☢

The moment I walked through the door that morning my mom was on me like a hawk on a rabbit. Arms out like taloned claws as she engulfed me in a vicious hug before berating me with words of worry.

"I texted you." I managed to get out pathetically as I tried to keep in the tears that threatened to fall. Last night there were so many moments I thought I'd never see Melissa Oakley ever again and I'd never felt more desperate for her hug before.

"I was so worried! I got it, but it didn't seem right, you didn't sound right." she tutted, "A mother knows these things, Ainsley. Was everything okay?"

My mother pulled back so she could look me in the eye, "Yes, of course. I just got caught up at work with- with Randy," I choked on his name as his vacant lifeless eyes flashed in my mind, "He snuck out and left me with the clean up."

It was believable. I'd spent the whole blindfolded ride back to the the ice cream parlor thinking up believable lies for my parents.

Once I'd finished with my shower at the dump of a house they'd taken me to, Bomber had a crisp clean t-shirt and a pair of boxers for me to put on. I was relieved he didn't expect me to put my bloodied uniform back on. Vinny was in the kitchen when we went back down stairs and Lethal had instructed him and Bomber to take me back to town. Thankfully they hadn't knocked me out again, just blindfolded me.

The drive had been roughly 40 minutes, to my estimation. The parlor was clean and spotless when we got there, thanks to Vinny apparently. Cleaner than before the murder. Even if I called the police, would they even believe someone had been killed there?

After having a slight panic attack I'd got my stuff, and changed into my spare clothes in my cubby and stuffed my bloody ones into my tote bag. It was early morning by the time I was done. Bomber had made sure I didn't forget our deal, but he didn't have to worry. I'd say nothing to anyone. Then, unbelievably, he left me to drive home alone. Some part of me had expected him to shoot me dead the moment I turned my back despite his and his brother's promise to me.

I still couldn't believe I was even breathing at all.

It was around 6 am when I finally got back ready with my lies. Randy was a pain in my ass before he- before he died, and I'd vented to my mother about him in the past many times. There was no doubt in my mind she would believe he had slacked off last night. It felt terrible to blame him when he was dead, but it was the only believable story I could come up with on such short notice.

Still, I held my breath for a moment as she looked at me skeptically.

"That boy. You have to talk to Bobby about him. I don't like you working with him. He's nothing but trouble Ainsley."

Well, there was no need to worry about that anymore. The thought was evil of me, vile. I hated myself for it.

"I will, I'll talk to him Thursday before I go in. Don't worry about."

I was so grateful I didn't work on Tuesdays or Wednesday's. I don't think I could have bared going back there without a day or two to get myself together. Just the idea of working in that place sent my stomach into turmoil and suddenly I didn't want to be so close to her. I shrugged out of her lingering grip and headed over to the cabinet in the kitchen that I knew had all the meds and vitamins in it. My head was pounding and I needed some Advil.

The smell of coffee was strong, she must have just brewed the pot before I came in.

"How did you end up at Lindsey's house?" she asked following close behind me, I could feel her eyes on my back as I rattled two little blue pills into my palm and then filled a glass with water, "What's wrong? Are you in pain?" she continued her fussing.

"One question at a time, mom." I insisted and she huffed in annoyance.

"Ainsley!"

"I bumped my head at work. It's nothing."

It wasn't nothing though. I'd been kidnapped and she didn't know it. The thought scared me to my core. If something had happened to me, if they had taken me farther away than they did, who knows when she or my dad would have thought I'd been gone for too long. I'd just been reminded how short life could be, how anything could happen. I'd come face to face with the evil everyone warns us about as kids and somehow. By some miracle, I'd survived. 

"How?"

God, she was not making this shit easy for me. My initial relief at being home was wearing off and I was getting anxious. She was grilling me. It was only a matter of time before I couldn't come up with a lie fast enough. Or I just bust into tears. Neither would be good. I wanted to yell at her and tell her to let it go, but that would only make it worse too, more suspicious and cause more questions. I almost never fought with my mother. Even if she was somewhat of a helicopter parent.

I took a long drink of water so I had a moment to think and I could put off answering her, "I was getting something from under the counter and I hit my head standing back up again."

"Ouch, sweetie. Do you want me to take a look at it before I go to work?"

"No. I'll be fine once the Advil kicks in."

In all honestly I probably should be checked out. I'd been knocked unconscious and pumped full ketamine, not to mention the phycological trauma and stress I'd been under in the last twenty-four hours. But I couldn't, not if I was keeping it all a secret. Lethal had said I couldn't talk to anyone and I think going to the doctor would be a bad idea.

Suddenly she let out a huge breath and picked up her coffee mug that was sitting on the counter.

"Ainsley could you please tell me or your father in advance next time. I was worried sick about you. Honestly it's just really unacceptable."

"Mom, I'm twenty. I don't need to ask you for permission to crash at Lindsey's house." I tried not to snap back at her. She didn't know, she had no idea what had happened and all I wanted to do was collapse in her arms and have her comfort me. Instead she was yelling at me and there was nothing I could do to make her understand. I had to lie to her and I never lied to her.

"I'm not asking to be asked for permission, I'm asking to know where you are. I'm your mother and it's my right to worry."

"Plus," my father's voice cut in as he came into the kitchen dressed in his office attire, a charcoal grey suit and tie, to refill his own coffee mug, "As long as you're under our roof..." he trailed off with a wink over his shoulder so that I would finish it for him.

"I follow your rules. Yeah I got it, but be careful. In a year or two I could have my own place and those words might come back to bite you." I shot back, fighting the smile my dad always brought out of me.

I almost cried again at the sight of him. He was so relaxed, the opposite of my mother. He was the cool parent, the one who believed in me having my own freedom. That and he always let my mother take the lead in arguments. He just wasn't a confrontational person, at least not at home. I always found that rather ironic since he was a lawyer, but I guess he left his arguing for the court room.

This was why I had agreed to do the brothers's bidding. For my family. I couldn't let them down, couldn't put them at risk.

"And I'll finally get the chance to be a rich man." he teased back, "Without two women in the house filling it with shoes and unnecessary necessities."

My mother gasped and smacked his shoulder, which made he laugh louder, "Rude man." she hissed and tried to walk away but he quickly spun her back around and pulled her short, cushy body into his tall one. Before she could say anything he pressed a kiss to her lips and soon she was a giggling mess in his arms. This was how they always were growing up, never afraid to show how much they loved each other, even around me. This was what I was protecting.

"Alright, that's enough." I mumbled pretending to sound annoyed, but secretly happy to see them together.

They broke apart and my dad tapped my mom's butt as she turned away. She swatted at him, but I saw her blush as she went back to her coffee.

"Well I best be heading to the hospital. We'll finish this conversation when I get home." She said pointing her finger accusingly at me before picking up her purse and heading out. My heart ached to watch her go. I hoped she would be okay. I had to trust that Lethal and Bomber would keep their promise and stay away from my family as long as I did what they said. So far they had kept up their end of the bargain by letting me go home.

"Don't worry, I'll get you off the hot seat." my dad promised, before he too for left the office and I was alone.

☢

I stared down at the candy striped shirt and leggings in my white knuckled hands and at the open door of the washing machine. It was evidence, it was possibly the only evidence I had since they had cleaned the crime scene completely. With this shirt I could prove that the Bomber and Lethal had killed Randy with these clothes if I went to the police.

I fought with the images that tried to infiltrate my head.

A gloved hand over my mouth. Not being able to breath.

The tic thump of a gun going off and the warmth of blood spraying onto my face.

A knife at my throat, it's cold blade threatening to bite my skin.

Deep, dark eyes staring into my soul as a man pulled the trigger and watched me as he did it.

Suddenly, my eyes opened and I gasped for breath like I'd been yanked from a riptide. Tears were falling down my face and the silence of my house was deafening. I'd fallen into last night so easily, like a daydream that I couldn't escape.

Was this how it was gonna be? Reliving the trauma every time I was alone? I was already dreading going to sleep tonight because I was afraid of seeing this I shouldn't, but now did I have to be afraid during the day as well?

The doorbell ringing made me jump, I almost dropped the clothes on the floor as one hand flew to my racing heart.

"Fuck, pull it together Ainsley." I scolded myself.

Who was it? Was it Bomber? Had he changed his mind and come back to finish me off? The doorbell rang again, three times in succession. Whoever was at the door was impatient. Panicking I threw the clothes into the wash and slammed the door. Quickly I pushed the start button and weirdly enough I felt a slight weight lift off my shoulders.

I'd chosen a side. I'd made my final decision. No police. No one could help me out of this situation but myself. I'd have to play this game as far as it could go and then, if I had to, I'd tell someone.

The person at the door switched to banging. My breathing shallow, I moved down the stairs. I wished we had a window so I could see outside.

It was around 12 in the afternoon. Who could it be?

Grabbing the porcelain vase on the entranceway table, I put the chain on the door and slowly, my hands trembling, opened it a crack.

The person turned towards me. Bright, green eyes met mine paired with a wild smile.

"Hey babes!"

"Lindsey, what are you doing here?" I asked hesitantly. Once I realized it was her I opened the door so the chair was fully taught.

She looked at me funny, her thick eyebrows rising into her hairline, "Um, Ains. You gonna let me in?" she laughed lightly like I was crazy and I blushed furiously.

I must have looked so stupid. Briefly I glanced around before I shut the door and hastily placed the vase back, unchained the door and opened it more to let her in.

She flashed her wide, toothy smile at me again before brushing past me into the house.

"Okay crazy," she teased as she kicked off her sneakers like she was at home, "We made plans on Saturday, am I early?" she glanced down at her watch, but then frowned, "No, I'm late." she shook her head and chuckled to herself.

When she looked up at me her playful expression fell away, "Are you okay? Is now a bad time? I texted you before I left my house, but you didn't answer."

I hadn't even realized that I'd been standing there emotionless since she'd come in. I'd forgotten I'd made plans with Lindsey about hanging out today. If I had remembered I would have cancelled.

"No, I- uh. I'm fine I must have forgot." I forced a laugh.

"You look like you've been crying. Your eyes are all red and puffy." She point an accusing finger towards my face, a little crease forming between her brows. self-consciously I reached my hands up and wiped at my sore eyes.

The hum of the washing machine upstairs rang in my ears. What it meant. The secret I was hiding.

Her questioning made me weak. Like when you're holding yourself together with a lick and a prayer and someone asks if you're okay, suddenly the waterworks begin. It was that kind of moment and all of sudden I broke down. I hadn't allowed myself to do it when my parents were here and I'd been so busy trying to hold it in while I was alone that my best friend's kind and familiar face pulled it all out of me.

"Oh Lindsey!" I gasped.

Her arms were around me so fast and I fell into them. It was a little awkward since I was taller than her, but she pulled me in and I collapsed like a folding chair.

"Oh my god, Ainsley. Come on, let's go sit down." she cooed, but I could hear the shock in her voice.

I never cried in front of people. I'd probably only cried to Lindsey once before and we'd been friends for six years, since the start of high school. And this wasn't just a regular cry. This was a sobbing mess.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew this was bad and I shouldn't be doing this. It was going to make her ask questions and I'd had no time to think up a lie. In fact, she was part of my lie to my parents. I'd supposedly been at her house all night.

She plopped me down onto the couch and then flittered off out of the room. For a moment I'd thought I'd scared her away, but she returned quickly with some tissues and a glass of water.

"Here," she offered them to me and I tried to slow my sobs to a degree that I could blow my nose and take a sip of water.

When I looked at her, her eyes were so worried. She was in a pair of light blue jean overalls, with a white tank top underneath. Her thick dark hair was in two, low, little pigtails.

"Are you okay?" she asked and I nodded meekly and embarrassedly back to her. I'm sure I looked disgusting.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm fine." I whispered between my heaving breaths, but tears still fell from my eyes I knew that wouldn't be a good enough answer.

"You're scaring me Ainsley. What's wrong? Are your parents okay?"

My eyes widened and I nodded, "Yes, don't worry they're fine. We're- they're fine."

With a sigh I realized I had to tell her something, I had to confide in her. She was a part of my lie anyway. If my mom asked her about last night and she didn't know about my lie she could blow my cover.

"I have to tell you something."

"You can tell me anything."

"And you have to promise not to ask too many questions okay? I can't answer them and if I did... well I just can't. You have to trust me on this. If I could tell you I would."

Who was I asking her to trust? God, I didn't even trust myself on this let alone Lethal and Bomber.

If Lethal found out he'd probably kill Lindsey. He'd kill my whole family. It was stupid tell her anything and yet selfishly I was kind of relieved this had happened. It had forced me into a position I couldn't not explain and that meant I wasn't completely alone with my fear and secrets.

"Okay, now I'm really scared. What's going on?"

"Promise me. You have to promise me you won't tell a soul."

"What do you need me to help you hide a body?" she asked jokingly. Her smile fell when I made no form of amusement and she sobered up.

She hand no idea how close she was to the truth.

"Fuck, you're serious. Fine, yes yes I promise. God damn it, tell me already."

"Something happened last night. At work. I-I can't tell you what exactly, but I need you to cover for me. My parents think I was at your house last night after my night shift. If they or anyone else asks you, you need to say that's where I was okay?"

"Yeah sure, no problem." she nodded, her usually soft, round face was serious but confused, "Why thought? Where were you?"

I looked around, like Bomber might jump out from behind my mother's drapes and shout, "Ah ha! Got you!" and then shoot me. Lindsey followed my gaze and then looked back to me when I still said nothing.

"I witnessed something." I whispered, "Something bad and I- I can't talk about it. They threatened me."

"Who threatened you? What did you see? This is crazy, tell me what happened! I can help you. You're dad can help you. He's a lawyer."

I shook my head quickly. I'd thought of that, but my dad was a civil lawyer and this was for sure a criminal case. Plus, if I told him he'd want to go to the police and I couldn't do that.

"No. I can't and you can't either." She looked hesitant for moment, "Linds, you promised."

"Fine, but if you're in danger Ainsley..."

"I'm not." I lied, "I mean. I won't be. Once I do what they asked me to do I'll be fine."

"No. I don't know what you saw or what this person said to you, but you can't let them control you. Is it illegal? Don't let them make you do something."

"It's not illegal." I swore, and weirdly enough I felt good knowing that I wasn't lying about that. I had to make friends with Collin Monturi.

That was simple enough, innocent enough. Right?

Lindsey was silent for a few heartbeats, "And you can't tell me anything else?"

"No, I already told you more than I should." I said earnestly and she sighed.

"Okay, but if anything else happens we go to the police. Together."

I bit my lip and rubbed my sore wrist I had hidden with my sweatshirt, "Together." I lied.

☢

A/N- Okay! I wasn't expecting this chapter to be so long haha

So we've met Ainsley's parents and we've met her best friend Lindsey! Do we think Ainsley made a mistake confiding in Lindsey and going against Lethal's instructions? Would you have done the same?

I forgot to ask last chapter, but what does everyone think of Lethal and Bomber so far?

I keep reminding myself this is a first draft and it doesn't have to be perfect!