When the drugs wore off, Emmett planned their deaths. He'd start with Griffin and torture him just enough to make him beg for mercy before ending his pathetic life. Before killing him, he wanted to cut his dick off. He wanted to paint the walls with the motherfucker's blood.

Not eating or drinking anything took a toll on Emmett's worn-out body. Only a few sips of bottled water they provided him kept him alive. He'd only drink it when he was sure they hadn't messed with it and the lid still had a seal.

Pain gnawed at his limbs, but he forced himself to keep moving around. He couldn't let himself become weak enough that the only thing he could do was slither away on the floor. While he'd been trying to regain his strength, he let nobody else notice that. He put on a pitiful act to them, whimpering about being in pain and being unable to move.

Having a burly man kick him in the side while playing his act took a lot. It bruised not only his body, but his dignity. He was the goddamn leader of the Voiceless Rebels, yet they treated him like nothing but a cowardly little mouse in their trap. Little did those pieces of shit realize that he had a plan put in motion.

When that asshole came and kicked him around, he let his guard down. Emmett stole a pocket knife from him, and when he came back to play, Emmett would slit his throat. Excitement bubbled in his chest as he curled up on the cold ground, only having a blanket to keep his bare skin warm.

Emmett ignored Kazimir's mother that day. He needed everyone to believe he was too ill to move. That pathetic bastard wouldn't even see it coming. Only when Emmett heard the faint click of his cell unlocking did he unsheathe his knife's blade. He licked his chapped lips, preparing to strike his prey.

"Is the poor bastard not feeling good?" The man taunted, tugging his blanket away. "Not even gonna put up a fight today either, huh? And here I thought you were supposed to be this badass leader who everyone feared."

Emmett forced a raspy cough out, clutching the handle of his blade tightly. Just a bit closer now, you fat piece of fucking shit. If only he had something sharper, but the blade would have to do. He could make it work.

"You know, I bet I could make you feel better." A hand rested on Emmett's waist, and he knew that was the moment to pounce.

With a sharp jerk of his arm, he sunk the blade into the burly man's neck. Despite how he tried to fend Emmett off, he pushed the blade further into his flesh, until he almost felt his own fingers seep into the blood oozing from the slit. Emmett didn't stop there. He retracted the knife and plunged it into the man's left eye socket as he screamed.

"This is why they fear me." Emmett rose from the grimy ground as the fucker choked on his own blood. Towering over the man, he pressed his bare foot down on his face, stomping it as hard as he could onto the ground.

Without wasting another second, Emmett retrieved the man's coat and wrapped it around himself. He took the man's boots as well, lacing them up tight enough so they didn't slip off his feet. After that, he hurried out of the cell, and locked the other man in there, covered with his blanket. If anyone else walked by, they'd assume it was him as long as they didn't check on him.

Emmett tugged the coat's hood over his head and made his way down the hallway, passing the poor women he had to leave behind. When he escaped, he'd be sure to help the police find them and get them out of there. But he had to save himself first. Otherwise, they'd all die down there.

Following the specks of light, Emmett found his exit and crawled out. He blinked against the sunlight that burned his eyes. Being trapped in the darkness for so long made it difficult to adjust to being above ground again. Only when he heard crackling from a walkie in his pocket about intruders did Emmett realize his rebels had finally come for him.

About fucking time.

Emmett emerged from the shadows, careful to not bump into anyone who would recognize him. Only a few men came down to see him and one of them was already dead. He needed to find Griffin first and kill the bastard. Had he known it had been him operating the Black Vipers all this time, he would've sought him out to kill him sooner.

It was beyond him how Griffin survived, but masquerading as Jack hadn't been something he'd anticipated. Emmett wondered if the asshole had made it outside, where an altercation had broken out. If his people were out there fighting for him, then needed to hightail his ass out there and help them.

Keeping close to the walls, Emmett slowly made his way out to the front entrance. Nobody bothered him, as they were preoccupied with the fight outside. Emmett had the other man's gun on him, so he drew it and carefully stepped outside. Sunlight kissed his pale skin, causing him to wince as he took his first few steps of freedom.

Gunshots erupted all around him and Emmett couldn't be prouder of his people. Emmett just needed to cross over to them and not get hit in the process. Even better, he needed a getaway car. Digging through his coat's pockets, he found a set of car keys and smirked. Time to run those assholes over.

Emmett hurried to the lot of the cars, staying low enough not to get caught or shot at. They were too busy to pay attention to him when he clicked the button on the ring of keys, alerting him to which car they belonged to. With hastened steps, Emmett made his way to the car and locked himself inside it. He got the ignition started then hit the gas, sending him flying off in the direction of the fighting men.

Excitement bounced off his laughs as he plowed right into a man, sending his fatass flying across the grass. As he neared the other side, where his rebels had gotten closer, he reduced his speed and rolled down his window, letting off a few rounds at the assholes who attacked his people.

Only when he reached the trees did he stop the car and climb out, revealing himself to his people, who gathered around with their guns pinned on him.

"Now, is that any way to greet your leader?" Emmett smirked, leaning back against the car. "You guys came all this way to save me. I'm flattered. I think my heart just might burst."

Hoots and hollers erupted from his guys, but Emmett raised a hand to silence them. There was no time to celebrate yet.

"We've got a long way to go before we're out of the dark," Emmett told the few who'd gathered around. "I know you're worried about me, but I'm fit enough to fight. If anyone knows where Alfie is, make sure to tell him I'm here fighting with you guys."

They agreed and hurried off back into the chaos. Emmett followed behind them, loaded with the gun he stole and some of their own that his members provided him. After he dealt with those assholes, they'd find Griffin and kill the bastard.

As Emmett shot a man who came at him, he searched through the unfamiliar faces of their foe and his rebels. Alfie had to be somewhere amongst them. Only when he neared the entrance again did he spot him in pursuit against a Black Viper member.

Emmett jumped to his right hand's defense and crept up behind them. Only when he got close enough did he raise his pistol and shoot off two rounds into the other man's head. Alfie paused, gaping when he made eye-contact with Emmett.

"Well, I'll be damned, boss." Alfie hurried over to him, pulling him in a tight hug. "You dunno how fucking glad I am to see you."

"Likewise." Emmett smirked. "Lovely rescue mission you got here. This your doing?"

Alfie scratched the side of his head. "Uh, Yeah. You know we couldn't just wait around. We had to come find you."

"It means a lot," Emmett told him. "Is Kaz here too? Charlie? I haven't seen them yet."

"They're in another group. We'd thought they'd attack them first, but they came after us. My guess is Charlie and Kaz are inside looking for your ass."

Emmett nodded. "We need to get in there before Griffin finds them."

Alfie frowned. "Griffin?"

"Someone I ran with in my old gang. Turns out he's been here the whole time, as leader of the Black Vipers," Emmett explained. "He's also Jack. I didn't recognize him because he's gotten plastic surgery and changed his original accent. Only when he introduced himself to me did I realize it."

"Holy shit. I knew something was up with that Jack guy." Alfie shook his head. "How'd you escape? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me right now," Emmett replied. "We gotta get this asshole. We can't let him escape here alive."

"I'm on it, boss."

"Thanks. I knew I could count on you," Emmett said.

"Where's the last place you saw this jackass?" Alfie asked.

"He could be anywhere, but I didn't see him out in this mess. My guess is that he's hiding somewhere inside. Sometimes he could be a coward during our gang wars back then, and wait until it was almost done before showing himself. He's probably planning to do something like that."

"I see. Well, lead the way." Alfie followed close beside Emmett, prepared to take down any enemies that came their way.

Emmett's people were loyal to him, even now, coming to rescue his sorry ass. While he'd been through hell, he couldn't deny how happy it made him to see his rebels there. Especially Alfie, who helped orchestrate the whole rescue mission for him.

They crossed through the familiar entrance. Emmett expected their people to come charging at them, but they were able to make it through the old warehouse with ease. Perhaps Charlie and his crew already took most of their people out. What a relief that would be. Emmett couldn't wait to see his artist again. He came all this way just to help rescue him. Even though it was dangerous.

"There's a place where they take their, uh, women. You know, for fucking." Emmett cleared his voice. "That jackass is probably hiding there until things die down."

"You said that's the last place you saw him?" Alfie asked.

Emmett realized what he'd slipped up. "I mean, that's where I'm assuming he is."

"Emmett, did something happen?"

Emmett pushed ahead, unable to meet his gaze or sympathetic expression. "It's just up here. Follow me."

Alfie didn't question the matter further and kept close behind him with his gun drawn, which Emmett was grateful for. They maneuvered through the dimly lit halls and ancient factory machines that had been broken down or remodeled to hold their drug supply.

Almost there. Emmett quickened his steps; heartbeat pounding painfully amid his chest like it wanted to burst free from his ribcage. An ache nestled deep in his body screamed for rest, to take a moment to relax. Emmett pushed himself to keep going. He wouldn't show weakness to that fucker again.

"This is it."

Emmett cast a quick glance around, ensuring nobody else lurked around them before tugging the heavy door open. A miasma assaulted his nostrils, but he'd been trapped down there for so many days, it no longer bothered him. He had an inkling that he didn't smell like a bouquet of roses either, yet Alfie made no remarks about it.

"Lead the way, boss. I've got your back," Alfie said.

Descending into that hellish pit of darkness, memories resurfaced of his assault. He fought to keep the images out, wrestling with himself over how pathetic he'd been to let Griffin take advantage of him. If it weren't for the drugs, he would've kicked his ass. He would've killed him right there.

"This is where they kept you?" Alfie asked in a hushed whisper, tensing up beside him.

"Uh, yeah." Emmett cleared his voice.

"I'm gonna kill this motherfucker."

"Now, how did you escape?" As if on cue, Griffin emerged from an adjoined room, pistol in his possession.

Alfie raised his own gun, aiming it on Griffin.

"Looks like the cavalry came to save you," Griffin teased.

Emmett aimed his own gun on Griffin too. "It's over you piece of shit."

There were no more words spoken. Emmett pulled the trigger and Griffin's body tumbled back with a thud. Blood pooled beneath his head. How could someone he once loved try to destroy him? Emmett wasted no time abandoning the asshole, with Alfie following close behind him. Anyone who dared to cross in his path died. Emmett wouldn't let himself get swept away by his pain. He'd let it strengthen him.

Not many of the Black Vipers people remained inside, as most had been killed by Charlie's crew. The rest were being handled by their men outside, and Emmett had finally taken Griffin down. It meant the end of their gang, so long as nobody tried to take over Griffin's role.

"Now, we gotta find Kaz, Charlie, and the others," Emmett said.

"Alright, boss. Let's find them then burn this fucking place to the ground."

Emmett nodded. "Sounds like a great plan to me."'