When Josh and Mitchell where seated, he didn't say anything or waste anytime asking the driver of the other jeep if he wanted to tag along by following him from behind. He just hit the gas and sped off. Already knowing the island inside and out, Vaas had this imaginary detailed map within his screwed up head. He knew every shortcut, hidden pass way and the locations of his men camps and the best hunting spots. Aria lurched forward due to the sudden sped of the jeep, but her seat belt kept her from bashing face first into the dashboard. "Whoa!" she let out, surprised. The wind blew her curly, dark brown hair around and she kept brushing her hair her face. This is one of the rare times where she wished she would have liked to use a hair tie or butterfly clip. She gazed behind her and could see their distance stares.

She felt this dread fill her heart. She already knew what is to come later at the hotel. She already knew. Since her new friends aren't going to be with her, they're going to do what they please without intimidation or hesitation. All she could do was simply sigh. She wasn't surprise anymore by their action's but it terrified her beyond belief at the thought of what they were going to do to her. Their pranks kept getting more risky over the years and that worried her. The last prank that happened resulted with her having a broken ankle. She turned her gaze back to the front and simply stayed quiet. Guessing her punishment. Unknowingly, she hasn't realized that Vaas has been staring at her from the corner of his eyes the entire time.

Something about Aria peaked his interest. It wasn't her beauty, or her simple caring nature. Or the fact that she just gazed at him and simple accepted him without any questions. Especially of the scar. Vaas hated when people asked that. She...she didn't ask once. Yeah, she simply gazed at it but it didn't bother her. There was curiosity in her eyes, he saw that, but strangely enough she didn't ask right off the bat. She just smiled, waved, and kept quiet. That's what he liked about her. She didn't ask anyone questions. She simply goes with the flow. Doesn't care. Doesn't judge. She's just simple.

Now. Her eyes. Her eyes were a different story to him. He could only compare them to two big, light blue diamonds or the clearest waters that can be found in the island. Hell, even the blue skies. He found them beautiful. He felt like he could stare at her for days on end and not get bored. Oddly enough, her eyes reminded him of a woman that come to his islands many years ago. He could remember what she looked like, but he remembered those eyes more. If he counted right, he had to be at least fourteen when that couple came. Exactly eleven years ago. He remembered when they came. When they stumbled upon his 'former' tribe. Upon his temple he once called home now learned to hate. He remembered calling the woman mother at one point. Than one day, they were both gone. Never heard or seen again. Vaas thought they abandoned them and he thinks that was the cause of why his sister snap and attempted to kill him after everything he did for her, but their belongings were still on the island.

Untouched.

Forgotten.

It was like they never left the fucking island yet they were nowhere to be found. One day, he went through the belongings. There were clothes, personal hygiene products, a camera and a single photo. A single photo of a young baby. There was no name on the photo or date, but Vaas could only assume that was their daughter. And what caught his attention is she had the same piercing colored eyes just like the woman he called mother. He has the picture in his office at his little island. Sitting in a drawer at his desk. Collecting dust. To this day, he can't help but think what became of that little baby. Did they ever actually leave the island? Did they ever return to their child? It's questions like these that plagued him for years, besides the question of what went wrong between him and his family.

But than again. He had to pick. Himself or them. Himself or them. His needs or their needs. His visions or their visions. His life or their life. He picked himself and left the tribes sending a big 'FUCK YOU' in their direction. Than later joined up with Hoyt and ended up in this profitable business of human and drug trafficking.

"You know, why would a woman like you come to a place like this?" he suddenly questioned, wanting to make small talk to pass time, knowing the hotel was an half hour drive away. Aria gazed at him.

"School research."

"Nah, hermana. There's more to that. You simply don't arrive to a island without a solid reason," stated Vaas, "Either you came for fun or a getaway. Which one is it?"

"Neither," was her simple, honest reply. Aria had nothing to hide from him. "Am I here for research related things? Yeah. Do I intended to participate? No. I got better things to do than study archeologically and forgotten lost ruins here."

"Than why are you exactly here?" He was getting intrigued by every passing second about this woman. He wanted to know who she was. Where she was from. He wanted to literally sit with her somewhere, roasting marshmallows and listen to her stories. He felt confused. Why did he want to know Aria? Hell, why did he care?

"My parents," Aria answered.

"What about them? They paid for your trip to come here?"

"No. I paid this on my own. The story about my parents is more complicated by itself."

"How so?" butted in Mitchell who finally spoke up.

"This was the last place they came too when they disappeared. I've been looking for them since I was twelve at least. No luck has hit me yet."

"I'm sorry to hear," replied Mitchell. Aria looked into the rear view mirror and saw his sympathy in his eyes. She simply smiled.

"What makes you think they came here? They could've went to another island," stated Vaas. She shook her head a no.

"They always brought up this island a lot when I was little. I think I was four when they started to bring it up. They talked about the Rook islands so much they made me feel I was actually a part of the island itself." Vaas chuckled.

"Really now?"

"Yeah," laughed Aria. Her laughter was sweet to him. Gentle and soft. He had this fear that this innocence and gentleness she had was going to get eaten by this crazed island itself. He was worried about that, but he was more concerned about Hoyt. He could see her smile at him and he gazed at her and saw the beautiful smile and soft eyes. He smiled back before turning his attention back to the dirt, dusty, road. "How far is this hotel?"

"About half an hour. Maybe shorter since I know shortcuts. Faster we get there, the faster I can help you get the nicest room to yourself so you don't have to deal with those little fuck heads."

"Vaas that isn't-"

"What I give you better take hermana. Anyways, I like to welcome my guest of honor with luxury and comfort," Vaas said, cutting her off, "And I don't take no as an answer." She accepted his offer without another thought. Usually, she would kindly decline a generous offer but something in her told her to accept because seeing him mad wasn't going to end well at all.

Every bump, rock, hole Vaas drove over, caused everyone to bounce inside the jeep. "Drive any faster mate! I'm bound one of us is going fly out sooner or later! I got twenty on Aria!" yelled Josh, causing Aria to turn and look at him with shocked eyes,

"I'll make sure you go flying before I do!" He laughed.

"Sure! I bet you can't even shove me since you're small!" Aria rolled her eyes. He knew what he was doing. He was taunting her on but in a friendly manner. Not how like the others did it. She smiled. It was odd to her. How she felt completely comfortable around three strangers. Yet, with people she knew she was on her nerves end. She couldn't quite explain how she, herself worked. She was confusing to her own self just as she was confusing to everyone else around her.

"Hey! Hey! No one is shoving no one out this jeep! Only I can do that!" butted in Vaas, making her chuckle. She watched as the scenery went by distracting her completely. The wildlife, the lush green trees and forests, everything fascinated her. The smell of the ocean combined with the smell of the colorful flowers and the exotic trees was a sweet combination. She could only imagine how it felt to live on a island and waking up everyday knowing there was a beautiful ocean waiting for you to stare at its waters that held secrets and hidden forgotten treasure. She her eyes widen in surprise when she saw wild deer running besides them. Who would've thought there would be deer on a island? The guys, noting her distraction took the opportunity to talk about 'business' using code names so they wouldn't raise suspicion with Aria, though she was to distracted with the wild life and nature to really care. Peaches for female product. Play ball for male product, and diamonds for those who were labeled as more expensive and would bring in more green that the guys liked.

"How much do you think four peaches will bring?" questioned Vaas.

"Four? At least sixty thousand grand a piece in ransom. Putting them on the market will bring at least an additional fifty grand," answered Mitchell.

"How much for four play ball?"

"Depending how fit they are. At least the same amount for the peaches in ransom. On market, probably a hundred grand additional. It really depends who wants them and depends how many will manage to make it to the market alive," stated Josh.

"Most likely none," laughed Vaas. The thoughts of torture and screams rang in his ears like Christmas carols. Killing was game to him and Aria's classmates were the game and he was the predator. First, he's was going to start with the alpha. Daniel Caine. Torment him right in front of his little bitches and his little slut, Maya. He's was going to enjoy every moment of him degrading Daniel. As a man and as a human being. He's going to show who has the dick around here on this island. This was his island. Vaas's island, and they were trespassing and not welcomed and he will personally deal with the outsiders.

"What about the diamond?" questioned Mitchell, breaking his train of thought.

"Huh? What was that my friend?"

"What about the diamond? What are we going to do with it?" The diamond Mitchell was referring to was Aria. Vaas looked at her. She was still distracted by the numerous deer that were running along the jeep. Her curly hair flew around and bounced with the wind.

"Aria!" he called out. Aria turned her head around to gaze at him.

"Yes?" He just wanted to see those blue eyes.

"You're going to enjoy your stay here." She smiled.

"I know I will too." Vaas saw a difference in her eyes when she said that. The same thing Mitchell noticed on the plane. Expect this time it looked like she has this fear in them. It made Vaas question what was wrong. She turned her attention back to the moving scenery, enjoying it.

"Boss?" called out Mitchell.

"We're keeping the diamond."

"What about Hoyt?" asked Josh, knowing all too well the risks of keeping Aria to themselves.

"What he doesn't know won't kill him," replied Vaas smoothly and calmly. Nothing fazed him. Aria was his. His, his, his. Nobody else's. And if someone even dared lay a hand on his 'property' he was going to protect it by all means. Even if that meant killing his own men if they even thought about harassing her. No one was going harm her. No one or nothing.