Chapter 8 - Hacker

"I'll never be that me again."

———♤♤♤———

After Bailey had stitched up her wound, Bella stood up and sat beside River despite Jace's disagreement. Lucas had gathered his men towards the conference room, Jace following him hesitatingly as Bella offered to follow after she had spoke with the kid.

"So kid, mind telling me your name?" She asked softly, not wanting to scare the boy away.

"R-River Carson."

"Nice name." Bella muttered, before introducing herself. "Well, my name is Bella Ryan."

River only nodded, making silence envelop the two. The woman cleared his throat, about to ask another question. "Why did the Falcons keep you in a cell?" She asked bluntly.

"It's okay if you don't answer--"

"It's fine." He cut off. "M-My parents were criminals. They were thieves, robbing one bank after another."

"I had a twin s-sister, actually. Both of us were dragged into the mess our parents made. She was praised for her talent in making explosives. I-I was praised for my talent in hacking. They used us both to feed their own motives."

"Raelynn, my sister, did not want to be part of any of it. Hell, both of us didn't but we did not have any choice. T-They made us do things we did not want-- they made me kill an eight year-old girl. Our parents' and mine's mistakes lead to their deaths and my twin and I being separated." He finished off, not wanting to get into too much detail. Partly because he had not yet to trust Bella completely. Even if he did continue, he doubted if he would be able to.

"You were taken by the Falcons, I presume?"

River nodded.

"How about your sister?"

"I-I don't know."

Bella nodded in understanding. If anyone knew the feeling of losing a sibling, it was her. Both Bella and River had no clue where their siblings were, whether they were dead or alive.

♤♤♤

Bella entered the conference room, realizing that she was the last person they were waiting for. She trudged to her seat beside Jace, motioning at Lucas to start.

"We had successfully done the mission but there is something we need to discuss." He started.

"And that is?"

"What do we do with the boy?" Lucas questioned, prompting many people to speak at the same time.

"Execute him, he's of no use anyway."

"Lock him up."

The argument continued, voices overlapping each other. Lucas sighed in disappointment as his gang continued to argue in front of him. "Enough. Why don't we as the person who brought him here in the first place?" He said, shifting his gaze towards Bella who only raised her brow.

Bella herself didn't now why she had saved the Falcon's hostage. He was merely a scrawny boy too weak to defend for himself. The woman was not one to save people during her missions, she usually left them to tend for themselves. So what made River Carson different? Perhaps it was because she saw herself in the boy. Earlier he seemed so helpless and weak, like she was thirteen years ago.

She had been in his position before.

"The boy has a name." She started. "River Carson."

"Carson? Like the thieves?" Lucas asked, seeming too curious for Bella's liking.

'Did he know them?' Bella asked herself. She knew that the two did not gain much attention, only finding out of their existence from their son, River, himself.

"Yes, like the thieves. Anyway, that boy grew up around criminals so he's not a stranger to our world. Like I said, his parents were thieves, his sister was a bomber, and he is a hacker. An extremely skilled one, he claims."

"Then he can be useful to the gang." Jacob muttered, his chin perched between his fingers.

"Alright, let's say we end up taking the boy in." Lucas shrugged. "I have a question for you, Red. Why did you save the boy?" He asked, gaining the attention of most. Even Jace was wondering why her friend had done something so out of her character.

 "Can't I show sympathy for the kid?" Bella questioned.

"Of course you can, but it's just doesn't seem like something you'd do."

"Whatever, just let it go."

♤♤♤

Weeks later, Bella's wound had almost healed completely. Having to sit out for most of the jobs, she had yet to train in the previous weeks. Now she was in the Panther's gym, standing in the middle of the ring as she looked for an opponent to spar with.

Lucas entered the ring, leading Bella to raise a brow at him. "Up for a spar?" He asked as he finished on wrapping tape on his hands.

The woman shrugged. "Red versus the Kingston heir? Seems interesting."

Bella threw a punch towards the man, only for her fist to be caught in his hands. To counter, Lucas sent a kick towards her way. Bella quickly bent down to the ground, effectively dodging the attack.

Their fight went on like that. Back and forth as they continued to land hits towards each other for what seemed like forever. Beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads as their clothed slowly become drenched.

A distraction was the only thing that got Bella to win. Lucas' attention faltered when he saw Bailey and River entering the place together, both engrossed in a conversation.

For Lucas, it was a bad moment for his protective senses to kick in. 

Bella immediately put the man into a headlock the moment he glanced towards the two, leading him to tap out of the fight. The woman quickly followed after Lucas as he went out of the ring, walking towards the teenagers who were clearly oblivious of the sharp look Lucas was sending them.

"Hey guys, how are you two coming along?" Bella asked the two.

"Very nicely actually!" Bailey cheered, grabbing River's arm and shaking him. Lucas' eyes narrowed to their intertwined arms.

The man coughed, obviously not pleased with what Bailey had done." "Bailey, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, Luc! Just making friends." Bailey replied, too cheerful if you'd ask Bella.

"It all starts with friends, Bailey." Lucas starts.

"Friends become with benefits, benefits become lovers, and you know what lovers become?" He asks, desperate for someone to say 'what'.

Bella rolled her eyes, muttering a quick reply. "What?"

"Lovers can lead to condom malfunctions." Lucas snort, leading the assassin beside him burst in laughter. Lucas was protective over his sister, that was a fact. Though Bella cannot really blame the guy because she knew if she still had her sibling with her, she'd act the same way. After what had happened to their family, Lucas Kingston promised himself that he would take care of his sister. She was the only person he had left. 

Lucas glared at Bella as she continued to laugh, both teenagers blushing a deep shade of crimson.

"Sorry sorry." Bella apologized, trying to gather her composure. "She's 16, let her make her own choices."