The guys and Abby were already settled in the living room by the time I came back. I shake off the nerves and go sit by Kevin, letting Abby talk to Keith about something.

"Has she eaten?" I ask Kevin, who nods before speaking.

"We are telling her right now, aren't we?"

I nod before turning to face Abby, avoiding looking at anyone else.

"Abby," I call out to gain her attention. The moment she looked at me, I falter for a second before schooling my expressions into a blank mask. If I am going to tell her the truth, she needs to hear it in one go, expressions will just lead to diversions. "We need to tell you something."

Abby lets out a confused laugh, "No need to say that line Ash, it's the line a boyfriend uses right before he tells the girlfriend that he has been cheating on her."

"Well, we need to let you hear this so..." Ace cuts in.

"What is it?" Abby questions, now intrigued, as she leans forward giving us her undivided attention.

"Do you know anything about the... how do I say this... unlawful network?" Mason starts, trying to put it in the nicest way possible.

I snort.

"Unlawful network?"

Abby, Keith and I ask in sync while the rest give Mason a deadpan look. He shrugs before asking Abby again, "Whatever you can call it... have you heard of it?"

"Yeah... how can I not when our town is literally in the middle of three hubs of crime in the country? Like, the drug rackets and weapon dealings... the three surrounding towns are all about them. Though I wonder how come our town is still safe?"

Abby stands up while speaking and gets herself a can of sprite before asking, "What has that anything to do with us?"

Kevin stiffens beside me, and I gulp audibly. My heart beat increasing and anxiety making its presence apparent.

I am about to lose another best friend.

"About that... you know these... lawless activities-"

Abby cuts off Mason, "Crimes... these are called crimes. Continue."

"Right... um... So these crimes are done by a group of people. And those groups are called gangs and they have a leader and then an under boss and..."

She cuts him off again with a sigh.

"See, if this is about you guys trying to tell me that you all are a part of the gangs... then yes I know it."

Pin drop silence.

The burning in my chest reminded me to breath, me being momentarily too shocked to breath. I gasp, my lungs filling in the cold air.

The boys around me are in the same condition. Ace, for the first time in the past year looks caught off guard while Ryker stands tense, his phone near his feet as he dropped it on Abby's words. Mason tries to speak but no words come out, Keith shakes nervously and Kevin stares at Abby like has grown two heads.

We are shocked.

"How..." Kevin asks for all of us as we gather ourselves.

She shrugs, "I kinda started having doubts when the boys would disappear at odd times and sometimes come with cuts or bruises. Then I started noticing that even though Ash would stay with me, Ace or Ryker always seem to talk to her before and after these type of incidents.

Then came the fact that all of you would go to gym each week, even making me and Keith work out and fight in the name of self-defence. Ryker once told me that Keith hacks to cover up for people when needed, and Ace always forces us to have a day at shooting range every month."

I run a hand through my hair.

She is observant alright. A bit too observant.

I look over at Ryker to see him give me a nod, as he bit his lower lip.

He wants to know how far does Abby know of it.

"Abby," I lean forward, "How much do you know?"

"Just that Ryker and Ace seem to be leading this... you boys. Keith is the hacker, Kevin and Mason the ones that do the data collecting and keep a network spread to keep up with the others. But," Abby stops before asking, "What do you do Ash? Somehow you are connected in it, almost more... wise with these than even Ryker. But you still seem to not be involved. How is that possible?"

She knew a lot.

At least enough to know everything and yet not panic. I think the fact that she has had time to process all this and accept it as it is made it possible for her to not panic. She doesn't seem scared, which is weird.

Oddly, she seems hurt at the fact that we hid this from her... or maybe I am mistaken?

I sigh, deciding to rip of the band aid.

"I am not officially a part of the gang Abby. Though I know about the gangs and how these work for almost half a decade now, which is why Ry and Ace come to me at times to ask for help in strategies. But I haven't done anything myself.... Until recently."

Abby hums before getting up and gathering the packs that came with the food to clean up the place, "I don't really care anymore guys. Sure, I would have liked to be informed but I understand that you guys thought I would hate you all or run to the police so... Yeah... I understand."

She takes everything to the kitchen, where the shuffling tells me that she is throwing the waste in trash.

I sigh. Again.

Running my hand through my hair I tug at it in frustration.

"Ash..."

I look up at Ry coming to kneel in front of me, "We have to tell her everything."

I close my eyes, groaning before I nod and stand up.

I follow her in the kitchen where she had her back to me and before she can turn around, I speak, afraid that I will not have enough guts to tell her if I look at her.

"Abby... I am the one the police is trying to find for the murder of Professor Kane."

Glass shatter as the bowl in her hand slips. She turns around, her eyes filling up with tears as she looks at me in disbelief.

"W-What?"

"Abby..."

"N-No... No please don't. Don't say that!"

Abby starts shaking, trembling as keeps muttering. Her voice raising with each word, her eyes filling with tears that soon start falling.

"You can't say that Ashlyn! You- You can't be... My best friend can't be the murderer of my God father!"

I bite my lower lip to stop a whimper from escaping. Sadness, guilt and pity coursed through me as my best friend breaks apart in front of me. She keeps on muttering under her breath, hysteric and still trembling. Still crying.

I step forward, "I am sorr-"

"Stay away."

Abby shuffles back, stumbling and hitting the counter, using her hand to motion me back. It stung. Her rejection like that. I understand, but still it hurt.

"Abby, listen to m-"

"I-I don't... I can't stand your face right now."

I tense, heart falling into the pit of my stomach. I gulp, before running my hand through my hair. I nod hesitantly.

"I understand... I will leave right now. You can stay here."

"No." Abby shakes her head, "I am leaving. I am going to stay with Camille for some days, will go to college from there too... but just stay away from me."

I sigh heavily, nodding before leaving the kitchen and going to the living room.

The guys were sitting quietly, looking at me questioningly.

"She is going to stay at Camille's for some days. She took it bad. Wants me to stay away." At their solemn expressions, I rub my face to give me time to collect myself before continuing, "I want the twins to drive her there and Ace, get someone to keep an eye on her."

Ace nods, standing up taking out his phone to make the necessary calls needed to get people behind Abby.

"You know," Mason starts, his voice low but enough for all of us to hear, "It was just luck that you were awake last night Ash, but what if you are not this lucky the next time?

A dreadful silence fell on all of us.

I know Jayden will declare me under his wing, as he had already said. I trust him in at least this matter. But there are some who will attack with or without that fact. And then we have the other gang. Their men will attack soon enough too.

The silence breaks as Abby slowly locks her room. Crossing the living room, she gives all the boys a glance, completely ignoring me.

"Abby, we are going home anyway. We will drop you off." Kevin says, standing up and pulling Keith up as well and nods at us, before following the two out.

"Ash... I don't think you should stay here alone."

I look up at Mason, biting my lips as I contemplate.

Staying here means being alone with no idea when the next attack happens, I will be alone as well as will be helpless. If the last attack is anything to go by, being alone will not be in my favour.

But should I drag one of my friends in it with me?

I have no doubt that they are already keeping a watch for me, going with any of them means making them a clear target.

"No, I won't go with you, any of you. But I won't stay here too."

"That makes no sense Ash. Where will you go?"

"Ace is right Ashlyn, you are not making sense. Come with one of us, we all will stay together for some time." Ryker stands up, putting his hands in his pockets as he says.

"So you are saying I should go with you and make you a target too?"

"Uhh...I hate to say this," Mason cuts in, "But Ash is right. If we want to continue looking in to find the one to make her the price target and make sure we know who all are planning to attack her... we will need to make it seem as we are not connected to her at all."

"So we leave her here?" Ryker fumes, but Ace replies.

"No. I have an idea."

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