| VEXED |

chapter | twenty seven

 I woke up to the car stopping and Theo shaking me a little. "we're here." he spoke quietly. "where exactly is here?" I asked rubbing my eyes. "if you think they have your mom, it would be here." Theo responded. 

he pointed towards a building across the street. we were parked in a random parking lot. "where is larce and everyone else?" I asked. I figured that's where Theo would take me.

"They're not around here. the only reason I know where this is is because he sent me here to stake out and get intel. I didn't know it was about your mom though." he shrugged.

"what all do you know so far?" I asked sitting up. "there are quite a few people here, so me and you aren't enough. I know it's a woman running the operation, and that they're on the top floor. that's all I know." he responded. 

"so you're saying we aren't going to be able to get her out by ourselves. we need backup but there's no way to get back up because everyone is with larce. fuck." I cussed under my breath. I don't know what move to make.

"This is a stretch. but we're desperate..." Theo trailed off and I tilted my head. "you don't even see it, and even though it has fallen apart, you have your own gang. Ethan, Grayson, Jackson, Landon, Jordyn, Ryan, me, Elena, hazel, and even Hagen." he looked at me intently and I furrowed my brows.

I've never thought of it like that before. I mean, I guess he's right but they're just my friends. and most of us aren't even on good terms.

"I would never put them in this kind of danger though, not for my own problem." I shook my head. I would never risk the lives of my friends. "and they aren't experienced nor trained." I added. 

"I've only been at school for a few weeks and I've already heard about that group's reputation. Alex I've heard people talk about them kicking ass since freshman year." he laughed.

"yeah, Theo those are petty school fights, not full-on gang wars." I looked out of the window towards the building. Theo looked at me and let out a breath of frustration. "fine, ill call and ask, but that's it. I'm going to explain the danger in full detail and I promise no one will show up." I  said impatiently. I looked down at my phone and dialed Ryans number first.

-

I heard tapping on the window beside me, it was Grayson and Ryan. I opened the car door, we have been sitting here for around 3 hours. it's almost sunrise. I called every one, some answered some didn't.

"Alex this is why I told you not to join." Ryan scolded me and I rolled my eyes. "Ryan, they have mom. this isn't a game anymore." I said through gritted teeth as Grayson and theo watched us. 

"mom knew what she was getting herself into the moment she left home. im not going to let you get yourself killed because she got caught," he yelled at me and I didn't even blink. "Ryan im doing this with or without you. are you in or are you out?" I said calmly and he bit the inside of his cheek angrily.

"we're family Alex, ill always be by your side," he responded just above a whisper and pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back quickly and backed away. "is this all the backup we have?" I looked at Grayson and Theo and the shrugged looking at each other. 

"so be it." I said with my head held high, even though I definitely didn't feel as confident as I sounded. "so what's the plan?" Ryan asked looking between Grayson and Theo, then to me. "I have one, but you aren't going to like it." I responded looking at all of them.