A/N: I'm writing this just in case so that you guys don't get confused: this is the previous chapter but from Stefan’s POV.

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Stefan’s POV

I parked the car I’d rented and looked at the time on my phone.

Alex should be here soon. She’d probably bring that Tyson guy as well; I was sure he’d want to tag along.

Tyson Williams.

I’d heard of him back at home from people that worked at the Ring. I’d heard even more on him from Kent – another person I met because of the Ring. Once I found out the two of them hung together, I made Kent tell me everything he knew about the boy. His knowledge on the matter extended only to the boy’s fighting skills and him being good with vehicles as apparently Tyson wasn’t much of a sharer. The only things that Kent was aware of when it came to Tyson’s personal life were that one – his father was a notorious drunk, two – his only friend was a guy called Angel and three – the Williams boy worked at a service-station.

I snickered.

A service station!

How pathetic!

I got out of my car and into the storage.

I hope Alex brings him along, I thought. I’d love to crush him in front of her and show her how much better I am! And he thought he could take her away from me…

I frowned.

No one could take my Alex away from me!

We’ve known each other since we were kids, we’ve been through so much together… She was mine!

I remembered the first time we got separated for what was supposed to be almost a year.

Alex had just gotten arrested by that idiot cop Ivanov. Even though the charges were dropped, her parents still sent her away to study at St. Agnes Catholic Boarding High in England… Not that sixteen years old Alex was a catholic. I thought she’d stick around there as her best friend Payton also studied at that school. But no! A few months later Alex had gotten the boot and was on her way back to Bulgaria.

Although it had been less than half a year, I’d realized I desired her to be by my side. So I went to pick her up from the airport. A couple of the guys from my gang wanted to come with me, but I ordered them not to; I was going to have Alexandra all to myself.

A little after that we’d hooked up.

Some more time passed and we started dating.

At first it had been good: we knew each other well, neither of us was sentimental so we didn’t have those disgusting talks about feelings and the sex was great. But Alex just wouldn’t obey me. I realized she was strong-headed and independent, those were some of the things I liked most about her, but I couldn’t have my girl talk back to me in front of my gang. I had a reputation to protect and I needed my boys to look up to me.

Sooner than later, the short brunette had started messing with my business: she wanted me to quit, saying it was wrong and that I was well off in the first place and didn’t need the money. That was true, I admit it, but how was I to entertain myself if I wasn’t making deals and gambling?

And then she left me.

Just like that.

She’d walked in my room one day and simply announced that we were over and that she was coming to this shitty little town to start anew. She even had a car packed with her suitcases and waiting for her in the driveway of my house.

At first I thought she was just being dramatic. It wasn’t typical of Alexandra to make some hormone-induced girl scene yet I thought it was a trick.

But she really left, she never called me and when I called her, she wouldn’t talk to me.

I was generous enough to give her some time to reconsider. Once she didn’t, I’d come here to look for her… and found her kissing another guy.

I wasn’t troubled by that sight: Alex was a smart girl, she’d realize she’d made a mistake and come back to me.

She needed me; she always had, ever since Boris died and even perhaps even before that tragic occasion.

I heard a car and looking out of one of the dingy windows I smiled.

They had arrived.

“You brought yourself a cheerleader I see,” I greeted once the two of them entered the storage.

“Who the fuck are you calling…” Tyson snarled, lurching in my direction but the girl got a hold of him.

It was going to be so easy to piss him off!

“You don’t seem to have trained him well, Alex… And you’ll be saying goodbye to your pet soon. You,” I turned to the boy and was satisfied at seeing him enraged, “might want to say goodbye to her. After this fight Alex is coming home with me. That’s where she belongs: with me.”

“Not true,” the girl in question protested.

Why was she in such denial?

Or was she simply lying?

She must be lying, I thought, glimpsing at the girl’s ear.

“Don’t lie, Alex; I know you’ve missed me.”

“And why would you think that, Stefan?”

“Because there are only two items you always wear on you: the locket and the earring I gave you. See,” I turned so that Tyson could look at my own ear. “I have the same. Everyone in my gang does. And whoever is in my gang, belongs to me. So why didn’t you throw yours away, Alex?”

Her reply brought relief and perhaps happiness to the black haired boy but enraged me.

“Because I wanted something to remind me of the life I no longer desire to have.”

“Take your position!” I shouted, momentarily losing my cool.

“You shouldn’t do that, Stefan!” My father’s voice boomed in my mind. “Keep your emotions in check and win at all cost,” that was what my old man had always preached.

I narrowed my eyes as I saw Tyson grabbing Alexandra and her whispered something I supposed was meant to be reassuring to him before taking a stance before me.

“Ready,” I began, attempting to sound relax; in truth I was still angered by the brunette’s response and the fact that the two of them seemed much closer than I’d originally thought. “GO!”

Surprise manifested on her face as I smacked her on her jaw.

“Tc-tc! A bit slow, aren’t we, Alex?” I teased, giving her time to get her bearings and realize that I was not going to hold back. “Let’s take it from the top, shall we?”

I aimed for the same spot but this time I was blocked by her left hand and the girl punched me bellow the ribs. I cried out and she delivered a blow to the right of my head.

“What the hell are you doing? Hit that bastard again!” Tyson shouted furiously as the girl took a few steps back, letting me catch my breath.

He just didn’t get us: this was only the beginning; we were simply giving warning hits.

“She won’t do that just yet; we’re still warming up,” I replied, looking at Alex and expecting to see what I usually did when we tussled with each other: excitement. I was taken aback when instead of that I read in her eyes nothing but determination to win.

“Ready to get serious about this?” I asked, taking a stance again.

“You sure are in a hurry to get your ass kicked!”

Oh, she was being cocky now, huh?

Well, I’ll wipe that self-assured smile off her face in no time.

She was coming home with me and I’d make her learn her place!

I lurched at her once more, throwing several punches one right after the other. A moment later we were both in a headlock but the girl maneuvered out of that position. I round kicked her right at her ribcage. She kicked me behind his knees then jumped on top of me, pinning me to the ground.

I could see the smile on her face; she’d imagined she’d already won.

Think again, Alex, I thought and reversed our positions, making her head hit the cement floor beneath.

“This isn’t going to end well!” She muttered, looking as if she was about to throw up.

Perhaps I gave her a concussion, but I’d worry about that later.

All I knew now was that I was winning!