Summary: The Lightwood siblings + Clary have been raised to be killers their entire lives. Since birth they have been trained to be hit men but things change as they are hired for an entirely different reason- to save someone's life. That someone? Well the infamous Magnus Bane of course.

Disclaimer: I do now own The Mortal Instruments or any of its characters. They belong to Cassandra Clare.

Prologue:

Alec's world was sent spinning with a hard punch to his jaw. He fell to the ground, trying to slow his fall with his hands but was knocked over with a hard, swift kick to his stomach for his efforts. A huge part of him wanted to give up. He was so tired and hurt that it felt like the easiest and smartest thing to do. He couldn't though. Since as far back as he could remember, Alec had been raised to be a fighter. A fighter he was born and a fighter he would die he quickly determined, steeling himself to get back up to his feet and fight back.

Another quick kick to his side stopped that line of thinking, and Alec just knew. He just knew his short time on this Earth was almost up. He'd never really had a chance though, it was three on one and while he had taken out two of them he never could have taken on all three.

"Tell me where he is," A menacing voice demanded, standing over Alec.

Alec shook his head, gripping his sides as a sharp pain shot through him.

"I don't want to kill you Alec, just tell me where he is and you'll live."

Alec just shook his head, refusing to look his attacker in the eyes. Those dark hazel eyes that belonged to someone he once considered a friend.

"Why not? His money won't be much use to a dead man Alexander so tell me!"

Alec still refused. He instead focused on steadying his breathing, closing his eyes and just waiting for the inevitable blow that would kill him.

He didn't get peace for long. The figure hovering over him dropped to his knees, leaning in closer to Alec and pressing the flat part of a knife against his pale cheek.

"Or is it about your siblings? I'm not going to kill them either, I just want one person and everyone else will be fine."

Alec didn't say a thing. A strong hand grabbed his jaw, yanking him upwards and forcing their eyes to meet.

"Come on isn't that the whole point? Isn't it why you do any of this, to keep them safe? I promise no harm to Jace, Izzy or the other two alright? You know I've never been much for lying. We have that in common."

Still Alec didn't say a word, causing the man to send another punch to Alec's jaw. His world was beginning to blur and blood was now pouring from Alec's mouth.

"Damnit Lightwood! I don't want to hurt you! Tell me where Magnus Bane is and no one but him will die. Everyone you love will be safe."

The very thought of Magnus dying shot a rush of adrenaline through Alec and unthinkingly Alec propelled himself forward, head butting the man in the nose. Of course, with the blood loss and blurry vision the attack wasn't executed as nearly as perfect as Alec had been trained so the man recovered quickly and angrily shoved Alec back down the ground, delivering another series of hits to his stomach and face.

He grabbed Alec by his bloodied shirt, holding him up as a realization washed over him.

"That's it. That's why you're not telling me where he is. You love him."

The man's eyes grew colder. Alec felt his heart clench but he didn't deny the accusation. If he did he'd be lying anyways.

The man chuckled though there was no joy in his laughter. His laugh was as callous as his greatly scarred hands.

"Well know this before you die Alexander," the man whispered, lowering Alec back down to the ground and pinning him there. He now straddled Alec's hips and turned the blade to Alec's dirt and bruise covered throat. "He doesn't love you otherwise, and believe me I know, he'd be here."

The words hit Alec harder than any of the man's punches had and with that, Alec truly gave up.

He spoke his first words since being ambushed. "Kill me."

A look of surprise and something else crossed the man's eyes, but with one more look into Alec's determined blue eyes he knew there was nothing else to be said. With that in mind, he pulled the knife back into the air and swiftly brought the blade back down.