Sage stared at me. "You're dating Gabriel."

I laughed at the look on her face. "Yes. I am. Oh my goodness, of all the people."

"He has a girlfriend."

"You know Spot Conlon?"

She looked at me. "Heard of him."

"That's your little brother."

"No." She looked at me in disbelief.

"Yes. I can take you to him. After I get Queens back of course. " I offered.

She smiled at me. "Let's get you out of here." She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the window. She opened it and a flush of cold air came in, leaving me glad I hadn't put on my pajamas. She jumped out the window onto the balcony.

I peered out and froze in my shoes. We had to be pretty high up. Oh no. Not here. "Do we have to go this way?" I asked.

Sage looked up at me in confusion. "Yes. Thorn is probably waiting right outside the door. If you want out of here, then yes. Why? What's wrong?"

I shuddered. "Nothing, I'm just a little scared of heights."

Sage smiled at me, and reached her hand up. "Don't worry I will catch you. I've been out here a million times and never fallen."

I nodded, and slipped my legs out the window, jumping down the platform. Sage led me down the stairs as I concentrated on not falling.

We made it to the bottom and my breath fogged up in the cold air. "Come on. A jog never hurts no one. Might warm you up." I glanced at Sage's short sleeved button-up. She was going to freeze out here.

We quickly jogged out of the Bronx and into Manhattan. Sage ran up the stairs to the lodging house as I ducked into the alley. A minute later boys started running out and heading towards the Bronx. I grinned.

Sage came back a minute later. "Come on, Thorn will be confused when they show up. We have to get them out of Queens."

We ran over, quickly. We both sprinted up the stairs into my lodging house. It was remarkably quiet, and when we ducked in I saw why.

Manhattan and Queens boys were sitting in various positions on the floor. Cheery was knocked out, Raven and Blue were both bleeding from cuts on their forehead. Racetrack's jaw was bruised and he sat wrapping a bandage around his arm.

There I stood, in my rumpled clothes, bruise on my jaw, hair tucked up, and standing next to a shivering Sage, who didn't have the smarts to put on layers, like Spot.

"Crown!" Race stood up and rushed over to me, quickly wrapping me in a hug. "Oh my god. Never do that again."

I smiled. "There hopefully won't be a next time."

Race pulled back. "What do you mean?"

"This is Sage. Don't freak out. He is going to get everyone out of there."

Sage waved awkwardly and looked at me in confusion, most likely for calling her male. I smirked and winked at her.

"Where are all my boys?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"They all left with the big fellow, and I think they are going to Brooklyn." Jack stood up and walked over and stood face to face with her.

Sage squared her stance and looked him dead in the eye. I chuckled slightly. Jack seemed taken aback.

"Boys. Get your slingshots! Now!" I shouted. Sage turned as the boys scrambled into action.

"I don't want them to get hurt." Sage looked at me. "Not for the things I've done."

I shrugged. "Hopefully nobody will."

Jack looked at me. "You get kidnapped and beat up, and come back to Queens friends with the person we've been trying to stop for the last months. Only you Crown. Only you. Can't wait to see Spot's face."

I grinned. "Me nether."

Sage looked over at the boys, who, for the most part, were ready to go. A sharp whistle for me had them all out the door. Racetrack came running by and tossed my my slingshot and a couple of rocks.

"Next time you make an irrational decision, I will hurt you." Race scowled at me.

"Awww, grumpy over-protective brother." I teased, breaking into a jog next to him.

He stuck his tongue out and swiped at me. I ducked and continued after him.

Sage came up beside me, looking at me in surprise. "They knows you're a girl."

"It'll surprise you that not everyone will use your gender against you.

I slipped inside, being careful not to squeak the door. "Come on." I whispered. I could hear noises upstairs.

"Go on up." I murmured to Sage. She nodded as I pointed to the stairs. The few boys that had followed me inside, including Jack and Racetrack, ducked into the shadows. The rest of the boys were hidden in the alleys outside as reinforcement.

I crouched next to Race and watched as Sage ran up the stairs into the bedroom. It went silent and about thirty seconds later, a couple of boys came running down the stairs and bounded out the door.

"That can't possibly be all of them." Jack whispered, looking over at me in confusion.

I shook my head. "It's not. There could still be some up there, who are more loyal to Thorn than Sage."

"What are you talking about? How do you learn so much in an hour?" Race spoke in disbelief.

I smirked. "It's just a natural aptitude."

Race groaned. "So what now?"

"Follow me."

I gestured for everyone to follow me upstairs. The few boys inside with me stood up and followed me up the stairs. I slipped in behind Sage, who stood glaring at Thorn.

Sage turned and looked at me and I nodded my head at her. She smirked as several of my boys stepped in behind her and stood, ready for a fight.

Spot gave me a look of surprise from his position over by the wall. A small cut was bleeding on his forehead. I winked at him and he smirked and mouthed 'Long time no see.'

I smiled at him.

Sage spoke up again. "You can leave and go back to Bronx and I'll explain later, or, you can stay here and lose everything you've tried to gain from me."

Thorn looked over at Sage, then turned to me, giving me such a look of hate it gave me shivers down my spine. I squared my feet and made eye contact with him. He growled and walked forwards coming right up to me.

Then he swung. I ducked as the fight broke out again. The few boys still left on Thorn's side joined in, despite being hopelessly outnumbered.

I grabbed Thorn's arm and twisted it back, punching him with my free hand. "You corrupted him. You told him not to help me."

I hooked my leg under his, causing him to fall onto the ground. "I never did anything. Sage can think on his own. It doesn't take a genius to see how evil you are."

"You have never been abused, or hated because of who you are." Thorn barked, standing back up. He tried to punch me, and clipped my cheek.

"You think I have never been disliked in my life Thorn? I'm a sixteen year old girl who is at the bottom of the social system." I snarked.

"You can't be a girl." He said, disbelief leaking into his voice as I hit him.

I kicked him in the chest and knocked him down. "I actually can." I pulled off my hat. "You also just got you butt kicked by one. Now you have two choices, you can leave this city and never come back, or you can stay, and listen to Sage."

He looked up at me. "And if I don't?"

"You will regret it."

"I'm leaving." He replied.

"Good choice."


"Sage!" I groaned. I grabbed the brunette's arm and tugged her forwards.

"I'm sorry."

"Look. I know you are nervous, but don't you want to see Gabriel?" I asked as we finally walked into Brooklyn.

She shrugged. "Not after I punched you."

I pressed my fingers to the bruise on my jaw. "I have had worse."

"I know, but I am just scared."

I smiled. "I know. You will feel better afterwards."

Sage nodded. "I sure hope so."

We walked up to the Brooklyn lodging house. I knocked gently on the door.

A few seconds later, Midway opened it. "Crown. You looking for Spot?" I nodded. "He said he was going to the Brooklyn Bridge."

"Thanks Midway."

He closed the door behind him as Sage and I headed down the steps.

"Why the Brooklyn Bridge?"

I shrugged. "Probably watching the sunset."

Sage stared at me in confusion before shrugging it off as we approached the Brooklyn Bridge.

Spot, sure enough, was leaning against the bridge, watching the sun. He turned as I walked up and smiled.

He tugged my hat off and pressed a kiss to my lips.

"You're looking a little worse for wear doll." He commented.

"You're one to talk." I smiled, eyeing the cut on his forehead.

"What are you doing in Brooklyn today?"

I tilted my head. "I found someone you may actually know."

"Hmm?"

I turned to Sage, who was slowly inching away. "Take your hat off."

She shook her head no and Spot looked at me in confusion.

I took a deep breath. "Sage, I have dragged you across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. A trip that would have normally taken thirty minutes took three and a half hours. Take you hat off."

Sage held her hands up in surrender, and reached up, tugging her hat off to expose her brown curls. I smirked as Spot's mouth dropped open.

"Ethel."

Spot ran forwards and hugged his sister. Sage looked at me over Spot's shoulder in surprise.

I smiled.

Spot turned around and came back over, hugging me.

"Thank you."