Starting Over Anderson || ✔

Twenty-two: the Threat

801 days A.D.

I'm the beta now, the second in command.

What the Kings had done to Red is so unfair that it makes me so angry I want to proclaim war against them. But I can't, because I'm not Aaron. He decides these things.

That day, we won the war but lost the battle. The bomb had went off just as planned, destroying the Kings' headquarters. The boys felt satisfaction, watching it burn to rubble. But they didn't stay long. They knew that Kane Kingsley, his beta, and his son had survived. Red was two steps away from the safety of the Hood mobile when he was killed the same way as Brooke was killed. A poisoned arrow through his heart, fired by the Kings' beta, the best sharp shooter in town. Grim took the wheels, pulling an already dead Red into the car with him.

Oren helped to strap Red securely in the passenger seat as Grim floored the accelerator. By this time, they were joined with two others - Jace and Ryan who had been held hostage in the Kings' basement. It was Red who had set them free.

Long story short, they took a detour to the beach at Aaron's orders to cremate Red's body. They said their goodbyes, fulfilling Red's wish to see the ocean one last time. His ashes were mostly scattered across the ocean. A pinch of it Aaron kept in the leather pouch he stole from the Kings' storage room before they sent the building up in flames. It contains Brooke's ashes, and now Red's too.

Red's smiling face as he taught me how to be a ninja flashes across my mind as I sheath my dagger, strapping it onto my thigh. It's a habit of mine, bringing it everywhere. Red gave it to me, as a protection from Grim's bullying.

"Ready?" Aaron hollers from the main door. We're heading out for a treat - and as a little Christmas celebration - after a successful job yesterday. We cashed in a few thousands, a generous gift from a desperate client.

The boys all pile out of the house, Ryan offering to take my bags for me. He's the youngest now, only fifteen years old. His cousin, Jace, is a year older than I am. They were both captured by the Kings because they couldn't pay for some drugs they had bought. They begged Aaron to let them stay because if it wasn't for Red, they'd be hidden under the rubble of the Kings' headquarters.

"Thanks, Ryan," I smile at him. I'm in charge of all of our supplies, being the beta and all. Of course Aaron volunteers to take over but I don't let him. He already has enough on his plate.

"Anything for you." Ryan hauls the bags into the back of the Hilux. Grim snickers from behind me, overhearing us. I glare at him and hop onto Aaron's bike. The boys have been anything but subtle about Ryan's apparent crush on me. Grim, being the jerk he is, even goes the lengths to call me a cougar, although I'm only a year older than Ryan.

We take two vehicles to the beach, as usual, because we can't all fit into one. I'm with Aaron on his Harvey and Oren drives the Hilux with the rest of the boys. We find a perfect spot on the beach, away from prying eyes (and ears) of other people. We unpack, and Grim immediately takes charge of the boombox. He finds the radio station he likes and settles in. Jace, Ryan and Oren hits the sea while Aaron, Grim and I fall back to relax.

" - it's Christmas. Can you feel the spirit, Ella?"

"Oh yes! I've had friends bringing in presents already!"

"Wow that's really fast. Alright now, if you want to call in and wish anybody at all a Merry Christmas, please do so by calling - "

I groan. I hate listening to shout-outs. I want music. I tell that to Grim but he just shrugs, flashing me a "charming" smile. I wonder how his girlfriend stands his antics.

Aaron chuckles at our little exchange. "Come here, Princess. You're burning up. You haven't put on any sunblock, have you?"

"Of course I did," I defend but go over to him anyway to replenish more. A pop song I don't recognize goes on air and I hear Grim sings along with it. I laugh at his terrible singing.

"You can't sing to save your life, Grim," Aaron snorts. "Do us a favor and shut up."

"Not happening." He continues to belt out the lyrics at the top of his lungs, loud enough that Jace, Ryan and Oren hears him from the sea. They race back up here to check out the commotion.

"Whoa, who killed the whale," Oren grimaces when he sees that it's Grim.

"Seriously, shut it," Jace complaints.

Grim seems like he's enjoying torturing our ears. I thank my lucky stars when the song finally ends and the two announcers get back on air.

"Alright folks, we've got a call from a Kanye Kings - "

Ryan sits himself beside Aaron, eyeing me up and down. I'm lying on Aaron's legs as he help me with more sunblock.

"Can I do it for Jen?" Ryan asks politely.

"I just want to wish my sister a merry Christmas," a low raspy voice sounding like he's speaking through the phone substitutes Ella's. It sounds oddly familiar. "She's the only girl in a family of five boys."

"Uhm, if Jen doesn't mind," Aaron says uncertainly.

"I hope she's having a blast - "

"What do you say, Jen?"

" - because if she isn't, she'll sure be getting one soon."

"Jenna?"

"Princess?"

The blood stops in my chest. Kanye Kings. Kanye Kings. Kanye Kings.

Kane Kingsley.

Kingsley knows who I am and he's threatening me. It's disguised, but I know it's him. It has got to be. I'd know that cold voice anywhere, having to hear it in my head for most of my nights, telling me I'm expendible.

Kane Kingsley is out to hunt me.

"Aaron, he's after me," I whisper before blacking out.

***

Author's note

This was supposed to go up yesterday but something went wrong :/ Anyway, how are you guys feeling? ;)