6

5

"I need help" was something I never thought I'd hear Aubrey say. Although he didn't necessarily admit it, it was implied. I had a feeling hell would freeze over before Aubrey directly said the word help.

He explained that he had thought about it, and that he was going to ask the gang to assit in looking after me. I protested at first, and you can see how well that worked, because we were outside the clubhouse now.

"I don't like coming here." I mumbled.

"Too fucking bad, you're gonna have to get used to it." I glared at him. Aubrey had been unusually cold this morning, coming back at me with mean comments since I opened my eyes. Maybe he was getting this attitude, because he acted this way around the whole gang. Whatever it was, I didn't concern myself too much with it.

He walked straight into house and I followed. I didn't say anything as he greeted a few of the boys and some of the girls they had around the house. I couldn't believe some of these girls, they've probably been fucked by every single one of them, I wrinkled my nose up at the idea. People that treated sex like it was nothing confused me; how could you show your body to someone so casually?

Aubrey started walking down a hallway and I quickly caught up. I felt like a lost puppy, mostly because Aubrey hadn't said two words to me since we'd been here. Hell, I didn't even know who we were here for. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I ran into Aubrey's hard back.

"Emerson, watch where the fuck you're going."

"Hey, you don't have to be so mean." I crossed my arms. "Just because you're having a bad morning doesn't mean you can be nasty to me."

"I suggest you lose the fucking attitude. I'm doing this for you." He said in the meanest way possible.

"Just because you're around all your friends doesn't mean you can treat me like crap." I spat. "I won't take it, because I don't deserve it." Before Aubrey could respond, the door we were standing in front of opened.

"Bickering with one of your hoes outside of my office is not something I care to hear Drake." I turned towards the man, Jace, the gang leader, the one everyone feared. I'd met him a few times thanks to Killian.

"I'm not one of his bitches." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"That's what they all say." He and Aubrey laughed as if it was some type of joke I wouldn't get. He lead Aubrey into the office and I followed. I didn't like this; feeling like I was worthless. "Where have you been? I haven't see you around the past couple days."

"I've been staying with her." Aubrey gestured towards me.

"Oh, getting laid I hope." Jace chuckled to himself. He looked at me and said the most offensive thing I've ever heard. "You must be a good fuck if you have him coming to you." Before I knew it my hand was across his face, and Aubrey had me behind him. "Aubrey control that bitch." Jace was standing up looking like he'd jumped over his desk and rip my head off in a second. I had a death grip on the back of Aubrey's shirt. I could see now why everyone was scared of this man.

"Look Jace, I'm sorry about her." Aubrey was tense and wasn't letting his guard down.

"I'm not. You don't talk to a lady like that." I said before I realized it. Damn, I needed to shut up now.

"Emerson Edwards," Aubrey said calling my whole name. He turned towards me and I could see the anger in his eyes. "I suggest you stop talking before you dig yourself a hole too deep to escape."

"Woah wait." Jace spoke up. "Edwards? As is Killian's little sister? I didn't recognize you." I saw Aubrey's shoulders relax, but still kept his guard up. "How have you been? I mean with Ki-"

"Good." I was tired of people mentioning his death.

"I'm sorry about all that earlier." Everyone sat back down and they began talking as if nothing had just happened. Aubrey explained to Jace the events that had unfolded since my brother had passed. "Damn" was all Jace could say.

"I wouldn't normally bring everyone into this stuff but this guy is dangerous" Aubrey sighed. "I mean I would love to just say fuck it but... Killian cared for her." He trailed off.

"I feel you on that one." Jace agreed. I knew he had also been a good friend of my brother. "I'll figure something out."

They brainstormed ideas and I stayed quite. I didn't feel the need to add to this conversation. After about an hour of them talking, we finally got up to leave.

"I'll let you know when I come up with a plan." Jace said. "It may be awhile, a lot of stuff has been going on here."

"It's cool man." Aubrey replied. "Just hit me up when you have something." They said their goodbyes and I followed Aubrey back to my car.

As we drove home, Aubrey didn't say a word. Something I noted, he didn't say something unless it needed to be said. It was as if he only had a limited amount of words and chose carefully which ones he wanted to use. Or he just didn't like me. Either way he didn't say much.

Once we reached the condo, I went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a microwave dinner. I was starving and it was around lunch time. I shoved forkfuls of food into my mouth, while scrolling through my phone. Walker had texted me multiple times asking if I was dead, which may have been funny to her, but she didn't see the irony. I responded and agreed to meet up later this week. I looked up and noticed Aubrey staring at me.

"What?" I said once I swallowed my food.

"Be honest with me." He started. "How do you have this nice ass condo and no 'real' job?" It was such a random question, but it was a reasonable one. I mean, I am 25 living in a luxury condo, in a good neighborhood, close to the heart of Toronto.

"My parents were rich." I explained. "You knew that."

"Not that rich, you grew up across the street from me."

"They had more money than they let on." When my parents were alive we lived in a three bedroom house, but they could've owned a mansion. They weren't humbled or anything like that, they were just trying to fit in and seem normal.

"Did you get money when your brother died?" I shook my head yes. I received Killian's chuck of the fortune when he had passed. I didn't really need money like that though, my parents had left enough for me to buy 16 mansions. This condo and my nice car hadn't even made a dent in the original fund. "Not that it's any of your business."

He shrugged, not replying.

"Why are you in that gang?"

"Killian was the one that told me to." The corner of his lip twitched up, as if he remembered something funny. "He said it was fun, and that I would fit in. Those weren't his exact words, I believe he said 'you will get laid a ton plus you have someone to help you in your fights,' something like that."

"He was an idiot." I smiled. Killian was into the thrill, the craziness, the excitement in life; something I knew nothing about. He was always so spontaneous and never planned anything. I wanted to be that way, always living life on edge. I had to plan everything in life, assess everything before I tried it. I needed to be more courageous and crazy; like Killian. I needed to be stupid and risky.