Chapter 14: The End

~Ariah~

Quickly getting dressed before the sun could even rise and sneaking out the door. "Ma'am?" A maid called out confused seeing her sneaking out the house. "Good morning. I have an early meeting. If anyone asks." She smiled to her as the maid understood how busy she was with her line of work. Ariah hurried to the Uber driver as she went down to the secret garden near the woods on the other side of town. She noticed the trail of flower heads leading all the way to their bench. Whenever they meet up once in awhile she would take a stroll with Phoenix or the guys and for some reason they would always end up here. Sitting down lifting the last head to throw in the fountain in front of her. The voice behind her didn't catch her off guard at all. "I've always loved this place. My mother brought me here when I was little, my dad too. This was the exact spot he saw my mom, proposed to her. Hell even when she discovered she was pregnant with me. My dad had the bench made just for her to come and sit down when she waddled around with me in her belly she would have a place to rest. Ironic we always found ourself coming here too. Maybe it only seems fitting." Sitting down next to her. "I always wanted to share this spot with the person I wanted to share my life with as well. Life is a small crazy world, no?" He chuckled only for her to nod her head eyes never leaving the fountain.

"It's been a long time Air." "Yeah, well you've been busy haven't you." She told him in the most disappointed tone. "Something like that. Kind of hard not to be when my business has been getting attacked in every way possible and my men seem to be dropping like flies." He said in a sad tone. Making tears appear in her eyes as she shut them tight. "Why come forward to me now? How do you know this isn't some sort of set up?" "Because I know you Ari. Whether you like that or not, I do. There is so much to talk about. We can't do that here." He told her pushing a stray hair out of the way behind her ear as she moved quickly like his touch was acid to the feel. "I'm not going anywhere with you Nix." "Don't you trust me even a little, where's that sense of adventure you have Ari the need to know the real truth?" Smiling down to her as he stood up stretching out his hand. "It's all dead, the minute you decided to lie to me. Look what my trust in you, my taste for adventure gets me when you are involve Nix JUST FUCKIGN LOOK AT ME!" Gunner looked over all her bruises as she wore a sundress it was easier to see the wrapped knee and the stitches in her forehead and purple, green and black arms.

"That was never supposed to happen, you were never meant or supposed to have gotten hurt." "HOW COULD I NOT?! You left me a note saying you knew I would be there don't play stupid with me now Gunner what else was supposed to happen when you blew me up?" Standing up to yell at him a little more. "HE was supposed to have gotten you out!" "WHO?! OW!" She held her neck as she took out the dart turning she could only see someone tall and fuzzy walking to her as her body collapsed into Phoenix arms. Picking her up and cradling her to him as the sun had now risen. "Seth get us there. Lincoln will be waiting to help us, make sure Benny and Jared are ready." Pulling into the abandoned warehouse. "Ronnie get some men and keep all the doors blocked. Lincoln you got the flight set up to go home?" "Yes sir, plane will be read in four hours. I already got the maids getting everything ready. It's been along time since we been home. Spain going to be beautiful this time of year." Lincoln smiled to him getting off the computer.

Waking up and coming to with her neck sore and her head still fuzzy to see a table of some pastries and water and sweet tea. She was hand cuffed both by an ankles and wrist to the table. "It's just a precaution love, it's nothing personal. I just need you to stay put for awhile at least until we can get on the plane." "I'm not getting on a plane with you Phoneix my life is here. Everything I have ever worked for is here. I'm not walking out on it." "Of course not my love. You will be able to still do your job. I just happened to have a special someone transferring you over to Spain you will still be an Elite officer just in another country is all. I know how important your job is to you and how good you are at it. I also know that your Spanish is great you will thrive there just as you are here." He encouraged her. "You don't seem to get it, I'm not leaving my family is here. I won't be leaving with you if you care about me as much as you think you do Moretti you would know that and would never be doing this to me in the first place. Then again the thing with you mafia men is you're all the fucking same." She spat out. "What did you just say to me?" Phoenix roared to her like she just slapped him in the face.

~No One's P.O.V~

It did not take Xavier's men to have the whole place surrounded all the out side guards dead, and now the only ones left was who ever was on the bottom floor as the were hidden well within the building listening to ever word they were saying waiting for the go signal. Xavier even felt insulted by the line looking at the note she left him with her writing on the back. 'Just Trust me. Trust me the way you should have.' Making his heart clench reading the line he knew he had to play this by her rules just for now. She even admitted she knew just how this had to end. Axel next to him listening intently. Nodding his head. "We should have recruited her damn man she's good. This going to be good." Axel smiled whispering to him.

"I said you and Reaper there is no difference between the two of you if you really break down the facts. You both don't trust me so you've lied to me during my relationship with both of you which is pretty shitty of you especially since I did take five bullets for you and my father took ten bullets because of your father. So I'd say letting me shoot you a good five to fifteen times would make us about even. But then again were both orphans now so the five should be fine." She snapped at him cutting him off before he could speak. "I'm not finished yet Nix wait your damn turn see I've had A LOT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I NEED TO SAY TO YOU and you are going to listen to me. Then I will listen to you it's how a conversation between friends work right?" Nix just sat down and crossed his legs and nodded for her to continue.

"That's what I thought. You both have lied to me this whole time then put me in front of you as if I was the dishonest person." "That's not true." "Am I not cuffed to a table right now?" He went silent. "Exactly shut up. I put so much faith into you both and I have no idea why what good did it do me? I was trying to do my job and protect people and you both are selling the same drugs am I fighting to get off the streets, shooting my men and each other with the same guns I'm fighting to get off the streets. YOU"RE STILL SELLING PEOPLE I'm TRYING TO PROTECT! You guys have done nothing but put a wedge between me and my job the very fucking thing I have bleed, sweated for the very damn thing I have busted my ass for years for. For what to become some damn pawn between rival mafias I was supposed to be saving a city from." She was roaring making ever man in the whole warehouse heart hurt from both sides.

"For what? To find out no matter what I do will make no real difference. I've lost everything to you people. I lost my father, I probably am a disappointment to my mother now for being involved with any of you. Everyone my whole life ahs lied to me and withheld information on me and even my family. I have been constantly hurt or injured because of both of you Gunner FUCKING both you and Reaper. Hell I'm still hurt because of you. I have more scars on body from the time I met you both then I have in all my year of training also got more holes now as well. You two keep fighting each other. Trying to think your protecting me from the other LOOK AT ME! RIGHT NOW LOOK AT ME does this look like I've been very well protected to you by either of you? You both are so selfish. You both knew who I was and still couldn't just let me be. You made me get to know you. You let me fall into relationships with both of you and your friends. Maybe even your family for what? To use me? To make some damn item you two are desperate to obtain what am I bragging rights some damn trophy I can't be that important to either of you if this is what's going to happen to me if this is going to be my life trapped by both of you losing my freedom, my own choices on how to live my life. What about my wants and needs why doesn't that matter." She was shaking her head.

"I am not either one of either of your mothers who can succumb to Stockholm syndrome like your mother. Or let a man who claims loves me but shackles me in room until I bend to his will like Maddison. I will fight and claw for my freedom. You can't sit there and tell me you love if you have to lock me up until I earn your trust. What about my trust. I have been the only faithful person but I will be the only one punished for it right? Pathetic. All of you men on how you have treated all of us is pathetic you all are nothing but cowards, lying manipulative cowards. I can't believe I let any of you in, I can't believe I trusted or love any of you when this is all any of us is ever going to be. It's never going to change." She was silently crying now.

"I will only speak for Reaper this one time on this one thing. We are nothing like our fathers when it comes to our women have never done to you what any other queen before you ever has and I swear on both our lives you never will Ari." Phoenix told her sadly. Xavier watching could only nod his head in agreement to that statement. "Says the man sneaking me out of the country against my will, who cuffed me to the table. Doesn't look like much difference." She responded coldly. "I love you Ariah and I am selfish bastard for not being able to let you go. You know what I never will either. I will fight for you and over until my last breath. You are so amazing you are everything I have ever needed and wanted in a woman you are everything a Donna, Queen should be and you where it well. Soldiers from all over will follow you into battle because you are smart, loyal, passionate, grounded, and you put their needs first you fight along side them with them and that's what a real leader does Ari. You're only problem is you trust in the wrong people." Phoenix told her as he walked around to her.

"Right now my secret weapon and some of my other men have successfully placed bombs all around Xavier's legit business and his home. They should be on the news soon enough. Which was easy to do since he left his house distraught looking all over for you. Must have been scary for him after the night he had trying to find you. Only to wake up alone no clue no trace of you. Knowing how angry you are at him. DO you think he's wondering if you left him for good like the note you had sent to his parents house with flowers said you did. I mean since you put in the transfer from your desk last night." Phoenix told her as she grew angry was he right, or is this just a play. Enzo and Ryder laughing because they got ahold of all the explosives and put them around Phoenix's plane and his own home. Dumb ass he thought until they heard Angelo on the walkie. "Everybody wait for the signal it'll be soon." Sitting back watching the rest of the show in front of them.

"Just how exactly do you expect me to believe that. No one can get into my office." "My love that was too simple." Walking into the room standing tall and still rocking the button up and jeans. "Jace?" She whispered out in sadness. "So this is how you knew about who was who's puppet. You were supposed to pull from the blast which is why you told me to wait on the phone. This is why you my friend? Was any thing ever real with any of you?" She asked shaking her head in disappointment. "Everything between us is and will always be real Ari. I love you maybe not the same way as Reaper and Gunner does, but I still have love for you. You know I'm only a few years older then you. Besides I become apart of all of this because I owe a debt." "That debt has been repaid in full. In fact I even made him the second in command to help keep this place in line while were gone. At least I know Jace won't stir you in the wrong direction." Nix told her in sarcasm then it clicked to her.

"That's why you sent your men to Killian, and why you send those men to fuck up and get Liam caught by Xavier isn't it. They both died and they both told me to run to get far away from here from both of you. They both had a single passport found on them with a ticket. That wasn't ever going to used for them it was for me wasn't it they were trying to save me from both of you. You had them killed." NO ONE WILL TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ME ARIAH!" Gunner snapper and roared out shaking the whole place. All of Xavier's men were shocked he killed his own leads because they tried to help their queen. How horrible is this man to where even the seconds and third try to do their job and save their queen. Xavier was shocked by the announcement Axel, Ryder, Enzo, and Hunter all looking at each other caught up as well. "That was your family." "YOU are my family.. You will be giving me my family. The empire we will run together." "So you think my debt is repaid sir?" "I do indeed." Moretti laughed a little.

"I think we should let Ariah decide that." "Oh?" "Yes. Maybe I should explain better." Taking out this gun and firing it on eight of the Gunners men around them. Grabbing a grenade and pulling the pin half way out standing over Phoenix. "Group B NOW!" Angelo told them as half of their men from the top only took one shot at the rest of the men to shoot the guns out of their hands. "You see Ariah, I am always a cop first. I was a cop puppet to pretend to get close to Moretti to protect my real target. You." "How am I your real target are you one of Reapers men?" "Nope I am and forever will only and always be your man. I didn't mean that to come in a romantic term." HE laughed out. "My debt I owe is to Caleb Aldermen. Phoenix's father killed mine and sold my mother to a brother in some country in Africa she died on the transport over there due to the drugs they shoved in her. His father sold me as well, your dad bought me I was the only child on the auction. He was with Angelo as they came in and bombed the place but they couldn't get to my mother in time as she was sold before and couldn't find the way they used to follow her out. They did find me her body and I was able to cremate her. Your dad sent me away to boys boarding school because I didn't want to be a burden and he respected my wishes he and Russo paid in full until I was nineteen and got to go to the same training you did. Ironic no? I promised your dad I would always look after you whenever and however I could. I knew who Gunner and Xavier were because I was always under cover in training I ran parts for both sides none of them knew the difference except for Angelo, he knew the whole time who I was. I owe my life to your dad Ari I can never repay that. Not anymore anyways." He told her sadly she knew it was only because he was dead. Jace tossed the little book at her. Picture album with all three men she knew for most of her life in all various stages of Jace's with a picture of him his real parents in the back.

Xavier came walking in with his whole crew behind him. "Got to be the first to say sorry about your plane man it seems to have randomly blew up." Ryder told Phoenix with a smirk. "You son of a bitch." Phoenix roared to him as he came swinging punches to Xavier as Xavier was blocking and swinging them back. "Shouldn't we be taking him into the play room like the rest of his men?" Derek asked them. "Naw this is been along time coming." Angelo told him. "Yeah let them go." Papa Tony told them as he got Ariah out of the cuffs. Jace helping her up on the bad leg. "I am sorry for not telling you. You had so many other people letting you down I just couldn't add myself to that list just yet. You are like the little sister I never had, but honestly you're my best friend so I don't know what to do if you stay mad at me I won't be able to handle that well." He laughed out being honest. "I think we are both fine except for when you hit me with that damn dart. It was that or someone else clunk you on the head." HE shrugged as they watched Xavier beat on Phoenix ass. Gunner was a lot stronger then anyone thought. Xavier finally hit him in the head so hard that he knocked him out, then picked him up and threw him a few feet away unconscious on the ground he came rushing up catching his breath wiping blood off his face to look Ariah over.

Taking a step back Xavier was giving a few men orders on what to do when a shiny little reflection light caught Ariahs gaze as she watched Gunner aiming his gun at Xavier. Shoving herself on trying to get him out of the way when the sound of the shot and the pain that went straight to shoulder. "YOU CANT" HAVE HER EITHER!" Gunner told him as he shot at her four more times hitting her in various places quickly Xavier had no way to get her cover only to pick her up and run out to George to hurry them to a hospital as Papa Tony and Angelo got ahold of Phoenix Slitting his throat open and shooting him in the penis until they went through five other men's guns and magazines. Rushing her into the hospital he owned. They took her quickly and kept her in surgery for hours. The room filled with people. Xavier asked most to leave except the usual family. Letting Jace stay. "Medina!" Everyone looked around not even shocked.

"Mr. Medina your wife is a very lucky woman. Two bullets just went straight through her shoulder no damage done just loss of blood its already been stitched and will heal nicely. The other bullet grazed her side so nothing more then some dressings. The fourth bullet went and grazed the thigh of the already injured leg. She just has some dressings on it also the fifth bullet was a bit of trouble we almost couldn't get it completely out her heart gave out on us twice and she lost so much blood the bullet was in one of her ovaries it went straight in and down that way crazy really never seen anything like it before. We were able to get her bag, she is now resting and we managed to save the ovary she will still be able to have children in the future. You can go see her she won't be waking up until tomorrow her body needs time to heal." Xavier's heart felt like it got ripped out and shoved right back in. "Thank you." "Son we'll go home and come by later, just go take of our girl." Russo told him as everyone with tears filled in their eyes they turned and left.

Sitting in the room she opened her eyes to find him lost in thought starring at her. "Hey." She rasped out as he gave her a drink of water. "Hey." Smiling down to her. "You scared me you know your heart quit twice." "Well it's working fine now that you're here." She reached out for his hand as he held the slight smile on his face. "You were right. In the warehouse when you were telling off Moretti. It's our fault every single time you've ever gotten hurt. We were both equally to blame hell you took five bullets for each of us Ari. You would not be in this mess if it wasn't for us. You wouldn't be here if I never laid my eyes on you." Xavier was telling her feeling guilty. "I can't bring myself to regret it though, because meeting you was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life. I am so sorry for all the damage and chaos I brought into your life. I ever even asked you what you really wanted I just came in like a hurricane a big ass tornado and just expected you to be ok with everything. I never wanted you to feel anything like the queens before you did. Yet I did strip the choice from you I never even asked you to be mine I just told you, you were." "Xavier! Stop. I know what I said in there. That wasn't for you. That was for him. That was everything he was doing. It may be similar but I just threw your name in there to piss him off. You never once hurt me physically just emotionally with the whole trust thing, our own regular relationship issue stuff normal couple stuff. It was Gunner who always got me fucking hurt. Him and his men. You always saved me. You give me choices every time you left me walk away and get my space. No other man in your family has done that when they first started in their relationships. You are not the same please don't believe in that I didn't' mean it that way. Not for you." She begged him.

"I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for you. If I never met you I still would have met Gunner through work and he would have probably taken me on that plane kidnapped me off to Spain or worse. I am thankful you are in my life Xavier I love you and I would never know real family and happiness if I didn't have you. I am sorry for worrying you, but I promised you I would always make my way back to you." She told him as crashed his lips onto hers. "I was so broken until you came. I don't know what to do without you." He choked out. "Luckily you wont ever find out. We're both were broken Xavier, but we don't have to stay that way as long as we have each other." Nodding along to her. "Well now my queen you need to make a full recovery because we got a city to run." He smirked to with that look in his eyes that always brought trouble. "Together?" Coming up to crash his lips to hers one more time. "Together."

~The End~

(For Now)