Madden stands up sharply. “I swear-”

“Enough!” Daniel raises his hand. “One Maury episode at a time. This episode is all about the bad-ass criminal who was dumb enough to fall for the cop's daughter. Now that we've had a sneak peak of next week's episode...finish Merrick.”

Leave it to Daniel to try to lighten the situation. Daniel...or Ben. Fuck, I miss Ben.

Swallowing the new anxiety from fucking up their relationship I continue, “She said yes.”

“Of course she said yes,” Drew mumbles.

“But I didn't want to be still involved with The Devil, so I went to him and made him an offer.” Seeing Madden's face pale I finish with, “One job. Just me. He agreed with the stipulation I had to do it in broad daylight with no mask.”

“To ruin you,” Drew sighs.

“To put you away,” Destin adds.

“To end you,” Daniel follows.

“Yeah, well that shit wasn't easy. I was shot at-”

“Where?” Madden interrupts. “Where did you go?”

“Some property in the middle of nowhere. The dude was a complete lunatic. He had his guard hunt me like a fucking deer-”

“Snake's Ranch? You went to Snake's Ranch?” Madden grumbles and starts to shake his head. “Are you fucking insane?”

I think given all the shit I've done lately, the answer to that is yes. Don't...don't agree.

Clenching his fists he grouses, “You took something from Snake? Fuck...”

“Why do you know who that is?”

“Because unlike you I actually know some shit about the enemy,” Madden growls. “What did you steal?”

“Nothing! All I had to do was get the keys and bring it back. Mind you, I had to find the keys in the maze of bullets being sprayed at me, before I could do that.”

“You don't know how lucky you are you didn't get shot. Snake's right hand is ex special forces.”

Explains the precision.

“I don't know how lucky I am? Are you fucking joking? I was the one hunted like Bambi!”

“At least Bambi was adorable,” Knox adds.

“He's adorable,” Destin defends me. “You know, it's funny how much in common you have with that cartoon deer.”

“Can we fucking focus please?” Drew snaps. “What happened after you left Snake's Ranch?”

“I had to bring the Hot Tottie back to The Devil, which I almost did except I got caught on the way back for having no tags. That kind of lead to a...man hunt for me.”

“That news report,” Destin says slowly. “They were hunting you?” When I nod he rolls his eyes. “Oh this is bad. So fucking bad.”

“My fiance is on a fucking timer to live. I know this is fucking bad!”

“Don't yell at me,” Destin demands. “I didn't fuck up!”

Before I can snip back Madden shakes his head. “All this bullshit for some girl...”

Feeling an anxiety clench in my chest, I try to not to launch at my brother. “She's not just some girl! That's like saying a Van Gogh painting is just some piece of art instead of a Masterpiece.”

Madden shakes his head again. “It is.”

I take a deep breath and shut my eyes.

Hitting him in the face once fucking hurt. Not real sure if that's what stopping me from hitting him again or if it's the fact I don't wanna make this situation any goddamn worse. Though I'm honestly at a point I'm not sure things can get any goddamn worse.

When I open my eyes I look at Knox. “Saying Jovi is just some girl is like calling Louboutins just shoes.” She shudders at the thought and I look at Triple D. “Or saying a Confederate Motorcycle is just a bike.”

Daniel points a harsh finger at me. “You bite your tongue.”

Looking at Madden in his eyes, I end with, “Or calling dad's favorite wrench just a tool.”

He looks away, but remains silent.

“Jovi is so much more than just some girl. She's...that final touch that makes my life a masterpiece. The little detail, that without it, I'm nothing more than just another prison sentence waiting to be served.”

“Go get cleaned up,” Knox instructs with a soft sigh. “I'll take care of the couch and your brothers will get started on a plan to save your life.”

“And my girl?”

“That's what I said.” She winks. “Now go.”

Madden holds a hand up to stop me. “If you were supposed to deliver a Hot Tottie, why did he say he wanted his package?”

The realization slams my ass back against the edge of the couch. “Fuck...”

“Do you have any idea where that package is in that Hot Tottie?”

Shaking my head I deny, “It didn't even register that he-”

“Sloppy,” Madden snips. “That's fucking sloppy, Merrick.”

“I-”

“Go,” he demands rubbing the top of his head. “Go get cleaned up.”

I give my family, who is ready to go to war for me, one last look. The people who are ready to risk their lives, their freedom, their safety, to save mine.

That may be what family is for, but I'm tired of putting them in this position. I'm gonna be the one to fix this. I have to be. If anyone deserves to pay with their life for this it's me.

Jovi

There's a steady thumping in my head that causes me to groan loudly.

Why would you let me get drunk with Hayli? How was that a good idea? I know couple spats are hard but...wait what do you mean I didn't get drunk with Hayli? What do you mean I dreamt that? Okay, if that was a dream then why does my head feel like I was hit by freight train?

A soft voice questions, “You okay?”

Very slowly I roll over to a sight that's unfamiliar. The young female looks like an angel waiting to receive her wings. Her dark brown hair is braided to the side of her tanned skin. Her slim figure is covered in all white clothing making her blue eyes pop even more.

Who the hell is she?

Instead of speaking I simply nod.

“Good,” she whispers in what sounds like relief. “The Devil will be in very shortly to talk to you, but he's not the first thing any person should have to see when they wake up.”

Her humor makes me smirk.

At least she seems sweet.

She extends her hand for me to shake. “I'm Melody.”

I introduce myself as well. “Jovi.”

“Ghost's girlfriend.”

My heart aches instantly. Unsure if it's from the fact he is who he is or from the fact that I'm not exactly his girlfriend any more, I don't respond.

“By your reaction, I take it you had no idea what he did for a living.” She helps me sit up against the pillows, my entire body burning with an unfamiliar pain. “If it helps, he was trying to get out of this to be with you.”

I open my mouth to ask for more information, but shut it as soon as the door opens revealing a face that looks like it's come to sell me a new car or a new fridge.

Salesman look very similar despite what they're selling.

“Ahhh...” the male coos out and adjusts his tie. “You're finally awake.” With a wave of his wrist he says, “Melody get her breakfast now.”

“Yes sir,” she replies and slips out the door as he shuts it.

Once it's just the two of us he folds his arms across his chest and gives me a hard look. “Comfortable?”

Probably as comfortable as I'm going to get in a strange room with strange people. How did I get here? Why can't I remember a goddamn thing?

“I should probably start at the beginning.” His hands drop to slide into his pockets. “I'm the one who had you kidnapped.”

Kidnapped?! I've been kidnapped!

“Ghost...you know him best as Merrick McCoy, and I had a deal. I would let him free of my services to run off into the sunset with you if he did one final job for me. My money was on him dying during the job, but when he didn't I got very excited that something I wanted very fucking badly was going to be on my door step soon. Problem is...he got spotted. Now I have no package. I'm not a happy man. Or a patient one.”

Or forgiving if kidnapping me was how he dealt with that...