Part One

Sunset Blvd - Cautivadora Bar.

Aiden Walker.

A few days later, after it took Thomas a lot of convincing, Aiden agreed to meet the former's friend, the tattoo artist. He followed Thomas inside a bar, and instantly, his nerves kicked in. It was one of those fancy looking bars in the city, where only rich people and celebrities go to, and where others would line up, hoping they'd get in.

The bar was still not opened yet, which he much appreciated. He was afraid to run into someone who'd recognize him and report him to the Mafia boss.

The dark place was illuminated by dim red lights and colorful mood candles, a perfect atmosphere for Aiden to drink his life away and forget his troubles, but alcohol was never appealing to him. A few of the staff were running around the place, preparing for a busy night. The man that let them in went up the stairs where some semi-naked women were standing and waiting for instructions.

Aiden remained close to his friend, who comfortably walked towards his destination, greeting others on the way. They approached two men by the bar. One had his back to them, leaning over the bar and talking to the other. From his body language, Aiden realized that he was for sure flirting, which made a ghost of a smile tug on his lips.

He loved it when he'd see people acting this way. Looking fondly at each other and sharing secretive smiles. A big part of the reason he loved it was because of Mason. Aiden wouldn't deny that he had better days with him, too. He thought of when Mason stared at him with a genuine smile and heart-eyes, no lust or devilry behind them. When he caressed his cheeks, making them heat up even more by how soft and caring his touches were. He'd never forget how hungry Mason was for him. Every night his cold lips spread kisses all over his body, grunting most of the elicit sounds Aiden had ever heard. He'd possessively call him his with every thrust, kiss and bite. As painful as it was, Aiden would find himself smiling at the bathroom mirror, looking at the marks on his body.

Aiden liked it then, but only sometimes.

He shook the memory away and tuned back in when the man turned around and shared a side hug with Thomas. His lean body was covered in tattoos, and nipple piercings could be seen under the muscle shirt he was wearing, a small star tattoo just above his pierced left eyebrow.

Aiden carefully examined his tattoos, making sure the others didn't notice him staring. He always found them enticing, and this guy had a bunch of intriguing ones. He frowned when he saw one tat in particular, a large letter M with a bird on top of it. He saw it before when he was at Mason's. The whole mob had one, and when he asked Mason about it one night- one of the few nights he was in a merry and loving mood, he explained that it was called La eMe, which represented the Mexican Mafia.

A faint gasp escaped his lips and froze in utter shock and fear. Thomas must have noticed as he frowned, looking back at him.

"Are you okay, Aiden?"

"Aiden?!"

He heard the man whisper, and just now, he noticed his Latino accent. His fear only doubled, and he flinched back when his friend reached for him.

"What's wrong?" Thomas uttered, confused, looking at him with worry-filled eyes. The man who was now looking at him warily and musingly grimaced in horror.

"W-We need to go."

He stammered in a shaky voice and confused his friend even more. The Latino man who must've known what was wrong got a hold of his arm in a tight grip and dragged him towards the back. Aiden couldn't find it in himself to fight back nor to study his surroundings, allowing the man to pull him towards the unknown.

He spent three years trying his best to evade Mason and his men, and here he was delivering himself to them like an idiot.

Thomas was saying something, but he wasn't listening. The only thing that filled his mind was that Mason had found him. That he'd go back to that place, to that room, and his inevitable demise.

"Look." The man went on, pushing him against the wall harshly."You put me in great danger by coming here!" He hissed, and Aiden whimpered embarrassingly.

"What the fuck are you doing, Luis?!" Thomas pulled him away and shielded Aiden with his small body."You're scaring him!"

"Not as scared as I am right now."

Luis wiped his mouth, running his hand through his medium length, black hair nervously.

"Do you know who this asshole is?"

Thomas took Aiden's hand in his and nodded.

"I do, and that's why I'm here. Aiden needs help."

The frightened-looking man snorted and slumped down on a chair like he'd faint any moment now.

"Don't we all." He glared at Aiden before looking back at Thomas."You'd be in great need of help, more than him. The big boss offered loads of money to anyone who could find him. I'm surprised that no one recognized him sooner. He even has some crooked cops looking for him."

Aiden gulped and licked his dry lips, looking at the closed door like he expected Mason would walk in any second now. His eyes gazed around the room they were in, which looked like a staff meeting room. He noticed a single computer on a desk in the corner, facing a round table that had an ashtray with a still-lit cigar.

"Big boss?" Thomas frowned, then his eyes widened in realization.

"You . . . work for Mason Ramos?"

He gave Aiden an apologetic look for dragging him here. The latter was still dazed and woozy to even respond with anything.

"Work for him?" He chuckled dryly. "More like he owned my ass until I faked my death. Him being here now just placed me under the radar again."

He fixed Aiden with a death glare, frantically looking around, mirroring his horrified expression. He was as scared as himself, which only terrified him even more. It only made him wonder what Mason was capable of doing?

"I-I'm sorry."

Pathetically, that was his only response. It came out in a shaky voice, making Luis's glare soften a bit. His brown eyes met Aiden's glossy pair, and he sighed.

"It's no use crying over spilled milk, like you Americans would say . . . We're in this together, I guess."

He sighed again, his eyes dropping down to the floor, thinking.

"Let just hope no one else saw you beside my boy out there." He cursed under his breath, catching what was on the table.

"The boss must be here."

Just hearing the word 'boss' drove Aiden into a panic mode, losing control of his body in an instant. He started hyperventilating, eyes watering not to his accord. Tremors invaded his body, making him drop his phone on the floor.

"Shit, this guy will get us killed for sure." He heard Luis mumble, and as he caught on the reason why he was heaving, he added.

"You breathe, you son-of-bitch! I was talking about the bar manager."

"Breathe, Aiden." Thomas prompted, his hand rubbed circles on his back, calming his racing heart.

"If he dies, all hell will break loose. Goddammit, we're dead meat! The boss will rip us apart!"

Luis held his face in his cold hands and made him stare back at his sharp eyes. Aiden was sweating all over, drool dripping down his chin. His frantic breathing was the only thing heard in the silent room. With a blurry vision, he watched how Thomas paled and looked at Luis for help. The latter was still holding his face up, breathing in and out, encouraging him to follow suit.

And it worked.

After his breathing calmed down, rubbing his aching chest and wiping his burning tears, Aiden looked at the disgruntled yet frightened man.

"I-I'm sorry."

"You apologize quite a lot." He flatly responded, then stood up."I think it'd be better to leave this place and go somewhere else to talk . . ."

Before Luis could finish what he was saying, a guy opened the door, making his breathing quicken again. His fear intensified when he saw a fully tattooed arm first, and he let out a hefty breath when none of those careful drawings matched the one the bad boy had.

A short, chubby, bearded man walked in. He had one of those colorful, ugly shirts on, a couple of opened buttons, showing his nonexistent chest-hair. A gold chain wrapped around his muscled neck, chocolate brown eyes defined by thick dark brown eyebrows. His white dress pants were perfectly ironed and held by a fancy leather belt with a Tiger buckle brass.

He didn't seem surprised that they were there. His eyes actually smiled in triumph, settling on Aiden.

"Boss,"

Luis straightened up and stepped in front of Aiden, who got surprised by why he was protecting him. Thomas did the same, eyes glaring holes at the sinister-looking man.

"Luis, my boy, you didn't tell me that you have friends over."

"We were just leaving." Thomas kept his hard glare on the man, who smirked amused.

"Oh please, don't leave because of me."

He walked towards the chair Luis once occupied and settled down. He pulled the ashtray closer to him, lifting the already lit cigar.

"Just pretend that I'm not here."

His eyes never left Aiden, who looked everywhere but at him. He feared that the man would recognize him. Actually, he was sure that the man did, or else he wouldn't be staring at him that way. He looked at the door, thinking of making a run for it but decided against it, knowing that he wouldn't get far. There was nowhere to go anyway.

"I actually wanted to ask if I can leave early today . . . my friends need me."

The boss puffed the smoke out of his chappy lips, averting his eyes to glare at Luis. He seemed to be thinking about it before he shrugged.

"I don't see any problem with that."

Luis let out a small sigh that if Aiden weren't close to him, he wouldn't hear. He nodded to his boss, ushering them outside, but the other called him.

"Actually, I need your help before you leave."

Luis looked back eager to get done with whatever task the man would ask him to do, just to leave the place.

"The new merch is in my office. I want you to take it to the truck waiting outside."

His cunning eyes traveled to Aiden, and he winked at him, making him look away repulsed and flustered. Luis noticed and tried to pull him and Thomas out, but the man stopped him again.

"Come on, don't leave me alone here. You can go, Luis, and leave these cuties here to keep me company."

Luis hesitated but obliged under his firm glare. Thomas just nodded at him in understanding before fixing the man with a nasty frown.

"So," He went on. Aiden's eyes never met the man and were fixed on the back of Thomas's head.

"How do you know Luis?"

"He's a friend of mine."

He nodded at Thomas, puffing the thick white smoke out of his mouth. He gestured for them to sit, but Thomas declined for both of them.

"Luis may take a while. The new merchandise is causing a lot of trouble, but I'd do anything to please the big man."

"Big man?"

Thomas prompt, looking interested in hearing more about it. Aiden knew that his friend was curious about this world and that he'd use any opportunity to get more information for his book. But right now, it wasn't a good time for this. He wanted to be out of this cramped up room, out of this dark place. Aiden wanted to be home, behind the safety of his bedroom door, to rest on his bed, and disappear under his comforter.

The man leaned back on the chair, grinning victoriously for grabbing Thomas's attention.

"Yes, the big man . . . The big boss who runs the underground. He's been depressed these past years, lashing out his frustration on everyone . . . Luke, my boss, has been asking me to find certain goods . . . The big man likes pretty ones, the same way I do."

He winked again at Aiden, who was trying not to panic at what Anthony implied. It was clear that the goods were nothing but humans, he wasn't sure if Thomas caught on that or not. The latter looked indifferent, staring at the man with twinkling eyes like he was just telling him the secrets about human existence.

Aiden kept his composure, thinking that there must be another boss. Mason wasn't a man who'd run the underground. The world that Thomas talked about so much, where all the nasty and dirty stuff happens. He wanted to believe that Mason wouldn't go that far to run such a place, to rule a world where all kinds of crimes take place.

"Want to make some money?"

He asked and chuckled when Aiden let out a sound like a squeak in question.

"Maybe I'll show you to the big man, and he'll take you as his pet, and forget about the stupid punk who ran away."

"N-No, t-thank you." He managed to say, amusing the guy who laughed heartily. Hearing his unique laughter reminded him of Mason.

Mason.

Aiden was now sure that he was the big boss, there was no doubt about that. He was sad yet relieved at the same time. Saddened that Mason would go this far in running the mob- He knew that you must be a wolf among dogs to rule such place, and the mafia boss must have become more ruthless and vicious than before. But he was relieved that this man didn't seem to recognize him. If he did, this whole conversation would have turned out differently.

"I'm just fucking with you." He laughed alone at that, noticing how both guys tensed up. Thomas must have finally realized what this man meant, by how his brown eyes ignited with fury.

"But I'd suggest to never go to the bars and clubs around here alone. You might get kidnapped or something. There is a huge demand for cuties like you, so some people may get tempted to take you against your will."

There was a hidden promise behind that, making Aiden's breath shudder in terror and revulsion. Especially when he licked his full lips, eying him like he was the last supper.

"Mr . . . Umm?" Thomas interrupted with a stern tone, making the man tear his eyes away from the shaking Aiden.

"Anthony, that's my name. How about you?"

Thomas looked back at Aiden, giving him a reassuring smile before looking back at Anthony.

"My name is Tom, and he's Caleb." He smiled a little, a forced one that didn't hide the disgust behind it.

"We really should go, and I think Luis is going to take a long time."

"Oh, yeah."Anthony, disposing of the cigar-butt in the ashtray."She must've caused him a lot of trouble."

"She?!"

He grinned at Thomas and mouthed 'oops' childishly.

"I said that, didn't I?"

Thomas nodded while Aiden could feel his heart thudding against his chest. It was all real now at hearing the personifying pronoun.

"Don't worry about it." He said to Aiden with a charming smile. "She was begging for it, thinking she was clever enough by trying to hook up with my boss behind her man's back . . . We did that guy a favor by, taking her off of his hands."

He shook his head like her existence offended him.

"There are some sick people out there, and she's one of them."

And you're not? Thomas thought, holding himself back from offending the guy for Aiden's sake.

Anthony must have noticed that they weren't convinced. His cheerful self turned sour. And just now, Aiden could see a true boss, not some childlike pervert with a horrible sense of fashion.

"I won't advise you to go report any of what I said to the police, not like they could do anything about it." He chuckled when Aiden balled his fists in clear anger.

The police were useless against these people, and it pissed him off. If they were doing their job as they should, he wouldn't be across the country and away from his parents right now.

"She's the girl of some rookie detective who messed with the Ramos . . ."

Aiden's anger instantly deflated, exchanged by utter fear. He stopped listening to the words Anthony was spewing out of his mouth and didn't even realize when they left the bar or how he got to this house.

So it was really him.

Even though he was convinced that the big boss was Mason, there was still a glimpse of hope that he wouldn't turn out to be the most feared person in the country, and the world, perhaps. He wondered how someone who was his age could control the underground. As per what Thomas told him, a person had to kill for that position, and Aiden refused to think that Mason was capable of doing such a thing.

He sulked down on the couch, hearing Thomas and Luis arguing, but he wasn't listening. His mind was occupied with a single thought. The thought of Mason being vicious and cruel as his father once did describe him to be.

". . . You have no idea what's like to defy him, Tom!"

Luis yelled, aggravated, making Aiden look up at the angry-looking men.

"You have no idea what he could do to you if you go against him." He sat next to Aiden, holding his head in his hands.

"Why do you think I'm hiding here? Why do you think I accept to do any kind of dirty work? It's all just for Anthony and Luke not to tell him that I'm still alive . . .and it's all because of him."

He didn't spare him a glance, but Aiden could feel his boiling anger. He loathed himself even more now. He hated that he ran away that day, causing only trouble for everyone that helped him. This life wasn't worth living. He hated living in paranoia and living in fear of being found, on alert, and ready to be on the run again if he even sniffed his musky scent.

Five years back, he wouldn't even guess that he'd be in this position. On the run from someone the law feared. That being his bully, first love, and abusive husband. He hated the day he fought with Silas, and if Aiden could go back in time and change it, he would.

"I was supposed to guard his bedroom door the day you escaped."

He looked Luis's way, and he could clearly see how scared he was.

"The big boss told me not to let anyone in beside him after that little stunt Silas did with his boyfriend."

He paused, taking in a shuddered breath. Aiden was afraid to ask, but he had to.

"What happened? What did he do to my friend?"

Luis tried to hide the terror behind that calm look, gnawing on his lower lip nervously.

"Somebody informed the boss that Silas was the one that helped you escape. He . . . The things he put him through even though he was his best friend, or so we thought . . . God, just hearing his screams, made all of us shudder in fear."

Thomas gulped visibly, thinking of what he heard. Aiden did too for another reason, and that was about him being the reason Silas got hurt.

Is he even still alive?

"Silas is a proud and strong guy, who refused to give in, but not your friend . . . That kid paled when he saw the amount of blood Silas was covered in. He completely lost it when the boss opened the burning furnace and threatened to throw him in there . . ."

"That's why he told him," Aiden whispered, feeling more guilty for putting Adam through that. His best friend was forced to give away his hideout while he thought he betrayed him.

Luis nodded and added.

"Silas was demoted, and could only earn his position back if he finds you, so was Derek."

"D-Derek?!" Aiden gasped. "You mean . . ."

"Yes, the day I was guarding your door, Derek asked me to let him in. I refused at first, but he threatened to chop off my head for defying his authority . . . No one is scarier than Derek when he's pissed."

He chuckled dryly at that and resumed.

"I went to look for the boss and inform him . . . when I got back with him, you were gone . . . I shared the same cell with Derek, who I could tell the boss found it difficult to deal with him since he was his right-hand man."

"How did you escape?"

Thomas asked, interrupting him, and Luis looked back at Aiden with an expression he couldn't quite define.

"Your friend, Adam, helped me when the boss was having fun torturing Derek. . . I remember how terribly his hands were shaking while he tried to unlock the door. How his eyes were dulled out of life . . ."

"I need to go back." Aiden stood up with a teary gaze."He's hurting people because of me. I need to go back and stop this."

Thomas stopped him and forced him to sit down again.

"You're not going anywhere. That bastard will kill you if you go back . . . All their hard work will be for nothing if you do."

"It's only a matter of time before you get caught."

Thomas glared at Luis for not being helpful, but the other ignored him.

"Anthony might have a potato for a brain, for drinking too much, but he'll soon remember your face, Aiden. And if Luke gets involved, then you'll get caught . . . That man is as brutal as the big boss, that's why he's the one ruling LA."

Thomas made Aiden look back at him and smiled.

"Don't listen to him, Aiden. He won't get to you, I promise."

He felt himself nodding even though he wasn't so sure. But if him getting caught meant that Mason would stop hurting others, then he was welcoming the idea. He shouldn't have escaped in the first place. As his father did say on his wedding night, this was the consequence of him agreeing with the devil. He should just accept his destined life and go back to him, face his inevitable punishment, and hope to god that he'd die there.

"We'll find a way to protect you . . . Right, Luis?"

Luis didn't say anything as he stared at his phone. Guilt was written all over his face. He lifted the phone to his ear and rolled his eyes at Thomas when he glared at him.

"I'm calling a friend who can help . . . Hello, Sam?"

He went to another room to talk freely, while Thomas tried to convince Aiden not to make stupid decisions.

"What if he got my parents, too? What if he's been torturing them?"

"Don't you think it's too late to ask that?"

Luis walked back in and settled beside him.

"You already left them, for how long? Three years now, and just now, you considered the probability of him hurting them?"

Aiden couldn't help it but tear up and cry. He only thought about escaping the man, ignoring what would happen to the others. He even blamed his best friend for something he was forced to do. He ruined so many lives, and it was all because he couldn't bear Mason's cruelty.

"Once you mess with the Ramos, you signed a death certificate of all your family members and friends . . . My friend that I called now did just that. He's been following Luke around, ruining a lot of his deals, and now, he got his girl."

"The girl at the bar?!"

Luis nodded, hunching as guilt and regret weighed him down.

"She's Sam's girlfriend."

While they waited for the detective to arrive, Luis used the time to go and pack his clothes with Thomas's help. Aiden stared at his phone and debated if he should call his father or not. His whereabouts already have been compromised, so it wouldn't make any difference to make a quick call.

He listened to see if the guys were still busy, and once he confirmed that they were still in Luis's room, he dialed the memorized number. Three rings later, and his dear mother answered.

He didn't reply and cried quietly at hearing her voice.

"Hello?"

He couldn't form any words, feeling a bit relieved to hear that she was safe and sound. And as if she knew it was him on the other end, she bellowed.

"Aiden, honey, is that you?"

She started to cry when he hummed in confirmation, and he couldn't help but sob as well.

"Honey, please answer me . . . Robert!" She yelled, then the line got quiet. He could still hear her crying in the background as his father answered.

"Son, are you alright?"

"Dad," He sobbed, and before he could talk some more, the phone was snatched away from his hand. Luis threw it across the room before lifting him by his collar.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?! Are you trying to get us killed?!"

He barked, and if it weren't for Thomas, he would've hit him. The doorbell rang at the right moment, forcing Luis to let him go and answer the door.

"You know that they could be spying on his phone."

Thomas had a deep frown, his eyes showed the disappointment over his action, but overwhelmed with sympathy.

Aiden sniffled. "I will be on the run again anyway. I thought . . . I thought I could hear my parents voice to make sure that they're alright . . . To hear their voices just one last time before anything bad could happen."

Thomas, who was sitting on the armrest of the couch, pulled him to his chest and sighed.

"I know it's hard for you to be away from them, and I promise that we'll find a way for you to be together again."

Aiden pushed away and shook his head.

"That won't happen." He said with conviction, and his friend didn't argue either. It was in Thomas's eyes that you could see the fear, and maybe even the regret. He knew that if his friend could say what was on his mind, he'd confess that this wasn't worth the materials for his book.

"What did you mean by he has her?!"

A deep voice snarled in question, obliging Aiden to stop crying and wipe away his tears.

"I'm sorry, man, but he does . . . His men picked her up this afternoon."

"That fucking asshole! Luke, you son of bitch!" He hissed, halting when he saw them sitting there.

Aiden stared at the most vibrant hazel he had ever seen. A well-built man with ashy blond hair, sun-kissed cheeks, and a sharp jaw that could cut through glass. He was rocking a black leather jacket over a white shirt and washed outfitted jeans.

He didn't look like a detective, but more like a model.

Those analyzing eyes averted from Thomas to him, and he scowled.

"Is this him?"

He asked Luis, not looking away from him. Aiden bit his lip nervously and watched him carefully when Luis confirmed.

The man surprised him by a half-smile, offering his hand for him to shake.

"I'm detective Samson, but please call me Sam. . . I've been looking all over for you."