Aiden (A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  Jaxon smirks, walking over to his brothers, who are sitting at the bar, drinks in hands.

  Once it’s all calmed down, I quickly take a gulp of my drink, the cool liquid soothing and cooling down my heated body. Placing the drink down, I wipe my hands down my trousers before clearing my throat. “I’m just going to use the loo.”

  “You want me to show you where it is?” Aiden asks me, scanning my face.

  “I’ll show her,” Charlotte pipes up happily.

  How can she not be affected by what just took place? They were about to get into a fight—and I have no doubt it would have been bloody and messy.

  “Thank you,” I tell her, standing up after she does. I glance back at Aiden. “Won’t be long.”

  “All right. Don’t take ages—it will be Landon coming in to search for you.”

  I study his face, reading he’s serious. I widen my eyes and I quickly look to Landon, who is still watching the men from before.

  “Okay.”

  I let Charlotte lead me to the bathroom. “They’re not always like this,” Charlotte says. “And don’t mind the Hayes brothers; they’re harmless really. The guys don’t like them because they don’t want to admit they have anything in common with them. And the fights never get too out of hand.”

  “They seemed to hate each other,” I comment.

  She grins as she pushes the toilet door open and shrugs. “None of the Hayes brothers have really done anything to us. And the reason Maddox hates Jaxon is because he helped Lily out at school. Some girls cornered her after school one day,” she tells me, hitting a nerve inside me.

  Poor Lily. I know how much that must have scared her.

  “Was she okay?” I ask, stopping at the sinks.

  “Lily doesn’t like people touching her by surprise, so when one of them pulled her arm, she reacted badly. He heard her screaming and came running. He brought her home and Maddox was there. He thought Jaxon had done something to upset her.”

  “Didn’t Lily explain?”

  She shakes her head at me, amused. “Have you met the guys in our family? They hit first and ask questions later. He knows; he just doesn’t care.”

  “At least she has people that care,” I murmur. How nice that would have been. My mum and dad were stuck in a corner when it came to my bullying. It wasn’t like they could do anything without getting in trouble themselves. And my brother was far too young to even understand what was happening to me at school.

  “Didn’t you need the toilet?” she asks.

  “Yeah.”

  I do my business before washing my hands, ignoring the questioning stare aimed at the side of my face. I don’t like talking about my past. Aiden was the first I dared speak to about it.

  When we step outside, Landon is standing across the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest. He rolls his eyes when he sees Charlotte’s happy face.

  “I swear you take forever when you go to the loo,” he says.

  I hide my smile as I step past them, hearing her answer. “I didn’t use the toilet; Bailey did.”

  “So why did you go?” he asks, sounding baffled.

  “Um, girls go in pairs.”

  I chuckle under my breath, walking into the bar area. The first thing I see is the table filled with the Hayes brothers. Their attention turns to me, making me blush, so I look away.

  I’m just nearing our table when I come to a sudden stop.

  My nightmare is standing in front of me.

  Liam looks uncomfortable as he tries to pry Eva off his lap. Eva, the girl who kicked me repeatedly in the back, who would spit in my dinner and push me into my locker.

  I feel the blood drain from my face as Naomi leans against a post nearby, running her finger up and down Maddox’s chest.

  I close my eyes as the pain of my past strikes, trying to take a breath that won’t come. I can feel their fists pounding against my skin, my hair being ripped from my scalp, the spit on my face.

  I open my eyes, and my entire body tenses when they land on the ringleader, Marie. She’s sitting on the table, her bare legs swinging in front of Aiden.

  My mind knows he’s trying to ignore her—I can see it in the way he doesn’t pay her attention, instead talking to Beau and Faith—but all I can see is my worst enemy, the girl who killed my family, who ruined my childhood.

  And she’s talking to Aiden.

  He smiles at something she says before glancing back at his sister.

  Someone bumps into me, and I’m too stunned—too petrified—to make a move or sound. So much so that when I do speak, it comes out as barely a whisper.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Another shove sends me into a hard body. “Hey, watch it, bitch.”

  A whimper escapes my lips at the hardness in his tone, but when warm arms gently pry me closer to them, I look up.

  Jaxon.

  His gaze is narrowed on the person who bumped into me, sending a shiver down my spine.

  Slowly, I turn to look, scared we’ve gained the attention of the girls I’ve been trying to avoid my whole life. But my eyes land on Amy, the last girl in their group who bullied me.

  Her lips curl up in a snarl, and I try to take a breath, but my chest won’t expand.

  “Well, look who it fucking is,” Amy snarls, before a cruel smile lights up her face. “Yo, Marie, look who I found.”

  Marie looks in our direction, and I step further into Jaxon, seeking his warmth.

  “Get your fucking hands off Bailey,” Aiden snarls, pushing past Marie and storming over to me.

  “You know Bailey?” Marie asks, the shock and disgust evident in her tone. The pub quietens as people start watching the commotion.

  “Get your hands off her,” Aiden snarls again.

  He reaches for me, but I whimper, glancing over his shoulder at Marie, who steps forward. She’d be pretty if she didn’t act or dress so trashy and slutty. Her bleached-blonde hair needs a break from all the chemicals, and her clothes look like they were made to fit a child. Today, she’s wearing a white halter top that stops at her midriff and a short denim skirt with a silver rhino-studded, white belt. Her jewellery stands out, the gold flashing in the lights. She’s covered in it; necklaces, bangles, and rings. I always wondered why she dressed like this outside of school, because at school functions, she dressed conservatively in pretty flowered dresses.

  I guess her parents didn’t want their daughter to bring shame to their name. There’s a bitter taste in my mouth as I think of all the money they must have spent to keep her and her friends out of trouble.

  “What’s wrong?” Aiden asks, his forehead creasing.

  “Don’t speak to her. She can’t hear you,” Marie tells him, before cackling like she told the funniest joke.

  I step even closer to Jaxon, his one hand sliding to my hip and squeezing. I welcome it. It lets me know this isn’t a nightmare, that it’s real.

  “Bailey?”

  “Why are you bothering with the deaf bitch?” Marie asks.

  He glares at her. “Shut the fuck up! Never talk about her like that again.”

  “Are you with her?” she asks, disgust in her tone.

  “Yes!” he snaps, before turning back to Jaxon. “Let her go—now.”

  “No. I don’t think she wants me to. And that bitch is probably the reason,” Jaxon snaps back.

  Aiden looks confused as he glances at Marie, then back to me. “You know each other?”

  Marie places her hand on his arm and I gulp, a lump forming in my throat. He shrugs her off, and her pissed off expression aims my way.

  “You silly fucking cow. What have you been saying about me?” She steps forward, her arm raised, palm flat, ready to slap me. I close my eyes, waiting for the pain, but Jaxon tugs me behind him.

  My eyes snap open when Marie cries out. “Let me go!”

  My knees knock together when I see Aiden’s arms around her, touching her. Even restraining her, she’s getting more of him than I ever have.

>   Tears run freely down my cheeks, watching silently as his jaw clenches.

  “Never raise a hand to her,” he growls, before turning back to me. “Bailey, tell me what’s wrong.”

  Finding my voice, I ask, “You know her? Are you friends?”

  Marie laughs cattily from his side, her eyes raking seductively down his body. She licks her lips before her eyes narrow into slits. “Oh, we’re more than friends, honey. Isn’t that right, lover?”

  My heart sinks, my breath freezing in my chest as my entire soul is consumed in pain like I’ve never felt before. Looking into her eyes, I can see the truth there—and the guilt in Aiden’s.

  “No!” I whisper, gasping for air.

  He would be with her, someone so evil and cruel, but not give me the time of day?

  I knew he wasn’t a saint—he made that clear during our many conversations—but I never expected one of the women of his past to be someone like Marie. Never someone like her.

  “It was before I met you,” Aiden explains, still looking confused. “How do you know each other?”

  “We’re old friends, isn’t that right, Scaly Bailey,” Amy says, giggling. She’s probably enjoying this—my discomfort over her using the nickname they called me when I was going through my acne stage.

  Aiden looks to Marie, then to each of the other girls, his eyes rounding. “Holy fuck,” he breathes out, dropping her like she’d burned him before turning to me. “I didn’t know.”

  “That they made my life hell, killed my family, made me deaf! How could you not see it in them, Aiden? How could you not see how twisted and wrong they are?” I ask in a shrill voice, finding the courage to say the words I’ve never said out loud in front of people. And I’ve certainly never said anything to them, afraid it would anger them more.

  “You lying bitch,” Amy screeches, reaching for me.

  I scream, feeling nails dig into my arm, but before she can do any damage, Jaxon lifts me up and carries me through the bar.

  “Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he says, and I realise I’m sobbing into his shoulder.

  “Bailey!” Aiden roars.

  “Aiden, let the cry-baby go. She’s lying. Come on, we can go back to your place,” Marie says sweetly, before her voice is drowned out by the whispering of others.

  “Maddox, keep that fucking bitch away from me.”

  Cold air hits me in the face when we make it outside. “Come on; I’ll take you home.”

  “I can get a taxi,” I whisper, my knees wobbling when he places me on the ground. He reaches out, steadying me.

  “You shouldn’t—”

  “Bailey,” Aiden cries out, running out of the bar. “I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t.”

  Jaxon scoffs. “You’ve seen those bitches in action for years. They bully anyone and everyone who walks into the bar. Don’t act fucking surprised that they’d do something like this.”

  “Stay the fuck out of it,” Aiden snaps at him, before turning back to me. He reaches for me, and I pull back, stepping out of reach.

  “Don’t touch me!” I scream, angry at him and myself. Angry I thought things could change. That I could have something good in my life again.

  But he’s just like him.

  Was he using me to get one of them into bed?

  My past comes back to haunt me and I try to catch my breath, to breathe through the pain in my chest.

  “Bailey, please, talk to me,” he begs, taking another step forward.

  Jaxon places his hand on Aiden’s chest, pushing him back. “She doesn’t want you near her.”

  Aiden turns his angry glare at Jaxon. “And who the fuck are you to tell me what she wants? You don’t even know her, Jaxon.”

  “I know she doesn’t want you talking to her.”

  “Bailey, please.”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry,” I tell him, not able to look his way.

  When he goes to take another step towards me, Jaxon pushes him again. Aiden makes a sound deep in his chest, before punching Jaxon. I bite my lips to keep in the scream threatening to escape. Instead, I whimper, goose bumps rising on my skin.

  Marie and her friends come out of the bar, taking in the chaos before them. They take one look at me and snarl. A cold shiver runs up my spine and I look away, hoping they’ll disappear.

  Jaxon throws Aiden into the side of a car, but Aiden doesn’t even blink. He gets back up and shoves him back. “Fuck off, Jaxon,” he growls, punching him in the stomach.

  “This is your fault. You’re gonna pay, you silly fucking slag,” Marie shouts. Maddox blocks their way, saying something to them I can’t hear. Her face turns pale, but there’s a look in her eyes that promises retribution when she glances around him and directly at me.

  Aiden throws Jaxon to the floor and steps over him, wiping blood off his lip as he moves towards me. Blinking back tears, I take two steps back, and I keep going before I turn to run home.

  The last thing I see is Jaxon grabbing Aiden’s ankle, tripping him to the ground.

  *** *** ***

  I’m sweating and panting by the time I make it back home, letting myself in like the devil is chasing me. I slam the door shut behind me, gasping for air.

  “Bailey? Is that you? You’re back early,” Gran says as she steps out of the living room.

  Seeing her, seeing my comfort, I break, a sob tearing from my throat as my knees buckle beneath me. I land on the floor with a thud, the hardwood floor bruising my skin.

  “Bailey,” Gran screams, kneeling in front of me. “What’s happened? Abel! Abel!”

  My granddad’s footsteps stomp down the stairs. “Bailey, what on earth?”

  I keep on sobbing into my hands but let Gran pull me into her arms.

  “Darlin’, you need to tell us what happened. Did he hurt you?”

  I look up through watery eyes, shaking my head. “H-he—h-he knows them. He’s slept with her.”

  “With who, Bailey? You aren’t making sense.”

  “The girls at school,” I get out, hiccupping. “He slept with Marie.”

  “The ring leader?” Gran asks, looking to Granddad for answers. He shrugs.

  “What does Aiden have to do with them?”

  “I think they were an item. She was there tonight.”

  “Did she touch you?” Gran asks, sounding angry. “Abel, call the police.”

  “No!” I yell. “Don’t. She just said some nasty stuff.”

  I wipe at my eyes, angry with myself for being so upset.

  “And he slept with Marie? He doesn’t seem like the kind of boy to sleep with a girl like that.”

  I laugh bitterly. “I got back from the loo to see her flirting with him. And they both admitted it. How could he be with someone like that, Gran? How?”

  I start crying all over again, the pain in my chest becoming too much. Her warm hand rubs my back.

  “If he doesn’t know what a good thing he has with you, then he isn’t worth it.”

  “He wouldn’t even kiss me, but he’s slept with her. What’s wrong with me, Gran? What’s so horribly wrong with me that the first boy I go out with used me for a dare he agreed to so he could sleep with Amy? He slept with me, took my virginity, and then told the whole school as he showed them pictures of me. Then Aiden won’t even kiss me, but h-he—h-he sleeps with her. What do they have that I don’t? What is wrong with me?” I cry out, feeling more tears come as I drop my head onto Gran’s shoulder.

  “There’s nothing wrong with you,” she whispers, sounding choked up.

  “Nothing at all, my darlin’ girl. You’re a beautiful soul. I’m sure that whatever happened tonight, it was a misunderstanding,” Granddad tells me.

  I clutch Gran’s shirt. “I’m repulsive. I must have done something in my past life that was terribly wrong because I’ve not done anything that deserves the luck I’ve had in this one. Nothing at all.”

  “Oh, baby,” Gran soothes, holding me tighter.

  Banging starts up on the
door and I startle, moving away from Gran. With wide eyes, I turn to her. “I don’t want to see him. If it’s him—I just can’t.”

  “Go up to your room. Me and Granddad will sort this out.”

  I give her a quick hug, my chest tightening when I hear Aiden calling my name through the door. I get up from the floor and rush over to the stairs. When I hear my name once more, I reach up and pull the hearing aid from my ear, welcoming the silence.

  I know if I hear his pleas, I’ll cave and go to him.

  And for once, I need to be stronger.

  To ignore the pull between us and think of me. Even if it feels like my heart is dying in the process.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  AIDEN

  I slam the plate down on the hot plate harder than I intended to. “Order up,” I yell, still feeling grouchy from lack of sleep.

  I rub tiredly at my face, glancing at the clock once more before untying my apron. Finally, my day has come to end. With so much on my mind, time has moved slowly.

  Not seeing Bailey for the past two weeks has been the cause of it. I miss her. For the short amount of time that I’ve known her, she’s become a huge part of my life.

  I’ve called and text multiple times a day, and even tried to see her. Her grandparents won’t let me step even a foot on their front porch. Every time I try to see her, they’re out the door and warning me away beforehand.

  I even sunk as low as to ask Maddox for help. I wrote her a note—like a thirteen-year-old kid—and asked him to pass it on. He didn’t get to see her but handed her gran the note anyway.

  That night, two weeks ago, I really saw myself for the first time. I knew long before I found out Bailey’s story and who was responsible for her pain that Marie and her posse were bad news. Any time women tried to talk to us, or if we tried to chat up another woman, they would interfere. Drinks would be spilled over them or they’d leave the bar after going to the toilet.

  Now I know why.

  Marie was a mistake. A big one. Had I been coherent or sober, I would never have touched her, and I’ve never been picky with who I’ve slept with.

  The pickings that night must have been zilch, because I don’t even remember going home with her. The second I opened my eyes the next morning, she was lying there, smudged makeup down her face, hair a bird’s nest, and drooling as she snored. It was just as unattractive as she is on a normal day.