Chapter 1

Ethan Santos was standing in front of Stillwater University waiting for his friend Emma. Ethan attended the school for about a year before realizing that school just wasn't for him. Emma was a transfer from England, why she decided to attend school in such a terrible place Ethan couldn't understand. All he knew was she was beautiful, he had fallen for her the first moment he laid his eyes on her. She stood at five-foot-five with mesmerizing chocolate brown eyes and mousey brown colored hair that travelled down to the middle of her back.

Ethan watched her walk out of the building with her friend Kate. He hated that bitch, she would always try and convince Emma to stop hanging out with him. Even once going as far as calling him out at a school party one night when she had gotten wasted.

"Why do you still hang out with that loser girl. He is literally going nowhere, a waste of space" Kate said glaring at Ethan's six-foot-two athletic frame. "Wasn't he wearing that shirt the other day, seriously Emma...HE'S A BUM" she said loudly making Ethan finally look over towards them.

He immediately returned the glare rolling his eyes at the blonde. Oh how he wanted to run her through with his pocket knife.

"Stop it, he's really sweet...and he's my friend. You don't have to hang out with us you know" Emma said in her British accent as Kate rolled her eyes following Emma over to Ethan.

"Hey street trash, mug any old ladies today" Kate said scowling at Ethan as he shook his head rolling his eyes.

"Hey slut, how many dicks did you suck before you got out the front door. What happened? Football team tired of training that loose goose ass pussy you offering up" Ethan said grinning watching the girls blood boil at his words.

"Okay enough. Both of you" Emma said stepping in between the two. "Kate I'll see you tomorrow okay, come on Ethan" Emma said grabbing his arm pulling him away.

They walked over to Ethan's car, it was a beat up, old Bootlegger. Emma had to climb through the drivers side to get in because the passenger door had gotten stuck last year.
"Why do you hang out with that slut? Hate that bitch" Ethan said softly as Emma folded her arms looking at him.

"I'm sorry, I thought I was going to be hanging out with my friend Ethan today. Stop being an ass please, I hate it when you get this way" she said looking away from him out the window.

Any other woman would have taken a slap to the face for speaking to him that way.

"I'm sorry Em, I didn't mean to upset you. Let's go and get something to eat" he said giving her a weak smile as she turned to him rolling her eyes holding back a smile.

"Don't smile at me like that. You know I can't stay mad at you when you do" she said keeping her head turned to hide her smile as Ethan chuckled softly starting up his 'hooptie' and pulling off.

Ethan parked his car at Freckle Bitches, helping Emma climb out over him before getting out himself. They ordered their food and took a seat waiting for it to arrive.

"Sooooo, how's school?" Ethan asked locking his eyes with Emma's.

"School is school, nothing new besides the fact that my sociology teacher is a bitch" she said making Ethan laugh softly.

"Want me to kill her?" He asked in all seriousness as she burst into laughter taking his comment as a joke.

"No, I don't want you to kill her you nutter" she said playfully shoving him from her side of the table. "You need to shave Ethan, you're all scruffy" she said playing with the light scruff on his cheeks.

"No, I'm actually going for the Wolverine look" he said raising his eyebrows playfully as she shook her head no.

"If you were an ugly guy you'd be in trouble Ethan" she said laughing as the waitress brought over their food.

"Sooooo, you think I'm not ugly?" He said in a slow and curious tone.

"Well..." She started as the door opened and she smiled at the entering patron.

Ethan looked over his shoulder to see what had prevented Emma from finishing her statement.

"Hi Brad" Ethan said rolling his eyes as the nineteen year old jock took a seat next to Emma.

"Yo quiero taco bell hombre" the boy said taking one of Emma's fries and shoving it on his mouth.

Ethan clenched his fist tight to prevent from snapping the young kids neck.

"You ready to go babe" he said kissing Emma's cheek as she looked between him and Ethan for a few minutes. Ethan closed his eyes and nodded as Brad got out of his seat being followed by Emma.

"I'm sorry Ethan, I'll call you later okay" she said as Ethan nodded giving her a weak smile. She gave his a soft kiss on his scruffy cheek as she ruffles his crew cut jet black hair. "Shave this god awful thing of your face and you'll be hot again" she said making him smile.

"Emma... Any time today would be good" Brad said in an annoyed tone as Ethan clenched his fist again. "Adios amigo" he yelled over to Ethan as Emma walked over slapping him in the chest.

"Stop it" she mouthed to him as they left the restaurant and Ethan sitting in his seat.

"Fucking tool" Ethan muttered to himself.

He hated Brad at least ten times more than he hated Kate. Brad was an undercover racist who always tried to rile Ethan up with his Latino nationality. Their day would come and it would come soon if Ethan had anything to say about it.

It was about ten thirty that evening when Ethan arrived to his run-down loft in the Saint's Row district of Stilwater it was eerily quiet for some strange reason that night. He had parked around the corner so he had to walk. The prostitutes and their pimps were hard at work.

"Hey man, this shit a cost you six hundred dollars in the store" the crack head that sold stolen goods called out to him. Ethan ignored him, he had bought a tv from that guy before and it broke in two months. "Awww whatever, fuck you" the watch man said as Ethan kept on walking.

"Hey baby, I could show you a good time" one of the hookers said stepping in front of Ethan displaying her 'goods' to him.

Ethan was set to decline her offer when they heard a hell naw' come from across the street.
"Fucking Vice Kings" Ethan said to himself as he and the hooker stood back watching to see what was going on. His better judgment told him to hurry home but something in the back of his mind made him stay.

"Fuck the Rollerz" one of the Vice Kings said looking at a Rollerz tag on the wall.

"Levar are you gonna let those bitches disrespect us" the VC with the bald head said.

"Shhiiiyyyttt what you thank'" Levar said shaking his can of spray paint going over the tag on the wall.

"Uh oh" the hooker said as she and Ethan watched three Rollerz approach the Vice Kings. "I'll see you later sugar" the hooker said stepping away back to her position on the wall.

"What the fuck you think you're doing" one of the Rollerz said as the bald King turned to him.

"Just being civic minded is all" the fat King responded.

"Is that so" the Rollerz responded.

"Yeah some dumb ass cracker went and shit all over this wall. We just cleaning it up" the bald King said as all hell broke loose. Ethan shook his head at the drama ensuing between the Rollerz and the Vice Kings. Then things went from amusing to Fubar quickly as the Carnales rolled up.

"Hector says buenas noches" the passenger said lifting his Uzi firing away as a shootout broke out. Gang member bodies dropped left and right before somebody took out the Carnales vehicle. The explosion knocked Ethan back to the ground leaving him weak and groggy. He sat up backing away from the bald Vice King who had his gun trained on him.

"Wrong place, wrong time" he said coldly preparing to take Ethan's life. Ethan closed his eyes hearing a shot go off. To his utter shock he was still alive

"You okay Playa" a dark skinned man in a leather jacket asked helping Ethan up.

"Julius, let's move" the other guy with him said scanning the surroundings for more enemies and police.

Julius threw Ethan's arm over his shoulder helping him along as the car finally exploded behind them.
Julius sat Ethan down inspecting the damage done.
"That don't look so bad, you should be fine" Julius said before turning to his partner. "That's Troy" Julius introduced. "You can thank him later. The Row ain't safe no more. We got gangs fighting over shit that ain't theirs. You in the way, they don't care if you're representing or not" Julius said as Ethan's eyes were locked onto him. This man was charismatic, he already had Ethan locked in with his meager words.

"Julius, this is no time to recruit" Troy said in an annoyed tone as Julius turned back to him.

"We need all the help we can get son" Julius responded as Troy became more frustrated.

"No, we need to get our asses out of here" Troy said arguing back.

"In a minute. Look, the Row's got a problem. Come to the church tomorrow morning if you wanna be apart of the solution" Julius said before standing up and walking away quickly with Troy. Ethan was in awe of this man, his voice, his presence, it made you want to follow. Maybe he would take him up on his offer, but first he needed to go home and collect his thoughts.

2006

"Ethan do you understand the nature of what you've done" Dr. Brower asked
"..."
"Ethan, if you don't talk to me it's not gonna get any better. I won't be able to help you" she pleaded with him.
"..."
"Please Ethan, let me help you" she said softly.