The Green Jade were a notorious group of thugs, known for their aggression. They were one of Dominik Black's top rivals, and many men were hired just to keep them under control. There were countless murders, robberies, and underhanded dealings when it came to them. If there was one thing, I feared more than Black himself, it would be them. And if they knew I was employed by their one and only enemy. I shuddered.

"We should go, before they spot us." I whispered.

"Right." Ryker grabbed my elbow and ditched the street for the nearest alleyway.

"Hey!" I could hear them behind us, the starting of engines.

"Ryker..." Real panic set in as Ryker released my elbow for my hand.

The headlights lit up the alleyway like daylight, and I looked up at Ryker. His face was a mask as he pulled me further into the brick trench.

"Fuck." He slowed to a stop as we hit a dead-end.

He spun us around and backed us up to the brick wall blocking our salvation. He pulled me behind him, and I had to admire his courage, considering I could do more harm to them than he was aware of.

"A little far from home, aren't we, Mr. Davis?" One of them spoke from the shadows.

I gripped the back of Ryker's jacket, my knuckles turning white in the vague moonlight. So, Ryker knew about the Green Jade. It opened a whole new world of questions I wanted to ask him. It didn't seem with him that when one door closed, another opened. I had all these open doors and none he was willing to close by just explaining things.

"Not too far, I believe." He said, obviously trying to appear calm.

"You crossed over into our territory about a mile back." The man scoffed. "Mr. Lee would like a few words with you, if you'll follow me." He gestured to the van at the opening of the alleyway.

"The girl stays." Ryker stood his ground. "She has nothing to do with this."

"I'm afraid that's not possible." He stepped to the side. "After you."

"Stay close." Ryker murmured over his shoulder and I nodded into his back.

He moved forward at a snail's pace, and I looked between each of our captors. They were sporting heavy artillery; one even had a katana.

Pfft.

Before it could click, Ryker swung his fist out and knocked the nearest man to the ground, and I yelped from shock.

"Jaylyn, run!" He thrust me forward, between the fallen man and the dumpster lining the alley.

I ran. Unbelievably, I ran.

My heart was in my eardrums, and I couldn't hear anything besides the pulse radiating out of my chest. When I reached the end, I turned and watched as it took three of their men to finally drag Ryker to the ground. I could run to the diner and get help. I turned on my heel. Before I could make out the diner ahead, a large arm came out from around the side of the van and an equally large hand covered my mouth.

I screamed against it, trying to kick myself away from him. The more I resisted, the more my head began to swim. I couldn't feel, and I felt like my senses were completely drowned in water. Darkness teased the edge of my sight and the last thing I could make out clearly was the worried expression on Ryker's face before the door to the van slammed closed and I let the darkness take me.

"Jaylyn, I'm home!"

The knot I had in my stomach all day finally burst into a swarm of butterflies as Niklaus' voice carried through the house and up to my bedroom. He had been gone so long this time and Mother had told me he would arrive sometime today.

"I'm coming!" I laughed and sprinted down the hallway, stopping just short of the top of the stairs.

"There you are little dragon!" He laughed, a large box at his feet.

Excitement tore through me and I bounded down the steps, skipping every other one until I crashed into Niklaus' open arms.

"I missed you so much!" I squealed into his shoulder.

"I missed you too." He laughed, holding me tight.

He set me down and I pouted, crossing my arms. "You said you wouldn't stay gone all the time. What took you so long?"

"We're dragons, little sister. What else did you think I was doing besides protecting our family?" He smirked.

"If you're a dragon, I'm a dragon, Niklaus. Why can't I go with you?" I frowned. "I'll clean up all my toy's and then we can go together next time, right?"

"I wish it worked like that." His smile cracked. "I brought you something, though."

"Ooooh, what is it this time? Buried treasure?" My eyes widened.

"Not quite. But somewhere you can keep your buried treasure." He laughed.

We both dropped to the floor in front of the box and I tore it open with excitement. When the wrapping finally came undone, I opened the lid and peered inside. Niklaus smiled and pulled out the object for me and I sat back on my palms and looked at it.

"What is it?" I tilted my head to the side.

"A music box, silly." He opened the lid, and a soft melody began to play. "You can keep all your hidden gems in it."

"But I don't have any gems, Niklaus." I murmured softly.

My head was pounding. When I opened my eyes, the small room I was in was unrecognizable. I shook my head hard, trying to fight the edge of unconsciousness. Niklaus is not here, Jay. Wake up. I could hear the murmuring of voices across the tiny space, and only one rang out about all the others.

"I want the title to the car, Mr. Davis." The unseen voice boomed. "I want my car and I want my money."

"Obviously, I don't have either. Or I wouldn't be sitting tied to this chair." I could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

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The corners of the room spun, and my stomach flipped. I closed my eyes to ward off the nausea and tried to move. With all that had occurred tonight, I don't know why I was suddenly surprised that they had me tied down as well.

"This will be the last time I remind you of what you owe. I expect it to be paid in full by the end of the week."

"Ha!" Ryker goaded. "You expect me to produce that sort of cash by the end of the week? I do not even make that much off a race. It can't be done."

"Well, how about I give you a little bit of an incentive to work harder? Hm?"

I could hear the rustling of movement beside me, but I couldn't open my eyes any further than just a small crack. I couldn't see through the ambiguity, but a large shadow stepped right into my line of light.

"Don't you fucking touch her!" Ryker roared behind me.

I moaned with nausea as my head was forced to roll to the side. The pain in my head was nothing compared to the white-hot iron that was placed directly against the base of my neck, and I shrieked as my body tensed. I screamed as the man pressed it further into my skin, and I thought that this would be it for me. The never-ending burn and smell of cooked flesh.

My old friend crept up and this time, I welcomed him with loving arms.

"But I don't have any gems, Niklaus." I whined.

"That's alright." He smiled and pulled out a small bag from his pocket.

I couldn't contain how happy I was knowing that he had brought me special treasures to keep to myself. He opened the small satchel and poured out ten simple jewels that glittered in the sunlight.

"Every dragon needs a treasure to protect." He whispered.

My eyes widened again but I looked up at him a little quizzically. "If this is my treasure, where is yours?"

"You, Jaylyn. You're my treasure to protect." He hugged me tightly and I giggled.

"I can't be a treasure, Niklaus! I don't shine."

"You do when you smile, Jaylyn. Don't let anyone take that from you." He whispered in my ear.

We both jumped out of our little world when the kitchen door slammed.

"I know, Jason!" Mother yelled. "Don't you think I know?! Of course, he's home. He just got here. No! He didn't come in the house! I told you it was only the one time! How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?!"

"Come on. Let's go upstairs." Niklaus got to his feet and pulled me up with him.

"Niklaus, why is momma always so angry?" I asked as we ascended the stairs.

"I don't think she's angry, Jaylyn. She's just sad." He explained.

"Well, then. We should make her a surprise to cheer her up!" I smiled.

"Yeah." He smiled too. "Let's do that."

"Jaylyn wake up. Please, wake up." I felt hands on my face, and my neck throbbed in pain.

Even though my body resisted, I rolled and vomited where I laid. The pounding in my head was dimmer than it was before, and I could see clearly even though pain moved through my entire body. Ryker held my hair away from my face, wiping away the grim from my mouth.

"Come on, Jaylyn." He spoke quieter. "Let's go home."

"Yeah." My throat ignited with fire. "God, it burns."

"I'm so sorry." He helped me up and let me lean on him for support.

"I'm fine." It was a line I had used too many times in the past. Humorlessly, I remembered my earlier vow of honesty. "I'm not fine, but I will be."

He would not look down at me as we hobbled down the street.

"I know I don't have the best track record tonight, but I can get us back to our cars, if you trust me." He spoke low, almost low enough that I had to strain to hear.

"Get us there, Ryker." I moaned against his chest. "I miss my bed. I need a drink. And it's cold."

His chest rumbled with quiet laughter. "You are something else."

He laid me against a lamppost, making sure I was completely steady before letting me loose. He approached a luxury car parked on the curb, and I tried to make out what he was doing in the faint light.

I couldn't see his hands, but he popped open the driver side door and the alarm sounded for only a second before it stopped altogether. He was leaned under the dash and I pushed forward to watch, only being rewarded with shadows and darkness. Before I could even blink, the car roared to life and the doors clicked to unlock. He rounded around the front and opened the door for me so that I could easily slide into the passenger seat.

He closed my door and rounded the other side to hop in, like he's done this many times before. I stared at him.

"So grand theft auto?" I questioned, trying to ignore the pain.

"I was wild as a kid." He explained.

The GPS pinged and he put in the road that we had been on for the race and I laid my head back, watching the lights go by and trying to keep my head.

Once we arrived, he parked the car neatly in view of the street and began to use his sleeve to wipe away at the steering wheel. I began to help him, smearing all traces of us out of the car. Mission completed, we exited the car and Ryker made sure he locked the doors.

"Just because I stole it doesn't mean I want someone else to." He smirked when I gave him a weird look.

"As fond as I am for adventures, Rye, could our next adventure not include theft and preferably a lot less running?" I tried to smile but winced instead.

"Are you alright to drive?"

"I'm going to have to be. I cannot leave my bike here. I won't." I looked over at the black beauty with fondness.

"I'll follow you then. If you feel like you can't make it, pull over and we'll figure something else out."

"Sure." I grabbed my helmet and put it on, locking it into place. "I'll race ya!"

He just shook his head as he got into his car and waited for me to pull out.

When we reached the dorms, I thought I might collapse. Ryker parked next to me and jumped out as fast as his feet would carry him. It was a long walk inside, but he kept his arm tightly wrapped around me so that I would not fall. The corridors were quiet, even in the early hours of the morning, and for that I was grateful.

When we finally made it inside, he pulled me into the kitchen and handed me the spare bottle of whiskey sitting on the counter. I took a swig and appreciated the numbness that began to follow. Ryker swept my hair to the side and stalked to the bathroom and returned with the first aid kit. I groaned at the sight.

"Don't." He commanded. "It needs to be cleaned."

"An interesting night."

"Hm." He affirmed.

"So, can I ask what was so important that I was branded for it? Or is that going to be another thing we don't talk about?" I smarted.

He kept cleaning at my fresh wound, and I busied myself looking at our feet.

"I lost a race." He finally spoke. "The first one in my long history. It was supposed to only be a race. Said, done. I didn't know that I was up against a Green Jade member. I lost. He demanded my car and a sum of money. It wasn't agreed upon before the race, so I've been dodging them since."

"Mmm." I pursed my lips. "How much money do you owe them?"

"A hundred thousand." He swallowed.

"But you don't really owe them."

"No. But Lee doesn't know that. He is not a man of reason." He patted at my neck with antiseptic and I winced.

"I'm sorry." It was an octave lower.

"It's fine, Ryker. I'm fine." I insisted.

"You could have been hurt." He swallowed hard. "Worse than this. It could have been so much worse. How are you not mad right now? How are you not threatening to kill me?"

"Let's just end that on you can never know where a person comes from or what battles they've had to face. I'm not a stranger to this life." I sighed.

"What was your life?" He asked as he applied the bandage.

I yawned. "Maybe I'll tell you about it one day."

"Maybe." He gathered up all the supplies and put them away.

I hopped off the counter, kicking my boots off and peeling away at my soiled clothes. When I was down to panties and a tank, I folded my arms and stretched. I headed for my room and stopped at the door to turn.

Just as I did, Ryker took up the view in front of me, our breath mingling in the small space between up. I looked up at him, eyes bleary. The worry that had creased his eyes were gone and they were looking down at my mouth.

Even if it wasn't the smart thing, it was the thing I wanted most. I closed the gap between us and crushed my lips against his. His hands cradled my face as he drank me in and just as soon as it started, his lips abandoned mine.

"Goodnight." I breathed.

"Sleep with me." He whispered.

"What?" Had I misheard him again?

"Fuck. That came out wrong." He pressed his lips to the top of my forehead. "Will you sleep next to me? For tonight?"

"...Okay." I hesitated.

"Nothing funny. Just sleep." He assured me.

I followed him into his room, and he fixed the sheets on his bed. I smiled a little at his determination to tidy things up, but I was too tired to care. He slid in carefully and opened a space for me and I crawled in. His blankets wreaked of him, but here there was also a hint of honey mixed in with his natural spice. It wasn't unpleasant and I sank into the warmth without hesitation. Sleep came easily, my eyes starting to water with drowsiness. But just at the cusp of sleep, Ryker pulled me closer and I rolled to my side. My hair raggedly dressed his pillows in raven curls, and he ran his fingers through it as I snuggled deeper into his chest. I couldn't hold back anymore and let the exhaustion overtake me.