Scarlett's P.O.V

I awkwardly cleared my throat as everyone stared at me drinking my hot tea that Charlie had prepared for me, for the first day back at school.  This was the first time she had invited me to come down and eat with everyone together, before we went off our sperate ways.  I avoided eye contact, and took small sips of the liwuid waiting for Valentina to finish her breakfast because I was under strict orders of Harden that I had to go. to school with her, and come back here with her. I had thought he would say no, but last night he came in my room looking like absoulte shit and said. . .

"So you  want to go back to Uni?" He asks roughly standing at the door frame, keeping his distance, absolutely scaring the fuck out of me as I was busy doodling on the notepad since they had taken my phone and any sort of technology away from me. 

I swallowed harshly, before nodding slowly not knowing how to react to the question. Harden sighed, "Look, can I come closer to you so I can see what you write down on your note pad? I wont hurt you." What is the guarentee of that? I mean two nights ago, he almost borke my neck as he squeeze it with his burtal strenght. Pushing away my fears I nodd once again allowing him to stand infront of me.  "Why do you want to go back to Uni?" What kind of question was that?

I furrow my eyebrows and scribble down, "I want to continue my education, this is putting me behind." Harden breathed out heavily, as if he didn't believe me"Seriously," I wrote down quickly,  "No games, nothing."  I was tired of playing games with him, but this was my last try, if I could gain some freedom from this guilt he had stemming from his actions, I could maybe do some good. 

"Fine," He gave in. I looked at him suprised, he gave into my demands way to quickly. "Look, I have been racking my brain of how to make it up to you. I-I never meant to hurt you that badly, I just lost control, and I understand that is no excuse, of the damage I have done." See? Guilt. "So, fine you can go back to school."  Maybe he did have a good bone in his body, other than being completely enguled in evil. 

I smiled at him, "Thanks," I wrote down in response to him. 

"But," I knew it, "You will be taken to Uni with Vallie, and picked up from Uni with Vallie." Survalience, "There is nothing. that you can do to change my mind about that." I clenched my jaw, "Any objections?"

I do, tons of them but thanks to him, I cannot voice them and I am to lazy to write all. of them down so to safe energy I write down, "No." 

"Good," Harden yawned, "Now, rest up I am sure Vallie or Eliza have some clothes that fit you." I wanted my own clothes. I shake my head rapidly, "What?" He asked, 

"I want my own clothes." I reply, 

Harden rolled his eyes, "Ill get Vince to collect them." Why is he being so nice to me right now? "Anything else?"

"No," 

"Can I go now?" He asked, 

"Yes," I wrote down. 

Without a word he left the room. Okay so there are some bumps in my plan, but at least there is asmall amount of freedom and trust that came with this guilt that has imedded in him. 

I can totally use this in my advantage. 

"Scarlett?" Valentina snapped her fingers in my face causing me to sit up straighter, "Are you okay?"  I look around the room and the rest of the. family was staring at me. I clear my throat and nodd. "Alright then let's go." Complying to her orders I quickly follow her out of the. large prison and get into a car. "Look, let me set some ground rules with me." She said as soon as the car got out of the drive way, "I am not someon you play fucking games with, do you understand?" 

I wanted to roll my eyes at her but resisted, but nodd, "Good, other than that, I know you will want to meet Bea, which you can do just don't tell Harden he will bite my head off." 

Wow, "But, if I find out you are making some sort of plan, that will be the end of your educational career." There is always a but with these people. "Capeesh?"

I pull out my pad and write down, "Don't worry, I am not going to do anything." Not today anyways. "I just want to finish my degree."

Valentina read my words, "Good." 

Wanting to create an easy atmosphere I write down, "You can call me Lettie by the way, I dont like it when someone says my full name."

"We are not friends," She snapped, "I am just doing this for Mom, she has fallen into some fucking guilt trip but I, I will never fogot the chaos you created in our family three fucking. years ago." Woah, "So just, dont try to get all friendly with me because it is not going to work."

Biting my lip I tuck the note pad away, and look out the window. I know her words shouldn't hurt me as much as they did, but how can I explain to her, that running away wasnt my idea, it was Noahs. Would she beleive me? No, and I doubt it. Harden wouldn't either. 

So why waste my breath? 

The ride to Uni was short,  but filled with an heavy. atmpshpere, I wanted to get out the car as fast as I could and when it came to a stop that is exactly what I did. I completely ignored Valentina and walked towards my class where I knew I would find Bea. Valentina didnt care about my coldness, so she went her way. This is what she wanted anyways, so I did it. 

I looked around the class, but she. was no where to be found, that is strange, this math class is the only one we had together. Settling down in a desk after what seemed like ages, I kept my eyes glued to the door. 

Where is Bea?

. . .

Beatrix's  P.OV.

"Ow," I  whimpered as Jax cleaned my wounds that my own father had inflicted against me as a punishment for running away. He has had be locked in my apartment for the past two days, and has come at night to beat me, in anger. "Careful,"

Jax's worrisome gaze never left my face, "Bea," I wiped my tears away, "Why don't you let me do something?" 

I shake my head,  "The same way you did something for Lettie?" I hated throwing that in his face but Dad is more dangerous than he knew, even more than Uncle Ross. 

"That's not fucking fair," He said, "Bea, you know Dad would fucking kill us for even speaking up for her." I know, "Do you think I enjoy seeing her get swung around by him?"

"Sorry," I whisper, "Sorry, I just am-"

"Baby," He whispered huskily, I told him we needed to stop this, as he leaned forward. "I can handle your anger, as long as you let me share you pain." Jax and I had a hidden relationship for. the past year. We had always had this underlying feeling for one another, but never acted on them until earlier this year, but I felt as if I was betraying my best friend my sleeping with her older brother. "Bea?"

"Jax," I say trying to lean back but he wouldn't let me, I breath in shakily as he kissed the corner of my mouth. "S-Stop, I told you we cant,"

"No," He said firmly, "Bea, I love you." I look at him shocked, "I know you are scared, I know you dont want Lettie to know so she wont know." This is going to ruin us, "But you and I know that I wont stop protecting you, nor will I stop wanting you either. I know it has taken us a long time to come to realization but now that we have. I dont want to lose time with you." I didn't either. "So stop fighting this."

"I'm scared," I asnwer him, "I reallly fucking am." I really dont know where this will end up, nor do i know how our families will react. . .but he was right, I know he is right. "Promise me you wont leave me?"

"Promise," He whispered as his eyes zoned in on my lips, "I got us," I wanted to beleive him, so I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I promise."

Giving in, I ignored the discomfort in my back, slid into his lap, and kissed him, to which he eagerly reacted. Jaxon softly clutches the back of my neck, preventing me from pulling back as his lips work hungrily against mine. It had been a while since I had let him touch me in this way, so I know he will not pass up the opportunity to do so. "I missed you so fucking much," He whispered against my lips.  His words sent shivers down my spine, his hands sneaked inside my shirt, touching my exposed skin, and brushing over my wounds made me flinch back. Jax apologized immediately, "Sorry."

I smiled sadly at him, "It's okay," I gaze into his eyes lovingly, and that's when I realized I never said it back. "Hey Jax?"

"Mhm?" He hummed, 

"I love you too." 

 I did, I really did. 

. . . 

Rolling onto my stomach so I was facing Jax as we were wrapped up in sheets in bed, I lovingly gaze at him as he smiled down at me, "What?" He chuckled, 

"Nothing," I reply, "Just, cannot beleive that this is actually real." I really couldnt, having him here infront of me. It felt surreal at times. 

"Bea, we just had sex." He said bluntly, "You are insulting me,"

I giggle, "Hey, I didnt mean it that. way." He suddenly rolled us over so he was on top of me, "Jax!" I push my hands against his chest. 

"Then what way did you mean it?"

"It's hard to expain," I said smiling at him, "I just, really like having you. here with me, and thats not foten thats all." His michevious smile turned into a genuine one. "You know how our world is."

"Yeah," He replied falling to the side once again pulling me into his embrace, "I wish I could just turn off all the outside noise at times." 

"Agreed." I say softly, when it hit me, "Hey Jax? How is Lettie?"

He looked down at me hesistantly, "She is coping," He answered, "Dad sent her back to them, even adter what Harden did." Nothing less expected. "I havent heard anything since, I was planning to visit her tommorow." I wanted to ask him if I could go too, but I already knew the answer. It was going to me a mirable if they just ler him alone in, if I was there, they never. 

"Okay, let me know how it goes." I reply. 

He kissed the top of my head. "I will."

All I can do for now is hope that is she okay. .  .and I hated that. 

. . .

Harden's P.O.V.

"Harlow Quinn." Hendrix, Freddie's friend said throwing down two thick files onto our dining table. "This is the man who stole your container."  

"Quinn?" Dad asked stiffening up immediately as the the last name was told. I. look over at him curiously. 

"Yeah," Hendrix said slowly, "It took a while actually to find out his identity because he has used alot of alias over the past 22 years. Our tech had to assess a bunch of dark net sites to figure it out, he knows how to lay low." 

The colour from dad's face slwoly went away, he sat almost stonically, like wasnt apart of this conversation.  "Do you have an address?" Hunter asked 

He shook his head, "Unfortunately no, like I said hes really good at staying off the grid." This didn't help us at all. "Freddie was telling me that you all have connections everywhere so, this name should be enough for you to hunt him down."

"No," Dad shook his head, "If he has used multiple aliases thaen, finding him for us will just as challenging as for you." What is going on with him?

"Um," I say slightly distracted by his behaviour, "What is the most recent one that you have found Hendrix?" 

"Sebastian Whitmore." He responded, "That is the name that came up when the prints were ran but since we couldn't find an real address or number for that sake, our tech guy began to dig in and all this would found." Hendrix pointed at the two extremely large files.  "There is alot of dirt on this guy, and I mean alot."

"Thanks," I say to him with a soft smile, "We really appreitate the help Henrix." 

"No problem, as long as I get the cut that I asked for, I am happy to do more." Freddie chuckled slapping his back in an friendly manner. "Right Freddie?"

"Right man,"  He replied, "Here let me walk you out, as the big man and Harden talk things out." Hendrix bid us goodbye, leaving Hunter, Dad and I alone. 

I turned towards Dad and said, "Who is Harlow Quinn?"

I knew he knew, and now he had no where to run because this person is out to ruin us. This was the first time I had seen Dad scared, and I wanted to know just how much trouble we really were in. 

Dad stood up almost robotically, "Call Ross,"  He replied, "It's time that you all knew the truth of just how we got to the top."  With that he walked out of the room leaving Hunter and I stunned in our chairs. 

"What the fuck?" Hunter whispered with a anxious tone, 

He had never spoken about the past, he was never willing. . .but if this is connected to him somehow then it didn't take a genuis to realize that we, are so fucked.