9.

They gathered behind the tall wall made from bricks, in a manner of protection to the inner building.

The top floor was visible from where they stood. The blinding lights and moving bodies of rich business tycoons chatting about their deals and money with glasses of wine and alcohol in their hands incited all of them for their purpose.

All the men in formal suits up there with collected facades and discipline embodied within their language, were a part of the dark side of the world, alliances with different underworld Mafias and Gangs.

"Niall, you go with Tiger," Derek ordered, as Niall nodded and shifted beside the latter, who clicked his tongue, pissed.

"Tiger, I know you don't like being companied but we gotta cooperate here now, don't we?" Derek tilted his face to him with a small smile, tapping on Tiger's shoulder.

"Yeah, whatever." Tiger rolled his eyes, earning a chuckle from him.

Derek paired up other guys with each other. They were all 6 in total, from which Warren wasn't present. He was in the car, putting his skills to work and hacking the CCTV system of the building so the members could get inside without any hurdles.

"Okay, guys. All ready?"

"Yes, Boss." They all cheered, excited and terrified all at the same time. Risks; that's something DK's men weren't scared of.

The pairs scattered in different directions they were assigned to, their earbuds tucked in their ears with their eyes high on alert. Although, they knew where the security was most tight, threats were waiting for them with every step.

"Warren? Is it all cleared?" Tiger heard Derek's voice through the earpiece, while he and Niall stood at the back entrance.

"Yes. The back entrance is all cleared." Warren answered.

"Great. Tiger and Niall, move in." Tiger and Niall strolled inside the building, cautious of their steps. It wasn't a real entrance, just an incomplete part of the building that was left abandoned because it was at the back and invisible.

"Funny how they made the whole fucking building so wide and luxurious but left this incomplete." Niall chuckled, looking out for any guards.

"Shouldn't we be thankful to them? It made our work easy. Besides, they only use it for meetings. Nobody resides here." Tiger breathed out, his deep voice echoing through the thick concrete walls while his eyes maintained their usual unnerving coldness, watching out for any trace of threat or unexpected attack. Though, it was unlikely to happen.

"Where are we going to get him?" Niall urged when they reached the middle area of the ground floor.

"At the lift. He will be coming to fetch George from here." Tiger informed.

"I guess we still gotta wait."

"Yeah, take your position. Warren will inform us when it's the time." Tiger suggested, moving towards a wall to hide as Niall took his position too.

"Warren? Has he arrived yet?" Derek asked into the microphone.

"No. Not yet."

"Tiger? Niall? Are you both at your positions?"

"Yeah, we are."

"Great."

A moment of silence passed by them, as they all waited for the moment to arrive. And it finally did when Warren's voice echoed in the small device they all had plucked in their ears.

"Guys, he's here," Warren reported, his voice hastened.

"Okay, everyone. Steady yourself." Derek commanded them.

Tiger and Niall peeked their head out from their small hideout, meeting eyes with each other and giving a nod.

The sound of the lift opening and closing forced them to settle back to their positions, ready to leap and carry out their task which they were there for.

"Guys, he's coming to the middle," Warren informed.

Everyone had their breaths stuck in their throats, cautious, tensed, and most of all, thrilled.

"Okay." Tiger peeked his head out, just a little for Niall to see, signalling him to execute the discussed instructions.

He watched as Niall made his way out of his hideout.

"How are you, Terry?" The man halted in his steps, his eyes widening in shock to witness the presence of an outsider in such a secretive meeting. And as if on instinct, his fingers quickly moved to his back, pulling out his gold revolver.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"You guys are just naive at security handling." Niall shrugged, his spine-chilling smile surely made the man fazed, his grip tightening around his revolver.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a painful kick from the back threw him down right on the floor.

He groaned in pain, his hands no longer possessing his gun as it rested a few inches away from him. He tried to lift his head as small painful winces left his lips.

He turned his head at the source of his almost broken backbone, only to find his worst nightmare standing in front of him.

"T-Tiger?" He stammered, expression converting into one as if he had seen a ghost; terrified.

"Yes, Terry. It's me. Surprise..." Terry's eyes bulged out of their sockets as he took in the tall frame of the guy he never desired to face again.

"But you don't seem too pleased to me?" Tiger crouched down to him, an edge of his lips curled up in the most threatening glint, shooting straight shivers to the man on the floor.

"Tiger, you don't know what you're doing. ScarFace won't leave you." Terry warned, but his shaky voice betrayed his attempt to maintain the undaunted facade.

"Sure, Terry. I won't leave them either." The said man's eyes dilated more, if that was even possible when he saw what Tiger had pulled out from his jacket.

"N-no," His trembling fingers searched for his revolver, but it rested too far away from his reach.

Before he could protest or defend himself, a thin but sharp pain surged through his neck, the syringe turning white gradually as the needle emptied the drug fluid in the injected man's veins.

Mere seconds passed as Terry's eyes rolled back and he fell to the floor completely, unconscious.

"Woah. That was easy." Niall scoffed, squatting down and covering the unconscious Terry's face with a black mask.

"Yo! Guys!" Warren shouted into the microphone, making all of them flinch in surprise, except Tiger.

"What the hell man? You scared me." Niall kept his hand on his chest.

"That old man he was about to fetch had arrived. You both need to hurry."

"Oh shit," Niall exclaimed, grabbing Terry's hands hastily.

Tiger helped him by holding the unconscious man's legs as they both dragged Terry out of any visibility.

They heard the front door opening, indicating the businessman he had come down to fetch had officially entered the building.

But how poor of him, he won't get the elite treatment today.

They tugged him out from where they came earlier, the back entrance. Finding their other teammates already present there, they screeched the unconscious body towards the car. Tiger instantly let go of his hold and just trailed behind.

"Damn man, he's hella heavy." One of them muttered under his breath while tugging at Terry's leg.

"I know, right? What does he even eat?" Niall exasperated.

"Can you both just shut up and do the damn freaking work quietly?" Tiger frowned at their complaints, unboxing the packet of cigars and taking out one.

"You are not even helping..." One of them muttered, not having enough courage to say it out loud in front of him.

"Say that one more time and your meat is what your dog gonna have for his dinner tonight, Clair." The mentioned man sealed his mouth shut, not letting one more word out of his mouth.

They reached where the car was parked, finding Warren in the backseat, his laptop bag sitting on his lap as he rested his neck at the back with a cigarette in his right hand, puffing out the smoke.

He sat upright when he saw them closing the distance, as they opened the back of the car and threw Terry inside like luggage.

Tiger sat in the driver's seat while all of them took their respective seats. Roaring up the engine, the car drove off with a smooth drift turn, without the ScarFace knowing that one of their loyal members, the right hand of their boss had gone missing, and they had no idea whatsoever.

Their work was done. The information they needed was with them. Terry; the man who knew all the secrets of ScarFace.

----

The gates opened wide as their car drove inside, dismantling the broad distance with its furious speed.

"You know there's an option to drive slower, Tiger. I don't wanna die just yet." Niall proposed, his hand clutched at his heart, traumatized by the deadly speed Tiger had pulled up on the way there.

"What if I want you to die, Niall?" Tiger asked, his tone deep and straight, reflecting his intrusive thoughts.

"Why do you want me to die, bro?" Niall's eyes went wide, horror written all over his face.

"Chill the fuck out, Niall. He ain't gonna kill you, don't worry." Warren chuckled, giving him an assuring nudge since he was sitting beside him, while others laughed at the scardy cat of the gang.

The car screeched to a halt, and all of the guys unbelted from their seats.

"Joshua and Gen, carry him out and bring him to the 9v1 room," Derek ordered, dusting his hands.

"You both," He turned to Tiger and Warren, "take her back to the farmhouse. Has she agreed yet?"

"Not...yet." Warren trailed off, knowing what was coming next.

Derek sighed.

"I wonder how it's been almost four days and she still is adamant on her stupid decision," Derek raised his eyebrows, "Are you both even doing the work right?"

Warren shifted on his foot, mentally rolling his eyes.

"What are you hinting at Derek?" Tiger asked, seriousness masked on his toned features.

"You know, you both are guys. She's a girl. There are a lot of ways to make her give in"

"What the fuck?" Warren frowned, his eyes dark, fingers curled into fists as if ready to throw hands.

"Relax, Warren. I was just suggesting." Derek gave him a throaty chuckle, turning around to take his leave for the day.

"Motherfucker." The long-haired cursed under his breath, shooting daggers at his back with his venomous black orbs.

"Let's go. It's getting late." Tiger sighed.

They entered the eerie bungalow, the scent of woods mixed with an unsettling mist of blood engulfing them through each corner of its spaciousness.

As they walked deeper, stepping into the hall area where couches were organized perfectly, bodyguards at every pillar stood with their guns and black earpieces plucked in either of their ears.

Their eyes searched for the sign of DK, who wasn't in any nearer sight.

"Where's DK?" Tiger asked the guard who stood beside them.

"He's not your brother, call him boss." The guard stated with strictness. He seemed just a little older than them.

"Boss, my foot. Where is he?" Tiger scoffed, making Warren bite his lip in anticipation of the trouble Tiger always causes every time he visits there.

The guard blankly stared at him, still not recognizing the grave he was digging for himself.

"I asked you something," Tiger turned to him, stepping closer as the darkness loomed in his menacing brown orbs, "so you gotta answer me, don't you?"

"Not before you address him as boss." The guard didn't bulge, digging his grave more.

Warren clicked his tongue, feeling sorry for the poor guy.

A smirk appeared on Tiger's face, eyes narrowing sinisterly at the stubborn soul standing in front of him, denying him of his worthy reply.

"Do you know why I don't get called here much? Because every time I come here, either someone goes to hospital or grave." Tiger kept his hand on his shoulder, giving it a warning grip, sending chills to run down the guard's spine.

"So if you don't wanna be that person, tell me where is your fucking boss." The rasp in his voice cut through the thick air. The guard visibly tensed, his confident and tough demeanour long forgotten.

"Chill, Ti." Warren tugged on Tiger's shoulder, pulling him away slightly.

The latter took a step back, deciding to not scare the guard more.

"In his office room."

Tiger turned around, walking in the mentioned direction.

"Are you new here, buddy?" Warren asked the guard with a warm smile.

"Yes."

"Hm....just a friendly advice, don't ever come in his eyes again," Warren suggested.

"Sorry?" The guard blinked twice at him, not quite comprehending his words.

"It's your luck you didn't die today." A chuckle escaped his throat as he turned to follow his friend.

Tiger didn't make the effort to knock on the door before entering the office, finding DK seated on his chair behind his desk with a vape in his hand.

"At least knock before barging into my office, Tiger. Where are your manners?" DK snorted, putting the stick down.

"Coming from someone who has built his empire with the blood of innocent people." Tiger rolled his eyes, causing DK to stare at him for a moment.

"Anyways, how did it go?" He asked, rising from his chair when he saw Warren strolling in.

"Great." DK nodded, tilting his face slightly to look at Warren, who stood behind with a stoic face, his eyes cloaked with invisible flames.

DK smirked, knowing the effect he possessed on him.

"Where is she?" Tiger broke the silence which diffused for a few seconds.

"Eager much, huh? In the room upstairs." DK answered.

----

"What the fuck?" Warren exclaimed in shock, finding it difficult to digest the sight that unfolded in front of him while Tiger just stood there, staring down with an expressionless face.

There she was.

Laying unconscious.

On the cold floor.

Covered in blood.

Warren crouched down, his hand trembled as he tried to shake her up.

"Hey, little one?" He called out softly, his breaths heavy with a know forming in the depth of his throat.

His heart physically clenched, as if someone had shot an arrow just right there as if a knot tightened in it.

"Little one, wake up." He shook her shoulder lightly, only to get silence in return.

He gulped, his heart sinking to the floor as his black orbs brimmed with a salty layer.

"That fucking bastard!" He got up with a jerk, striding out of the room.

He slammed the door open to DK's office.

"You retard! What the fuck did you do to her?" He stood in front of him, chest heaving with baneful rage, brows furrowed making imperceptible ceases at his forehead whilst his eyes zeroed on him, deadly.

DK leaned against his table, supporting his back with its edge while crossing his legs, taking in a whisk of his vape.

"How was the surprise, my dear Warren? Liked it?"

"I asked what the hell you did to her?!" He shouted, his voice echoing through the walls.

"Something you both should have done." DK tilted his head, a side of his lips curled up as he glanced at the raging Warren.

"If I ever started to do what I should do, your bloody empire will fall to ashes and you will be behind bars so don't fucking tell me what I am supposed to do." Warren glared at him, his tone no longer holding the usual sweetness, instead, it was rough, deep and threatening.

"So? You are telling me you will take your revenge on me? Hm?" DK straightened himself, taking slow steps towards him.

"I can."

"Say that again." DK looked straight into his raging dark eyes, standing just a few inches away from him.

"I said, I can." Said Warren, impassive and rather, unfazed by the man who practically owned him.

DK's hand rose in the air, swinging in the direction of Warren's face but it stopped in the middle, never making the intended impact as he felt his hand being gripped tightly in the midst.

Tiger stood there, his fingers wrapped around DK's wrist firmly.

DK's ruthless glare met his brown, darkening eyes, shrouded with silent storms of fury.

"Warren, carry her to the car. I'm coming in a bit." Tiger commanded Warren, loosening DK's hand but not diverting his gaze. The air grew thicker and more intense with each passing second.

Warren silently obeyed, shooting piercing arrows at DK with his eyes before exiting the office room.

"Why did you break the rule? Your men weren't supposed to touch the hostages they were not assigned to."

"Haven't you both become too bold these days?" DK asked, completely ignoring Tiger's question while encircling his other hand around his wrist which had almost broken a few minutes prior.

"If you are going to continue with your acts, expect this boldness," Tiger answered, raising his brows sarcastically.

"You both didn't obey my orders, Tiger. She didn't even have a scratch on her face when she came here." DK stated.

"Are you going easy on her just because she's a girl? I don't expect anything from Warren, he still hasn't turned into the rough I turned all of you into, but I expected more from you."

"She will agree to what you want, I'll make her do it in my way. Let's just not break the rules in the meantime." Tiger said, his words stirring through DK's ego.

"And what if I break the rules? I created them myself so I own the damn right to break them too." Said DK, raising his voice and folding his arms on his chest.

A beat of silence prevailed for a moment until Tiger's eyes covert with a sarcastic glint.

"Sure. Then let's create new ones," A corner of his lips turned upwards in a sly smirk, as he continued, "From now onwards, you don't get to touch what's mine. Not her. Not him." Tiger inched closer to the latter present in the room, his words were just weren't mere words, they were a threat, a warning in disguise.

An amused grin spread across DK's face, not believing the situation unfolding itself before his eyes.

"Since when did you start to care about Warren? Hm?"

Tiger tilted his face to a side at his question, knowing well he didn't have any answer to it.

"Turning soft, again? Don't go there. You know what happens next." DK continued, voice deep and collected, but evil and daunting.

"Whatever. I don't entirely comply with your bullshit anyway." With that, Tiger turned around, an unsettling question brewed in him which he ignored, hearing a chuckle from behind on his way out.

----

He walked out of the haunting bungalow, breathing out in frustration.

As he walked to where his car was parked, he met Warren who stood there waiting for him.

"She's just unconscious. That blood isn't hers, maybe they poured it on her or something to scare her." Warren informed, concern lacing his husky voice as Tiger nodded and opened the door of the backseat.

He bent down, taking in a closer look at her details. She had a few cuts on her face, and her clothes were torn a little, a deep red mark just below her left eye, indicating she had been punched, the fingerprints on her cheek and the dried blood at the corner of her lips stung at a part of his chest.

The dishevelled sight of her forced him to imagine all the torture they inflicted on her within just a passage of time. And that boiled his blood, awfully.

He looked away, tearing himself to not feel, to not react, to not lose.

"Get in the car." Warren nodded, adjusting himself in the passenger seat after laying her unconscious body on the space at the backseat, just for her comfort, although she practically wasn't sensing any pain for the time being.

----

"How do we get her in?" Warren asked, hopping out of the car.

"Just like how we got her in the car," Tiger too stepped out of the car.

"Here, open the door. I'll carry her in." He tossed the keys to Warren, circling the car to open the back door."

Warren caught the keys, walking towards the main gate after muttering a small 'okay'.

Tiger opened the door, bending down as he lightly tugged on her shoulder, his broad arms wrapping protectively around the middle of her back and beneath her knees respectively, carrying her in his strong arms swiftly.

When her whole body was balanced on him, he shifted her in his hold to adjust her position, resulting in her face falling against his chest.

Even in the grim darkness of the dire night, the faint silver light of the moon adorned her face with the soft glow of dark blue, shades decorating her face with delicacy and grace.

Damn. She's pretty.

An unknown warmth spread across his heart, his eyes searching her face for more than a safe limit. He didn't like those cuts on her face, he didn't like her in pain.

No.

Stop it, Tiger.

A voice disturbed his train of thoughts, snapping him out of his confused inner turmoils.

He shook his head, throwing those stupid hunches at the back of his mind, kicking the door shut with his knee and walking towards the gate with her in his arms.