"PUT THE GUN DOWN."

My head jolted towards the front door of the house, staring in shock as Andrew Colt dashed right through it.

He said nothing else, just looked into my eyes and then back at Larissa. Now was my moment to react.

In her moment of distraction with Colt, I took it as the perfect advantage and didn't waste another second to do the move I was intentionally going for with her. With one hand I grabbed the nozzle, the other harshly pushing her arm away from the grip.

The gun was in my grip and turned to her now. Larissa was surrounded.

Andrew drew in closer with his gun also pointing back at her. I'd feel threatened by him.. But something about his actions made me sure it wasn't me he was after when he barged through that door. Something told me that as of right now, we were on the same team.

She raised her arms in surrender, staring back at Andrew and I who each held our weapons to her.

Andrew didn't waste a second.

"You were about to get rid of a very important puzzle piece, Larissa." His dark eyes glanced back at me before harshly looking back at her.

"You again.." She pinned her eyes at Colt. "Shouldn't you be out racing a car or something?"

Andrew sighed, calmly replying to her question. "Could be.. But I've got something more important going on.."

"You and everyone else, Kid." She scoffed.

Larissa immediately shut up as soon as she heard Andrew set his gun again. The tip pointing right at her forehead as he held it out with one arm.

"Andrew.." I warned. My look said it all. No one was dying today.

"Elizabeth." He replied sarcastically.

I found myself rolling my eyes back at him. "You touch her.." I gulped down, moving my arms to now point the gun in his direction. "I'll shoot."

Andrew suddenly stood up straight. Head slowly turning to me while his gun still pointed at Larissa.

I forced myself not to shake. Never have I ever pointed a gun at someone before—None the less—My newly found half-brother.

"Well, well, well.." His lips curved into a smirk. "If it isn't my little sister breaking out of her shell." He chuckled. "I appreciate the heroine act your putting here, but I think I can handle things from here."

"I'm serious, Colt." I spoke again, this time making sure my voice projecting loud enough for him to hear just how serious I was. "Don't touch her."

Colt pulled away from Larissa, now walking up to me to stand tall and stiff. My breath hitches with every move he made.

"Is that the way you thank me for saving your life?" He emphasized, eyes skimming every feature of my face.

I chose to ignore his imitating stares. Looking straight into his eyes, I responded.

"Killing her won't make your earn anything. She's scared. Hurt..." I paused, looking back at Larissa now kneeling on the ground with her eyes closed, hands still up in surrender. "Alone."

There was a small moment of silence and I found my eyes going back to meet Andrew's. The look of blood was still vivid in his killer smile.

"Good." He smiled. "Then she won't be missed."

Not wasting another second, Andrew's hand turned back towards Larissa, pulling the trigger.

The loud shot made me jolt, but only that. I held a hand over to my mouth to stop myself from releasing a scream.

My friend on the other hand, shouted from the top of her lungs. I for one, was too shocked to even move.

My eyes went wide. Every single strand of hair in my body became aroused in fear. Colt had killed Larissa.

His body came closer to mine and all my attention was suddenly drawn back to him and him only. Fearful of his capability, my breath hitched.

"Next time you say you're going to do something... You do it." He pinned his eyes at me.

I turned to face her motionlessly body is it fell heavily onto the hardwood floor, pounding as she laid in a rising pool of blood around her. The cries of my friend becoming louder and louder by the second... A sound, Andrew now found as a threat.

The gun was raised again, this time pointing to Alex.

"Put it sock in it, Blondie.." He grinned. "Or you'll be next."

"Don't even think about it!" I exclaimed.

Without hesitation, I jumped in front of my friend. I still had a gun, and was not afraid to point it at him. After everything I just saw, it's proof he's still up to no good.

With my other hand, I held Alex's from my back. Gently, I urged her to keep calm. She clasped her hand over her mouth, but managed to remain quiet. I felt terrible for bringing her here.. It's was exactly what I was trying to avoid.

Andrew remained smiling. There was no sign of him leaving us alone.

The loud thump of his footsteps on the hardwood floor got louder as he approached us. His gun now held to my cheek as he watched my terrified eyes skim through his body.

"I think you own me something?" He paused. "Three weeks can go by pretty quick don't you think?"

The deal.. Shit.

Three weeks was all he gave us to get him the formula. That's why he showed up.. He was coming to claim his part of the reward. Only problem was.. We didn't have it.

"I don't have the Red Venom." I shook my head. "It wasn't enough time."

Andrew's lips curved in a small smile. Shaking his head, his tongue began sucking into the back of his teeth.

"Now, now, Sis.." He grew stiff, hand knocking out the gun from my hands across the living room floor. "That's not what we agreed on."

Holding my friend closer behind me, I moved my head the most I could away from the gun pointed right at me. I now stood weaponless and venomless... This encounter just keeps getting worse by the second.

"I wonder what Jack's thoughts are on this little expedition?" He smirked, tilting his head to the side.

"Leave Jack alone." I stepped closer.

"Aw.. Protective aren't we now?" He chuckled with my reaction. "Shouldn't it be the other way around, though?" His lips pulled into a smirk, eyes rolling moments after. "That Jack is all about protecting, am I right?"

I felt my jaw clench in anger. Fist balling up in my sides.

"You owe me a Red Venom, Elizabeth." He took a step back, gun setting once more before me. "What is it going to be?"

I felt my heart pound harder against my chest. Breathing grew deeper.. More desperate with every second he kept that gun pointed at me.

I became desperate for a way out. Anything. Think of a distraction maybe? I had to say something...

And something I shall say..

"I don't have the Venom." I paused. Andrew didn't waste another second and began to click the switch. "But I did find out something..."

He raised his eyebrows, shoulders shrugging as he awaited my answer. This was the perfect moment.

"You'll have to let my friend go." I instructed.

"What?" Alex gasped. "No, not without you! I'm not going anywhere."

"Good." Andrew looked at her. "Because you ain't." His head turned back to me. "That doesn't give me much assurance." He paused. "And how do I know your friend won't go out to rant me out to the police?"

"She won't." I shook my head.

"Elizabeth." She whispered.

"She's with Justin." I spoke. "Too much will be at stake if she turns you in."

Hence, he might turn in Justin and Jack along with him.

A smirk grew back on his face. He knew I had a point.

"Ah, Justin's girl, huh?" He smiled back at Alex who only hid behind my figure. "Two Viper girls.. In the palm of my hands." He smiled proudly. "I can get a lot of things with you two. Those boys are foolishly in love."

"Let's leave them out of this." I stepped closer to him. "This right now is a matter of family."

"Family?" Andrew chuckled.

I nodded my head, keeping my look as serious and calm as possible. I finally had his attention.

"I think there's something you should know about our father..."

* * *

"You mean to tell me our father could still be alive?" Andrew asked me as we walked out of Larissa's home.

After his crew came to clean up the mess, Andrew found it necessary to go back and find more information on our father. I told him everything.. Everything Larissa told me that is.

"No.. He is alive." I spoke behind him. "He came here just three weeks ago."

"Three weeks ago?" He asked, turning his head around. "What could he possibly want?"

"That's what I would've wanted to find out more about if you didn't blow the brains out of the only lead I had!" My eyes widen.

From afar, I spotted his green sports car. The one we've driven away from so many times before. He stopped in his tracks on the snow and turned to me.

"You have to come with me." He instructed.

"What?" I questioned.

"It's not a question, Liz." He grinned. "You're coming and its final."

"LIZ!" Alex grabbed my hand. I had almost forgotten she was right behind me.

"You're not going anywhere with her alone." She looked back at Andrew.

"Lady.. I gave you the chance to go.. Just the way your friend wanted." He replied back with sarcasm dripping from his words back at my friend. "So go. You're of no use to me."

Turning around, Andrew looked back at me. "Elizabeth.. You'll want to follow me."

Without saying anything else, he moved over towards his car. I had stopped in my tracks when Alex first pulled me away. Turning around, I gripped her hands and found myself staring into her puffy light eyes. She's been crying a lot today.. And I don't blame her. She shouldn't have to continue on with this... This is where it ends for her.

"Alex, you have to go." I replied.

"No.. No.." The tears began to form in her eyes again. "Liz, you can't go with that man.. He just killed a woman right before us!"

I looked around, careful that no one was seeing or hearing us before I tried to calm her down. My arms pulled her into a warm embrace. I didn't know what else to do.

"Alex.. I have to go with him." I quietly spoke over her shoulder. "It's the only way I can get the answers I need."

Turns out, Andrew has been doing some investigating himself. Apparently, we have some information swapping to do. It'll be a good indication on where we could look for the Venom next.

"Liz... I can't let you go.." She shook her head. "Please, just call Jack—He might be able to help."

I pulled away from our embrace to look into her puffy eyes again. My head shook no. "I can't.." I shrugged. "I tried."

"But—"

"He's doing what he thinks is best, and now I gotta do what I think is best.." I explained.

"Are you sure?" She furrowed her eyebrows. "I mean.. Is Andrew Colt the guy you really wanna team up with?"

Her question was one I really had to think about.

"I don't know?" I shrugged. "But I have to try."

Alex's features immediately relaxed before she reached out to embrace me. Our hug was a tight one, but not one that lasted long enough.

"Please keep your phone on you the whole time with your location on." She instructed. "I'm only one call away. Anything you need.. Anything happens..." She drew away. "You call me." Her hand placed a strand of hair behind me ear. "I'll be right there."

I smiled back at me friend. "Thank you, Alex."

I couldn't hold the urge to hug her once more. She kissed my cheek and without a moment to waste later, I began to walk back. My direction now turning over to the bright green car and the man standing on the edge of it.

Andrew finished lighting up the cigarette he held between us lips. Instantly putting away the lighter in his front pocket of his coat before taking the object out of his mouth. A hot breath of smoke was released from his parted lips as he leaned up from the passenger side door of his car.

"You're a smart girl, Elizabeth." He smiled, dissolving the  ashes on the tip of the cigarette into the white snow. "Starting to take you for granted." His hand moved over to the passenger side door, opening it for me to get in.

I sighed, taking a moment to glance from Andrew and back at my friend who still stood on the other side of the street besides her car. She waved back at me and displayed a small smile. That truly meant a lot to me.

Looking back at Andrew, I shook my head and ducked to take my seat.

"Let's hope I can say the same about you."

Not saying another word, Andrew just smiled, holding the cigarette up to his lips again to only blow out another puff of smoke. The door was shut and I watched him walk over to the drivers seat.

Only one thought surrounded my head that moment...

What the Hell did I get myself into?

* * *

Ever since I was little, my parents always told me that before I go on and judge someone, I should put myself in their position. It's been so strictly enforced in my home that it grew to be one of my natural features.

I imagined myself in Larissa's position.. Which is why I didn't fight back, even though she held my friend and I at gunpoint. From the moment I walked in, I noticed her sadness. It was an obvious sadness because it was one I experienced not too long ago myself. The sadness of losing my parent. I noticed her hands and looked into her eyes. She didn't want to hurt us.. She herself was scared.

Regardless, she didn't deserve to die.

This afternoon, I found myself putting me into yet someone else's position—Andrew Colt.

The boy has been abandoned by a young age. No father around to seek, and a mother who didn't give him much attention because she was still obsessing over his father—My father. There's enough damage there, but then add the lost of the love of your life...

He's done some horrible things to which I won't defend— He's kidnapped me before, tried once at first also but backfired. He's killed people and threatened. Myself included. But today, he came and helped me. For whatever reason, he barged into that door and saved me. The gun was pointed at Larissa when he walked in. He signaled me to take her gun as he had her distracted. It was almost as if, we were part of team.

That's why I came with him. Because there were unanswered questions that he and I were both desperate to have. He wasn't going to kill me—At least not yet.

Colt has always been one step forward. Maybe this was a good thing...

* * *

I had followed Colt into an underground warehouse just off the main city in New York. I was blindfolded for their security purposes, but I knew it was underground because the elevator we took made it clear for me.

Even so.. I was in their territory now. Not one member from Jack's team has ever made it here. Not one. Why he brought me? I don't know? But judging from what I can see—He trusts me.

"Okay, remove your blindfold." I heard Colt's voice speak as we came to a stop.

I did as I was told. Revealing my sight to a room surrounded by computers. Screens of all different sizes plastered on the wall. Every square inch of this room was built and designed on technology.

With each screen, there was a different story reporting on the news, one pertaining to them. On others there were surveillance cameras, checking on other streets both busy and clear. This is how they must do it... This is how the stay one step forward every single time.

"Don't look too hard." Colt spoke, moving over to the huge table in the center of the room. "Or else they'll cut your eyes off." He smirked.

Shaking away that disturbing thought, I walked back over to Andrew. We stood facing each other from across the table. I watched as he began to pull out papers from a backpack he pulled from underneath the table.

"What is all this?" I asked him.

"I'll do the questions here." He pointed back at himself. "You.. You're here to answer them."

My eyes rolled at his comment, arms crossing over my chest.

"I won't tell you anything unless you put a damn filter in your mouth." I retorted.

Andrew instantly shot his look back at me. His eyebrows furrowed. "Excuse me?" He stated.

"You heard me." I nodded. "I deserve some respect from you."

"Believe me, you want nothing from me." He shook his head, removing the final pieces of paper from the backpack to then launch it to the ground.

I suddenly found myself asking.

"Something doesn't make sense.. About what Larissa told me." I changed the subject, head turning to the side as I thought. "She mentioned my father being alive. Yet I saw him.. Dead.. Motionless on the sidewalk outside of his bakery? There were cops.. Real people pronouncing him dead." I paused again. "We have a death certificate from the state and everything?"

Andrew places his hands on the table. Shaking his head, he replied. "I don't know, Liz? That's why we're here."

Rolling my eyes, yet again at his sarcastic comment, I turned to look down at the papers on the table. I commented to myself , "Something's off... I saw a real person dead that night."

Andrew immediately jumped in my train of thoughts. "Look, he's faked his death before. Maybe that was another one." He nodded.

"But why?" I paused. "Everything was fine?"

"You just found out what kind of dirty work your Daddy was involved in just a few days ago?" He paused. "Maybe he was in trouble."

I refused to believe that part of the story. I know what I saw and that wasn't fake. The mountain.. Sure. The car was blown up and for all I know it could be pretty easy to fake. But shot? In front of hundreds of people? Placing a body bag over it? That seams to be extreme. Even for someone who is trying to fake their own death, maybe do it in a less.. Publicly way?

"How did you know?" I asked looking up at him. Andrew just stared at me blankly. "How did you know I was your sister?"

Andrew grabbed the papers off the table, referring to them for his answers. "I got a PI." He replied. "Everything I know about you, your family, and our father is in these papers." He nodded.

I furrowed my eyebrows, hand reaching out to grab one of the papers. I looked at the picture and noticed it was my family picture.. The last one we took before Dad died. He insisted on taking on every year and my mom proudly displayed her collection of family themed portraits on our living room.

"That was when I found out you were the family he left us for." Andrew's eyes looked up over his papers, a frown slowly forming in his features. "That's how I knew." He paused. "Besides, I noticed your birthmark under your arm the night I took you guys. I have the same one and so does our father. Clear indication."

I furrowed my eyebrows, eyes drawing myself to look under both arms in search for that mystery birthmark.

"Left arm." Andrew spoke.

Guiding my vision to it, I removed my jacket to fall over my elbows. Right in my upper arm, in the inner side of my arm that is mostly turned to the side of my ribs... I noticed the light mark.

I never thought much of it. It was only a mark. But it couldn't be hereditary..

"My father doesn't have that birthmark?" I furrowed my eyebrows, bringing my arms back down. "And if it was hereditary, my sister would have it too?"

It wasn't making sense.

Andrew skimmed through the papers on the table, pulling one out immediately of a photograph of our father. This was back in his racing days. His arms were stretched up as he was putting away something on a top shelf of a warm out car garage. The same birthmark.

Andrew's arm rose up, his mark—Identical to mine and the one in the picture coming to view.

"I'm pretty sure it is hereditary." He replied sarcastically.

I only shook my head no. Grabbing the picture to take a closer look... I stared at the birthmark. It was not familiar at all. The man looked my father...Identical. But that wasn't him.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I pulled out my phone. Fingers skimming through the screen in efforts to find the right picture.

I smiled upon finding it. It was one of my earliest memories with him. We were on our living room, getting ready to go to bed. But it wasn't before my superhero dad wanted to place me above his shoulders. His hands were up, holding my little arms out in front him. No birthmark.

I didn't hesitate in showing Andrew the picture.

"Look.." I zoomed into the photo. The clear knowledge of the familiar and so called hereditary birthmark.. Was not there.

Andrew looked at both pictures and compared. He was now understand why I was so baffled before.

"This doesn't make any sense?" He questioned.

The thought bended my mind for a split second. What we were noticing was weird, but not impossible.

"I think I know.." I paused.

Growing up watching a lot of badly written telenovelas gave me an insight in what this could be. But how to prove it? I had no idea.

"Maybe.. Dominic Baines is our father—But the man who raised me... David Viera... Was someone else.." My lips trembled as I spoke.

"That doesn't make any sense?" Andrew's eyebrows furrowed, thinking to himself for a moment before he too hit realization. "Oh—Wait..."

"I think our father was a twin..." I nodded my head. "It has to be... He had an identical twin brother. One who wasn't part of the racing world." I replied. "That will explain the birthmark that neither David nor my sister have yet we, and Dominic do." I nodded.

Andrew thought to himself for a second. "That'll also explain why you saw a dead body the night your father was shot."

"And why Larissa said she saw him three weeks ago.. Alive in her door step." I added.

In the heat of the moment, we found ourselves taking a step back for some air. My mind began to race... Hand reaching down to pull out a stool from beneath the table.

Little by little this was making sense. But like always, we figure out something and it only opens another door of questions. It's a never ending loop...

"How could I have missed that?" Andrew asked himself, hands looking through the papers he had on the table.

"Obviously there's more." I added.

"How will we know though?" He asked looking up at me.

I shrugged my shoulder. "Literally the question I've been asking myself ever since I found out.."

Andrew scoffed, shaking his head back down at the papers.

"Man, I used to hate you for being the one he chose." He paused. "But it's beginning to look like you are just as abandoned as I was."

"Seriously, Andrew?" I pinned my eyes back at him. "Could you not think of a worse time to spill your obnoxious comments than now?" My blood began to boil. "Sure, he abandoned me too—But I just found out that the man who raised me isn't my father, more so, his identical twin brother!" My voice raised. "And not only that, but my little sister may just be my half sister too!"

This was not the right for me.

"So yeah, Andrew, we may be part of the abandonment group... But my whole world just fell apart. At least you knew who your real father was... And at least you weren't raised by the one person you could've noticed he wasn't! Do you know how crappy that makes me feel? Maybe you could handle news like this... But I am trying here. And I can promise you that cracking a joke is not going to help! You and I are nothing alike!"

I began to catch my breath.. Chest rising and falling as I stared at his sudden shocked reaction. He had no idea how to react. Even so, I had no idea how to reach? I just shouted at my number one enemy.. And he didn't even flinch.

He looked around, seamed to be searching for the right words.. But nothing came out.

I began to hold in my tears from falling. I was not going to cry before Andrew Colt. It'll only make him feel stronger. I wanted to cry though.. Badly.

The grip on my hands slowly began to relax. I found myself looking away. I knew that by looking at him for any second longer, I would lose it all. My control, my anger, my cries..

I stood up from the stool and began to pace around the room. Hand cupping over my mouth with my eyes shut. I began to count.

"Elizabeth.."

"Not now, Andrew." I waved with my hand, eyes still looking forward at the screens before me.

I jolted at the sensation of a hand meeting my arm. Turning around with wide eyes, I was prepared to punch.. But then I saw him raise his hands in surrender.

His reaction brought me to clam back down. Slowly releasing my grip and bringing my hand back down, my features began to relax.

Andrew tried to smile, hands coming back up in front of him in an easing manner. "You didn't understand what I meant by that." He shook his head.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

Andrew sighed. "Let's just say, there's one less reason to hate you now." He shrugged. "Welcome to the abandoned kids club."

I noticed him try to chuckle but then it was quickly stopped, remembering my reaction from before. Clearing his throat, he looked back at me.

I didn't know whether to smile or not. Was Colt... Accepting me?

"What does that mean?" I asked him, arms crossing over my chest.

"It means.. We are both trying to find something we both want to find." He explained. "I could try to kill you—And you know I will, because let's not forget, I still hate Jack." He arched a brow. "But, two heads work better than one." He shrugged. "And I don't know, maybe he wanted this.. For us to team up somehow, and find the answers we need."

I remained silent, wandering eyes looking deeply into his own. I wanted to trust him, but I couldn't. I hated Andrew. He kidnapped me and hurt my boyfriend. He killed a woman before my eyes and shot up an art exhibition. The boy screams danger—His lies will follow. I don't want to give into someone I don't trust. And Andrew Colt isn't one of them...

"I can't." I shook my head.

"Look, I'm not saying we have to be siblings of the year... I still don't like you, Elizabeth." He sighed.

"We don't even have to go out together... Just at least arrange some meetings every now and then to catch up on the stuff we found." He explained.

"I don't trust you, Andrew." I pinned my eyes. "Don't you get it?" My arms crossed.

"You have my word." He stepped closer.

"And that's not something I give out a lot." He spoke sternly.

"That's not the way it works." I shook my head. "You've kidnapped me before."

"Only because I needed information!" He exclaimed.

"That doesn't make it any better!?" I exclaimed back.

"Look, no one was hurt.." He looked aside, "Well, you weren't hurt. If I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would've?" He arched a brow. "After all, in that time I still believed it was Dominic who raised you? Who chose you?" I paused again. "You wouldn't have known any of that if it wasn't for the information I tracked down. And I wouldn't have known he was still alive if it wasn't for the information you tracked down." He added.

"But we could've found that information on our own." I retorted.

"Sure, but both of us would've been struggling for who knows how long trying to get this information?" His hands rose in emphasis. "We'd be butting heads with ourselves if we didn't exchange what the other knew."

A long sigh was released from his mouth, hand rubbing his temples before his hands went back down to his sides.

"What I'm trying to say here, is that you need me... And I need you."

I stopped and thought to myself for a second. A small smile couldn't help but crack its way into my lips. Andrew couldn't help but notice.

"What?" He looked at me. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "It's just... You said you needed me—" There was a long pause before I looked back into Andrew's eyes. Not surprising at all, he didn't understand what I meant by that. I sighed. "Let's just say it's nice... To be needed." I nodded. "Every time I tried to help Jack, he'd deny it—Part of his protection." I chuckled.

"That's stupid?" Andrew pinned his eyes back at me. "Obviously you know more than he does."

I shook my head. "He's just being careful." I shrugged. "He lost someone he cared about that night too, you know?"

I recalled Serena, the girl both Jack and Andrew fell madly in love with and who both also lost her—Watched her die in a burning fire. The memories of the night came clearly flooding back to Andrew's mind. He was quick to shake it off though.

"Look, I've got the technology— You've got some deep family insights with clues that can help us find just what we need... You Elizabeth, are the key to the Red Venom."

"How will I know?" I asked him. "How will I be sure I can find that Red Venom?"

"You have to try." He nodded, hands grabbing my arms near my shoulder. "And may I remind you, Sister... Your boyfriend's clock is ticking with the Lord's prophecy... Shall I remind you of what happens to those who fail the Lord?"

My skin immediately began to rise in goosebumps. Oh God, the Lord too! That's down to 3 months now from the 6 she originally gave them. 90 days is all we have...

A long sigh escaped my mouth as I began to internally debate this with myself. Is this what I really want? Can I really trust Andrew? Well, he hasn't done anything to prove himself otherwise yet...

Oh Elizabeth... This wasn't even a question to debate. You're dealing with lives here! Jack's life included.

Looking back up at Andrew, I gently fluttered my eyes closed. My lips began to part as I hitched for a breath to intake.

"Fine." I sighed, reopening my eyes. "I'll help you."