"We were children
thrust into war
and once it ends;
what will we become?"

****************

Lilly's POV

Per his request, I steered as far as possible from Chase for the rest of the night. I had to take the news from dad about uncle Ashton, thankfully, he is okay now, and to that, I was beyond relieved. I wanted to go inside and see him myself, thank him for being there for me, apologize for placing his life in danger, and then maybe my heart will calm a bit, maybe I won't feel as guilty as I do now.

The minute I decided to go in to check on him, I saw Chase stepping into the hospital room, joining dad in there. A low breath pushed out of my lungs and I backed away, walking in the opposite direction before I get caught and shouted at again.

I sat down by Max's side, who also was deep in his own thoughts. My stomach made weird noises, asking me to fill it with anything and I groaned, my eyes falling into the vending machine at the corner and I poked Max, "You got money on you?" I asked and his eyebrow raised in return. I rolled my eyes, "I will give it back you asshole," I remarked, playfully slapping his arm, "But when I got kidnapped, I forgot to take my purse," I added, sarcastically and he cracked a smile at my frustration before he pulled his wallet out.

"I got kidnapped too but I do have my wallet," He added and I wanted to both laugh and break into tears at the joke our lives are now, "God, we are living the best life, aren't we?" I asked as I took the credit card from him, "Who else comes on a vacation to Italy and ends up being kidnapped but us," My lips pressed into a thin line and he sighed, "Beats me, I thought I was just going to get laid over here."

I nodded with a sad sigh, "I didn't even get the chance to have a foreign affair," My lips pressed into a thin line, "I am going back to the states empty-handed," I rubbed a hand over my face, "Sally is gonna be so disappointed in me."

Max shot me a glare, pushing at my arm, "Shut up and go eat something," He urged, acting like a mini-dad and I shot him a glare.

A low sigh came from his side before his expression turned serious, "I want to go and see Nathan," His eyebrows pulled closer, the muscles of his jaw working, "Will you come with me?"

I nodded, "Yeah, of course, just give me a second."

I went to the vending machine and gave the snacks a look-over, trying to understand the foreign language but failing. I picked something that looked like wafers and paid up. The box moved forward and before it reached the edge, it stopped. What the hell? I pushed at the machine's glass, "Drop down, you!" I snapped and gave the machine another push but my snack stood there, immobile and mocking me...just my luck, I expect nothing less.

Groaning in frustration, I didn't even have the energy to choose again. I gave up right away, kicked the metal in frustration before I walked back to Max, pushing the card into his face, "Let's go," I mumbled and turned around, heading for the elevator and Max followed suit on my steps.

Dad had already informed me where they're keeping him so it wasn't hard to find and I didn't need to embarrass myself by not knowing the language and asking around. God, I wanna go home so bad, I am so done with being here. It's officially the worst vacation ever.

I paused in my steps when my eyes fell on Natalie, sitting on the chairs right outside the room, arms crossed over her chest and the back of her head pressed against the wall, no tears falling down, but under her eyes and the tip of her nose were so red, a proof of how much she cried.

My heart constricted in my chest as I moved forward and went to her side. I don't know her well enough yet but she seemed like a very kind warm person from our few times together, and I couldn't begin to imagine how it must've felt to see her own son in that state. Her eyes flickered to me, a very beautiful shade that looked so pale now, tired and...hurt.

"Hey, how is he now?" I asked ever so softly, my hand landing over hers.

"The doctor said he will be okay," She mumbled, straightening up in her seat, her eyes flickering from me to Max, who silently stood beside us, "He just didn't wake up yet."

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Are we allowed to see him?" I asked and she nodded, "Yeah, Nikolas is inside," She mumbled, looking down at her lap as she fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, "They allow two people at a time, you can go in, I just...I couldn't stay long when he is in this state."

"He will be just fine, I am sure, It's just a matter of time and he'll get back to himself," I added, trying to soothe her in any way I can, "He looked like a strong little kid."

Her gaze lifted to me, a very small smile lifted her lips, the tears rushing to her eyes again but she held them back as she nodded, "Yeah, he is."

Her eyes flickered to Max and she got up to her feet, inching closer to him as she wiped under her eyes, "And how are you, Max?" She asked, her eyes going over the bruises over his face, the ones I begged him to go and have them checked but he is just so damn stubborn to listen to me. Max nodded his head in return, "I am fine, it's nothing," He said, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, a bit nervous, "I am just...I am sorry I couldn't stop him," He added, something akin to guilt seeping within his words.

Natalie shook her head, "No, it's not your fault, I am the one who's sorry," Her jaw tightened, something about this situation not settling well with her, "You had no fault to be dragged into this, it's not your fight, Max."

That much was true, it wasn't his fight.

I rested my hand over his arm, nodding my head toward the door, "Do you want to go in first?" I asked, already knowing the answer but I had to check. He shook his head, "No, if you want, you go in, I will just check on him later," He said, refusing, and I knew exactly why.

I nodded, excusing myself and leaving the two alone before I opened the door and stepped inside, carefully closing it behind me. My eyes first fell onto Nikolas's tensed back, he was standing by the window, his eyes focused outside on something, his hand clenched tight at his side, and at my footsteps, he turned around, his eyes falling on me.

He still had that weird negative energy surrounding him; that blank look in his eyes, the heavy anger in each breath he took, and the stress that's eating him up alive. All of my frustration against him, all of my previous thoughts about how he is the reason all of this is happening, it all faded away into nothingness as my gaze fell into Nathan. True, I discovered this kid was a part of my family a couple of weeks ago only, but seeing him like this had the tears uncontrollably rushing up to my eyes. We didn't need to share blood for this to affect me; it was a human reaction only.

How could Louis do this? The guy I met and was pretending to be my friend didn't look like he is capable of such cruelty, of such madness. Nathan's face was terribly bruised, worse than Max's. The cuts over his face were all bandaged up, making him look paler, weaker, and even smaller than he actually is.

He is just a kid; I thought, feeling exactly what I felt while staring at Max, who was laying down in that same position, not very long ago, due to the sadistic actions of the same man. I know that only a few years separated us agewise, but watching them thrown into the arms of sickness this way makes them look more vulnerable, more breakable.

With the tears brimming the edge of my eyes, I moved forward, walking toward Nikolas's side and I don't know what was the reason that had me do what I did next. I pushed myself into his embrace, my arms wrapping around his body, so tightly as I let the tears free and cried into his chest. Was it seeing Nathan in this state and thinking of what it made him feel, was it the fear of what's coming? Was it that for some reason I have a soft spot for this man that I let go of all of my anger, or was it that I know how he is hanging on by a thread, teetering right on the edge and I wanted to pull him back...I didn't know which was true and I didn't care, I only tightened my arms around his body.

His body tensed up at my action, he didn't move, he didn't budge. For a second, two, three even and he stood there frozen in his spot, fighting within himself but I didn't give up. My hands curled into a fist, clutching over the back of his jacket, pushing as he pulled.

Then, he broke down. His arms came around me, just as tight, squishing me in his big frightened embrace. The side of my head pressed over his chest, my eyes closed as the tears ran free, tears I didn't know what their source was and at the sound of my low sob, if possible, he only tightened his arms around me, burying his head into my hair.

I sniffled, my gaze blurry as I slowly backed away, facing him. His head was tipped down and when he lightly lifted it up, I saw that tear gliding down his cheek, followed by the next. I saw the devastation in his eyes, I saw everything. My head went up, wiping that tear away as I asked, a plea in my tone, "You need to stop him, please," He needed to be stopped or this time, one of us won't make it alive.

The gravity of the situation pulled Nikolas down and he sat over the couch positioned by the corner, his eyes flickering to Nathan one more time before they went back to me. I crouched down by his side, leveling our eyesight and I rested my hand over his thigh, "Why is he doing all of this?"

He rested his hand over mine, tightly holding into it, needing my touch and the reassurance behind it, "Because I had hurt him," He mumbled, his voice low but hard, with an edge, his eyes focused on my hand, or just avoiding looking at me for some reason, "Because he was raised to hate me," He added, a dangerous vibe in his tone, his jaw tightening with every word, "Because he was taught one thing and one thing only," He added, his thumb gently rubbing over my hand.

"What is it?"

He lifted his eyes to meet mine, "That he is the one who is supposed to sit on the throne."

Does he mean...? If so, who is sitting on the so-called throne now?

"Who is he?" I asked, a bit frustrated, unable to connect him to my family from any side.

"You can think of him as my father's adopted son," He mocked and my eyes grew wide, not expecting that, or maybe not expecting Nikolas to give me clear answers for once, "Why did your father adopt him?"

Nikolas scoffed, "Because he is the son of the only woman Isaac loved."

My eyebrows pulled closer, "And that woman is?" I felt there is more.

"She was Natalie's mother."

Oh, holy hell. This keeps getting more complicated. So, Louis is actually....oh my brain malfunctioned as it tried to draw this messed-up family tree.

Nikolas stared back at me and I just shook my head in absolute bafflement, "I don't know what to say."

He nodded, understanding, his whole being still radiating that same negative energy but he looked one bit relaxed now, as if talking with me is taking his mind off everything unraveling around us, "Will the fact that he is her brother stop you?"

He immediately shook his head, "No," He said, so certain, "But I am scared it might stop her."

I doubt it. The guy stabbed his nephew without even thinking twice about it. He deserves whatever is coming his way. At the end of the day, she won't choose her long-lost evil brother over her very own kid...I think.

"Did your father...did he actually care for him?"

"Does your father care for Max," He answered my question with a question. It felt like he didn't want to say the answer out loud.

"Based on everything I've heard and learned recently, your father looks like the most rotten piece in this game," My eyebrows pulled closer, hating the dead old man. I am sure it's Louis who played with Christian's mind, twisting it into this whole revenge plan, and Louis was only influenced by Isaac himself.

Nikolas shook his head, "No, he isn't," He mumbled, his jaw ticking under the pressure he is forcing into it. My eyebrows pulled closer, "Then, who is?"

It took him a second to reply back, "I am," He answered, so effortlessly, and that look in his eyes, it was so dark, so twisted, hiding a devil behind, a monster ready to rein havoc all over us, "And I will prove it right when I rip him apart."

I gulped down, both wanting that but something about Nikolas's tone scared me, terrified me even and it had me justifying one more thing, "It's true that Christian kind of kidnapped me, but...but he only did it to save me from Louis," I explained, "So, you won't...you won't hurt him again, right?" He already lost a lot, I didn't want him to lose more.

Nikolas shook his head, taking me by surprise again at the amount of sincerity in his voice, "No, I won't."

I nodded, swallowing hard as I got up to my feet and so did he, "I will go see where dad is," I mumbled, my gaze going to a sleeping Nathan, "I will check back on him when he wakes up," I turned to Nikolas, "If...if you need anything," I shrugged, hinting that he could just...talk to me whenever he wants. If possible, my words had his lips twitch, barely noticeable but I saw it. I noticed how it almost broke down that hard exterior and I felt a bit more relieved; he and I, have this soft spot for one another, and I am hoping it's enough for him to not mess up again.

I pulled my lower lip into my teeth, nervously torturing the dry skin, and fidgeted with my fingers, "Uh, look, I might suck at the whole relationship thing but," I mumbled, a piece of small tiny advice, "But I think you should be at Natalie's side now," I added, "I think she needs you." The woman looked seconds away from breaking down.

With that, and without reading too much into that look in his eyes, I walked out and left the room. My eyes fell on Max, sitting by Natalie's side and they seemed to be talking about something. When I paused by their side, Max lifted his head up as I rested my hand over his shoulder, "I will go see what dad is doing," I informed him and he nodded, "I will come down in a bit," He said and I bid goodbye to Natalie before I went down.

The door to uncle Ashton's room was left ajar and I was able to see dad still inside, and so was Chase. Sighing at this situation I am stuck in, I backed away, lost at where to head to next. I searched around before I went to the back exit of the restaurant where a small garden was made for the patients I guess. Liking the view and needing some fresh air within a safe environment, I headed out there and found myself an excluded spot. I sat down over the grass and pulled my knees up, hugging my legs as I stared up at the vast sky, thinking and overthinking some more.

Because you don't deserve it.

Chase's words echoed in my head again and I pressed my eyes shut, kicking the thought away and dismissing it down, trying not to let his words affect me, but how could they not? The day I came back, I'd thought I was prepared for the attack of emotion he would send racing through my senses. I thought five years were enough to completely erase any trace of pain and hurt that was flooding between us.

But the truth is, there is never a time in my life when I'd be prepared for him. I just...I wanted to go back inside and scream a hundred different things in his face; tell him that he cant speak to me like this, he can't belittle me in that way, accuse me of things I wouldn't do, that he can't tell me we will never stand a chance and then be annoyed if I was with someone else...I wanted to cry out one question; why didn't you fight for me? Why didn't you say a thing that day when I broke it all down? Why didn't you try and gain my trust when I was dying every day in your absence? Why, out of everyone, her?

Why is it always her?

It felt too late for any of those questions to be addressed. It felt like the mistake I committed later erased all of what he did...but it didn't. It shouldn't. I did wrong, but he can't deny he led me down that road when he did nothing...literally nothing to erase my insecurities and trust issues back then.

I shook my head, shaking these thoughts away. I wasn't going to go back to him and scream some more. This wasn't about blaming and revenge. This was about forgiveness. About regaining that part of me that had been lost to these two men. It's about moving on.

Speaking of moving on...The sound of grass crunching had me turn around and watch as Christian inched closer and sat down beside me. I shot him a glare, "You are still here?"

He nodded, "I just wanted to check what happened with him first," He answered, addressing uncle Ashton's state. For some reason, interested in that. I will never fully understand Christian.

"Also," He moved his hand, extending the box of wafers I failed to grab from the vending machine earlier, "Can't leave you starving."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Were you watching me?" I shamelessly took the box from him, needing the biscuit to silence down my hunger. He only shrugged in return, "It's creepy, you know," I mumbled while taking my first bite and my stomach cried in agony at the new visitor.

At this pace, I will weigh sixty pounds by the end of the month. If you want to lose weight, here is an advice, get kidnapped more often.

"I still can't believe your uncle let me go," Christian mumbled, ignoring my previous comment about him being creepy.

"I can't either," I mumbled, my mouth full. I swallowed them down and added, "It looked like he...trusted you or something, or like believed you wouldn't do something bad."

Christian's eyebrow raised, "Yeah, he trusted me alright when he placed a hole in my hand," He mumbled in annoyance.

I winced, recalling his state when they had him locked up in that basement. I will never make my peace with the fact that such a side of my father exists. I shook the image away, "They were just really angry, you had kidnapped me."

"Again, I didn't kidnap you," He stressed out for the umpteenth time, "Louis did, I saved you from him, god knows what he was planning to do."

"Still, you hurt Noah," Oh shit, I should tell Noah I am alright, he must be going crazy now.

"I didn't mean to and you know that," He mumbled, "Also, I never liked that friend of yours."

I rolled my eyes, "Here comes Mr. jealous ex-boyfriend," I said in mockery.

The corner of his lips pulled up the slightest and he nudged me with his elbow, "I could be Mr. jealous boyfriend again, you know," He said and I shot him the dirtiest look I could master, "Who told you we are friends and you can joke around with me?"

He shook his head, "First of all, we aren't friends, we never were, we never will be," His eyebrow raised, "Friends don't want to rip their clothes off each other," He said, hinting at something and I wanted to slap him so hard, "I want to rip your face off, does that count?" I grated out in pure anger.

His smug face had me adding, "Also, do you really think that after what you did, I would actually ever think of coming back to you?" I pointed out the obvious.

He sighed, "Yes, Lilly, I did wrong," He said, his expression turning more serious, "I admitted that, I said I am sorry because yes, I used you," He shook his head, "Back then, you meant nothing to me, and each time I looked at you, I only saw him," And just like that, the angry furious look took over his eyes, turning them grey, a silver shade that burned me once before. I don't plan to burn again. Not when he addresses my father with that disgusted tone.

"But let's not pretend that you didn't use me as well," His words were like a slap to the face, bringing up the past that I don't want to remember, "You were so heartbroken, which is why my job was easy, but just like that, you used me to get over him," He added, knowing very well who him is.

"It's not the same," I mumbled.

"And how is that?"

"It's because I trusted you!" I shot out, annoyed. Why is he bringing this up now?

His gaze softened and I just wanted him to drop this already, to stop talking about...us, because there could never be an us anymore.

"Lilly-" He started to say, wanting to justify some more but I stopped him right away, "Also, what do you think would happen, huh," I grated out, my voice raising because I was just so fed up, "What do you expect from this when you hate my father and he hates you," And just me bringing him up brought that look back, "See, just mentioning him gets you all out of sorts, so what do you think would happen, Christian, huh?" My eyebrow raised as I sarcastically remarked, "You think I would leave my family behind and run off to the sunset with you?"

His jaw ticked and he rushed a hand over his face, looking away from me and knowing very well how each word I said was the truth, "I don't know," He mumbled, a bit of helplessness in his tone, "All I know is that I am here now," He looked back at me, his eyebrow raising, "And I don't see Mr. golden boy trying to do anything."

I pushed at his arm, "Don't call him that," I shot out, glaring at him and he just shrugged, "Just saying," He said.

My eyes narrowed at him, "What do you think of this, a competition?" I shot out, he was driving me insane, "This isn't the bachelor for god's sake, I am not going to pick one in the end!" I snapped, and some nurses turned our way, trying to understand why these two strangers looked like they are about to strangle one another.

"At the risk of getting hurt again, I would rather stay alone for the rest of my life," I added, feeling all the tiredness inside come out in waves as I spoke the truth, "I am so done with you, Christian, and I am so done with him, I don't want anyone, I don't want anything!" My frustration seeped out and I didn't care to lower my voice, didn't care for who was listening to us at the moment, "How...how can you expect me to think about damn relationships when everyone, literally everyone around me is in danger!"

"It's not what I meant," He shot back, a bit of anger in his grey gaze as well, "I just don't want to regret not trying to, Lilly, it's because I take nothing in my life for granted, because at one point I had nothing, literally, and I fought hard for everything in my life now, including you," He explained, "Unlike him, and I am not saying it's a bad thing, maybe he is just lucky like that, lucky that he didn't have to fight for anything because it was always delivered to him beforehand," He added, referring to Chase, still putting a comparison that I didn't want to hear, "It's what drove you away the first time, that he didn't fight for you, and it's what will drive you away again."

In the heat of our argument, I didn't even realize how I got up to my feet or how he did. He took a step closer to me, "I can protect you from Louis," He added, "That's why I need you by my side the most, he will come after you now that I went against him," He explained and I shook my head, "They caught him," I said and Christian scoffed, "Not for too long, that if he hadn't already escaped."

Here comes that fear again.

"Maybe your family has an army, Lilly, but they don't know him as well as I do," He added.

I shook my head, "Look Christian, I appreciate your effort, I appreciate your willingness to fight for this, I really do, but my answer is no," I shook my head, "I am sorry but no, never again," With that determination, I walked past him, my shoulder brushing his, putting an end to this or...so I thought.

His hand curled over my arm and pulled me back, pinning me against his chest, "Then, prove it," He mumbled, not backing away, looking down at me like I am a meal he wants to devour later, "Prove that you feel nothing toward me and I will never come near you again."

His insistence had my jaw tightening in utter annoyance, "I feel hate, does that count?"

His lips cracked an amused smile and he shook his head, "You don't hate me," So confident, this smug thing. His hand landed over my lower back, I almost gasped when he used it to pull me closer, "Prove that you are not dying for me to kiss you right now and give everyone around us something to look at," He said, his voice going down as he addressed all the nurses and patients that keep sneaking a look every now and then, amused by these two strangers fighting.

"Let me go," I don't know why my voice came out so low, and a bit scared.

"I am barely holding you, Lilly, you can go if you want," He mumbled, tipping his head down, his lips beside my ear as he whispered, "Prove to me that you don't think about us, about how good it felt to have me buried deep down in you every night and every morning," His words or the way he said them had me pressing my eyes shut, swallowing hard and trying to...think again.

Think, Lilly, you were going to...going to leave or something...

His lips gently pressed on the sensitive spot behind my ear, "Tell me that you don't miss screaming my name as I take you over and over again," My breath caught when his teeth grazed my neck, ever so gently but also not gently, "Tell me that it didn't feel insanely good, more intense than anything you ever felt before," He whispered against my skin, his lips moving down, kissing or...I don't know. I couldn't think or understand.

He had one hand firmly pressed against my lower back, keeping me caged within himself, his other hand moved up my waist, under my hoodie, and over my blouse. All of my muscles tightened, my body reacting and not my brain, my stupid brain decided to take a break now, come on brain, I...need you or something, "You can deny it all you want, Lilly," His hand brushed over my breast, and even with all the layers still, I felt his touch burn me deep down, a low soft gasp parted my lips, my fingers clutching into his arm as his mouth moved from my neck to my jaw, "You can pretend and fight it but it doesn't make it true."

His hand cupped my cheek, tipping my head up so I can look at him as he said, "I missed you so much," The torture in his voice reflected off his gaze as they flickered to my lips, "Say it now, say that you don't want this and I will walk away," He grated out, his voice tight. He was playing me, playing me so well, caging me in, making my body take the decision. He is still the asshole him and turns out, I am still stupid me.

He tipped his head down, ready to press his lips over mine and I wanted to stop him, but my body wasn't responding anymore, but one second before it could happen, "Lilly!"

Was it the voice or the immense anger it was said with that finally had me breaking contact, pushing Christian away and moving backward, frustrated and scared. So scared as my eyes fell on dad, only a few meters away from us, and he...he witnessed what was about to happen or not happen.

Oh god, oh god...

Dad's jaw ticked as his gaze flickered from me and to Christian, who in his turn flipped into a different man, from the one who was trying to play with my hormones one second ago to the one who hates my father with a passion. I immediately moved forward, going to dad's side, my hand landing over his arm, holding him back, scared he might do something now.

Dad took a step forward and I gulped down, "Who do you think you are," He grated out, "Coming to my house and taking my daughter? Did what happen the first time not teach you a fucking lesson?"

The same fury in dad's words and gaze reflected off Christian, who stood his ground, walking forward toward him, "You saw Louis, you know what he was planning," He said, "If I hadn't taken Lilly, she would've been dead now, I know what I am doing."

Dad scoffed, his eyebrow raising in pure mockery, "We don't want any favors from you," Dad's sarcastic tone had Christian firing up, he took a step closer, so close now, "I am not doing you any favors!" He snapped, "You are still and will always be one thing to me, my father's killer," I tightened my hold over dad's arm, hoping a fight won't be initiated now, "And I want so bad to see you suffer through everything Louis is planning to do, but," He shook his head, "She doesn't deserve to go through that, so if I am doing anything, I am doing it for her only."

With that, he turned around and walked inside the hospital. I gulped down, "Dad-" I hesitantly mumbled, already expecting his outburst. He whirled to me, "Lilly, I am already on edge so I will say one thing only and you better listen," He said, so strictly, his eyes wild with his rage and I immediately nodded, cowering away from his anger.

"If you ever, ever think of going back to him," He said, giving me an ultimatum, "Then you'll have no father anymore, you get that?"

My eyes widened, speechless and not expecting him to be this straightforward, "You go back to Christian, consider me dead to you then."

***************

Chase's POV

"Why are you not listening to me?!" I shot out again at his carelessness.

He shot me a glare, "Because I am your father," He said, in a matter of a fact, "You should be the one listening to me," His eyebrow raised, "So, now quit whining and come help me wear this jacket," He said the last part while groaning as he tried to push his arm into the sleeves and failed.

I walked forward and helped him, against my better judgment of course, "Mom was right," I grumbled, "It's your stubborn genes that got us into this mess in the first place," I added as I gently aided him wear it on his injured side.

His lips parted, "What the-"

"I had to inherit them from you, didn't I?"

He shot me a glare as I fixed his collar, buttoning his shirt the right way since he couldn't. He can barely wear up his clothes and he is insisting on going home. I don't know how the doctor even allowed to discharge him so fast, he can't even stand still on two feet without his balance flattering. He is going to drive me crazy!

"Can you calm the hell down," He suggested, placing his hand over my shoulder, squeezing and asking me to face him, "You are practically shaking with rage, what the hell happened?"

It was uncontrollable. That rage that was building up, bursting at my ribs, bristling across my skin. I didn't know where it came from, and I didn't know how will it go, "You got shot, you got hurt because I dragged you with me and you are asking me what happened?" I said, he was only adding more to my immense worry, "And now you are in pain but pretending otherwise and not even accepting to stay here, so of course, I will be shaking with rage!"

He gave me a knowing look, "The doctor said I should just rest and I can easily do that at home, not here, if your mother comes and sees me here, she will go crazy," He explained the main reason, "I need to go home, let her see that I am fine before I tell her what happened."

His hand that was over my shoulder moved around to my neck, pulling me closer to him. He tightened his grip over it, trying to shake me back in, "Now, I just need you to calm down, okay?" His tone turned serious, worried lines etching at his forehead as he stared at me, "You know what happens when you get yourself worked up like this, so Chase, calm down, please, I am just fine."

My jaw tightened as I tried to trap it all inside and nodded my head. I could already feel the burn in my lungs, accumulating there and ripping the oxygen away from me. I couldn't let this happen and I needed to calm the fuck down; it's why I hated not being in control because this is what happens when I don't. My whole career depends on me taking care of my condition and not letting it come in the way.

"I am sorry," I mumbled, my anger wasn't at him, but here I was letting my frustration out in his face.

He smiled and with his grip, pulled me closer into his embrace. I let my eyelids drop down as I hugged him back, trying to ease my way through this and calm down. He is fine. It could've been worse but it isn't. He is okay. I finally breathed out, the pressure leaving my shoulders and I tried to relax down a bit.

We broke the hug after, "You remind me so much of myself," He said, his eyebrow raising, not liking the thought very much, "My short-tempered boy, if you don't get a grip over it, it will ruin you." I know that very well.

"Now, how about you help your old man outside," He said, joking around and I didn't find humor in anything about this situation. I placed my arm around his back, allowing him to lean into me as we left the room.

"I know what got you so worked up like this," He commented as we headed outside. I turned my head to him as he added, "So, I will just say one thing," He said, his eyes on me, "If you want something, Chase, you need to go after it, or else one day when it's too late, you will regret not trying."

His piece of advice held so many hidden meanings, ones that reflected how he knew very well what he is talking about. At this moment, I tried not to overthink them, I pushed them somewhere into my brain, and focused on him and this moment only.

We reached the parking lot and Alex was already there, Lilly beside him and so was Max, "Look at him, he is dying and he wants to go home," Alex commented, pointing and rolling his eyes at dad.

Dad shot him a glare, "Don't be dramatic," He said, before patting his pockets, "I think I forgot my phone in the room," He said, looking at me and I nodded, "I will go get it," I said before I pushed the keys into Alex's hands, ushering them to sit in the car before I walked back inside.

I got the phone and right when I was about to step out of the hospital, my eyes fell on Christian as he came to a stop beside me, the look in his eyes asking me to pause for a second so he can talk, "Uh, despite that I don't like you and all but I am glad your father is okay," He said, sincerely and I just nodded my head, a bit appreciative for the fact that he was the one who led my way here to the hospital, it almost had my anger toward him subduing down.

"Also, a small piece of advice," he added, his eyebrows pulling closer, "That blondie back at home, your...girlfriend I guess," He shook his head, "Don't trust her."

What the-

"She was the only one outside when I got there, and the second I asked for her help, she went in and got me Lilly, without a second thought," He explained, throwing me off guard with the new information, "It's true I told her I am helping but for all she could know, I might've been lying, I could've been one of Louis's men even, so, she can't be trusted," His eyebrow raised, "Just saying, I don't think she should be kept around, especially when shit hits the fan later."

The shock mixed with the anger and it fisted my heart, I struggled to move after. Grasping at the fringes of control, I gave him a nod, my jaw breaking under all the force I am pushing at it. I moved, walking back outside in a haze, my brain still trying to process the few words he threw at my face.

Alex had already taken the driver's seat and dad was on his other side. I didn't think or speak as I opened the back door and went in. I didn't overthink the fact that she was sitting right beside me, my arm brushing hers as the car took off. I pressed my elbow over the door beside me, my fingers going through my hair, wanting to rip it off under the impact of all that is unraveling around me.

Hesitantly, my head turned to my left, looking at her. Sensing my gaze, she lifted her eyes up, meeting my lost gaze with her fearful one. Her throat bobbed heavily, as if scared I am going to lash out at her again, stupidly blame her for something that was out of her control.

Air pushed in and out of my lungs, heavy and strained, this day masterfully eluding me of any ounce of sense or logic left in me. My mind going back down that memory lane, picking up moments where I fucked this up, where I fucked my own life up.

If you want something, you need to go after it. I did the exact opposite of that. I let her go, so easily, without much of a fight even. I was so wrapped up in my new life out there, busy building a career that I really just...I just let her be. Alone. I knew she was heartbroken, and I thought by steering away, I am doing her a favor. Instead, I pushed her into his arms.

I wanted to be angry, so angry at her for being the one to cut me loose but I couldn't. It still hurts, till this day I remember how much did it hurt but I'd be wise to remember, I was the catalyst, the one who set everything in motion.

We were young, naive, immature, and if only...if only.

Lost in the thoughts, sinking into that sea of past memories, I turned my head and looked outside the window, sorting through the chaos tumbling in my chest and stealing my ability to breathe. Maybe it was a long drive back home, but for me, it felt like seconds. Alex went down and helped dad get in. Max left the car too and Lilly was about to step outside but...something pulled her back in.

She said no words. She spoke nothing. She just sat there, observing my state.

I didn't move yet, my fist tight over my thigh. Breathe in, breathe out...we've done this before, it's been years but let's do it again. Breathe...just fucking breathe, come on. You don't need the inhaler, it's all in your fucking head, just breathe.

Lilly moved beside me, going through something and I didn't know what she was doing till I felt her hand over my cheek, gently turning it around before I felt the cold tip of the inhaler over my lips. The burn at my lungs only intensified and my hand went over hers, placing it as I inhaled the medicine my lungs were aching for.

"Are you okay?" Her voice came so low and I nodded my head, my chest calming down, and the tightness fading away, my eyes falling on the car's glovebox that is now opened. I couldn't wrap my mind over how she understood what was happening or how she even knew my inhaler was there. When did I even place it there?

She met my gaze with her worried one before she got back to herself, "Sorry," She mumbled lowly and moved her hand away, doing exactly what I asked her to do, which is stay away from me as she left the car.

I shook myself back in and followed them. We got inside, and it was so chaotic after. Lilly and Max assured their mother that they're okay. Noah went to Lilly's side, checking on her and Conner came to my side, asking me about what happened.

"Where is Katherine?" Dad asked Cara and she told him that mom is upstairs, putting Maria to sleep.

"Okay, wish me luck," Dad said beside me, preparing himself and the nervousness behind his words had me crack a smile. He gave me a wink, "If you don't hear from me after, it's probably because your mother killed me," He said, part joking, part serious and I shook my head as he headed up there.

The only thing that took my attention away from him as I was making sure he is able to walk up there was Aylin's voice when she said something to Lilly. I shouldn't be satisfied with what happened next but I was...especially when Lilly turned toward her, her glare murderous and without a second thought, she lifted her hand, her fist smashing into Aylin's face and pushing her backward.

"Lilly!" Cara shot out, shocked at her daughter's behavior.

I was close to them so I heard what Lilly hissed at her, "I won't tell them what you did, because if they knew, my family won't let you leave here in one piece."

"I am so happy right now," Conner mumbled from beside me.

Without muttering any other word, Lilly turned around and walked away, leaving a stunned Aylin behind. She clutched into her cheek, where a red mark was starting to form, a bit of blood coming out from the corner of her mouth and her teary eyes met mine.

Everyone warned me, asked me not to trust her, that something was always off about her but I still tried, I saw the best in her. Maybe I wasn't able to love her as I should, but at least, I trusted her, I defended her, I believed that there were lines she wouldn't cross. She promised me that, she promised no more lies or tricks when she told me the truth about...that night.

The anger came rushing in like it never left, it pushed me toward her, my hand circling over her arm and pulling her away from here. I stopped when we reached the kitchen, just her and me and I let her go, the burn I felt where our skins touched mocked me, taunted me, threw in my face yet another mistake I did.

"Chase-" She started to say, her voice weak but I wasn't going to fall for that anymore.

My eyebrow raised, "No, no, you don't get to talk now," I shook my head, my blank tone a total contradiction to my inside, "I am not in the mood to hear another twisted excuse you have for this," I added, "I am just...I am trying to understand," My eyebrows pulled closer, "I am trying to comprehend what was going through your mind when you did that-"

"He said he was going to help," She mumbled, interrupting me, and I marched forward, wanting her to shut up before I snap, "And you believed him?" I shot out, "A random guy sneaks behind security and asks for your help to kidnap someone and you just fucking believe him?!"

"Tell me the damn truth, Aylin, say it, show me that what everyone was warning me about was true."

She shook her head, tears flowing down her cheek, "I didn't mean to-"

"Didn't mean what, Aylin, didn't mean what?" My voice bellowed into the room and I am sure they could hear me outside, "What if something actually happened?" I asked, my eyebrow raising, "What if something happened to her because of this?" I asked, "What if she got hurt? Would you be able to live with yourself knowing you are the reason behind it?"

She shook her head, "I...No, I wouldn't, I already regretted it the second it happened, I swear, maybe it was a moment of...weakness or something, I...I don't know," Her cries enveloped her words and she placed her hands over her face, crying into them.

"Why are you here, Aylin?" I asked, losing all of my energy. Tired of this situation, tired of her, of Lilly, of everyone, of everything, "We broke up for god's sake, why did you follow me here?"

She sniffled, wiping at her cheeks and I added, "You knew she was here too and you wanted to come and prove what, do what, exactly?" I questioned, wanting one clear answer but she gave me nothing, "Then, the opportunity to get rid of Lilly presented itself and you took it without thinking twice about it, right?"

"Why, just why all of this?"

"Because I love you," She said, "And she will never...never love you as much as I do."

"This is not love, Aylin, it's not," I shook my head, "It's...I don't know what it is," I grated out, my jaw tightening, "It's an obsession, a disease, all I know is that...this isn't love."

My words, or the fact that I directly said them to her face, had her expression twisting. Her eyes red with her previous tears but no more came, "You don't know that," She said, shaking her head, "How would you, you didn't love me, you just used me," She said, turning the tables around.

"I didn't use you," I grated out. I tried to make it work, I tried to build a relationship with her but I couldn't control my feelings, I couldn't force myself to love her. I tried and it didn't work. The second I realized it would never work, I ended it.

She nodded, "You did, and I knew you did and I let you because I was that desperate to show you how much I loved you, thinking maybe...maybe you would finally see me," She shrugged, so helpless, "But you didn't, even when you picked me, you did it only because it would hurt her, even our relationship, the one thing that was supposed to be ours, you managed to make it about her."

She shook her head, wiping at her red cheeks, "You know what, you want the truth," Her eyebrow raised, "The truth is that I hate her, god, I hate her so much!" Her words sounded so true with the intensity she said them with, "Even back when we were friends, I just hated her."

"Aylin, stop-" I warned her, I knew where she was going to take this.

"She is such a spoiled brat, never satisfied with what she has when she literally has everything," She added, "Everyone wanted princess Lilly, and princess Lilly could do no wrong and even if she did, she was forgiven right away, for god's sake she went and kissed your cousin and still, you went back to her like it's nothing," Her voice raised, "She had you wrapped around her finger since the first day and she never looked your side, not until she felt like she could lose you that she wanted you, because that's what she is, so selfish and spoiled, wanting only what she can't have."

"Aylin!" I grated out wanting her to shut up, she was pushing me right into the edge.

"I hate her, and to be honest, I wish she got hurt, I am not evil but I do wish she dies because only then you will understand...only then you will see how much happier you could be in a life that doesn't include her!"

"Shut up!" I snapped, her words let go of my sanity and I moved forward, scared from me, she moved backward till I pinned her between me and the wall.

She still didn't back out, she stared up at me, "It hurts, doesn't it?" She spoke, "To hear the truth out loud."

My fingers curled over her chin, forcing her head up, "You are insane," I said, unable to make sense of how all this hatred was inside of her from the start. Her jaw tightened under my touch, her stare unwavering, "If you call what I have for you an obsession," Her eyebrow raised, mocking me back, "Then what do you call what you have for her?"

"You will stay the fuck away from her," I warned, my teeth clenching, containing myself back from lashing out and doing something utterly irrational, "If I see you come near her, you have no idea what I will do to you," I added, "You've seen my good side, Aylin, and believe me you are not prepared for my bad one," My fingers let go of her face, "I would ruin you, you get that?"

She immediately moved away, building distance between us as I shot out, "Get out of here, now!"

***************

Lilly's POV

I wanted to take a shower and wash up the day's events but I was too exhausted. Too tired to even move. Noah didn't leave my side since I got back, asking me about everything that happened and apologizing till I kicked him out of the room.

I needed a moment alone, to just rest and digest everything that happened in a span of hours.

I don't know how much time passed since I got up here, an hour, or maybe two. A lot of noises came from downstairs, the house crowded with everyone's presence. One car arriving, and another leaving. It was too chaotic, I need one more minute of peace before I go down and check what's happening.

My gaze flickered to the window, watching the weather outside take a full hundred-eighty. It looked like a storm was brewing in the distance, announcing the beginning of fall.

I groaned in pain when I moved my aching muscles, dangling my legs off the bed and getting myself ready to get up when I heard a knock, a low barely-audible knock.

My feet hit the ground and I moved forward, expecting it to be mom or dad. My fingers curled over the knob, opening the door for my eyes to fall on no one but Chase himself standing there. I blinked, swallowing hard, a bit flustered at his sudden presence. Doesn't knocking on my door defy the whole stay away from me order he gave me?

His eyes met mine and I felt out of words, his eyes still held that edge, the raw fury wrapping over the blue, darkening them to an even prettier shade. I cleared my throat and decided to stand my ground this time, he shouted at me and I allowed him because he was hurt, but I am human too and I have a limit to what I can handle, "If you are here to shout at me some more, can we do it some other time because I am so tired-" I mumbled.

"Lilly, I am-"

"You know what, I still can't believe how you'd think so low of me," It was boiling inside of me and I just had to let it out, "I could be the worst person for what I did to you but you'd really think I'd run away with Christian when my own brother is missing!"

"Lilly, liste-"

"Or wait," My eyebrow raised and I added in frustration, "Is this about...you know if you are here because I punched your girlfriend, then I am not sorry, she totally deserved it! I am not gonna tell you why but she totally did, also, if she comes near me again, I will do worse and-"

A sharp breath wheezed from my lungs when all I felt after were his lips slamming over mine, shutting me up as his arms came around my body. His mouth collided with mine with a feverish force, his hands frenzied as he possessively sank them into my hair. He kissed me and mumbled, "You don't know how to shut up, do you..." as we both gasped for air.

He pulled back, too fast for me to grasp what happened, my hair threaded in his fingers as he splayed them wide. Stunned, I stared back at him, my heart beating in my throat, my exhale was shaky as I asked, "What are you doing?"

He shook his head, the anguish twisting his expression, "I don't know," He mumbled so helplessly and I wanted nothing more than to grasp his face between my hands and tell him that it will be okay; Whatever it is, it will be okay.

"Chase," I mumbled, shakily, so scared of this moment and to what it could lead...

He rested his forehead over mine, his chest heaving with each breath he took, fighting a war inside and I helped him make the right decision, "You need to go back to your room," I mumbled before all of my irrationality comes tumbling out.

"I've been fighting myself not to come here for the past hour," He admitted before he hoisted me up in one swift movement. His hand was on my ass as he lifted me up in his strong embrace, and instinctively my legs wrapped around him. He kicked the door with his feet, closing it and my back was suddenly nailed to it, I gasped as his body covered mine.

All the breath left my lungs.

"You will tell me it's a mistake," I managed to say, recalling our last kiss as I held into his shoulders for balance.

"Isn't it?" He mumbled, his gaze on my mouth before it flickered to my eyes.

I nodded, gulping down. Chase took my face in his hand, pulled back to search my eyes. The frenzy coursing through my veins reflected into the untamed look in his eyes, "Then, will you do this mistake with me?"

Flames burned underneath his touch, stoked the emotions I'd eternally hold for him and I found myself stupidly nodding my head again.

Lightning struck and at the same instant thunder crashed right outside the house. A sudden torrent of violent rain pelted the window, as if warning us.

I shivered, a rush of chills blanketing my skin as his mouth sought mine again, both of us committing the worst of mistakes.

****************

Nathan's POV (Louis's POV)
<I feel like I should always write both names to clear any confusion xD>

I leaned back into my chair, opening my laptop and plugging the USB in. I launched it and went through the files, picking up the one I wanted and needed at this moment.

Something to clear my mind and get my head back into the game.

I sucked the toxins out of the cigarette in my mouth, reveling into the ecstatic feeling it sent tumbling through my already tired lungs. The video started and I pushed the remainder of the cigarette into the counter beside me, focusing all of my attention on him only.

I paused the video for a few seconds, a smile lifted up my lips, my fingers brushing over the screen.

Air pushed out of my lungs and I fast-forwarded the video, going to the part I want. I already have all of it memorized by heart.

"I told you this before, but I will say it again," His voice came out of the screen, his eyes on me, almost as if he is right here, talking to me himself, "Nikolas's biggest weakness is-"

"Himself," I said the word along with him.

"The thing he is scared of the most is - himself," He added, "The monster that lives inside of him; He loves that monster as much as he hates him, and even if he denies it, he knows that monster will always be the better version of him."

I nodded, understanding that very well as I listened to him tell me some more, wanting to hear his voice, the one I get only from these videos, "Whatever good is found in him, it fights, it will fight, but one push or two will have the monster leaving his den, ready to rake havoc over everyone, without a care of who might get hurt in the way."

One push or two...no, no, I need more. I need to witness his darkest most sadistic side. I will bring him back, by all means, the monster will be revived for me to get everything I want.

Isaac moved closer, his eyes on the camera, looking at me, "So, tell me little wolf," A smile pulled at his lips, a smile he would give me only, "Do you want to punish those who wronged you?"

I returned his smile as he added, "Do you want to claim what was supposed to be yours from the start?"

I will, even if it's the last thing I'll have to do before I die. It will be this.

The sound of the door opening had me pausing the video, my jaw ticking as I lowered the laptop's screen down and placed it away, already knowing who just arrived. I felt his footsteps behind me and I pulled my knife out of my pocket, casually tracing my fingers over the blade, "You fucked up," I said.

He stayed silent, "I told you to get Lilly, didn't I?" I grated out, trying to control my anger or I will end up killing him, "You see, someone was supposed to die today, and your little fuck-up ruined everything."

"It's your dear friend Christian who ruined it all," He grumbled out, "If he hadn't interfered, everything would've gone according to the plan."

My jaw ticked. Fucking Christian, he will pay for this. I gave him everything and now he is turning his back on me and for who? For her. He will learn his lesson when I rip out her heart right in front of him. He just made it personal.

I got up and turned around, facing him, "I need you to get your head back into the game," I ordered and he nodded his head, "You can't mess up again, you get that, Noah?"

END OF PART TWO

****************************************

This book is too long, longer than I anticipated, so it was wise to divide it into three parts;

- part one: the introduction.
- part two: the climax.
-and now part three: the conclusion. (See, we are almost there xD)

I hope you are liking this book so far and not regretting getting yourself into this chaotic mess xD

I know there is a lot going on, but this is what happens when the book is the end to a five-books series. Lots of characters, and all are important and have their own side-plots that I can't ignore.

Anyways, what do you think of this chapter? A couple of important things happened ;)?
Chase and Lilly?
And NOAH being the mole? ;)

Leave your opinion! <3

I will update Unraveling Him next and then back to here!

Love y'all!