Franco's POV:

It was 6:15 am and it's a good damn time to do the usual in the shower where I crank up my fav tunes from my phone. I heaved a blissful sigh not from the cool temp from the shower but this song, Stand By Me by Ben E. King, made my morning soothing from all the shit that was bugging me from last night.

While the water drops splash my skin, I let out a hum of a tune and began belching out the lyrics from the song.

"So darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand...
Stand by me."

I sang before a chuckle escaped from my lips, curling into an evocative grin.

You sure had great taste, Grams.

I thought as nostalgia hit me like a truck where my mind flashed an image of Grams smiling radiantly at me. Boy oh boy, it takes me back to the ole' days. While washing off the suds from my hair, I open my eyes to gaze at the reflection from the bathroom wall. Misery wavers in my pupils, lips are straight, and memories from my early youth days swirling in my brain.

~~~~~

It was a quiet afternoon in the park. The skies are clear, the sounds of water flowing in fountains bring a sense of serenity in my ears, a few ducks and their ducklings quacking and swimming in the lake, and weather ain't hot or cold, just how I like it. But most of all, Lil' ole me gets to spend more time with the best person in the world on our days off of work.

"Lachlan."

She extends her arm and points her finger. My eyes followed where her finger was directed till it landed on a bald eagle perching on the branch.

"Ah, bald eagle. My teacher told me once that they appear when it's the nesting season for 4 ½ years." I said, remembering what my teacher rambled today.

"Mhm. Now keep focus on that eagle." She advised as I nod my head while keeping my eyes on the eagle. Soon I heard a faint chipper and a loud ruffle from my left. I glanced at the bush till a squirrel popped from the bushes. I blink my eyes at the sight of the small critter before me as I dart back to the eagle. His feathers ruffled, its neck sticking out, and his eyes locked sharply at the squirrel gettin' ready to pounce on the lil' guy. Then I switched my eyes back to the small prey where I let my eyes back to the small runt where I let my eyes trail away on the squirrel scurrying across the sidewalk without any awareness till a quick swoop flash before my eyes.

As I expected, I glance at the eagle gliding through the sky screeching in midair with the poor squirrel dangling from its talons.

"Ya see here? That's an example of how life works." Grams informed as she saunters and I trail alongside with her.

"There's a short supply of kindness in this world. People sniff it out, and they swoop right the fuck in." Grams explained as she turned to me.

"Don't ever fall in the love. That's one instinct you can't trust. Get me?" She sternly reminded me.

"Yes! I promise!" I replied with a strong nod without hesitation.

~~~~

It was those words Grams told me when I was a kid. I still felt a heavy pang in my heart from that memory of her. Her words echoed in my mind as a reminder of my place.

"Don't fall in love..." I muttered while gazing at my own reflection on the wall. There's no light in those cerulean eyes of mine. Just like how there's not enough light to prevent me from drowning into my own darkness. Soon I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh from my nose before I went back washing off the suds from my body.

I definitely didn't forget Grams' warning. It's one of the rules that Raptors never break. If so, then it's game over for us. Most people believe that love prevails all, but for me...that's a whole nother story. Grams, Ash, me, and the rest of the crew are from the streets. As big baroness Vulture said, "You have two choices: Ride or Die.". That's our main motto in the Raptors.

There's no room for trust nor love. Raptors don't belong in the light. We roam through the streets and glide in the darkness till we lose our wings and fall from the skies. Death doesn't matter to us, the only thing that matters is gettin' the job done. Sellin' drugs and huntin' down prey who don't pay what they owe with our bloodstained hands is what we do here. And most importantly, we protect our territory from other gangs who think they could get one over on us.

That's the life that we live in this fucked up society and there's no way we can stop any time.

Suddenly, a loud knock bang through the door that made me paused.

"Franco! You done? We got a job to do!" A familiar gruff voiced boomed that made me heaved a sigh.

"Comin'." I replied to him as I turn the knob off. I push the curtains away and grab a towel to dried myself.

Might as well get things over with.

I reminded myself, ruffling my hair with the towel and plop them to the ceramic floor as I prepare for the morning.

Ashby's POV:

***Ashby Franco^***

While Hong's checking in with my bro, I tap my fingers on my phone searchin' for that hotshot guy who snatched our drugs yesterday. Thank god that catfishing bitch, Nightjar was nice enough to gave us his insta info. Jeez, how annoying. If you don't have money to pay for things, then don't buy it at all. This ain't charity after all.

Soon I heard footsteps from behind and next thing I know, Gavin plop his arm around my neck and peer his eyes above me.

***Gavin Diamond^***

"Still searching for him, hm?" He asked with that irritatingly perky grin.

"Fuck off." I snapped while tapping my phone.

"Whoa, somebody's woken up the wrong side of the bed." A grating smooth voice that made me click my tongue. Gavin then whip his head and beamed him with a merry wave.

"Morning Sanjay!" He chirped.

"Buenos Días." He greeted nonchalantly and pulls the chair and sat next to us as he slide closer.

***Sanjay Santiago^***

"So any luck for finding our dolor en el culo customer?" He asked curiously placing his elbow on the table where he leans his cheek on his palm with a languid grin.

"Workin' on it." I replied scrolling through his cringey ass posts while ignoring Gavin and Sanjay peering from my shoulders.

"Huh. So he's a quarterback." Gavin commented tilting his head with his Kelly green eyes gleaming in curiosity.

"Makes sense why he's built. Not to mention he's a good looker-."

"Yet his attitude from yesterday is bloody shit." Soon I heard Rusty's gruff Australian potty mouthed voice where Sanjay and Gavin spun their heads to see the ginger sauntering in the kitchen.

***Rusty Owens^***

"Oh! Morning Rusty!" Gavin chirped merrily.

"Well pleasure seeing you, Rusty. How's Dawn going?" He asked curiously, standing up from his seat.

"Ah it's fine 'cept Whitney was giving me the earful this morning." He grumbles, ruffling his hair with a disgruntled look. Sanjay's lips curled into a sympathetic smile and lays a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, I know things between you and Whitney aren't going well, but try to focus on your kid and don't drag her into your guys' shit." He reassured with Gavin bobbing his head.

"Mhm, and don't forget your grandma too. She loves you and Dawn so much." He twittered with a bright grin as Rusty heaves a sigh through his nose.

"Thanks, mates." He replied while rubbing his neck. As I blocked everything from behind where I kept my eyes glued to the screen till I found his recent post that made me scoff and shook my head with a chuckle. Oh motherfucker has no idea what he's getting into. "King of the bitches" my ass, Cassowary will kick your ass if ya say shit like this.

"Found it." I spoke, drawing everyone else's attention to me where the three of them crowded close to me. Soon, I felt Sanjay's lips crept into an amused smirk.

"Well what do you know. His party is taken to my stomping ground." He pointed out crossing his arms to his chest.

"Did you let Domingo know about our target?" Gavin asked curiously turning to the weird flirty guy. Sanjay's eyes shut for a moment with his lips went from smug to a straight line as if he's trying not to be repulsed by the mere mention of his name. Can't blame him tho, that guy's giving me gross vibes.

Soon I heard him humming softly and tapping his fingers against his pants as his way of distracting himself from thinking about him.

"..Yeah and I'm going to stay with him tonight for our...private session." He shuddered while smiling widely, hunching his shoulders. Gavin averts his eyes and rubs his neck awkwardly; probably feeling bad for asking him that. Then I heard Rusty clearing his throat as loud as he can trying to diminish the tension going on in the room.

"Well, try veg out for now and don't let him get to ya. In the meantime, we gotta figure out a plan first if we want to corner that fuckwad tonight." Rusty informed.

"R-Right! We mustn't be distracted by this, we got a job to do and that's finding that jerk...uhh-."

"Niall." I answered casually.

"Yeah! What Ash said! And once he spilled the beans, we'll go to where he hides it, snatch it, and call it a night! Boom! Simple!" He explained cheerfully as he puffs his nose looking so proud of himself. I rolled my eyes mildly scoffing at his stupidly irritating joyful face yet...I don't hate it. He look like a golden retriever that wants to be praised.

"Speaking of plan, where's Franco, Hong, and Scotty? We're supposed to be gathered for a meeting right now." Sanjay asked stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Hong's upstairs getting Franco, but knowing my bro he's probably singing in the shower again. Scotty, I don't know. He's might or might not be dealing with his...you know..."

"Get the fuck out!"

"Wángbā Dán!"

Annnnd here comes Dark Scotty's voice, booming from above alongside his annoying door slams and Hong cursing in Chinese that made me winced and hunch my shoulders. Groans and sighs evoked from the trio as well.

"Dark Scotty's at it again." Sanjay sighed shaking his head, ruffling his hair.

"No fucking kiddin'. It ain't easy to deal with a split personality that can take over your life. Take about heartbreakin' if ya know what I mean." Rusty stated crossing his arms.

Soon we heard two footsteps creaking from ceiling all the way from the stairs.

"Here come two footsteps." Gavin pointed out. Bro must've done his shower already and probably seen Dark Scotty and Hong's fight, but tries to keep things cool as always. As soon as we twist our heads, a pissed off Hong stomping his way grumbling in Chinese with my bro tailing him along until they reached us.

***Hong An^***

"Gāisaǐ de húndàn, zǒng shì ràng wǒ tóutòng yù liè..." He ranted in Chinese, placing his elbow on the table as he dishevels his hair with a tongue click. I don't know any Chinese or Spanish, but I do feel the menacingly agitation overflowing in this goddamn room. Neither of us said word while some avert or turn away from the tension. Soon I heard my brother clap his hands resoundingly, dissipating the apprehension with everyone including myself spun our heads to him.

***Lachlan Franco^***

"Ok, Scotty's goin' to be out for a while again, so let's start the game plan. Ash, any updates on the target?" He asked turning to me. I nod to him and show him his post from his insta profile.

"This is his post from yesterday. Sayin' his party's gonna be at Lusty's tonight. Sanjay even talked with Cassowary last night and he doesn't mind as long as he works twice as much as usual." I informed him, keeping my eyes focus on my bro.

"Which is a good sign." He said approaching to the table as he fumbles his pocket to pull out a folded paper. Franco unroll it and spreads out until it flattens on the table revealing a map of Cassowary's club.

Then he points his finger to the upper left middle that says "main entrance".

"This is where he and his party rockers start their New Year's Eve party." He explained as Franco darts his eyes to Rusty.

"First, Rusty will disguise himself as a bouncer where he will cue signal once our main target enters the club." Franco explained with the ginger haired Aussie sending a thumbs up to him. He drags his finger below where numbers 1-14 are between the stage and the bar. His eyes swift to both Sanjay and Gavin.

"Then, Sanjay will flock around the stage to keep the his buddies and other high schoolers away while Gavin gives them drinks to keep them satisfied so they won't noticed me passin' by." He informed. I soon click my tongue and shake my head, already know what I'm going to be doing tonight. Soon I heard a sigh and his footsteps ambling his way towards me. His hand laid on my head before feeling his palm caressing my hair.

"I get that it's a hassle, but you know me. This is the safest one I can think of. You'll be doing the lookout tonight." He told him. I glance up at him.

"You said that before." I grumbled, puffing my cheeks with a frown.

"It's better than placing you in the club where there's a chance you'll be gang up on or kidnapped and taken to human trafficking." Franco explained.

"And I have to stay with Scotty tonight cuz who knows what would happen if he were to left alone in this damn house?" Hong expounded. I bit the inside of my cheek, scrunching my brows. I hate to admit it, but Hong's got a point. There's a time when Scotty's spacing out to the point where he can't hear or ain't focus on his surroundings. None of us aren't mind readers due to his constant switch from Light to Dark Scotty, yet seems to forget things that he did or say...

Speaking of Scotty, here comes him dawdling all the steps till he arrives in the kitchen.

***Light Scotty^***

"You've arrived earlier than before. Have you and Dark made common ground?" Sanjay asked curiously.

"For now..." He replied, stroking the back of his head before letting out a sigh. Then he stop and opens his eyes filled with guilt and placed his hand to his chest.

"But I want to come with you. I will do my best to make sure the plans smoothly as you expect." He declared yet most of us sat there looking hesitant before my bro's voice cuts in.

"You sure?" Franco asked skeptically, studying his face to make sure he ain't lying. His eyes don't seem to have any deceit, but rather there's a hint of uncertainty in his pupils before Scotty shuts his eyes as he lightly shakes his head. As always, he's trying not to let his limits get to him. Soon, he opens his ebony eyes but with a strong glimmer where he smiled assertively.

"I'm positive. I want to do this cuz I want to make up for my absence yesterday so please give me a chance." He firmly asserted as he stands his ground with determination wavering in his eyes. None of us didn't say anything as if we're not surprised by his attitude. I keep an eyes glued on Franco where he stared at Scotty intently for like six minutes before he heaved a sigh with his eyes shut and twist his head from him.

"Do what you want." He casually replied as Franco opens his cerulean eyes, but darts his eyes at Hong as a stern reminder to keep his eyes on him tonight. Of course, he got the message and bob his head. I scoffed and avert my eyes away, folding my arms to my chest.

I guess that's official tonight...

I thought, irritated that I'm doing the same thing as before, I shook my head and glance back at my bro trying to listen on his plan. Soon my bro reverts his composure turns his gaze back to us.

"Anyways, that's the plan for tonight. Hong, you will be in the truck with Ash. Once I manage to find our stuck up rich customer, I'll keep him busy while using my phone to call Scotty so he could listen on till he reveals the location of our drugs. When he does, it's his cue to snatch them. After that, Scotty will cue us minus Sanjay to get the fuck out of there." Franco informed with all of us nod in response including Scotty.

"I'll do my best, Franco." He saluted with resilient Ebony eyes. Franco crept a warm smile before turning back to us.

"Right. Prepare your wings men..." Soon my bro's lips curled into a vigorous smirk with cerulean eyes gleaming in dark determination that we all know and adored. A face that was known to man that shivers down to every prey and raptor's spines. "Because tonight's the night we soar!" He proclaimed with so much pride and intensity with the rest of the gang nod and smirked in agreement while I sat there admiring my bro. Oooo I can feel the excitement and thrills in my bones!...

...And I'm gonna enjoy every minute of it tonight.

Notes:
-The name "Grams" Franco called her is a short word for "grandma".

-The word "Buenos días" means "good morning" in Spanish.

-The word "dolor en el culo" means "pain in the ass" in Spanish.

-The word "Wángbā Dán" means "son of a bitch" in Chinese.

-The word "Gāisaǐ de húndàn, zǒng shì ràng wǒ tóutòng yù liè" means "fucking bastard, always giving me a splitting headache." in Chinese.