Fighting For Life

by Kylie Alyssa Forte

Trey pulled me away with force, trying to get me to the door of his office. However, I fought him roughly. I even threw my head back and headbutted him harshly.

  I was drunker than I ever had been before at the Underground, making me unstable and slow. I was coherent enough to buy the time that Brandon and Tommy needed to get to me. I knew that they wouldn’t let Trey take me anywhere especially in my drunken state.

  “Oh, thank God!” I said with a sigh of relief when they were standing just before us.

  Trey’s grip didn’t waver in the slightest as he stared at the guys before us. He was still behind me, so I couldn’t see him, however, I knew by his breathing that he was angry.

  “What’s going on here?” Brandon said darkly, glaring at Trey wickedly.

  “Not much, she wanted to come with me to my office. So, if y’all will excuse us . . .” Trey said as he began to walk again.

  Tommy immediately grasped my arm and held me in place. “Oh really? Why is she crying then? And why is she trying to pull away?”

  “None of your business! Need I remind you that this is my club?” Trey said with warning in his voice.

  “You’re trying to take advantage of a drunk and innocent girl. I know that at least half the men on your payrolls have daughters . . . I think they’ll help us before they help you,” Brandon said as he stepped up mere inches away from Trey’s face.

  Trey looked down to me and then back to Brandon. “I don’t know, they’ll probably just think that she’s a drunken whore.”

  “Get your hands off of her right now!” Tommy said, stepping up and grabbing Trey’s neck choking him. Trey’s hands were still firmly on my body though. “Need I remind you that I have been training just as long as Aiden has?” Tommy said with a terrifying death stare.

  After a minute of contemplation, Trey finally released my arm. When Trey released me, Tommy let go of him. Tom pulled me in-between him and Brandon with a snarl. Trey backed away slowly as Brandon wrapped an arm around my shoulders gently.

  “Do not ever touch her or any other innocent, unwilling girl again. I am watching you!” Tommy said in a threatening manner. He wrapped his arm around me as well, and they both practically carried me away.

  At that point, I was on the verge of a panic attack. I didn’t really even know why I was panicking. I mean, I had brought the whole situation upon myself. It had started with hurting Aiden and ending with drinking too much.

  I was such a screw-up.

  I couldn’t get rid of the thought of what Trey was going to do to me if B and T hadn’t come to my rescue. How could I have been so reckless?! It could have ended even worse than the night with Sunny had.

  As soon as the boys got the back door to the alleyway open, I shook them off of me and collapsed to the ground. I quickly began barfing all over the ground. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the thought of Sunny, or because of the drinks in my system. Truthfully, it was probably both.

  I felt my loose strands of hair being held back as I threw up until nothing else would come out. I was sobbing at that point. I was such an idiot.

  “Why did you have to get so drunk, Aubry?” Brandon sighed as he helped me lean up against him.

  I felt like shit, complete and total shit. I was such an idiot. I wanted those feelings gone. I just wanted to be gone.

  I voiced how I knew it was all of my fault, but B immediately shot that down. I tried to argue and explain how idiotic I was, but that time Tom piped up. He continued to tell me how sick Trey was. I definitely agreed with that. He was a sick bastard. I always knew he was a creep.

  “Did he touch you?” Tommy asked with his fists clenched.

  I told the truth. He really didn’t. It was really just a few inappropriate grazes, nothing more. He was waiting to get me alone into his office. I thought for sure I was going to be. I couldn’t even think of the word.

  Sunny suddenly popped back into my head.

  “I-It just rem . . . reminded me of, of . . .” I was trying to tell Brandon deliriously, but I felt the bile rise up my throat again. I began throwing up once again. That time, it was certainly because of Sunny.

  I heard Brandon finish my sentence for me, but I couldn’t say anything due my throwing up. Tommy asked who I was talking about, but B brushed the question off.

  It was crazy, I even had him lying to everyone for me. He was hiding stuff from everyone that he loves because of me. I was awful for him, for everyone.

  I was finally done throwing up, and I spiraled down into a deep state of depression.

  Why did I stay? Why had I let Brandon talk me into staying? Obviously, some force was trying to kill me off. I should have done everyone the favor. I didn’t want to be stuck into situations like that anymore.

  B gave me another pep talk, and I was just too drunk and drained to say much about it. After the fight, then drinking so much, then Trey, and then throwing everything up, I just had no energy. I was tired, and I felt like I was going to pass out at any moment. I just laid my head heavily on Tom’s shoulder.

  Tommy got me up and carried me away from the alley. We went the long way around the building to Brandon’s car. I was basically already asleep in Tom’s arms. We got to the car, he put me into the passenger seat gently and sighed.

  “Tommy . . . Thank you,” I whispered softly. “. . . for rescuing me, defending me, and everything. I don’t deserve you or B.”

  “Aub . . . My little one.” Tom sighed exasperatedly. “You . . . Goddammit Aub, stop! Stop doing that to yourself!” He practically sobbed. “Aubry, I love you. You’re like my little sister. Please remember that . . . I’ll always look out for you.”

  He stared at me as I let my eyes lull shut. “You have to fight through all of this BS, Aubry. You deserve happiness.”

  He kissed the top of my head softly and buckled my seatbelt. “I just hope dumbass Aiden comes to his senses quickly,” he muttered and closed the door for me. I was unconscious after a few seconds.

  ***

  Aiden

  “Trey,” Brandon spat out viciously, answering my question.

  My whole body went cold as I thought about that fucker. H-He, what? How the fuck? I mean anyone with eyes could see that he wanted Aubry, but what? I never thought that he’d ever pull that sort of BS.

  “He tried to lock her in his office and fucking rape her!” Brandon said with such disdain that I thought he was going to growl.

  “That stupid ass motherfucker!” I said through gritted teeth.

  Just because I was no longer with her, he thought that he could do whatever he wanted to her? Well, he had another damn thing coming to him!

  “I’m going to fucking kill him!” I stated and began to walk away.

  Brandon caught me by my shirt collar and rolled his eyes. “As much of a fan as I am of that plan, I need to remind you that Trey has dozens of bouncers, bodyguards, and fighters on his payroll. You kill him, and they’ll kill you, so that’s probably not the best thing to do . . .” Brandon said sounding rational.

  I didn’t want to be rational though! I wanted to kill that sick psycho! I shook his hand off of me and began walking back to the door.

  “Aiden . . .” Brandon warned with an eyebrow raised.

  “Brandon . . .” I copied. I put my hand on the door as I looked over at him. He wore an extremely worried expression. “Relax, man . . . I’m just going to talk to him,” I said casually.

  “Talk?” Brandon asked not convinced at all.

  I shrugged my shoulders and smirked. “Well . . . We’ll see where the night takes us,” I said as I swung the door open.

  “Aiden . . .” Brandon called.

  I looked at him expectantly.

  “Beat the shit out of him,” Brandon said darkly.

  I smirked and walked inside with one purpose—to beat the shit out of someone a.k.a. Trey.

  I found myself standing outside of his office door a few moments later. I breathed deeply as I tried to keep my composure. Brandon was right, I really cou
ldn’t kill him. However, he sure as hell was going to learn a lesson.

  I slammed the door open without knocking and marched inside. Trey’s eyes landed on me and went wide. He looked down at the line of coke that was sitting on his desk and snorted it quickly. My nose crinkled in disgust.

  “Ah Aiden, what a surprise!” He got up from behind the desk. “I wish I could stay and talk, but I was actually just leaving.”

  There was no one else in the room, just him and me. I narrowed my eyes at him and smirked. I closed the door to his office and locked it. He looked around nervously.

  “Aiden . . .” he said shakily.

  “Oh no, you’re not going anywhere . . .” I said quickly and walked forward.

  He backed up as I advanced on him. Just seeing his dumbass face made me want to strangle the life out of him. He eventually hit the wall and had nowhere else to go. There was no escaping me.

  “Is this what you were going to do to Aubry? Trap her in here and watch the fear in her eyes? Just like I’m doing to you right now?” I paused as his eyes got bigger.

  “What?!? No! I—” he started, but I cut him off when my hand clasped around his throat, strangling him.

  “Listen to me and listen good. If you hurt her ever again, I will kill you and all of your people. You do not touch her . . . ever.”

  Eventually, I had to let go. He fell to the ground as he coughed and sputtered while trying to catch his breath again. I just studied him with a scowl on my face.

  “So, what is it Aiden? You love her or you don’t?” he asked, after he finally got up off the ground. “I’m pretty sure you broke up, right? Why don’t you let the girl take care of herself? I mean, you already abandoned her. Aubry is a big girl who you let go, so why are you here, Aiden?” Trey sneered at me.

  I let out a low grunt and bared my teeth like an animal at him. “Just because we broke up, doesn’t mean that I’m going to let anyone mess with her. She was trying to get away from you! You were going to rape her!” I suddenly punched him in the face, making him collapse. “Don’t give me that BS! Trying to make me feel bad for protecting her? Screw you!” I quickly kicked him in the face.

  “I can make you never fight here ever again, so you better watch yourself,” he threatened.

  I stepped up to him and got in his face. “No Trey, you watch yourself. If you ever even look at her the wrong way ever again, it will be the last thing you ever do. You can take that as a warning, not a threat. Do I make myself clear?” I asked shortly.

  He didn’t answer me, so I grabbed his throat again. “I said do I make myself clear?” I spit out.

  He nodded slowly.

  “Good!” I stated and punched him several more times in his face.

  My knuckles were covered in his blood as I stared at his unconscious form. He deserved more than that, but I had to hold myself back from killing him. I wanted to though. I took a deep breath as I walked away, trying to convince myself not to do it.

  When I got to my truck, I just sat for a moment. I wanted to scream, yell, and cry all at the same time. Aubry was put in a bad situation that night because I wasn’t there to protect her. She could have been hurt. I couldn’t bear that thought.

  I wanted to protect her. I wanted to save her. I wanted to love her!

  But I couldn’t. My head was so messed up, and I just couldn’t. I wanted to, but I was too messed up. I screwed everything up.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Fight

  The week went by far too quickly. I was a complete and total wreck. My mind and my heart were torn in two different directions. I couldn’t fight her, but my mind was screaming at me that I should, I couldn’t though! I just couldn’t. My heart would never allow that. If I listened to my heart, my mind would continue to berate me. If I listened to my head, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

  Either way, I couldn’t fight her. I could never hit her and feel good about it. No matter how pissed off at her I was, even if my mind liked the idea of it, I couldn’t hurt her. I still loved her, and that just made my mind hate me even more.

  Besides that, I knew that she needed the money. She had people to pay off. I had no idea who, what, or why, but I knew that was why she started fighting in the first place. It was obviously some very bad people that she owed. I couldn’t fight her and be the one to sign her death certificate. I couldn’t let her die. I couldn’t fight her.

  I wanted to forgive her, I really and truly did. I just wanted her back home with me. However, I couldn’t. I honestly didn’t know why.

  Fear? Distrust? Anger? Hurt?

  All of the above.

  I was terrified to let her back in. I did not trust Aubry at all, I was pissed off at her, and I had never been so hurt in all my life. It was scary to know that one person held the key that will lead them to hurt me that much. I was so scared that she would hurt me once again. I was so confused.

  It was Saturday evening, and I was extra moody. Brandon definitely wasn’t helping, he kept asking me what I was going to do. I had absolutely no clue. I just knew that I couldn’t fight her.

  “Come on Aiden, it’s Aubry!” he reminded me for the hundredth time that it was her that I was supposed to fight.

  “Do you think I don’t fucking know that?!” I snapped.

  “Aiden, watch your language!” my mom chastised. “Know what?” She came into the living room and sat on the couch next to me.

  “Oh, ya know . . . Just the usual, Aiden is being extremely moody about Aubry. I was just reminding him that he loves her,” Brandon answered pointedly at me.

  “Ugh, I’m leaving,” I said shortly and stood up. My mother grabbed me by the back of my shirt and pulled me back down to the couch next to her.

  “Bri, Brandon. Could you give us a moment?” my mother asked politely.

  I rolled my eyes as I looked away from her in exasperation.

  “We need to get going anyways. Talk some sense into him, please Dana? We’ll see you later,” Brandon said as they walked out of the door.

  “Aiden, we need to talk,” my mother said calmly.

  “If this about Aubry then I have no interest in hearing it,” I grumbled.

  “Too bad. I’ve been waiting patiently for you to come and talk to me for what . . . over a month? I’m done waiting. Now you are going to listen to me,” she stated with authority.

  I sighed and rolled my eyes, annoyed.

  My mom raised an eyebrow at me and narrowed her eyes. “Do you have something to say?” she asked angrily.

  I immediately wiped the annoyed look off my face and sighed with a headshake. I knew that I didn’t want to anger my mom. My mom could be very scary when she wanted to be.

  “Aiden, I—” She took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes. “Why are you mad at Aubry still?” she asked calmly.

  I immediately scoffed at my mom, looking at her in confusion. “What do you mean why? Look around and see what she’s done. Look what she broke! She practically killed dad. Now . . . here you are acting like he didn’t mean anything to you!” I said with a raised voice.

  Mom looked at me heatedly and shook her head vigorously. “Aiden, watch your mouth and your tone on how you talk to me!”

  I exhaled sharply and pinched the bridge of my nose. She didn’t understand! No one did.

  “Aiden, your dad . . .” She sighed heavily. “Your dad had a lot of demons—drugs being his biggest one. He was an addict who lost his battle. Do you honestly think that he’d want you here hating Aubry for his mistakes?” she questioned softly.

  “Either way, she sold him his ‘demons.’ Either way, he died from her drugs. How many more people do you think died from the drugs that she sold? She made them available to him, Mom!” I said as I felt the hurt wash through me.

  “Aiden, I get that. I understand that selling drugs is illegal, but so is doing them. Aubry didn’t force your father to buy the heroin and inject a lethal dose. You’re putting all the blame on the wrong person.

&
nbsp; “I loved your dad with my whole heart, I still do. However, he chose this. He chose to leave this family and everything behind. He knew the risks, and yet he still did it. He knew the very real possibility of overdosing, and he still continued down the dangerous road.

  “Aiden, you need to accept your father’s responsibility in his own death. Your father chose drugs over his family. I know you don’t want to look at it like that, but it’s the truth. Yes, your dad died because of the drugs that Aubry sold him. But Aid, your dad did it to himself. It wasn’t Aubry.”

  She took a breath and looked me in the eyes. “There is not a day that goes by without me longing for your dad, but he chose this Aiden.”

  I sighed as tears welled up in my eyes due to hers. “I know Mom, I know.” I paused and tried to make sense of my thoughts. “But if you go down that route with dad, then you have to with Aubry too. She chose to sell those drugs!” I said with newfound anger.

  Mom sat silently and stared at me. “Aiden, when someone kills themselves with a gun, is the gun seller at fault?” she asked quietly but gave me no time to answer. “No, because that’s their own decision. The gun seller didn’t force them to do anything. Aubry didn’t force your dad to take drugs.”

  “The gun seller gets into trouble if they sell guns illegally,” I countered at her. My mind was trying to find a way to twist it into Aubry’s fault.

  However, I knew. I knew that my dad was the one at fault.

  “Aiden . . .” She sighed exasperatedly. “Yes, you’re right. But have you ever thought about why Aubry was selling drugs? I mean she was what, fifteen or sixteen years old? There was a reason, wouldn’t you think?”

  I began to answer, but she cut me off before I got a chance.

  “Aubry is absolutely one of the most reasonable and selfless people I know. Do you honestly think that she would sell drugs just for the hell of it? Or really . . . even just for the money, I can’t see Aubry doing that, and if you do, then maybe you never really knew her at all.”

  That last sentence cut deep. She was right. I knew that there had to be a reason behind her drug dealing. I just didn’t want to think about it or listen to her because of my anger and hurt. I was too selfish to understand . . . to listen. I screwed everything up.