"You haven't been idle. "One of Luke's assembled men said when he saw our support.

"Neither you. " I replied seeing so many people and then I stood in front of the man. "Where's Luke? "

The man told us to follow him so we did so and in less than a minute we stood face to face with Radcliffe.

"See? " Luke smiled. "You made it in these two days. " Replied and smiled slyly.

He glanced at Mitch and the others, then back to me. He was dressed as usual - jeans, a plain T-shirt, and a denim jacket. He was very muscular and jumpy. He had fair hair and blue eyes that looked at us suspiciously.

"Where's your brother, Mitch?" He asked dryly and looked at Rapp.

"He's got the flu. " He replied.

"I see. "

"Where's my mom? " I interjected, which caught the enemy's attention.

The man looked into my eyes for a moment, then nodded to one of his men and after a while he brought my mother. She was a bit skinnier.

"Mom... "

"Lydia. " Woman sobbed and wanted to run towards me, but the guy holding her prevented her from doing so.

I looked at Luke.

"We have a flash drive, let her go. " I said.

"You give it to me first. " He interrupted me.

"First, you let Natalie go. " Mitch faced Luke. "Now. " He added confidently.

They stood there and stared into each other's eyes that I thought they were going to kill each other with their eyes, but they didn't and Mitch won because Luke let my mom go.

Woman ran up to me and immediately threw herself on my neck. I hugged her tightly, as if I was afraid that she might disappear at any moment, but luckily it didn't.

"Pendrive. " I heard Luke's voice. I stepped away from my mom and walked over to Mitch, who took the item out of his pocket and handed it over to Radcliffe, who looked at it closely and said, "You know it's not over yet, do you, Mitch?" He looked hostile at Rapp.

"This is just the beginning. " Older brother replied. "Soon you'll be smelling the flowers underneath. I'll destroy you. " He took a step to Luke.

"Well, let's see who will be first. " Radcliffe sneered and hitMitch in the face.

In an instant, our men and Luke's men aimed their weapons at the enemies. But Mitch ordered our men to wait and so did Luke to his people.

Radcliffe stepped closer to Mitch and held the gun to his temple. I didn't wait any longer then, just took out my gun and aimed it at the enemy.

"Lyds, no. " Rapp glanced at me.

"You won't..." Luke began, but as I shot up and then shot one of his men, he fell silent.

"We had a deal. " I walked over to them and took Rapp's hand to make him step back. "You have a flash drive, now leave us alone. " I added and started on my way back.

"For now. " I just heard Luke's voice, but I didn't turn around and along with Rapp, my mom and our support, we returned to the hideout.

***

On the way back, I told my mother everything exactly, and most of all why I call Thomas Mitch and not Thomas. She was very surprised to learn that Tom had a twin brother, but it didn't bother her at all. As she said, "The more the better."

However, she was scared when I mentioned the kidnapping of Thomas, but I tried to reassure her that we would take him back as soon as possible. Honestly, I was more trying to calm myself down than her.

After a few hours we were in the hideout. Mom went to bed and Mitch promised to find some safe place for her. I had to convince her later to stay there until it was really safe.

I took the opportunity to be alone and decided to exercise a little and focus my thoughts on something else. My fear for Thomas kept me from thinking rationally. I had to make a living somehow. I repeated the steps and tricks Tom had taught me. It wasn't as difficult as I thought at the beginning.

I swung back and suddenly felt someone grab my wrist and block a punch. It was Mitch.

"Tighten your muscles more. " He said and adjusted my hand position. "And don't hesitate. " Added. "Attack me. " He waved encouragingly.

I wasn't sure at first, but then I swung and attacked. Mitch, of course, deflected the blow, and then he delivered another one, which I luckily managed to block.

Rapp showed me some new tricks and advised me what to do in various situations where an opponent is blocking you so much it seems there's nothing you can do about it.

"And besides..." He began and delivered another punch, which I replied. "You did well today. " Added at which I smiled.

"You finally praised me. " I smiled and waved the hand he grabbed. He pulled me closer to him and after a second he threw me over my shoulder and I landed with my back on the ground, and Mitch locked my hands and looked me in the eye.

"The first rule of a war strategy. " He said with a sly smirk. "Don't let the opponent approach you. " Added and I sighed.

Mitch just nodded, then helped me stand up.

"Do you know anything about Thomas? " I asked right away and drank some water.

"I think I know where he is. " Mitch replied and leaned against the counter, looking at me. "One of my men found a place where he could be. " He took a sip of water.

"Are you sure? "

"Yes. " He replied and ran his hand through his hair. "He's there as my spy and he saw them lead him, and then..."

"And ? " I asked and walked closer to Rapp. "Mitch? "

"They tortured him. " He finished. "No reason, they do it for fun. They tied him up and hung him, poured water over him and electrocuted him. They beat and... " He broke off again and then turned his back to me and slapped his hand on the table with all his strength, which made me jump up.

"How can a man be so cruel..." I felt a twinge in my heart. Tom is tortured across town somewhere, and we were still here.

"He's not human. " Brunet turned towards me. "He's a monster. Like me. " Man looked at me, and when he saw how shaky I was, he came closer and put his hand on my shoulder. "We're going get him out tomorrow morning. You don't have to go there... Stay. That will be better. "

"Rather worse. " I replied. "I'll be even more worried. "

"But you'll be safe. " He interrupted me. "Stay Please. " Said. "If you don't listen and don't stay here, I'll force you to do so and lock you up if necessary. "

"You're not gonna do this. " I looked at him.

"Yes, I will. " He nodded. "But I hope you'll be so good for once and listen to me and stay."

I said nothing, just lowered my head. I wanted to go with him and help him, but maybe he was right and I should stay. Maybe I'm not ready enough yet and he can do better on his own? Anyway, I had no choice but to stay because I knew boy would do anything to keep me here.

"Hey. " Mitch lifted my chin and made me look at him. "I'll bring him home, safe and sound. " Said confidently. "I promise. "I looked at him. "Do you believe me? "

I looked at him for a moment and then I came closer and hugged him as a result of which brunet was very surprised.

"Yes. " I replied. "I believe you. " I added and cuddled more in boy's torso. After a while, Mitch hesitantly hugged me and returned the hug, and I smiled slightly to myself.

His strong, warm, muscular arms hugged my waist, making me feel safer.