I was patiently waiting for Christopher to return with the two girls but, they didn't come back. I was even trying to discretely talk in the comms but, not even Lucas and Alex were replying.

My worry started significantly increasing when I felt a sudden tap on my shoulder. Thinking it's Christopher I turned around to the face of the person I would've been happy to see any other day except today.

"Ashley? Is that you?" Cody frowned at my appearance.

I covered up by shock with a cough and confidently spoke, "Ashley? Never heard of her."

"I've known you my entire life, I know you're my sister," he scoffed.

I just heavily sighed, grabbed his wrist and dragged him out the back exit. When we reached I turned to look at him, he was dressed in a formal suit and looked like he were to attend a business meeting.

"Where have you been?" he screeched and snapped me out of my observation.

"Turn it down a bit, will you? Do you want to attract everyone here?" I snapped at him.

"I am not here to chit-chat with you. Where have you been?" he scolded.

"I've been busy. And I will be busy for a few days," I shrugged.

"The Organisation has been helping me look for you. We thought something happened to you." My gaze softened at his words as he scanned my body for any visible injuries or signs of distress.

"I am sorry. I am just-," I sighed, I don't know what to say to him.

"Let's go home. Dad has been all over the place, come back with me," he pleaded.

"I can't, I am so sorry," I whispered.

"Why?" Cody asked in confusion.

"Have you read the news recently?"

"No, but what does this have to do with anything?" he looked at me as if I lost my mind.

"I am a wanted criminal," I muttered, trying to avoid eye contact.

"What!?" he asked, absolutely shocked.

"Look, I know what you're thinking but I haven't done anything wrong," I grabbed his shoulders and told him while staring intensely gazing into his eyes.

"Then come with me. Come back home. Whatever it is, I'll fix it with the help of The Organisation. If you did nothing wrong then, we can get you out of it," he rambled on and pleaded with me.

"No!" I yelled out of frustration. "You can't help me, I'm in too deep."

"But-" I cut him off. "Cody, you have to trust me on this. You can't trust The Organisation. Don't tell them you found me," I begged him.

He furrowed his brows, "What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind? We can always trust The Organisation, even in times when we can't trust family."

"That is the toxic statement they have drilled into all of our minds since when we joined. You can't trust them," I tried to convince him.

"Ash, please. I can help you, we can help you. We'll get you out of it, whatever it is. Just, please come with us," he looked at me hopefully.

"You want to help me, Cody. They don't. Try and understand that. You have to take a break from them. Take dad with you, far away from them."

"I will not betray my employers," his statement was short but firm.

"I was sent here to find you, I did my job. I tried convincing you to come with us but, you're not willing to. I'll just have to take you there without your consent, I have no choice," he gave me a stern look.

"I will not come with you. You will not be able to make me come with you even if you drag me there," I seriously told him. I was not joking around, he chose his side and I chose mine. I will not let his decision affect mine.

"Boys," Cody muttered in his wristwatch. In the next two minutes, several agents from The Organisation surrounded us.

"Don't touch me!" a girly voice screeched.

"Hey! Watch it, you're ruining my face," the voice I was very well annoyed of, spoke.

Two agents dragged in Lucas and a very pissed Valentina. From behind me, I saw a handcuffed Alex throwing a nasty look to those who held Valentina.

Christopher followed next with a clenched jaw, as soon as he saw me he visibly relaxed. Anna was then escorted by another set of agents.

I turned to face Cody with a look of disbelief, "You wanted me to come with you, why are you capturing them?"

"Come with us or we'll blow their brains out," he shrugged.

"What is wrong with you!?" I screeched at him, "Our motto is not to kill senselessly without reason."

"It's a fair bargain if you ask me. Besides, right now I have two snipers pointing their rifles at your boy's beloved sister," he smirked.

Something inside me snapped, "Including her will get you nowhere! She is just a sixteen-year-old girl who barely knows about the existence of this crap! Don't you dare try anything to hurt her," I warned him.

"I won't hurt her if you decide to be a smart person and come with me."

Two can play that game, dear brother. "I have a condition," I crossed my arms over my chest.

"What is it?" he questioned.

"If I come with you, you leave Hailey alone and let all of them go," I pointed to my squad.

"You're up for that?" Cody chuckled.

"I know how you think, Cody. I want them left alone, safe and sound without danger," I sternly replied.

"Ash, don't do this!" Alex and Valentina yelled.

"Ashley, please. Don't do this," Christopher tried to stop me.

"Fine by me." He raised his hand for me to put mine in. I grabbed it and flipped his entire body for him to land on his back.

I looked at him and smirked, "Didn't really think I'd come with you, did you?"

All agents holding my teammates in place left them and came forward to fight.

Two approached me and I grabbed my dagger. "Let's have some fun," I smirked at them. This just angered them and they ran to attack. I kicked one in the side of his face and smashed my dagger in his shoulder blade.

The other one punched me and I blocked it, crouched down and kicked his legs from underneath him and then stabbed his thigh.

All of those on my side broke free of the restraints and started fighting as well. Cody got up and was about to stab Christopher in the back when I aimed my dagger and threw his out of his hand.

"Cody, I know you were lying about Hailey. You have a tell," I smugly told him.

He came running at me and I just deflected his kick. I didn't want to physically fight him. I didn't want to hurt him. He is my brother after all. I ran towards a wall climbed it and flipped back, then kicked Cody from behind.

I heard footsteps behind me and I saw two agents advancing towards me. I now had a dagger in both my hands and fought with them. Repeatedly blocking and deflecting their punches and kicks, I stabbed them in their thighs, arms and shoulder blades.

I did not wish to kill anyone, they might be in the situation I was a few weeks ago, thinking they're doing the right thing and that they are being loyal. When all the agents dropped to the ground, too weak to fight I turned to see if all those on my side were okay.

A few bruises here and there but other than that they were all well. I turned around and once again faced Cody who was the least beat up amongst all other agents.

"I'm sorry, Cody," I whispered and was about to turn around when he got up, retrieved a gun from the waistband of his trousers and pointed the gun at me. I just stood there, unmoving because of my shock at what lengths my brother was willing to go to.

I was sure he wouldn't pull the trigger because no matter what, we were, after all, siblings but I was proved wrong. He was too weak to aim but he did shoot at me.

The bullet was nowhere close to my crucial organs but the bullet shot from his gun pierced into my left arm. I didn't cry out in pain, I didn't let tears fall from my eyes. I just stood there, hurt flashing across my face due to my elder brother's actions.

I heard a few yells of my name and before I was shot I heard a 'No!' from Christopher but I was rooted to my spot.

Cody had guilt written all over his face when he saw my expression upon his actions but I just stood, motionless.

Christopher raced to my uninjured side and supported my body weight. I turned to look at him with unshed tears. "He shot me," I whispered as if I myself was trying to process it.

In the meantime, Cody fled the scene with a few injuries and a guilty expression.

"He shot me," I whispered again looking at the ground. I didn't cry because I didn't feel vulnerable, I felt betrayed.

"I know, I know. I am so sorry," Christopher whispered back to me.

Alex and Valentina approached us with sympathetic expressions. Alex muttered something about going back to the hideout to Christopher.

Lucas and Anna too stood together with a grim expression, giving me some space. Alex tied a cloth on my injury to apply pressure.

All of us made our way towards our vehicles and then drove to the warehouse. The entire time, Christopher was by my side, trying to comfort me, apologising and making sure I wasn't majorly injured.

I told him it wasn't his fault and that he shouldn't apologize but he wasn't having any of it. Valentina was also constantly making sure I was comfortable.

I was right I found a new family here, and I wasn't planning to let them go.

With that thought, I snuggled closer to Christopher and rested my head on his shoulder as he ran his fingers through my hair, in a comforting manner.

Alex was cracking stupid jokes causing me to chuckle every once in a while and Lucas seemed to be acting even more idiotic, making me silently laugh at his stupidity.

Anna just shot me a smile and chuckled every once in a while at the stupid things being talked about. Even though it wasn't the perfect situation I still wouldn't change this for the world.

I can't help but feel kind of guilty that I had to go against my brother and even fight him for what I believed was right. But then I am reminded of what he did. I never meant for us to fight like this. Even when we were indulged in combat, I threw away my daggers and not once did I use my gun, because I did not want to hurt him, just slow him down.

Guess he didn't feel the same way.