| VEXED |

chapter | forty two

Alex

"Seriously? Him?" Jordan groaned bringing his hand up to his face. It was the next morning now, we all stayed at Ryan's house last night just to be safe. Safety in numbers, I guess.

I looked around at everyone who had bags under their eyes, or their head resting on their hands like their lives depended on it. no one really slept, the paranoia that someone would come back just kept everyone alert. 

Paisley is half asleep still with her head laying on my lap. she slept on the couch with my last night because Ryan didn't want me walking up the stairs because it could 'rIp My StItChEs'. but whatever, it's not like I don't have shit to do that involves way more than walking up the stairs. We have a murderous vengeful bitch on the loose. 

"Yes, believe me, I was just as surprised as you were to see him up and out of jail." I responded sarcastically. 

"Is there any possible way this was larce's 'retaliation' for you leaving the gang?" Theo looked at me intently and I thought to myself for a moment. He wouldn't, I'm literally his heir. 

"there's only one way to find out I guess." I shrugged and picked up my phone. "Alex-" Ethan started but I held up my finger pressing my phone to my ear.

"Daughter, about time you called." My father's voice chirped on the other side, yet he didn't sound okay.

"you sound rough. did trying to kill your daughter wear you out?" I asked as I felt everyone's eyes digging into me. 

"What are you insinuating Alexandra?" he asked impatiently. "only that someone that used to be in your gang literally tried to kill me last night. and from our last confrontation, its only fitting that it could have been your revenge." I looked down at paisley's sleeping frame and begin thinking of her safety in all this.

"Alexandra I played no part in that. why would I kill my sole heir? whenever I reach my downfall this will be your throne." he said sternly and I furrowed my brows. I looked around hoping no one heard that sentence. 

"Who did this to you? I'll track them to the ends of the earth if I need to." He said calmly, and I rolled my eyes. "Will. It was Will." I spoke, and I heard silence in return.

"I think I may know who sent him. Alexandra, this is why I had you confined to the mansion." He said the last part in an 'I told you so' voice.

"Well, you can't fight a fight being locked in a room. Sorry, but I can't sit around and be a coward. peoples lives could be at stake. like moms was, do you remember that?" I said coldly and I didn't hear any response for a whole minute.

"I will find will. I will kill him, and I will seek revenge at the responsible party." And with that, he hung up the phone. 

"He didn't do it." I set down my phone and everyone let out a breath. In a way, they were probably hoping it was him, so we wouldn't be stuck in a corner.

"Some rival gang, I guess. Maybe the one who took my mom, I don't really know." I brought my hand to my head rubbing the headache out. 

"I am going to kill that jail breaking bastard." Grayson said through gritted teeth. "larce might beat you to it." I responded and he rolled his eyes.

"I have a proposition." Theo spoke up and everyone looked at him. "the mansion, I think you should come back." he looked at me and I tilted my head to the side.

"thank you, but I can't leave my family." I looked at everyone and I saw everyone get soft at the mention of 'family.'

"I knew you would say that. My proposition is, everyone in this room come stay at the mansion. There is plenty of room. Enough space for everyone to have their own room." He offered and I began to go into thought.

"We have the best security systems around, we have enough food and supplies for everyone, and Alex, we could even start training everyone," Theo added, and I began to smile. 

"How does that sound, you guys?" I looked around and saw them nodding. paisley began to stir and she sat up stretching. "morning sleeping beauty." I teased and she smiled brightly at everyone. 

"I would pack up everything and move wherever for my sister." Ryan rubbed my shoulder and I stood up slowly.

"Hey Lan, could you and Hagen take paisley to go get some juice in the kitchen?" I asked, hinting that I didn't want her in the room. "of course." He held out his hand and she took it happily.

"Ryan you can't come with me." I looked directly at him and Elena and he furrowed his brows. "Alex, I need to stay with you and make sure you're safe." He responded half smiling, and Elena nodded, agreeing with him.

"Yeah A, I'm not leaving you." She laughed from beside Ryan. "do you see this?" I raised up my t-shirt showing the wound from last night. 

"Elena, that could have been you. you have precious cargo in there." I pointed to her stomach and she looked down.

"you guys can't come with me, in fact, I don't want you here at all," I spoke again and Ryan had a look of hurt, and I felt the same one.

"Alex." Ryan started. "no, ry. I want you to go stay somewhere else. Whether it's another city, or preferably another state. It needs to be pretty damn far away from here, and me." I felt my eyes glossing over, but I didn't want him to see it.

"What kind of brother would I be if I left you here?" he asked with hurt in his voice. "it only matters what kind of dad you will be. I could never forgive myself if your child grew up without a mom or a dad because of me. I mean look at paisley." I half-whispered the last part.

"I have money put away I can give you guys." I offered and I watched as a tear fell down Elena's face. 

I turned around and saw everyone's faces, they held the same emotions. Ethan gave me a reassuring smile and I nodded. "one more thing." I remembered.

I breathed out slowly because I already felt the tears coming in. "you have to take paisley with you." I chocked up on my words and I could feel eyes burning into me. 

"she isn't safe here." I shook my head and I felt a tear fall down and Ryan wiped it away. "I won't let my messed up life infiltrate hers. one day when this has all calmed down you can bring her back to me, but until then she has to be somewhere safe." I felt another tear fall but my voice remained steady. I was trying to stay strong but I was struggling, when it came to her.

"I will take care of her." he responded, pulling me into a hug. I nodded into his shoulder, and looked at Elena. "don't worry." She whispered to me, and I nodded at her. 

I pulled away and wiped my face. "enough tears, you need to start packing." I ordered and they nodded reluctantly.

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Wow, I literally do not want to go to school tomorrow. anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, the next one will be better, lol.