Ride Or Die | Book #1 ✓

Chapter 33

"We're here." Pierce's voice made my eyes flutter open. I had fallen asleep in the car after about an hour of the drive, while I was asleep was the only time I could escape the nightmare of my current reality. The sky had been pitch black, the only light source being the stars in the sky. Pierce had pulled the car up the long driveway only to reveal Xander's country house.

The house was tall, the roofs were flat but triangular in the front- the architecture reminded me of a cottage core house. The shingles all matched up, not one spot missed as they gave a grey overlay over the house. The house was built with golden brick, one stacked above the other. The front yard had been filled with greens, trees, and bushes everywhere as they grew against the house. Windows were outlined with white trim, the glass polished and shiny.

I was shocked to see this mansion that Xander owned, it was beautiful, to say the least. I had no idea he had numerous properties, obviously not spending as much time at this one. We had both exited the car and I stared in awe at the house as Pierce grabbed our bags from the trunk before heading towards the front door. I rushed myself over to the front door before walking into the dark house.

Pierce ran his hand along the wall in hopes of finding a light switch in which he did. The inside matched the outside of the house with an old antique feeling. There was a black polished staircase that went all the way up to the top of the house, paintings being hung wall to wall. The furniture had a been a dark brown leather that had complimented the royal red rug that laid flat against the ground. I searched through the house as Pierce went to call Xander. I followed down a corridor, flipping on a light switch to enter a room that I would only assume was a study.

A black grand piano was placed in the middle of the room, the hardwood floor was a shiny brown, a red leather couch sat parallel to the piano. Windows were the length of the walls, covered by red curtains that were probably about 12 feet long. A bookcase was pushed against the wall, packed with books.

I pulled open the glass casing over it, running my fingers along the stem of the books before my eyes caught one. "Axel Gunner" was the title that was plastered across the front cover. I skimmed through the book, my eyes running over the lines that were printed against the paper.

"That was my great great grandfather." Pierce's voice made me jump in my spot. I whirled around to see him leaning up against the doorway of the room. He approached closer to me, taking the book from my hands "He started Crestmont after his neighborhood had been reported of many break-ins. It was originally a gang in order to protect their streets- all the men, women, and children that were helpless at the time."

I had always known that gangs were originally created in order to protect their streets, not as to what they developed into today. I admired pierce's great-great-grandfather for creating a group in order to protect the vulnerable. Life had already been a struggle at that time so I couldn't imagine going through living in fear 24/7.

Pierce pushed the book back into the bookcase, shutting the glass case over it. "If only it had been that easy.." I mumbled under my breath, wishing that the gang I was part of was only to protect the neighborhood.

"Do you even realize how much you've changed since you got here?" Pierce's eyes narrowed at me "When you got here you seemed to be a goodie-two-shoes that wouldn't do anything out of her comfort zone and look at you now Aspen. I know you hate to hear it and I don't want to compare you to your mom, but you are following in her footsteps. Maybe Xander and Archer are right, you are what this gang needs."

A lot had changed since I got here, I used to be someone who wouldn't even drive past the speed limit in fear of getting a ticket- now look at me. I've raced and I've shot at cops, I've been placed into prostitution, I've escaped a school shooting, and I've learned how to fight and defend myself. Although I didn't know if I was exactly proud of myself for who I became, it was just such a drastic difference then the Aspen who came here.