|| Santa Ana, California ||
It was unseasonably warm for the late autumn night, thought Synyster. Despite the sun having set hours ago he was still sweating, with barely a lick of a breeze to cool him off. He knew his brothers were feeling the same; he could already see Matt’s shirt sticking to his skin in the humid night air. Yet not one of them complained, or so much as huffed at the temperature.

They had more important things to worry about. Like watching the little dive bar and waiting patiently for their prey to come out.

Although they had already been there for hours already, Brian had no intention of saying anything about his discomfort. It was barely a factor, and waiting like this was something he was all too used to now. The anger coursing through his system kept any annoyances to a minimum.

Even so, if they had to wait much longer…

As the thought crossed his mind the front door to the dive bar opened up. Two people stepped out, neither of them the one they sought, giving him a quick view of the bar beyond the door. He could see his quarry inside, and it took all of his willpower to remain in place as the door swung shut again, the couple stumbling off into the night.

“He’s definitely in there,” replied Arin softly. Brian turned away from the door to see his brother and friend joining them in the shadows across the road. Pushing the sweat-slick hair from his eyes, Arin focused his attention on Matt’s back. “But he’s got half his crew in there, too.”

“Makes no difference,” grunted Matt, eyes still locked on the door. Brian shook his head at Arin when he went to say something else, and the younger man shut his mouth quickly. Matt was in charge, it was up to him what happened tonight. And Brian already knew they weren’t going home empty handed.

Not this time.

Nothing more was said as they continued to wait, Brian’s patience wearing thin. But still, he said nothing. Even if Matt hadn’t made it clear how much he needed to do this, Brian would still be here. She had been his family, too, by choice if not by blood. And they would pay for what they did to her.

Twenty minutes later the door opened again, and their prey stepped outside finally. Brian straightened, still keeping to the shadows, the men around starting to shift in preparation. He wasn’t alone, but that meant nothing. Joel Madden stood in the light by the doors, his brother and another member with him. There were seven men standing with Brian; plenty enough to take down all three.

However, as Matt signalled for them to move forward, the door opened again and a petite brunette joined the group. Instantly Matt’s hand went up, telling them all to stop. Brian watched the brunette approach Joel’s brother, watched him sling his arm over her shoulder.

Matt cursed.

“Must be Benji’s wife,” muttered Jimmy beside Brian. The woman didn’t smile, her eyes sweeping the shadows where Brian and his brothers stood before she stepped closer to Benji. Brian resisted the urge to gag when Benji pulled her in with his arm around her neck and pressed his lips to hers. How anyone could kiss that man was beyond him. “What do we do?”

Matt didn’t answer. They watched in silence as the men spoke, seeming to completely ignore the woman now. If what they’d heard was true then her name was Ella.

Ella Madden, wife to Benji Madden. She was attractive, he supposed. However knowing Benji’s reputation, Brian knew her looks were all she would have to offer. Personally, he preferred women with a bit of brains in their head, women he could actually talk to about important shit.

Its probably why he was still single. Most of the women he found attractive were way too smart to end up with someone as dangerous as he was. The ditzy ones were good for a night or two, but for a real relationship, Brian wanted something more. He wanted intelligence, not blind obedience.

He wanted someone to equal him, not sit at his feet looking pretty.

Not that any of that really mattered, and Brian shook his head to clear his thoughts.

For as long as Brian could remember Good Charlotte had hated them. The feeling was mutual. The two gangs had been mortal enemies ever since they first hit the scene. Even before Matt had started Avenged Sevenfold, Brian had hated Joel and Benji for years. He somewhat respected them, admired how quickly they had gained status as a gang… but he hated the members with his entire being.

Even more so now.

His very skin was itching with the want – no, the need – to take them out. To make them pay. Joel raised his hand in his sister-in-law’s direction, and Brian smirked at the black leather glove. He knew for a fact that, despite the glove showing five intact fingers, Joel’s middle finger was missing. Matt had cut if off a couple of years ago, during a massive war with the rival gang. That war had settled for a while, but now…

Now it was back on, and nothing short of the total annihilation of Good Charlotte would end it. Or their own annihilation.

“Damn,” muttered Zack when Joel and Benji headed back inside. The other, who Brian knew to be called Billy Martin, and Ella Madden started for one of the big black cars parked nearby. Which happened to be on their side of the street… “Matt, maybe it’s not gonna happen tonight.”

“Oh it’s happening tonight,” growled Matt in response. Brian’s heart began to thud in his chest when he realised Matt was no longer watching the bar, but the woman. While before now they had been strictly against hurting women or children, as Matt watched the woman climb into the passenger seat Brian couldn’t help but wonder if recent events had changed that. He sincerely hoped not, however, he wouldn’t stop Matt if it had.

He would want his revenge if it had been him. Hell, he still did want revenge. And he would make sure Matt got it, no matter what it took. No matter what lines he had to cross.

No one moved as Billy jogged around to the driver’s side and slid in without so much as a glance in their direction. No one so much as spoke as Matt turned to them, hatred twisting his features into a mask that would be frightening to anyone else. Hell, if Brian was completely honest, that mask even scared him sometimes.

Tonight was one of those times, but he still said nothing. He was hoping he was wrong, that Matt wouldn’t do what he suspected.

“Get the bikes,” he ordered, everyone else moving away instantly. Brian and Jimmy, however, didn’t move a muscle as they listened to the engine startup.

“Matt, what are you thinking?” asked Jimmy carefully as Matt turned to watch the car disappear down the street. Brian shot his brother a warning glance, but Jimmy refused to take his eyes off their boss. Matt didn’t turn back until the car carrying their enemies’ wife disappeared around the corner.

When Matt finally did turn towards them, Brian actually took a step back at the look in his eyes; eyes that were filled with nothing but rage and pain. Time seemed to slow as Brian held his breath, hoping against hope Matt didn’t say what he thought he was about to say.

The rumble of the motorbikes pulling up behind him broke the silence first, and by then Brian knew. Steely determination filled Matt’s eyes as he stared Brian down, and he knew nothing he said would change his mind. All Brian could do now was accept whatever plan he’d come up with and see that it was completed to his satisfaction.

“Bring me the girl,” he said, his tone sending shivers down Brian’s spine. “Kill Martin if you have to, or want to, I don’t care. But bring me the girl alive.”


|| Narella ||
Narella stood quietly as Joel and Benji spoke. She knew better than to interrupt, even though her nausea was growing worse with every passing second. It had been a mistake to come out with them tonight, but again, she knew better than to say anything about it. Benji had wanted her by his side, so by his side she would be.

“…bikes been spotted over by the Metro,” Benji was saying to his brother. Narella tried her best not to eavesdrop, however, she couldn’t hide her shiver at her husband’s words. She knew who those bikes would belong to, and it scared the living daylights out of her. Knowing the bikers wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack them here, Narella still scanned the darkness around them and unconsciously stepped closer to Benji.

A mistake, as within seconds Benji had pulled her in closer and pressed his lips to hers in a brutal kiss. Narella didn’t say a word as he pulled back, refraining from wiping her mouth on her sleeve. Her arms hung limply by her sides.

“They won’t hurt you, babe,” said Benji roughly, smirking down at her. Narella still said nothing as she nodded to show she understood.

“He’s right, Ella,” said Joel, his tone soft compared to Benji’s. She wasn’t fooled, however. “No one else will touch you as long as you belong to my brother.”

The words brought her little comfort. She knew Shadows’ reputation, knew of the others in his club. Narella almost begged for more protection when Joel ordered Billy to take her home, finally. However, she kept her mouth shut, just like she was trained, and followed Billy to the car without a glance back at her husband and brother-in-law. Benji didn’t even say goodbye as he turned and headed back inside, Joel on his heels.

Billy didn’t say a word to her either, but she didn’t expect him too. None of Good Charlotte liked her very much, but they tolerated her out of fear of Benji. A few years ago one of them had accidentally dropped a glass, and she had then stood on the shattered pieces. Benji’s wrath had been terrible, and since then everyone was sure to avoid her like the plaque. Even days after the incident, Benji was caught glaring at anyone who came too close to her.

Narella didn’t mind too much. The dislike was mutual, even if she would never admit that out loud.

Her nausea grew worse with each passing second, but she didn’t voice her discomfort to Billy as he started driving. He would just tell her not to throw up on him or in his car. Like she could control it. With her elbow resting on the windowsill, Narella let her head rest in her right hand as the left came up to rub her stomach.

A rather nasty bump in the road had Narella gasping, her hand flying to her mouth as she glanced at Billy. He watched her with disdain as he quickly pulled over. “Get the hell out of my car if you’re going to throw up,” he snarled at her, pointing at her door. Narella didn’t need to be told twice.

Within seconds she was out, stumbling to the closest plant she could find and bending over it just in time. She knew Billy wouldn’t drive off without her, Benji would kill him if he did. Even so, once her stomach was emptied she wiped her mouth and turned back to the car as quick as she could…

She had barely turned around as the unmistakable rumble of bike engines filled her ears. The world went to hell in seconds; Billy shouting for her, the bikes growing louder, closer. As soon as she realised what was happening, Narella ran. She had barely taken two steps when one of the bikes roared to a stop between her and the car, its rider already reaching for her.

Screaming in terror, Narella barely dodged his grasp, flinging herself backwards as more bikes pulled up. Billy continued to scream her name, yet his voice died as gunshots rang out. Narella screamed again, not daring to look back as she heard multiple sets of feet chase after her. She didn't dare check to see if Billy was still alive.

Heart pounding in her chest, she ran blindly for where she knew an alley was, hoping it was too small for the bikes she could also hear following her. Men she could possibly outrun, but bikes? She didn’t stand a chance.

Narella wasn’t a fool, despite what Joel and Benji thought of her. She knew who those men on the bikes were, just as she knew she was dead if they caught her. Shouts filled the air behind her as she finally reached the alley, sobs bursting from her as she stumbled. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she used the walls to keep herself upright, true fear urging her on, faster, faster.

A crash behind her told her at least one of the men had followed her into the alley, and another scream tore from her lips before she could stop it. Her fingers reached blindly for anything she could push behind her, hoping to slow them enough to give her a chance.

She should have known it was no use. The men were faster, she could hear them gaining on her despite the junk she threw in their path. She judged there to be two from the noises she heard, however she knew in her heart it could be even more. She had seen eight bikes before she had taken off.

Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled once more, somehow managing to keep her feet under her. Her energy started to flag as she took the first corner she came to, hoping to throw off the men behind her. She pushed off the wall quickly, one hand going back to her stomach as her nausea threatened to return.

The end of the alley came into sight as she ran, blurred through her tears. But she knew what it was, could see the lights at the end, hear the noises meaning people were still around. Joel had made her memorize all of these streets, and the alleys, just for this situation. If she could just make it to the street she would be safe. She knew for a fact that a small café just around the corner would still be open, and that the owner would know to call Joel and Benji and not the cops without her having to say a word.

If she could just reach the safety of light…

One of the men stepped out before her less than fifty yards from the end. She’d hoped they hadn’t known about that side alley. Narella cried out in fear as she slammed into him, unable to pull herself up in time. She had almost turned when a hand covered her mouth, strong arms pulling her body back to his chest so she couldn’t escape.

Despite knowing it was no use, Narella tried to fight back. She struggled against the man’s hold even as the others reached them, their panting telling her she had given them a good chase, if nothing else. The man holding her growled menacingly as she struggled, then cried out when she sunk her teeth into his palm. Whoever it was let her go long enough for her to scream.

She hoped someone would hear her. That someone would hear and come and save her. But Narella had never been that lucky.

The man she’d bitten growled again, grabbing her by the back of her shirt as she tried to take off around him. Before she could so much as open her mouth to scream again she was slammed into the wall, her head bouncing off the bricks with a sickening ‘crack’.

She didn’t remember hitting the ground.

Notes

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