Lyla

"And so now he is requesting full custody. I swear Candy, I could hunt him down, and stuff in a mailbox."

"I'm so sorry Lyla. And on top of that Adrianna is still sick?"

"Yes." I answer, placing the phone to my other ear so I can make my second cup of coffee of the day. "She isn't getting any better and I have to work tonight."

"Well why don't I take your shift?"

"I can't ask that of you honey."

"You're not. I'm your best friend Lyla, or at least I better be¡­. I am, aren't I?" I throw my head back and laugh, something that feels foreign to do. It's been so long so I've been myself that I feel like I'm in a black hole.

"Of course, you are. I hate to do that when I could use the money for this custody battle, but I would love a day where I can just take care of her ya know?"

"Take the day Lyla, you've been covering for me for the last few weeks, so I can do wedding stuff, this is the least I can do."

"Thank you, Candy. I owe you one." I say then peak into Adrianna's room. The room is stuffy since I haven't opened her window today and the humidifier is blowing at full force. She's getting a little better, but still would rather sleep than eat. I had to wake her a few hours ago to get her to eat at least a piece of toast.

"Don't mention it. Just make sure your maid of honor speech, is amazing." I smile then hang up with her.

I hate taking a day off when I could use the money, but I have so much to do, that a day for catching up is necessary. Mr. Mahoney called me this morning to tell me that tomorrow Rory gets Adrianna, without me, and I for one, am freaking the hell out. I have tried to call him and talk to him about her illness not getting any better and how for now, it's best if she stays with me where I can monitor it, but his mother always answers and tells me off.

I settle on the couch for a five-minute break before I tackle cleaning, but before I could get the television on, someone knocks at the door. I roll my eyes at my luck and hop up to get the door. I know Miles is still watching the house and although I practically told Shane that I didn't want them around us anymore, I'm grateful for that. One of the many things I need to do today is to call him and apologize.

I check the peephole and look around. All I can see are red roses and I smirk at how cheesy Shane is. He's never brought me flowers before.

I open the door with a smile on my face and that is when everything switches over to fast motion. My body gets knocked back and lands hard on the floor. Hands are immediately on top of me as I struggle to get up. A hard fist lands right in my face causing my struggles to immediately stop. Black dots blur my vision and I briefly hear someone yelling my name.

"Shut him up." The man above me calls out and a throng of punches and moans follow behind his order. "Thought I warned you sweetness?"

I look up with wide eyes as I take in the same man that threatened me and Adrianna that morning at her school. I lift my foot up and hit him right in the chin, a little something Max taught us girls one drunken night, and he goes flying back. I lift myself up, on shaky legs and run to Adrianna's door. I open it and stop in the middle of the door frame. Tears cloud my sight as I take in the image in front of me.

Adrianna sleeps on her bed, the blankets on the floor from her constant moving, but right next to her is a man I have never seen before. He is wearing the same cut as the other man and looks evenly frightening.

"Please." I mutter, not knowing what exactly I am asking him for.

"Would expect an old lady to have better protection on her. Seems though the Warriors are a little arrogant. Here's what's going to happen now honey. You are going to play nice and follow us without a word. We won't hurt your little girl, unless you try something fucking stupid." He states then begins to stroke Adrianna's hair.

"She's sick. She can't be moved. Please, just¡­. just take me." I'm not sure where I'm getting my confidence to speak when all I want to do is vomit, but if I can get them to leave her here, then maybe Shane will find her.

"I don't think so." He grins and pulls put a gun from his cut, pointing it directly at Adrianna's head. My heart hammers so loudly I'm surprised they don't shoot me, just to shut off the loud sound.

"Please, okay, I'll just grab her, and we'll follow you, please, she's just a little girl."

"Griz will ger her. You keep your pretty little body tucked up right under me." He smirks then nods his head behind me. I watch as the man that threatened me that day comes from behind me, rubbing his chin, and roughly grabs Adrianna.

"Stupid fuckin' kid." He snarls, and I put my hand on my mouth from calling out something horrible at him.

"Let's go Lyla." The mystery man calls out and I blindly follow them out the door where a large black SUV is waiting. I don't spot Miles anywhere and I send out a silent prayer that he is alright.

We all get into the car, me making sure I sit right next to a drowsy but sleeping little girl and curl her into me.

Griz is right next to Adrianna and the man that has the gun, hops in the passenger seat. I can't see the man that is driving, but I'm guessing it's the same guy that shot at us at the zoo. How the hell did he get out of jail?

"Do it." The man calls out from the passenger seat and suddenly someone's hands are on my throat from behind as they shove a rag on top of my face. I fight it, but after a few seconds darkness finds me.

¡ù¡ù¡ù

Chills run through my body as my eyes peal open one at a time. I'm on the floor of a cold storage room of some kind. There are a few supplies on a nearby stocking shelf. A broom, mop, bucket, and lots of cleaning brushes.

My head is pounding, my back aching and my throat hurts, but no major injuries plague my body. Memories from why I'm here hit me hard and I jump up when panic sets in.

Adrianna.

With terrorizing shock, I run to the only door in this small closet and begin banging my fist into it.

"Hey, hey, please. Bring me my daughter. Please." I scream and yell, I curse and bang, but nothing changes. I can hear my voice echo off the walls, so I know I am in some kind of narrow passage.

I take a deep breath, breaking away from the door and taking a few steps back, I rush the door and use my shoulder to smash into it, creating pain unlike anything I have ever felt to course its way through my right shoulder. I fall to the ground in a heap of sorrow and sobs. Adrianna is somewhere in this building, sick and probably crying out for me. The thought brings my sobs into an all-out cry. I snap up when I hear the door being unlocked from the outside and stand up, cradling my shoulder.

The Griz guy walks in with a set of keys on him, giving me a snarl.

"Listen bitch. You better fuckin' cooperate or I'm going to make sure your fuckin' daughter gets a slow fuckin' death." I lose my mind at the threat he delivers and without thinking, run to him and begin attacking.

I scratch, I claw, I scream, everything in my power to cause harm to the man that holds my fate so easily in his hands. Griz apparently has enough, because the next thing I know, I am flying backwards into the metal rack of supplies. My shoulder tenses up from the onslaught of attacking the door earlier and I immediately grab it.

I've barely gotten myself up from the floor, now littered with cleaning liquids and mops, when Griz grabs me by my shoulders and shoves me into the wall behind me. My head hits first and I instantly fall to the ground crying. The pain funneling through my head is intense and a steady migraine follows the ache. I feel a stab of pain when a swift kick hits my ribs. I roll over clutching my side and regret it instantly when he pulls me up by my shirt and slams me into the wall once more.

"Stupid bitch. I fuckin' told you, now I'm going to have some fun with you." He rears his fist back and it lands straight in my stomach where I begin loudly gasping for air causing even more pain to course through my body.

"Please." I beg, and he slowly releases me. I fall to the ground on my knees and cough loudly, letting the air quickly into my burning lungs.

Griz digs into his pocket and pulls out a large hunting knife and an old mobile phone. He pulls open the knife and bends down low enough to place it on my cheek, slowly moving it around my cheek until I feel the sharp pain of a cut.

"Got somethin' to show you." He says calmly, and I look up to see him holding his phone open. A small picture flashes on the screen and I flinch when I make out what the image is.

Miles.

And he's dead.

"No." I yell out causing Griz to smile and laugh. He stands up and heads to the door, leaving me alone in the small closet with fears and heartache. "Please, my daughter."

"She stays alive as long as you listen to everything we say." He says, then slams the door shut.

I'm alone with my dreaded thoughts as I hear the lock slide into place and footsteps walking slowly away.