Ch. 25 - Man Hunt

"The syndicate!?" Alex asked. "Those freaks are really gonna join them?"

"Yeah... it seems they're getting more helping hands." Drake said as soon a gun shot hit their back window, luckily it was bullet proof glass and a stray one broke a part of the side rear view mirror.

"This isn't good, some are gaining on us..." Noelle pointed out.

"Listen... I'm gonna need Noelle to take the wheel, I plan to start shooting back..." Drake explained.

"Switch on this drift got it Noelle." Drake asked.

"Got it." She didn't hesitate to agree and soon, Drake drifted, all the while quickly getting Noelle on his lap as his then got up and slipped away. Now in the back seat alone. Drake grabbed his gun from his jacket holster as then then let his window down. "Drive straight once we leave-"

"Shut it I got it..." Noelle told him amd quickly she adapted driving straight at the turn and as she began to switch to stick she drove faster with little restraint.

All the while Drake smirk and took quick aim. "Awesome... I'll count on you to keep us on the move."

"Drake. Just get to it already!" Noelle yelled, forcing the car to drift.

While mid drift, both Drake and Alex lowered their windows, Alex staying down in the car while Drake from the other end got up sitting on the open window as the both took aim, popping shots right out from the openings they had and with how completely focused they were, but also, how experienced they are, they easily landed hits together killing the driver and passenger to one car, but they kept firing to make sure.

With the first car swerving off the road. The many behind them took their place and to there surprise, they were packing far more hear and surprises.

"Holy shit!" Alex yelled once she could look at the back window now with the drifting coming to an end and saw it. Men with fully automatic weapons and even pump shotguns were firing at them. And with Drake still sitting up at the window he showed not a hint of fear as he focused fire while they took their shots back

"Alex get him down dammit!" Noelle yelled worried he would be killed by a stay.

Alex couldn't agree more as she grabbed his pants at his hips and pulled him in by force pinning him on top of her.

"Woa! Easy!" Drake said looking down at Alex at they were laying in the back seat. Bullets hitting the back bullet proof window as he then sat up.

"My ass, get off! Stay alive asshole!" She told him off sitting up. "For ours sakes alright! You can't be so reckless!"

"Now isn't the time for scolding!" He told her, as he had such a calm look but a narrow expression.

Police would soon show up now, appearing behind the mass group of cars. With a yelling from there sirens and from there microphones. "Pull! OVER! Now! Your all under arrest!" However just as soon as they arrived, the former gangsters with nothing to lose, they were now firing at them. Even yelling to one another from different cars.

"Half of you take the blue's! The other half! Kill those Fuckers! Let's take our city back!"

Quickly a barrage of gun fire was left go into the sky and they organize under the uniform of causing crime. After all, they just made a new life with the syndicate ealier, so they had to show results in their own mind, if they wanted to stand out.

In the heat of adrenaline, where all your blood if pumping, and your life is in danger, there is nothing gonna stop you from keeping yourself alive by any means.

Which led to a far more dangerous car chase. As some of the cars backed up, they began to ram into the police squeezing them and Alex as well as Drake soon saw a brutality unlike anything before, from both sides of the cruisers, two gang vehicles pinned them, and pointed two guns, one for each inside the police car. A shot gun was fired to drivers head, while a automatic smg was unloaded to other all along their face and body completely tearing apart the bodies of the police officers and the drove aside letting the police car crash into a brick wall destroying them as it was in high speeds.

"No way..." Alex mumbled "those freaks... thats... that's insanity! Drake these guys are freaks! What us going on! What happened inside that building!"

"You think I know!? I'm just as clueless! These guys are just gangsters I cleaned up when I was making a name for myself! But I did over hear some stuff, look! Now isn't the best time, Alex, stay with me and focus!" He told her.

She quickly wised up, as she had been panicking. "I won't panic like that again." She managed to get herself together, closing her mind to one thing, and that was suriving in this moment.

"Drake! Call your cop dad... let him know not to get pinched!" Noelle told him.

"Got it... Alex, cover fire, dont die... or get hit... and Noelle, do anything to get these guys off us, by any means." Drake would get his burner phone again to call Tristom directly.

A high speed chase and shoot out quickly became to being.

And after the brutal killing of the first police cruiser, back up would be called as they were getting closer to the city.

More police got involved. Triston turned his phone back, all the while on the drive back, they were then notified of the chase. Police and soon helicopter began to circle the city as it seemed like they were all now out trying to being back order, as soon he was then let know of this intense chance and had been informed one crew had been lost contacted with. He then ordered for the police to have helicopters out and in less than 30 minutes, they would be on them and soon watch as some police chased two different groups. One smaller than the others, with just police and gangsters, but the other chance much bigger, police, gangsters and Drake's car. Gun fire broke out heavily. Over the megaphone the helicopter yelled. "PULL OVER! YOUR UNDER ARREST!"

However, that just got them more filled up. And so some of then cars fired up to the police in the sky and again to the police on the ground. The other cruisers lost wheels and had to break off while on the helicopter, their windows were pierced and grazed the pilot.

Drake took the moment to talk to Noelle. "Break off here, Noelle, well dump the car and go on foot a bit" he then moved to sit up front with her.

"The highway it is..."

"Just make sure to get off right away, maybe even slow down and force those goons to pick us or the police." Drake said watching the rear view as they soon would take a turn going into the highway after turning again to get onto the ramp and only sped up after.

Much how they planned they did end up splitting the factions. Now only two cars after them with the police helicopter after the larger group that kept driving the lane they left.

"No way! There's a barricade now! How!." Noelle pointed out.

"Don't stop... there's a gap for us..." Drake said sitting down calmly.

"Aren't they after us too?" Alex wondered.

"I'm not slowing down then." Noelle said as they kept at their pace.

"Stop once we're past it... we'll be jumping off the freeway," Drake told them.

Noelle would easily make it through the gap the police had, and once they past they filled it with a car and with the large highway now open, they got out not to far and Drake as he got out could see step dad. "Thank you." He mouthed to him.

In return he nodded and focused on the cars as a shoot out soon prompted.

Drake, Noelle and Alex got out their car and headed to the edge of the highway as Drake took the look in jumping onto a roof of a lower building catching Alex and Noelle as they easily got down with him. Together they began to run along the roof tops leaving the main city roads as they headed to another part of the area now back on the town.

"So where to now?!" Noelle asked.

"My place... as much as I hate it... if I'm tracking thag ass of a father... I need to go to where it began... I'm sure that pig left something behind... if not... he might have left something I could track and use to start following..." Drake soon felt his phone go off. "Hello?"

"Drake, it's Anna..."

"What's wrong?" He asked

"I got... a message from my mother... to come home." She said.

"What's wrong Anna?" He sensed something was off.

"You know how I said, she didn't want Sarah back... it seems like now she's willing to talk it over if I bring her... I don't like the feeling I was getting, so I'm letting you know drake... what should we do?" Anna thought.

"Stall... and give me the address of where this is taking place." He said.

"That's the thing... she wants it to be in the mansion... she wants me to come home... not come here or the villa. It's strange..." Anna pointed out. "Before, we'd talk just Over the phone on a disagreement or the villa... but, she wants me to bring Sarah now and to the mansion. I'm almost never there to begin with myself..."

"I understand... stay in touch. And let rose know of what's going on... she'll get in contact with her mother for me amd they'll talk to ace to track her... I'll call you back later... I'm heading back to my house... no telling what will go down so pause on contact until I reach you other wise or if 24hrs pass till now." Drake informed her.

"Got it, will you be alright drake?" She asked. Concerned.

"You should know by now I will be... just take care of my sister... and the other girls... you have some idea of the crime world, so please watch over them... can you do that for me.?" Drake asked.

"Yes, I'll watch after them... come back safe. For us and your sister." Anna then hung up.

"How sweet." Alex chimed.

Drake agreeded. Soon they were in an ally, and then walking down the street. Together they easily blend in.

"What was that chase about drake?" Noelle asked.

"Oh yeah, I haven't covered what was going on. Those thugs are from former gangsters I destoyed... the scraps I didn't clean up... they were reached out by another faction... the underground syndicate... it seems those in the underworld are in need of people... which is concerning. They never act so publicly like that, nor give such a wild order... which means they are planning on making a big move soon. At least that's a guess... I'm not sure what though or why, I never dug anything on them."

"Really? Even you couldn't find anything?" Alex wondered.

"Well, that's not entirely true... its not that i didn't find anything... it's more like I couldn't, there was nothing to find... they act so secretly and swiftly its hard to spot one group from the other... but also, their work is clean. They do everything, on face at least, by the book." Drake explained.

"So how did you learn that." Noelle thought.

"From Jack... the former one." Drake stopped.

"You... mean... they, and he were part of that riot?!" Alex asked.

"Yeah... before I killed him... he told me of a warehouse to find and that'd when I learned of them, the underground syndicate... apparently it was his round about way of showing themselves to us... and I do mean us..." Drake sighed. "Listen alex... I've kept this secret, because it no longer concerns us, but now that we're back in this you need to know... the syndicate... is coming after the empire. Our home and people..."

Drake locked eyes with her.

"Are you saying your back in this to stop this on top of protecting your sister?" Alex asked.

"No... in fact... I plan to let them... I don't want the empire around anymore... and honeslty, I think now that I'm back, I can take the syndicate out... in turn... destroying the last two massive factions... cleaning the streets we live in..." Drake told her the truth.

"You realize by telling us this... you in fact are committing high treason... and if I agree to this... my grandparents will be in danger... not to mention... your endangering your sister..." Alex slapped him grabbing his collar. "What is the matter with you Drake! Can't you slow down! Do you have any idea how crazy this is...!" Alex was angry with him. But also scared for him.

The entire time Drake didn't flinch, or drift his eyes. Which told her all she needed. "You plan to kill yourself for the sake of our future is that right?" Noelle asked from the side.

"Yeah... I plan to... you know I'm not gonna live long anyways, not with my lung disease... and after all my broken bones and wounds you think my immune system isn't killing me either... I'm fighting as hard as I can for you girls and my sister... my last... and only gift I can give... is to make sure these streets are clean... no more gangs... no more thugs... we only got each other after all." Drake then slowly took Alex's hands away. "Please... let me gift you this..."

"We didn't ask for this or want this... we can always move away you know... forget this country and city... why do this?" Alex asked.

"You know I can't live a normal life anywhere... trouble just always follows me... anywhere I go... I tried... I did... for 9 months... almost 10... but my father pushed me to far... I lived a good life as it is meeting you all... I'll let fate decide for me... if I get to live once things are settled." Drake held her hand and walked together.

Alex couldn't say anything and walked along his side, now, cherishing every bit of chance they had. With Noelle on his other side.

"I'm not about to let you die..." Alex told him. "We started in this gang together.. and we'll finish this together. Just promise me this is where it all ends... I don't want to stay in this life anymore." Alex asked.

"Yeah... I can promise that for sure. Just stay by me." Drake said to her softly. And while he did promise, all three knew that won't be a guarantee.

Drake felt himself sinking. He felt like he also just lied to her. Even if he meant what he said. And was known to keep his promises. He wasn't even sure now. He had more people to protect, when in the beginning, it was just his sister, Alex and Rose, the daughter to the queen. He was able to handle that. But, as he grew out of his shell, he was meeting new people and opening himself to new experiences.

He met new woman to love and care for. Friends that would stand by him, and yet. He felt they were out of reach. He couldn't be everywhere at once. He also felt the overwhelming guilt of his sins and the weight he carries. A teenager, who's killed. Who's infamous in the world of crime. Trying to live a normal life wasn't easy. A selfish option even. Buy, he tried. And yet, he felt things pushing him away from that. He regret so much. He often hoped and wished things were different. Yet, he knew he couldn't day dream to long, amd so when knocked to reality. He just sighed, accepting the hand delt to him now. And things didn't look good.

The enemy, also know as the Syndicate, would be on the move, at the same time they left amd made their get away, the man who was hiring goons, reported the incident. About the cop. And the black vehicle implying the empire and police are working together for some reason.

The syndicate, with this knowledge now, soon sent alerts out, through there extensive network, and with the reward for any info being money, so many were happily to work with them.

And soon, info was givin up, the chief of police and his address to his home. As well the wereabouts of the Empire's HQ.

The underworld had its hands everywhere. In secret, the leaders began to plot. But didn't want to interfere with Drake's fathers plans. So for a while, nothing would be done, at least, while Joker was in the city.

A second plan would be in motion behind the scenes.

The stakes, would only get higher, and even now. He was still holding himself back. He did change if only a little. Alex knew he wasn't like he was before, the old him, would be hunting, working hard to kill who he needed to get what ever her wanted. But right now, he was slowing down, he was acting cautiously. She saw he was trying so hard to alter the fate he was destined.

But, is that the right choice. Or rather. The best way to go about it. Deep within the back of his mind, Drake felt someone. His skin crawled, back ached as if covered in pins and needles. Holding back, clearly invited trouble, but kept his people safe.

The trio, would be back at the empire, and would notice Anna, waiting in the lobby alone.

"Anna?" Drake asked.

She got up without a word and walked up to him, handing him a letter. "Drake... we need to chat."

"What's wrong." He asked taking the letter she got.

"My mother. I need to back home it seems. It's not a request either... and she wants to tall about why I left..." she said.

He read the letter, and would think on this. "Do you want to go?" He asked.

"I don't know... my mother... she's, a troublesome woman. I've been in her shadow, so I know how she thinks... and something is telling me. If I do go, I won't be coming back." She said to him.

"Let's head up to our floor... in our room we'll chat more about this." He said to her.

"Kay." She would walk beside him as they headed to the elevator.

Once everyone was together, Sarah would run up to her brother, and clearly not interested in being separate.

While he didn't object, his heart filled with pain. He was seeing, his bad side steadily involve his kid sister. He couldn't protect her as much as he wanted anymore. And he saw that as a weakness. He just smiled down at her and patted her head. "I'm back... why aren't you in bed...?" He said softly. Putting an act.

Sarah, who had been in the care of her older brother, and know him just as well if not more than the girls in his circle, she knew he was putting on some sort of act. And in truth, she acted clueless. She never wanted to make him worry, she just did as she was told of him. She always was the good sister who listened. "I just wanted to spend time with you... since you just woke up from a coma. Can't i?" She asked. She also loved him, as the only one she could comfortably rely on.

He sighed. "Only a bit kid... then bed okay." He then took her hand. "Ladies, let's talk later..." he said to the girls, looking at them softly and waited on their approval.

"Sure." Alex said.

"Thank you." He answered back, and walked with Sarah with the living room, where Marlene happen to also be sitting, she was holding her phone.

"Oh... Drake... welcome back." She was clearly a little tense.

He could notice. "Yeah, you okay?" He asked sitting down beside her.

"... in truth... I'm worried about my mother... and father... cause." She then glanced at him and his tattoo.

"I... asked for gaurds to be watching your home... they should keep your mother safe... and as for your father... we talked. Like I planned too... things are getting dangerous. For him. And myself." He said honestly to her. "Listen Marlene..."

"Hm?" She sudden calmed, after hearing him try so hard to keep her family safe also, now he seemed to want to talk and it was sounding serious.

"You should head back home..." he told her. His eyes looked strained. He didn't want to make her hate him. But he was also speaking for her safety.

"What!?" She looked at him more closely not gazing at his face noticing the distress he seemed to be putting himself through. Instead of her acting on her emotions, she understood the circumstances. "No." She stated.

He was silent. Began to blink a bit. Then spoke again. "But... this life... isn't for you. I don't want you involved. You along with my sister... are the most innocent here. Neither of you should witness the things to come." Drake would look at her.

Sarah, who had sat up beside him, moved to sit between them and then grab her brother. "Your not kicking her out are you?"

Marlene, gently grabbed Sarah, and brought her to her lap and held her. "No... he's not... your big brother is just concnered about me... and you."

Sarah and Drake couldn't help but notice this motherly feeling coming from Marlene. A sense of warmth and softness came over them.

"But..." he clearly wanted to keep that safe. That comforting feeling, and safety provided. "Marlene... Sarah... I'm very likely going to get in to trouble. Stuff... I do not want you both to ever witness. And this city... will be ruined again... I'm asking you both, to leave."

Sarah, who loved and cherished her brother, who was her protector and safe place, asked her to just leave him.

Marlene, who had fallen in love at first sight with him, was now being pushed back.

Both had different ideas why.

Sarah, saw this, as he was finally giving up on her.

Marlene, saw this, as his was of protecting them, by giving up his own happiness and life, at all costs.

Sarah, looked at him with tears forming. "Are you... abandoning me... big... brother!?" She tried to be calm.

He bit his tongue, knowing his next words would very likely cause he pain.

But, Marlene spoke up. "He's not!" She said firmly. "He wouldn't, and couldn't... no matter how hard he tried." She then gave him a look. Like that of a wicked which, sly and yet charming, she smiled. "He's simply, trying to keep you... and I safe Sarah. So what do you make of it?" She then changed her face to a simply smile for Sarah.

"Really?" She then thought on it. She wasn't so naive to think things weren't dangerous. But. "The idea... of being left behind hurts me..." she said.

Drake, spoke again. "Both of you... are so stubborn." He sighed. "If your both... for real... then... you both will need to defend yourselves... if I cant... or if the other girls can't. You both will need to learn, that your safety is above anyone else's life. Sarah... your brother. Was never a good person. I hurt a lot of other people. And I've done a lot of evil... all for keeping us safe... so you have to understand... why I don't want this for you... but Marlene's, if your serious... I need you to vow to me... to keep my sister safe. And I promise to raise hell over to keep you safe and happy. Can you make a vow that's so selfish." He looked at her, ready to commit to a world of new evils.

Marlene's eyes widen, as she saw the weight of his worlds. What they meant, what he would do. She then leaned in to kiss him holding his cheek. That sort of resolve, was not easy to come by, his eyes hid pain, and she understood if he could have had a different path he would have. She welcomed the burden along side him.

Giving him the only answer to sway away any doubts from her and himself.

Sarah between the two suddenly was smothered into Marlene's chest while pinned against her brother. She could breath again once Marlene pulled back a bit. "I won't be going anywhere... but you'll need teach me everything you know my dear."

He was star stucked. At least, that's the shock he felt. And he wasn't complaining either of the feelings she just made him feel. Her sudden advances was something that enticed him to her even more.

"Owei..." Sarah said rubbing her nose as she had hit Drake's chest from Marlene's sudden advance onto him.

"Sarah... go play with your big sisters." Drake told her. "Ask them to put you to bed." He was acting a bit strangely.

"Oh. But... okay." She got down from the couch they were sharing and walked over to the others beyond the kitchen, who were trying to decide what to cook the entire time and quickly melded with them wanting to help instead of going to bed.

Drake looked at Marlene, and asked. "What's your deal... your not..."

"Pushing back." She said leaning back into him.

"... and... doing all kinds of things... that make me want to go crazy." He said grabbing her hands and held her leaning in himself as he used his other hand to grab her waist and bring her closer. "Your picking a dangerous path..."

"And I'm not going to reconsidering... so please." She touched his cheek again with her other free hand. "Stop trying to change my mind... I've decided to stick with you. From the moment I laid my eyes on you... you... we're meant to be mine." She gave him the same sly look again.

"Your... like an unruly fox..." he said, grabbing at her closer kissing her slowly.

The kiss while slow, they both tried to melt the other, wanting to win over the other in the battle. And when it broke. They left the open area of the living room, to head to a private room.

While on another side of the city. "The cops, sure acted fast than normal... I wonder how long they must have been there?" The forerunner thought. "We managed to gather more vengeful idiots all like the bosses wanted, but still... why is the empire getting involved. They tend to keep themselves clean. And yet.. why do I feel the rumors are true... that your back Joker. If that's true... I ought to think, the hitman failed then... I should report this." He had guessed, that Joker was involved. As that was the only sense he could reason, from those interfering.

Since the cops being here didn't make sense. Not to mention, a second party. When something didn't make sense, it was best to assume. It was The house of cards, Joker.

"But... how did they know there was a meet up? Do we have a traiter? Who?" This was a sudden alarm as since that's the only sense he could find. Someone had to have tipped him off. And the police. "Are forces now working to destoy us? They ought to know that wont work." The forerunner would soon reach into his jacket getting a phone to report the events as well his personal thoughts. He would get into the back of the back while his driver took them to their hideout.

After the chase, and inside the police station. Triston, would start thinking about the events that happened. Taking a deep breath. And at the same time. Those that could be arrested were soon enough, and unfortunately, of course there was also casualties from both police and gangsters.

The police station was a grim place after hours did go by. That's when people inside, learned how many officers were lost in the deadly car chase and shootouts. The number was less than that of gangsters, but, even so it was still a lose of life from those that were just doing their job. It was truly a senseless amout of death on both sides.

Triston, would get to the station and would of course sit at his desk tired, angered and in thought. He pondered of what Drake told him. Was it really possible some people working under him were working with the bad guys.

Who could he trust, he immediately thought of his second officer, who had been with him since he began this new job. But, he only could see a handful of others. First thing he knew what he had to do, was let the families of the fallen know, they're lived ones died tonight.

When he began to think of that, he realized how involved his daughter was. And then his wife back home. He sat holding his head in his hands and just couldn't function, when these big problems were now appearing back to back, he couldn't really find where to begin. He had to make a choice, stay devoted to police work, and uphold the law and order, or to step down and protect his family, maybe even leave. This was far above his station. He only got this station recently, but it felt he was climbing a mountain without gear. And the peak was only farther away.

His phone soon rang, and it was from his daughter Marlene.

Taking a second to look, he then answered. "Hello sweetheart, are you alright?"

"Hi papa.... yeah, I'm alright. Drake is also fine if your wondering." She soft calmly.

"I see, I'm glad," he took a breath.

"Is everything alright?" She asked him.

"No. Im... put in a rough place, don't worry about it dear. Just, stay with Drake in the mean time... oh, is there a reason your calling me? Not that I mind of course. But..." just as he was adding on.

"Actually, I do... it was to ask you something. Can you and mother leave town... Drake told me about the events today... I can't fathom losing either of you." She was clearly worried.

"And what about you? Your dating one of the most infamous individuals in this city. He'll cause you lots of grief..." he said, and wondered how she would respond.

"Your, not wrong. I've seen first hand, what he's like... but. I've made my decision to stand beside him. Things are only get more dangerous. And you didn't raise me to be such a weak girl. I'll be fine." She wanted to reassure him.

He listened as she spoke clearly. "I see. Well... I think I'm made up my mind then." In other words. He choose to stay, and uphold the order this city needed. But, accepted that it wouldn't be his part as the main role. "I'd like you to do me a favor my daughter... have the boy send me insider information. I'd like to help him."

"Father..." she held to the phone tight. "I'll tell him. You should call mother. She's all alone you know. Bye for now."

"I will, bye." They both hung up. And then he got up from his seat.

That night. Along with, a bounty for Drake's head. A thread would come up online. The same bounty, was soon posted everywhere it could reach. Along with files, sources and images of who exactly he was. His age, weight, height. Those even associated with him. A single night. He world would turn completely over, far more than it ever had.

The odds would not be in his favor. As it was the syndicate who made the first move. And at the head of it all. His own father. Wanting nothing more than to see him dead. From a simple kidnapping, to now a man hunt for him.

The Ace, would pick up wind of this, and did their best to put out the fire. Fighting about the threat that seemed to expose everything Drake was.

And in the morning, a news article, would play. And the headline. [Infamous Rioter, serial killer, drug trafficker and gangster, revealed!]

The police chief, from his home and bed saw this.

Drake and everyone in the empire would see this on the wide screen.

His only true parental figures and those likes siblings saw from their own homes as well.

As the news laid out Drake's secret. He couldn't go outside, the empire and those associated being hinted at helping, and not so subtly pointing out the influence figures thay were the queen and King.

They were in a way, leaders in media and enterprises.

The media would even accuse him of kidnapping his own sister. And since they looked nothing alike. It seemed all too true. And a reward would be givin for anyone who could return her.

As the news played on. Drake, was seething in silence. He was holding back his hated, and rage for so long, but now. That the entire city knew his face. His past deeds. He would pushed into a corner. "Damn him..." at his core. He also knew who had to have done this.

"Calm down." Alex told him touching his shoulder.

"They released it all out there so fast..." ace suddenly said through a wire tap in a phone. "I tried to stop it all... buy they properly had multiple people and shared the files through multiple hosts. I did what I could. But I'm only one person."

"No worries." King said. "We can still work our magic. Kid... you with us?" He asked Drake. "I mean... Joker."

"Yeah... I'm here..." slowly, he took a breath. "This is obviously a trap." He was thinking and soon added.

"The other day, it seemed our Anna got a letter from her mother to come home with Sarah. And now this not long. Very likely they want to fish me out the city. So a trap is waiting for me with Anna and Sarah." He explained.

"It's true... the letter was an invite.... but, how can you assume both of these are connected." Anna asked

"The report had to much personal info. And the fact they know of Sarah when it has no relation to my file, means my father is involved. The bounty on us both made it clear he is still after he. And, through ace, I learned my father left the city. It's just a guess... sure a coincidence, but, I'm not about to assume it's not planned. And by a seriously smart strategist." He began to go into thought.

And queen spoke up. "Aside from your personal achievements, at bringing order around. It seems they hinted at I and king. It's best we assume we have traiters... selling information. This safe house is no longer that. But, we shouldn't be so quick to leave..." she sat down. "We have time. Firstly, we have to save our cover. Don't you think King."

"Yeah. If we lose influence, our authority will be questioned. We'll lose power. So joker... I hope your ready to play villain. We're gonna go along with their made up story already on you." He said.

"That's cruel!" Anna said.

"It's fine." Drake understood.

"You'll happily go along as some kidnapper? Why are you so calm too." Anna wondered.

"Because, the damage is done. And at the moment I'm anything but calm." He said honeslty.

"Let's hear him out." Marlene said grabbing Anna by her arm.

"Do explain." Anna demanded.

"Whatever he does, or tries to do, what's done is done." King said. "Think about it girlie... the news is a powerful source of influence, and while we can also sway that sort of thinking... we can't just say 'sorry about the false report. Or it's all lies.' The damage is done. And our word isn't enough, at least right now. So... well go along with their script. Still, it's no like it's all untrue. He did cause some nasty roits, and has so much blood on his hands it's beyond criminal." King said truthfully and brutally.

This hurt Sarah to hear.

"Hush." Queen said. "All were asking of him... is right now... he's holding all of us hostage... however. Except for you two. Sarah, and Anna. That way, you all can still stay here safely."

"Not happening." Alex said.

"It is happening, you all will do as I say..." Drake told them. "Your all gonna stay here... and act like I've gone and kidnapped you. And lie about it. Police will be around soon since they saw this building. So I'll need to be on the run... which means... we're also going to deliberately fall into my father's trap." He explained.

"How do we play a part in this...?" Marlene asked. "You, allowed us the chance to help. Are you taking your word back."

"No. Im just avoiding the worse case. If I suddenly take a bunch of people with me, out of the city to fall into this trap, i can't exactly protect all of you. Though I know you can handle yourself. It's not that." He said.

"Did you want, us as a back up party?" Alex asked him. Thinking what he could be planning.

"Yes. I want you all to follow after me. But after some days. We're we can ambush them back. But, what I'm concnered about... is Anna's mother and the people who are under her pay." He looked to her.

"If your talking about killing my mother... then I'd like to avoid that... still, I'm sure I can talk to her." She said.

"Well try." He said, going along with something so clearly risky. "Alright... about the other problem."

"Your father?" Rose asked.

"No. He's a personal issue... not worth a thought for any of you. It's the syndicate." He said. Which surprised the others.

"Hm. Yeah, it is strange how quickly all the information leaked so fast and much. It makes sense they are behind that, but how is your deadbeat dad in connection to them. Oh... right." He sighed.

"It's likely his business of trafficking people has made him an honorary kingpin. A good suiter for a seat at the table of there. Can you two dig up info on them?" Drake asked.

"Of course." Queen said. "Anything for you sweetie. Is there anything else?" She asked.

"I'm gonna have to borrow some cash, and guns... and another car. And gear." He said.

King shrugged. "Sure. Why not. Just make sure you pay back anything spent. You'll find the armoury in the floor under this one. Your old stuff should be in there too."

"Anna. Come with me." Drake said, heading to the elevator.

"O-kay." She followed.

Everyone else soon looked at one another. No words spoken, but everyone could sense the same concerns from one another about drake.