A love to last

And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you."

THE LIGHT from the room disappeared just as quickly as it came, any semblance of warmth going with it. Falcon slid back down the wall, his head falling into the open palms of his hands. He hated to think what torment Freya was feeling. He had promised her he'd never leave her and he had broken that promise because of his own desperation. He'd left her and he didn't even know if he could ever go back.

It seemed like hours that he sat there, eyes closed, cursing himself for his own stupidity over and over again. Perhaps it had been because the door began opening again, effectively pulling Falcon out of his spiral of self-hatred.

His eyes stung from the sudden intrusion of light, but he held firm. His brother stepped down from the doorway, walking slowly as he sighed before seating himself on the last step. It was quiet for a moment; Falcon refused to look up from the ground and Kace waited for his stubborn brother to say something.

Finally, Kace broke the silence, giving up on waiting for something that obviously wasn't going to happen.

"Have you had a good, long think yet?" He asked Falcon. "Ready to make the right decision and join your family?"

Only then did Falcon move his gaze onto his brother, glaring daggers into his smiling face. "You're not my fucking family," He growled.

Kace gave a disappointed sigh, his eyes moving to glance around the room before settling on his hands in front of him.

"You're not thinking clearly," He mumbled, almost to himself. "There's nothing, no one else out there for you. Why don't you just come back?"

Falcon rolled his eyes, not gracing his older brother with an answer. It was best he kept his mouth shut about Freya. The less he knew, the better.

"We care about you, Falcon," Kace continued talking. "You're the baby of the family. We need you kiddo-"

Falcon snapped, his body trembling.

"Stop it," He yelled. "Stop fucking talking as if we were one big happy family! We're not friends, we're not family. I didn't come back because this place-you people are fucked up."

Kace frowned, his eyes narrowing at his little brother's outburst.

"You never had any complaints before," He stated.

Falcon gave a short laugh, his eyes searching the ceiling without a reason before they focused back on his brother.

"That was before you screwed me over," Falcon gritted. "Before you took advantage of me worshipping the fucking ground you walked on. Family don't betray each other, so you're no family of mine."

Kace's eyes widened slightly with realisation before he forced his posture to relax, giving Falcon a relieved smile.

"That's all this is about?" He chuckled. "I told you, that wasn't-"

"Don't lie to me," Falcon snapped. "Don't you dare fucking lie to me. You know what you did.

You made a fucking fourteen-year-old do your dirty work for you, knowing I'd never say no just so you could avoid the jail time."

Kace's smile wavered but stayed as he spoke.

"Come on, little brother," He let out a sheepish chuckle. "I would have gotten almost life in prison, you only got five years. You knew the risk."

"I knew the risk?" Falcon thrust an angry finger into his own chest as he got up from his position

on the ground. "I was fourteen-fucking-years-old! I didn't know shit. You were the one who was supposed to take care of me. You were the adult. You deserve the fucking life sentence." Kace stood up abruptly, his smile gone as he glared down at his brother.

"Who would have taken care of you if I had been the one to get caught, huh?" He growled. "You would've been left without a home. You think you would have survived living with dad at that age? He would have beaten you into submission every fucking chance he got. I saved you." "And look where that got me," Falcon said evenly. "Criminal record and all. You didn't save me. You ruined my fucking life."

Falcon's eyes stung with the promise of tears as his thoughts drifted back to that perfect life. It wasn't just a fantasy; it was impossible. He couldn't marry Freya. Freya needed someone stable; someone able to get a fucking job. With his record, no one would even think about employing him. He'd never be able to provide for her. Just another crushed dream to add to his ever- growing pile.

Kace's eyes turned to slits as suspicion clouded his thoughts.

"What could I have possibly ruined for you?" He questioned harshly. "I gave you a home. A safe home; one where you would be cared for. You don't have any life outside of us."

"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to be involved with your life of crime?" Falcon threw

his arms open before letting them drop to his sides, moving as he spoke. "That maybe I would want to get a job one day? A house? My own life?"

Kace scoffed, crossing his arms as he stared down at his brother disbelievingly.

"And do what?" He asked. "Play house? Have a little wife and a dozen kids? Why the hell would you want that?"

Falcon couldn't stop the words that flew out his mouth.

"Maybe because I found someone who makes me want those things," He rubbed a hand through his hair and over his face before turning away slightly as his brother's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Found someone?" Kace's voice was quieter now. "So that's what this is about. That's why you won't come back. You found some bitch who's got you tied down and now-now you want nothing to do with the people who have cared for you your entire life."

Falcon's jaw gritted as his fists flew out, begging to connect to his older brother's face. Falcon stopped midair, flexing them before clenching again and pulling them to his sides.

"Don't call her that," Tremors swept through Falcon's body from the effort of holding himself back. "Don't ever call her that. You never really cared about me."

"Fucking hell," Kace dug the heel of his palms into his eyes in frustration. "I stop keeping tabs on you for a few fucking weeks and you go and get yourself pussy-whipped. Are you fucking serious?"

He growled in irritation, harshly pressing his palms to his temple as he glared at Falcon. Falcon folded his arms across his chest, leaning back against the wall.

"Best god damn decision I ever made," He spat.

"Who the fuck is she?" Kace demanded, fists clenched.

Falcon would have laughed at the image of his brother fuming if only his girl's safety wasn't on the line.

"I'm not telling you shit," Falcon said forcefully.

"I'll find out who she fucking is," Kace snarled. "I'll dick her down real fucking good. See if that doesn't open your eyes about joining us."

Falcon couldn't hold back this time, his fist swinging towards Kace's face before he could even register that he had done it. Kace clumsily caught it midair, scowling at him.

"You're gonna have to try better than that, brother," He gritted. "Don't fucking forget who taught you how to fight."

Falcon growled, twisting his hand out of his brother's hold before aiming for his stomach. Kace took the hit, doubling over as his abdomen spasmed, hot pain filled his stomach. He gasped, the air knocked out of him for a moment before glaring up at his brother.

A fist came for Falcon's face before he had a chance to block it. Defending himself had always been his weakness.

Falcon's mind blacked out for a moment, only returning when his head met the hard cement floor beneath them. He saw stars for a moment, a mirage of dancing black and white spots clouding his vision before he blinked them away.

He could taste blood, stinging pain erupting in his mouth as he realised he had bit his tongue when the punch had landed. He looked up at Kace who stood in front of him, chest heaving. "This wouldn't have happened if you would just stop being so god damn fucking stubborn," He growled.

Falcon flipped himself over and onto his back.

"Never gonna happen," He said as his breath began evening out. "Especially when you keep me locked up like a dog."

Kace's jaw clenched as he let out a calming breath. He worked his jaw as his mind churned through his options before seeming to come to a decision.

"Fine," He spat, grabbing the collar of Falcon's shirt and hauling him up. "Let's go reunite you with the fucking family."

Freya couldn't sleep. Another day had passed and nothing had turned up. Falcon was well and truly lost.

Her father had, surprisingly, kept his promise to her. Ever since their argument, Freya had lost count of the number of phone calls he had made to a variety of different people, asking for help or possible information on Falcon Anders' absence. She was more than grateful towards him. Her step-mother, however, she was not grateful for. She had attempted to bring in her beloved Quincy, the horrid cat, into Freya's room for 'comforting' purposes. Freya now had a new scratch adorning the back of her hand and her father had promptly ordered for her step-mother to remove the cat. Her step-mother went with it, not knowing how to comfort Freya on her own. Kendra had forced Freya to down a smoothie, but Freya hadn't been able to handle anything more. Any kind of weight in her stomach made her feel sicker than she already felt. Kendra didn't push it.

Freya had had another crying spell in the early hours of the evening and now her eyes were left red and swollen and her heart ached every time she thought of Falcon. She hoped to God he was safe. Even if he never came back to her, as long as he was safe, she could survive. But she had no way of knowing that, and that was what terrified her the most.

Kendra had told her earlier that Penn had called her father, wanting to know why Freya hadn't picked up her phone. Freya had had the guilty thought that perhaps he had something to do with Falcon's disappearance, but she banished it as soon as it came. Penn may not have particularly liked Falcon for whatever reason, but he wasn't evil.

Her father had filled Penn in on what had happened. Of course, Kendra hadn't been able to hear his reply to her father's words, but she had told Freya that it seemed to have been satisfactory as her father had nodded along to Penn's words.

Freya turned in her bed again, her arm had fallen asleep on one side. She screwed her eyes closed, her hands clutching her bunny as her chest burned, trying desperately to fall asleep. It proved useless as her eyes began hurting until she opened them again. She changed positions, not bothering to close her eyes this time as she stared into the pitch black darkness. As most sounds did late at night, the harsh buzzing of her phone had her body jolting in shock and she picked it up from her nightstand where Kendra had left it to charge earlier that night. She squinted at the bright screen, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the harsh lighting. A text message from an unknown number appeared in her notifications and with slight hesitance, she clicked on it.

Unknown: 637 Idrs crk

Unknown: Brng plc

Freya's brow furrowed in confusion, her brain unable to make any sense of the scrambled words. She glanced at the time; quarter past eleven. She knew Kendra would still be awake. Freya scrambled out of her bed, phone in hand as she carefully opened her bedroom door and quietly tiptoed down the hall. She made it to Kendra's door without much noise and turned the handle, peeping her head around the corner.

Kendra was in her bed, her lamp on next to her as she sat with a book in hand, glasses perched on her nose. She looked up at the slight noise of the door and took the glasses off to see Freya better.

"Do you need something, sweetheart?" Kendra asked as the girl crept further into the room. Freya wordlessly held out her phone, the screen still showing the last two texts she had received from the unknown number. Kendra pulled back from the screen a little, focusing on the words. "That sounds like a place," She mumbled to herself. "Ldrs crk, leaders creek. Oh, Leader's Creek road. I know that road."

Freya sat on the edge of the bed, blessing Kendra for her sharp mind.

"What does the other one say?" She asked, trying not to sound as impatient as she felt. "Bring,” Her voice grew unintelligible as she muttered things before sucking in a sharp breath. "Bring police. It says bring police."

Freya's eyes widened as she quickly connected the dots.

"Falcon," She almost whimpered.

Kendra motioned for Freya to get off the bed and she followed soon after, stuffing her feet into a pair of slippers by her bed and tightening the robe she wore around her waist.

"Come on," She ushered Freya out the door. "Quickly. We have to show your father."

The texts had to be from Falcon. Freya hoped they were. It meant he was safe for the time being;

that he was alright. Now all they had to do was find him, and they knew where to look. She just prayed he was brought back to her. Whole and uninjured.

There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."

FALCON FELT rage flooding through his body as Kace dragged him into a room full of strangers. Once upon a time, he would have walked in here willingly. He wouldn't have seen a room full of strangers, but instead, a room full of friends. Full of family. He would have talked and joked with people he thought he could trust with his life.

But that was before. Now? Now he didn't even know who they were anymore. Kace let go of his shirt unexpectedly, making Falcon stumble forward before regaining his balance as his brother went and joined the rest of the men who stared at him with mixed emotions. The room was silent for a long moment as Falcon steeled his face, crossing his arms over his chest as he took in the all too familiar faces.

It was only when a boy around his age moved forward, catching Falcon's eye, that he felt a physical crack in his emotionless facade. The boy moved out of the crowd, his brow creased in concern and confusion.

"Falcon?" It was a useless question. Both Falcon and the boy knew that it was indeed him. Falcon clenched his jaw, desperately reminding himself that he had been a part of it. He had betrayed him in the worst way possible along with the rest of them. He couldn't let him get to

him.

After the boy spoke, the room slowly began humming to life again. Falcon watched from the corner of his eye as Kace settled against the far wall, watching Falcon as people moved around

him.

It was as if people didn't know how to act around Falcon. Some tried to approach, but when he pinned them with his eyes, they quickly drew back. They had too much respect and fear for the leader's younger brother. Others avoided him completely; they kept their eyes down, some leaving the room while others occupied themselves by speaking to others.

The only one that didn't shrink away from Falcon's gaze was that boy. The one Falcon prayed didn't dare come any closer, but of course, when had any of his prayers ever been answered. The boy took quick, successive steps forward until he was an arm's length away from Falcon. He seemed lost for words as they stared at each other, the boy's mouth opening and closing a few

times.

"You've grown," Was the only thing he could come up with. Falcon raised a sarcastic eyebrow, his mouth curling down in discomfort.

"No shit," His voice was deep and gravelly, barely audible over the chatter in the room. Movement near the wall caught Falcon's attention and he turned his head slightly, watching as Kace said something to who Falcon knew was one of his tech guys. His eyes narrowed into slits as they nodded to each other, the tech guy taking out his phone before walking out of the room. Kace never bothered speaking to people like that unless he wanted to find out something and the fact that he knew that Freya existed - though he didn't know her name - still weighed heavily on his chest. The interaction left a bitter taste in his mouth as he turned back to who used to be his best friend.

The boy's mouth was turned down in a frown as he caught sight of Falcon's unguarded

expression before it disappeared.

"What's wrong?" The boy asked.

Falcon's jaw clenched. He could come up with a whole, damn list of things that were currently 'wrong.' One of them included the boy in front of him.

"You don't get to care, Ryder," Falcon gritted.

Ryder's brow creased further in confusion as Falcon turned his back on him, walking to where

Kace stood at the back of the room. Falcon stormed up to his older brother who had already noticed his state and offered a smirk at his expense.

"Take me back," Falcon growled, knowing the only way out of here was by Kace escorting him back to the dark basement he had been held in.

Kace smiled lazily, leaning further against the wall as he crossed his arms over his chest. "But I was just beginning to enjoy myself," He grinned. "I love a good family reunion." Falcon's fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Kace, rage bubbling up from his stomach. "Fuck your reunions," He snarled. "I'm never becoming one of you again. You can stick whatever idiotic plan you have next up your god damn ass. Nothing is going to make me come back." Kace's expression grew smug which only served to fuel the rage in Falcon's body. He was seconds away from throwing a fist when Kace finally sighed and pushed himself off the wall. "We'll see about that," He said before motioning for Falcon to lead the way.

His stomach twisted uncomfortably as he processed his brother's words. As much as Falcon hated him, Kace wasn't stupid. He knew Falcon was serious when he said nothing would ever

make him come back. Except for one thing and Falcon had a feeling his brother knew what it

was.

If they got Freya, it was game over.

Freya had been banned from joining her father and the police to retrieve Falcon. Though she understood why she was still restless and upset at the fact that she could do nothing more than sit around and wait for complete strangers to bring her Falcon back.

It was the early morning. Freya's father had wasted no time calling the police, pulling a few strings in order for them to dispatch a rescue unit straight away instead of waiting until morning. Seconds after ending the call, he had set his eyes on Freya and demanded she stayed behind, knowing she had wanted to come.

Freya was now situated on the edge of her bed, her hands anxiously pulling at the loose threads in her bunny's fur. Her heart hadn't settled down since she had received the texts, leaving her wide awake and paranoid. She was scared they wouldn't get to him in time. That someone would find out he had sent the messages and then hurt him.

She had convinced herself numerous times that she had to trust the police to do their job, but something inside her told her that it was all about to go oh-so-very wrong.

Lost in her thoughts, Freya barely heard a car making its way up the driveway. It wasn't the chime of the doorbell rang through the quiet house that her head snapped up in attention. She wasted

no time getting up from the bed and rushing out of her room.

She didn't think of the fact that it had barely been an hour since her father had left with the police. Nor of the fact that her father had a key to the house and had no need to use the doorbell if he needed to come in. Her mind simply focused on the possibility that Falcon was behind that front door.

Freya's tiny feet scampered across the hall until the door was within in reach and without any hesitation, she ripped it open, her face hopeful. Her expression fell, however, when the face that greeted her was not one she recognised. Nor was he wearing any kind of uniform.

The man gave her a charming smile and Freya felt herself freeze before her brain finally realised

where she had seen that expression before. "Hello, sweetheart," The man said, stuffing her hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "Ca-can I help you?" She spoke with a quiet voice.

It unnerved her that he had the same smile she loved so much. The man gave a chuckle, his eyes averting to the ground as his lips twitched smugly.

"Well, come to think of it, yes," His gaze snapped back to hers with a blink, eyes glowing with intent. "You can try not to scream."

Freya barely had a second to register what he had said when two burly arms wrapped around her from behind. One hand over her mouth while the other grabbed her hands and locked them behind her back in a bruising hold. She screamed, though the sound was muffled by the man's thick hand and wouldn't have been enough to wake up anyone else in the house.

She thrashed in her attacker's hold, the man in front of her smiling as he took out a vial of liquid from his coat pocket along with a handkerchief. He began stepping forward as he unscrewed the vial, pouring out the measured contents onto the piece of cloth.

Freya's eyes watched him fearfully, her eyes darting from his face to the slowly soaking handkerchief. She whimpered into the other man's hand, tears beginning to pool in the corner of

her eyes.

Once the man had emptied the vial, he tossed it carelessly on the ground before taking the last step towards her. The man behind her suddenly released her mouth, but before she had a chance to scream, the rag was forced over her mouth and the man behind her resumed his hold over her

mouth. She had no choice but to breathe in sweet-scent of whatever it was the man had soaked the cloth in.

She continued struggling but after a few seconds, her constant thrashes began to make her dizzy. She gave a few more half-hearted tugs at the hands that held her in place before giving up as her body slowly became too sluggish to move. Freya moved her gaze back to the man in front

of her who watched on, smile still intact.

After another minute, her breathing had slowed as she sagged in her captor's arms. Tears had begun escaping down the sides of her cheeks and collected on the man's hand and arm, but he

didn't react. The man in front of her checked his watch, his smile cracking slightly as annoyance pierced through his features for a moment.

When his eyes returned to hers, his smile was back in place. "Don't worry, sweetheart," He said as Freya's eyes began closing on their own accord. "As long as your little boyfriend does as he's told, you're gonna be just fine."

Freya's mind finally began to shut down, her legs giving out beneath her before the man behind

her swooped her up and carried her out the door. The last thing she felt was worn leather against her back before her body shut off and she gave in to the looming darkness.

It had seemed like hours since Kace had led Falcon back down to the basement. A meal had

been brought in and left at the base of the steps and there it had remained. Falcon didn't dare

touch

the food they offered; mostly out of spite but he didn't put it past his brother to have

drugged

the food.

A bitter feeling in his stomach had been plaguing him since he had witnessed the interaction between Kace and his tech guy. He tried to convince himself it had nothing to do with Freya, but something told him she was exactly what their conversation had been about. Falcon could do nothing but wait and see what would happen, and that did not sit well with him. His instinct screamed for him to protect her, even though he had no way of doing so. His worrying only worked to churn his stomach uncomfortably to the point where he felt sick. The lack of food for the past few days did nothing to ease the sensation. Falcon chewed the inside of his cheeks anxiously, his fists clenching and unclenching until the muscles in his forearms grew tired and sore from the constant tension. He hated this. Hated being out of control, having no sense of what was happening around him. His brain worked

overtime, working himself up before calming down and then doing the cycle over and over

again. Chills covered his body as his leg shook and his hands twitched. He needed to know what was going on. He needed to know if she was okay. He needed to kick his god damn brother's ass to hell. But he couldn't do any of it. He just had to sit and wait and sit and wait some more. Falcon jumped up from the floor, his feet beginning to pace along the floor without him realising. He was going crazy. He held his head in his hands as he leaned his back against the

wall. His hands trembled along with his rib cage as his heart painfully beat against it. He was going mad.

His breathing came out in short bursts as panic flooded through his body, starting from the pit

of his stomach and zapping to the ends of his fingers. His fists clenched with the need to hit something.

Unable to hold back, he turned his body to the side, letting his fist collide with the wall harshly.

He did it again, adding two more with his other fist before his breathing finally slowed and his panic receded back to the bottom of his stomach.

The door at the top of the stairs suddenly opened, the harsh light leaving Falcon momentarily blinded as heavy footsteps made their way down the stairs. Falcon brought a hand up to shield his eyes, squinting through the light to see who his visitor was.

The smug face of his brother brought back Falcon's rage with a vengeance, but everything in him

soon fell as his eyes adjusted and he saw what he carried in his arms.

More like who.

Like a fallen angel, Freya laid splayed in Kace's arms, her auburn hair hanging over his arm.

Falcon couldn't breathe. He was frozen, his eyes stinging with tears as he felt his knees began to

buckle. When he finally snapped out of his shock, his anger filled every inch of his body like it never had

before.

"What the fuck did you do to her!?" Falcon roared.

Within a second, he was in front of Kace's grinning face and snatching Freya out of his arms as if he had tainted her with his touch. In Falcon's mind, he had. He cradled her to his chest, revelling

in the even breaths that came from her tiny body. He gave her a quick once over for any obvious injuries before setting his

eyes back on Kace.

If Freya hadn't been in his arms and he had felt safe enough to put her down, Falcon knew without a doubt that he would have had his brother on the ground, screaming. But his arms refused to release her, so he stared the smug bastard down, keeping his girl safely tucked in his

arms.

"Don't worry, brother," Kace said nonchalantly. "She's just knocked out. She'll wake up in a bit." Falcon felt his body shake, his lip pulling up in a snarl as a feral feeling filled his gut. "You have until then," Kace began walking back up the stairs, knowing Falcon was ready to crack at any second. "You have until then to think about your answer. You know what's at stake now." Kace shut the door firmly behind him, leaving Falcon in the pitch dark once again. Now that his brother had left, all his anger rushed out of his body with one look at Freya's angelic features. He felt his tears returning as he back up to the wall and slid down it with Freya still in his arms. a great fucking boyfriend he made. He couldn't even protect the one person that meant

What

more to him than anything. Now her life was at stake and it was all his god damn fault. As it

had been. Every time she had gotten scared, every time she had gotten hurt, it had been

always

because

of him.

Falcon was beginning to think she really would be better off without him after all. At least then

she'd be safe.