CHAPTER 1

"I can't believe I let you drag me out here." Spencer Carlin whined as the hold on her wrist tightened. Madison only grinned as they headed towards the entrance of the club, filled with only those aged twenty-one and over. "I really don't think these ids will work."

"God, you worry too much Spence." Madison stopped as they reached the end of the line. "These ids are top of the line….and if they don't work, we damn sure better get out money back."

"Great idea! Let's go get our money back!" Spencer turned to leave, only to be yanked back into place. She tried unsuccessfully to free herself. After a few moments, she gave up and turned to glare at Madison. "Can you honestly say I don't look like a nineteen year old trying to sneak into a grown-up club?"

"I can honestly say you look like a…." Madison grabbed Spencer's other hand and peered at the id she had clenched in her fist. "….a twenty-two year old trying to get into a club she belongs in." Madison shrugged before continuing. "Besides, you are a grown-up now."

"Tell that to my parents…." Spencer grumbled as they moved up in line.

"Come on Spence, you moved out almost a year ago." Madison's expression softened and she released Spencer's arm. "You have to let everything go sooner or later….You can't keep them out of your life forever."

"More like they can't keep me out of their lives forever."

Spencer didn't like where this conversation was going. She could feel her mood darkening as she thought about her parents….they were people she never thought about for months at a time, or unless they decided to call her out of the blue.

It wasn't that she didn't love her parents. No, she loved them very much. But being a catholic family, her parents were always very strict on her and her older brother, Glen. Once he was eighteen, Glen was free to do what he wanted, and what he wanted was to join the military. Her parents definitely didn't agree with his decision, which only made them tighten their reins even more on Spencer.

Spencer was quite the rebel when it came to her parents. She wouldn't do what they wanted for her. No, she wouldn't become a doctor. And no, she wouldn't become a social worker. She decided at age eighteen that she would become her own person, and if they didn't agree with that….they'd done their job by raising her.

Spencer was brought out of her thoughts by a hard nudge to her shoulder. She gave Madison a slightly irritated look, which she shot right back.

"Show your id." Madison said tightly.

Spencer peered up at the large bouncer and fought back a shudder. She wondered what his parents had fed him. He had to be at least four times her size. She quickly flashed her id, which he didn't bother to look too closely at. Once they were through the doors, Spencer and Madison both jumped up and down with excitement, previous thoughts forgotten.

"Oh my Gosh!" Madison was the first to speak. "We actually did it. We actually got in."

"Yeah we did." Spencer responded with a laugh. "You are such a bad influence on me Maddi."

"Too bad. We live together, so you're stuck with me."

Spencer laughed and peered around the club, Madison glued to her side. She felt disappointment fill her body for a second. It didn't seem much different from the clubs she normally went to. There was still a bar, there were still people dancing, there was still a DJ, and there was still a VIP section.

"Why did we decide to come here again?" Spencer asked, returning her eyes to Madison.

Madison looked away, her eyes not meeting Spencer's. Spencer knew that look. It was the look that said there was something she wasn't being told. Spencer narrowed her eyes before speaking.

"Madison?"

Madison only gave a nervous laugh.

"Gosh Maddi, what are we really doing here?"

"Okay Spence, we're really meeting Adrian…" Madison said, hoping that maybe Spencer hadn't heard her over the music. It was just her luck that she had. Spencer sighed deeply and gave Madison the most disappointed look she could muster. "I'm sorry Spence!" She quickly pleaded. "I just…I knew you wouldn't come with me if you knew he was coming."

"You're damn right I wouldn't have come." Spencer snapped. "I really don't like him Maddi."

"Spencer, it's not really serious between us. Plus, you haven't really given him a chance."

Spencer held up her hand for Madison to stop. She didn't want to talk about this right now. She'd come here to have a good time tonight. Heading towards the bar, she didn't even look back to see if Madison had followed….she knew Madison wouldn't leave her by herself. They settled at the bar and sat in silence. Spencer was still a little ticked, and Madison simply looked pitiful.

After a few moments, Spencer turned to Madison. "I'm not mad or anything Maddi." Spencer finally spoke. Madison looked doubtful and Spencer gave a small chuckle. "Really, I'm not. I just wish you would've told me. I mean….I thought we were going to have a girls' night tonight, and this is kind of messing it up."

"Damn…well now I feel guilty." Madison said, a grim smile on her face. "But no worries Spence, I can totally check out with him."

Spencer quickly shook her head. "No, don't do that for me. Is he already here?"

Madison nodded. "Yeah, he's here. I shot him a text when we first came in." Spencer was quiet and Madison felt the urge to continue. "I just want us to have fun tonight Spence. We haven't gotten out in while….and Adrian brought a friend."

"Oh, God. Really Maddi?" Spencer fought back a smile. She knew that Madison had the best of intentions for tonight, but was she really so pitiful that she felt she had to set her up with someone?

"It's not anything serious I swear Spence. Adrian just suggested it so you wouldn't be alone." Madison returned Spencer's grin. "Just live it up for a little, it's not like you have to date him."

"Oh, so like a one night stand?" Spencer asked with a small giggle.

Madison shook her head. "No, not like a one night stand. More like a…you're hot, I'm hot, so let's be hot together."

"Is he hot?"

Madison shrugged and grinned brightly. "We're about to find out."

"Hey ladies." Adrian greeted them both, stopping in front of Madison to give her a peck on the lips.

Adrian flipped his dark brown hair out of his face, which really bothered Spencer. She always felt the urge to just take a pair of scissors and clip all of his hair off. There was nothing better than being clean-cut. Spencer faded off during the introduction of her "one night stand." She only caught that his name was Marco…and that he thankfully had a haircut.

Almost immediately after, Adrian and Madison disappeared to dance, which Spencer knew most likely meant sex on the dance floor. She sat in an awkward silence with Marco, who had just ordered a drink from the bar. She really hoped he wasn't a drinker….but on second thought that would probably help her get away from him quicker.

"So what's your name again?" Marco turned to Spencer when he finally got his drink. So much for courtesy, he hadn't even offered to buy her one, not that she would've accepted anyway but it would've been nice.

"Spencer."

"What?!" Marco yelled over the music, causing Spencer to lean closer and talk louder.

"Spencer!"

"You're hot Spencer!"

Spencer fought the urge to just walk away. She wished Madison would return quickly. As if her wish came true, Madison strutted up to them, a happy smile on her face.

"How are you guys doing over here?!"

Though she couldn't quite hear Marco's response, Spencer shot Madison a look that said "I'll kill you if you leave again". Madison only laughed as Adrian came up behind her to grasp her waist.

"We're going to the VIP. Are you guys coming?" Madison asked, directing the question mostly to Spencer.

"The one over there?" Spencer looked towards the section she'd noticed when they first came in. Madison quickly shook her head.

"No, not that one. There's another one upstairs….it's supposed to be even more secluded than the one down here."

As soon as she heard the word 'secluded', Spencer hopped off of her seat at the bar. "Let's go!" She grabbed Madison's wrist as she said it, pulling her away from Adrian. She wouldn't be left again.

Adrian led the way upstairs and into the small VIP area. It was empty, which really surprised Spencer. Red chairs lined the wall, and their small group immediately settled into one. Spencer made sure to take a seat beside Madison and let the guys sit on either side of them.

Though she was right beside Madison, Spencer still felt as though she were by herself. Adrian and Madison were in their own little world, leaving Spencer to sit in another awkward silence with Marco. After a few minutes Marco stood up and offered his hand to Spencer.

"I'm going to get another drink. Come with?"

"All the way downstairs?" Spencer asked warily.

"No, there's one here upstairs."

Spencer immediately began to decline. "No, that's okay. I think I'll just-" A hard nudge to her leg stopped Spencer's words. She looked to the left to peer at Madison, who was in a make out session with Adrian. It was obvious that she wanted a little alone time. Spencer sighed deeply and grabbed Marco's hand. "Sure, lead the way."

Marco was right about a bar being upstairs. Spencer guessed she hadn't seen it because this was her first time here. She was still shocked at how empty the upstairs portion of the club was. It resembled an upscale dining establishment rather than a club.

A small man manned the bar as they approached it. Spencer couldn't help but stare at the rather large mole on the man's chin. She was sure it was almost bigger than the man himself. Spencer fought back a laugh. She was definitely still a big kid.

Spencer felt herself zoning out as Marco ordered and waited for his drink. It wasn't until she felt the presence of other people in the room that she snapped to attention. She glanced toward the doorway to the two men that had just entered. Spencer was sure that anyone could've noticed them, for they looked so out of place. They were both decked down in black designer tuxes. They somewhat reminded Spencer of the Men in Black, and she fought back another giggle.

Spencer could feel Marco tense up beside her, and she looked up at him curiously. What was his problem? He shot the two men nervous looks as his drink was slid down the bar to him. Spencer once again looked at the bartender, who had a somewhat pleased grin on his face. What for? She couldn't tell you.

"Psssst." Marco said as quietly as he could. "Psssst."

Spencer frowned and glanced up at Marco. "What?" She asked in her own normal tone. Marco quickly shushed her.

"Hush woman. Are you trying to get us killed?"

Spencer's frown remained intact. "What are you talking about?"

"These guys in here….they want to talk to me."

This Marco cat was a weird character. Spencer would definitely have to get on Madison about this later. "So what? Go talk to them."

Marco looked at her sharply, his tone dropping even further. "Do you not know who they are?"

"Should I?"

"They're the fucking Davies Henchmen." Marco quickly responded. Spencer's face was blank and he looked at her incredulously. "Have you never heard of the Davies?"

Spencer shook her head. "Who are they?"

"They're the most notorious…."

Before Marco could continue, a voice cleared from across the room. A deep bass rang from one of the men.

"We signaled you once boy. We won't do it again."

"Go get Adrian." He hurriedly whispered. "Get him now, get him now, get him now."

What the hell? Spencer was thoroughly confused. But she was glad to have an excuse to get away from this crazy guy. She quickly passed him and headed towards the hall, only to be grabbed from behind.

Spencer froze as a voice spoke.

"Where do you think you're going?"

The voice sent chills up Spencer's spine. This wasn't the same voice from before. She was scared to turn around and see which guy was talking. She felt relief as Marco spoke from across the room.

"Yo, it's cool. It's cool. She's just going to get my dude. You guys wanted to speak with the both of us right?"

"Is that true?" The voice spoke again.

Though she still hadn't looked up, Spencer could tell the question was directed towards her. She nodded her head without hesitation.

"Lead the way then."

Spencer took a chance and glanced behind her to look at Marco. She had no idea what she was supposed to do.

"Go." The voice spoke again.

Marco nodded once and Spencer quickly complied. Luckily, she was good with remembering directions and found her way back to the small room easily. Madison and Adrian were still in their session, but they were now lying down. Spencer nervously cleared her throat.

"Are you back already Spence?"

"Maddi…"

Madison quickly looked up as Spencer's words broke up. She frowned as the men behind her came into focus. "Who are they?"

"Shit." Adrian said, quickly pushing Madison off of him and standing up. "Shit."

"Now, it's not nice to cuss around the ladies now is it?" The same deep voice that had first spoken rang in Spencer's ears. He urged Spencer forward. "Take a seat."

Spencer didn't have to be told twice as she sprinted across the room and into Madison's lap. Madison didn't flinch as Spencer landed and kept her eyes trained on the scene in front of her.

"Madison who are they?" She asked nervously, fear for the first time entering her.

"Spence, they followed you in here. I really don't know."

"Okay, okay. Let's leave please. I'm really not getting a good feeling." Spencer glanced over her shoulder as the four men settled into a whispered conversation.

"How are we supposed to leave? They're blocking the door. Plus, why would we leave, they're just talking."

Spencer quickly shook her head. "No, you don't get it. Marco was terrified back there. He was nervous Madison. I felt it. He tried to tell me who they were…something about Davies…." Spencer stopped as felt Madison freeze against her.

"Davies?" Madison asked, fear entering her voice as well.

Spencer narrowed her eyes. "You know who that is." It came out as more of a statement than question. Madison's eyes mirrored Spencer's as they looked at each other.

"Spencer we really have to get out of here."

"But you just said."

"Fuck what I said. We have to get out of here."

Spencer's mind raced and she shook her head, attempting to clear her mind. "I'm confused Madison. Who are the Davies? I don't get it."

"Look, I'll explain later but we have to get out of here now."

"They're blocking the door. You see that." Spencer glanced between the men and Madison.

"The Davies want their money."

Madison and Spencer both froze as the conversation going on in front of them became louder.

"They gave us two more weeks." Marco responded just as loud, though he was quivering in his shoes.

"They're tired of giving you extensions." One of the men spoke. "It's either tonight, or you're gone."

"We can't do it tonight. Tomorrow, we'll have it tomorrow." Adrian quickly pleaded.

The man with the deepest voice shook his head. "You don't want the Davies sisters to come down here themselves. Really you don't. We have orders. This won't hurt."

The next few things happened too fast for Spencer to catch. Voices raised even more, gunshots fired, and Spencer could've sworn she heard a "Run Spencer!" It didn't matter, because as soon as the first shot was fired, Spencer was out of her seat and running towards the door. She could vaguely sense Madison's hand in her own as they sprinted through the upstairs hallways. She felt as if they were running in circles. Neither girl knew their way around. After a few minutes of aimless running, Madison stopped them.

"Where are we going?" Madison's breath was louder than her talking.

"We're getting out of here Madison!" Spencer's voice was maybe a little louder than it should've been.

"How? I don't know my way Spence." Tears were threatening to spill onto Madison's cheeks.

"Did you just see what I saw?" Spencer's tone was slightly hysterical. "Did you not see Marco hit the ground? Did you not hear the other gunshots? I'm pretty sure Adrian is dead too. They're dead Madison! Oh my God."

"Calm down Spencer!"

Having less willpower than Madison, tears freely fell down Spencer's cheeks. She shook her head. "I won't calm down. We're gonna die. They're dead, they're dead, they're dead." Spencer clamped down hard on Madison's hand. "Come on!"

Spencer lifted her foot to run, Madison's hand still in hers. Before their feet could hit the ground, arms wrapped themselves around them. Before they knew it, all they saw was darkness…