II. Family Titles

Ivory woke up bound to a chair in a small office space.

Ivory figured she fell asleep.

The young woman realized that she was abducted and tried moving in her seat, but to her dismay, she could barely move. The young woman felt doomed, doubting that she'd never leave Leech unless she died. Ivory peered around the room, hoping that her last moments would not be inside the office.

Suddenly, Leech entered the room.

"I see you're awake," he grabbed an empty seat and sat in front of her. "Let's get down to business."

Ivory had a hard time keeping her eyes open. Ivory felt exhausted. She remember that Leech drugged Hawks, and hoped that he was okay.

"You drugged Hawks."

"The boy will be fine," Leech crossed his arms. "Blue's a private man. He won't tell you the reason why he needs you, but I believe that I've figured it out."

"Blue told me that he needed you regarding information on Viper and me."

"Yes, he did. I told Blue that you have a familiar face, and I did digging at my gang's base."

"Your gang?"

"Yes, I work for another gang: The Chicago Goads. I had suspicions about you and your family. That's when I decided to check Blue's base, but I failed. He can easily keep everything hidden."

"He had that strange room in the basement at the other base," Ivory said.

"Oh, in base one? Ha, that room is useless to me. There was something about you that reminded me of someone that I knew or had heard of, and I couldn't understand why. Your story was too familiar. Then, I did some more research. After finding nothing, I visited Ms. Campbell, who gave me the information I needed."

"What? You went to my orphanage?" She asked, confused.

"I knew that there was a specific reason Blue wanted Viper and you in the gang. Let's just say I'm an expert in finding out what I need too."

"What did Ms. Campbell tell you?" Ivory panicked.

"I lied and told her that you and Viper worked at my bookstore. Of course, what could she do?" he leaned closer to the restrained girl. "She has more important things to worry about rather than two peasant girls that ran away," He spat.

Ivory stayed silent. She had the feeling that he wasn't done talking.

He continued, "She told me basic information about your parents —" Ivory's eyes went wide as golf balls, " — and why they got rid of you. I did some more digging in file records about Viper and you, and it's just what I speculated."

"What are you talking about?"

"When I first saw you, I knew you were familiar," He kneeled down and looked up at her, "Blue knows your family, Miss. McKay."

Ivory wanted to cry. She shut her eyes and looked away.

"No, no, no! That isn't true! That can't be!" Ivory shouted.

Ivory refused hearing that her family was a violent and wrathful gang. Ivory figured that was impossible.

"Oh, but it is! Some of your family members were criminals, others were mafia members. Your father didn't want you involved in that life, and after your mother betrayed him and his gang, he placed you in an orphanage with no prior knowledge to your past. But there's more to it, my dear," He put one of his hands on her leg and she flinched. "Your mother was a prat!"

"That's a lie!" Ivory screamed.

"Your mother was a harlot, a whore! She didn't want your father, her husband, to be in her way of her wild life, partying and being a worthless and lazy mother. She liked the idea of having kids to show and brag about, but didn't want the responsibility of them."

"Why didn't my father come back?" she whispered, moving her leg as much as she could so that his hand would release, but his large hand gripped her thigh tightly.

"He knew you'd figure out your family, and in the orphanage, they are forced to sign a contract where there are no connections tied. Your dad died, but I couldn't find out why."

"Is that why I'm here? Because my parents don't want me and you resent my family?"

"Not at all," he put a hand to her cheek, " You see, I only joined because Blue needed my help with your information. I work for another mafia gang in Chicago. Since the job is done, we'll be taking the next bus out of Manhattan early tomorrow morning. You're so useful to me because tons of gangs know of your family history and will want your name. You can help my gang succeed Blue's."

"You can't defeat Blue."

"What Blue doesn't know won't hurt him. You'll be accompanying me to Chicago in a few hours."

"No!" She jumped but couldn't free herself because she was tied to a chair. "I won't go with you! I can't! I won't! Let me go, please," She whispered the last part.

"Sorry, love. But if your family has criminals all over, you must continue the legacy. You'll be accompanying that gang until you or the leader dies. And don't defile me, or your ending will be worse than Swindle H's and Roxie's."

Ivory sat there and said nothing. One wrong move or word and he may kill her. She had to be rational about this. She needed to find a wiser way out of this situation.

"You poor thing, abandoned by your worthless family," Lester moved his thumb against her cheek.

"There's more to why you have me captive, I know it," she finally said.

"Those other reasons aren't quite necessary right now. What's important is leaving the city and getting to Chicago."

Ivory refused to cry. Ivory wondered what deranged things he'd make her do?

"What do you do?"

"I'm the gang's mediator," Leech answered. "Whenever allied gangs have a conflict, or if my gang has an issue, I gather information and find answers and even a resolution. I'm a step above an assistant. Lily and Honor are the mediators in Blue's gang, but Honor works for some other gang in Brooklyn. I don't remember the gang's name. Lily has a contract with Blue, so that's why you see her and not Honor."

Ivory nodded, understanding Lily, Honor, and Leech's positions.

"I need my stuff."

Leech stared at her. "Don't worry about the little to nothing that you own. The Chicago Goad's will give you everything you need."

Before Ivory could say anything else, Leech's doorbell rang.

Leech took a few steps, causing the floor to creak.

Leech narrowed his eyes at his captive. "Don't make any noises. I'm going to see who that is. Your Prince must have come to save you with Lucky, his partner in crime," He sneered while letting out a silent laugh.

Then, Leech left the room and closed the door. Ivory listened and didn't make a sound, but listened to what was going on outside. Maybe that person will see her and free her. Ivory doubted that anyone would save her.

Ivory couldn't believe that Blue needed her because of gang titles and affiliations. Ivory always felt that her life was a deep, dark secret. Now, she knew the truth. Ivory was sure that this was her last day in Manhattan with the Blue Dragons. She cried softly, wondering what would ensue.