Cassie hated it with everything in her to be back here in this frustrating place, kneeling in front of this irritating man, chained up like an animal.

"The worst thing I hate is dishonesty. And it's disappointing, yet not surprising, that the both of you really thought you could play tricks and get away with it."

Cassie was certain he'd been rambling words for over five minutes but those were the only few words she'd managed to pick from his incoherent speech.

"That is not true," Logan argued.

"So, where the hell is my money?" He asked.

"It-it... The money..." Logan stuttered.

She was certain he was stuck between telling him the truth and dwelling on the possibility of his crazy girlfriend's threat.

"Scar, or whatever the fuck you call yourself, why don't you let him go and deal with me. He has nothing to do with this. That is of course if you're not scared to be outsmarted by a woman again." Cassie intervened, a smile playing on her lips.

Logan turned to face her with an expression of utter disbelief. She ignored him. Playing safe was his idea and she was completely over it. She wanted this nonsense to come to an end.

The old man took quick steps towards Cassie and took hold of her jaw, squeezing it roughly. "I think it's about time I taught you a lesson so you learn how to keep your mouth shut!"

"Argh!" She shrieked.

"Let her go, please. I'm sure that was a slip-up and she's sorry."

Cassie listened to Logan and the shock of watching him defend her almost completely replaced the pain.

The man released her forcefully and she fell to the ground, hitting her forehead in the process. Logan moved towards her on his knees and she could see how frustrated and angry he was that he couldn't do more to defend or even comfort her.

"I might as well get over all of this," the boss said angrily and motioned for Flame to hand over the gun to him.

Logan had observed his movement and began to beg desperately. "I can still get the money. I just need a little more time, please."

"No way. I'm not going to let you or this woman play any more games."

"I'm not... I'm not playing games... I promise. Just one phone call, please." His voice held desperation.

Flame cleared their throat. "Uhh... I don't think killing them just yet would do any good. I mean, we've been down here all day. What's the harm in waiting one more hour?"

The boss hesitated and with a sigh, replied, "Fine. Just an hour and after that, I'm done with this shit." He walked forward and then came back. "I heard Gold came around."

Flame nodded. "She did, yeah." They sounded a bit confused.

"And where's she now?"

"She left. I thought..." They paused as the bald man waved his finger.

"Find your sister and tell her I demand to see her immediately," he commanded.

"Yes, boss," Flame replied with a salute.

Cassie guessed right that Natasha was probably Gold and she couldn't believe it was possible to roll her eyes any further. It felt even greater to know that they'd been abducted by an entire family of maniacs. 

"If the money is not here in an hour, you know what to do," The old man spoke facing no one in particular as he made his way out.

They were accompanied back to their room in like manner to how they were brought out in the first place yet this time, Flame chose to handcuff them to the pole just how they'd been in the morning.

"So, who are we calling this time?" Flame asked.

Logan dished out the phone number and Cassie wasn't even the least bit surprised. He could probably remember every single contact on his phone off hand.

As soon as the phone was brought to his ears, he spoke, "Hello, James. I'm in dire need of help and I don't know anybody else I can trust."

At the sound of his name, Cassie felt her heart sink into her stomach. She had no idea Logan had gotten back in contact with him. And she didn't know why it made her nervous.

The rest of the conversation was a blur, but she knew he'd given him descriptions of where his safe box was kept in his office building and how to get access to it.

Now it looked like all they had to do was sit there and wait. Flame didn't fail to buttress the point, before walking out of the door.

Cassie closed her eyes, completely overwhelmed and exhausted by all the events that had unfolded that day.

She didn't know how long she'd stayed in a place between consciousness and sleep before she opened her eyes again. It seemed as though Logan had not moved an inch. He was just sitting there and watching her so intently.

She would have spoken, but she was exhausted and out of breath. So she settled for exchanging passionate glances with a telltale hint of lust.

It was as though their fate did not matter anymore. The mere fact that they could be together, yet held apart from the consequences of their destructive love story, gave them the satisfaction of a lifetime.

However, all good feelings came to an end.

Flame walked in through the door with the phone in their hands. They walked towards the couple and set it loud enough, so they could all hear the voice of James.

"There's nothing in the safe box. It has all been cleared out. What do I do now?" He asked.

Logan sighed. "Fuck!" Natasha was really a bitch. Before he could give a befitting response, Flame had already disconnected the line.

"Looks like you've run out of time and money," they said before attempting to walk towards the door.

"No!" Logan argued. "Natasha took it. You have to help us find her, please."

That seemed to arouse Flame's interest and they stopped and turned. "Natasha? That's interesting..." They walked forward. "What is your deal with my crazy, little sister?"

Cassie watched Logan who was already fidgeting and perspiring. She chose to help him speak instead. "Well, she was his girlfriend this morning, and he trusted her to bring the ransom money which eventually ended up a chaotic mess," she narrated.

"That is just absolutely ridiculous." Flame chuckled.

"It is the truth," Logan confessed. "I was scared of what she said her father would do to me if I told him what really happened."

"Trust me, our father would skin you alive if he finds out his favorite child has been awol for the last three months because of you." They stopped and pretending to think. "It still makes no sense to me how she was sent on a mission to find your wife, she found you, and disappeared," Flame said.

"Maybe she was trying to run away from her crazy family," Cassie replied and she could see many reasons why.

Flame nodded. "That is a possibility. But how do you break free from a crazy family by getting entangled with an even crazier one?"

It was shocking to think that Flame could consider them that way and had Cassie tongue-tied.

"You know the most shocking and amazing part of this story?" Flame continued and then paused for suspense like a drama queen. "It happened both ways."

Cassie turned to face Logan who looked like the last bit of his sanity was held by a thin thread and then drove her eyes back to Flame.

Flame could almost immediately perceive her confusion and chose to make things a little clearer. "I met your daughter, Lucia. Light. That was her pseudonym," they said.

Cassie felt like her heart had skipped a beat. She struggled to seat up with her hands cuffed behind her back, and she caught sight of Logan, whose eyes pleaded with her to calm down.

Her eyes were instantly filled with tears at the thoughts of her child, the one she'd once thought would be the light at the end of the dark tunnel she was lost in. 

Flame took another step forward. "She has the most beautiful soul. Although she barely spoke to me or anyone else, her eyes held words that could not be said any louder. I was quite confused that she would get herself involved in this shitty business that we do. And she tried to hide her true nature, but there's only so much you can do to keep the truth from the light."

"What happened to her?" Logan asked.

"Well... she couldn't take it anymore. She got involved with the police to compromise one of our operations. My father gave me the instruction to kill her and he most definitely is convinced I did."

"No," Cassie muttered as she listened to the tale. She felt as though she couldn't breathe. It was too difficult to swallow.

"I didn't hurt her. How could I, when the pain in her eyes haunted me day and night? Like a silent whisper convincing me that we are different, yet the same. Two sides of a coin. And since I cannot have the freedom that I desire, I gave it to her."

"You knew she was our daughter before you brought us here," Logan said with his head lowered by the weight of the news.

"I did. In fact, you're here because of that. I wanted you both to pay for what you did to her. But..." Flame paused and Cassie looked up at them. She knew that she deserved whatever lay in store for her. "As they say, there are always two sides to a story. This one with its ups and downs, twists and turns, has convinced me that it is not the simple case of a victim and a villain. It goes both ways." 

Cassie gulped and exhaled deeply to summon enough courage to speak. "Is she okay?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Do you... Do you know where she is?"

Flame nodded. "But you must know that it is very difficult, almost impossible to find someone that does not want to be found."

Cassie's eyes traveled to the ground as she sighed in defeat.

Yet it seemed that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Flame took out a piece of paper and some keys. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes at exactly..." They checked their wristwatch. "Eleven, to blow your brains out." They walked towards Cassie and then to her back.

They bent and dropped the items before walking back to the center of the room. Taking a glance at Logan, they continued, "I hope your crazy girlfriend, Natasha, does not find some way to release you before that time." They looked to the basement window that had a burglary gate and then back at the couple before making their way out of the door.