"I asked you a fucking question." His eyes are filled with barely contained fury. "What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Do. To. My. Son." Each word pronounced with lethal enunciation.

"Dad, I'm fi—"

"Shut your mouth. I will deal with you later." I was thinking Torey would quip something back, like his usual smartass self, but he doesn't. He can clearly see the enraged look on his father's face, like he's detonating and a second away from exploding.

"I don't answer to you, Riley." He might want to rethink that answer. But since he won't tell him...

"He slammed his face against the metal bars of my cell and then repeatedly kicked him in the stomach." I chimed in and Krzysztof gave me a penetrating glare as everyone else's eyes slipped to mine.

"How many times did he kick him?" That was from Luke.

I can feel razor sharp eyes on me, wanting to slice me to pieces as I say, "oh, I don't know. It was probably something like twelve times, maybe more. Enough that he spit out blood."

"Bastard," Luke snarls at Krzysztof.

"Let him out of that cage." When he hesitates to do so Denver reiterates, "let him out now or I let Mal do with her," he tilts his head toward Lena, "what she sees fit. Fit for beating the shit out of our son."

"He didn't beat the shit out of me. I could've taken him if he didn't have a gun to my head."

"Torey, I think it's time you close your mouth before he explodes." That came from Luke who's analyzing Denver. "Denver—"

"I swear to Christ if you tell me to calm down I will lose my absolute fucking shit."

A chuckle from Krzysztof has Mal gritting her teeth. "You three are adorable but I will not be setting him free. A bargain is a bargain and if Rhoen wants his son free then he can come free him himself. Apologize to my sister while he's at it too." He goes to light another cigarette, like this is an idle business conversation.

"He stays here then she comes with us and I don't know, I may or may not be in the mood to play with her later." The sly smile mixed with the tone of her voice nearly suggests something sexual, not matching the murderous look in her eye.

"We don't play with those we can devour in a single bite, Mal." Luke's words are fierce but the murder turns to humor in her eyes as Malyssa cocks her head to look back at him.

"But I do so enjoy playing with the things I put in my mouth especially before devouring them, darling." She licks her lips and Luke rolls his eyes. "Don't act like you don't like it too."

"Oh for fuck's sake." Torey cringes and Seth does much of the same.

"Back to the point." She's now looking at Lena, seemingly unfazed by the guns still pointed at her. "Lena dear, do you want to become my play thing? We could play a little target practice." Before I can even register it there's a knife thrown, now sitting in the wall next to Denver's head. Lena lets out a loud scream. "I'm a bit rusty due to such a sedentary lifestyle and all."

"You know how I feel about knives being thrown at me when I have a woman in my arms." Denver clamps a hand down over her still-screaming mouth with a disgruntled face. "If that's how you scream in the bedroom too I don't know how Rhoen put up with you for so long."

The growl that come out of Krzysztof is feral. "Get your hand off of her fucking mouth." He looks menacing as he reaches behind his back and pulls out a gun but before he can aim it Luke flings a blade near his hand.

"I'm bored." The casualness of Luke's voice suggests exactly that. "I have a business meeting to attend to in an hour and I would rather not have to reschedule it. If you don't let Boston go in the next five minutes then I'm afraid," he cocks the gun in his hand and aims it directly at Krzysztof's head, "I'm going to have to put a bullet right between your eyes and just take the keys off of you." The look on his face says he wouldn't even blink and eye at that.

Krzysztof spits a handful of curses under his breath as he assesses the situation around him. He glares at me through thick lashes, looking like he wishes he could strangle me to death to take out his frustrations.

"Let Lena go."

"No dice." Monica's father chimed in. "Boston first then Den lets her go."

"I might let her go." Denver said playfully. "I do love the image of Mal playing with another woman though. So maybe not."

"Behave. We're in the middle of a business transaction." She practically purrs at him and his answering smirk made me feel like I didn't even know my best friend's parents in the least. I knew Luke had a security business but this this is something else entirely.

Assassin. Krzysztof had said Mal was an assassin. What the hell does that make Denver and Luke?

"Stop being a pervert for one fucking second, will you?" Monica's father is getting overly-irritated. "My daughter is going to lose her mind at any given moment. So." He aims his attention back to Krzysztof. "Let. Him. Out." He doesn't move.

"Chop chop." Malyssa says, hand on her firearm once again.

He walks toward my cell, unearthing a set of keys from his pocket. He puts the key in the lock with a sly grin, looking at me as he says, "you were starting to smell like swine anyway." I grit my teeth as he reaches in, grabbing me viciously before shoving me out. I stumble, nearly tripping over myself when Monica's father steadies me.

"I got you, bud." With a tight grasp on my shoulder I feel the words hit a place deeper inside of me.

Why is Monica's father here? Why risk his family for me? Why isn't my own father here?

With an all-knowing glance he adds, "he's with Monica."

And you're here. You're the one getting me out of this situation. But I don't say it as I feel my throat become tight.

"Lena. Now." Krzysztof growls.

"My necklace first." I turn and hold out an expectant, angry hand to him. He shoves a hand in his pocket and pulls out my ring and chain.

"This isn't over." He said the words low enough only for me to hear.

"You making threats?" His back stiffens at Malyssa's words. "Because it'd be really fucking stupid to start making threats."

"None." He holds up his hands, turning way from me in dismissal.

We don't wait for the rest of it to play out before Monica's dad hauls both Torey and I up the stairs. "Wait, what if they need back up?" Torey pauses, looking behind us with worry.

"Kid, you have no idea what those three are capable of. They've been outnumbered by far greater numbers than that, dealt with far worse people than Krzysztof Kramińska."

"What?" His brow furrows. "Like what kinds of people?" And I'm right there with him. I can't imagine there's much worse than that.

"That's their story to tell, Tor, not mine. Take it up with your parents."

"But Seth—"

"It's their story. Now let's get the fuck out of here." He doesn't say another word as he leads us up and out of the home.

✩✩✩

The ride back was a tense one on Torey and my part. His parents were bellowing out in laughter talking about the shit-eating grin Malyssa had given Krzysztof right after whispering something in his ear. Said that he apparently looked petrified. Said she missed seeing that look on people's faces.

The entire time I was just trying to wrap my head around who Torey's parents really were. What they've done to make a crime lord nearly shit his pants. When I looked over to Torey every now and again he looked like he was pondering over much the same.

Once we're at the hotel I can barely keep myself from barreling down the hallway ahead of everyone. I just want to get to Monica. I'd been assured she was all right but I needed to see for myself. Needed to get the image of that needle plunging into her neck, her body naked and exposed, so so vulnerable, out of my head.

When we all get to the room, not just a regular room though, a penthouse suite, does Luke open the door. My father immediately stands up from the couch looking wary and overly intoxicated.

"Boston, I—" I don't let my gaze linger on him for more than five seconds before I ignore whatever shit is coming out of his mouth, whatever apology he's trying to give. I look around for Monica.

Where's my girl...

She comes out of a door from the far back left. "Boston!" She gasps in relief and I'm nearly tripping over my own feet to get to her. She's running toward me and when we meet in the middle of the room I pull her into my arms for a giant hug.

"Baby..." I groan out the words as I take in her scent. Lavender and mint. I want to cry in relief. I'm so glad that she's okay. "I was so..." I shudder at the visual of what I thought they might have done to her; violating her. "So fucking worried. I'm so glad you're okay."

"You're glad I'm okay?" She backs away from me and looks up at me, dark circles ringing her eyes, her tears running over them. "You were the one kidnapped." I shake my head, looking her up and down.

She's really here.

Monica pulls me down, making her intent clear— she wants to kiss me.

"Baby, I haven't showered in... I can't even remember."

"I don't fucking care." She jerks me down and I can't help but chuckle as I meet her eager mouth. My hands run all over her body, missing every single curve, thinking about the last time I was with her and what we'd been doing. The deep groan that comes out of my mouth when she starts touching me the same way is met with a very loud clearing of a throat.

Shit. I forgot we had an audience.

"Boston, I think maybe you should catch a shower. Maybe get something to eat too." Her father's strained voice has us pulling away from each other. She looks around me and glares.

"He's right. I am in desperate need of a shower and could use a decent meal." I'd prefer that meal be her. I kiss the knuckles of her left hand, feeling something cold touch my lips. When I pull away I'm met with a sight that makes tears jerk to my eyes. She's wearing both her ring and wedding band. "You're wearing them?" Her answering smile makes my heart nearly explode, wanting to pound right out of my chest.

This is it. This is how I die.

"I love you." Those three small words are large enough to make my chest swell with pride. Monica was never a whim, she was meant to be mine and I was meant to be hers. For however long that is. "Come on." She grabs ahold of my ringless hand and I made a mental note to make amends for that the minute I scrub every inch of my body down.

We're halfway toward the door Monica had emerged from when a strained deep voice stops us, "Uhm, Monica, I don't—"

"Oh Seth, stop being such a fucking prude. They're married. Not much they probably haven't done to or seen of each other." We both freeze. My breath catches like I can't remember how to properly use my lungs. "Continue you two." We don't. "Seth you were much much worse with Rae, if memory serves correct. Well, if what Den has told me is accurate."

He curses under his breath, or at Malyssa directly, I don't know. Our backs are still to him. "Boston—" I turn to look at him finally because my name was said as a warning. His stare is stone cold. It's screaming you better not fuck my daughter with me in the next room. I nod but internally I can't make that promise. He shakes his head and stalks off, like he'd read the thoughts on my face.

Monica grabs my hand and pulls me toward what I'm gathering is her bedroom without a backward glance. Especially not one toward my father.

A/N:
Happy hump day!
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Got you with that chapter title though, didn't I? Thoughts on what's going to happen next?