I drove through the city in flashes of rage and worry. I didn't have time to think about AJ. But where was I going? All I knew was that the hideout was somewhere on the outskirts. But where? I didn't know. I drove the car to a side and cut off the engine. Jesse! I thought. And then reached for my bag.

"Lily, I'm in the middle of something. Call you back later," he said. He sounded at ease. Too at ease.

"Lily? Jesse, where are you?" I asked.

"What? You want me to start calling you sis now? You're not married yet. Hold your horses." He muttered amused.

Something was up.

"Okay Jesse, guess I'll just see you in the morning." I said trying to not sound worried.

"Yeah, see ya then, also tell Jake I love him will you? It's his birthday tomorrow. We used to go to the old Sycamore trees together for his birthdays. Tell him I love him." He said.

"Sure Jesse. See you later." I said and put down the phone knowing exactly what I needed to do next."

I put my hands on the wheel and steered through.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

JESSE'S POV:

"Yup bye," I said hoping Delilah got the message.

"What was that all about? Do you think I'm stupid?" Sneered the man infront of me with a gun to John's head.

"Look man, I don't know if I'll make it out of this alive. I can atleast wish my big bro a birthday can't I?" I retaliated.

"Oh of course you can." He said and threw an already injured John to the ground.

"Woah woah nah man we had a deal. I keep y'all out of the lime light. And you let John go." I said trying to stay cool.

"And I'll keep my fair end of it, Jesse boy." He said turning in John's direction. "Don't you worry."

I was handcuffed to a pole. We were at an empty warehouse by the outskirts of LA. I had been completely sure this is where Willow must have been. But it was all a trap. And I felt worse now because of what had happened to John.

"Look hey we can figure this out. Who are you? What do you want man? Money? I have money just leave John alone!" I yelled panicking.

He turned and faced me again.

"I am part of the Russian gang y'all deal so often with punk. And no I don't want your filthy taker money. I want the girl. Delilah. And you, you're not going to get her," He spat.

Apparently 'someone' had warned them about our secret rescue operation. And Willow/Delilah was shifted to another destination this morning. When John and I arrived here. This place was completely deserted. After a thorough check for Willow, on our way back. I'd heard John screech out in pain. This man had attacked him out of the blue. And then shot him in the arm. John was conscious. But barely. I needed to get him out of hear. And quick.

"You're lying, I know everyone in it. And I've never come across you."

"Well that must only mean I'm new. Or that you've just never gotten the chance to personally meet me." He said with a freakish smirk.

"New?! They're not a bloody superstore that they take in new employees!? They're a gang! A mafia gang!" I screamed.

"Well yes. And I'm quite proud of them if I can say so myself." He said and I caught a glimpse of a scar under the mask he was wearing.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked again.

"Take a guess Jesse boy. Yelena would be so disappointed in you right now."

His face was covered, half covered. Only his mouth visible. And a scar was poking out from under his covered eyes. He was tall. Taller than me, and had broad shoulders. His voice was sharp and cold. And he wore black all over.

"If you're so bold and alpha, then show me your face, you ass." I said knowing I had no other chance.

He smirked again and lifted his mask. His hair was a yucky blonde. And it fell in straight strands till his ears. His eyes were a shivering black. But his scar, his scar told me exactly who he was. From old pictures hanging everywhere in Yelena's room. Or one new one in Katina's wallet. The man she'd feared the most. She said she wanted to have it with her when she left so she could burn it when she landed back home.

"Sergei?" I said knowing I was in deep deep shit.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Back to Delilah's POV:

There was only one Sycamore tree I knew of, Jake and Lily wanted to get married under it. They must be there right now, scouting the place or whatever. Gosh weren't they lost in their own wonderland!

I drove the car like a maniac through the streets. Jesse must be in trouble, but what did that mean? Was Willow in trouble too? Was John with them? Did he even find Willow?

At last I reached the familiar open ground where the glorious sycamore tree stood. It was truly a beautiful place. Away from the city's madness and crowds. With little white and red flowers growing everywhere and a field of rolling greens.

Lily and Jake were standing by one end of the tree. They had a camera stand with them. Lily wore a yellow sundress and Jake was in a white shirt and blue pants. I ran towards them.

"Jake! Lily!" I screamed as I approached them.

They turned to look at me. Both had faces of confusion and worry when they saw me.

"Delilah? What's wrong? Are you okay?" Asked Lily as she came over to hold my shoulders.

"No I'm not! I'm not okay at all!" I said desperately.
"I need your help."

We sat in the car and I told both of them everything. From Yelena and the Russians, to AJ, to Katina and Willow, to Jesse and John disappearing. It was a lot to take in. And by the end of it, they both were white and speechless.

"Say something!" I begged.

"I need to find Jesse. What exactly did he tell you when he called you?" Asked Jake shaking out of his reverie.

"He asked me to wish you a happy birthday and to tell you he loves you. He also said that you visit this place when it's your birthday." I said remembering.

"Birthday? Right!" He said, his eyes brightening.

"What?" Lily asked she had finally collected herself too.

"Birthday is a code word. Well that and love you. He hardly says that to me. He installed this software on our phones. So I can track him whenever." Jake said fidgeting with his phone.

"But won't they find it on him?" I asked.

"No they shouldn't be able too. It's hidden."

Lily just looked at me with sorry eyes. I knew she wanted to talk to me about AJ. But she knew better.

"Found it!" He said raising his voice amongst the silence.

"What!? Where?" I said leaning in.

"It's 20 minutes from here. John's injured. It's Sergei. He's behind it." Jake read out from his phone.

"Shit! But babe? How do you know all this?" Lily asked.

"Chatroom. Jesse must have known I'd first try to track him. We need to go John must be seriously hurt." Jake said tense.

"I have some guns in the car, we can arm ourselves. Call G?" She asked and Jake nodded.

He looked at me then just as I was going to retaliate.

"Lilah, we don't know whether G is the bad guy or not. But he'll always come for the crew. We'll not call Ghost. We'll call G. We need him, we can't do this alone." He said with a serious expression.

I nodded in agreement. My heart was pounding with thoughts of AJ, no one was talking about him.

"Okay, let's go." I said turning back to start the car again.

"Oh no, no one said anything about an 'us'" said Jake putting a hand on my shoulder.

"What?!" I asked.

"You have something else to take care of. Something only you can do Lilah," he said looking at me with an expression I didn't quite like.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Jesse's POV:

Sergei had left hours ago and now Igor and Dima were standing guard infront of me. John was still on the ground his eyes fluttering now and then. He was barely moving and his arm was bleeding.

All I hoped was that Jake received the message and was on his way. There was still no sign of Willow. I'd taken a guess to where she must be and had hoped that Jake had gotten it too.

Now all I could do was wait and pray that John doesn't bleed to death.

"Why are you doing this? Y'all know me man." I asked the two men.

"Sorry Jesse, orders are orders. You know how Sergei is." Said Dima

"Fuck orders, we're in deep shit as it is. We captured the wrong chic! And Sergei found out. Dima you should be counting your blessings that you're not dead yet rotting in a dump somewhere." Said Igor with spite.

Dima just stayed quiet. And I felt my heart skip a beat when I realised Delilah was in danger.

"Why does he want Delilah in the first place?" I asked carefully.

"Wouldn't you like to know?", Igor said at the same time Dima said, "Orders."

"You pathetic idiot," Igor cursed at the other man.

Dima sneered back at him.

"Orders? From who?" I asked hoping they'll answer.

Dima was going to say something when Igor stopped him.

"Look Igor. I've covered up for you before. He let Katina go man. She was like a sister, she deserved freedom. I'm going to help him the best I can. Just stay the hell out of it." Dima roared.

His Russian accent thickening.

"Tvoya smert' zhelayet ne moye," Igor said calmly and walked out of sight.
(Your death is not mine)

Dima sighed and turned to me.

"Someone wants your friend. They want her because of something that happened in the past. And as leverage. That is all I can say Jesse. But she is in danger if she goes anywhere near Sergei. He won't hold back, not even with a woman." He finished.

I nodded slowly hoping that Delilah was safe.

"SHIT! Ublyudok! DIMA, POMOGI!" Screamed Igor from somewhere outside.
(Shit! Bastard! Dima, help!)

But it was too late, Jake and G came running in with guns and pointed them straight at Dima. G went to John on the floor. He looked tired and worried. I hadn't seen him in days. Only had heard his spurious voice messages. But here he was helping his crew.

"It's over Dima." Jake said and moved towards him.

"No wait!" I yelled.

Jake looked at me worried. And so did Dima confused.

"Let him be Jake, just....just tie him up or something." I asked my brother.

Dima looked suprised.

"B-But?" Jake was going to go on when John groaned in pain and G hissed.

"We've got to get him to a hospital, he's lost too much blood! Hurry up!" G said and carried John lamely out if the warehouse.

Jake pursed his lips and complied.

Dima was handcuffed to where I was before and his mouth was tapped shut much to my dismay.
He however looked at peace and nodded towards me before I left with Jake to the cars.

Lily was standing over an unconscious Igor, his head was bleeding.

"You killed him?!" I asked her in shock.

"No way, he's just knocked out. He'll be fine." She answered coolly.

We were all in the car now, crammed. Jake was driving Lily beside him. And G and I were in the back with a bloody John.

"Will he be okay?" I asked G.

"He'll live." G answered back with a slight smile. Damn, did I miss G. Somehow with him around I felt safe. Even though I knew he could very well be with Ghost on whatever he was doing.

"Where are Delilah and AJ?" G asked before I could.

"Delilah is on her way to get Willow. She's the only one who can get her, she's good enough to handle Yelena. So I'm not worried." Jake said, Lily looked concerned.

My breath hitched, the minute I realised that Lilah was off on a suicide mission. All alone.

"Shit!" I said out loud.

"What?" G and Jake asked at the same time.

"Sergei has gone to get Willow too. And he knows about Delilah. That they got the wrong girl. She's in trouble!" I said panicking.

Lily cursed and Jake looked terrified.

G was the only one who was calm.

"Let's get John to the hospital, I know someone who can help him. Then Jake and I will go to get Delilah." G said without a rise in his voice.

"IT WILL BE TOO LATE BY THEN!" I yelled.

"Believe me it will be alright." G said with a twinkle in his eye.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Delilah's POV:

I had arrived outside the old building Jake told me to go too. And I was very nervous.

It was dark outside, I was alone and poor Willow was inside, waiting for me.

Yelena. I can take Yelena, I thought to myself. Not the best day to wear a t-shirt dress though. I immediately thought of AJ. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself. We were a team. I would have been completely fearless if he was here right now. We were supposed to be Bonnie and Clyde. We ended up as Anna and Hans.

I still loved him, I guess that doesn't go away so easily.

I took a deep breath and grabbed my knife, stepping out of the car. I didn't realise it but I left my phone inside, my phone which must have been brightening up with panicked messages from Jesse.

The building was grey and eerie. That's all I could make out in the dark. I peeped around the ground floor and saw a room with yellow lights. I tip-toed towards it and narrowed my eyes when I saw that it was slightly open. Peering into it through the glass windows instead I saw Willow tied up with her mouth muffled by a white cloth, her hair was damp and drooping. Her eyes full of fear and slightly shut. Her clothes torn a bit, but her face was set with a strong expression. I felt so terrible to put her through this.

I forgot all about Yelena and AJ or keeping a cover. I just blasted into the room and rushed towards my friend.

Willow was shocked to see me. And looked more scared than anything else.
I pulled off the cloth and freed her from her bindings. I wrapped her with my jacket and hugged her.

"I'm so so sorry Willi. I love you so." I almost cried into her shoulder.

She pulled me back and looked at me with wide eyes.

"Get out of here! Now!" She said and grabbed my hand. "Gosh I thought AJ was going to come for me! That ass sent you!?"

But before she could leave for the door with me or I could ask her anything. A shadow came over the entrance blocking it.

Yelena. I thought.

"Shit." Willow cursed.

"You can leave now deary, I only need your friend over there." Said a voice I'd never heard before.

"Never! If she stays so will I! You can go piss off!" Willow barked at him.

I was so confused.

"Oh but you see, I don't need you. I have a little date with Delilah over here. A private date," said the man. "And you will leave or I will make you."

"I-" Willow was going to say.

"Go," I said simply.

"What? No, Delilah you don't know who this is! Sergei will kill you!" She cried.

So this was Sergei. The Russian leader. The big scary wolf. Call me stupid or suicidal. But somehow I was not scared.

"Good girl," he said and moved out of the shadows. He was Yelena's brother alright. He had the same face structure and black poison eyes. But his hair was a dirty blonde and his face had a grim scar across it. He was tall and broad. And his expression made me nauseous.

"No Delilah!"

"Willow get out! Take my keys and drive the hell out of here!" I ordered her.
She looked weak, tired and angry, her eyes had tears. But she knew I was right.

She hugged me and whispered in my ear before leaving, "hold on he's—"

But Sergei pushed her out before she could finish her sentence.
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