As Michael, Lincoln and Sucre entered the stairway; they could hear hip hop pounding in the club below them. They began walking down the stairs and Michael paused on the bottom step just before the door that stated 'High Voltage - Danger'.

"Yo Fish, what's up? Why you stopping?" Sucre screamed from behind.

"Sucre man, you sure about this?" Michael turned looking for an answer from his former cell mate.

Sucre walked past Lincoln and whispered in Michael's ear "Hell yes". He pushed open the door.

Michael and Lincoln slowly followed Sucre through the crowded club, over to the bar.

"Look for any girl with a red string tied around their left wrist." Sucre ordered the brothers.

Michael span around and grabbed Sucre's arm, as he turned to order some drinks, and made him turn to face him.

"Did you just say 'girl'?" Michael questioned.

Lincoln turned to see whether the controversial question would be answered the way they wanted it to.

"Girls… mmm more like women" Sucre answered as he licked his lips.

'Great' Michael thought.

The three men each turned back around and stared out into the dance floor and the rest of the smoke filled club.

XXX

Jace's POV

I was playing a simple game of pool, when I noticed that I had set myself up for a perfect double on the black top right pocket. I turned to the Redneck next to me and politely said "Get ready to pay up". My London accent simply emphasised the sarcasm in my words.

The black ball smoothly entered the pocket as it rebounded of the side into none other than the top right pocket. As I stuck my hand out for the $50 to be dropped into it, I was surprised when I felt two coins dropped into it instead.

"WTF? The bet was for 50!"

"Honey you'll never be worth 50" He answered with his slimy voice.

"Really" I unzipped my black hoodie to reveal a slashed up vest top underneath. I threw the quarters he had deposited in my hand at his head and whacked him round the back of the head with my pool cue. One of his friends came up behind me and began choking me with another pool cue.

XXX

Michael, Sucre and Lincoln continued to look around the club for even the slightest hint of red.

"Then again there is another clue…" Sucre broke the silence, he pointed to a girl in the middle of a scuffle with a group of very large guys.

The girl was getting choked by a guy with a pool cue pressed against her throat. Michael and Lincoln then began to move toward the girl when Sucre pulled them back.

"Watching is the only way to prove that she's one of them." He said simply as he turned back to face the girl.

The girl elbowed the guy who was choking here in the ribs and dodged a kick from a man who was now standing on the pool table. She then took a pool cue that was positioned just behind him by both ends and pulled it toward her. The man toppled backwards as she broke the pool cue over her knee. She winked at another man to provoke him to run toward her. As he tried to hit her she blocked it with one end of the broken pool cue and hit him firmly in the ribs with the other end which was in her other hand.

"She's one of 'em" Sucre laughed.

Michael continued watching as she was about ready to hit him again when someone whistled so loud that everyone in the club stopped and looked toward them.

"J" was all the girl, who now stood on the balcony, said.

The girl who was fighting now stopped and dropped the two ends of the pool cue she was using as a weapon. She nodded and began walking toward a spiral staircase that led to the balcony.

Sucre nodded toward the girl on the balcony and stated "That's the girl we wanna talk to"

Lincoln moved to whisper in Michael's ear as Sucre followed the fighting girl toward the staircase.

"Did that girl with the pool cue look familiar to you?"

Michael nodded as he followed Sucre to the other side of the club.

XXX

Jace's POV

I stopped fighting the pricks as Nessa screamed. I walked over toward her to join her in the office but as I was walking up the stair I noticed three guys walking toward the stairs after me. One I didn't recognize at all, the other two I couldn't help but recognize them.

I walked down the hall saying 'hi' to everyone who had just come and reported to Nessa.

"We got company" I explained as I walked into the office. Nessa handed me two Nine Millimetre Semis, which I placed on the desk as she sat behind it and I leant on it, just blocking the view of my guns. Maria leant on the other side of the desk with her gun behind her.

"Who?" The blonde asked me.

"Three guys"

"Okay"

I began smoothing down my black combat trousers and pulled up the arms of my hoodie to reveal my tanned skin beneath. My black hair was down considering I could barely tie it up as it just about reached my shoulders. I knew that my scar was clearly visible but I didn't care.

Three slow knocks two fast ones. The door opened and the three guys walked in followed by two women.

"What do want?" Nessa asked bluntly.

I stared at the tallest of the three guys- green eyes- full of mystery.

"Nessa, it's me Fernando."

I turned around to face Nessa and smiled.

"Hey, 'Nando" Nessa came out from behind the desk and embraced him. "How are you?"

"In trouble… I need some help"

"Why else do you come here?" She walked and sat on the desk between Maria and me. "What do you need?"

"A place to crash, safe and secluded"

I looked from Fernando to the tall guy who continued to stare at me. I winked at him.

"Like what you see" I stated staring into his eyes.

He turned around and began speaking to the other guy in hushed tones. I elbowed Nessa in the ribs and gestured toward the two guys deep in conversation.

"Hey, what are they talking about?" Nessa asked Fernando.

"Nothing their brothers you see." He turned around to face them and he gave what I could see as look that said 'shut the hell up'.

I slowly put my hands behind me and touched the guns I knew were placed there, Maria did the same. I knew the guns were hot and ready to place some lead into some hot flesh if I so needed them to.

The taller one stepped forward as I caressed the trigger gently.

"One sec…2 he said to Fernando and he turned to face me "Jace, Jace Newfield?" he asked questionably. He looked into my eyes and searched for an answer.

Everyone stared at us as I stared at him blankly.

Nessa cleared her throat and she looked at Fernando.

"Okay so you need a place to stay, what about the beanpole and gorilla?"

"Them too" Fernando answered with a smile.

"Well … I can only think of one place with enough room for you all."

Nessa turned her head toward me and I avoided her gaze as best I could by staring at a spot on the floor.

"J"

"If I turn around and you're still looking at me Nessa, I'll shoot you."

"J" Nessa touched my arm and made me look at her, "Please this is a friend of mine and apparently those two know you … please"

I stood up picking up my guns; I walk over to the couch which is against one side of the room and pick up my jacket. I put on my jacket and grab my bag and place the guns inside of it after putting on the safety. I swing it over my shoulder and begin toward the door.

"I'll be back soon Ness" I say before opening the door and walking out of it.

"Come on then" I sigh before I head down the crowded hall.

"I owe you" Nessa shouts down the hall

"You owe me plenty" I shout back turning my head to face her.

I walk down the spiral staircase and into the crowded club, weaving my way in and out of the people grinding against each other.

"Hey J, I heard you had some trouble"

"Nothing I couldn't handle Tony"

Tony, the bouncer walks out of the shadows as he continues to talk to me.

"Yeah I had to carry them up the stairs"

"Well that's what you're here for"

Tony begins to laugh as I walk toward my black Hummer, not really caring if the three village idiots are behind me or not. I unlock my car and throw my bag in the passenger seat and I lean against the closed door.

The three stooges appear out of the fog and walk toward me. They stop in front of me as I stare at them.

"Look just because you recognize me and know my name doesn't mean you know me… Michael"

"So you do recognize us?" the smaller guy asked.

"Yeah it's not every day you see the guy who saved your life." I say as I pull him into a hug.

"Get in the car Bear" I state as I pull away from the hug.

I take off my jacket and get into the drivers seat as Lincoln walks around to the passenger side seat after I have removed my bag and placed in on the floor in front of his feet. I throw my jacket into the backseat hitting Michael in the face. I start my car and drive off with the three convicts in my car.