Chapter One

Alexander was living a very different life, than the life he had wanted. Alexander's life revolves around crime. Unlike Annie who only heard about crime on the news, Alexander was in the middle of it. Currently he was sitting in his office at one of his many strands of casinos, in each he had his own office. He was currently running over the numbers. Thankfully they added up, although he noticed a pattern. Someone called Jack Hill was collecting a debt in all of his casinos, and it was pissing him off. This Jack person would rack up a debt then disappear for a month, then pop up in another casino. Something would have to be done about him. Although the name seemed familiar to him, he wasn't sure why or where he had heard it before. Before Alexander could put a plan together in his head he received a call from Mason, his best mate. They had been friends since primary. Mason was one of the only four people in the inner circle.

The inner circle consisted of Mason, Jason, Cindy, Bailey and Chris. Mason had known Alexander since primary school. Cindy, Alexander's cousin, who had only connected over Alexander's mother's death, but didn't properly connect until one day when Cindy stormed into his room fuming over something stupid and Alexander obviously helped his fellow family member. After all Cindy was the closest thing he had to a sister at this point. His step sister was a complete bitch who only wanted to sleep with him. The thought made him cringe. Bailey is Mason's ex girlfriend. Her parents had wanted a boy, and raised her as a boy. She had never gotten over that. When she ran away at 17, Mason had found her. Bailey was currently exploring her possible hidden sexuality almost two years after Mason and herself had broken up. The possibility of being lesbian had always been disapproved by her parents, and so she never truly explored that part of herself. Chris, like Mason, had known Alexander since primary school. They had been as close as three friends could possibly be. Jason and Chris had secretly been in a relationship for the past year. They hadn't told anyone as the thought of coming out horrified Chris. Jason had only joined the group of friends five years ago. He was the newst and often felt the most left out and isolated. 

"What is it?" Alexander groaned over the phone. His head was throbbing. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken the time to relax. He used to find torture relaxing, now though he found it only good to let out anger. Relaxation wasn't an option. He was almost 25 at this point, his father had handed the keys to the castle over when he was 18. Lots had changed since. 

"Hello to you too Alex, I'm good, thanks for asking." Mason smiled. He was always the funny one, and most of the time could force a smile out of his best friend. Today was not one of those times. Alexander had too much on his mind. The silence from the other end of the phone said all that needed to be said. "You need to come down to the warehouse." Mason was suddenly serious, like everyone in the gang he was able to flick his emotions and personality at the click of his fingers. It was like a switch. Everyone has one. A switch to change what we do, what people see, how we feel, how we think. Everything. 

"Which one?" Alexander groaned. This was not how he wanted the day to go. He just wanted to go home and chill after this one meeting he had in an hour. Now he had yet another thing added to his to do list. He couldn't lie, he did expect this. He expected something to come up, something to happen that forced him to postpone his plans. Yet he always hoped it was different. He wanted a routine for once. He wanted to do something simple. To be able to stick to his schedule. Whatever came up must be important, it always was. Everything was so important, yet so similar. 

"The main, by the docks." Mason said, keeping short and to the point now. Alexander sighed and nodded. Muttering assurance that he'll be there soon before ending the call. Within a few minutes Alexander was in his car and calling to arrange his meeting. It wasn't like Mr Carter was a busy man and Alexander wouldn't be gaining much from whatever arrangement he was planning on making. 

Alexander arrived at the docks within about half an hour. The drive was fairly long already, but the city traffic just didn't help. Alexander much preferred the middle of the night, when the city was asleep or partying and he could freely speed along the empty streets. Speeding along the roads at night made him feel free, alive. For someone with very little emotions savoured such a feeling. Since his father started pressuring him to get married and continue the family blood line his life had only started to feel more and more caged. Like he would never truly be free, the fact that his father was getting sick didn't help. Every day his father was getting closer to death, Alexander could feel it, making it more and more important that Alexander marry soon. His father wanted to be there. At the very least he had to have a girlfriend. Something to put content in his fathers eyes once again. Yet the possibility was starting to fade faster and faster as his father was able to do less and less. 

"What happened this time?" Alexander asked as he approached Mason.

"Someone broke in." Mason spoke, he had a serious look on his face. This was a serious matter after all. "Nothing was taken though." That was strange, an anomaly in Alexander's usual life. 

"So this was just someone proving a point." Alexander stated. Mason nodded and Alexander combed his hair with his hands. "Fan-fucking-tastic. They think I'm weak. Track down who did it. Leave no stone unturned." Alexander instructed. "Increase security." Mason nodded and started typing and dialing on his phone, obviously making the arrangements. Alexander turned to walk away, after the recent discovery he needed to do some digging of his own. 

"Alex, mate, are you okay?" Mason caught him before Alexander disappeared again. Alexander froze. Everyone knew they weren't supposed to ask that and mean it, but from the tenderness in Mason's voice he was clearly asking and expecting a real answer. 

"Just get it sorted, Mase, come over later for a few drinks." Alexander answered, clearly avoiding the question. He didn't want to talk about it. Mentally he was drowning, but if he took the time to acknowledge that, then he would actually drown. Instead he'd rather drown his sorrows in booze. 

"Then you'll answer the question?" Mason asked, he knew it was unlikely, a shot in the dark. It was unlikely Alexander would ever answer the question out loud. Where would he start? He hadn't answered that question since he was 14 with the girl that his cousin was best friends with. The girl he often forgot about, yet the night would occasionally linger in his mind late at night. He wasn't sure why. Maybe that was just the last time he felt like himself. Before his life got so dark and crazy. Maybe it was the girl, maybe it was the night or maybe it was nothing. A lingering attachment he had yet to rid himself of. Maybe it was good to have the occasional attachment. Nobody could use this attachment against him, it was his own private thing. Something he held close to his heart that had no consequences, no victim. Just a private memory he could call on when he was in need of some much needed comfort. 

"Maybe." Alexander answered, sliding back into his car. His answer meant no, maybe always means no. Mason was just glad he was coming over later. If nothing else it meant Alexander would have someone there. Someone to keep an eye on him. He would bring the others, they could make a night of it. He knew he wouldn't get answers, if more people were there it just meant there were people to keep Alexander safe. He wouldn't keep himself safe, everyone knew that. He just didn't care about himself enough to properly protect himself.