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He banged his fist into the table. His plan had failed, again.

But it wasn’t his fault, and the two bruised men standing in front of him knew that. But they weren’t afraid, much.

After all, he wasn’t gonna kill them for making one mistake.

The second one on the other hand, was a completely different matter.

“You let him get away? We had the perfect chance, and you let him slip through your fingers.”

“He had help.” the tallest one said, remembering the one who had come out of nowhere.

“Help? He was alone, in our territory, and you let him get away.”

“Someone came out of the shadows. He surprised me and..”

“Silent” his boss says, suddenly interested in the radio. Something they had just said there. Something about the concert and the building N-Zee had come out from. Something about a boy band, oh how he hated those, and a song.

He listened harder, trying to get it.

Could it be?

A reporter on the radio started to talk about it again.

“I am now standing outside the place where only a few hours ago the Backstreet Boys held a press conference promoting their brand new album Black and Blue. They also sang two songs from it. One of the songs were a beautiful ballad written and preformed by AJ, who before preforming it dedicated it to a girl named Ensi. The song is about how much he misses her and loves her. No one seems to know this girl, but everyone is expecting AJ to show her off soon. Back to you Bruce”

He turned back and looked at his men.

“Seems like things are changing. N-Zee was at that concert inside the hall for a reason. And not to meet a girl, to meet a guy. One of the Backstreet Boys to be precise. We might have problems getting to him, but it should not be too hard to get to one of them. If we have one of the Backstreet Boys, he will come to us.

********************

AJ looked at the other guys. Kevin looked shocked, Howie was pale and Brian and Justin were quiet, staring at him in a way that was starting to make him uncomfortable.

As if the silence weren't doing that already.

"So" Kevin finally said, breaking the silence.

"You're saying that we are now in trouble?"

AJ looked over at N-Zee, Nickolas, whatever he was supposed to call him.

N-Zee got up and looked around at the other guys.

"Listen. We've been at war with the Lions for months. It's not like it's gonna change much, except for the fact that now you five are targets. They've been trying to find a way to get to me and Mickey for weeks. We're the head of the Stars, and with us gone, anything can happen. Now they have a connection to me they can target. By going after you guys they know they can get to me. I'd rather die than let anything happen to AJ, to any of you guys. They know that now. You guys are in deep shit man."

He looked at the others, searching for something that could tell him how they were feeling.

He had led them into this danger. He just hoped he wouldn't loose them for it.

If the other guys wanted to break all connections with him and the Stars, AJ would have to choose, and that was one choice he would not let him make, ever.

Brian got up and looked at him.

"So, now what do we do? Go into hiding?"

N-Zee looked at him, relieved inside. They were looking for solutions, not looking for someone to blame.

"I think the best thing you could do is go on with your life as if everything was normal. You've got a good security team and if we add a few Stars to it you'll be safer than if you hide."

AJ gets up and looks around at the other guys.

"Nickolas is right. It's easier to kill people who are hiding."

"Eh, AJ?" Justin says, looking strangely at him.

"Who the hell is Nickolas?"

AJ looks over at N-Zee, who is smiling at him.

"That would be me" he says. "But please, call me Nick, and only in private. In public it's N-Zee. Got that guys?"

Kevin smiles back at him, trying to hold back laughter, something Justin and Brian gave up seconds before.

"Sure, Nick. You know, that sounds..."

"Enough" N-Zee interrupts, smiling at them all. "How about if we go to the club and get drunk. Who's with me?"

"I AM" Justin yells and is on his feet in no time. Kevin and Howie looks at him and Brian shakes his head.

"Sure you are" AJ says, turning to the others and whispering "All he's getting is water. I cannot take another night of him and his lame jokes, which gets even worse when he is drunk. And I have no idea on how that is possible"

********************

He looks at the people surrounding him. They all have that Lion mark tattooed on their upper arms, and they are all ready.

Their orders were clear.

Take down the only thing that was a threat to them right now.

If the Stars went away they would rule this town, and rule it they would.

His eyes landed on the hotel in front of him.

All the Backstreet Boys were inside, and sooner or later they would have to move. And when they did, he was ready.

They had been here for a few hours already, but they would wait for days if they had to. If they got even one of the Backstreet Boys, they would get N-Zee.

A smile appeared on his face when he saw the door open, and a blond haired man walk outside.

A limo came around the corner, and he recognized Justin and right behind him Howie.

In his head he could see himself killing them both, making N-Zee so mad that he came alone, and they could kill him and take over the city.

Turning to the guys behind him he nods, and they move out.

********************

AJ feel an arm on his shoulder and stops.

The arm slides down his arm and around his waist.

He can feel N-Zee move in behind him and leans back into the embrace.

He turns his head to the side and feels N-Zee's warm breath on his face before he feels his lips on his own.

He closes his eyes as N-Zee's tongue softly slides over his lips.

He is about to open his mouth when a sudden scream from outside reaches them.

"Heeelp AJ, N-Zee"

It was Justin.

 

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