Chapter Eight

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

When Kano kidnapped Cassie, he broke her communication earpiece and her phone. Cassie couldn't contact her parents, so she went to Special Forces Headquarters. She went into her office and called her parents. Johnny and Sonya immediately drove to Special Forces Headquarters to see their daughter.

When Johnny and Sonya stepped into Cassie's office, she ran up to them and hugged them. She was so happy to see her parents again.

"Mom! Dad!" said Cassie, hugging them tightly. Johnny and Sonya hugged her back and they didn't want to let go.

"Punkin! Thank goodness you're safe!" said Johnny, who kissed Cassie's forehead.

"We missed you Cassie. I'm so happy you're home!" said Sonya.

"I missed you guys too." said Cassie.

Later on, Kenshi, Jacqui, Takeda and Jin came to Special Forces and they all reunited with Cassie. They were all very happy to see their friend again. Cassie was happy to see her friends too.

"I'm so relieved that you're safe girl!" said Jacqui, giving Cassie a huge hug.

"Me too! We were all really worried about you." said Takeda.

"Good to see you back in one piece." said Jin.

"Aw Jin! You were actually worried about me?" said Cassie jokingly. She wrapped her arms around his shoulder and playfully squeezed him. "What do you know? You do love me!"

"The only reason I was worried was because you still owe me 20 bucks. I needed you alive so you can pay me back." said Jin, smirking.

Cassie chuckled.

"Asshole." she said, playfully punching his arm.

"I'm kidding. I'm really happy you're home." said Jin, giving her a hug.

"Thank goodness you're safe Cassie." said Kenshi. "How did you escape?"

"You won't believe it when she tells you." said Johnny.

"What? What happened?" Jacqui asked.

"Kano's son, Wyatt...he helped me escape." said Cassie.

"What?! Seriously?" Takeda exclaimed in surprise.

"How did you convince him to let you go?" Jin asked.

"He was just...nice. He wasn't like Kano or the rest of the Black Dragons. He's a good person deep down. He was just born into a bad family." said Cassie. "Anyway, Kano was never planning on letting me go home. He wanted to get the Intel and kill me...right in front of mom and dad. Wyatt wasn't going to let that happen to me so...he helped me. Drove me all the way here."

"Wow. I can't believe I'm saying this about a Black Dragon...but...that was really nice of him." said Jacqui.

"Don't be deceived." said Sonya sternly. "It was nice of him to help Cassie, but he is still a Black Dragon. And not just any Black Dragon...he's Kano's son. He's Second in Command of the Black Dragons. I appreciate him helping Cassie, but he's not to be trusted. He is a dangerous, ruthless killer, a menace to society...just like his dad."

"Mom, trust me he's not like Kano. He's nothing like Kano. I talked to Wyatt...we got to know each other a bit. He really is a good guy. He was the same person I fought when Special Forces was attacked. I lost the fight and he put a gun to my head. He could have killed me, but he didn't. It's not his fault that he's the son of a psycho. We don't choose our parents. We don't choose our family." said Cassie.

"Cassie, I know that you appreciate what Wyatt did for you. But your mom is right. Just because he helped you, it doesn't excuse the fact that he's the bad guy." said Johnny, who put his hand on her shoulder.

Cassie sighed. It was pointless trying to convince them that Wyatt was a good person. She didn't care what her parents said...she got to know Wyatt. She got to see the real, good person behind the Black Dragon.

Later in the day…

Black Dragon Headquarters

Kano was relaxing in his office. He sat on his chair and put his legs on his desk. He leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head, watching a rugby match on TV.

"Come on you lot! Score already!" Kano yelled at the team he was supporting on TV.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Kano groaned, angry and frustrated that someone was bothering him. He was trying to watch a very important match.

"What is it?" Kano yelled angrily.

The door opened and Owen walked in.

"Um, sorry to bother you Boss..."

"Owen…I'm trying to relax and watch the semi -finals of the Rugby Championship. You're interrupting my match. Whatever you want to say to me…it better be damn worth it." said Kano, giving Owen an angry glare and cracking his knuckles.

"I got some bad news." said Owen.

Later…

Wyatt was in his room, sleeping in his bed.

"WYATT!" Kano screamed.

Wyatt immediately woke up.

"WYATT!" Kano yelled angrily.

Wyatt rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up. He knew what was about to happen. He figured that Kano had found out that Cassie was gone. Wyatt knew that this was going to get ugly…really ugly.

"WYATT YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Kano screamed as he burst into his room.

Wyatt stood up. Kano angrily shoved his son's chest.

"You helped her escape didn't you? You little prick!" Kano yelled, shoving him.

"What are you talking about?" Wyatt asked calmly.

Kano punched his face. Wyatt calmly rubbed his jaw and spat out blood on the floor.

"Don't play dumb with me!" Kano yelled. "Cassie escaped! And you helped her!"

"No I didn't." said Wyatt, his demeanor still calm.

"Really? So you expect me to believe that she managed to free herself from those collars. Collars that are impossible to release without Black Dragon technology? You're telling me that she was able to do that all by herself?"

"Hey, she's a pretty smart woman. Guess she figured it out." said Wyatt with a smirk on his face.

"You think this is funny?" Kano asked, giving him a threatening glare. He shoved Wyatt. "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? AYE? YOU RUINED MY REVENGE PLAN YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

"WHAT THE HELL MAKES YOU THINK I DID IT KANO?" Wyatt yelled.

Norah and Owen had walked into the room after hearing all the screaming.

"I'm not stupid." said Kano. "I know you got a soft spot for that blonde bitch. That's why you kept protesting that I shouldn't kill her. And then behind my back you helped her escape didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!"

Kano was so angry that he gave Wyatt an uppercut. Wyatt was flung high in the air and landed hard on the floor. Kano got on top of him and punched his face, over and over again. "YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Kano yelled as he kept punching his own son.

"Kano stop! Wyatt's telling the truth!" Norah yelled. Kano stopped punching Wyatt and looked at Norah. He had a surprised look on his face.

"What?" Kano exclaimed.

"He's not lying Kano. He didn't help her escape." said Norah. "I was on guard duty. She was screaming in pain, saying that her legs were in pain and she was having a blood clot. I went inside the cell and she kept crying and screaming, begging me to release the collars. You needed her alive. I thought that she was having a blood clot so I released the collars. And that's when she attacked me and escaped."

Kano turned to look at Wyatt. Wyatt was panting and staring at Kano. Kano stood up and slowly walked up to Norah.

"I'm sorry Kano…I was going to tell you, but I freaked out." said Norah.

Kano stared angrily at her. Norah was a violent, brutal mercenary. She wasn't afraid of anyone or anything. However, there were a few things that scared her and Kano was one of them. She stared at Kano with a look of fear on her beautiful face. She was so scared that she thought she would piss her pants. Kano angrily grabbed her throat.

"How could you be so stupid? You're a smart girl Norah." said Kano, squeezing her throat with his hand.

"I-I'm sorry Kano." She said, trying to breathe.

"Stupid bitch." said Kano, who roughly released her.

Norah started coughing and tried to breathe normally. Wyatt got up and went up to her. Kano gave Norah an angry glare and walked out of the room. Owen also left.

"Hey, you okay?" Wyatt asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Norah coughed.

"I've been better." She said.

"Why did you lie for me?"

"Wyatt, I joined the Black Dragons when I was fourteen. We've been best friends for fifteen years now. You're pretty much my brother." said Norah, smiling at him.

Wyatt smiled back.

"It's pretty obvious you like that Cassie bitch. I have no idea why. I bet that you helped her escape. And even though I don't agree with your decision…I would rather Kano blame me than you. He's already an asshole towards you. I don't want him to treat you even worse." She said.

"Thanks Norah." said Wyatt.

"No problem. Just don't do anything stupid like that again…or else I'll be the one who kicks your ass." said Norah, walking away.

Wyatt chuckled.

After a day's work in Special Forces, Cassie and Jacqui went home. She and Jacqui were hanging out in their living room, talking and watching TV. When it was 9:30pm, Cassie felt sleepy. She yawned and stretched her arms.

"I'm exhausted. I'm gonna go to bed." said Cassie, standing up.

"Going to sleep so early? It's only 9:30. Then again, after all the shit you've been through these past few days…you must be really wiped out." said Jacqui.

"Girl, you have no idea. I can't wait to lie down on my comfortable bed." said Cassie, walking to her room. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight! Oh wait! Cassie hold up I want to give you something!" said Jacqui.

She quickly got off the sofa and ran to her bedroom. She came out of her bedroom holding a birthday card and present. She handed the items to Cassie.

"I believe these belong to you." said Jacqui, smiling.

Cassie chuckled.

"You picked them up after I threw them away." said Cassie, smiling.

"Yeah. I figured after you were done being mad at your mom...that you would want these."

"Thanks Jacqui." said Cassie, giving her a hug.

"Anytime. Goodnight." said Jacqui, hugging her back.

"Goodnight."

They released their hug and Cassie went to her room and closed the door. She laid on her stomach in bed and opened her card and present. The card was a beautifully decorated card. The front of the card read: To my amazing daughter. Cassie smiled and opened the card. The inside of the card read: Happy birthday! Under the card's birthday message was a handwritten note by Sonya. Sonya wrote:

Dear Cassie,

Sorry I forgot your birthday. I feel like such a douchebag forgetting your birthday. I'm not good with all this sentimental stuff, but you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know I don't always say it, but I love you. I love you more than anyone or anything. Have a happy birthday. Enjoy your present. You work so hard so you deserve this present. Enjoy.

Love,

Mom

Cassie smiled and put the card on her bedside table. She opened her present. It was a $500 gift card to an expensive, luxurious spa. Cassie smiled. She definitely could use a lot of relaxation. She picked up her cellphone and called Sonya.

"Hello?"

"Hey mom."

"Hey! What's up Cassie? You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I uh...I opened the birthday card and present you gave me. I didn't open them back then because I was mad at you. Anyway um...thank you so much mom. I love the card and I love the spa gift card. That was really nice of you."

"You're very welcome." said Sonya, smiling. "I know I'm really hard on you, so you could definitely use some pampering. You can get a hot stone massage, get your nails done, go in the sauna...you know, just relax. You deserve it. You can take Jacqui with you. I'm sure she'd like some pampering too."

"Actually, um...I'd like to take you with me."

"Really?" Sonya said, surprised.

"Yeah. I mean you work your ass off every day so you definitely deserve to relax." said Cassie, smiling. "And you know, it'll be nice for us to hang out. It'll be fun."

Sonya smiled.

"I would love that." said Sonya. "Just let me know."

"I will. Anyway, I'm really tired so I'm going to sleep. I just wanted to call and thank you."

"You're welcome Cassie. Goodnight. I love you."

Cassie smiled. Sonya barely told her that she loved her, so this was a nice surprise.

"Love you too mom. Goodnight."

She hung up the phone. Cassie got under her comforter and snuggled in her cozy bed. It felt so good to be home.