By this time next week, the Kings will no longer exist...

The moment those words left Justin's mouth, Bruce's breath hitched, Marco's mouth dropped, Marcus' eyes widened and John stood there, eyes glazed and lips pressed together seemingly knowing what was going to happen.

"You can't be serious—"

"I am and if you don't believe me now, you will when your office is cleared out," Justin bravely spoke though his confidence was nowhere to be found.

They lost the battle and there was no fighting it now—everything was falling apart at the seams and there was nothing he or anyone else could do to stop it.

Lyndon won and he didn't even know it yet.

Just the thought of how he'd react to the news made Justin's stomach twist in all sorts of directions, bile rising in his throat. The guy who ruined everything in mere months, who turned this entire town upside down and made him choose between the two most important women in his life as some sick twisted game was going to have it all.

"Does Prince know?" Bruce spoke quietly just as he lifted his head slightly to look over at Justin.

Shaking his head, he licked his lips, "No, I thought we'd do it all together after we sort everything else out. I wanted us to be able to give the news to our guys before it spread like wildfire."

Nodding, Bruce furrowed his brows together as if further thinking this through. Twisting his lips to the side, he chewed on the inside of his cheek, "When should we start wrapping it all up?"

"I say we take a few days to let this settle in but the sooner the better. We need to get our paperwork together, the calls, incoming shipment deals and all the settlements we made."

Though he was still angry, Bruce forced himself to remain calm, listening to Justin's orders instead of giving them—something that he wasn't quite used to, being that he was the one who usually took control of that position.

"Alright," He laid his hands on his lower lips, taking a deep breath, "I'll get started on it right now."

"You don't have to—"

"I want to. It'll give me something to do and it'll get rid of the stress that'll sure build by the time it's over." Inwardly wincing, Bruce paused to recollect his thoughts, "Instead of letting it pile on, I might as well handle some of it before it gets to be too much."

"Okay," and just like that, he was gone, leaving them all standing there with the inevitable hanging over their heads.

"Is this... are you being for real?" Marco broke the thick tension that began to weave its way through the atmosphere surrounding them. "This is really the end of us?"

"No, I'm lying," Justin spat sarcastically, eyes narrowed, "If you want to stay out of prison then yes, this is it. I just—" Running his hands down his face, he cursed apprehensively, desperate for this all to be over already, "It was either we live or die... we knew of the consequences back when we first decided to join but now, we have so much more to live for... I know I probably should have talked to you guys before making the final decision but a part of me knew that if I gave you guys the decision you would—"

"Choose to stay," Marcus finished for him and as Justin grimaced, he sighed, "you're probably right but you couldn't be more wrong at the same time. I mean, yeah, what we built for ourselves... it became what we lived for and what we all know and grew accustomed to. We're all a family but with the girls here, there's more at risk. I'm glad you made the decision you had because I don't know what I'd do without Kadra's loud mouth."

"Or Alec's great sandwich making skills," Marco chimed in.

"Or Carly's need to push your buttons," John added.

Chuckling despite the situation, Justin nodded, adding in his two cents as well, "Or Kelsey." Smiling lightly before it fell, he bit the corner of his lip, his shoulders falling in relief. "I'm glad you guys understand."

"Hey," Marco cupped his shoulder, giving it a squeeze, "Bruce is just pissed off, okay? You know how he is... he'll come to his senses sooner or later."

"Yeah," Justin peered around him as if mentally capturing this moment, afraid of what the next few days would bring, "It'll take some getting used to but I think we can do it. We used to live a normal life, it shouldn't be that hard to get back to it." Though he seemed sure of himself, Justin was everything but. He knew he was speaking nothing but a series of lies. There was no way either one of them could go back to how things were all those years ago but the least they could do was try.

"I'm gonna head on out and pick up some last minute supplies," Marco thumbed behind him, "before the shop closes early and Earl decides to be a pain in my ass when I get there."

"Alright, be careful, yeah? The last thing we need is a scuffle."

"No promises," Marco grinned with a playful wink before disappearing out the front door after grabbing his jacket from the hook he left it on.

Grabbing his suitcases, John began tugging them up the stairs, Marcus hot on his heels, deciding it'd be best to put their things away, not knowing what else to do now that their lives were about to change.

Sighing, Justin cupped the back of his neck before tipping his head backwards letting out a much needed breath, suddenly craving a cigarette. Fishing one out the pocket of his leather jacket that hung across his own suitcase, Justin laid it between his lips before lighting it up, instantly taking a drag as he felt his muscles clench before releasing, easing him gently.

Smoke clouded the room as Justin forced himself to carry his and Kelsey's belongings up into their room before kicking the door shut. Dropping their things carelessly to the side, Justin opened the balcony doors, the cold air whisking through him violently causing him to hiss.

Goosebumps scattered across his arms as he pinched the bridge of his cigarette, bringing it to his side as he blew out a perfect ring of smoke, watching as it blended in with the puffs of taciturnity surrounding him.

Closing his eyes, Justin felt his body cave towards the peace that threatened to engulf him whole. Wanting to feel that sense of normal again, to feel like he was in control of the situation, Justin slipped the cigarette near the corner of his mouth as he laid his hands over the railing, gripping the cool metal beneath his fingers hard.

"She's going to get you killed," Bruce's voice whispered menacingly in his ear, "and you know it." He repeated over and over again before drifting far away, letting the words linger in the midst of his mind to grab.

"She's a damn curse, that's what she is!" He screamed, reminding him of the countless mistakes he had done in the past in regards to Kelsey's safety.

Cursing, Justin shook his head and suddenly Kelsey's face appeared before his very own eyes though he didn't open them. Her smile shining brightly almost pulling him to mimic her happiness—something only she could do. Her laugh then rang in his ears, bringing a tingling sensation deep inside the depths of his stomach.

"I love you," She giggled, her hands reaching out to him and Justin could almost feel her arms circle around his neck.

"I love you too," Justin found himself murmuring gently, his hands itching to grasp her waist and pull her closer to him.

"So so much..." She whispered quietly, her head moving to hide in the nape of his neck, "even if I am the devil in disguise."

Parting his lips, Justin's eyes widened as Kelsey's eyes turned red, her teeth sharpening to points as she leaped forwards, ready to sink her teeth into his flesh before Justin jumped back, his hands slipping from the railing, almost losing his balance as he tripped over his own two feet, the cigarette he once had now on the floor as it rolled across and over the edge, falling down below.

Heaving in sharp breaths, Justin jerked his head in all directions, suddenly realizing that he had imagined that all. There was no Bruce or Kelsey; he was alone and though he hated to admit it, he was terrified.

"Fucking hell," He ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends despite what Kelsey asked of him last night, wanting to release his desperation. He was losing his mind—he was sure of it. Things like this just didn't happen to normal people but it didn't take long before realization dawned on him.

He wasn't normal.

He was never going to go back to the fourteen year old boy he used to be. He wasn't going to play baseball with his dad and brother, he wasn't going to yell at Jazzy to get out of his room and he wasn't going to help his mother with dinner.

The life he once had wasn't sculpted to fit who he was today. He was trained to be a killer—a cold blooded, heartless killer who didn't care about anything or anyone.

Swallowing down hard with his heart racing violently, Justin cupped the base of his mouth before pulling at his lips and letting his hand fall before spinning on the heels of his shoes, deciding he's had enough for one day.

Knowing Kelsey was to come home soon, he decided it'd be best that he cleaned up the room. Wanting some sort of distraction to ease his thoughts away for the time being, Justin began picking up the dresser, sliding the drawers back before stuffing the clothes that were once neatly folded inside. Picking up the glass frames and throwing the pieces into a bag he pulled from inside one of the bathroom shelves, Justin swept the left overs into the dustpan before tipping its contents into the overfilling back.

Wiping the back of his hand across his forehead, Justin's eyes fell on the holes in the wall. Knowing he'd have to plaster that over, he sighed heavily, deciding he'd do that later, instead wanting to take a much needed shower.

As he undressed himself, Justin stored his clothes away into the hamper before stepping inside and letting the steaming hot water, shelter him away from the cold.

After what was felt like an hour, Justin stepped out, drying his hair before wrapping a towel around his lower half and stepping out into his room. Picking out a pair of black low-ride skinny jeans and a black V-neck, Justin slipped his feet into a pair of slippers, too tired to fix his hair as he flipped himself backwards on the bed, his arm caving over his eyes, wanting to forget about the world around him for a little bit more as sleep crept over him, dawning heavily on his eyelids.

Though that dream was short lived as he let out a growl of annoyance the moment his back felt something hard hit against it. Cursing under his breath, Justin reached under him to grab whatever it is he fell on when he realized it was a phone.

Noticing it wasn't his own but Kelsey's, Justin growled as he came to understand that she now had no way of getting in contact with him. "Son of a bitch," He shook his head, leaning over to put her phone down on the table when it suddenly lit up, catching his attention.

Wondering who it could be though he thought it was probably Carly who had a habit of texting despite only being a few short feet away, Justin furrowed his brows when not one but two texts slipped out from the one she just received showing that whoever was texting her was desperate to get in contact with her.

And what Justin didn't expect was to see the name he grew to despise flash across the screen:

Text Message: Tanner

Grinding his teeth together, Justin's eyes hardened instantly, the skin around them tightening as his knuckles bounded over in a sheet of white, his grip strong enough to snap the metal in half if he wanted to.

Reading the words of each message left, Justin felt himself growing angrier and angrier by the second.

How was Barbados? Did u have fun?

Where r u?

I'm in class rite now nd class is about to start in 5 mins

Death flashed before his eyes and before Justin could stop himself, he flung her phone across the room, watching as the screen cracked, the back following suit once it hit the floor.

With his chest heaving, Justin dug his nails into his palms as he balled his hands into fists at his sides. He warned him to stay away from her and vice versa, letting Kelsey know he was nothing but bad news. She seemed to have accepted it, letting him make love to her soon after but all that was, was a distraction to trick him into believing she was telling the truth.

And suddenly all the vile things he's forced himself to push to the back of his head came rushing back and Justin knew he was at the edge of breaking.

"Justin, I think I packed some of your things by accid—" Looking up, John cut himself off mid-sentence, the shirts he was holding falling to the floor as he caught Justin's gaze, his eyes widening at the intensity behind them.

He looked like a hungry bull ready to attack and John was holding the red flag.

"What's wrong?" He hesitantly asked, taking a step closer as he grabbed the shirts, laying them over the slightly bent chair Justin had pulled from the floor earlier.

"I want you to tell Carly to drop Kelsey off at the house," The words were bitter like poison spilling from his lips, "and you can meet her back at the apartment."

"Why? What's going on?"

"For once can you stop asking questions and just do what you're told?" Justin spat impatiently.

He put his hands up in mock surrender, "Fucks sake, just relax and tell me what happened."

"This is between me and my fucking fiancé," He hissed distastefully, his lips twisting in a sneer of complete disgust, "so it's safe to say it's none of your business."

John hesitated, not knowing what else to say. The way in which he spoke and the position he was currently in, it seemed as though Justin was ready to attack and he couldn't push the feeling away that person was Kelsey. "I really think you should think about this before you make a big, big mistake..."

"The only mistake I made was trusting her," He seethed, pronouncing each word slowly causing a chill to run straight down John's body, shuddering him to his very core.

"Justin—" Choking back the rest of his sentence the moment Justin slammed him against the wall. Biting his tongue, John blinked, taken back by his sudden attitude change. Just a few hours ago he was fine—or as fine as one could be in a situation they found themselves in—but now he was shaking with fury, his mind clouded with so much anger that nothing or no one could get through to him.

"Shut the fuck up," Justin ground his teeth together, uttering those four words with such force, if it were his hands doing the talking, John would be choking on his own blood.

Unraveling his fingers from the material of his sweater, John pushed Justin off of him, breathing heavily, "There is no way in hell I'm bringing her home to you when you're acting like this."

"Like what?"

"Your old self," John let the words slip before he could stop himself. The memories coming back to him of young Justin who hurt anyone who stepped inside his personal bubble. He was lethal, already knowing how to use a gun with such grace, you'd never know he struck you until you saw the red staining your clothes and the electricity of the pain shoot through every vein in your body.

A dead look overcame his eyes as a sick, twisted smirk pulled at the corners of his lips, "maybe that side of me never disappeared... have you ever thought about that?"

"That's impossible," John shook his head, "you got rid of him a long time ago. There's no way in hell he's coming back again."

Leaning forwards as his breath fanned across John's face, Justin cocked his head to the side, a brow raising in a taunting manner as if to say oh really?, "too late," He whispered.

Kelsey stepped out of her last class of the day, anxious to go home and take a much needed long bath, maybe even cuddle with Justin after if he wasn't busy taking care of business.

Fanning herself due to the overdrive of the heater inside the building, Kelsey let out a much needed breath she didn't even know she had been holding in as she walked out, the cold air kissing her skin with shudders from the temperature changes.

"Kelsey!" Whirling around, Kelsey smiled softly as she saw Tanner approaching her from a distance.

Giggling, she shook her head she he almost bumped into a couple walking to class, mumbling a quick sorry over his shoulder though he didn't dare turn around to acknowledge who it was as he continued his journey over to where Kelsey patiently waited for him.

"Hey," He breathed out looking as though he were smoking as the breath from the warmth of his mouth mixed in with the bitterness that stung their bodies.

"Care to explain why you're in such a rush?" She raised an eyebrow, pulling her cardigan closer to keep herself as warm as possible while the two of them fell into step, walking in the direction of the parking lot.

"I knew you were going home so I thought I'd catch up with you before you left. We couldn't exactly talk much in class due to Professor Lette's constant nagging for us all to be quiet." He chuckled, digging his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

Over the course of the last few months, the two of them had grown closer, not as close as one would think but enough to consider each other very good friends. Kelsey, however, kept a lot to herself being the private person she was.

"How was vacation? I sent you a few texts but it looks like you didn't get them or you just happened to ignore me," He smirked, playfully nudging his elbow into hers.

Confused, Kelsey looked over at Tanner, coming to a stop, "you texted me?"

"Yeah, three times actually. Just so you know, so you aren't creeped out when you see them. I was just worried that something happened to you considering you were flying up in the air twenty four hours ago."

Patting her jeans and checking her pockets, Kelsey began rummaging in her bag, having Tanner help hold it as she tossed things aside, cupping the backs of her books into her palms as she looked underneath them to which no avail. "I must have forgotten it at home," Kelsey frowned, "I'm sorry," She sighed heavily knowing Justin was probably freaking out since she hasn't texted him at all since she's been here.

"Hey, it's okay," He laughed to ease the sudden tension, "I'm not mad or anything."

"I know, it's just, I didn't text Justin to let him know I'm out. He's probably worried," Walking again, Kelsey kept her head down, watching her shoes scrap against the concrete.

"Do you always tell him where you are?"

"No, well, yes but—" Cutting herself off, Kelsey sighed once more, her shoulders falling, "it's... complicated."

"I'm sure he'll understand," Tanner smiled encouragingly. "I can talk to him if you want. I mean, I know he probably still hates my guts but I'm sure if I—"

"No!" Kelsey cried out, her head snapping so fast to face him, if it wasn't for the angle in which she turned, she could have given herself whiplash.

Holding his hands up, Tanner laughed, "Okay, no talking to the boyfriend. Got it." Crossing his arms, Tanner looked out once Kelsey calmed beside him. "I don't see why that'd be such an issue if he knows we're friends."

Biting her lip, Kelsey avoided eye contact, "So, that homework assignment..." She lamely tried to change the subject, cringing at her own pathetic attempt, refusing to meet Tanners curious gaze.

"You mean... he doesn't know that..."

"No," Kelsey confirmed his voiced thoughts, "he doesn't. I mean, I'll tell him eventually but there's just so much going on. Like I said, it's complicated." Pressing her lips together as she looked up at him, Kelsey pursed her lips, "You're not mad are you?"

Tanner looked taken back by her question, "Why would I be mad? It's your decision if you want to tell him or not. I mean I personally would like to keep my balls intact thank you very much so if you think that's the safest way in securing that than that's good enough for me."

Laughing for the first time since she came back from vacation, Kelsey nodded her head, "Thank you."

"No problem, little one," He grinned, rubbing his knuckles across the top of her head earning a slap and a scowl.

"I'm not little," She countered, fixing her hair, "quit saying that."

"Yeah, standing at five feet four inches next to a six foot guy isn't small at all," Tanner sarcastically remarked, dodging Kelsey's hand as she made way to hit him once more. "Teasing!" He held his hands up, "I'm only teasing."

Rolling her eyes, Kelsey looked over to see Carly frantically making her way over to them, car keys in hand. "Kelsey, hurry up!"

"What?" She quickened her pace, "What's wrong?" Her mind instantly went to Justin, a hallow feeling spreading throughout her chest at the thought of something happening to him.

"John texted me, he said it's important that I take you home as quick as possible. I have to meet him back at our apartment." She spoke so fast it wasn't almost hard to decipher what she was saying but being best friends all these years it was easy for Kelsey to understand the gibberish Carly was speaking.

"Looks like I gotta go. I'll text you later or something, have fun in Chemistry," Kelsey leaned in, giving Tanner a quick hug before following Carly out to their car.

"I'll try!" He called after her before walking in the opposite direction they came from, towards the building in which his class was being held.

Starting the car the moment they both settled themselves inside, Kelsey eased back into the seat, "Did something happen back at the house?"

"Not that I know of. What I told you is all that he told me," Tossing her, her phone, Kelsey grabbed it with ease.

From: my baby<3

Hey babe, I need you to drop off Kels and come by the apartment after. I have a surprise for you. Don't be late, love you.

"Awww," Kelsey gushed childishly, "that's so cute. Do you have any idea what he has planned?"

"Not a clue. I mean, last night... he was pretty out of it. Didn't really talk much at all," Carly frowned, turning a corner as she looked to make sure she didn't hit the curb.

"Maybe this is his way of apologizing?" Kelsey questioned, smiling softly.

"Maybe," Carly agreed before putting her phone away after locking it.

After a couple more turns, stop signs and red lights, Carly had finally managed to make it home in fifteen minutes. With the car still running, she stopped halfway up the driveway, watching as Kelsey gathered her things and exited, waving excitedly towards her friend who did the same before pulling out and driving down the street.

Walking up the path that led up to the front door, Kelsey suddenly felt an eerie chill creep down her body. Biting her lip, she cautiously turned the knob, pushing the door open before closing it behind her, nothing but darkness engulfing her.

Knowing the house like the back of her hand, Kelsey set her stuff down on the couch before turning to make her way up the stairs, figuring Justin would be waiting in their room when the clearing of a throat stopped her from moving any further.

Jumping, Kelsey laid a hand to her chest once she saw it was Justin. "Holy shit, you gave me a heart attack!" She shrieked, squinting her eyes to see him clearer in the darkness. He was sitting on a chair, hands laced together at the tops of his legs with his face set in a grim expression, not once moving from place. When he didn't say a word, Kelsey shuffled uncomfortably on her feet, sensing something was wrong. "Are you..." She paused, "okay?"

Justin's lips curved at the edges but before she could decipher whether or not it was a smile or a smirk, it disappeared, leaving her to wonder if maybe she had imagined it. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?" He was calm, cool and collected—the complete opposite of the vibe he was giving off.

Furrowing her eyebrows in the utmost confusion, Kelsey rubbed her arms as if she were back outside again, "what?" She took a step forward, the dim light coming through the curtains covering the windows making it easy for her to spot the item in which he held tightly in his hands.

Before she had the chance to figure out what it was, Justin stood up, his height looming over her like a skyscraper. "You think you can lie to me..." Brushing his fingers across the skin of her cheekbone, Justin ran his knuckles back down, a gesture that didn't bring butterflies like they normally would to her insides but knives instead, "and I wouldn't find out?" He hummed, waiting for a response as he twirled her hair around his finger before letting it drop down against her chest once more.

"I—I don't know what you mean..." Kelsey choked out, her eyes widening slightly at the change in his appearance as she took a slow step back, wanting—needing some separation between them. This wasn't Justin—this was someone entirely different.

"Oh no you don't," Justin growled lowly and within a blink of an eye, he had her wrist, his fingers wrapping around her delicate skin tightly as he forced her into his chest with absolutely no room to breathe, "you're not going anywhere, baby," he murmured cynically.

"What's gotten into you?" Kelsey whispered, pained, the hold he had on her arm drawing blood from her lip as she sunk her teeth into the flesh, pressing her free palm to the fabric covering his chest, "What's wrong?"

"I don't like liars," He said, leaning down while pressing the tip of his nose near the back of her head as he traveled down her jaw and neck, his teeth suddenly sinking into it causing her to hiss before he let his lips brush over the sensitive area of her ear, "and I certainly hate it when you think you can play me for a fool."

"I didn't," Kelsey shook her head, pleading with him, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar!" Justin barked, his eyes wide with disbelief, every ounce of rational thinking gone. "You're a liar!"

"Justin—" Kelsey gasped as he threw her across the room, his hands pinning her shoulders against the wall as tears quickly sprung to her eyes and for the very first time, she was afraid of what he'd do to her.

"Shut up!" He screamed, his face only inches from hers causing her to whimper as she stared into the eyes of a heartless monster.

Kelsey held her breath as she nodded, not knowing what else to do. He was out of control, she could see it in his eyes—he was on the verge of breaking and at this point, there was nothing she or anyone else could do to stop him.

"One thing," He murmured quietly, holding a finger up to her face once the house fell silent, "I asked you for one thing and that was for you to stay away from that bastard," he bowed his head to look her in the eye, "and what do you do instead of being a good girl and listening?" Cocking his head to the side, Justin's grip tightened, "you do the exact opposite."

Instantly, Kelsey froze, knowing who he was referring to and suddenly she was not only afraid for herself but for Tanner as well. "He's just a friend, Jus—"

Pulling her from the wall before shoving her back against it, Justin cut Kelsey off, speaking over her, "that's the thing!" He yelled loudly, the veins in his neck bulging, "I told you to stay away from him!"

"He's harmless," Kelsey breathed out, her eyes closed shut from the pain running down her spine as she clawed at his fingers to let her go, "I promise you. He's nobody important, he's just a guy I go to school with. It's not that big of a deal—"

"Not that big of a deal?" Justin repeated her as if he had heard wrong, "are you fucking stupid? He's not to be trusted, no one in this fucking town is!"

Building up enough courage to stand up to him, Kelsey pounded her closed fists against his chest, "Why? Because you're Justin Bieber?"

"Watch it," Justin warned, eyes blazing.

"Not everyone is out to get me!" Kelsey laid a hand to her chest, wanting to get through to him. "I can't keep living my life like this! School is the only place that allows me to be just like everyone else."

"What? And Tanner helps you feel normal again?"

"Yes!" She cried out desperately, "He does. He doesn't treat me like I'm some kind of murderer. He treats me like a human being and he doesn't judge me for being with you! He accepts me for who I am like a real friend should! I only had Carly in my life, I have the girls and now I have him."

With each word she spoke, it dug the dagger deeper into Justin's heart as the anger building up inside of him began to reach its breaking point, tearing him apart.

"I'm not going to let you take that away from me," Kelsey whispered.

"Where is he?" Justin questioned, eyes never leaving hers, keeping her pinned in place from the force brewing inside of them.

"What?"

"Where is he?" Justin repeated, his mind set on seeking the revenge he warned Tanner about if he ever spoke to Kelsey again.

"I don't know."

"You don't know or you won't tell me?" Justin pursed his lips as Kelsey stood, mute. "Answer me!" He snapped, shaking her violently.

Parting her lips, Kelsey felt a scream of agony itch its way up her throat, desperate for the release, "He's at school," She revealed in defeat, her body almost falling to the floor when Justin let go of her, making a beeline towards the front door.

"No!" Kelsey begged, grabbing onto his arm, knowing what he was planning on doing, "please don't do this. Please! I won't talk to him again, I promise!"

Scoffing, Justin sneered over at her in disgust, snatching his arm away, "And you expect me to believe you?" He laughed bitterly, nothing but darkness clouding his vision, "you're pathetic." And with that, he left the screech of his car tires the last thing she heard before collapsing on the floor in sobs as to what happened just as John and Carly came charging through the door.

It didn't take long before Justin had his car parked and he began searching for Tanner. Everyone cleared the path for him, not wanting to get on his bad side seeing as though he was already angry due to the hard lines around his eyes and the hatred glowing inside of them.

Standing on a bench as he overlooked the main campus grounds, it wasn't until a few minutes later after the clock struck six that he spotted the blonde just a few feet away, laughing with a couple of his friends.

Smirking in triumph, Justin hopped down, making his way over to him but keeping himself hidden enough not to be seen. Waiting as Tanner clapped hands with each of his friends before they all split, walking in different directions, Justin almost laughed to himself as he saw Tanner making his way down an alley between two buildings.

Keeping his head low not to attract attention any more than he already has by being here, Justin fastened his pace until he reached just a fraction behind Tanner's figure before he grabbed onto the hood of his jacket, throwing him back against the brick wall.

"What the fuck—" Before he even had the chance to finish his sentence, Justin cut him off with a fist to his mouth.

"Shit," Tanner spat, spitting blood as he rocked his jaw from side to side, looking up to see Justin towering over him. "Jesus Christ, what was that for?"

"I told you to stay away from her," Justin dug his fingers into the back of Tanners neck as he pulled him down so that he was a foot shorter than him, "and you didn't listen." Without so much as another word, Justin didn't hesitate to begin pounding his closed fists repeatedly against Tanners face, not giving him a chance to defend himself.

"She's mine," Justin rasped between rough breaths of air as he continued assaulting him.

"She's not a toy," Tanner countered despite the blow to the head he got for that.

"And she's certainly not yours," Justin sneered and soon enough, he had Tanner cowering on the ground, his feet doing the work as he kicked him with no remorse, blood gushing from every open wound Justin had caused, "I don't like you," He snarled, "and I never will. I don't trust you either and that automatically puts you on my hit list. I don't give a fuck who you think you are but when I tell you to do something," Taking the back of his head, Justin slammed his face down against his knee earning a howl of pain, "you do it."

"She's never going to forgive you for this," Tanner choked out, holding his nose with one hand and his stomach with the other.

"You don't know her like I do but frankly? I really don't give a damn." Crouching down next to him, Justin tapped his face, a sick smirk twisting against his lips, "but if I find out you went crossed me again, I will have you dead before you've even had the chance to blink."

Grabbing a fistful of his bloodied shirt, Justin held him up against the wall while striking him in the stomach before snapping his head to the right, adding onto the already bruising skin of his cheek.

"Aye, what the hell is going on over here?" A sharp voice of authority was heard from the other end of the alley but Justin was too preoccupied to pay attention, sending his knee into Tanners groin, watching as he collapsed onto his knees.

"Hold it right there!" A series of heavy steps were heard echoing throughout the narrow space, a blowing of a whistle finally managing to catch his attention.

Snapping his head to the right, Justin had no time to register what was going on before he was roughly grabbed by the arms and pinned against the barrier opposite the one Tanner laid against; the other guard aside from the one who had Justin, attending to his needs, calling for backup as he realized he needed medical assistance.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Teaching that asshole a lesson on how to follow the rules," Justin smirked, his head tilted back a bit to face the damage he had done.

"Yeah? Well it looks like you need to learn a thing or two about following the rules too, let's go," Hauling him off the wall after handcuffing his hands behind his back, Justin was led down the path to a car that was waiting.

"Next time you better think twice before you touch my girl," Justin spit at Tanner before being dragged away by campus security.

"You just never learn, do you?" Bentley sighed just as he finished bounding his hands together in front of him, the guards having taken them off when he arrived.

"I want my lawyer," Justin growled lowly, avoiding any sort of communication with the man who brought this hell over him. If he would've minded his own business, none of this would've happened.

Shaking his head, Bentley didn't say another word as he walked out; closing the door behind him just as Kelsey and the rest of them came rushing in after hearing about what happened though he wasn't at all surprised to see them.

News traveled fast especially when it came to one of the Kings, their many ears lurking the town contacting Bruce immediately after word got out that Justin had been arrested.

At first neither of them knew what to expect knowing Justin had many people on his list of potential targets but after John had consulted Kelsey and she told him what happened, he knew that this had to do with Tanner.

With his hands raised in the air at the intakes of breath each of them took in order to start hounding him with questions, Bentley stopped them before they had the chance to, "He's allowed only one visitor at a time."

"I'll go first—" Bruce suggested when John beat him to it instead.

"No," He shook his head, "you did enough damage for one night."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Bruce barked, not at all in the mood to have any sort of blame put on him.

"You never know when to keep your mouth shut," John spat heavily, his eyes narrowed. Silently reminding Bruce of what he said back at the house. "You can come in after if you want, I really don't care anymore." Shoving past them all, he made his way into the interrogation room making sure to make a show of slamming the door shut behind him, "you couldn't just let it go, could you?"

"What are you talking about?" Justin rolled his eyes, finding John's presence excruciatingly irritable.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," John hissed, trying to keep his anger down to a minimum but he could feel himself growing hot. He was on the verge of lashing out and that was something he wasn't quite used to. He didn't like making a scene or using his strength to get his point across but he knew that if he had to, he would.

"I don't actually or else I wouldn't have asked," Justin monotonously spoke, looking out the small window attached near the door that let him access to what was going on outside. He could see a few officers scattered about, talking amongst themselves, others at their desks but all he really cared about was whether or not Jean would show up.

"Cut the bullshit or I swear to God, I will knock some sense into you if I have to."

"Go ahead, I highly doubt you'll make it far," Justin scoffed, his cockiness getting the best of him as he licked his lips, laughing silently to himself.

John took a step back wondering if this was some sort of mind game but when he realized he was living off of false hope, he couldn't believe it. "Where the hell did Justin go and where can I find him because this," he gestured towards Justin, "isn't him."

"I already told you," Justin grinned, "This is me. I just haven't been able to show it in a very, very long time and I can honestly say it feels good to be back."

"Snap out of it! We have the cops on our ass enough as it is, it was your idea to end the business and now you go and jump Tanner? Are you out of your mind?!"

"And if I am, then what?" Justin snapped.

"He could press charges then guess what? You're back in prison, the place we've been trying to avoid all along!"

"What if that's where I belong, what if prison is the place I'm meant to be in?" Justin leaned back, his hands locked behind his head, "I'm a murderer, I've killed people, I'm probably going to kill some more. Besides, this way you guys can keep things running and you won't have to end it."

"Why are you doing this?" John stressed, exasperated. He didn't care about the business; he didn't care about Lyndon or his men. All he cared about was making things right again. "What the fuck possesses you to want to want to throw your life away?"

"I really wouldn't call what we have a life nonetheless one worth living," Justin pressed his lips together, "everything I say or do ends up biting me in the ass. Sometimes I even wonder how I'm still alive."

"Don't fucking say that," John snapped, his throat dry from the reasoning behind his words. He could feel it deep inside himself, his bestfriend was meeting the end and he didn't know how long it was before he fell over.

"Why not, you know it's true." Justin chuckled humorlessly; "it was just a matter of time before I finally realized it myself."

John shook his head, "you're talking bullshit. You have people who care about you, people who want you to stay alive. You said so yourself, you have so much to live for now..."

"That was before I came to my senses," Justin's eyes hardened and he felt his muscles tense. "I have a girl who wants what I can't give her," he looked away, his jaw tightening; "I can't be who she wants me to be."

"She accepted you for who you are a long time ago."

"She wants a life that Tanner can give her."

"But she doesn't love Tanner, she loves you!" John threw his arms in the air, trying to emphasize his point across, "we've been through this a million times before."

"That doesn't matter. Love these days comes and goes, you know... I mean, take Jazzy for instance. If love could've saved her, she never would have died."

"Love can do a lot of things but it can't save you from yourself," John said.

"It still doesn't change the fact that I've been doomed from the start. It just took me a lot of fucking up to finally see it."

"So, that's it, you're just going to throw it all away?"

"Are you done?" Justin rolled his head to the side, looking bored with himself and the conversation.

Parting his lips in disbelief, John pulled them into his mouth, his chest constricting in a way that nearly took his breath away. Wordlessly nodding, he slowly began walking backwards before turning on his heel and walking out.

"What did he say?"

"How is he?"

"Is he okay?"

"Did he tell you anything?"

Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans, John bowed his head, scratching the back of it as he peered up at them through his lashes, "you'll see for yourself."

"What do you mean?" Kelsey whispered.

"He's just... not himself right now. I think it's safe to say that he should be left alone for a while before any one of you go to talk to him."

"This is ridiculous," Bruce stated as he walked towards them, "he needs to snap the fuck out of it and I'll gladly be the one to do it."

"Bruce, wait—" John made a move to go grab for his arm but it was too late. He had already made his way into the room, not knowing just what he was about to endure. "Fuck."

Closing the door, Bruce didn't waste any time before slamming his hands down on the table in front of Justin just as he looked up at him. "Have you lost your mind?"

Justin shrugged, "maybe."

"We're warned to keep away from trouble and you're the first to go looking for it?" He glowered heatedly.

Justin however continued to keep his cool as he leaned back against the chair, his legs kicked up against the table, shrugging. "Oops?"

"Oops?" Bruce mimicked him sarcastically, "are you kidding me?" He rumbled, his brows pulled together in a frown at his behavior, "you're not fifteen anymore, Justin. We can't afford for you to make these kinds of mistakes."

Throwing his head back, Justin let out a string of curse words, growing more and more infuriated by the second, "why do you all talk so God damn much?"

"All you're doing is proving that I've been right all along. You're letting her influence your actions and this right here is the sole reason why she's been nothing but a distraction from the start."

"Shut up," Justin growled threateningly.

"You can defend her all you want but at the end of the day, you know it's all true. She's burning you straight to the ground."

"Fuck off!" Justin yelled, his own fist coming down hard against the table, "you don't know anything."

"I know, you know, I'm right," Bruce shrugged. "Every careless move you've made was in honor of her. Not once did you do something right!"

"You don't think I know that?" Justin spoke, his voice breaking, "You don't think I know that I fucked it all up? That she messed me up in the head?" He paused for affect, "trust me, I know more than you think I do."

"Yet you continue to screw it all up!"

"Shut up."

"Are you really going to continue sitting there like a complete dumbass and not have anything else to say for yourself other than to tell me to be quiet because you can't handle the truth?" Bruce raised an eyebrow in bitter mockery.

Standing abruptly, the chair skidding backwards in the process, Justin caught Bruce by surprise as he gripped him by the throat, pulling him close so that their faces were inches apart, "I've just about had enough of you tonight," He warned sinisterly, squeezing once before throwing him back, "don't test my patience before you end up just like that son of a bitch."

At a loss for words, Bruce hadn't noticed it before but as he stood there taking him in, he didn't see the man Justin was today. He saw the same boy he met nine years ago instead. The familiar bitterness left in aftertaste of his words, the numbness in his body with the lack of care and the will to kill.

"No," was all he said, not wanting to believe that after all this time, Justin had let that part of him come crawling back again.

Smirking as if he could read Bruce's mind, Justin leaned forwards, the dry blood on his knuckles cracking a bit as they bent downwards, "yes," he smiled just like Satan himself causing Bruce to stumble back a bit at the blackness linking through the hazel in his irises that reminded him of death itself. "Now get the fuck out of my face."

Opening the door, Bruce didn't once look back as he exited with a distant look in his eyes as he tried to wrap his head around what just happened.

"Is everything okay?" Kelsey murmured gently, held protectively back by John's arm who had Carly wrapped in his other.

Shaking his head, Bruce parted his lips as his gaze met John's, a secret message being spoken between the two, "That's not Justin in there."

Baffled, Kelsey blinked a couple times, straining her ears to see if she had heard him right. "What? What do you mean that's not Justin? Who else could it be?"

"Someone else, someone... you wouldn't recognize."

"Bruce, you're scaring me," Kelsey admitted quietly, her body feeling as though it had been lit on fire, "you all are. What are you talking about?"

"The Justin you know," He shook his head, "isn't the one sitting inside that room right now."

"Yeah?" Kelsey gestured around her with her hands, deciding to play along for the time being, wanting answers, "then where is he?"

"He's..." Licking his lips, Bruce swallowed down hard, "he's dead inside."