She woke up alone. Seth wasn't in the room with her anymore. The sun was shining through the window so it had to be morning. She got out of bed, took a quick shower, got dressed and walked downstairs.
A lot of people were downstairs. Some of them she already knew from work but some she had never seen before. Seth and Dean entered the front door with some men.
"Last delivery," Dean said.
She looked around at everyone. She couldn't believe they had managed to gather so many people over night.
"Meet our friends," Roman said as he noticed her.
She raised her hand in the air and smiled.
Seth walked over to her.
"Where did you go?" She asked.
"Dean and I have been picking up these guys all morning. We couldn't have them drive here on their own. Their cars would give away that we aren't alone anymore," he answered.
"Makes sense," she said.
Roman clapped his hands a couple of times and everyone went silent and looked at him.
"Alright, listen up. She's the one we need to protect," he said and pointed at her. "We don't know exactly how many they are or what they're willing to do. All we know is that they're dangerous."
"What exactly are your plan with them? Kill them or what?" She asked.
"No, we're not murderers. We'll beat them up, tie them down and hand them over to the police," Roman said.
He pointed at two men standing side by side.
"That's Angelo and Kurt. They're police officers. They'll back up our statement all the way no matter what happens," he said.
She nodded.
"You got anything to add?" Roman asked.
"Yeah. Get everyone upstairs and keep them away from the windows. Knowing my brothers they have spent the night and morning searching for me so they're probably sleeping now to gather their strengths. They'll start arriving a couple of hours before sunset, just watching the house for any movement or trap. They'll hide in the forest and you'll never know they're there," she said.
She looked around at everyone one more time. This could actually work. They did have a chance.
"We need to hide you away somewhere. I was thinking maybe drive you to a safe place," Seth said.
"No!" She hissed.
They all looked at her.
"This won't work unless they know I'm here. Use me as bait," she said.
"No fucking way!" Seth raised his voice.
"Just hear me out. I know them, I know what gets them going, I know how to make them think this is gonna be a walk in the park," she said.
"I am not feeding you to the wolves," Seth said.
"Funny. I thought you three were the wolves. The wild pack, the hounds of justice," she joked.
"We don't have time for this," Dean cut in.
"Please, just hear me out and then make your decision. You owe me that much," she said.
"Alright, what do you have in mind?" Roman asked.
An hour before sunset her and the three guys were standing at the front door.
"You're ready to do this?" She asked.
"I don't like this," Seth said.
"Don't worry. I can take the bit of pain," she said.
"I don't like putting you out there like that," he said.
"Come on, let's just get it over with," Dean said.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to..." Seth said and stopped.
He looked at her. He found it strange how she could look so fragile and strong at the same time. She took a deep breath. She knew she had to get him in the right mindset fast before they would lose daylight.
"Is this really about putting me out there or are you just scared yourself?" She asked.
Seth looked at her.
"Really?" He asked.
"Hey, it's okay to be scared. Just admit it," she said.
"I'm not scared," he said.
"Then what's the problem? You're not man enough to go through with it?" She asked.
She could see Roman and Dean turning their heads so Seth wouldn't see them smile. They knew what she was doing.
"I thought you realized last night how much man I was," Seth said in a hard tone.
"Meh... you could have done better," she said, provoking him on purpuse.
He grabbed her arm tight, opened the front door and pulled her down towards the gate. His grip was strong and hurtful and she cried and pleaded with him. Dean and Roman followed behind.
"You're hurting me," she cried.
"Good," he said as they reached the gate and he finally let go.
"Now go. We don't wanna see you anymore," Roman said.
"What? You want me to leave now?" She asked.
"Yes, we've had enough of you and your annoying little habits," Dean answered.
"But it's getting dark soon," she pleaded.
"So?" Dean asked.
"Just let me stay one more night. I promise I'll be gone by the morning when you get up. You won't ever see me again," she said.
The guys exchanged looks.
"Fine, one more night. But I don't wanna see your ugly face ever again," Roman growled.
He and Dean turned around and walked back to the house, leaving her and Seth out there alone.
"Seth, please," she tried.
"Please what?" He asked, looking at her with cold eyes.
She tried taking his hand.
"Don't touch me!" He yelled and gave her a push.
"You're an idiot!" She yelled and slapped him.
His hand went to his cheek. He looked at her and laughed. Then he slapped her back. She went to her knees.
"I said, don't fucking touch me, you little cunt!" He sneered.
Then he turned around and walked back to the house. She sat on her knees for a few seconds, tears running down her face. Then she got up and slowly made her way back to the house. She had barely closed the front door behind her before Seth pushed her up against it and buried his face in her hair.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Don't be," she said and gently pushed his head away from her.
He looked at her. She was smiling through her tears.
"You performed perfectly. I bet you they bought it," she said.
"Don't ever make me do that again," he said and kissed her.
Dean and Roman looked at each other.
"Ehm... I think we missed out on something here," Dean said.
Seth turned his head and looked at them.
"I didn't really have time to explain this morning. But yeah, you did," he said and smiled.
"It's alright," Roman said.
"My theory was correct. I told you he wanted her," Dean said and chuckled.
Seth pushed Dean but couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, enough with the fun. Let's get upstairs before they sun is completely down and they start moving in," Roman said.
The house was dark. Roman was standing by a window, looking out while trying to hide as much as possible. She was standing on top of the stairs up against the wall. Seth was in front of her, holding her hands.
"I still don't like this," he said.
"Too late to change it now," she said.
"If they hurt you..." he said.
"You're so sweet when you get into frenzy mode," she teased.
He leaned in and kissed her.
"You got the knife?" He asked.
"In my pocket as always," she answered.
"Good. Don't be afraid to use it," he said.
"I'm not. I didn't want to use it on you but I always knew this day would come and I've never been afraid of using it on them," she said.
He kissed her again, more demanding this time, as if he was afraid it was the last time he would be able to touch her.
"They're here. Shit, they're climbing the gate fast," Roman called out.
Seth looked at her concerned.
"Go!" She said and pushed him away.
"God, I hate this!" He mumbled before running into a room to hide.
She stood up against the wall to hide herself in the darkness as they opened the door and entered. She waited till she heard they were all inside and closed the door behind them. She stepped out to reveal herself, turned on a flashlight and shined it down on them. She quickly counted how many they were.
"Hello Amber," Charles said as he saw her standing on top of the stairs.
"Charles, Johan. Did you really have to bring five men with you to get me?" She asked in a cold tone.
"Missed us?" Charles asked.
"Not really," she said.
"What a shame because we sure missed you," Johan said.
"How's that chest of yours?" She asked with a little twisted smile on her face.
"How's that back of yours?" Johan fired back.
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," she said.
Johan took a step forward and lifted up his shirt. She shined the flashlight on his chest and stomach and started laughing.
"I got you good!" She cheered.
"It's nothing compared to what I'm gonna do to you," he sneered.
"Let's see your pretty back," Charles said.
She turned around, lifted up her shirt and shined the light on her back as well as she could.
"I turned it into art," she said before they got a chance to comment on the tattoo.
She turned around again.
"You shouldn't have," Charles said.
"My body, my choice," she said.
"Not for long," Johan said.
Charles took a step forward as well, standing side by side with Johan. They looked so much alike but she could easily tell the difference between them even after all these years.
"You're coming willingly or do we have to go up there to get you?" Johan asked.
She looked over her shoulder.
"From what we understand, no one's coming to your aid," Charles said and smirked.
"How do you know?" She asked.
"We just do," Charles said and placed one foot on the bottom step of the stairs.
"Why don't you try and catch me?" She yelled as she threw the flashlight towards them.
They covered their heads and dug down and she turned around and ran. They chased after her up the stairs. She ran to the last room in the hallway, slamming the door behind her, locking it. She heard a loud bumb as someone threw their body into the door. And then she heard the most beautiful sound. Doors being opened from the first rooms in the hallway, men shouting, trapping the twins and their friends in the hallway. She sighed. And then the loud crack as the door to the room she was in was being broken down and Johan forcing his way through it. She grabbed the knife and held it in front of her.
"Don't get near me," she hissed.
"Pretty little sister, always so cocky. All talk, no walk," he said as he slowly made his way towards her.
"Don't tempt me," she said.
He took a quick step forward and she pushed the knife into his shoulder. He howled, stumbled backwards, grabbed the knife and pulled it back out.
"Bad move," he said as he walked towards her with the knife in his hand.
She walked backwards until her back touched the wall. Nowhere to run and hide.
"Hey idiot, why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Seth's voice sounded from behind Johan.
Johan turned around and was faced with a superkick to the face. He went down immitiately and dropped the knife. Seth threw himself at him, delivering punch after punch to his face.
"No one hurts my woman!" He screamed.
Dean and Roman came running in and pulled Seth off Johan.
"Stop it, Seth, he's passed out," Roman said.
Seth spit on Johan and then looked at Amber. She was sitting on the floor, hands covering her face as if she was expecting to be attacked at any point. He hurried towards her and took her in his arms.
"Hey, it's over now. I got you," he said.
She let herself be swallowed in his arms as she was crying. For the first time in years all her tears finally came out. She had been running, hiding, trying to stay alive for so long that she hadn't let go and allowed herself to be weak.
"I got you," he whispered as he gently stroked her over her back.
From there it went fast. The police arrived and arrested all seven men. They were there all night to question everyone. This time she wasn't scared anymore so she decided to speak up and tell the truth about her parents' murder.
"You got any way to prove all of this?" An officer asked her.
"I know where they hid the murder weapon. A huge hunting knife. It probably still have their prints and my parents' blood on it," she answered.
She explained to the officer where it was. He called the police of the town she grew up in and they went for a hunt for the knife. It was exactly where she had said it would be.
Roman and Dean drove the men back to the station during the next morning. Seth stayed behind with her.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yes. It's finally over. I have a hard time believing that," she answered.
"No wonder. You've spent years running away from them," he said.
"Where do I go now?" She asked, more to herself than him.
"Nowhere. You're staying here with us," he answered.
"Forcing me again?" She asked and smirked.
"No, I'd like for you to choose to stay here on your own. I'm only gonna force you into my bed night after night," he said and smirked back.
"I'm gonna fight you," she said.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said.