UNDERGROUND

Chapter One

Gia believed one day she would go to college, major in something practical to support herself in life and if she met a guy who fit into her life so be it. Maybe if she was lucky she could find a small home by the water where her sister could visit her often and her dad could finally stay home for once.

A dim light pulsed at her eyelids with vigor, as if to tell her to wake her ass up from her pounding headache. It was hard to open her eyes, but she could feel the caress of a fan whipping above her and the spicy smell of tobacco in her nose. Slowly, she opened her eyes and surveyed the room she was residing.

From what she could tell, she was on a soft bed with blankets covering her whole body and there was an empty chair sitting in front of the bed. There was no possible way this was her bed from home that had the perfect ingrained drip from her body lying there so many nights.

She pushed herself up with little difficulty and looked over her body for any markings that could have happened to her while she was asleep. Gia glanced around the room looking for any sign of Nik, but it was empty without any indication her sister had been held there as well.

A soft knock rang from the two double doors to her right and a man entered the room with a tray filled with eggs, toast and juice. The clothes he wore had been better days, but the black shirt that stretched across his chest fit nicely with faded blue jeans covering his legs. 

He moved toward the bed with small, slow steps as if not to frighten her away with his presence and lanky form. Before he could reach the bed his foot caught on the carpet causing him to trip and curse before finally setting the tray down in front of her body.

The man scratched the back of his head buzzed bead with a small smile, "I wasn't the planned person to meet you, but she got caught up in the dunge-well she was busy so I volunteered." He shifted his weight on one foot with his eyes cast downward to not make eye contact with Gia who kept shifting away from his form.

He caught her movement with a grimaced smile, "Everyone calls me Petey or Peter. I know you must be freaked out of your mind, but no one wants to hurt you. Well, maybe Lucy, but she's a bitch and-" he stopped short when he saw her blank face,"Oh shit, no I mean she just wants to spare."

Gia continued to stare at the awkward boy who looked like he had more body than muscle and reminded her of a giraffe learning how to walk. The glasses on his face made him look around eighteen, but she couldn't be she. His threat level was still undecided before he told her where Nika was being held. 

As if trying to calm her, he took a few steps back with his hands up, "Do you have any questions? I think Commander Alexander will call on you soon, but-"

"Where am I? Who the hell are you and where is my sister?" Gia said grabbing the fork off of the tray as a weapon. She pushed herself onto the other side of the bed for protection and stared at him with a fury. The last thing she remembered was the gym and the sight of her sisters face before her world went black.

Petey's eyes widen with furrowed eyebrows,"Commander Alexander? You must of heard of him from your father. Granted, your father isn't the nicest of the Warlords but he still attends events like he is required to by the council."

Amara never moved from her stance, "I will ask you again, where is my sister? How do you know my father?" 

Before Petey could finish another figure entered the room and dominated the doorway with a presence that demanded acknowledgement. The man was covered head to toe with black, donned a leather jacket and had large piercings on portions of his face. Thick black tattoos covered his neck with symbols Gia could not place and dipped down below his collarbone where his shirt started. It didn't occur to Gia that she started to move closer to this strange man when he pushed Petey's shoulder causing him to fall forward.

"Hey! What's your problem Nick? I'm doing my job like they asked." Gia couldn't believe the difference in his demeanor. Gone was the awkward, boylish grin and it was replaced by a frustrated grimace for the man next to him.

The man gave Petey an impish grin, "I'm protecting the asset like our dear Commander asked of the team, while you're here trying to see what's up her skirt." Nick, who ever this beast of a man was, had the audacity to raise an eyebrow at Gia from behind the bed. "See? She hasn't even tried to fight back."

Enough was enough. "If you don't tell me where my sister is I'm going to run this fork through your eye and kick you where the sun don't shine asshole." Gia rose to her full towering height with brown hair ratted around her face making her look like she had been in bed for days.

Petey started forward with his hands in front of him,"Gi please calm down. He was just joking, right NIck?" Nick rolled his eyes with a small smirk on his face, but gave a small nod in agreement.

"Yes, little girl. I won't hurt you, but I can't guarantee the others won't make a few marks. You're the next contender after all."

Every word that spilled from their mouths had yet to calm her or reassure her of anything that was currently happening. Her splitting headache was back with a vengeance and she could barely hold her composure long enough to see the two men standing in the door way. 

Despite his easy words, Nick was still part of the men who knocked her out and no one has given her an answer. "My sister, please. Where is she?"

Petey's eyes flew down to his feet as if he was contemplating telling her what was happening. That easy smile had melted into a frown that didn't give Gia a good feeling. "You're sister is discussing with the Commander what will be happening with the two of you. The training, the preparation and the weapons you will be allowed."

Nick shrugged his shoulders, "my money is on the sister if I were to bet, but you know Lucas stopped letting me bet after last time." The corners of his mouth crinkled reliving a lost memory. Nothing about this man was sweet, but the small bit of happiness confused Gia.

The thought of who this Commander resulted in Gia's hands beginning to shake,"I'm still confused what the hell you are speaking of you nutcases. I demand answers. I'll have you know my family is a military family with connection who will find me."

Each man gave looked up in their own set of confusion as if they couldn't believe she hadn't figured it out yet for herself. Petey far away on the bed to give her comfort, but also look less intimidating despite his slight form.

He tilted his head to the side to address her like he does his five year old cousin,"Gia, you're in the district of the Southern Warlords and at the home of Commander Alexander the head of this area." He paused and bit his lip before continuing,"I think they want you to participate in the rings."