Nate

"My father wants me to go to all these meetings and Leo is just my support. I seriously can't handle them" I chuckled and she laughed.

"I remember when I was a child, my parents would have all those family meetings and I hated them" She laughed lightly probably reminiscing. I saw her face fell and instantly panicked.

No no no, don't go sad on me now.

"Your hair is nice" I said without really realizing it.

She laughed and scoffed, "My hair's a mess"

"I think you look pretty" I said quietly.

Damn Nate what are you even saying?

"Your eyes are so pretty too, I just wish you could look at me more"

Yeah I fucked that up.

"T-thank you" She smiled still looking down. She leaned back on the couch watching TV.

I was awkwardly sitting next to her low key wishing she would fall asleep so I could leave and find out the truth.

After a while I looked back at her and noticed that she was asleep.

"Rose? Rosy?" I called out, but she didn't make a sound. She really was asleep. I picked her up carefully and got her to bed.

I sat on the bed for a while and looked at her.

"Please don't be lying to me" I whispered.

I turned off all the lights and left the apartment after leaving a note with my phone number on the kitchen counter. I wanted her to be able to reach me if something happened.

I took out my phone and called him while I got into my car.

"Hey Nate, where are you?" He asked cheerfully. I could hear music. He was already there. Maybe a little drunk too which worked in my favor since he would confess easier.

"I'm on my way" I told him and ended the call.

He has no idea what he has coming.

I was there in a few minutes. I was really nervous for some reason. My hands were sweaty and I had a weird urge to throw up.

I stood outside the bar getting mentally prepared and took out my phone and pressed the recording button.

I entered the bar and my gaze immediately fell on him. He also say me and smiled.

"Hey Nathan!" He greeted. I held myself back from cringing.

Who even calls me Nathan anymore?

"Long time no see" He said and gave me his hand to shake. I smiled and took his hand but he pulled me in for a hug.

Disgusting.

He reeked of alcohol.

Now that I think about it, that greasy long hair is definitely like the hair that guy had at the party.

"Come on let's go sit and catch up" He said and led me to a table. "How have you been? How's Ares and Leo"

There we go.

"I-I don't really know, I haven't seen them in a while" I chuckled awkwardly.

"What? Weren't you best friends? And in the same gang?" He asked.

"We were but-" I sighed and looked down, "Not anymore"

"Why?" He asked looking genuinely concerned. I kind of felt bad that I was straight up lying to him.

"Let's just say I decided to do my own thing"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Ares, Leo and me fell out a few months ago" I said letting out a deep breath. "I was devastated, I didn't know where to go"

"Did Ares throw you out?"

"No, no. He was really kind to me. I just didn't feel comfortable around him anymore"

"Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped" He looked shocked, he didn't look drunk anymore.

"That is partly why I asked you to meet up I-I-" I trailed off sighing. "I didn't plan on telling you I just needed someone"

"Well I am here for you Nate" He said patting my back, "And since you and Ares fell out, I might tell you the good news" He smirked.

Wow was this dude so easy to fool?

"What is it?" I asked him.

He looked around checking if anyone was near, "I also decided to do my own thing" He whispered.

I leaned forward pretending to be interested, "What do you mean?" I frowned.

"I've my own gang now"

That's what I want to hear.

"Why didn't you tell us?" I asked him.

"Ares has gone soft" He scoffed, "He wouldn't like what I do. You, however, may be interested"

Yeah no shit.

"I see" I smirked, "What do you do?"

"Let's just say I've gone to a few auctions. Maybe done my own too"

I kept myself back from punching him.

Disgusting. Utterly disgusting. How could this son of a bitch think I would be interested in selling and buying 'slaves'?

So Rosy was telling the truth after all.

I felt relieved. Like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, but at the same time, I was disgusted and felt sick.

This guy was sick. How could I even pretend to be interested in that? Why did he think I would be interested in that? Did I have such a bad reputation around?

I held back my disgust and smirked.

"Oh I see. So how is it?"

"You can find out for yourself" He suggested.

"I-I don't think I'm ready to start these things again yet"

"I understand completely"

"I have a question though. I've gone to a few auctions and seen the girls there, how do you hold yourself back man?"

Aight, I'm going to puke after I go home.

"Usually it's easy but there was this one girl man, she was the hottest one I've ever seen"

Okay, now it's getting to the good part.

"Did you give her away?"

"Of course not! That bitch ran away afew days ago at that party meeting"

I swear if he calls her bitch again-

"You brought her there? Man you shouldn't have done that"

Actually I was so glad he did it. I wouldn't have been able to save her else.

"Yes, I regret it but I am looking for her and I will find her and she will be in big trouble"

"Do you have a picture? Maybe I'll see her around?"

"Oh sure" He said taking out his phone. He showed me a picture and I didn't know if I wanted to smile because she was telling me the truth or punch him because she looked so sad and tortured in the picture.

Calm down Nate, she's with you now. She's safe.

"Her name is Rosalyn Pierce and she's nineteen"

"Well you definitely hit the jackpot, she looks beautiful"

She was chained up to a chair and was looking straight at the camera. Her sea green eyes were swollen red and filled with tears, she had dirt all over and her clothes were torn.

"She is. Once I find her I will marry her. That's if I don't kill her" He said the last part through gritted teeth. "What about you? Found any girl?"

"Girls for me are just for satisfaction"

Not anymore.

"I guess that's better. When you do that job you can't have loved ones. That's why I don't let myself love that whore"

You're asking for a death wish buddy.

He was trying to play wise with me. I've been doing this 'job' since I was thirteen. I think I know a bit more than a coward using his daddy's money who decided to be a 'gangleader'.

"Totally agree man" I said.

After a while I told him I had to go. We said our goodbyes, he tried to give me another nasty hug which I smoothly dodged and then I left.

I walked out of the bar and took out my phone smirking when I saw it was still recording. I saved it and called Ares immediately.

"Nate come on, three in the morning again? Did you find another girl? What is it this time?" He asked when he picked up.

"I've got big, big news" I said.

"What is it?" He asked "About Balker?"

"Yes"

"Be here in a few minutes" He said and ended the call.

________

"Nate, maybe you should be an actor" Leo commented.

"Shut up, that's not the point" I said crossing my arms.

"Acting would really fit you though" Ares said holding back a laugh.

Is this payback for all the times I made fun of them in serious times?

"No but for real, this is something to be concerned about" Ares said getting serious. "He can't do this, if the mafia finds out about this they will hunt him down and we can't cause such chaos"

"Ares we're in the mafia, the mafia technically knows" Leo commented.

"Yes but if other gangs learn about this there will be consequences. We had agreed that there will be no slavery and whowever is doing those auctions he's talking about is basically against that. Some people may be greedy and take his side and others may be offended"

And that's why Ares is the boss people.

"So what so we do?" Leo asked.

"I'll meet with Balker again. I'll tell him I'm interested" I blurted out.

"No Nate, you can't. It's too dangerous" Ares said.

"There's no other way. I'll tell him I'm interested and find out exactly where his base is"

"We can just have Leo track him down"

"I can't track him down, I don't have enough leads. It will be too hard and it will take too much time" Leo said.

"Nate I don't want you to do this. If something happens-"

"Nothing will happen. I just need to keep him close. We'll put a tracker on me. When he leads me to his base Leo will know where to find me"

"What if you just put a tracker on him?" Ares asked. He was desperate to find another solution.

"I can't risk him finding out"

He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine"