Chapter 1

Ares "..."

I glanced at the dark file, it had the large imprint of the number "911", using my thumb I flicked the cover over. I began to read the information it contained but then narrowed my eyes. My vision was blurry and just trying read was painful.

Even if I hated the thought I needed glasses.

I shut the file in agitation and placed it on my table.

"Tell me it's contents," I said to Jake. He stretched forward collecting the file, cleared his throat and let out a breath as he began to read.

"... he has a daughter, she attends xxx college online. She is 19 years old. Never leaves home"

"There," I interrupted him.

" His daughter?" Jake questioned, his brows rose . My eyes never left him and he took that as a yes and nodded.

He glanced at his identical twin, Chris.

They had different hair styles though. They shared the same look, both surprised with the turn of events.

" I thought we would just kill the guy?" Jake questioned out loud. Chris nodded at his brothers words.

"Killing is getting a little boring isn't it?" I started.

"Get his daughter, place a ransom... the documents, give him an hour, no papers? she dies," I continued, playing with a coin in between my fingers.

The brothers stared at me still surprised but nodded anyway and marched out of my office.

My eyes searched the room as soon as I heard the door shut.

An object...anything.

With a swift flick the coin spun across the room, smashing the painting that hung on the dark wall ahead. It was a a piece I had spent some time on. Glass shattered and fell to the floor further breaking to shards.

I leaned forward over my table placing my gloved hands over the edge for support and spoke through the intercom.

" Marcus come clean this mess"

I leaned against the leather chair I was sitting on sorting my thoughts out when my consigliere, Adam, walked into the room. Shutting the door behind him, he strode towards me and placed a small, black, rectangular leader case in front of me.

"Your lenses Ares," He said.I leaned forward, collected the case and opened it.

I would've preferred silver frames but gold was manageable.

"Silver..." The word left my lips and with a curt nod he left the room and I was left to my thoughts again.

—

" Be careful with the decisions you make if not a step forward becomes ten backward," He yelled as he placed his palm against my back forcing an upright structure on me.

"Aim forward at the heart," I held the gun tighter, my fore finger curled around the trigger.

—

I looked down at the documents in front of me, my brows furrowed at the memory.

I felt empty.

A knock at the door interrupted my train of thought.

"Come in," I replied returning my attention back to the paperwork in front of me. My pen moving, I signed where my signature was needed.

"Uh Ares," Jake called as he walked into my office and placed the dark file from earlier on my table in front of me.

"What is it?" I questioned looking at the file then his face, he looked up from the file meeting my eyes.

"You need to come see this," I pursed my lips at his statement. I was disappointed in the twins, I thought they would  be able to deal with this without my help.

I pushed my chair back and stood, took off the black suit I was wearing and undid my tie.

I unbuttoned the first four buttons of my shirt as I strode out of the room leading the way.

We strode into the dark room and the central bulb lit up.

At the center of the room, directly below the bulb sat the petit frame of a girl. She was tied by ropes to a chair. As we approached her Chris joined us.I narrowed my eyes in agitation.

I this how incapable they where?

To deal with a little girl should not be as difficult as they made it seem.

I adjusted the glasses sitting on the bridge of my nose and then lifted my fore finger signaling no movement.

I approached her petit frame and as if she just realized our presence she looked up and our eyes locked.

Her eyes where big and grey as they widened and stared at me.

"Are you the boss?" She questioned innocently, her neat brows lifting.

"Please let me stay," She continued pleading, grabbing at any strands of hope.

I glanced back at the twins they had stopped a meter away. They looked at me, then each other, after exchanged nods and looked away ignoring me completely.

Bastards!

I looked at her meeting her pleading eyes.

No sign of fear.

"Please let me crash, I won't cause you any trouble-"

"No," I interrupted sternly, my eyes never leaving hers but unfortunately instead of reluctant acceptance, I saw only solid determination in those beautiful eyes.

"Please!" She pressed. I furrowed by brows at my thoughts. Well she was...beautiful.

I strolled towards her and squatted in front of her, she leaned backward as I was closer.

"Sweetie, you have only two options here," I started figuring it would be wiser to drill how limited she was in this situation into her brain.

Our eyes stayed connected, hers never wavered.

Bold much.

"These depend on your father, if he sends what we need, you go back home... and if not? You die,"

"Or stay," She pushed, her lips forming a small smile. Quite daring if you ask me... considering her situation.

I stood upright and buried my hands in my pockets.I looked her over and noticed the tint on her cheeks at my motion and then she looked away.

A strange feeling surged in my chest at her behavior causing me to narrow my eyes at her in growing agitation.

I took off my glasses letting them hang from around my neck and then turned to the indecisive twins.

"Give me a gun," I glanced at Jake , his eyes widened and the he shook his head. I the turned to Chris who shrugged at his twin and moved forward, placing the gun in my palm he returned to his previous position.

I looked at the little lady and caught her narrowing her eyes at Chris as he returned to where he stood before.

"Leave," I spoke to the twins and then approached her.

As soon as I heard the sound of the door shutting I squatted reducing the distance between us to less than half.

I placed the gun against her fore head and traced it down her face, using it to tilt her face up. She had shut her eyes... was she scared? Wasn't it too late for that?

" I suggest you pay attention," I said and she opened her eyes. She had a small delicate face paired with plump lips, a button nose and big grey eyes.

"Please let me stay," She begged.

"Why ?" I wondered genuinely curious.

"I need freedom," She replied immediately her grey eyes meeting mine as she tugged at her bottom lip subconsciously.