It took everything in me not to fling myself at this man. I know that if I do that, Erika will wind up dead before I even get to the man and take my revenge. So instead, teeth bared and eyes raging, I stare the man down, and try to contain my emotions.

It doesn't work well.

I ball and unball my fists saying, "If you so much as scrape her I swear I'll-"

"Ah-ah-ah," the man mocks. "Don't make empty threats you won't be able to carry out."

He grips the handle of his knife tighter and Erika lets out a desperate plea.

"Quiet pipsqueak," the man grumbles.

"What do you want with her?" I mutter, slowly reaching for my dagger. I stop moving my hand towards it when the man sends a threatening glare my way. 

"Aw, you want me to give you a whole speech on what her daddy did to us?" he sneers.

"What her daddy did is not her fault-"

"Yeah well he died before we could get any good revenge."

I swiftly grab my dagger and toss it on the ground all in one movement so the man doesn't react too quickly and kill Erika on the spot.

He looks at the dagger a few feet from me and then glances my way with a confused expression.

"Let the girl go, let the family run for a day, and you can have me," I mutter, still too angry to be scared of pretty much anything. I pledged my life to this family. Time to show I can keep promises.

The man seems to consider this option for a moment. "It's the girl and all her other rowdy siblings I want, why would I want you."

I throw up my hands. "Without me you could've gotten all of them already. Without me they won't get very far."

The man smirks and raises his eyebrows at me. Erika's fast paced, terrified breathing and her streamline of tears is slowly beginning to break me.

"Well, well, princess, you have yourself a d-"

My eyes widen as the man goes limp right before my eyes. Erika squeals and bolts out of the way before he comes toppling down right on top of her. Then, still shaking violently, she runs to her rescuer- It's Cameron. A rock in his hands and an angry look on his face. He drops the rock  and gathers Erika in his arms.

"Ssshhh, sssshhh, it's ok, come on let's get out of here."

My face falls as he runs without looking back.

"Wha- Well, hey, wait!" I call, running to catch up with him.

"What do you want?" Cameron shoots as I come up beside him.

"Well, I- Cameron you were amazing I didn't know you had it in you to just-"

"Yeah, whatever. Look, why are you helping us?"

I open my mouth to reply but am cut off by the sound of Josh's voice.

"Cameron!!! That was epic dude! Is Erika ok?"

"Yeah!" Cameron calls.

We come up to Josh and the rest of the gang who are all smiling despite the chaos.

"Cameron, you and Tim could make a great crime fighting team!" Josh says enthusiastically. 

"Yeah," Cameron scoffs. "Maybe we shouldn't call her Tim though. Amanda suits her nicely!"

"What?" Josh asks confused.

I groan and send a glare Cameron's way.

"Can we not do this now?" I hiss.

"Ok. Sure. Let's wait until I find out you're on the team of people trying to hurt my family," he scoffs.

"I'm not! I was ready to give up my life for Erika, did you not see that?" I whisper desperately.

"'They won't get far without me?' Really?"

I groan again. "Look, I had to get him off your sister, I'll tell all sorts of lies so that-"

"I know you tell all sorts of lies," he snaps. "I'm learning that about you. So why don't you just leave. Cause for your information, I can take care of my family just fine."

"What?" I say in shock.

He glances at all of his siblings who are staring at him like he has five heads.

"You heard me," he mutters.

We just stare at each other for too long until Cameron finally rips his gaze away and starts walking.

"Cameron!" I shout.

He stops but doesn't turn around.

"I know you can protect them. But let me help you."