Alec

I looked away when Alec continued to beat Marco long after he stopped moving.

I moved out of Kane's hold and stumbled over to my uncle. I put my arms around his waist and placed my face against his chest and closed my eyes.

"I've got you, baby girl."

I gave him a squeeze.

"I'm sorry for what I did, I made a business choice and allowed it hurt you. I regret it dearly. I would take it back if I could, I swear it."

I didn't say anything as my uncle whispered to me.

"Do you hate me?"

I opened my eyes and looked up at my uncle. "No, I love you. You just made a bad decision, it will be okay. You're only human."

My uncle carefully kissed my sore head. "You're a good girl, Keela."

I smiled and placed my head back against his chest.

"Sir."

I froze when Alec spoke.

"Do I need to waste a bullet on Mr. Miles?" my uncle asked.

I swallowed.

I didn't like how casually he spoke of ending someone's life like that, even if the person who he was talking about was horrible.

I knew I would have to get over it though, after this night was over I knew I'd probably never hear of another incident like this ever again. It was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that my uncle was a gangster. Not only a gangster, he was the boss.

"No sir, you need to waste one on Thomas though. He is still breathing."

Jesus.

I heard footsteps.

"No, please... No." Thomas's voice moaned.

Bang.

I screamed into my uncle's chest and held onto him for dear life.

"Baby girl?" my uncle murmured.

I felt tears fall from my eyes, they slid down my neck and down onto my chest.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Your lad would like a word."

I swallowed. "The blood... I can't."

"He wiped it off."

I took in a deep breath and released as I slowly turned.

I looked up to a now shirtless Alec with his messy hair and a frowning face. He looked so young.

I looked down to his hands and could see some blood, but not enough to make me sick.

Alec watched me with nervous eyes, and I could tell he was afraid that I was disgusted with him and to prove that I wasn't I stepped forward and put my arms around him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around me and kissed the crowned of my head a few times then he sighed a sigh of relief.

I titled my head back and looked up at his tired face.

"Hi," he whispered.

I smiled. "Hey."

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you, too."

"Ah bollocks, they are in love."

I laughed at my uncle, and so did everyone else. I moved to Alec's side and put my arm around his waist as I faced my uncle with him.

"I don't think I need to tell to look after her."

"You don't sir, I have her covered."

My uncle nodded at Alec then gave me a wink. "Go on and get home, I’ve got some work to finish up here."

I grumbled, "I don’t wa

My uncle smirked.

I turned with Alec and smiled at Nico who was kissing Bronagh. I moved away from Alec and grabbed her hand as I passed her. I tugged her away from Nico and threw my arm around my shoulder.

"You can help me up the stairs while the brothers converse."

Bronagh laughed and put her arm around my waist as we walked.

I looked over my shoulder just as Alec hugged his brothers. I smiled and so did Bronagh when she looked back. We turned and walked forward when the brothers looked at us.

"They caught us," I murmured.

Bronagh laughed then called for help when she buckled a little under my weight. I blinked my eyes open when another arm wrapped around me.

I looked at Alec and smiled as he held me close to his side. Bronagh held onto my arm that was still over her shoulder as she helped Alec walk me up the stairs of Darkness.

"Can you carry me?" I asked Alec.

"No, you have to stay awake."

"I will stay awake, I promise, your voice will keep me awake."

Alec awed.

"You're so sweet - you leave little footprints on my heart."

I glared up at him through my dizziness. "Keep that sarcasm up and I'll be leavin' little footprints on your face."

Alec glanced down at me and smiled. "You're perfect."

"You're a prick."

Alec laughed. "I'm a Slater, of course I'm a prick."

"Truer words were never spoken," Bronagh laughed. We were silent until we exited Darkness and stepped out into the night.

I gazed out at the city and all the lights then glanced up to the dark sky and took in a deep breath.

"I'm glad that’s over."

"I'm glad Marco is dead," Bronagh murmured.

I looked to her with wide eyes.

She sighed. "I'm not evil, the world is just a better place without that man."

After my brief encounters with Marco, I could only agree with her.

"I hope Aideen and Storm are okay."

"You heard Kane, Aideen is fine and the pup is okay. Aideen and Bra

I lightly shook my head. "That's what I'm worried about, Storm hates Aideen."

"What time did Bra

"Five," I replied.

It's half five, the brothers will kill us. Bra

I looked to a stressed out Aideen and smiled. The bruise on her face was still clear, but it was healing nicely. I couldn’t help but feel terrible for her, the bruise and cut she received the night I met Alec was almost healed and now the other side of her face was injured.

Poor girl.

"They will understand, we were with Storm."

"You were with Storm since ten this mornin'."

I shrugged. "So? He was shot ten days ago, give him a break. He won't be back to full strength for awhile, it's why he is still at the hospital."

Aideen grunted. "He is milkin' it, I'm fuckin' tellin' you he is. I saw him sit up earlier then when you looked at him he quickly laid down and start whimperin' and shite lookin' for sympathy treats. He has easily gained ten pounds in that hospital."

I laughed. "You're losin' it, man."

Aideen grumbled about Storm and it made me smile.

Things were already back to normal.

Ten days ago I was kidnapped and you wouldn't even know it by the way I was acting.

My Uncle Brandon told me 'not to worry' and that he would 'clean up everything' at Darkness. I have no idea what he did with Marco, Toby, and Thomas's bodies, but I didn’t want any idea so I was fine with being kept in the dark.

The first few days after the incident I was very jumpy, and found sleeping at night difficult but the brothers' and my uncles' advice, was to simply 'get on with life' so that was what I was trying to do.

"What are you doin'?" Aideen suddenly shouted then gaped at the car that over took us. "What. The fuck. Are you doin'?"

I snorted and pulled down the visor in front of me so I could look at my face. I winced when I seen my face. I had to get five stitches in my eyebrow to close the cut, but that was nothing compared to the swelling and bruising I dealt with. Thankfully the pain was minimal now and everything looked worse than it felt.

"I'm goin' ten miles over the speed limit, is that not enough for you?" she hollered.