The Flame Inside Her

Chapter 3: Uncovered..

(Third pov)

By the time Serina and her two new companions arrived at Serina's home, it was already one in the afternoon. They all walked in catching the attention of Serina's younger brother "are those your friends sissy?" Serina could feel the surprised looks of both Daisy and her mother as she responded: "yes baby they are, I'm going to make your favorite after I show them their rooms, okay?" He nodded with a smile as Serina lead Daisy and her mother down the hall. "I didn't know you had a younger brother Serina" Daisy commented "I know" was the only thing Serina said as they reached two rooms.

"Would it make it easier for you two to sleep in the same room or do you want to have separate rooms?" Serina asked them. Daisy looked at her mother as her mother looked at her, it seemed Daisy's mother got the answer as she gently smiled at her daughter "we will have the same room, thank you, sweetheart." Serina nodded opening the door to the guest bedroom she had let them in to look at their new surroundings. "This is a beautiful bedroom are you sure that it's okay for us to use it?" Daisy asked Serina.

She nodded as she leaned against the door frame "I'm going to make some lunch while you two settle in, make yourselves at home and if you have any questions let me know." Serina left before they said anything walking back into the kitchen after giving her little brother a kiss on the top of his head. Before Serina could get the ingredients out her phone started ringing Serina sighed taking out her phone, but noticing the number she got serious walking further into the kitchen to where her brother couldn't hear her.

She answered the phone with a monotone voice "got any news?" She asked the caller who sighed "right into business huh? Well, I've got eyes on him and so far he's trashing the house in rage trying to find them, but so far haven't found anything I highly doubt he's going to find them any time soon." Serina nodded even though she knew he couldn't see it "do whatever you need to if he does end somehow finding them, there are going to be living with me from now on, but Reaper?"

He made a "hmm?" Noise letting her know she's got his attention "don't let the others know i contacted you about this let alone anything, I don't want my little brother to be in danger anymore" Reaper was the only one that knew personally that Serina had a little brother and even helped her with keeping him safe after a certain incident...

"Don't worry Serina you have my word, I'll keep you posted if anything happens" Serina thanked him before hanging up the phone and continuing with making lunch.

~~~

After Daisy and her mother fully settled in they walked into the living room where they found Serina's younger brother playing video games with cars in it. "Are cars your favorite vehicle dear?" Daisy's mother asked him, Zack, not even looking at her responded "yeah" they didn't know what else to talk about so they just kept quiet watching Zack play his games as the smell of something good started wafting through the air.

~~~

"Lunch is ready!" Just as those words were said Zack quickly shut off his game and racing towards the kitchen dining area as Daisy and her mother followed behind at a slower pace. Serina placed the food down on the table as Zack bounced in his seat with excitement as his favorite food was placed in front of him. "This looks delicious Serina!" Daisy commented as Serina sat down on her seat next to Zack "thank you" she said as they started eating in silence.

~~~

It has been a couple of hours since Daisy and her mother settled into their new home, they had wandered back into their room after telling Serina they were tired and needed some rest. Serina cleaned up as her brother went back to playing video games. "I'm going to go do some errands baby I'll be home soon, okay? Lock the door behind me please" Serina told Zack "okay sis" he agreed as she left.

Serina didn't want to do what she planned to do but she knew it was the only way if she was going to keep Daisy and her mother safe. She went back to Daisy's old home noting the truck was no longer in the driveway so she guessed he was out looking for them. She walked up the door checking the doorknob 'locked' she thought to get a hairpin out of her pocket fiddling with the lock, when she heard a click she knew she was in 'old habits die hard I guess' she thought as she walked in.

The place was completely trashed! Furniture was turned over the glass was broken everywhere it looked like a damn hurricane went through the place and left no stone unturned. Serina cautiously walked through the place making sure not to touch anything let alone the broken pieces though that was a little more tricky. She scooped out the place taking pictures of different parts of the house. Serina's phone ended up ringing so she picked it up "what?" "You need to get back to your house now! He found them!"

Serina didn't need to be told twice as she rushed out the place not even closing the door behind her as she ran as fast as she could, her heart gunning inside her chest as images of her brother flashed inside her mind from before. Serina swore to herself and to her brother that she would never allow this kind of bullshit to ever happen and yet...it's happening again.

It didn't take her long when she found Reaper and Daisy's father having at it in front of her place with Daisy and her mother looking on in horror in front of the door. "Is Zack okay?!" She asked them almost frantic Daisy's mother looked at her with wide eyes "he's in his room, not harmed" she sighed a relief before standing up straight, her eyes now glaring at Daisy's father's back with eyes filled with hatred and malice.

Reaper, noticing the look quickly stepped back as Daisy's father tried swinging at him but failed, Serina, noticing how he was fighting figured he was completely wasted 'makes it easier for me' she thought as she walked calmly towards him. He finally took notice of her and grinned with a sickening look in his eyes "I take it your the one who took them away from me, well, I'm going to have fun taking that innocence out of you b***h" Reaper glared at him and was about to take a step forward to knock him out when Serina's hand raised causing him to stop.

"You couldn't touch me with a ten-foot pool" Serina growled before jumping, twisting her body in the air as she landed a dropkick on his face knocking him out cold before he even hit the ground. Reaper chuckled "still got it huh?" She glared at him making him raise his arms in surrender "I didn't mean it like that Serina" she rolled her eyes "just make sure he's taken care of properly and I'll send you pictures of the damage he caused to the place and the damage he caused to people he's supposed to love."

Everything got taken care of within a few short minutes as Zack raced out into Serina's arms "sissy! I was so scared!" Serina hugged her brother back just as tightly thanking whoever was up there that kept her brother safe "I'm so sorry baby I brought you into this again, I'm so sorry" Serina whispered this in Zack's ear over and over as they both hugged each other. Reaper looked at them with a saddened expression as he knew the reason why Serina was expressing this much emotion to her brother.

~~~

Hours go by as everything calms down, Zack has gone to bed for the night as Serina gets ready to go to her job for the night. "Will you be okay Serina?" Daisy asks as she watches Serina grab her keys "yes I'll be fine, you and your mother get some rest I'll be home around 7" Serina left it at that as she closes the door behind her leaving Daisy who had a worried expression with her hands clenched together in front of her chest.

(Serina's pov)

I promised him...I promised my little brother I would never bring him into this kind of stuff ever again, yet here I am bringing people we barely know into our home and bringing that kind of hostility close to my brother...what kind of sister am I? I stopped thinking about it once I got to my job as I needed my full focus. Thankfully it was actually pretty busy which kept the thoughts out of my head for the time being, but it didn't last long when I heard the door open with the chime of the small bell hanging above it, and familiar voices invading my ears.

's**t' i thought in my head 'why are they here? They shouldn't be here I told Reaper not to let them come in this section of town!' I shouted in my head as I finished taking care of a customer before quickly going behind the counter into the kitchen to hide. "What's the matter Serina? You never come back here" I looked at the cook as he finished a plate of food for a customer "I know, but I don't like the look of those people there" the cook named Dane looked out the small window to look at the table filled with 5 buff men laughing it up pretty loud.

"Those guys? Never thought you'd be someone who's afraid" Dane joked but Serina shook her head "I'm not afraid Dane, I just like the vibes they give off, better to be safe than sorry" he nodded in agreement as another waitress took the plate to the customer.

"I'm sure you don't, but the boss will get angry if you don't work your part of the job and I remember you telling me you need the money for food" Serina sighed cause she knew he spoke the truth "okay I will, but make sure to keep an eye on them for me?" Dane nodded in agreement as he took a liking to Serina when she first started working for them and how well she could hold herself. "No problem sweetheart" she left the kitchen and got her notepad ready to take orders she didn't want to take theirs but that was part of her job, she walked over to them doing her usual.

"Hey welcome to the Diner, how may I help you?" They all froze looking at her with wide eyes, hers narrowed dangerously while clearing her throat "what would you like to order?" Trying to keep her face straight and her voice soft as she's always done one of them broke out of it getting the hint lightly tapping the rest breaking them out of the gaze as they fumbled with the menus. "Yeah umm, we will all take coffee's uh black please" the first stumbled over his words as Serina wrote it down.

"Do you need some time to think over the food or are you ready to order for food as well?" They all looked at each other "uh just a few more minutes on that part, thank you" she nodded walking away, going behind the counter to start the coffees. She could hear them whispering to each other but couldn't make out the words. She placed the coffee cups on the tray with the kettle of coffee before bringing it over to the men placing it in front of them. "Boss?" One of them whispered close to her making her glare at him from the corner of her eye "don't do it here, and I'm not your boss anymore that's Reaper" she whispered back harshly before going back to her usual attitude for work pouring them their coffee and asking if there ready to order "yes, uhh we are" the one she talked to responded telling her all they wanted.

"I will get those out to you as soon as I can," she smiled at them with a hint of malice before walking off to Dane to give him their order. "How'd it go?" He asked talking the paper "it's fine, nothing to worry about, but please keep your eyes on them as I will, hopefully, they leave as soon as they finish their meals."

~~~

The entire time I've been working they still haven't left! After they finished eating they've just either ordered more coffee or pie! Why won't they leave? Even Dan is starting to get suspicious of them but we can't do anything because there ordering food and drinks so there still paying customers. 'I hate this! Why can't they just leave?!' I thought angrily in my head as I worked my way across the dinner with refills for coffee and other drinks.

Finally! My shift is over! I hope those fuckers don't follow me or I swear I'll kick there asses! I've done it before! I clocked out grabbing my keys and thin jacket and leaving. But it seems luck wasn't on my side since I heard the door open after I was a few feet from the door, I sighed as I sped my walking slightly "boss please wait!" I didn't as I continued walking in the same direction "boss!" I finally had enough when I felt I was far enough from the Diner as I faced my former men "quit calling me that!" They froze.

"I am no longer your boss I left that behind as I let Reaper become the new boss and as far as I know he's doing a good job, and I even made sure he didn't let anyone of you come into this part of town!" I raised my voice as they lowered their heads "we always wondered why we couldn't come here so we made sure not to tell Reaper where we were going, but we weren't expecting you to be here bo-umm Serina." One of the men named Titan spoke up rubbing the back of his head I sighed while rubbing my forehead "look, I can't tell you everything, but I left what I did behind for a reason I won't say what it is, but I will say it wasn't because of you guys, just trust me on this, okay?"

All they could do was nod their heads as they kept them down. I sighed again as I got their attention "look, if you want to keep in contact with me you can, but keep it on the down-low alright?" They nodded with smiles appearing on their faces "now get going you guys I've got to get home and get some sleep" they nodded their heads again but with more happier faces as I turned walking away from them.

What am I getting myself into this time? I guess old habits really do die hard, don't they?