•Claire's POV•

We all arrived at the scene, but Riley made sure we were in the back of everything so we wouldn't be caught on tv or something. Clover walked around looking at things and as soon as she stepped away from a garbage can something blew up inside making me scowl, yet silently thankful she didn't get hurt.

"Okay, you two should know some rules," Riley said sternly glancing at both of us. Clover had a sheepish look as she continued." Rule number one of being an agent, don't die."

Joey snorted,"Huh, I guess I've been living this life wrong for a long time then. I usually try to go for the deathly experience, I mean we all know the saying live life to the fullest." Joey said and Riley didn't seem to find it funny as she sent him a dark glare.

"So what are we doing exactly."Clover asked and Riley sighed sending Joey a look that I knew only he would understand.

"At this point, the cops have already looked for any civilians alive. Eventually, someone will come in and try to find the cause of the explosion which will most likely be a bomb unless Jesse was actually smart enough to actually cover his tracks. Our jobs are to notice things out of the ordinary. For example, if you see all but one room burned to the ground I would obviously question it." Joey said and they both nodded.

"I want every single paper looked at and anything that is left checked. To be safe Joey and I will go into the main building were the root of the explosion came from. You two will go to one of the side buildings. If you get stopped by any remaining officer, which we should try to avoid, just say you're with us." I said simply.

"Okay, but one problem. What if someone from Jesse's gang is here and try to make a move on one of us. I know the basics to fight, but you haven't exactly taught us anything that will help us." I said and another voice pitched in.

"That's exactly why we're here as well." Liam appeared in my view with Emily and Rachel by his side and I stared at him speechless. I haven't seen him since the day I went to the urgent care and found out I was pregnant.

"Emily, you can go with Clover and Liam go with Claire. Rach, you can come with us." Riley instructed and everyone nodded. I tried to hide my scowl and focused on the task at hand. "Meet back in forty minutes at the latest."

"You have got to be kidding me," I muttered to myself.

Don't be a baby.

"Soo how have you been?" Liam asked after walking in silence for a minute and I shrugged.

"I've been better."

"Yeah, I heard you're pregnant now." He said casually and I narrowed my eyes at him. That day he left before I got my results so I knew for a fact he didn't find out from me. Geez, agents really are all up in your business.

"Yup," I said awkwardly before we stopped in front of a metal door that managed to stay in place. We were at the farthest building down in the plaza so I had a feeling on the left side, closest to the explosion would be bad. Liam tried the handle but when it wouldn't open he looked at me.

"Hairpin." He held out his palm and I just looked at him.

"How do you know I have any?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest stubbornly and he chuckled.

"Because you're Claire, you always put pins in your hair." He stated truthfully and I rolled my eyes removing a bobby pin that was keeping little pieces out of my face during work. He grabbed the hairpin from my hand and quickly managed to unlock the door.

The building was dark and I tried the light switch which unsurprisingly didn't work. Liam grabs out two small, black flashlights and hands me one, I turn it on and start scanning the room."So what is that we're looking for exactly? Just clues?" I asked.

"Basically yes, so guns, knives, jackets, really just anything."He said and I nodded. This was a furniture place so I knew it wouldn't be hard to find a clue. The place was pretty big so I decided to make my way to the back.

As soon as I walked into the back room I found my back against a wall, the flashlight falling out of my grip as a hand was pressed over my mouth."Let's keep this conversation just between us okay?" Jax said smirking and I glared at him, barely able to make out his face in the dark.

"You know I knew since day one that you and Caiden would be perfect together because you're so kind it's your weakness," He said letting his knuckles on his right run down my cheek.

"Jesse seems to want to do things the nice way with you, have you join him because you want to, but there's a little thing called Stockholm syndrome and let me tell you something it works, all the same, way." I went to pull my knee up and hit him where the sun doesn't shine but he stopped me, quickly removing his hand from my mouth and grabbing my leg.

"Claire, be careful now, We don't want to forget about your little friend in there," Jax said releasing my leg and placing his hand on my stomach making me feel sick.

"Go to hell." I hissed and he smirked.

"What if I told you I've already been there and back." He asked and I sent him a wry smile.

"I wouldn't be surprised." He narrowed his eyes. I glanced at the door and still saw no sign of Liam. Jax didn't miss the movement and placed his pointer finger over my lips.

"Shh, don't worry I won't hurt you so there's no need to call for another one of your boy toys."

"What do you want with me then?" I asked and he stepped away dropping his hands and moving away a little, taking his time to answer the question as he sat in a spinny chair.

"I mean there's the obvious one that everyone wants from you which is sex, but you'd be too annoying so I think we're going to play a game. That's okay with you, right?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"It would only take five seconds for me to escape this room or even call for Liam." I said stepping closer to the door and he looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Go ahead then, try it," Jax said before slipping a gun out of his pocket and clicking the safety off."C'mon Claire, we're feeling a little risky today so try it out for me." I didn't move and stayed put, one shot could kill me and if not me then possibly the baby. The thought made me place a hand on my stomach.

"See I knew you could be smart sometimes. Now about that game?" He asked before making a movement with his hand as in saying come closer. I did what he said and took a few steps closer to him.

"What's up with your gang and its stupid games?" I asked and he smirked.

"Your gang, my gang. I actually like the sound of that."Jax said tasting the words on his tongue before shaking his head."But that's beside the point, we like to play with our friends a little, you know to get them excited for everything that's going to be coming to them." He said standing up.

"Now Claire, I want you to meet me at this address, by yourself and you're not going to tell anyone about this or our meeting later if you want one of your friends to stay alive, okay?" Jax asked and I glared at him with hatred.

"Where?" I asked and he scribbled a hotel and a room number down on a piece of paper. The motel was on the sketchy part of town and every time I've ever seen it it looked like it could fall to pieces.

"See you there in about an hour?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes, not responding."Bye Claire, see you soon. Say hi to Eddie for me next time you see him okay?" His disgusting lips touched my cheek before he went out the emergency exit door a few feet away. I stared at the door for who know's how long, but I felt the familiar ache in my heart remembering my old friend. Jax deserved to rot in hell for everything he's ever done.

"Claire? You okay?" Liam asked me and I plastered a fake smile on my face.

"I'm fine, perfectly fine," I said, picking up the flashlight and looking at him."Let's keep looking."

*****

~Riley's POV~

Joey and I ended up splitting up, going into different buildings since we were both definitely strong enough to protect ourselves. I frowned when I found nothing in the half burned up store.

"Riley Scott's, Reese Scott's. " A familiar voice said, as if they were testing my name on their tongue, quickly turning around, pointing my gun at the figure, I caught sight of Taylor who was sitting on the counter where the register was."Sounds all the same to me."

"Taylor, it's been a while hasn't it?" I asked turning my head to the side a little as I looked at him through the flickering lights.

"Has it, though? I mean we just spoke yesterday, but maybe your right because that's all just one of those fake undercover acts, right?" Taylor said sending me a challenging look and I narrowed my eyes.

"You barely got in trouble last time we met. Was that a mistake? Here I thought you actually wanted to get out of Jesse's gang, heck you even saved me at one point in time, yet here you are again following in those same footsteps." I said shaking my head and he stood up, walking closer to me, causing me to hold onto my gun even tighter, ready to shoot.

"You actually don't know a thing Scott's. For once I actually know more than you and you know it truly does feel great, except we have a problem."

"Yes, the problem is you and your gang are killing hundreds of people and just blew up a whole plaza." I said and he waved me off, stepping even closer.

"They wouldn't do something so easy, the gang likes to torture people and let them pay for what they've done. This was another small gang that's already being taken care of." Taylor said before quickly kicking the gun out of my hand, causing it to go sliding across the tile floor, far away from me.

"By who?" I asked raising an eyebrow, not worried that my gun was across the room.

"By my agency." This caused an amused smirk to appear on my face.

"Your agency?" I asked and a smirk appeared on his face.

"Don't look so amused Scott's. You are after all on my territory." Taylor told me and the twitch of his hand told me he was about to try and throw a punch, immediately preparing me. I quickly dodged it, sliding to the left and missing it. I went to kick his chest, but he quickly grabbed my leg, stopping me from doing so.

"We've had the same training now, so good luck trying to get me down," He said twisting my leg and causing me to flip over and land on the ground on my stomach.

"You've had probably a couple of years of training, that's very impressive, I've had over 15 so if a little fight was all you wanted Jones then that's all you had to say." I rolled over and quickly brought my foot up, hitting him in his precious jewels causing him to groan, bending over a little.

"You see as a guy that's always your weakness, but if you were smart you would have had some type of protection there or you would have been faster if you were really that good. Be prepared next time you want to pick a fight with another agent Jones." I said as I stood up before slamming my foot in his chest causing him to be pushed back and hit his head on the wood from the counter.

Taylor quickly recovered, doing the little quick jump up onto his feet and watching me."All I'm telling you is this is my case." He said and I raised an eyebrow.

"Every agency in the world knows Jesse Farone's case is always my agency's. Sorry if your new boss didn't get the memo, but you're wasting your time fighting me on this." I told him honestly. The LA agency didn't have anyone to take up the case so they sent a message to all agencies and we were the first to respond, hence us going undercover and being in charge of the case.

"Well, this is a new case. He isn't just a drug dealer -"

"I know he's a bloody assassin now too. Which is why he won't just end up in prison this time."I told him and Taylor seemed to understand what I was implying. Jesse would go to trial for the death sentence which may be pretty rare these days, but it had to happen. He was a cold blooded killer and he needed to be put down if he doesn't do something that gets him shot first.

"I don't know who the boss is over in the Seattle agency, but I'm telling you this Jones, us agents don't work against each other, we work with one another and if you want to do that then that's fine, but if you'd rather fight over a mission then we can do that too, but I can guarantee it now you will lose," I told him and he stared at me for a long time.

"My boss, Melody, doesn't want us working with you," Taylor told me and I narrowed my eyes.

"I don't know if you know this or not Taylor, but I own the Europe agency. Everyone follows my orders and they do the jobs I assign them. If I am counted as the untrustworthy one by your boss then I would be questioning her motives, not mine because I'm the one who cares so much that I left my position for a while to get this case done and finished with. " I said seriously. All of the agents trusted each other, yes we all may not be friends, but we still could trust our lives in any agency or any agents hands. But If an agency had a problem with another then that should definitely be questioned.

Taylor didn't respond, at first, only watching me carefully, unsure of what to say."Fine, let's do this together then." He said nodding.

"What are you doing here?" I suddenly heard Joey's voice, causing me to look as he came up beside me, prepared to help fight.

"He's on our side, apparently he's apart of the SA."

"Since when are you an agent?" Joey asked and I couldn't help but wonder that myself.

"I've been one for a few years now. When I moved to Seattle I did every single thing I could by telling them about Jesse's letters, his plans he sent from prison. And even if we take care of Jesse it won't be the end because Jacksons getting out soon and then we're all screwed." Taylor said and I frowned thinking about the date, it was October eighteenth and Jackson was due to be released November second.

"He has no gang, everyone is following Jesses new one now and who knows Jackson may have changed his ways." Joey said and I snorted.

"Yeah, just like how Jesse changed his ways."

"Jackson has big plans starting with you," Taylor told us as I went over, picking up my gun and putting it back in its holster.

"What kinds of plans?" I asked and Taylor smirked.

"See it's more like you need me in this situation. You know nothing about the plans because you just joined the gang. Jackson has ordered your assassination." Taylor said, grabbing a beer nearby on the floor and opening it before pulling himself up to sit on the counter.

"They don't even know I'm here." I said and he shrugged.

"They figured you would come down eventually and if they can't get to you just yet then they'll get to Joey and then Emily and then Rachel before finally you."

"That won't happen." I said and he scoffed.

"Why because you say so?" I let my eyes skim over him before responding. I knew he was testing me and he could try but I know how to do my job.

"Yes, I won't let it happen. That gang will be taken down no matter the cost." I said confidently and Taylor raised an eyebrow, giving me a challenging look.

"Even at the possible cost of your life," Taylor asked.

"Even at the cost of my life," I confirmed, nodding.

*****

~Claire's P.O.V.~

I stood in front of the peach colored door. Half of the paint was missing and the door handle was rusted. It was a gross place that I wouldn't stay at even if paid, but I had to do this. I can't let anyone die because of me.

"How long are you planning on standing there?" A guy asked, holding a twenty-ounce bottle of mountain dew.

"What?" I asked dumbly and he nodded his head towards the door, pointing his drink as well.

"How long are you planning on standing in front of my door?" He asked and I looked at the number and realized I was at the wrong room, the right one was next store.

"Sorry, wrong room," I said awkwardly stepping aside and letting him enter his room, receiving a look that told me what I already know, I'm crazy. I mean who would actually listen and not tell anyone? I had the perfect chance to tell Riley earlier when we were leaving the plaza all together but I didn't. Why? Because I'm stupid as hell.

Walking over to the next room, I brought my right hand up, knocking on the door.

"Claire? What are you doing here? It's such a pleasant surprise, please do come in and make yourself at home." Jax said and I sneered at him, reluctantly walking into the room. My eyes landed on Nick, who sat on the edge of the bed, hands tided up behind him.

"Don't worry you get to play the game too."Jax said in a reassuring voice before grabbing my hands from behind me and the sound of clicking and metal cutting into my skin was a sign I had handcuffs on.

"Kinky, huh?" Jax said before pushing me face first in the bed.

"Let's not forget I'm a pregnant woman over here."I hissed, my voice being smothered by the bed.

"Oh, how could I forget? You're the size of a cow." Jax said smacking my ass and I growled and silently regretted wearing one of my work outfits, a black dress here."Now we're going to get started." He said before turning me around. I move up so I was sitting on the bed and glared at him with what I hope was a dark glare. I've never really tried the look before, but it seemed to always work well for Caiden.

"Claire, you're going to get on top of Nick and kiss him."Jax said and I snorted.

"Like hell I am." I sneered and he sighed.

"Don't make me take out the gun, it ruins the game." He said running his knuckles down the side of my face and I turned my head to the side, trying to get him to remove them."Just do what I say and no one gets hurt."

"Claire, just do it." Nick said solemnly.

"Why? What on earth does he possibly get out of this?" I asked Nick.

"I get to watch you and Caiden fall apart." Jax said simply, pulling out a gun.

"Earlier you were just saying how perfect we were together and now you want to break us up? I really don't understand your mind, Jax." I said and he shrugged.

"You don't have to understand it. Caiden was good at the time, you two were the typical love story, you cured the bad boy of his haunting past, but then something happen his past came up and consume you, pulling you in it and now you're drowning in it. " He said and I felt goosebumps appear on my arm as we stared into each others eyes.

All my words were suddenly caught in my throat. I hated saying it, but it was true. Jax was actually right, Caiden's past came up and bit me in the ass harder than anyone and now I'm suffocating, drowning with problems. I'm twenty-eight years old, yet I feel sixty with everything I've be through. My baby boy was going to grow up into a world that i'm lucky to survive, that he'll be lucky to survive.

"What happened? Cat got your tongue?"

"Are you telling me it will be much better with Jesse? I'll be stuck with gangs and drugs and the color of blood forever stuck on my hands." I told him, trying to move my hands around behind my back. There had to be a way to get out of these handcuffs.

"No, I'm trying to tell you to leave town. Get out of here while you can. I actually feel bad for you, shocking I know, but you were dragged into this life. Eventually those agents will take care of all of us and you'll be left behind scrubbing blood off your hands anyways, but not your blood darling, Caiden's or someone you dearly all over again." Jax's words stabbed a knife in me, a knife I couldn't seem to pull out. It was stuck and suddenly blood was pooling around me, drowning me.

"Since when do you care what happens to me?"

"I don't, I care what happens to him," Jax said nodding to Nick. I glanced at Nick who gave me a soft smile.

"He's right Claire, you need to get out of town. It's not safe here and you don't deserve the pain from all of this. People are dying everywhere and I'd rather you not be one of them." Nick said and I stared at him in shock.

"So you brought me all the way here and handcuffed me to simply warn me?" I asked and Jax shook his head.

"Nah we're still going to have a little game since I have a job to complete, bosses orders, but I'm trying to somewhat help you."

"Jesse will only follow me." I said and he shook his head.

"He'll be taken care of before he even has the chance to skip town."

"If you care so much about Nick then why is he here tied up too." I asked accusingly and Jax rolled his eyes and untied Nick's hands, proving he trusted him.

"Because he just so happens to be on the list of things I need for this job."

"When you said the agents will take care of everyone what did you mean exactly?" I asked after a minute of silence.

"They'll take every single person in the gang out until they're either dead or behind bars and I know you Claire, as I said earlier your kindness will be the dead of you. People will die during all of this, it's no longer a simple case for anyone, it's war and does anyone ever really win in war?"

The answer was no, no one actually wins and everyone only ends up dead whether it be physically or mentally. "You know what Jax you're smarter than what I thought, but I think it's a risk I'm willing to take. I'm an optimist, I believe we're all going to finish this and everything will be fine." I said confidently. It will all be okay.

"Half of the gang are professional assassins. You've met Jacob, he jokes around with you and gives you that cool guy, right? Yeah, he's fucking killed more people than you could ever remember."

"I'm not stupid, I know what I'm in right now so you can stop lecturing me like I'm some teenager who doesn't know what she's getting herself in." I snapped and he nodded.

"Fine, then let's get started. Claire, kiss Nick. The faster you do it, the faster we all get out of this and make it look real." Jax said pressing the gun to the side of my head.

"I can't exactly kiss someone the right way with handcuffs on." I muttered and he rolled his eyes, taking them off before pressing the gun on my head again.

"Nothing less than thirty seconds." I let out a sigh and closed my eyes pressing my lips to Nick. It was a strange feeling kissing anyone else besides Caiden, a feeling I didn't like. Nick's hands went into my hair and mine went around his neck. The sound of an IPhone camera went off making me quickly pull away. I stood up and threw my hands up.

"Happy?" I asked and he looked at the picture and nodded.

"Very."

"That was just as good as I remembered it being." Nick winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

"That's cause I still got it." I said winking back before heading towards the door, Jax grabbed my arm, stopping me before I opened it.

"Remember what I said." He gave me a look I didn't understand and I only gave him a nod before pulling my arm out of his grip and leaving. Nick was suddenly walking next to me and I gave him a questioning look.

"Caiden's going to kill me."

"No, I'll be honest with him and tell him it was all because of Jax," I said and Nick frowned.

"You know he'll think that's complete bullshit." Nick said and I shrugged.

"I'll do whatever I have to do to get him to believe me."

"You really love him, don't you?" Nick asked me and I looked at him and sent him a small smile.

"Probably more than is healthy."

"Well, you know the saying, love never dies." I sent Nick a huge smile and pulled him into a hug.

"This is why we were close friends back then," I said. Love Never Dies was the sequel to one of my favorite musicals, The Phantom Of The Opera.

"Aye I only watched that stupid shit because of you forced me, it's sad I can still reference it," Nick said pouting and I lightly smacked his chest.

"Whatever you say, Nicolaus." I said giving him a knowing look. When I forced him to watch it the first time he was so into the movie he cried at the ending.

"I have to stop in at work so I'll see you soon and don't worry about Caiden, I'll take care of it." I said and he nodded.

"Don't be a strange," He said smiling and I nodded, giving him a quick hug before heading out to my car.

It was about a twenty-five-minute drive to my job and it made me smile at the sight of the building. It feels like ages since I last was in here. Walking in I smiled at the woman sitting at the front desk.

"Welcome back, Claire!" She said pausing her typing.

"Thank you, Jacqui. It's nice to see you." I said sending her a smile before heading into the elevator and going up to my floor where my office was.

"Elena, what do you have for me?" I asked my assistant and she pulled out a file.

"There have been lots of orders that have been all taken care of, but Mr. Franklin would like to meet with you as soon as possible." She said and I frowned.

"Do you know what for?"

"No idea, he said it was a private matter."

"Next time tell him that nothing is a private matter, anything he's going to tell me he can tell you too. And you can tell him he can meet me in my office in thirty minutes." I said and she nodded.

"I'll tell him right away and by the way, congratulations on the pregnancy," Elena said nodding to my stomach and I smiled, sending her a 'thank you' before grabbing the file and heading into my office.

Thirty minutes later, I managed to sign and approve all the order forms Elena gave me. I handed her the file back before I headed into the conference room which was on the floor directly underneath.

"Ah Claire, it's a pleasure." Mr. Franklin said standing up and holding out his hand for me to shake when I entered. I quickly shook his hand before taking a seat across from him, ignoring his eyes on my stomach.

"What is so important that it needs to be discussed at this time?" I asked him curiously causing him to pay attention to my face again.

"I would like to be your new business partner." He announced and I raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I think your work and all your styles would look great with mine. Think of what our brains combined could make together. Our work would be everywhere, on everyone." He said and I leaned back in my chair as my matte black nails lightly tapped the desk.

"I don't mean to sound rude or arrogant, Mr. Franklin, but I'm very big in this industry and around here. I see my clothes and my designs on plenty of people and I sign enough shipment orders and agreements to know they're not just big in quite a few places around the world."

"As am I. But that's it, Ms. Martez, you see your clothes around here and you know they're being worn in different places, but that's simply among the celebrities."

"People follow celebrities styles all the time." I interrupted narrowed my eyes in a challenge and he did the same.

"Yes, but here's what I'm thinking."  He opened his Mac book, air playing a presentation to the screen."We make a new clothes line, one never seen before with gorgeous clothes, but cheap clothes. We need to make items for the lower class people and I think a man and a woman working together could do it perfectly. "

"Yes, but in reality can't you just do this clothes line yourself?" I asked, unconsciously twirling my pen with my fingers as I listen carefully.

"I could, but for once in the fashion industry we need a man and a woman clashing heads, combining heads, to make a less expensive and more excitingly new brand of clothes." I looked at him carefully, studying his face. His eyes shined with excitement, with curiosity, the biting of his lip and the fiddling of his hands showed nervousness. He was sincere about the idea and it was truly a great one.

I stood up, walking so I was directly in front of him. "Mr. Franklin, I think you have yourself a deal." Holding out my hand he placed his large one in mine and shook it smiling.

"Great."