Ghost looked at me, eyes wide with shock and pain. I felt sorry for him. I guess all he wanted was to belong, everybody kept leaving him and he couldn't take that anymore. The bullet had embedded itself in his head, I could see the blood trickling down his face. He collapsed to his knees, a flicker of life still alive in his eyes. Until he smiled at me and everyone else. A cold, dead, chilling smile, as if to say, 'So long'.  Then he dropped down and never got up again.

There was a ringing in my ears, my hand was bloody. But I knew AJ was here. I turned into him and hugged him. Digging my face into his shoulders. Never wanting to look back. I didn't want to see Ghost anymore. I didn't want to see what I'd done. It was over. It was all finally over.

"Delilah? Baby are you alright?" AJ asked softly. I could feel his hands holding me close. It was as if the rest of the world had vanished.

"I killed him, I killed somebody." I told him.

"No Delilah, I killed him. Your hand just happened to be on the trigger. If anybody asks. I killed him. And if anything needs to be served, I will serve it." He said, pulling me back to look into my eyes while saying it.

"You can't —" I protested.

"He won't have to," Said Sam from somewhere.

AJ seemed taken aback he looked to where Sam must have been standing. But I didn't care, I hugged him again. And this time I heard him gasp in pain.

"Woah woah, I forgot about your injury!" I said. And reached out carefully to lift his shirt. His whole torso was wrapped in thick bindings.

"You were operated on!" I figured.
"AJ you shouldn't be out here, you should be in a hospital room—"

"He should be, but he wanted to save you. And how could I resist that?" Said Irene's voice.

I turned back and saw Rene in purple pants, her hair was up in a bun. Some of it falling near her neck. Her eyes were sparkling with tears.

She ran to me and hugged me so tight, I forgot how to breathe.

"Oh Leila, who knew this Summer would be so apocalyptically Wonderful", she said into my ear.

"What does that even mean?" I asked her smiling.

"Gosh I was so worried," she said chuckling through tears.

"A group hug without the main groupie? Are you kidding me right now?" Said Willow before plummeting into us.

I could smell her familiar sunshine shampoo, and Rene's sweet coco creams.

"I missed this." Willow said.

"I missed us," Irene added.

"Irene?" Sam asked.

He was standing not far away. He looked oddly handsome. Something changed about him. He'd never be the Sammy we thought we knew him as.

Under the setting sun, his hair was a quaint orange. His eyes, like they always did, lit up when he saw Irene. He smiled a small, goofy, crooked smile.

Like a little puppy.

Irene turned and faced him. She walked to him slowly, as if she were seeing him after a long time. When she reached to him he started blubbering.
Something like, 'I would have told you' or 'I know you're mad'.

But before he could really say anything of consequence. She held his face and kissed him, straight on the lips.

For the first time in forever, she'd finally kissed him. And he seemed as confused as a fish out of water. But I knew inside him tiny fireworks were being freed from their cages.

AJ was smiling too, I went back to him and held onto him. He wrapped his hands around my waist and smiled at me.

"Are you in pain?" I asked slowly.

"Not anymore, now that you're alright."

G and the others were huddled together, hugging and whispering words of comfort.

It was over.

"It's not over just yet guys," said John just as the opposite had crossed my mind. I'd jinxed it again, hadn't I?

He looked horrible, and tired. But he still seemed determined.

"The whole city is lit with the recent Money heist of the armour trucks." He said coming to the main part of our circle.

"What? Oh damn I forgot about that," G cursed.

"Yeah well, the police is on full take down mode. We need to leave immediately. Disappear, as our plan was too. Split up till the smoke clears." John explained.

"What about the money Ghost stole?" Asked Jake. He and Lily were still leaning on eachother. He was limping a bit. His leg was injured.

"What do you think, Willow and I were doing when we were supposed to be out towards the safe house?" Jesse said proudly.

"What do you mean?" AJ asked.

"The money is in the Jet. We got here first, before G and John. The money, the bank robbery one was with a few Russians. We handled it." Willow said, earning a grin from me.

"How many of that gang is dead now?" Asked Lily.

We all just stood quiet.

"Well what's the game plan, we're certainly more than we were before. Who takes whom and what and goes where?" Jesse enquired.

"Before all that, y'all need to clear your story for the police," said officer Jack from behind us.

He had limped his way till us, he was badly injured in the thigh.

"Who's this again?" Asked John.

"He's new." Irene realised.
Sam had one arm around her. And she didn't seem to mind.

"I am the one saving your darn asses. And I have no idea why," he said utterly irritated.

"I think you do, Officer." Sam replied

Jack just seemed more pissed off.

"Listen to me calm and clear now. I promise to get your asses out of here and to put the blame for all these deaths on Ghost. But once I'm done. I ain't covering for you. You're on your own," he said eyes raised.

"Ident—" Sam started.

"Yes yes, your identities will not be disclosed, atleast not by me." He said cutting Sam off. "But you better hurry, the LAPD will be here soon."

"What I'm going to say to them is my problem, get yourself out of here and make both our jobs easier," he said limping away back into his car with the busted siren.

"Didn't he just ask us to clear a story for him?" I asked.

"Hurry," Sam warned, ignoring my sarcasm.

"Okay, how many are we? Irene? Willow? Sam? Are you really willing to come with us? Your whole life will change, forever." G asked with a concerned look.

"After all I did for y'all?" Willow said with a crooked look. "You really have the nerve."

"And I was in this way before either of them. Only on the wrong side. I'm with you," said Sam.

"What? You expect me to be all alone. Hell no," Irene said when everyone looked at her last.

G smiled a little before looking at me, I had one of my hands intertwined with AJ's. The other supporting his back.

Dusk had broken and dying streaks of purple, orange and yellow were peaking through the sky. AJ looked as he always did, breathtaking. His eyes had the same, mystery and comfort they always did.

From the very first day I'd met him, the beautiful boy leaning against a wall with a crooked God damn fedora hat. And a smile that could drive innocents on their way to hell. I knew that I was in this with him. In this with him for the long game.

"Don't quit on me now G," I smiled.
                °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

So it was decided, AJ, John, and I would go on the Jet with most of the money. G, Irene and Sam would travel by car, to a safe house with the least amout of money. And Jesse, Jake, Lily and Willow would go to Lily's home town to stay low with the old bank robbery deposit.

We'd all meet in a month or so, staying in touch of course. Which worked out great. Cause the summer break still extended till a month more. I didn't have a clue what Sam, the girls and I would do about college just yet. But we'd figure it out.

Jack was by his car with a police radio. Keeping in touch, telling us how much time till they arrive. John and AJ knew how to fly the Jet. It was tiny enough. And I could honestly use the sleep.

Darkness had fallen which only helped our escape. Since the borders were not sealed yet, this was the perfect time to scram. According to Jack, by tomorrow morning all town borders would be closed. Good thing, no one was identified.

So as far as heists go, this one was successful. The aftermath though not so much.

We quickly said our goodbyes. I hugged the Attica brothers and they genuinely seemed worried about me.

"You take care, meet you in a month," Jesse said.

"You don't mess  with Willow okay? She kicked a guy in the nuts in a club once and emailed the picture to all his exes. Beware Jess," I grinned and kissed his cheek.

"Ah yeah right," he said chuckling back.
Though he seemed downright shook.

"Finally celebrate that honeymoon, you guys." I said after hugging Lily next.

"I'm going to miss you Delilah," she said into my shoulders.

"I'm going to miss your husband's pancakes," I said and they both laughed.

It was the hardest saying goodbye to the girls.

"Just when we got back together," Willow whined all morose.

"Hey atleast we're all dating badass guys now," Irene giggled.

"Wait, when did Sam become badass?" I teased her.
She punched my arm.

Then we laughed and laughed and laughed.
-
-
-
Sammy and G were standing together oddly, G was thanking him. He looked so proud and happy. And Sam, sam was blushing.

After all the goodbyes, I went back to stand next to AJ.

"Time to take off?" I asked him.

"Time to take off," he said kissing my head.

"Oi, 20 minutes." Jack informed us.

In a rush of noise, lights and goodbyes all of us parted ways. And I looked at Ghosts body one last time. Before heading up the plane.

The crime scene was cleared. Apparently Jack was going to blame the Russians. Make it look like a gang deal gone wrong. Massacre, slaughters that no one would care about. Not unless related to a prize. Or prison time. As long as it was inside conspiracies and 'gone wrongs' between mafia, on the loose gangs. We should be alright.
-
-
-
After we were on the plane, John went straight to the control room.
"Bags?" I asked remembering they were still in the hotel probably.

"Don't worry, it's just clothes. You've got the important stuff with you right?" AJ asked.

I froze. No way.

Then he broke out in laughter. Then a few minutes later, sat down in pain.

"Hahah not so funny," I said kneeling down next to him.

"That hurt," he said.

"You need rest and medicine. You just had a surgery for God sakes," I said.

"Yeah well, first gotta fly," He answered and went back on his way to the control room.

"AJ, seriously. Where are the bags?" I asked again.

"Overhead. Thank Jesse and Willow. They can see the future. Or they thought Ghost would love to wear your purple dresses."
He said disappearing behind the control room.

The plane was cosy and coated with brown leather seats. There was enough room for about 10 steps.

I took my bag down and got out my phone. Then sat down on one of the ever so comfy seats and dialed a number in.

"Mom?" I said into the phone.
"How's it being back home? I missed you."

"All Good sweetheart. Back to life." Her voice said back. She sounded like home.
"How were the last few weeks for you darling? You didn't call!"

"Oh!" I chuckled and sighed at the same time.
"Where should I even begin?"
              °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
AJ's pov:

It was about one in the morning when John finally decided to come back from his night cap. He'd been extremely tired and ruffled up, so I'd suggested he go and sleep for some time. He'd somehow agreed and had stalked away, dizzily. Now that he was back, he looked much better. He'd changed clothes, out of the blood soaked, torn ones to a baby blue shirt and black formal pants. His hair was combed and neatly put into place. His eyes gleaming with light, the blue in them looking even more electrifying with his baby blue shirt.

"Hey AJ! You should go back in now. I'll take control. I really needed that man. Thankyou," he said sitting down in the co pilots seat.

I chuckled, "Never say thanks again." Then I got up, put on hand on his shoulder, winked and turned to go back into the cabin.

"Hey, umm be quiet. She's asleep." He informed me as I reached the door.

"Of course," I said smiling.
-
-
Sure as much, she was fast asleep. Still in the sofa chair. In the same clothes, one hand sprawled above her head. The other near her ear, holding her phone. Which was almost on its way to the ground.

She must have been exhausted, and understandably so. I tip-toed till her and slowly untangled the phone from her grasp. Placing it on a side table. Then I looked back at her. Her hair was almost free from its bindings, coming slowly undone. Brown curls with shades of honey and sun spilling all around her. Her eyes were quiet, no fluttering, no dreams. There was a thin strand of hair across her face, it was tickling her cheeks. She was wincing every now and then. I bend down till her face and with a slight move of my finger, traced the lock of hair back to its side. She made a face before turning to the other side.

I hadn't even realised how painfully wide I had been smiling this whole time.

She had a habit of curling up. Even though she was tall and not tiny at all. She'd still fit wherever. Unless she knows I'm next to her. Then her long legs tangle themselves with mine. And she places her self in my arms with her arms across my chest. She had this habit of tracing circles on my skin when she's nervous.
I remember she used to dream every night and her eyelashes would tickle my skin every time they'd flutter.

I got up and then went straight to the washroom. In the mirror my face looked black and red. Blood and ash.

I washed up, got out some clothes to wear and went back into the cabin. The lights were very dull now. I must have done that trying to find the washroom switch. I removed my dirty shirt and looked at it in the dim light. It was soaked in a dark liquid. All my blood, I thought.

Suddenly I felt soft hands travelling up my back, wrapping around my chest. Then a face hugged my back.

"Did I wake you?" I asked smiling.

"Mmm no, I was worried about your wound." She said.

"I'm fine Lilah, don't you worry."

"Lemme see," she said back.

"If you wanted to just see me bare—" but  she smacked my arm before I could finish the sentence.
I laughed and cried at the same time.

I turned and raised the lights. Her hair was finally free, and her eyes were wide awake.

I slowly opened up my bindings to show her my stiched up bullet wound.
She didn't gasp, didn't whine, didn't flinch. Nothing.

She simply stalked off to our bags, and out of John's took out a brown paper one.

Then came back to me and asked me to lay down.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"You're excused," she said and pushed me down gently.
"I was on the call with mum, after which I called John's doctor girlfriend. She told me how to bandage you up. So now be a good boy and lie still."

"She's not his girlfriend. And I don't like the look of those metal scissors," I said.

"What these? These are nothing, just here to cut through your gooey skin. That's all," she said back with a straight face. But then she looked at mine and broke out in laughter.

"Look at you, Gosh babe. It's just for cutting the gauze and tape." She half said, half laughed.

"You're cruel," I said.

"You're cute," she said.

Then she did several things to my wound, orange liquid, red goo, the white goo, then weird powder. Then wrap, wrap, wrap and done.
"Your personal AJ gift is ready!" I said wincing.

"Haha, all done. Wasn't that hard now was it?" She asked before getting me water and popping pills in my mouth.

"My my my, I love it when you worry about me." I teased her after swallowing all three pills.

"Well don't get used to it. From tomorrow you're going to do it all by yourself." She grinned.

"How is it though? Paining a lot? And don't answer back in a cheesy way," she said.

"Oh My! Cheesy way? How could you? I'm hurt." I said dramatically. "No but it's become better. I still feel like there's a whole in me though."

"Oh babe, I'm so sorry," she said sitting in my lap carefully.

"No biggie Delilah. I got you right?"

"Pfffttt, CHEESYY," She said with a smile.

"I think you mean—classic," I said back. She smiled wider then, in the same Delilah way as always.

"Old-school?" She purred into my neck.

"That actually doesn't even make sense?" I chuckled.

"It does. Everything back in time was more romantic?" She tried explaining.

"At least to us." I said.

"At least to us," she said.
Her head was on my shoulder and her fingers were on my chest. Calm and flat. No invisible circles in my skin tonight.
                  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"So? Where are we headed?" She asked.
I'd changed into brown pants and a cream t-shirt.
She'd changed into a peach tank and brown shorts.

"Hawaii," I said waiting for a scream.

"What!?" She screamed.

"Yes well, we've got a safe house there. It's actually my parents old house. But well it's mine now. I rarely use it. So—"

"We're going to Hawaii," she said.
"H-A-W-A-I-I!" she enunciated each letter.

I just grinned and laughed...

"So what were your parents names?" She asked.

"You know! I've told you," I said back.

"I know your mum's, Odette? Right?" She confirmed.

"Yes, Odette and Eric Jones," I said.

"Wait—Jones?" She said with wide eyes. "You're a Jones?"

"I did not tell you that," I sighed knowing she'd want more now.

"Your name AJ! I want your name. I can't believe I just imagined that AJ is you I name! People have names like that? U thought, 'sure he does too'. But you have a real name! A. Jones! What's the A!" She asked.

"Ummmm," I stalled.

"AJ!"

"Okay, okay, guess."

"Guess? Oh come on!" She whined.
"Fine! Let's see....Andrew?"

I shook my head.

"Ash!" She said happily.

"Not that cool sorry. Your boyfriend basic."

"Anthony? Adrian? Archie? A-man," she went on.

"Gosh no, maybe, no and who do think I am? Ant mans second hand?" I said.

"Maybe? Adrian? That's not a bad name. It's quite dreamy," she said batting her eyes.

"It's not Adrian. It's close-ish."

She pouted, defeated.

I kissed her then and said, "Aidan. Aidan Edmund Jones. A•E•J. AJ," I told her.

She looked so intrigued.

"I love it, Aidan." She said.
With pink cheeks.

"See this is why I didn't tell you! AJ is fine."

"That's my choice. Your parents gave you such a beautiful name. You will bloody well use it!" She said.

"Yes ma'am."

She grinned. "Delilah Willa O'dair," she said. "Since you wanted to add middle names."

"It's perfectly you," I said.

"It's my grandma's name."

"Edmund was my uncle. I never met him." I told her.

"I'm sure he'd have loved you," she said.
"But I don't know if I'm changing my name if we get married, Delilah Jones just sounds bounty hunter like?" She said making my tummy flutter.

"Married?—" I gulped.

She looked taken aback, her face grew very red and eyes became O's, then came the stuttering. "Oh, I meant—you know just that.... nevermind.... I need to use the restroom—ya bye," she said trying to get up.

But I grabbed her waist and didn't let her go.

"You're right, badass bounty hunter like, Aidan O'dair sounds like a rich prince though?" I said looking elsewhere smiling.

"Shut up! You're making me—"

"Blush? Red? Hot?"

Then she knocked me and I fell down into the bed with her still in my grasp.

"Uh uh uh, not so easy, Miss Jones." I said.

"It's Miss O'dair—for now," she said making me smile so wide I thought my face would never return back to normal.
              
Our crooked little smiles, went on like that for miles and miles and miles....
             °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Hey y'all! I hoped you liked this chapter. Maybe one or two more. Before this book officially ends! I have had the time of my life writing it! Please vote and comment! It's means the absolute world. Cheers y'all! To crooked Smiles!
Xoxo✨💜💫