Heads Up. I deleted the chapter with the Sneak Peak in it, so if you have not read the previous chapter i.e., ends with this "I don't think you should go to the warehouse alone, Ace," Rose warns him. "The way she suddenly went from crazy mean to crazy nice is kinda suspect. We'll find some other way to-"

RadiantRose has logged off

"Rose? Rose?" Ace asks. Before she could finish her statement, her screen goes black abruptly. The only thing they could see before that was someone's hand covering her mouth and then the camera.

"Umm…was a surprise kidnapping part of the plan?" Asher asks, looking at Jack's screen.

"I thought we weren't doing anything illegal here!"Jack exclaims, his face becoming pale. "I can't go to jail, man!"

"What about me?" Lena demands. "This face does not belong in a prison!"

"We gotta do something!" Asher states, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Why do you care, Asher?" Ace challenges him. Asher glares at him, his blushing face betraying his indifference.

"I just do. Now, you better get down to that warehouse before Ava decides to do something awful to her," he snaps.

Ash_Cash has logged off

JackandtheAawesome has logged off.

Ace picks up his cell phone and texts Wes a distress signal.

AceofSpace: Wes, you have to let me out of the house! I think Rose may be in danger!

All he gets is a picture. Upon further inspection, he sees both Rose and Wes with varying degrees of distress, backs to the wall, while a gun is pointed at them. Rose looks kinda mad, while Wes stares out into space.

Avalicious: You'd better get to the warehouse B4 it's too late Ace. I'd hate if something happened to either of them because you decided not to show up. ; ))

I suggest going back to the previous chapter or this one will make absolutely no sense at all.

"I knew it," Ace groans. "She was still plotting the whole time and now my best friend and girlfriend are in danger."

He gets a call from his dad. Unsure whether to pick it up or not, he presses the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Listen Bartholomew, I don't know where you are or why you're not at Statton, but you need to get home immediately. Those pills you took…they're highly unstable. You won't be able to control your emotions for much longer. Get home immediately," Mr. Cruz orders.

"Dad, my friends may be in danger. I have to-"

"You have to get home and see the therapist I hired for you," he interrupts. "Let the police handle this."

Ace sighs. The domineering personality of his father was starting to return. At least he wasn't making threats like he used to.

"You don't understand…"

"I don't think you understand," he cuts him off again, raising his voice. "I know what's best for you so if you want to risk everything you've worked for, be my guest."

"Maybe I will," Ace snaps coldly. "At least then I'd have a sense of free will."

He hangs up angrily and jams his phone into his pocket, tosses his bag over his shoulder and heads out the door, making sure to lock it first. It takes him several blocks for him to realize he has no idea where the warehouse is. It must be close to where Rose lives, being that he received the picture of her 20 minutes after she was kidnapped. A car pulls up behind him and honks loudly, nearly scaring the crap out of him. The car windows roll down, revealing Jack, Lena and Asher in the car. He narrows his eyes at them in annoyance.

"Looks like you're in need of a rescue party," Jack says with a smirk.

"I don't need your help," he says dismissively. "Get lost."

"Listen, Lover Boy. You don't know these streets like I do, with your high class life," Jack responds.

"Plus, what are you going to do, bust up in there with no weapon, no method of escape, and no nothing?" Asher points out. "Your buddy Wes isn't here to have your back. My crew got wind of him being knocked out and taken away. Said something about there being a rumble at Statton an hour after you left. The rest of your guys bailed and tried to chase him. Not even the all-powerful Julian could keep up."

"Face it. It's dangerous to go alone. You need us," Jack states assertively.

"I'll find other people to help. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you," Ace responds. "You don't get me at all."

Asher sighs and steps out of the car. He nods at Jack, who drives the car out of sight, but still nearby. Ace grimaces and turns to leave in the opposite direction, but Asher stops him.

"This may come as a shocker, but I do get you," Asher confesses. "It's not easy to be the son of a successful man. People always expect you to be the best. Everyone has to like you. If they don't…if you fail…it's an embarrassment. All the important people up there look down on us because we had to work to get to where we are. And, yes, I'm aware that I'm a jerk to lower class people. I take pleasure in doing so, because I have no choice."

"That's not the path I took."

"Yeah, you chose to manipulate people for your own goals and when you didn't get what you wanted, you tried to destroy them. Then you had to start all over again, rebuilding those bridges you burned down. I've got your number as well as you've got mine."

"What does this have to do with saving my friends?"

"It means you should accept our help, like it or not. Unless you want to waste time and risk losing them if it meant not teaming up with a rival."

"You were helping Ava torment us!"

"We thought it was a big joke. You know… for kicks! We didn't realize she had a deep-seated hatred for you…or that she had blackmail on us. At least let us temporarily bury the hatchet so we can help you."

"I…I… I don't know, maybe she won't hurt them if she wants me to show up."

"Cruz. I mean, Ace. Do you honestly think Rose would want you to give up on her? On your friend?"

"Are you trying to guilt trip me?"

"A little."

"Well, it's working."

"Just get in the car," Asher lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine. But any funny business and I walk. Got it?"

"OK. One more thing?"

"What?"

"This stays between us, Cruz. If anyone else finds out about what I just told you, I'll kill you," he threatens.

"Fine by me."