Hello!!

**WARNING- you may see some violent content in this chapter**

Enjoy.

PS. Again, this is unedited, if you catch a mistake feel free to point it out to me, thank you!

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"So what, Father's a murderer now?" Elijah questioned after I kicked Finn out of my office. It also dawned on me that he never apologized for his behavior earlier. Interesting.

Jasper slowly turned to face Elijah, his expression unimpressed.

Elijah rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean," he snapped, reading the look on our brother's face. "I get the sperm donor doesn't tell us much about what he does but do you honestly think he would kill off his own brother?"

I leaned my elbows on the desk, lacing my fingers together and pressing my lips to my hands, watching my brothers.

"We have no idea what our father is capable of," Jasper responded, pushing off the couch and standing in front of Elijah, exactly at eye level with each other. "For all we know, Uncle Ron said something to piss him off. We all know how short of a fuse this family has."

"His brother Jasper, that would be like me murdering you for funsies," Elijah scoffed at the idea, throwing his hands in the air. Atticus remained silent in his seat. Corinne looked highly amused.

"I wouldn't put it past you if I threatened you in some way, this isn't some fantasy life brother, this is real-"

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled, silencing them both before they gave me a headache. I looked at Jasper, "No, we don't know what our father is capable of," and then glanced at Elijah, "and everyone imagines killing Jasper for fun, he's a pain in the ass, but there are more important things going on and you two need to sit down and listen," I ordered slapping my palm on the desk.

Jasper glared at me and slumped back to his armchair. "Worse things than murder?" Corinne asked curiously, tilting her head slightly.

I stood up, walked around my desk, and leaned my backside against the front of the desk, crossing my ankles. "It correlates with the murder." Atticus sat up straighter. "An open mandate contract has been put out against us."

The room fell silent. Corinne's fingers strayed to the dagger strapped to her hip as if the cool metal hilt calmed her.

Elijah raised one hand in the air. "When you say us, is that a collective us or like you and Father kind of us?"

I squinted at him, my brain trying to comprehend the sentence I don't think he could even understand. "That's collective, all Love family members are on the list. Uncle Ron was the first name crossed off."

Jasper ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, his face for once showing emotion. Fear.

Atticus's head snapped to face me. "Amari?" I nodded my head once.

All of my brothers cursed loudly. Amari was not even an active person in the business, her only worries in life were her clothes and school. As a senior, Atticus managed to split his time between the family business and his studies.

Corinne strolled to the wet bar in the corner of my office next to the mini-fridge and started making herself a drink. "How much is the contract worth?"

Although Corinne was probably one of the most trustworthy people in my life, I wouldn't put it past her to at least consider the amount of cash in question.

"Why?" Jasper demand, his eyes narrowing at her, "Hoping to make a little extra cash?"

A smirk played on the edges of her lips. "Maybe you should choose your words more carefully around me Jasper, I might want to buy a mansion one day."

Elijah shivered and looked back at me. I sighed. "Twenty million each for all of you, fifty for Father and myself."

Elijah jerked backward. "Fifty?"

Jasper pursed his lips. Atticus shifted on his feet. I bit my lip in anticipation of their major freakout. My brothers were more dramatic than me in the worst of times.

"What the fuck, you've been gone for three years and are worth fifty while I've been doing half the heavy lifting and am worth twenty million? Can we not add a zero to mine at least?" Elijah asked, outraged at the bounty on his head.

My whole face scrunched up in confusion. "You want to be worth more money than me?" I asked stupidly.

Elijah shrugged. "Obviously."

Jasper rolled his eyes. "You're an idiot." Elijah flipped him off. "So that's why our parents wanted you home so bad because you were vulnerable."

I pushed off the desk and walked into their space. "Okay, now you know. I don't have any more information on the subject seeing as Father decided to tell me this before throwing me out of the car earlier."

Elijah glanced at Jasper, the two of them having a silent conversation. Corinne stood to my right, drinking a martini, and offered me a sip. "If you could share with the rest of the class, that would be much appreciated," she murmured, distracted in her thoughts.

Jasper bit his bottom lip. "Just thinking about that one amateur assassin from the funeral that we've got in The Courtyard, maybe we can get him to have a conversation with us." Elijah nodded in agreement, his hand rubbing his jaw.

"Then let's go to The Courtyard and get him to talk," I announced.

Atticus opened the door, holding it open for me to walk through first. The others followed quickly behind. "I'll stay with Amari while you are...busy," Atticus explained. He never liked the gritty side of the family business. He was still too young to be desensitized to this life.

"Very well, keep her entertained and ensure that both of you have finished any school work due Monday," I noted, giving him a stern look but my lip curled in a small smile, trying to relieve any tension he felt about this whole situation. "Corinne, watch over them."

Corinne scoffed, her mouth open. "I miss the shootout and now you won't even let me see the interrogation? Do you hate me or something?" She accused, her french accent more prominent the angrier she got.

My tongue ran along the top row of my teeth. "You're sadistic, you know that?" I asked rhetorically. She only raised an eyebrow in defiance. "Fine, get Harvey or Lorenzo to watch over them. Atticus, go fetch the surgeon, we'll need him." Atticus nodded and wandered off towards the infirmary.

Corinne smiled victoriously and swaggered off to find Harvey.

"Might want to watch your little crush there sister, you're easily manipulated around her," Jasper commented as he pushed past, stalking to the front of the manor.

I rubbed my temples slowly, mentally exhausted after less than twenty-four hours of dealing with my family. Elijah dropped an arm around my shoulder and leaned to my ear. "How about we split the twenty million and you get the kill shot?" He teased, gesturing his chin in Jasper's direction.

I chuckled loudly wrapping my arm around Elijah's waist. Jasper held up a vulgar gesture over his head. "I heard that."

Elijah stuck his tongue out as we paraded towards the front steps just outside the manor. The chaos seemed to have calmed. Few staffers walked through the halls now but the one thing that stuck out was the enhanced security. They lined every exit to the house and prowled through the house.

Jasper typed on his phone, his nose practically buried in the device. I nudged Elijah in the ribs. "Who is he texting all the time?" I asked quietly, slowing my pace to further distance us from Jasper.

"No idea, I can't crack his passcode," he replied with a cheeky smile, "Atticus is under the impression that he has specific members under his thumb that are more loyal to him than Father."

My lips thinned, impressed at the idea of my brother gaining loyal members behind our father's back. The sun now shone high in the sky, warming my face. Jasper stood on the gravel driveway, waiting impatiently.

I gripped Elijah by the arm and turned him to face me. "Oh, I forgot to do something," I started, chewing on my bottom lip in fake concern.

Elijah's eyebrows furrowed and he peered over his shoulder into the house thinking I left something inside. "What did you forget?"

"This," I said and smacked the back of his head, hard. I leaned close to his face, holding eye contact. "If you ever let Lauren into my room again, I will draw blood, preferably yours," I promised, my voice low and threatening.

His eyes lit up in amusement. "Tell me you at least took advantage of having a hot willing girl in your bed." He pulled me down the front steps to join Jasper.

Corinne and Finn were both walking along the path quickly from the outdoor infirmary entrance. Corinne looked almost giddy from excitement and Finn scowled like he had more important things to deal with, which he probably did but we needed him around in case things went south with the amateur assassin.

Elijah, unfinished with our conversation pinched my side. "Was she wearing any clothes? She seemed conflicted on naked or not, I suggested naked." He wriggled his eyebrows. Everyone's attention suddenly turned to me.

I threw a fist into his solar plexus, smiling at the groan of pain he made. "You're an idiot." Finn regarded me quietly. "Well," I started, fixing my blazer sleeves, "let's go."

I knew the second my high heel connected with the gravel driveway my foot would want to fold in on itself but I kept my heel from touching the ground, focusing my weight on the front of my feet.

Finn, a little lost, followed cautiously behind us.

"I'm guessing my father had you sign an NDA before you got the job?" I questioned casually. My brothers flanked my sides with Corinne in the front.

Finn nodded his head once. "If you count the ninety pages I had to read through that promised a fate worse than death, then yes, I did."

"Excellent."

The walk to The Courtyard took just over ten minutes. We stuck to trudging along the gravel instead of veering off into the trees, more for the sake of not getting lost than the eerie atmosphere the overgrown vegetation presents.

The Courtyard was a small building in the compound. Two stories high and looked welcoming enough in a light grey that matched the manor but the windows were smaller and square-shaped rather than the long rectangular of the manor. The horrors it held were best forgotten at the door.

My father let us enter The Courtyard building for the first time when each of us turned sixteen, and the traumatic experience will forever be ingrained into the back of my brain.

Two younger members stood outside by the door, unsmiling. My smile felt lackluster as I looked at them, the building already affecting my mood. "Theo, Luca, how is our guest? Comfortable?" I asked mildly, moving to stand in front of Jasper to show authority.

A vicious smile graced Luca's lips. "Sitting in a cloud of pillows," he answered nonchalantly.

"Fantastic." I pulled open the door and glanced at them. "No one disturbs us unless a patient of Dr. Weston's requires immediate assistance."

Both their heads bowed in understanding. To say I wasn't a little bit chuffed by their actions of respect would be a lie. I reveled in it.

The smell hit me first, something stale mixed with the smell of dried blood. I fought the urge to cover my nose. A single peek over my shoulder showed Finn equally unbothered, most likely due to him being a doctor.

Several doors scattered the dark and narrow hallway ahead of us. Our footsteps were the only prominent sound throughout. Around the corner led to another door where I knew our guest sat.

I paused before touching the handle and breathed in a deep breath, my posture straightening and the smile on my face becoming more wild than fun.

The door opened and I strolled through, taking in the room. This spacious room gave the building the nickname of The Courtyard because of the complete glass ceiling that made it feel as though you were outside.

The assassin sat in a metal chair, his arms tied behind his back and his feet cable tied to the legs of the chair. His head bowed down but I knew from the blood dripping off his chin that my members already had their fun with him. A large cut slashed from his shoulder to elbow and half-dried blood trickled down his arm. There was a knife lodged into his thigh on his right leg, left there carelessly but the man didn't seem to want to take it out.

My brothers fanned themselves out, making their way across the room, watching the man's every move. Corinne leaned against the now-closed door. Finn stood next to her, his hands behind his back, and eyed the man silently, taking every small detail in.

My stilettos click-clacked across the floor on my way to the person in the metal chair. I stopped right in front of him, completely unafraid, and bent down until we were eye level. He still kept his head low.

"And what is your name?" I asked casually, softly, like talking to an old friend.

Sweat dripped from his auburn hair. His chest heaved a breath.

I carried on, "My name is Anastasia, but I'm sure you already knew that." He flinched just the slightest amount but I noted it. My smile grew. "So you know me well then," I murmured. "Since I don't know your name, I'll just have to call you what you are to me, nothing," I hissed.

For the first time, the man lifted his head, looking me directly in the eye. Bold of him. And spat in my face.

I didn't flinch or make a single movement that showcased any emotion.

"Fuck you," he bit out, blood dribbling down his chin. "I'm not afraid of some girl."

Without opening my eyes, I stood back to my full height and used the sleeve of my blazer to wipe my face. A third shower was now required, great. I tossed the blazer to the floor like it wasn't worth a few hundred dollars.

I gripped the long strands of the man's hair and yanked his head back so his face stared up at the ceiling.

"You will be."

I released his hair and let his head fall forward but before he could protect his neck I reached out and jabbed him in the throat.

He coughed violently, attempting to suck in a breath but wheezed instead, his throat refusing to let the air flow freely.

"Who ordered the contract?" I asked, circling him. He sucked in a harsh breath. "You're clearly not experienced enough to match up to the good assassin," I leaned my head near his ear from behind, "they tend to get the job done."

He twisted his head to glare at me, remaining silent.

I meandered around him again, making a point to flick the hilt of the knife in his leg which granted me with the sound of his wailing pain. Definitely inexperienced.

"Dr. Weston?" I called out gently. Finn pushed himself off the wall, his long legs moving with purpose until he stood next to me. "Tell me, how long will it take him to bleed out if I take this knife out right now?" My tone remained casual.

A line appeared between his brows as he studied his subject, taking mental note of the position of the knife and the amount of blood around the wound. Finn gripped the man's jeans around the knife and ripped them open to take a closer look, his forearms flexing at the strength behind the action. Huh.

Finn glanced up to my brothers, knowing they would have the answer to his next question. "How long is the blade?"

Elijah pursed his lips. "Six inches."

"Serrated edge?" He asked again. The amateur sat frozen in his seat, listening intently to the doctor before him.

Jasper nodded.

Finn let the ripped denim hang loosely on the man's leg and stood up to his full height and turned to face me, expressionless. "The knife isn't long enough to hit the femoral vein but judging by the amount of blood he's lost, I would say they nicked his femoral artery so if you pull the knife out he has about three minutes until he falls unconscious and five minutes until he's dead."

The amateur shivered, the metal chair rattling against the cemented floor. "Thank you, Dr. Weston," I said, my hand brushing his shoulder. Finn's eyes darted to my hand before meeting my eyes. I quirked an eyebrow in amusement.

Corinne cleared her throat from the door and I snapped my head back to the man. My brothers stood on either side of him.

"There you have it if you don't get medical attention you will die minutes after we pull the knife and I have to be honest with you, is dying ||worth not telling us who set up the contract or who hired you and your little friends to ambush us?" I asked in a condescending tone.

Finn's fingers gripped my elbow and he leaned toward my ear without needing to bend since my stilettos put us at the same height. "I don't know if I can safely remove the knife without him bleeding out, he's lost too much blood," he explained in a soft voice.

I tilted my head to the side, so no one could read my lips and leaned toward Finn. I stared at his lips as I spoke. "If he gives us what we need then I will have him transported to you where you will do whatever you can to save him," he bit his lower lip so I carried on, "there are no expectations though, you do what you can."

His jaw went taut.

"Mr. Nothing," I said, whirling away from Finn and looking back at my guest, "I have laid out my terms if you refuse then one of my brothers will have the joy of pulling out the knife if you waste any more of my time, good day."

With a flick of my wrist, Jasper stalked up to the chair and placed a gloved hand on the back of the chair. Elijah slowly slipped on his black medical gloves and smirked his way over to the chair.

I turned my back on the room and strode toward Corinne. She leaned to the side and watched my brothers carefully. A scream of pain pierced the air which told me that Elijah touched the hilt of the knife.

"WAIT! PLEASE!" The amateur cried out. I froze midstep, keeping my back to them. "I-I'll tell you anything, please. Please," he begged me.

Corinne's eyes darted over my face, calculating my next words before I could say anything. My head angled to the side, not directly looking over my shoulder but showing the side of my face. "Jasper and Elijah will listen and determine whether your information is credible enough, we'll go from there."

I left the room, Finn and Corinne following closely.

"You are sick," Finn hissed from behind me, his fingers brushing my shoulder to grab me.

A scuffle sounded seconds later and by the time I turned to face them, Corinne had Finn pinned to the wall, her knife angled along his throat. I blinked.

"I am a businesswoman, not a charity case. He made his choice to attack and therefore he must suffer the consequences, that's not my fault," I snapped, my jaw shifting at the sudden anger coursing through me at this impression he's created.

"When he dies, that is on my conscience!" Finn argued, unafraid of Corinne holding him back.

"If he dies then that is a burden you and I will both share," I stated, looking directly into his blue eyes. They were darker like a storm brewed in them. "I suggest you attend to your other patients Dr. Weston."

Corinne pressed him into the wall once more as a threat and released him, her eyes tracking his every movement as he marched past me.

The trek back to the manor was quiet. Corinne let me stew in my thoughts, knowing that it took me a while before I felt normal again after dealing with these kinds of situations. As I walked up the steps, the front doors burst open and a brightly colored figure crashed into me, their arms tightening around my shoulders.

"You're back! I only just heard and immediately tried to find you!" The voice cheerily yelled in my ear.

I sighed heavily and loosely wrapped an arm around my sister's back. "Hello, Amari."

She pulled back, her brown eyes bright and happy. "Atti said you were here but he wouldn't let me leave until all my homework was finished. But he said you were at The Courtyard and I knew I just had to come to see you because I missed you so much! Oh my gosh three years and we're back together, look, I'm a teenager now," she twirled around, smiling broadly, "We can hang out more since we probably have similar interests now that I'm practically an adult-what about a movie night? How does that sound-oh you're covered in blood," she finished, staring at my white shirt.

My brain was still trying to process all the words she spoke in less than a minute. The blood comment registered in my mind and I glanced down, seeing blood spots from the amateurs spit take earlier.

I ran my hands over my face, exhaustion gripping at my eyes. "Look Amari," instead of paying attention, she surveyed her own outfit for any blood she might have gotten on her, "It's been a long day, and it's going to take me more than a day to acclimate back to this life." She peered up at me with wide sad eyes and pouted. Kill me now. "Once I've got a handle on things, I will call you first to spend some time together, how does that sound?" I asked dejectedly, regretting my words.

Her pout vanished. "That sounds amazing, I cannot wait, it's going to be so much fun!" She left in a flash, not bothering to say anything else before she disappeared back up to her room.

I glanced at my watch, noting it was barely three in the afternoon, and back at Corinne who offered me a pitying smile. "Feels good to be back, doesn't it?"

"I need a nap."

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Okay, I can understand if you are not the biggest fan of Ana right now, but I needed to officially show you the kind of person she is expected to be when dealing with business.

Other than that, what did we think??

How do we feel about each other the siblings now that we've met them all? Favorite/least favorite? Let me know!

Until next time,

Sammipott xx

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