Thea woke early, she wanted to get in and do her thing than get out before Roy showed up for his shift at the club. No she wasn't being childish. Thea'd talk to him later, once he had more time to come to his senses and realize he was wrong.

But it was just her lucky day when Roy was already up and working unloading new stock and taking inventory on what they already had out back.

"What are you doing here? It's only 7 o'clock."

Roy must have heard her coming because Thea's voice didn't seem to startle him.

"I could ask you the same, trying to avoid me by getting your work done early?"

Roy took the empty boxes and carried them to the back, here they usual kept most of them. They made good storage bins for the empty bottles of alcohol.

Thea wasn't quite sure how to respond to Roy's accurate assumption, so she changed the topic turning the light on him.

"You disappeared last night after the party. I looked for you." Thea sighed taking a seat on a stool, she'd put one back here last month. She'd grown tired of sitting on the floor while keeping Roy company when he unloaded shipments.

"Really? Cause you seemed quite cozy on that couch outside." Roy's voice oozed with jealousy.

Thea laughed in her mind but keep herself composed on the outside.

"What you get to cuddle up with other men and i can't get mad about it but when i do it-" Roy shook his head interrupting.

"That is completely different, and why do you have to bring the hood up every time!?" Roy said his jaw clench tight.

Roy had abandoned the open boxes of alcohol and came to stand in front of Thea arms crossed.

"Because he seems to be taking up all your time these day, making you do dangerous things."

"No ones making me do anything." Roy fought back.

Thea shook her head standing up, taking hold of Roy's sweater front. Pulling him close to her Thea gave him a passionate kiss. It wasn't until Roy's hands gripped her hips that she pulled away.

"I can't be with you knowing that at any moment you could be ripped away from me." After that Thea walked out leaving Roy to think.

She hadn't broken up with him Thea just wanted Roy to think about what was at stake. Not just losing his girlfriend but also losing his own life.

After Thea left Roy went back to stalking up the shelves for tonight.

"Excuse me, have you seen my daughter?" Roy glanced up and who he saw was far from expected.

"She is not your daughter." Oliver growled coming up beside Roy.

Oliver had been down in the basement for over an hour working out his pent up aggression. Thea was giving him the silent treatment which he deserved, and now that she could stand to be in the same without glaring at him, There was no way Malcolm Merlyn was going to coming in and mess that up. Oliver wouldn't let it.

"Oliver. Wish i could say it was a pleasure, where is Thea?"

"You stay away from her." Roy's voice was deadly. The adrenaline pumped quickly through his veins. He felt the strong need to protect the girl he.. Loved.

"I'm going to guess you're the boy who's dating my daughter. Dragging her down to the dirt." Merlyn smirked.

Roy took action. "You're the one who'll be down in the dirt." Six feet down.

"Cool off." Oliver muttered his hand landing on Roy's chest keeping him back.

Roy gave one more last look at Malcolm before making his way into the back room stairs way. It was his turn to beat out his aggression.

"I though you left town." Oliver said his posture ridged and on guard.

"I told Moria she couldn't keep me away from this town and those in it. that i'd be back for Thea. You can't keep me away from my own daughter Oliver, young girls need their daddies."

"I'll see about that. Now get out of my club, before i call the police." Oliver threatened, keeping himself controlled. No way in hell was he letting Malcolm Merlyn in control of his emotions and actions.

No matter how much Oliver wanted revenge for Tommy, killing his dad wasn't the way. Protecting Tommy's and his sister was.

.

After quickly checking in with Felicity, Oliver went to find his mother.

"Malcolm is back?"

"That's what I just said. Look mom i need to know how big a threat this guy really is." Oliver didn't have any more time for games.

Moria took a spot on the edge of her couch, head in her hands.

"You already know what that man is capable of. I don't think he'd hurt Thea physically but, i wouldn't hold it against Malcolm Merlyn to mentally break her."

"So you think we need to take extra measures to keep Thea out of Merlyn's grasp?"

"Oliver. Your sister is strong and independent and no matter how much baggage she pretends to handle. She cannot know that Malcolm is here." Moria wasn't going to let Malcolm win and she's damn well do anything to keep him away from her daughter.

"Don't worry. I got just the thing."