Mark: I choose Jane Kline, my fiancé the Underboss of Born Killers

Paul and Frank Williams stood up, anger written on their faces. Jessica looked at Maverick with shock.

Frank: Mark! What kind of nonsense is this?! Tell me you're joking

Mark(calmly): Uncle, I'm not joking. Jane is apt for this position. And I already said, there shouldn't be any chaos regarding this. I'm the Boss and so, I've got the right to choose my Underboss.

Paul: But... She doesn't belong to our family! Our family blood doesn't run in her veins!

Grandpa: But she's a part of our family. She's a family member now. And I don't think Mark would choose without thinking. He definitely has reasons and he's definitely seen those qualities in Jane that an Underboss should have.

Everyone was whispering to one another. Jessica was too stunned to speak. She looked at Ryan who slightly nodded.

They've accomplished the next step in their mission!

Jessica: Mark... Are you sure? Am I capable enough of this?

Maverick took her hand and gave an assuring squeeze. He smiled at her.

Mark: You are, Jane.

Jessica looked at his family members. Except for Grandpa and Violet, none of them looked happy.

Jessica: Mark, your family members don't seem happy...

Mark: I know

Jessica: You knew that they would kill you if you made them the Underboss, didn't you?

Mark: Hmm

Paul and Frank looked at Maverick's aunts. Soon, Maverick's uncle, aunts, and Paul left. Violet decided to stay back. She was happy that Jessica was the Underboss.

Mark: So, everyone, know one thing. The Underboss of Born Killers is capable of a lot of things. So fooling her won't be easy as it seems.

_____________

Jessica saw Daniel sitting quietly. He seems gloomy.

???: What's the second thing, Boss?

Maverick looked at his watch. It was 11:59 p.m. A few seconds were left to midnight.

A man came and gave him a rectangular box. Maverick took it and knelt in front of Jessica.

The clock struck 12.
Mark: Happy Birthday Jane!

Jessica looked at him with widened eyes. Maverick opened the box and took out a necklace with a diamond pendant.

Mark: Happy Birthday, Princess.
Jessica was speechless. She looked at him without blinking, unable to digest the fact that Mark bought a freaking diamond pendant just for her birthday.
For a woman whom he barely knew...

Maverick stood up and put the necklace on her neck. As Maverick's fingers touched Jessica's neck, her heart almost skipped a beat. She felt warmth rising to her neck.

Finally, when Maverick came in front of her, she mouthed "I Love You" and Maverick smiled at her.

Everyone said in chorus "Happy Birthday" and soon Jessica's birthday cake was brought. She cut the cake and gave the first piece to Ryan.

Amidst all these, she noticed that Daniel was still gloomy.

Jessica: How did you know that today's my birthday?

Mark: I know everything

Jessica saw a spark in his eyes when he said the word 'everything'. And his tone sounded like he meant it. Jessica faked a smile and sat down. The other members of the Top 5 gave her gifts. Ryan gave her a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. Daniel left after he gave her gifts.

After a few minutes, she went to Maverick.
Jessica: Mark, can I go home?

Mark: Why? What happened? Are you okay?

Jessica: Yeah I'm fine. Just wanted to go back. You know parties aren't my thing.

Maverick smiled at her and kissed her forehead.
Mark: Sure Princess.

Jessica went to Ryan.
Jessica: You stay here and keep an eye on everyone. I've to go. Daniel left and I've to know where he is and what he is upto

Ryan nodded and Jessica went out of the party. She went to the parking lot and got inside one of the gang's cars.
She tracked Daniel down and found him heading to the house.

???: Where Princess?

Jessica: Home

The driver drove off home. They reached within an hour. Jessica saw Daniel's car parked in the garage. She got out of the car and headed to the main door of the house.
She slowly opened the door with a spare key and went inside. The living room was dark but she could sense someone's presence. She locked the door and as she turned around, she saw a gun pointed at her forehead.

Daniel: Who are you?

Jessica switched on the lights. Daniel, on seeing her, lowered his gun and put it on the table.

Daniel: Oh! It's you

He said and quietly went back and sat on the couch.

Jessica: Dan, why did you leave the party? Parties aren't my thing... but you're a part of the gang since your birth.

Daniel: I'm not feeling well

Jessica sat beside him.
Jessica: Something's definitely not right. Dan, I've seen that you're upset about something. You didn't enjoy the party, right? Has it anything to do with the choosing of the Underboss?

Daniel: No. I'm really happy that Mark chose you as the Underboss.

There was silence for a minute.

Jessica: You see me as your sister, right?

Daniel nodded. He folded his arms.

Jessica: Then won't you share what's bothering you with your sister?

Daniel looked at her. Jessica wore a pleading expression.

Jessica: Please... I promise I won't say anything to anyone. Not even Mark and Rylan

Daniel took a deep breath.

Daniel: Jane, today's the death anniversary of my parents.

Jane's birthday and Jessica's birthday were the same. The agency didn't change the birthdate.

Jessica: Oh, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Dan

Daniel: It's okay

Jessica stood up when suddenly Daniel said something that made her stop on her track.

Daniel: I wish I was born in some other family

Jessica looked at him with a shocked face.

Jessica: What?

Daniel: I hate being a gang member. Not that I hate Mark or the other members. Just, I wish I was born into some normal family, things would've been better.

Jessica: Did anything bad happen to you or your family, apart from Mr. and Mrs. Scott's death?

Daniel: My father was indeed a member of the Top 5, but he belonged to another gang

Jessica: There's another gang?

Daniel: There are many gangs in the US. None of them aren't that powerful, but before Born Killers rose, there was only one supreme gang.

Jessica (thinks): Is he talking about the gang Mark told me about?

Daniel: Born Killers and that gang had enmity for ages. It was due to Mrs. Williams that the enemy gang was destroyed and Born Killers became the supreme power. I was taken away by Born Killers. They made me one of their Top 5. I lost my family. And after that, I devoted myself to this gang.

Jessica: But... Born Killers killed your parents.

Daniel: No. Born Killers didn't kill my parents. My parents were spies from Born Killers. My father was a member of the fighting section in the gang. But towards the end of their era, the Boss found out about my parents and killed them. I was saved by Born Killers.

Jessica: What's the gang name?

Daniel: TITANS

Jessica: I've never heard of the gang.

Daniel: But I lost someone quite close to me

Jessica: Who?

Daniel: I had a sibling. He's two years younger than me.

Jessica: What happened to him?

Daniel: Years ago, my younger brother went missing. Thinking that it was the Born Killers who abducted them, Titans' Boss killed Mark's father. My brother was quite apt for becoming a gang member at a very young age. He's clever, smart, and has a higher IQ.

Jessica: Kidnapped? By who?

Daniel: No Idea. We've tried everything, but I still never found him. Even Titans had tried to find out but nothing happened. My parents thought it was DDIA. So, Titans said that they'd train someone who'd disguise herself/himself as a spy and go to DDIA and be with my brother. But I never found out where he is. I lost all hope.

Daniel didn't show his sadness but Jessica could feel him. She also lost people who were close to her.

Jessica: Do you have any pictures of your family? Maybe, I can try. Maybe, your brother had ended up in an orphanage.

Daniel nodded and walked to his room. He came back after a few minutes.

Daniel: Here

He gave Jessica an envelope. She opened it and took out a photo. It was quite old. There was a man and his wife was smiling. In the middle stood a boy of six or seven years and beside him was a younger boy.

Jessica: Is he your brother?
Jessica said pointing at the younger boy.

Daniel: Yes

Jessica looked at Daniel for a few seconds and then again looked at the younger boy. She tried to find similarities with someone she knew.

Those eyes... Those greyish-green eyes... Those lips...
It took her a couple of minutes before it clicked in her brain. She knew who he was... She knew that person...

Jessica gulped. She couldn't believe her eyes.

Jessica (thinks): He can't be...

But he was whom Jessica was thinking about...

It was Agent 001, Ryan Scott...