by Bella Jewel
“Fuck,” Finn mutters.
“What do we do?” I say, panicked, because it looks like Slater is about to come out here and lose his mind.
Panicking, I turn and just rush off down the hall and practically dart out of the door and back into the crowd. I need to get out of here. As if seeing Slater fight wasn’t overwhelming enough, knowing that he’s suffering the way he is, makes it even worse. And all the people. And the necklace. And seeing him like that. I can’t think. I need to leave.
“Ellie!” I hear Finn yell, but I don’t stop.
I know how to get out of here, and I’m going to do just that.
I rush past people, some of which give me rather startled stares, as if they’re wondering what the hell I’m doing in here. Then I run into a hard form, and hands go up to my shoulders, stopping me. I jump backwards quickly and look up to see a blond man with a really rugged, worn out face, staring down at me. His eyes scan over me, and then widen in surprise, and his fingers tighten around my shoulders.
“Well, I didn’t think you’d actually run into my grasps, but I’ve been looking for you, Raven.”
Raven.
What?
What did he just call me?
That’s not my name.
I jerk backwards, trying to get out of his grips, but he squeezes so tightly I wince.
“No, let me go.”
I frantically thrash, but to no avail.
“Let her go, right fuckin’ now.”
Slater’s voice booms even over the chatter of the crowd, and the man holding me lets me go immediately.
“Sorry, man, I was just helping her out. She seemed lost. You know her?”
Slater walks over, grabs the man by the shoulder with little to no effort, and slams him up against the wall. “Who the fuck are you?”
“H-h-h-h-he called me Raven,” I whisper. “He’s…he’s working for him.”
Slater’s eyes flare and he stares at the man, then he turns to Finn, “Get Lincoln, now.”
Finn moves quickly, disappearing into the crowd. Slater looks at me. “You know him?”
“No,” I tremble. “But he’s looking for me.”
“I don’t know what she’s fucking talking about,” the man protests. “She ran into me.”
“You’re coming with us, and you’re goin’ to talk.”
Lincoln and Finn appear, and Lincoln’s eyes go to Slater, and then to everyone who has stopped to watch Slater.
“What’s goin’ on?”
“He’s one of them. Lookin’ for Ellie. Was tryin’ to drag her out.”
Lincoln’s eyes flash to the man. And then he walks over, curling his big hand around his shoulder. “Take Ellie home. He’ll be here when you return.”
Slater looks at Lincoln, and he nods, letting the man go. Lincoln spins him around, jerking his hands behind his back. “You’re comin’ with me.”
The man protests as Lincoln disappears into the crowd with him, Finn following. I watch Finn desperately. He’s leaving me to Slater. After everything he just showed me? My heart is racing, and I stare at the ground, hands trembling.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
Slater guides me gently to the exit and we slowly make our way out of the huge building. People stop and try to talk with Slater, but one angry look from him has them pulling up pretty quickly and disappearing. Once we’re back at the garage, Slater stops and I hesitantly turn to him.
I can hardly breathe.
What was that man doing down there?
Do they know that the Knight brothers know me? If they do, that means everyone is in danger, not just me.
I can’t imagine the lengths he might go to, to get his hands on me.
Including wiping out anyone in his way.
“You good?” Slater asks me, his dark eyes scanning my face.
He’s still covered in blood, though his face is wiped clean.
He’s terrifying.
“I just want to go home.”
He nods, and points to a truck parked around the side of the garage. “That’s mine, let’s go.”
This is going to be one hell of an awkward drive home.
And yet, I’m kind of glad Slater is the one taking me.
Go figure.
~*~*~*~
THEN – SLATER
“Why do you stare at her like that?” Tracey moans, clinging to my arm as we move through Ellie’s party.
Damon threw her one, and there are way too many fuckin’ people here for my liking.
But, I wasn’t goin’ to not be here. Lincoln is working, at least, I think he’s fuckin’ working, so somebody had to make sure this party didn’t get too wild. And that lucky someone is me. Tracey showed up, and I literally had no excuse to get rid of her, so she’s been clinging to me like a damned leech ever since.
It’s time to give her the flick, she’s getting too clingy.
And she’s right, my eyes are on one thing, and one thing only.
Ellie.
She looks fuckin’ beautiful tonight, in her skin-tight jeans and tank that is glued to her chest, showing her gorgeous curves on that petite little body. Her hair is flowing down her back and around her shoulders, in loose curls. And every now and then, her laughter rings out through the yard, making me stop and turn, my eyes seeking her out. She’s so fucking perfect. It’s hard to stay away. Especially now I know I can have her.
“It’s her party, and she’s at my house,” I mutter, throwing back another beer.
I’m drunk, and yet even that isn’t drowning out Tracey’s moaning in my ear.
“You have a thing for her?”
“I’m goin’ to toss you out on your ass in a fuckin’ minute,” I growl, sitting down on a chair.
Tracey throws herself onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and grinding herself against me. I’m a man, and she’s fuckin’ hot, so she knows that she’s going to get a rise out of me, literally. I also can’t stand her right now, but when I try to toss her off, she hangs on tighter.
“Don’t be an asshole to me Slater, or I won’t ride you later, just how you like.”
Her mouth connects with my neck, and I squeeze her hip, not in pleasure, in warning.
“Startin’ to piss me way the fuck off, Tracey. Get off my lap.”
“Bro, if you’re goin’ to fuck her, do it inside yeah!” Damon yells, laughing.
I glance over and see him standing with Finn, about ten other people, and Ellie. They’re all watching me, and all getting the wrong fuckin’ idea.
“He loves it in public, don’t you honey,” Tracey says loudly, laughing.
My eyes meet Ellie’s and I could fuckin’ swear I see a flash of hurt cross them. I could be reading it wrong, but I’m sure, fuck, I’m so damned sure, that’s what it looks like. I hold her stare for a minute, and then she turns and walks off. I toss Tracey and her loud mouth off my lap, and growl, “Go home, you’re pissin’ me off.”
“Don’t be like that, honey,” she croons.
I ignore her and walk off, in Ellie’s general direction. I look around for a bit, but I can’t find her. As I turn to go back to the party, I notice a flash of blond hair disappearing across the road to the park. Ellie. I turn and follow her, walking until I hit the cool grass, and see her sitting on it, knees up to her chest, staring at the playground. I walk over, sitting beside her, crossing my ankles and leaning back on my hands.
“Runnin’ from your own party…”
She turns and looks to me, her eyes sad. “Is she what you really want?”
I stare at her, confused. “Who? Fuckin’ Tracey?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck no. Tracey is where you go to have a bit of fun, but you don’t respect her. She knows it, but she allows it. Why are you askin’ that kind of shit, Ellie?”
She shrugs and stares straight ahead. “I…I don’t know. I felt…”
It clicks.
She’s jealous.
She was jealous of Tracey
sitting on my lap.
My heart races. And fuck, I should get up and leave, right now, this is the moment, but I can’t. I don’t even fuckin’ want to.
“You’re jealous.”
Her head whips to the side, and she cries out, “You’re too old for me!”
I grin at her. “Not what I said, darlin’.”
She bites her lip, and then drops her head and exhales. The thing about Ellie, is she doesn’t play games. She doesn’t dance around how she feels. She doesn’t hold back what she wants to say. That’s one of the things I love most about her. She is straight forward. That’s not always an easy thing, especially when you’re forced to say something you don’t want to, but that doesn’t stop her.
She’s as honest as they come.
“Yeah,” she murmurs. “And I know I shouldn’t be. I don’t even know why I am. I just know…I just know…you make me feel different. Nobody has ever given me the funny feeling you do, the one right in the pit of my stomach that flutters up to my chest. There’s something about you, Slater Knight, and I know I shouldn’t…but…well…I want to know what that something is.”
She turns to stare at me, eyes wide, almost as if she’s shocked herself that she said that. Her gaze meets mine, and I hold it for a second.
“Been forcin’ myself to stay away from you for this while time, Ellie. Because fuck, feel the same thing when I’m around you. But you’re young, you have your whole life ahead of you, no point in wastin’ it on me…”
Before I can say anymore she lunges at me. Completely taking me off guard. She knocks me backwards and her tiny body falls over top of mine. I have to lift my hand and place it on her ass to stop her rolling off me.
“Don’t tell me what I do, and do not want for my life, Slater Knight. There’s something about you, and I want to know what that something is. And trust me, once I get my eye on something…”
She stares at my lips.
And fuck me if I don’t ache.
“Too old for you, darlin’.”
She snorts, “You’re not that much older than me, hell, it isn’t even close to eight years, which is the cut off, right?”
I raise my brows. “Who told you that?”
She shrugs. “I just said it so you’d disagree, and then my point was made.”
I grin at her. She grins back down at me.
“You just turned eighteen…still feel like a kid…”
She reels backwards, almost horrified. “Now just you wait a minute, Slater Knight, you have to work a whole lot harder than this for my sexual affections. I’m simply telling you I like you, and maybe, I don’t know, you can go ahead and take me out. You just keep it in your pants.”
And fuck.
In that moment.
I know I could absolutely fall in love with her.
“Well, now we’ve gotten that out of the way. Goin’ to let me kiss you, because I’ve been dreamin’ about it for a fuckin’ long time?”
She leans down, so close her warm breath puffs against my lips. And I brace, waiting for the moment I finally get to taste her, but just before her lips touch mine, she jumps off and stands, extending an arm down to help me up. “You have to work a little harder than that. I know you can have any girl you want, at the drop of a hat, but not me, Slater Knight. For me, you’ll have to work.”
I take her hand, and tug her so she comes crashing back down on top of me. I roll us so my body pins hers to the grass. Then I put my forearms either side of her head and lean down. She’s panting, lips parted, and it takes a whole lot of fucking control not to take her right here.
“And work I will, darlin’. Work I will.”
She smiles.
Big and bright.
And I know in that moment…
I’d turn the world upside down to have Ellie.
~10~
NOW – ELLIE
We’re sitting out front of my house, in Slater’s truck, and neither of us has said anything. I’m still clutching the necklace, and I’m wondering if I should tell Slater I have it. But if I tell him, then I have to explain I know it’s mine, and that it brang on a familiar feeling, kind of like I had at the cookout.
“Did you know that man?” he asks me finally, the truck so dim I can’t really see his face.
“No,” I tell him. “But know he works for him. They’re looking for me.”
“They’re not goin’ to find you. Got a watch on your house, in case we were followed. Gotta be careful, Ellie. They’re zoning in. It won’t take them long.”
I tremble, terrified at the thought of being found. Even more terrified at the thought of going back to him. And this time, not being able to escape.
“I’m afraid, Slater,” I admit.
He turns and looks at me. “Don’t be, because I will not fuckin’ let anyone take you away again.”
I try to hold his gaze, but I can’t and look away. The call falls silent again, and it takes a few minutes before I speak.
“How come you fight?” I decide to ask, even though I know the answer to that.
“Certain Finn showed you the safe, Ellie.”
His voice is low, and raspy. He’s staring at the steering wheel, he raises his big hands and curl them around it, biceps bulging. I have to look away.
“You get yourself hurt…for me?”
“I like the pain.”
“Because it makes you forget?”
He turns to me. “Nothin’ in this fuckin’ world could ever make me forget you. Nothin’.”
I swallow, and stare at him. And then I reach into my coat pocket and pull out the necklace, stretching my hand out and showing him. He stares at it, for a long moment, and then looks up to me. “Finn gave that to you.”
“I kind of…took it out. I knew it was mine, I just didn’t…I didn’t remember where I got it. Then I saw the tattoo on your chest…”
He studies the necklace, then plucks it out of my hand and curls his around it. My heart kind of sinks, because I was hoping he’d let me keep it, but I don’t have the right to ask that.
“Slater?” I ask, and his eyes swing to mine again. “Don’t fight for me. I don’t like seeing you get hurt.”
He studies my face. “I’ll fight for the rest of my life for you.”
I drop my head, and stare at my hands. “Thanks for bringing me home.”
I turn and climb out of the car, once again disappointed that he doesn’t say anything, though what do I expect him to do? Stop me? I already know he cares about me, hell, I can see it written all over his face, a level of affection I’ve never seen before. He doesn’t deserve me to make it any worse with some childish fantasy I’m cooking up in my head about him launching out of the car and scooping me into his arms.
I shake my head.
Am I getting a crush on him?
Or is it just feelings that have always been there, coming back to life?
A car door slams as I’m walking up the front path, and Slater calls out my name. I turn, staring at him. When he reaches me, he turns me around with a gentle push to my shoulder, and lifts up my hair. His hands come in front of me, and he drops the necklace around my neck, fastening it at the back. And I tingle all over. Every touch makes my body come alive. Like it knows, even if I don’t.
“This is yours,” he murmurs.
I wait for him to step back, but he doesn’t, for a moment, he just stands there, and then his fingers run along the back of my neck. And I remember. It hits me like a hurricane. I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot about the scarring against the back of my neck. There’s one large scar that runs up onto my scalp, from when he slashed me with a knife the first time I tried to escape. I’ll never forget it.
Not until the day I die.
I’m running, I’m so damned close to the front door. I can’t believe I got this far. My plan worked, it truly worked. I never thought it would but it did. He fell for it. The oldest trick in the book. I acted like I was passed out, and I was truly run down enough to h
ave passed out. He shook me a few times, rolled me over, and that’s when I used the small piece of rusted metal that took me two weeks to get off the base of the bed. I cut my fingers up on more than one occasion, but I managed to break a piece off.
I stabbed him with it. Straight into his throat.
Then I got up and ran.
I got out of the unlocked door and up through the empty church.
So close, I’m so damned close.
I can taste the freedom.
I don’t know where I’ll go from here. I only know where I used to live, and that’s it. But that’s enough. If I can get back there, I’ll find my way. I’ll find something. But at least I won’t be trapped here any longer, trapped living day in, day out as his slave, as his personal punching bag, as his sick and twisted little game.
Someone grabs me by my hair and a burning pain shoots through the back of my neck. I scream and claw at the air, but I’m being dragged backwards. I lose my footing, but he keeps dragging me, through the empty halls and back down to the bottomless pit below the building that I’m going to spend the rest of my damned life.
He throws me, and my hands go out to brace my fall. I hit the ground so hard my wrist twists and I scream out in pain. It’s only then I see the blood dripping from my neck, big droplets splashing against the concrete floor.
“You ever try something like that again, and I’ll make you wish you were never born,” His voice is cool, and calm, and always collected. “Don’t try me, Raven. I won’t kill you, that would be too kind, I’ll torment you every day for the rest of your life. That’s a punishment worse than death.”
Then, he turns and walks out, slamming the door.
My fingers go up to the back of my neck, and I hiss as they graze over a gaping wound.
He stabbed me. Or cut me. Or something.
Whatever it is, it’s deep.
I hang my head and watch the blood trickle out onto the floor.
And then I cry.
I was so close.
I snap out of the memory when Slater growls, “If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make that man feel the pain of a thousand fuckin’ cuts, Ellie. Mark my words, everything he did to you, I’ll do to him times ten.”
