There was an odd silence that had fallen over the A7X mansion, holding the place that Izzy called home in its tight claws. The guys had been abnormally scarce for the last week and a half, including Jimmy which Izzy had found strange. Jimmy usually by-passed having to go on jobs just because he wanted to be around Izzy. He would only go with the guys if they really needed him, which seemed to be every day as of late, the way Izzy saw it.

Izzy padded around the house aimlessly, listening to music on her iPod, lost in her own thoughts. She was bored and anxious; no one would tell her why they were absent so often and Izzy had a sinking feeling that the quiet that had befallen the house was the calm before the storm. Eventually, Izzy settled down in the living room, her arms laden with junk food. She popped in a cheesy romantic comedy and munched idly on popcorn.

Around seven that evening, the front door slammed and Izzy scrambled to see who had finally come home. She entered the foyer just in time to see Shadows, Vengeance and Jimmy resting down duffel bags onto the highly polished marble floor.

“What’s that?” asked Izzy, pointing to the red stains on Jimmy’s white t-shirt, dreading the answer.

“Tomato Juice.” Answered Vengeance with a sarcastic roll of his eyes.

“Are you okay?” questioned Izzy, looking between Shadows and Jimmy with worried eyes, taking in the various bruises and cuts that littered their faces.

“Could be better.” shrugged Jimmy, wrapping Izzy into a hug and kissing the top of her head affectionately.

“We can’t always come back unscathed.” Chuckled Shadows bitterly. “Think of them as battle scars.”

“You shouldn’t have battle scars to begin with.” Shot Izzy angrily, her grey eyes flashing as she regarded Shadows coldly.

“Still haven’t forgiven me I see.” Observed Shadows, his voice brittle. He picked up his duffle bag and headed towards his office without a backwards glance.

“Do you want something to eat?” asked Izzy timidly, pulling out of Jimmy’s embrace.

“I would kill for a turkey sandwich.” Muttered Vengeance under his breath.

“If you tell me what you guys have been doing for the last week and a half, I will make you two turkey sandwiches” bargained Izzy, her eyes meeting Vengeance’s.

“That’s not fair.” Snapped Vengeance irritably as Jimmy’s chest rumbled with soft laughter.

“Life isn’t fair Vengeance.” Retorted Izzy sweetly, pulling Jimmy towards the kitchen.
“Sandwiches and answers.” With a small backwards glance, Izzy smiled to herself as

Vengeance trudged behind them, clearly muttering obscenities under his breath.
Izzy avoided Vengeance’s burning gaze as she began to prepare the sandwiches she promised. Shadows walked into the kitchen and headed straight to the refrigerator, pulling out three beers and handing one to Vengeance and another to Jimmy before opening his own.

“Do you want one?” asked Shadows mildly.

“I appreciate your after-thought Shadows, but you know I don’t drink beer.” Sneered Izzy, not taking her eyes off of the bread she was currently buttering.

“Can you make one of those for me too?” Shadows sounded hopeful and Izzy tried her best to suppress her smile.

“This sandwich is a tradeoff.” She stated simply, raising her eyes to meet Shadows’ hazel ones, brandishing the butter-knife in her hand with zeal.

“Tradeoff for what?” questioned Shadows cautiously.

“Information.” answered Izzy with a smile.

“That’s inhumane.” Muttered Shadows dispassionately. “Using you’re superior cooking skills to extort information.”

“It’s called bargaining and putting my skills to good use, not unlike what you do for a living might I add.” pointed out Izzy, slicing some tomatoes.

“Point well-made Miss Blackburn.” Said Shadows dryly as he took a seat next to Jimmy.

“Start talking and you can have a sandwich too.” Said Izzy sweetly to Shadows.

“You play dirty.” Observed Shadows casually, causing Izzy’s cheeks to flush as Vengeance snickered softly into his beer. “But only because I’m starving.”

Five minutes later, Izzy pushed a plate of turkey sandwiches in front of the three hungry men before her. Without hesitation, they each grabbed a half, letting out soft groans of appreciation. Izzy leaned back against the kitchen counter and folded her arms across her chest, an amused half smile on her face.

“The information that you’re father left,” began Shadows after swallowing the second bite of his sandwich, “has proven to be invaluable. We were able to take out Slipknot’s entire cocaine shipment just this morning. That’s well over 3.2 million in street value”

“Holy shit.” Breathed Izzy as Shadows flashed her his dimpled smile, making her knees weaken ever so slightly as his eyes twinkled mischievously.

“We also were able to take out the shipment of guns and ammunition that Skindred has been bringing in.” added Vengeance proudly before taking another large bite of his sandwich.

“Plus, we, mean I,” Jimmy corrected himself instantly “offed that little bitch Alex Varkatzas from Atreyu.”

Vengeance chuckled loudly at Jimmy’s statement. “You’ve been wanting to break his neck for six years Rev.”

“Finally got the chance today didn’t I?” shot Jimmy playfully at Vengeance. “The fucking punk had it coming.”

“Aren’t you going to have to answer for these things you’ve been doing. To what’s his name….Gontier?” asked Izzy with concern as she looked at the three men who sat in front of her with grins on each of their faces.

“Not if no one knew it was us.” Grinned Vengeance. “I took care of any traces of evidence that could point to us. So did Christ. No one would really think it was us.”

“Besides, technically Varkatzas jumped me, so it looks like self-defense.” Stated Jimmy nonchalantly.

Izzy rolled her eyes at all three men before sighing to herself.

“Just don’t get caught.” She said finally.

“We won’t Iz.” Jimmy laughed softly, feeling as if he were a teenager again wreaking havoc in the cafeteria.

“Good.” Muttered Izzy, grabbing a sandwich for herself. “I don’t want to worry about you guys any more than I already do.”

Shadows gave Izzy a curious look, his eyebrows raising as he slowly chewed what was in his mouth.

“You worry about us?” he asked thickly.

“Of course I worry about you. All of you.” Scoffed Izzy.

Vengeance choked slightly and he gulped his beer to ease his pain. His eyes watered as he watched Izzy steadily with confused green eyes.

“You’re my family now, and this is part of the package.” Finished Izzy, pulling the crust off her sandwich.

*****

A few more days had passed and Izzy was bored out of her mind. She had probably watched the majority of the movies in Shadows’ vast collection and daytime television was abhorrently mind numbing. Around midday, the doorbell rang through the house and Izzy curiously made her way out of the living room to see who was at the door. She was greeted by Jason Berry escorting Jacoby Shaddix into the house, the latter man wearing a smug smile as he removed his sunglasses.

“Hey Izzy!” Shaddix flashed Izzy a dazzling smile the moment his eyes landed on her.

“Hey J!” smiled Izzy, stepping into Shaddix’s arms for a hug. “The guys aren’t home.”

“I’m not here to see them. I came to see you.” Chuckled Shaddix, his eyes glinting with mirth.

“Really?” Jason Berry and Izzy spoke simultaneously, earning a mock pained expression from Shaddix.

“Is that so hard to believe?” laughed Shaddix, releasing Izzy from his embrace.

Jason Berry shook his head and retreated down a corridor in the mansion leaving Shaddix and Izzy alone in the foyer.

“I was thinking I would break you out of your prison.” Shaddix said softly to Izzy who smiled at him shyly.

“I don’t know J. Shadows was pretty clear about me not leaving the house.” Izzy shifted her weight from one foot to the next. She was thrilled that Shaddix wanted to take her out of her confines but something was making her second guess his intentions. She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind knowing that Shaddix was someone that Shadows trusted without batting so much as an eyelash.

“Prison breaks are not meant to be so tedious Iz. Stop over thinking it and go throw on some clothes.” Scolded Shaddix playfully, nudging Izzy towards the stairs. “I’m starving anyways. So let’s go for some lunch.”

*****

Izzy felt waves of contentment wash over her as she sat opposite Shaddix in Carlos’, the quaint little restaurant that Gates had taken her to last year. The two of them sat talking and laughing and Izzy was glad to finally be out of the house. She and Shaddix talked about anything that popped into their heads, laughing over terrible jokes and stories from their pasts. Shaddix’s kohl rimmed eyes gleamed every time Izzy looked up at him, his dazzling smile comforting to Izzy’s nerves of having gone against Shadows’ wishes. Izzy sighed in irritation when her cell phone rang and groaned inwardly when she saw Shadows’ name flash across the screen. Shaddix gave Izzy a quizzical smile which Izzy returned weakly.

“Yes?” Izzy snapped, aware that Shaddix was watching her closely.

“Don’t say anything Isabel. Jacoby is not who he say he is. Try your goddamn best to act normal. He’s working for Night.” Shadows’ voice was tight and rigid, laced with outright anger. Izzy felt all the pores on her arms rise unpleasantly. “Go to the bathroom and call me back.”
Izzy tried to keep her features neutral as she placed her phone back onto the table. Internally she was panicking, terrified that she was now alone with a traitor who was working for the one man that desperately wanted her. Forcing a smile onto her face, Izzy’s eyes darted towards the bathroom.

“I need to pee.” She said, her voice a little too high.

Shaddix’s eyes shone with something sinister looking, something that Izzy had not picked up on until now.

“Okay. Who called?” he asked casually, sipping his coffee.

“Just Jimmy. He can’t find his iPod as usual.” Lied Izzy smoothly as she scooted out of the booth they were occupying. “I’ll be right back.”

Izzy tried to keep her composure as she walked to the bathroom, acutely aware of Shaddix’s eyes on her back with each step that she took away from him. Izzy felt as if her knees would give out as she continued to walk away, her heart thumping painfully in her chest. Locking herself securely in the bathroom, Izzy pulled out her cellphone and called Shadows as per his request.

“Where are you?” growled Shadows

“Carlos’” stammered Izzy, her chest constricting painfully.

“Do not leave with him Isabel. Gates and I are on the way. Stall him for as long as you can. Whatever you do, do not leave.” Commanded Shadows.

“Okay. Please, hurry.” Pleaded Izzy, tears prickling her eyes.

“I’m going to be there as soon as I can.” Shadows’ voice turned from menacing to comforting in a split second.

“I didn’t know.” Mourned Izzy, staring at herself in the small mirror in the bathroom.

“Neither did I.” sighed Shadows. “We’re already on our way. Sit tight baby.” Shadows’ soft, almost tender voice rang in Izzy’s ears long after he hung up.

Izzy tried to get a hold of herself before she exited the bathroom. She took careful steps back toward the booth where Shaddix was waiting for her. Her blood thundered in her ears and her hands shook violently as she slid back into the booth, but Izzy tried with everything within her to force some semblance of a smile onto her face.

“Dessert?” asked Shaddix, his eyes raking over Izzy’s features. He licked his lower lip and then flashed her a wicked smile.

“Sure.” Squeaked Izzy, kicking herself mentally for sounding so mousy.

“What’s wrong?” Shaddix waved for a waitress to come over.

“Nothing. I just don’t feel so great.” Muttered Izzy, trying to think fast.

“If you’re not feeling well Iz, I should take you home.” Shaddix’s words were kind but his voice was anything but. Izzy felt her fear spike once again. Sit tight baby. Shadows’ voice echoed in her mind.

“It’s fine. I’ll be okay.” Smiled Izzy, trying to sound cheerful.

“I insist Izzy.” Shaddix threw some money onto the table. “Let me take you home.”

Izzy’s heart sank to her knees as Shaddix quickly got out of the booth and held out his hand for her. Fighting back tears and the trembling in her soul, Izzy meekly accepted his proffered hand, allowing him to pull her out of the booth. She stumbled and found herself closer to Shaddix than she would have liked. His arm went around her waist, pulling her to him, holding her body to his. His eyes burned into hers and Izzy gulped inwardly.

“You alright Iz?” asked Shaddix, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

“Yep. I’m severely uncoordinated.” Stuttered Izzy, pulling away from Shaddix. “It’s a genetic disposition.”

Shaddix laughed and gripped Izzy’s arm harshly. She looked up at him with wide terrified eyes but he simply smiled at her as if nothing was wrong.

“I know Shadows called you.” He hissed through his fake smile. “You will walk outside like nothing is wrong and you will get into my car.”

“J, you’re hurting me.” Izzy winced as Shaddix tightened his hold on her upper arm while simultaneously leading her out of the restaurant.

“You have no idea what I’m capable of.” Shaddix’s voice was lethal as he half dragged Izzy towards his Dodge Charger.

“Please J, stop it. Let me go. You’re scaring me.” Izzy pleaded, her grey eyes filled with tears. She tried valiantly to twist out of Shaddix’s iron grip. He ignored her as he continued to lead her to his car.

He threw Izzy roughly against the Charger, his eyes glinting maliciously as he pressed his body into hers. He gripped her waist tightly as he gave her a sinister smile. “Stop fighting me” he breathed in her ear, causing Izzy’s stomach to knot unpleasantly. “What is it about you that has everyone so riled up?”

Izzy felt Shaddix’s finger’s close around her throat and squeeze gently. He nipped her earlobe playfully, his warm breath tickling Izzy’s skin. She struggled in his grasp, desperately wanting to get away from the man that held her captive, the man that was supposed to be her friend and ally.

“Maybe it’s what daddy dearest left for you hmm?” taunted Shaddix, pressing himself closer to Izzy. She could feel his erection straining against the fabric of his jeans as he ground against her suggestively. “All those documents about A7X’s rivals?”

“I….I…don’t kn..know…wh..what you’re t..talking…ab..about..” stammered Izzy, tears streaming down her face.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about doll.” Whispered Shaddix venomously as he applied more pressure to Izzy’s neck. She gasped and clawed at his fingers, valiantly trying to break his hold.

The sound of a gun being cocked ripped through the warm afternoon air and Shaddix stiffened against Izzy as the cool tip of a gun barrel pressed against the base of his skull. Izzy’s eyes darted behind Shaddix and met a pair of cold blue-grey ones.

“Let the girl go you traitorous scum” Tuck sounded so calm and yet so devastatingly threatening at the same time as he pressed his gun to Shaddix’s head.