She's Stronger Than You Think

Concerns

I continued to stare at the table in silence while the guys discussed the details. When I finally come out of shock, I stood and walked toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Nate asked.

"I need a drink," I called, not even looking back.

"There's a bar down here--"

I ignored them and just kept going.

*thrid person POV*

The guys watched (y/n) run up the stairs. Nate turned back towards the table as Mark stood. He wandered over to the fridge with his hands on his hips. A few of the guys watched him, the others shared confused glances.

Finally, Nate said, "Okay, what's wrong?"

Mark didn't answer at first; he didn't even turn around. Instead, he downed his drink without a word. Tyler and Ethan shifted uncomfortably as they looked away. Felix looked at Nate, who stood and took a few steps toward his friend.

"Okay, Mark," Nate said, "what's going on?"

Mark turned and crossed his arms. "I don't like her."

Nate forced out a laugh. "Because she's a girl?"

"It's not just that," Mark said. He went to sit back in his spot at the table. "You remember Thomas?"

"How could we forget?" Ethan said. "He was the best shot in the gang."

"Yeah, until he found a girlfriend," Tyler put in. Realization crossed his face. "Oh."

"That's just it," Mark said. "She's just a distraction. And not only that, but she's not one of us. Her cousin is the leader of Black Leather. How do we know she's not just going to run back to them and tell them our plans?"

"I won't let her. She knows the rules I've set for her," Nate stated matter-of-factly.

There was a pause. Felix spoke up, "Mark does have a point. She's a criminal, just like the rest of us. Who said she was going to follow the rules?"

The men exchanged glances again. Nate snapped his fingers and said, "Go." And Tyler and Ethan hurried up the stairs after her. Nate sat down at the table again.

After a minute, he said, "I don't want her here either. But now, Matt has a reason to give up his gang."

There was a bit of a pause as the guys sat and thought about what had just been said.

Then, Felix started talking again, "Nate, I want you to promise us something."

"What?" Nate narrowed his eyes. "I don't think-"

"Just promise us this one thing," Felix said. "Thomas left because he found a girlfriend. You have to make sure, that she doesn't cause you to do the same."

Nate looked around the table again. Mark was nodding. Nate laughed.

"Are you kidding me?" He asked. "She was part of Black Leather. Also known as our sworn enemies. You really think I would fall for her?"

  
*(y/n)'s point of view*

I downed a shot of alcohol, and winced as it burned my throat. I was never much of a drinker, but I felt I needed it at the moment. I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, but at this point, I didn't really care. The footsteps slowed and then entered the kitchen.

"Aren't you a little bit young to be drinking?" Tyler asked.

I groaned internally. I did not want to speak with them. But I figured that I had no choice.

"I'm twenty-two years old, that's legal in every state, as well as Canada," I said, trying to keep my voice even, and not turning around.

"She's older than me," I heard Ethan whisper.

The footsteps got closer and suddenly Tyler was on my right side and Ethan on my left. I still refused to look at them, but only because I was ticked off with them.

"So," Tyler started, "have you made any phone calls recently?"

This time I looked at him. "Why would that make any difference to you?"

"Well, uh-" they both stuttered for an answer, but I cut them off.

"Look," I said. "I already know you guys don't want me here, so I'll just save you some time." I walked and spoke as I did so. "I'm a woman of my word. I haven't used the phone to call the only people I consider to be my family, and I don't intend to. Know why?"

The two guys tried to answer as I started climbing the stairs. But once again, I stopped them by turning around and continuing my rant.

"I am nothing if not loyal. You guys might think differently, and you might not trust me, but just because I'm a girl doesn't mean that I'm gonna hold you back. If anything, I might help you out some."

And with that, I tried to run up the stairs, but Ethan grabbed me by the arm. I turned around again, annoyed and slightly confused.

"Where- um, where are you going?" Ethan asked, seemingly surprised at the way I had spoken to them.

"To my room," I scoffed. I jerked my arm away from him and turned again, but I couldn't run upstairs. Tyler stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed. How had he slipped past me?

"No, you're not," He said. "Listen, you need to realize that you're not in charge here. You may have been second in command back in your other gang, but that's not how it works here. You have to work your way up."

I laughed a little then crossed my arms. "Just so you know, I don't even want to be here. I don't intend on working my way up, I'm only here until Matt's debt is paid off."

Tyler and Ethan exchanged glances.

"I don't think Nate knows that," Ethan said.

I paused, then scowled. "What do you mean?"