~ ~ Chapter Nine ~ ~

Sitting down on the chair opposite from Dougy I stared at him with disbelief, he can't be serious, can he? He sure looks it but that doesn't mean it's all true. There must be some kind of explanation to make sense of it. I mean, I would have seen the signs, right? I knew right away that I'm not the 'sign picking up' kind of person. After all, Dougy kept his whole criminal life hidden from me, even lied about moving away to university, I didn't see one single sign that he was lying to me and he was my own brother.

"How would you even know her last name?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

Dougy tried to hide the small smile on his face but I saw it, "I might have snuck into the change rooms at your work and went through her handbag. Then when her name came up as being changed, I looked into it further and found out her real name."

Frowning, I shook my head slightly, "What are you on about?" I was confused, "What did her name come up in?"

"Never you mind, I have contacts and they done it for me. The point is Lee, she isn't who you think she is and you need to pack up and move." Dougy nodded at my bedroom door again.

"No." I growled for what felt like the hundredth time since I got home, "I don't care what you say, Ambo is the sweetest and most kindest person you will ever meet, she can't be who you think she is."

"Well she is and unless you want me ringing your boyfriend to get involved, go pack." he growled back with warning and a threat in his tone.

Staring at my brother, I narrowed my eyes, "He's not my boyfriend." I snapped back, getting angry that everyone keeps saying that, well, by everybody I mean Baden and Dougy.

"Touchy." he muttered, holding his hands up in a truce signal, then he smiled sweetly at me and it gave me the creeps, "I know you both had a thing for each other....years ago, and he is still into you now, more so than before." he pulled a gagging face, "But how do you feel about him now?"

Taking a sip of my beer I looked over at the kitchen window, "That's all in the past, I know who he is better now, I know what life with him, with you around will be like and I don't want that. I just want to be left alone and live in peace." my voice was soft and wishful, knowing that they weren't going to listen to my wants anymore today than they did the first day I told them all to bugger off.

"So you do like him then?" Dougy pressed as he walked over to my fridge and helped himself to my beer, I frowned at him slightly but said nothing about it.

"No. I've moved on." I lied so easily that I could even fool myself these days.

Before Dougy could harass me anymore the sound of a key in the front door could be heard as it opened up and Amberly walked in. She paused when she spotted me and Dougy in the kitchen together from across the open planned lounge room but then she smiled warmly.

There is no way she is involved with a gang.

I gave Dougy a pointed look but he shook his head, he still believed in what his 'contact' told him.

"Hello." Amberly spoke cheerily, she reminded me of a female energizer bunny at times, it was so annoying when we both would finish work and I would just want to go home and curl up on the lounge but she would want to go out dancing more.

"Hey, good night at work?" I asked as I kicked Dougy under the table for the suspicious look he was giving her as he walked back over and sat down.

Amberly wasn't stupid, she noticed it too and seemed to be uncomfortable now, "Yeah, busy but good. Um, I'm heading to bed now, see you in the morning. Night."

"What so you can spy on us in hopes we talk about Johnson's?" Dougy snapped rudely, narrowing his eyes at her even more.

I heard Amberly gasp but I was facing Dougy with a ticked off look on my face, "For crying out loud Dougy! I told you not to say anything!" I shouted loudly as I kicked his shin again but with more pack behind it. His face winced and I knew I got him good this time.

"Shut up Lee, this isn't just about you anymore!" Dougy snapped at me now, then turned back to glare at my friend, quickly I jumped up to my feet as he yelled at her, "We know who you really are Amberly Gianni and trust me when I say we don't take to spies too well."

I was now blocking his view from her, "Out!" I shouted, pointing at the front door, "Out right now! I don't want to see you here ever again!" I screamed the last part.

Dougy rose to his feet slowly and walked towards us, fist curled up and a nasty sneer on his face, I panicked for a second thinking he was actually going to hurt me but he didn't, he leaned in real close to my face, looked into my eyes and said he was calling Baden, then walked out, slamming the front door behind him.

Taking a deep breath I slowly turned around to face a crying Amberly, she had been looking at the floor but lifted her head up so I could see her tear filled eyes, "I'm so sorry Lee-Lee, no one was meant to find out." and then she started crying harder.

I flung my arms around her neck and brought her in close to me, whispering soothing words in her ear as I stroked the back of her head tenderly while she latched onto me and cried for dear life. I can't be angry at her for having her own secrets, God knows I have mine. Dougy may have been right about her being linked to his rival gang the Gianni's but it doesn't mean Amberly is one of them, just like I'm not a member of the Johnson gang, despite knowing some of their key players.

~~

Thirty minutes later it sounded like half the bloody police force were banging down the front door, I glanced at Amberly and told her to stay in my room, since it was at the back of the flat and we had already been sitting in there. She nodded and I closed the door behind me as I half jogged out.

"I'm coming already!" I shouted loudly, still jogging towards the door before that idiot managed to break it clean off and I swung it open, Baden stood there mad as hell and grabbed my elbow instantly, pulling me towards him, I stumbled slightly and crashed into his chest with a small 'oomph'.

"Where is she?" he growled, looking past me into the lounge and kitchen, still holding me tight against him by my elbow but it wasn't hurting, he always managed to drag me around or pull me towards him or catch me without ever hurting me.

"Leave her alone, it's not what you think, she's hiding from Paul Gianni - her step brother, has been for years now." I quickly blurted out, in hopes he will calm the hell down and leave Amberly alone.

"Paul? Even better." he growled as he took a step inside, trying to push me to the side but I latched on to his shoulders and held tight, pressing myself even tighter to him to try and stop him from entering any more,"Leila, it's not the time for games." he growled.

Looking up at him, I could feel the fear for Amberly's safety was showing on my face, even a few tears had managed to leak out as the seriousness of the situation dawned on me. He wasn't here for fun and games, this was business to him and he wouldn't care who she was.

 "Please Baden, leave her alone, please, please, she doesn't have anything to do with them. For me? Please Baden, for me?" I begged into his chest as I buried my face, hoping his feelings for me would help right now.

He stopped moving and wrapped his arms around me gently but firmly as he groaned loudly in frustration, "You really going to play the feelings card?" he asked in a gruff voice. I nodded into his chest. "Then look at me, I want to see your face." he spoke more softly now but never letting go of me.

Slowly I raised my head, trying to brush off as many tears that had leaked out as I possibly could, I didn't want anything bad to happen to Amberly, she has helped me so much and I needed to help her right now, I needed to get her out of whatever situation my dopey brother has just gotten her into.

Baden looked down into my eyes, he smiled slightly but it didn't reach his eyes, "Does she really mean that much to you?" I nodded, and he sighed softly; "Alright then, but I want to speak with her." I nodded slowly again.

Closing his eyes, he sighed more loudly, "You have no idea how much control you have over me." his voice a strained whisper.

"No, I don't." I mumbled softly, as I buried my face back into his chest, wishing we could stay like this forever, I felt safe in his arms, it felt right to be in his arms but I can't, can I? Then I was caught by surprise when he touched my chin lightly and tilted my head back up to face him and lowered his lips to mine softly.

I couldn't move. I was frozen, all my feelings for him years ago came flooding back as our lips moved with one another and I remembered our very first kiss and how it felt then, this was so much better, he wasn't holding back as his tongue slid into my mouth and I returned the favour with a little more urgency than I had intended, then just like our first kiss, he slowly pulled back, ending it too soon with a smirk in the corner of his mouth as he rested his forehead gently against mine, "Love you Leila." he whispered so softly I'm not sure if I imagined it before he let go of me and walked off into the kitchen. Leaving me standing there in a daze with all my old emotions for him swirling around in my head but stronger than when I very first met him.

Sitting in-between Amberly and Baden, I held her hand reassuringly, I knew Baden wasn't going to do anything to her now and I felt more relaxed but Amberly didn't, even though I told her she was safe now but I can't blame her for feeling uneasy around him.

"After my mum died before my seventeenth birthday, I found out she had left a trust fund in my name and I could access it at any age, so I ran. My step dad wasn't a very nice man, he use to beat me up all the time and Paul was just as bad." Her voice trembling as she spoke.

"Paul would never give me a moment to myself, saying I belonged to Gianni boys only, so he would follow me around school and make me sit with them, I wasn't allowed to have any friends and no one wanted to be mine because of Paul and his mates, I was more like his prisoner only with invisible handcuffs attached to him." Amberly took a shaky breath in before releasing it and continuing while I squeezed her hand lightly, reassuring her I was here for her.

"The one time I left school early just so I could walk home alone, he found me and almost ran me over with his car, then beat me until I was semi unconscious. Then a week later mum went out and never came back, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got hit by a stray bullet in a robbery." her voice hitched on a sob and my heart felt like it was breaking for her.

"Shortly after I ran and have been staying hidden ever since, I heard some of their gang had relocated here but I haven't seen any yet and I hope I don't." Amberly had tears rolling down her cheeks as I held her tight while she explained it all briefly to Baden. I felt so bad for her, I had a good childhood, I never knew about anything.

Baden stayed silent but I could see him deep in thought, then he walked out the front and made a few phone calls. I got up and made Amberly some tea, wondering how she can be so up beat and friendly and kind when she had an abusive step dad and step brother, her mum even died but she is one of the most positive people I know.

Then there is me, one incident and I'm scarred for life, my whole personality changed.....until now. Now, I'm slowly turning back into how I use to be and I like it. It makes me kick myself for letting that bastard destroy my entire life. Not only did he beat me badly and take my innocence away but he took me away. Well, not no more, I refuse to be a victim from now on.

"Alright, girls, sit." Baden walked back in. I raised an eyebrow at him as Amberly who was already sitting just stared down at her hands on the kitchen table. Baden stared at me, waiting. I shook my head softly then sat down, not impressed with the way he didn't ask.

"Firstly, the others have agreed Amberly is okay, as long as you two are friends then they have no problem with her and will protect her if the need arises." I nodded slowly as I handed Amberly her tea, she took it with a small smile, "Now, you both have two options. One, you both move into my place and live with me - yes, you will both have your own rooms. Or option two is we make your neighbours move out and me and Jeff move in next door."

"Neither." I muttered, "And why does Ambo have to stay my friend for her to be okay? Isn't that a tad bit nasty?" I narrowed my eyes accusingly.

Baden just stared back blankly, "Because we're not a charity case Leila." he muttered seriously, "If you actually saw us for the people we are, you would know we never do this kind of thing in the first place, you know, it wouldn't hurt you a little to fear us a bit more." he pointed out.

"You really want me to fear you?" I asked with disbelief.

He glared at me, then shook his head gently, "No. But you should fear the others." he added quickly, knowing he had just lost that argument.

I smiled, "Dougy, Jeff and Philly boy? I don't think so, well, maybe Jeff because he has that whole silent serial killer, stab you in the back at any moment thing going on." I mused to myself, Amberly chuckled then quickly stopped as she glanced nervously at Baden. I frowned about that.

"You really think our gang has only four people in it? Try eighty, last time I counted."

My mouth dropped open. WTH! I never knew that, wow, that's pretty crazy. Baden smirked at my reaction, which I didn't like at all.

Pretending to yawn, I stretched my arms wide, "Well, I'm pretty tired now, so you should leave." and I nodded at the door behind him.

Amberly hid a smile, she knew I was faking and by the look on Baden's face, he knew too. Way to be subtle about it Leila, I chastised myself.

"Can't I crash the night?" he asked with a smile.

I shook my head quickly.

"On the couch?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "As long as it is the same as the last time you crashed on my couch." I told him, remembering back all them years to the very first night we met.

He nodded with a bigger smile as he tried to not laugh, "Sure."

"No stealing anything, or killing me in my sleep." I joked, that's similar to what I said that first night.

"I promise." he smirked.

Amberly now looked totally lost, with a look of confusion on her face, "What are you both on about?"

I smiled, as I shook my head then got up to go and try and find a spare pillow and quilt for Baden, while he explained, "When we first met, she was pretty drunk and I crashed the night, even though we had just met - on the couch and she asked me if I was going to kill her or steal stuff." he chuckled lightly at the memory.

"Ambo! Do you have any spare quilts?" I shouted out from my room as I searched through my cupboards only to find nothing, right now I was on my knees and looking under my bed.

"Um, I don't think I do, sorry." she called back.

I groaned loudly, "Baden! You're sleeping with nothing tonight!"

"How about I sleep with you?"

I screamed as I spun around to face him leaning in my bedroom doorway, a smirk on his face as he had been watching me, "Don't sneak up on people!" I snapped, "And no. Just go home if you want a quilt."

Baden smiled, "You deny me so much Leila." he teased, "Oh and we will be discussing the options in the morning." he winked then walked back out.

Baden decided he didn't need a quilt to stay the night, so as he spread out on the couch watching TV, I threw the pillow at his head and walked off, saying goodnight to Amberly as I walked past her bedroom door then shut my own behind me.

Stripping down to my panties and finding my singlet I sleep in, I turned off the light and got in bed, snuggling under my nice warm quilt with a small smile on my face as I drifted off to sleep. I was almost there when I suddenly felt someone climbing in with me, I groaned but didn't have enough energy to wake up properly to push him away as he slid his arm under my head and wrapped his other around my back and pulled me in close.

His lips were so gentle on my forehead as he kissed me lightly and whispered, "Goodnight beautiful." then I heard him sign softly and I passed out, knowing I was going to regret this.