Izzy felt herself being hoisted over Gates’ shoulder and carried down the flight of stairs and through the front door of her home. She watched with sad eyes as her mother lay limp on the floor, blood caked and battered. The sight of the havoc that had been wrecked on her home tore at Izzy’s heart. This was the place that held all her memories, the first time riding a bike, finding out that Santa wasn’t real, sneaking out to meet her friends to go to a concert. 23 years of memories in one place. 23 years of memories that had just been shattered. Izzy was thrown unceremoniously into the back of a blacked out panel van and the screech of tires rang out in the still night’s air.

Izzy wept for her mother who had always been kind and nurturing. She wept for her father and the mistakes that he had made. She wept for herself, knowing that her life may soon. Gathering her thoughts, Izzy straightened her shoulders. She lifted her head, her grey eyes meeting Gates' chocolate colored ones. He was looking at her intently. She met his steady gaze, boring holes into him with her eyes. Sighing to herself, Izzy ignored him and her thoughts flashed to all the things that she still wanted to do with her life. She wanted to get a tattoo, she wanted to go to Italy, she wanted to learn how to surf, she wanted to finally learn how to make a decent cake.

The van pulled to a sudden stop, causing Izzy to lurch forward into Gates. Her hands were still bound behind her back, so she was unable to stop herself from flying straight at him. He gave her a surprisingly kind smile and gently pushed her away and back to her original position. She smiled gratefully at him as the door flew open to reveal Vengeance.

“C’mon!” he growled, grabbing for Izzy who automatically flinched away from him. He caught her roughly by the ankle and dragged her towards him. In that frantic moment, Izzy looked to Gates who had offered her that one tiny piece of kindness, only to find him gazing steadfastly at the wall in front of him.

Vengeance pushed Izzy roughly in front of him and she stumbled over her own feet. He caught her just as she was about to fall over. Holding her by the upper arm, he half dragged her to the colossal front doors. Izzy took a chance and surveyed her surroundings. It was late, and there were only a smattering of stars in the sky, the moon barely visible through the clouds. The grounds were huge, sprinkled with massive oak and willow trees. Before her was a mansion clearly fit for a king. There had to be countless rooms in this mighty structure that sat perched innocently in all its grandeur at the top of the pathway. Its faded façade only adding to its beauty.

Pushing through the grand front door, Vengeance led Izzy down a corridor to their left and the finally stopped at a well-polished oak door. Just inside, Izzy could make out an indistinct voices talking, possible on the phone, and she could hear movement. Vengeance knocked thrice on the door and then entered, pulling Izzy behind him.

“Hey Shadz.” Said Vengeance warily, releasing Izzy so that he could flop onto a nearby sofa. Izzy stood awkwardly in the room, hands bound, hair disheveled and wide eyed.

Izzy looked around the great study and her eyes instantly fell onto the man sitting behind a large desk, his fingers making a steeple below his chin. His brilliant hazel eyes looked kind, but when Izzy looked a second longer, saw something more sinister flash behind them, causing her to look away.

From beneath her long lashes, Izzy chanced another look at the man before her. He wore a fitted black tee-shirt and both his arms were covered with tattoos of various colors and designs. He had short closely cut hair and his muscles rippled as he changed his position, leaning backwards into his chair.

“So you must be Isabel.” he smiled warmly at her. “I’ve heard so much about you, all good things.”

“Yeah? I can’t say the same for you.” Spat Izzy.

“I wouldn’t doubt that kitten.” continued the man, reclining leisurely in his chair, his hazel eyes raking every inch of Izzy’s body in a predatory kind of way.

Izzy felt her body stiffen as Vengeance got to his feet, closing the gap between them. He pulled out a switch blade and dragged it along her collarbone, causing Izzy’s breath to hitch in fear. She heard him chuckle as he moved the blade to trace a path down her back. She arched away from the wickedly sharp tip. She felt Vengeance press his lips to her neck as he cut the cable tie, freeing her wrists. Izzy idly rubbed some semblance of feeling back into her hands as she threw Vengeance a stare that would have withered any lesser man.

“Care to tell me why you sent your cronies to beat the crap out of my mother and kidnap me Mister…..?” asked Izzy, working as much venom into her voice as humanly possible.

“Shadows. You may call me Shadows.” Said the man, casting a murderous glare at Vengeance. “Your mother was meant to be unharmed.” He continued, his hazel eyes flashing in anger. “Care to explain Vengeance?”

Vengeance, who had resumed his former position on the couch made no sudden move to explain himself. He scowled darkly at Izzy who ignored him.

“She was being….uncooperative Shadz” said Vengeance dryly. “I did what was necessary to bring you the girl.”

Izzy watched as Shadows got to his feet, stalking over to Vengeance and grabbing him by the front of his shirt. A smug, satisfied grin played across Izzy’s lips as she watched Vengeance’s carefree attitude slip ever so slightly.

“You insolent idiot!” barked Shadows, veins at the side of his neck pulsing. “I gave you a direct order not to hurt anyone.”

“I didn’t cause any grievous bodily harm. She’ll heal…in time” sneered Vengeance, directing his comment at Izzy more than Shadows.

Shadows threw Vengeance back onto the couch and shook his head.

“Get out of my sight you fucking idiot.” snarled Shadows, pointing to the office door.

Vengeance pulled himself gracefully to his feet and flashed a menacing smile at Izzy.

“See you soon doll.” He whispered when he passed her.

“I doubt I would look forward to that.” Shot back Izzy, rolling her eyes at Vengeance’s back.

When the door had snapped shut, Shadows gestured to the one of the seats in front of his desks for Izzy to sit down in. She regarded him cautiously for a moment then took a seat, her legs suddenly feeling weary.

“Let’s discuss why you are here Isabel.” Said Shadows with a businesslike tone.

Isabel looked warily at Shadows. She was scared and confused, half expecting to be dead already. Isabel nodded her head for Shadows to continue.

“Your father spoke very highly of you. He said that you were able to help him turn your family’s business around after you got home from university.” said Shadows, regarding Isabel with his hazel eyes. “I would like you to stay here, and manage some of my businesses for me.”

Izzy’s jaw dropped at Shadow’s words. She had half expected to be sold off or turned into one of their infamous sex slaves, and yet, here she sat, being offered a job by the head of the most notorious gang on the West Coast. Composing herself quickly, Izzy leaned her body forward towards Shadows.

“Let me get this straight. You want me to work for you?” she asked almost incredulously, her light grey eyes searching Shadows’ face.

Shadows sighed softly and got up from his seat, and placed himself on the edge his desk, sitting closer to Izzy.

“Your father, he didn’t betray us, he was framed. He didn’t kill himself either.” Shadows said softly, his revelation startling Izzy.

“What do you mean?” she snapped at Shadows. This man was clearly misinformed. Izzy was the one who had found her father hanging from the rafters of their log cabin that winter when the family went on vacation.

“I know this is a lot to take in after everything you have been through. But your father was a good man. He was the best at what he did.” said Shadows, not answering Izzy’s question, infuriating the young woman even more.

“You didn’t answer my question pal.” Snarled Izzy, folding her arms across her chest.

“Your father, he was killed by someone in the rival gang. Someone who realized his value to us, and in a half assed attempt to thwart out then plans, murdered your father, making it look like he committed suicide.” Shadows leaned towards a now shaking Izzy and reached out to her in an abnormal gesture of kindness. He wanted to comfort the young girl.

Izzy allowed Shadows to place his large hand on her shoulder. She sagged slightly under his touch, the weight of the words he had just spoken crashing down on her. He father was murdered. She had hated him for leaving her, for leaving her mother alone and scared. Most of all, her father was innocent. He didn’t betray anyone.

“So why am I here? Why after all this time you come for me now?” asked Izzy, her grey eyes meeting Shadows’ hazel ones. She searched his eyes desperately for an answer.

“Because, the same men that killed your father have taken a sudden interest in you. Before your father died, he asked me one favor. To take care of you if anything like this should happen.” Said Shadows his voice gentle.

“What about my mother?” asked Izzy, images of her bloody and beaten mother flashing before her eyes.

“Your mother will be taken care of. They are not interested in her. I will arrange for her to go into hiding. We have safe houses all over the country, your mother will be safe.” Stated Shadows, watching Izzy’s reactions to everything he had said thus far.

“So then why did Vengeance beat the crap out of her? Why kidnap me in the middle of the night?” growled Izzy, shaking Shadows’ hand off of her.

“You were being watched. For nearly a month now. The men who killed your father want you.” Said Shadows, matter-of-factly. “We had to make it look like we had kidnapped you to throw them off. One of my men has already taken your mother away as well. They need to know that you belong to us.”

“I don’t belong to anyone.” Snapped Izzy, her temper flaring. Everything that she had been led to believe up until this moment had been a lie. Her mind swarmed with questions, but those questions were not the ones that Shadows would have the answers to.

“You will have everything you need here. I have set up a room for you and I will send one of the girls to get you some clothes in the morning.” Said Shadows dryly, ignoring Izzy’s outburst. “Gates will show you to your room. Its late and I’m sure you’re exhausted. Tomorrow we can continue this discussion if you want.”

Getting up to open the office door Shadows shot Izzy a dismissive look. Izzy quickly got up and forced her feet to move. She felt light headed by the information overload. She had so much to process. Bidding Shadows a soft goodnight, she looked to Gates who smiled warmly at her.

“Let’s get you to your room Isabel.” he said, his smile still hanging from his lips.

He led her down another corridor and up a flight of stairs, then down a short hallway, the silence between them deafening. At the end, he stopped in front of the closed door and smiled sheepishly at her.

“I’m sorry for earlier.” He muttered, not looking at her but rather at his feet. “I really am.”

Izzy said nothing at his apology. She simply stared at him then forced her head to nod slightly. She heard him sigh softly, before turning to leave.

“If you need anything, anything at all, my room is the second to last door on your right” he said pointing down the hallway they had just walked down. His eyes lit up slightly when Izzy gave him a small smile.

Opening the door to her new bedroom, Izzy let out a sigh of relief. She just wanted this nightmare to end. He head buzzed as she barely took in the new room. Flopping down on the king sized bed, Izzy instantly fell asleep as waves of exhaustion crashed over her. Tomorrow, maybe things will start to get easier. Maybe tomorrow she would feel better. Maybe tomorrow she would start to really understand the situation that had befallen her.