that thought alone was like a fire inside him, threatening to burn everything down.

Chris sat beside him, glancing out the window, checking the rearview mirror periodically. Both of them were on edge. The silence in the car felt suffocating.

Matt's knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. The fury in his chest kept bubbling up, but beneath it was a deep, gnawing fear.

He could lose you, and it would be his fault. Chris could feel his brother's anger—he didn't need to say a word.

"You sure you trust me with this idea?" Chris finally asked, breaking the tension. "Bringing her into this?"

"Like you said, she's already in it, Chris. She's been in it since the second you told Hector about her. He's going to use her. You saw the way he lit up when I snapped." Matt's voice was raw, his words biting. He didn't even look at Chris as he spoke. "I have to make sure she's safe."

Chris sighed, rubbing his hand over his jaw. "Yeah, but maybe we don't show up at her place in the middle of the night, already looking like we're on the run. We have to be careful. For all we know, Hector could have people watching."

Matt glanced at him sharply. "You think I don't know that? You think I'm not thinking about that every goddamn second?"

Chris didn't reply, just kept scanning the streets as they approached your house. He could feel Matt's anger simmering, but he knew his brother's anger wasn't just directed at him.

It was the situation, the helplessness. Matt hated not being in control, and now, the one thing he cared about even if he didn't like to admit it—you—was at risk. You'd grown on him

As they turned the corner onto your street, Matt's stomach tightened. Chris was right; this wasn't the best way to do things, but Matt couldn't keep waiting.

He needed to be with you.

He needed to explain everything.

He needed to protect you.

When they arrived at your house, Matt parked the car on the street, his jaw set. You lived in a large house, one that always reminded Matt of the gap between your worlds—yours, full of comfort and stability, and his, where every day was a fight for survival.

But right now, none of that mattered. He had to make sure you understood the danger you were in.

Chris stepped out of the car first, looking around suspiciously. "Let's just hope we weren't followed," he muttered under his breath.

Matt, still fuming, strode up to the door and knocked hard. He was anxious, heart racing, though his face stayed serious.

He didn't have time for doubt. The door opened, and there you were, smiling like nothing was wrong, like you hadn't just become a pawn in a game of life and death.

"Matt, hey, how are you?" you exclaimed, your face lighting up at the sight of him. You glanced at Chris, who gave you a nod, and then back to Matt. "What's going on?"

Matt swallowed, trying to keep his voice steady. "We need to talk. Can we come in?"

Your smile faded slightly at the seriousness in his tone, but you stepped back to let them in without hesitation. "Of course."

As Matt and Chris walked into your house, Chris glanced around, his eyes widening slightly at the size of the place. "This house is huge," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

Matt ignored him, focusing on you. You could sense something was wrong immediately—the tension in the air was palpable, and the way Matt was looking at you made your heart race.

Something serious had happened, and it wasn't good.

"Matt, what's going on?" you asked again, your voice soft but concerned as you watched his serious expression.

Matt's eyes met yours, and for a moment, he hesitated. He didn't want to drag you into this—into the darkness that was his life—but he couldn't protect you if you didn't know the truth.

He wasn't going to lie anymore.

"Listen, I don't have a lot of time to explain, but you need to know something," he started, his voice low and controlled, though you could hear the edge of fear in it. "Hector Mendoza, the guy I've been doing deliveries for... he knows about you. He knows I care about you, and he threatened me."

Your brow furrowed, and you glanced at Chris, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his usual smirk replaced with a grim expression. "What do you mean, he knows about me?"

Matt's jaw clenched, his fists curling at his sides. "Chris mentioned you. He doesn't know your name, which i can't believe I also don't know, or where you live—yet—but he knows enough. He's going to use you to control me, and I can't let that happen."

You stared at him for a moment, trying to process what he was saying. "You think he'll come after me?"

Matt took a step closer, his voice rising in intensity. "I know he will. He made it clear, and I won't let him get anywhere near you." His hand moved to your arm, his grip tight but not painful, more desperate than anything else. "I'm not letting you out of my sight, not until we figure out a way to stop him."

You blinked, the weight of his words settling in. You had known Matt was involved in dangerous things—that much was clear when he admitted he was dealing for Hector—but you hadn't expected this. You hadn't expected to be dragged into it.

"I'm not scared, Matt, I know I seem fragile, and I know I'm literally wearing heels and a pink headband, but I'm not someone who scares easily" you said firmly, trying to reassure him, though you could see how much this was eating him alive. "He doesn't know who I am or where I live. As long as that's the case, I'm safe, right?"

Chris, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. "For now, yeah. But that won't last forever. Hector has eyes everywhere. He'll find out if we don't move fast."

Matt's face was grim. "You don't understand. I can't risk it. I'm going to be with you every second. Wherever you go, I go. If Hector thinks for one second that he can use you against me, I'll—" He broke off, his voice shaking with anger. "I'll kill him."

You placed your hand on Matt's, the tension in his grip relaxing slightly. "Matt, we'll figure this out. I trust you. But we can't make reckless moves. What's the plan?"

Matt pulled away slightly, pacing again, his frustration still palpable. "We hit one of his shipments," he said, glancing at Chris. "Make it look like his rivals, the Alvarado crew, are moving in on his territory. We distract him, make him think someone else is coming for him, and while he's busy dealing with that, we take him down."

You crossed your arms, watching them both. "That sounds... dangerous. What if it backfires? We need to be aware of every possible outcome"

Chris shrugged, though his expression remained serious. "It's risky, yeah. But it's the best shot we've got. If we don't make a move soon, Hector's gonna find out who you are, and then it's game over."

You swallowed, considering the gravity of the situation. Matt was willing to do whatever it took to protect you, even if that meant going to war with a man like Hector. You knew he was right—there wasn't much time before things got worse.

"Okay," you said finally, your voice steady. "But I'm not going to just hide and wait for this to blow over. If we're doing this, I want to help."

Matt's eyes widened, his expression darkening. "No. You're staying out of it. I'm not risking you getting hurt."

You stepped closer, standing your ground. "Stop Matt, half the time you act like you don't even care about me, so let me do this, plus if Hector knows about me, then I'm part of this whether you like it or not. You're not going to protect me by keeping me in the dark."

Chris watched the two of you, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sensed the tension between you and Matt.

Matt's fists clenched again, but this time it wasn't anger—it was fear. He didn't want you anywhere near this, but he also knew you were right. He couldn't shield you from