"You took that easily." Jason commented. I smiled, "It's just alcohol." He got himself a beer then lead me toward wherever him and everyone else hangs out. We went up the VIP stairs and he went to where Matthew, Garrett, and a few others were hanging out. "Good to see you again Nikki." Matthew beamed. My heart clenched at the nickname, "Don't call my Nikki." "Why?" He asked. "Its a cliched and over used nickname." I replied.
"I didn't think you two were a thing." Garrett said out of the blue. "We're not. He thought it would be best to get to know more people now that I'm apart of the gang. Instead of just meeting them when I have to patch them up. Besides I'm not much into relationships." I replied easily. "So what are you into?" A girl with silky fire red hair asked with a sly smirk. "Quiet nights at home with my cat." I replied. She pouted, "You're no fun. I'm Cassidy by the way." "I'm Nicole." I introduced. "So you're going to be a crazy cat lady?" Matthew asked. I rolled my eyes, "No." "Are you one of those girls who want 'wait for the right one'?" Another guy with snake bites asked. "No. I've just never had anyone peek my interest." I explained. "Anyways when did this become about my sex life?" I asked. "More like non-existent sex life." Cassidy commented. I rolled my eyes and sipped my coke.
As the night drew on I got real acquainted with them. They were like a family, picking on each other and joking. It was nice to have that. Growing up in the orphanage we were quick to out do the other to get adopted. Sure I had Emily, who is a sister to me, but it was just us. This was different and I enjoyed it.
Cassidy and I decided to leave the men behind to dance till we couldn't. Soon we were surrounded by Brimstone members. One of them recognized. "You're a hard lady to find." He smirked. "This is Laughing Coffin territory, leave and you won't have any trouble." Cassidy threatened.
He held his hands up, "We just have a message for the doctor." He then slowly pulled a picture of Emily out of his jacket all tied up and bloodied. I froze for a second then snapped. I grabbed him by his shirt, "Where is she?" I seethed. "I'd be careful. One wrong move and she'll die." He tisked. Reluctantly I let him go. "It's simple, you join us and she goes free. We'll give you time to think of it." Then they left, leaving me her picture.
A firm hand touched my shoulder, but I ignored it. I then quickly turned to Matthew, "Who was watching her apartment? If they got her then whoever it was is either injured or dead." "It was Isaiah and Hillary." Garrett said and he told me what car they drove. "Jason I need you to take me to my apartment so I can grab a few things." I told him and then we left.
I went into my apartment and tradded my bralette and stilletos for a black tank top and my black Converse. I traded my red leather jacket for my black zip up jacket. I then looked to my nightstand and sighed. I opened the top drawer and saw my black 9mm pistol with two extra clips. I got it to protect myself, but I never was able to bring myself to carry it but I refuse to lose someone else I care about. I made sure the safety was on before tucking it into my waistband and tucking the clips in my pockets. I then grabbed my emergency med bag. I put my hair in a pony tail then met Jason in the living room.
"You ok?" He asked. I scoffed, "You tell me." As I headed out the door he grabbed my forearm. "Don't do something you'll regret." He warned. "Right now the only thing I regret is saving your life. If I just let Garrett shoot me, she would be eating tubs of ice cream as she mourned my death. But no she's now hanging by a thread." I snapped while turning to face him. "She means that much to you." He stated calmly. I answered even though it wasn't a question, "She's like my sister, always there for me. My parents were killed when I was seven and I was thrown into an orphanage. She stayed by my side through thick and thin. I refuse to lose her too. I'm telling you now, I will not just stand on the side lines while everyone else is risking their lives. I'd rather die trying, rather than live a coward." "Why not just join take them up on their offer?" He asked. "Because I wasn't born yesterday. They won't let her go, they'd keep her and use her as leverage to get me to do what they want. I wouldn't have any freedom and that's no way I want to live." I replied. He nodded after a minute, "I promise we're going to get her back."
I nodded and we left to go check out her place. As Jason drove we talked with Matthew thru the Bluetooth on the radio, "Isaiah and Hillary had abandoned their posts to hook up." He admitted. "They claimed they thought she'd be fine since she wasn't one of ours." Jason gripped the wheel till his knuckles were white, then he looked to me, "Your call." "I want to check out her place first. They can wait on us." I said emotionlessly.
"Have them sit tight till we get there." Jason said then hung up. "What are you hopping to find?" He asked. "Evidence of any kind of whoever attacked her." I replied. He nodded, "I'll have my uncle run whatever we find."
When we got to her place Matthew, Garrett, Cassidy, and the two I assumed were Isaiah and Hillary were waiting outside of Emily's apartment. Jason waited outside while I took an hour to comb through the mess from the struggle she caused. Photos were broken, her little figurines she loved were shattered on the floor, and in the midst of the mess I wasn't able to find DNA, but I found her phone. I picked it up and saw she had started a video recording and I watched as they took her. I didn't recognize any of the men who took her but there was four of them. I wiped away the tears that fell then composed myself.
I stepped out of her apartment. "Four minutes and thirty seven seconds. That's how long it took for them to grab her. During those four minutes and thirty seven seconds you two were too busy enjoying yourselves all because you didn't think she mattered." I said while handing Jason her phone. I then turned to them. "Who the fuck are you?" Isaiah spat. "Watch your tongue." Garrett snapped. "My name is Nicole and I'm the doctor. The woman who lives here is my family. Even though she isn't a member that doesn't make her any less important because she was someone in danger. We are in war with the Brimstone gang or did you forget that? They will stoop as low as they have to, to win. They're being smart and attacking the person who has the ability to save your live. Instead of killing me, they want to use my closest friend as leverage to get me to do what they want. I'm telling you now, if she dies, I can guarantee you won't be far behind her." I threatened. "Ha, you have no authority." Hillary scoffed. "Actually she does, and I second the notion." Jason declared stepping forward. "She's a newbie to the gang. She can't instantly have power." Isaiah snapped. "But you see she can, and she did. She is an important asset to us, who could, at one point, hold your life in her hands. My father will hear about this, and you will regret it." Jason said.
Soon we all left. Now the only thing I could do was wait until we learned what our next step was.
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