After quickly slipping into the joggers, I took a hold of Jack's hand. He rushed us out of the room to land back into the room full of arguing people.

"Guys!" Jack exclaimed. All of their attention now turning back to us.

He stopped before saying anything else. I furrowed my eyebrows, stepping aside to look over Jack's shoulder as he witnessed a few new members in the room.

I've never seen the guy before, but from the look that Jack had I can tell he was no stranger. He stood tall with dark hair... A stare that looked deadly back at Jack.

"You." He pinned his eyes, pointing back at Jack.

I looked back at Jack, swallowing the lump down his throat.

"I'm going to kill you!"

The guy came racing towards Jack and I found myself tightly squeezing his hand.

Who is the Hell is this guy!? And why is coming out for Jack?

Before the guy could get any closer, Justin and Cam jumped over to him, pulling him back. Two other guys, also new to me grabbed the guy and pulled him away from Justin and Cam.

They made the guy turn away and he stood over Serena, protecting her behind his frame.

I widened my eyes, turning over to Jack as he only sighed.

"I hope you're girlfriend is pleased." Ethan pinned his eyes back at me before turning to over back at the guy and a few other new faces in the room. "She lured in more of them." He turned to disgust back at Andrew and the guys that stood along besides him.

I furrowed my eyebrows before coming to a realization. These were the guys from Andrew's group. Of course.

"How long have you known about this, Gilinsky?" The guy framing over Serena pointed back at him. "My sister was alive and no one bothered to tell me!"

"Grayson, I already told you!" Serena grabbed his arm before exchanging a silent look with Jack. "He just found out this morning."

Tightening his jaw, the guy stepped back, turning over to embrace his sister once more. I guess she hasn't told him the whole story and how she came to his home voluntarily.

After the chaos, I turned to look back at Andrew. My eyes widened back at him.

"You brought your group here?" I asked him, feeling hurt towards his actions. "I thought I made it clear that the guy's location had to be private."

"Try telling that to a man who just found out his sister is alive." He pinned his eyes back at me. "I need to care for my group too... And this is part of it."

A long sigh fell from my mouth, not liking the look of this at all. I was just beginning to get the guys on board with this idea.. The idea of trusting The Cobras. This just set me back by a lot.

"Well it's a good thing everyone is here." Jack started, taking a few steps closer to the group. I followed behind.

"What are you planning, Gilinsky?" Ethan warned, crossing his arms in ultimate fierce as he watched Jack come to his stop.

"Me, nothing." He shrugged, stopping to turn over to me. "But Elizabeth here has a plan for a way out of this."

My eyes widened back at Jack. Why was he putting me in this position!?

Smiling, Jack turned back to the groups.

"Don't tell me it's teaming up." Ethan shook his head. "Because it's not happening."

"I actually agree with Hot Head over here." Andrew stepped in.

"What's so bad about working together?" Sophia stepped in with her arms crossed.

"Are you supporting this?" Ethan looked back at Sophia, pointing back at Jack and I.

"I know it's not ideal..." She continued.

"It's never been done before." Andrew added. "Groups don't join other—Especially with their rivals."

Sophia only rolled her eyes. "So just because it's never been done before we can't at least try?"

"Soph.." Cam held her by the waist, aiding her back which only ignited the monster in her.

"NO, Cameron!" She moved his hold away from him. "I'm not holding back from this one. I stand my ground." She stomped her foot. "Don't you see how big of a whole you've dug yourself into?" She paused, turning away from Cam to look back at the rest of the guys. "All of You!" She exclaimed. "This is the only way out of it all." Her long locks swung as she looked back at Cam. Hands grabbing onto his cheeks. "I'm not going to lose you over some stupid Union with another team didn't happen."

It was then I felt her fear. As Cam brought her into an embrace, I felt my stomach drop. Sophia was just as scared as I was about losing the ones we cared about. The guys had to make sense of this.

"Okay, that's enough." Andrew stepped in.

"Hey, leave them alone." Ethan spat back.

Pinning his eyes, I decided now was a good time to step in.

"Blade won't see it coming." I spoke out, looking out at the rest of the eyes in the room which were now all wearing down on me. "Just like you mentioned before," I paused. "The union of two teams.. Rivals.. Its never been done before." I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Grayson spoke out, arching his eyebrow back at me.

I opened my mouth to responde to the rather rude comment, but I was beat to it by Jack and Andrew, both who spat out something about me.

"Easy there." Andrew warmer back at his teammate.

"Why do you care?" Jack stepped in front of me, blocking me a little from the guy's view.

"It was just a question." Grayson shrugged before turning his dark gaze back to me. "I didn't recall ever seeing a blue eyed brunette as part of the Vipers?"

"That's because she's not." Ethan spat.

"An outsider, eh?" The guy smiled.

"Davis, I warned you." Andrew pinned his eyes.

"Why do you care so much about this girl, Colt?" He asked back.

"Wait.." Another guy stepped in from Andrew's other side. "I remember this girl... She's the one we took that night."

The boy turned around, raising his eyebrows back at me. "My name is Leo." He introduced. "I'm taking it that you're the other Baines kid?"

I nodded my head. "I guess, if that's what we're being called now?" I tried to make a joke out of the situation.

Andrew wasn't buying it. "We're not." He walked in between his friend, Leo, and I.

There was still one I guy I was yet to meet, the blonde guy that stood far from the conversation rather quietly. He didn't seem like much of a talker, but he observed everything all while playing with the tip of his pocket knife.

"Both groups have skills and advances they can bring to the table." Sophia tried to explain. "I really think this could work." She nodded. "Why is that so much of a problem?"

"It's a problem because we don't like each other." Andrew crosses his arms. "Last I remember, I kidnapped one of your own and stabbed him a few times before too." He spoke, looking specifically back at Jack.

The room fell in silence as the two men stared at each other. You could begin to feel the sense of domination one held over the other. Then, Andrew walked up to him. Standing just a few feet from Jack.

"Why would you trust me and my guys after everything we've done to you?" He asked Jack, waiting for his answer.

We all waited too. And his eyes fell upon me once more before turning back to Andrew.

"Because, Liz trusts you." He replied.

Andrew feel silent in shock, head soon turning to me too.

It was almost going to be the perfect moment before Ethan bursted out laughing.

"I'm sorry.." He tried to simmer down. "So just because Liz trusts the guy, we have to also?" He looked around. "C'mon guys, are you serious now?"

"Liz would never do anything to hurt us." Jack replied. "To hurt anyone." He paused, turning to look at me one last time. "She knows what she's talking about. And I'm willing to work with you, if it means we can all get out of this... Alive." His eyes widened.

The arguing continued and we found ourselves back to square one. Overall, the situation was difficult, but I felt a few members from either side of the groups begin to have a change of heart. And finally, Jack... Everything he said about me to my defense was all I ever really looked for. It was all about hearing me out, and respecting my opinion. I saw that changing now and for that, I'm utterly grateful.

"Why don't we just take a vote?" The blond guy finally spoke. He came out from the back of the circle and came to a stop besides Colt's side. He turned to us wearing a dark beanie and sweater. "Majority rules. If most of us are willing to join, than we'll unite. Same goes for the other way."

For a boy who wasn't saying anything, he was defiantly thinking about a solution.

"That is perfect!" Sophia exclaimed. "A private vote."

"Why does it have to be private?" Grayson asked. "Can't we just raise our hands or something?"

"Peer pressure, Grayson." Sophia crossed her arms. "It's expected for us to side by our groups. We should do it individually and unanimously. That way it comes to a fair decision." She explained.

"I'm in." I replied, liking the idea.

"Count me too." Jack nodded.

"Nah, c'mon." Ethan stopped in. "Guys, this is stupid."

"If it's so stupid than you wouldn't mind doing it, right?" Jack asked him. "Or are you too scared that everyone will vote for a union?"

"Hell No!" Ethan exclaimed. "Find me a pen and paper... I guess we're voting."

* * *

"Are we all ready for the count?" Justin asked, looking up at the group of people still in surrounding. All holding out pieces of paper.

One by one, we lined up behind the kitchen table, dropping our closed slips with a simple yes or no written on top of it. Sam and Grayson volunteered to read them out loud.

"No." Sam read from the first slip.

"No." Grayson added.

"Yes." Sam read.

"No." Grayson followed.

They kept reading out loud. Everyone mentally counting with them in our minds. My heart skipped with every response, slowly relaxing with every yes.

And then..

"It's a tie." Grayson released.

"Ugh!" The whole room exclaimed.

Only Ethan and Andrew remained smiling in victory.

"Well there we have it, kids." Ethan smiled, "Cobras, let me show you the way to the door.."

"Stop!" Sophia warned. "We need a tie breaker."

Looking around, there was a small pause. Ethan began arguing again, until my eyes landed on Jamie, and realization hit.

"Jamie!" I exclaimed. "James, you could break the tie!" I smiled walking up to him.

He stood in a corner far away the whole time. Of course, I wouldn't blame him. But James did not vote.

"That's right.." Sam left the table, walking over to James too. "You didn't vote, Dude, you could break it! Yes or No?"

"What?" James exclaimed before looking back at me. "I-I can't. No, I won't." He shook his head.

"Why not?" Sam asked him.

"Because I know nothing about what's going on here!" He exclaimed back with his nerves on the verge. "I-I'm not from this world."

"Neither is Liz?" Sam shrugged. I nodded.

"Liz is an excuse.." James replied. "She's known you guys longer, and she has an understanding. I don't."

"James I've been telling you everything from day one." I tried to reason.

"Why would you say that?" He spoke through gritted teeth back at me.

Taking a step back, I allowed for Sam to try and do the rest. But that wasn't before Jack stepped in.

"James, we really need your help here." Jack spoke, placing his hand on my lower back. "Please, say you'll help."

James looked at us and around the rooms in nerves. This really wasn't the best way to settle this but we were running out of options... And not to mention, Time. I hated putting him in this position. Seeing the nerves build up in his eyes.

I was just about to say to leave him alone when suddenly, a loud smashing noise blasted through the windows.

"GET DOWN!" Ethan shouted.

Screams and cries filled the room as bullets came shooting through the glass window. Everyone took cover. I felt Jack's arms latch out around me as he ducked us to the ground. Sam and James followed.

"JACK! LIZ!" James yelled, flinching at every sound of the bullets crashing into the furniture.

He aided for us to shuffle quickly over and behind the countertop where he as Sam sat.

Jack covered me the whole way through. Knees landing hard on the broken glass on the floor. My heart began to race—We were under attack. I continued panting as I took hold of James' hand. He pulled us in and Jack and I sat besides our friends.

Our chests rose and fell heavily as we continued to hear the shouting and yelling of our friends. I shut my eyes closed, praying that everyone else was okay.

Jack's hand quickly laced with mine and he held it close to his racing heart. We all exchanged bewildered looks, all while listening to the last of the bullets shatter into the warehouse.

Suddenly, there was silence.

Silence filled the air and that actually terrified me more than the gun shots. No—This couldn't be happening.

I began to get up from behind the countertop when I suddenly felt Jack pull me back down.

He shook his head no. "I'll go first." He instructed.

Without waiting to hear my response, Jack stood up from behind the countertop, head skimming around the room of destruction. There was still nothing heard other than Jack's quiet cursing. I feared for what his eyes would've seen. But it wasn't until a loud scream that I didn't jump off out of my seat.

I stood up behind Jack, Sam and James following afterwards. My hands west to grasp over my mouth, eyes widening as I watched the body down on the ground.

It was Grayson... Serena's brother... He's been shot.

"Grayson!" His group shouted. Suddenly, everyone was running up to him.

Serena fell to his side and held his hand. I heard her begging for him to stay with her, to keep his eyes closed, but the boy was in bad shape.

There was blood oozing from his mouth, multiple shots were fired right through his torso. His sister was covered in his blood, as well as the floor.

I was left no absolutely no words.

"Leo, Aiden, find out who did this!" Andrew yelled as he fell onto his knees besides his teammate.

"Johnson and Cam, go with them." Ethan instructed. "Whoever did this knows our location too."

Nodding the heads, the group of guys took off. Justin rushes over to cover the blinds of the shattered windows.

"Is anyone else hurt?" Justin called as he approached our group once more.

We all shook our heads no.

The rest of us who stayed, still too shocked to say anything just surrounded Grayson. He began gasping for air, looking out for his sister's hand.

"We have to call the ambulance!" I called out.

"And tell them what?" Ethan looked back at me.

"What do you mean, tell them what?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "We were attacked and our friend got shot from behind!"

"Grayson." Serena kept crying.

"That's not the way it works with us, Princess." Ethan restored.

"My mom.. She's a nurse. She's at the hospital now, I'm sure she can fake his files or something if identity is what you're worried about." I kept offering, looking down at Grayson's bleeding body. "Please.. We can't just leave him here to die."

"Fuck it, I'm calling it." Jack responded, pulling out his phone from his pocket.

"Jack, don't you dare!" Ethan pointed back at him.

Jack ignored him, dialing on the screen. "I'm not taking any more orders from you, Ethan."

He dialed 911 and held the phone to his ear, waiting for the operator. Ethan began to grunt, mumbling to himself as he moved over to the window. My suspicion was that he was going to try and see if he saw anybody.

I looked around the room and began rushing the people to find some towels for compressions. By the time we had him wrapped up, I noticed Grayson grow weaker. I held one towel to his torso, pressing hard on it as Serena brushed his hair back.

Grayson began to look at his sister, softly smiling.

I cried for more towels and more hands to help with compressions. I needed all hands on deck, the bleeding had to stop.

Sophia and James rushed by my side, aiding in the support. But with the tension on his chest, I felt him grow weaker.

He wasn't going to make it.

"Fuck! These people need to pick up faster!" Jack shouted in frustration. The sound of Grayson's command urged him to pause and look back at him.

"It's okay, Jack." Grayson shook his head, smiling back up at his sister who sat next to him. His head was on her lap as she continued to try and ease him. The tears falling heavily from her eyes.

"Gray..." Jack looked back at Grayson. "You need the help."

"I won't make it." His words fell weak... Eyes closing as gulped the lump down his throat.

"No. Don't say that." Serena sniffed. "I need you, Grayson. —You're all I have left." She cried.

"I'll always be with you, S." He smiled. "I'm just glad I got to see you one last time.."

The whole room fell in silence. Shock filled the room as Grayson prepared himself to take his last few breaths.

"9-11, what's your emergency?" The operator from Jack's phone was heard through the silence.

Jack was in shock.. Seeing the bloody body slowly dying before him wasn't something any of us were expecting to see.

"Hello?" The operator sounded again.

Then, with one last breath—Grayson Davis had died.

Eyes staring at his sister.

"NO!" She cried. "NO NO NO..." Her cries filled the empty room as she held onto her brother. "Grayson!" Her voice cracked.

I've never seen anyone under so much pain before... The pain of losing a sibling. Justin came up to her quickly and urged her to move away from the body that now laid untouched by the others.

Serena fought him back and rested over Grayson's chest.

His blood left an imprint on the side of her face. Her brown hair was now tinted with red streaks. She held onto him—Tightly.

It was horrible to watch.

I closed my eyes and allowed for a small tear to escape from my eyes. I wasn't going to break down—I couldn't.

Sophia turned over to Cam. She couldn't hold it in and allowed for her soft sobs to fall into Cam's protective arms. James was pale white, this was something he's never witnessed before.

I only recalled Larissa, and the way she too laid motionlessly on the ground after Andrew'a bullet planted onto her forehead.

The images were all too painful to relive. I have yet to overcome my last experience with someone dying before me.. And here I was, standing before another.

I found myself standing from Grayson's side and leaving him with Serena. My eyes landed on Andrew, who was also shocked at the sight of losing one of his own.. His friend.

Anger began to rise in him, and soon enough, the anger was displayed on the furniture around him.

Lamps were thrown across. Vases were broken. The shouting and the yelling going on in the room from both Andrew and Serena were traumatizing.

This was simply the worst thing I've ever experienced.

"Liz.." I heard Jack call as he walked up to me.

The operator had ended the call for we weren't speaking through the other line. He came to me concerned, knowing there wasn't much he could for Serena either since she didn't allow for anyone to come near her.

There was nothing else to do. Just watch this gruesome pain of a sister witnessing the death of a brother of whom she's only been with for a few minutes after years of separation.

Jack's arms swung around my neck and shoulders, pulling me into an embrace so that I didn't have to look at the emotional sight before me. I couldn't help but quietly cry out a few tears. I didn't allow myself to release any more for this moment was only meant for Serena and his friends.

I was in shock. Scared. The adrenaline was now washing off from my system, and the nerves were beginning to kick in.

"I cannot believe this just happened." Justin sighed, rushing his hands through his hair.

* * *

The blood was still there.

Ethan called one of the groups of guys they call to clean their mess... This trip was to clean a body. The young guys came and took his body. Ethan instructed for them to follow Andrew and Serena to a place where they wanted him to be buried. That's exactly where those two have been since.

As for the rest of us, we remained here—Afraid to step foot outside for in case another ambush had been placed out for us. We were waiting for the guys to return, hoping for some good news...

We remained scattered across the room. Far away from the windows. The living room was the safest place for now.

I sat on one edge of the cough, legs up and arms hugging them close me. James has come by from behind me and gave me a blanket to hold over my shoulders. I thanked him before he moved away to sit near Sam, a new friend he's made since staying here. I guess the two had a lot to share from their experiences with technology. It was a good distraction from everything we've been through tonight.

Jack was sitting besides me. His arm bringing me to lay closer to him. I did, and I wrapped myself around him while doing so. The blanket I had over me was now over the both of us and I allowed for his hand to run calmly down my back.

Then, as a loud thunder sounded, our already shaken bodies jumped slightly with it—Still shocked, we found ourselves turning in the opposite direction to the sound of the front door opening.

"It was them, alright." Cameron was the first to burst through the door.

All guys came storming in after, all with the same look of anger in their face.

"How do you know?" Sam asked.

"Another one of his famous notes was taped right into the gun that fired." He replied while throwing the piece of paper in red paint over the coffee table.

The words: Man Down dripped from the page. Goosebumps quickly arose on my skin.

Standing up from the couch, Ethan took the paper in his hands. "Did you catch anyone?" He asked looking back at the guys.

The guys shook their heads no, standing in front of the fireplace to overlook at us who sat on the couch.

"It was an ambush, alright." The blonde guy from Andrew's group, now named as Aiden explained. "But it was an automatic machine gun placed from another building. A timer was set to shoot right into this warehouse at 8 o'clock sharp." He explained.

"The gun that was initially pointed to shoot over to Sam." Cameron spoke.

"Me?" Sam asked, scared. "Why?"

"Obviously it was a warning." Leo spoke out. "I guess you're the hacker here?" He looked back at Sam before he silently nodded. "There's something they probably didn't want you to reach. Something you were probably close to."

"The ring." I stopped in. "It had to be!"

"That's impossible.." Ethan denied. "How could they've known we were here!?"

"He sees everything." Jack explained, sitting up in the couch. "I told you, we're not safe with this guy... Just look at what he's done already." He looked over at the spot where Grayson's body once laid.

"He was planning to kill us all. Because he knows we'd all be here.." His head looked down to sink in between his shoulders.

I grabbed onto one of his arms and hugged him. My head falling gently over his broad shoulder as my hands skimmed over the curves of his arm.

Jack noticed me and softly curved a corner of his lips. The hand in which I held coming to place over my thigh.

"And that's thanks to who?" Ethan asked, eyes clearly looking back at me.

"She's not the one to blame, Walker." Jack grinned, pinning his eyes back at him.

"Jack's right." Justin added. "We've been having beef with Blade for years now."

"Yeah, and now we're housing the key to what he's been searching for all these years.." He raised his arms out to me.

"Can we not argue about this." Sophia stood up from the couch. "Ethan, whether you like it or not, she's part of this group. She's helped us in so many ways. Now we have to do the same for her." She defended.

"That's not how it works and you know it." He retorted.

"Uh... Hello?" Justin broke in. "Bigger problems here."

His head then turned over to Jack's direction.

"G, what do you think we should do?" He asked him.

Jack only looked around, unable to fully answer his question.

"For one, we can't stay here." He spoke. "Blade.. He knows our location now. He'll come for more. Those bullets were meant for us." Jack explained.

"We'll find another warehouse." Justin nodded. "One with less windows."

"Or none." Sophia added.

"You guys... We're not messing with just anyone anymore." Sam spoke. "Are you sure we wanna go against Tristan Blade?"

"Our lives now depend on it." Jack nodded. "I'm sure we'll find a way."

"We don't even know if the Cobras are willing to fight with us or not?" Cam added, tuning to look back at the two guys that still belonged to Andrew's team.

The guys only shrugged.

"Where is Andrew, by the way?" Leo asked looked around.

"He went with Serena—" Jack replied. "They we're taking the body away I guess, for burial."

"I can't believe it was him.." Aiden shook his head. "We should go, be with them." He looked back at his partner.

"You should wait." Justin looked back at the guys. "It seemed like it was a family thing."

"He is our family." Leo stepped in. "He's our teammate. One of our own."

"Andrew said he was coming back." I spoke. "You guys have helped enough. Really, you should rest."

Standing up from the couch, I offered them a place to sit. They looked confused and I wouldn't blame them. The kindness they were getting from us was something that was not expected.

"Let me prepare a warm coffee for you." Sophia offered. Soon enough she was back in the kitchen with Cam by her side helping her.

Jack offered for me to take his spot in the couch after offering to go get me a cup of coffee too. I agreed and thanked him before he too disappeared to the kitchen with Sophia. One alone, I turned back at the guys who now sat a few seats close to me.

"Thank you." I smiled. It was brave enough for them to go out after the ambush. Who knows what could've been waiting for them on the other side. Yet they still went and they should be appreciated for it.

"We did it for Grayson." Leo nodded.

"Whatever the reason," I paused. "You guys still did a brave thing. And you kept yourselves relaxed. Not everyone was like that."

"We've seen worse things than this." Aiden added. "I mean, it's brutal what happened to our friend but he's not the first one we've lost."

"Guess it's just something you gotta get used to." His friend Leo added.

"That's horrible." I shook my head.

Both guys nodded before shrugging their shoulders.

"You gotta take care of yourself." Aiden spoke. "And mourning the death of every person you've seen die—It's not healthy and it'll drive you insane."

"Believe us, we've been there." Leo nodded.

There wasn't more I could say. I can't compare nor say anything to help at this point. These guys have seen too much already.

"How about you?" They asked me after. Aiden being the first to speak. "How come you were so nice to Colt after everything he's done to you?"

"We've done to you." Leo added, recalling the fact that they were ones who pulled me out of the car one night and kidnapped me.

I only looked now, not knowing the initial response myself.

"I guess he's family." I shrugged. "And he was just mad—Confused." I explained. "We're both looking for answers and he's the only other person who I can share that with."

"You must be a really good person, then." Leo nodded, looking from over Aiden who sat in between us. "Last I remember, Colt had you terrified. Then you're bringing him over to your boyfriend's den to see if they could work together?"

"Life is too short to hold grudges." I added, recalling the death of young Grayson whom I would've said was just entering his mid twenties. "Besides, Andrew showed me He was willing to work with me. Said so on my front door this morning before I got the call from Jack to meet him here."

"What?" The guys laughed.

"No way, Andrew begged for you alliance?" Leo wondered.

"He never does that!" Aiden exclaimed.

"Like I said, we see each other differently now... Knowing that we're related and our father is still alive and out there." I replied.

"So do you think he'll want to work with the group?" Leo asked. "I mean, it was only you he went to."

"I hope so." I nodded. "For as much of a hard head these guys are—They need to see that this is a good plan. One that can end this once and for all."

I looked down to my fiddling fingers over my lap. The silence remained as Jack and Sophia came back with the warm cup of coffees for us to take. We thanked them.

"So, any plans on where we're staying tonight?" Sophia asked before bringing her mug up to her lips.

"We can all stay in my place." Justin offered. "It's big enough for us all." He nodded his head. "I think after a night like this, it's important we stick together."

"I agree." Jack nodded, his arm now over my shoulders, holding me close to him as we sat on the couch.

A small smile was displayed in my lips back at Jack before we were interrupted by the slamming action of the front door.

Our attention was turned over to it and the male that angrily stood by it. Andrew huffed and puffed his air away. He stood his ground, head looking down to the floor.

We all stood up, waiting for him to speak. There were so many questions to ask, but everyone feared to speak out first.

So we didn't.

He suddenly looked back up. His eyes were a bit pink, puffy too. There were still some tears in his eyes, but sad didn't seem to be the emotion that overpowered him anymore.

He breathed heavily. I watched his chest rise and fall in the action. This time, he turned back to Jack.

"I wanna do it." He suddenly spoke, shocked a bit at the words himself. "I wanna work together." He paused again.

"I wanna kill Tristan Blade."