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As soon as I'm out of bed, I know what I need to do to start my day.

When I walk through the small kitchen towards the dining room, Andy doesn't even look up to see that it's me. I'm also surprised that he isn't furious that I am out of my room.

"I want to speak to my dad," my voice is unusually stern and I almost lean against the kitchen counter, exhausted from talking to him already.

Andy doesn't look up from whatever he is doing. Paperwork, by the looks of it. What kind of paperwork did a gang leader do? Did they select new clients to sell drugs to?

I highly doubt that. I'm sure they'd sell to anyone who asks.

"Why exactly, Elena?"

I don't miss the smirk that graces his lips as he uses my full name. He continues to read the papers in front of him, scrawling words across the pages occasionally in his messy handwriting.

"I haven't spoken to him in a long time," I say, before lowering my voice to a whisper. "And you asked me to right before you fucking beat me."

Andy raises his eyebrows, finally look up at me. I don't miss the questionable look he sends my way.

"Alright," he speaks, gruffly. He places down his pen, standing up.

I almost smile, but I don't want him to work out what I'm about to tell my dad. I don't know how I was going to do it with Andy standing in the room, either. I just know that somehow, I need to tell him about The Razor's inevitable attack.

"But," Andy says, walking towards me. "There are a few conditions."

"You must tell your father that if I don't receive my money soon," he steps so close to me that I can feel his breath on my cheek. I can't even move back, trapped against the kitchen counter.

"I will happily dispose of your body somewhere he will never find you."

His threat sends a shiver down my spine and I internally curse at myself when he smirks. He knows how much he scared me and he loves it.

The sick bastard.

He steps back, striding towards the table he was sitting at before. He picks up his papers, shuffling them between his hands before picking them up.

"I'm much too busy at the moment, Elena, but I will get Hunter to watch you," his wicked smile is the last thing I see as he leaves the room, slamming the front door behind him.

I don't have long to prepare myself before his bright blue eyes and touselled blonde hair is standing right in front of me. He clears his throat as I look up to meet his eyes. I try to stand as far into the counter as I can. His presence scars me, but not in the same way that Andy's does.

I don't like how weird I feel around him.

The silence that fills the kitchen makes me want to walk out quickly. We haven't spoken since my fight with him in the barn.

"Dad said you needed to make a phone call. To your father," Hunter says, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," I mumble.

His eyes trace my face, lingering on my cheeks and then my neck. I know he's looking at the bruises that are still scattered against my skin.

He brushes a hand over his face, breaking eye contact once again. His head is focused on the wall to his right when he speaks again.

"Alright. Give me his number so I can dial it for you," he says.

I quietly repeat the numbers as Hunter dials them. He passes me the phone, our hands brushing together lightly. I quickly snatch it away, feeling the electric pulse from his fingertips.

On the third ring, a voice answers.

"Hello?"

It isn't dad, it's Noah. Tears instantly spring to my eyes.

"Noah," I croak, turning away from Hunter. "It's me. It's Ellie."

I hear a rustling on the other end. I imagine Noah suddenly becoming alert, standing up.

"Oh my god, El," he says, hoarse. "Ellie."

"I—" I lower my voice so it's harder for Hunter to hear. "I miss you," I sniff, barely holding back a sob.

"God damn it! Fuck this, I'm coming to get you now, I don't—"

"You can't," I quiver. "Dad won't let you, Noah. And The Razors could hurt you if you come now."

"El, I'm not going to let you—"

"You know exactly what will happen if you do that. It's not a good idea, it's not safe. I'm okay, honestly," I lie.

"No, you're not, I can hear it in your voice. I don't even want to think about what they're physically doing to you," he growls.

I hear him picking up his car keys and I know that if I don't convince him soon, he'll be over here, stuck with me, locked away in a room.

"Noah, stop. You're not thinking rationally. Where's dad? Put him on the phone, please."

"El," he snaps, then sighs, "Ellie, I'm not leaving you there any—"

"This isn't why I've called. Noah—"

"You shouldn't even be there in the first place! Dad is being—"

"I know, Noah," I snap, unintentionally. "Please, I just need to speak with dad."

He sighs and a long silence follows. I know how hard this must be for him, wanting to help me but also wanting to be loyal to The Skulls.

"God, alright. I can't believe I'm doing this, I can't believe I'm just leaving you there," he whispers.

"This isn't your fault. You know you can't come and get me. It isn't up to you."

He sighs, and I hear the sadness in his voice. "I love you, Ellie. I'll see you soon, I promise."

"Love you, too, N."

The sound of rustling fills the line and I distantly hear Noah shout for dad.

"El?" Dad sounds genuially surprised, like he expected me to be dead by now or something.

I'm still angry at him for leaving me here, and I make this evident in my tone. "Yep, it's me. Your one and only daughter."

"Are you alright? Has something happened?"

"What do you think?" I laugh, angrily. It's strange to think that moments ago I'd been crying on the phone with Noah. Now all I feel is an intense rage that boils from deep inside my core.

"I need to tell you something, alright?"

"What is it?"

"It's The Razors," I say, panicking. I hear Hunter behind me, stepping closer. I need to tell him everything, fast.

"They're planning to attack in a matter of weeks or days. I don't know how long you have, but you need to know before they come so that you can prepare. I need to—"

Suddenly the phone is ripped from my hand and I look up to see Hunter staring down at me, angrily. He presses a button to end the call and throws the phone across the counter. I flinch at the impact it makes on the bench.

He leans his arms against either side of the sink, leaning over. "Are you completely insane?" he whispers, trying to control his anger.

"I wasn't just going to let it happen," I snap, wrapping my arms around myself.

Hunter turns to face me and I suddenly see how angry he really is. He points a finger at me, jabbing the air. "How the hell did you even hear about that?"

My mouth opens and closes several times like a fish out of water.

There is so many things that I'm keeping from Hunter. So many things that he will never be able to know.

He angrily brushes a hand over his face, before raking his hands through his hair. "God, Ellie, do you realise how stupid that was?"

"If Andy was in here, he would have hurt you," his voice croaks. He clears it, stepping back.

He walks away from me, turning around so that I'm facing his muscular back. "I'm going to—I'm going to have to tell him," he says, sternly.

I gasp, quietly. "You can't be serious right now."

"He's my father and I'm a Razor," he says. I don't miss the apology written in his tone, but it isn't enough.

"No way, Hunter. You wouldn't do that to me," I say, tears springing to my eyes.

He will always choose his father.

"You wouldn't do that...would you?" I whisper.

He flinches at my uncertainess, probably realising that I've completely and utterly lost all trust that I had begun to built up for him.

"I don't have a choice."

"Everyone has a choice, Hunter! You're eighteen! This is one of those moments in your life where you decide between right and wrong. So please, please don't choose wrong."

This is the second time that Hunter has left me feeling empty. I don't like the numbness that is brought with it.

"If you do this, Hunter," I say, sternly, walking up to grab hold of his arm. I spin him around so he's looking at me. I want him to see my expression, and I also want to see his.

"If you do this, I will never forgive you."

He looks down at me for a moment, his torturous expression almost bringing me to my knees. He quickly looks away and at first, I think I see a shiny, wetness in his eyes.

With his eyes still closed, his next words quietly break my heart, shattering it into tiny little pieces.

"I can't turn my back on family."

It's strange; realising the slight difference between Hunter and Ridge. Ridge had been able to confess the truth, despite what it would cost him if I told anyone what he'd said. Yet, Hunter can't even find it in him to keep one small secret for me. And between the both of them, it's him who I want to be different. For my own stupid reasons.

I let go of his arm, walking backwards slowly.

I don't even know how I end up back in my room, but I find myself laying down on my mattress curling into a ball, facing the wall.
I hear the door to my room shut faintly behind me, clicking as it locks.

No more tears come and I realise for the first time in my life, I've never felt more emotionally exhausted. I never thought that being kidnapped would be so fucking heartbreaking.

I'm so very wrong. Wrong about more than one thing.