*edited*

Ash Mortimer:

I was sitting at my desk sorting out paperwork and sent my men to do deals, trade drugs and weapons and most importantly look for the person sending these threats.

I tried to spend as much time with my girls but I've been so stressed about all this that I distanced myself so that I wouldn't blow up at them.

I was interrupted by a  knock on the door.

"Come in." Ray rushed in with a paper in his hands.

"Boss, we found out who is sending the treats."  I stood up and took the paper from him.

"Get some men ready, about five. I'll be going to get that dick and ask him who he's working for."

" yes, boss."

"Also, meeting in ten."   And with that, he left the room. I got back to my desk and took out of the drawer my gun and put it in my waistband grabbing the necessary things for my meeting.

After that was done, it was about 8 am, I walked down the stairs into the living room pointing to my men to get out of the house and get the cars ready. We were about 4 to go.

I saw my angel and princess painting and laughing together. I'll never get sick of that sight. They are my light in this world of darkness. And I'll do anything to protect them.

I was about to leave when I got called back.

**************
Everleigh:

"Hey, Ash? Where are you going? Why are there so many guys around?" I asked confused, standing up whipping my hands with a cloth and walking over to Ash.

"Nothing, I'm just handling some business." He shrugged.

I placed my self in front of him, my hands both sides of his face, my thumbs rubbing circles on this temples.

I knew that calmed him down. He's been pretty stressed out and I think I know why. I've been sneaking into his office and I found the letters that he has been receiving and I am not stupid. I know that's what's troubling him.

I don't know who they are from but once i find out they are going to regret the day they were ever born.

I looked up at him in the eyes, his hands were now places around my waist, resting on my hips.

"You sure it's nothing?" I lifted a brow.

He kissed my forehead.

"Yes, nothing I can't fix." He fake smiled.

I hugged him like my life depended on it, I'm scared he's going to get himself in trouble I just feel it deep down.

He hugged me back and once I pulled out a bit I kissed him. We had a mini make-out session and by the time we pulled back to get some air we were both breathing heavily.

"I have to go now, angel. I'll be back soon." And with that, he left.

I just stood there, knowing something bad would happen. I just have that gut feeling that he's not coming back anytime soon.

------------ time skip ------------

It's been almost 24 hours that he has been gone and I have had Simon and Ray follow My every move and it has been getting on my nerves like hell.

I've been pacing around the house, I left Paul and Louis to play with Rose because I feel like I'm going to kill someone if I don't get any answers soon.

I saw Rob, one of the men that went with Ash limp in the house.

"Oh my lord! What happened to you?" I gasped seeing him with cuts all over, bruises, what I think is a broken leg. 

I ran up to him trying my best to bring him to the sofa while yelling for the guys that stayed at the house to come help me.

"Get me the first aid kit, a bottle of vodka and a sharp Knife Stat," I yelled waving my hand to the guy that came up to me.

"T---thank you, Leigh," Rob said barely above a whisper.

Once the dude gave me the things to work with I started cleaning his wounds and took the Bullet that was lodged out of his arm making an incision with the knife and passing the bottle of vodka to him and poured some on the wound.

He hissed At the pain and I Mouthed a "sorry".

"So, tell me what happened, where is Ash? Why isn't he back too? Where are the others?" I started panicking but tried my hardest to stay calm.

" they sent me back to communicate a message, but in reality, it was an ambush, they are trying to break Boss down and use you and Rose as targets to get to him and they also said something about taking Shadow down? I didn't quite understand what they meant by 'Shadow? ' "

Ohhhhhh shit! I know what they meant by 'Shadow'. That's me. Well, assassin me. It's like my code name so that my real name stays secret. I guess they found me but how? And what did he just say about Rose and I being targeted?

"I'm sorry what? Are we targets?   Since when?" I was getting more aggravated and confused as to why this was happening. Even if I had read the letters I didn't think that it would go to such an extent.

"Yeah, Boss received threats regarding both your safety and that's why he Went there. It was to fix the problem and make sure you were safe." He breathed it out. It wasn't the best time to bombard a severely injured man like I was now but I need answers.

I nodded my head and told the guy that brought me the things to clean Rob's wounds to help him to the doctors' office so that he can get proper help.

I was fuming that no one told me anything, I was left in the dark and the worst part if that I don't know who it is and that if they had hurt Rob like that I can only imagine what state Asher might be in.

I ran upstairs into Ash's office because I knew  Carter would be there.

I burst into the office no longer in the sweet mummy mode that I grew to be but in my killer, gang leader girl mode. The one my father always wanted me to be.

I walked straight to Carter who was on the phone, I presume to get Ash back. He turned to see me and let me tell you we were star struck. And he was even more star struck when I punched him   Square in the face.

He stumbled back a bit, hanging up the phone in the process before mumbling something into it.

"What the hell was that for?" He hissed at me whipping the bit of blood from his bust lip.

I smirked my evil smirk before saying back

"That was for keeping me in the blue about the shit that Was been going on for weeks now! And don't lie to me I know about the letters and Rob told me most of what I wanted to know!"

I was beyond mad at this point.

" you know what? Forget it, I'm taking over. I'm  Sick of this bullshit." Carter just stood there completely in shock.

"Call a meeting in the living room, I want everybody that you have on hand NOW! " he just nodded without asking any Questions.

8mins later everyone was there, Rose was sat on the floor with headphones on watching a Disney movie on the tablet because I didn't want her listening to what I was about to say.

Everybody was now seated and I was standing there with Carter in front looking at me confused and ready for Answers.

I took a deep breath and looked at all of them before starting.

"Look, I know you are wondering why I called a meeting and maybe why I hit Carter. I know what is happening and I have decided that in order to bring Ash back I need to be honest with you guys."

Here we go...

" My name is Everleigh Graham, daughter of Sean Graham and I Am the next in line To the throne of the gold thorn and the head of the Russian mafia. I'm also known under the name of Shadow." Gasps filled the room and some looked at me in utter shock, others had that 'yeah right' face on and I could see a Weird emotion coming from Carter, Paul and Louis.

"I know it may seem hard to believe but here is proof."I lifted my shirt up showing the side of my rib cage and turned to them so that they could see.

I have the mark of the leader. It's a tattoo you get once You are declared leader and I had Mine at 16. It's written " gold thorn" in cursive and is circled by thorns and has a crown on the top left corner on the G and a small rose on the bottom right side.

More gasps came into the room and filled the silence... I couldn't help but give a small sad look towards them. I did feel guilty for lying but they lied to me too.

"Moving on. All the questions that I know you have will have to wait but right now, My main priority is that we stay together as a team to get our men back. And for that, we need a plan that I have already thought about."

Before I could utter another word Carter stepped up and spoke

"Yeah, and what were You thinking we should do Boss?" He winked and gave me a smile that said it all.   He let me take charge and was waiting for his directions.

They all hollered " yeah Boss, what's the plan?"

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