by Marks, Teir
She wasn't sure what it was he was going for. If he was testing her skills or not, but she was too shocked to do much more than flinch in surprise, and honestly, she wasn't as experienced with knives as he seemed to be.
She turned her head to look at the knife that was embedded a mere centimeter away from her face.
Nyela turned her attention back to him, gritting her teeth. He could have cut her, though she was sure he wouldn't have thrown the knife at her if he wasn't sure that he wouldn't hit her.
Either way, regardless, she was not amused.
“What the hell, Synn?!” She exclaimed, balling her fist up. “Have you lost your mind?!”
“No.” Was his simple reply as he pushed off the desk and took steps towards her.
At that moment, Nyela found herself again, for the second time in less than two hours, with a hand around her throat. It was clear to her in that moment that this man had indeed lost his senses. She had just told him she was an assassin. And she was getting sick of these Amato men testing her patience.
She broke the hold he had around her neck and pushed him backward. Usually, the strength she put behind the action would have been enough to send an average person flying several feet away. Though she had known that Synn was a solid man, she had expected it to send him further than a few inches.
He swung out at her, and she ducked under it before bringing up her arm to block the next attack that seemed to have been coming her way. She could read him, and she realized that she had speed on her side.
She went to kick out at him, aiming for his side. However, that plan was quickly put to rest when he grabbed her ankle, blocking her.
He pulled her towards him, wrapping her leg around his waist as his other arm came to wrap around hers, steadying her. Nyela glared at him, but he simply leaned down and traced her bottom lip with his tongue.
“You're slow for an assassin...and predictable.” He told her with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes at him. “I was holding back. I could kill you if I wanted.” She responded, now smirking herself.
He leaned down and whispered against her lips. “Same, baby.” Before kissing her. “We'll talk later.” He informed her when he pulled away, and the look in those green eyes told Nyela that it would be an in-depth talk. She wasn't sure she was looking forward to it.
Kylen lay across his bed. His doll was straddling him. They had gotten back about half an hour ago from getting some of her belongings from her house. The two of them, along with Synn and Nyela, had gone together, and honestly, he had wanted to strangle the older woman the entire time.
Every time he looked at Sutton's shoulder, which Maleiha had treated and given her the appropriate amount of pain medicine for, he got pissed all over again.
He had been running his hands up and down her sides, and in his anger, he hadn't realized that he had begun to squeeze them. It was only when she gasped and leaned down to brush her lips across his softly, did he realize and release her.
“Are you okay?” She questioned him softly, and he raised a brow at her.
“I should be asking you that.”
“You have. Several times.”
She was right, but he couldn't help it. Honestly, it was a bit annoying caring this much for someone other than his siblings and parents. Hell, to be honest, he never really cared if his siblings were hurt. He knew that they could handle it.
However, he had resigned himself to the fact that it was what happened when you were in a relationship with someone you actually wanted to be with, for reasons other than just having sex.
Kylen was young. To most people, he was still a kid. Mainly because he couldn't legally buy liquor yet, but that didn't mean he didn't know that Sutton was it for him.
Of the several lessons his father had taught him, just like the rest of his siblings, he had been taught to know when he had found the right one. And just like with most other things you were just sure about; it didn't come with any restrictions. There wasn't a rule that said that just because he was young, he didn't know when he had found the right one.
It wasn't even hard for him to realize that it was Sutton. Admittedly, like with most people, it was the physical that had attracted him to her. However, the fact that she had him wanting to be gentle with her their first time together, and the fact that he had calmed down on his own when they'd had that stupid argument he instigated, were the indicators to him that she was indeed it.
No one on this earth could calm his psycho, that could get him to come back down and see reason. Not even his mother, though her attempts came close, simply because it placated him for the moment.
Kylen sat up with her still straddling him. His eyes drifted to her shoulder, and he got pissed all over again. His jaw twitched and be brought his blue eyes to her brown ones.
“I've decided I'm going to stab her.” He informed her, leaning against the headboard.
He watched as Sutton's eyes grew wide. “N-no. You can't stab her.”
“Yes, I can.” He responded, since he did indeed have the capacity and ability to stab her. Though he was sure, she was telling him not too. “Just once. I won't hit anything major, and I won't even go in too deep.” He paused for a moment. “Well, I won't hit anything major.”
“Ky.”
“Besides, Maleiha is here. She can patch her up before she bleeds out in the event that I do hit something vital.”
“Kylen!” Sutton yelled. Well, it was as close to yelling as he figured she would ever get. So, naturally, he was taken aback a little. More than that, however, he was turned on.
His hand went to the back of her neck and he molded his lips to hers. He knew that her shoulder was hurt, but he would let her ride him. That way, it wasn't being jarred into the mattress if he were on top.
That had been his plan, at least, but it seemed as if that was not going to be happening. A knock came at his door and then Grae's voice.
“Ry is ready. Come on.”
With a frustrated grunt, Kylen removed his lips from Sutton's as she slowly got off of him. He helped her off the bed, and the two of them made their way to the door and out of his bedroom. He hadn't been expecting to find his brother there when he opened the door, and he didn't.
He made his way downstairs and saw that everyone had made it back and was gathered in the foyer.
“Beauty, why don't you show the rest of the ladies the house,” Grae stated, and Kylen knew that he wanted them occupied while they tortured the man downstairs. It seemed that Maleiha understood his brother's intent as well.
“Okay, baby.” She responded and gestured for the rest of the ladies to follow her into the kitchen.
“I'm going to go with Synn,” Nyela stated, gesturing to his brother, and Kylen figured it would be the perfect opportunity to do something to her accidentally. He kissed the top of Sutton's head and turned, following his siblings down the hall, once the other women, minus Luna, who was in a guest room resting, headed into the kitchen.
Sutton messed with her fingers as she watched Maleiha move around the kitchen. From what she could tell, the other woman was making Mojitos. It was quiet between the four of them for the most part until she finished. Sutton watched as she placed the pitcher on a tray along with four glasses.
“I know Grae wanted me to give you all a tour of the house, but the backyard is beautiful at night.”
“We were just told people could be after us, and you want us to go outside at night...alone.” Sutton listened to Korrae question.
“Trust me,” Maleiha stated. “No one's coming on this street unnoticed. We'll be perfectly safe.”
Sutton slid off her barstool and began to head towards the doorway behind Maleiha and Larkin, who seemed far calmer than Sutton thought she would be for someone who had just learned that her girlfriend had people after them and as a result, she was in danger because of it.
“What if snipers are hiding out in one of the houses on the street or something?” Korrae questioned.
&
nbsp; Sutton bit the inside of her jaw. It was a valid question and a valid point, but as Maleiha chuckled, she felt that she didn't need to worry at all.
“The chances of a sniper being in any of the houses on this street are slim. The siblings own all of them, and their people live in them. On top of that, none of the windows in any of the houses on the same side of the road as this one, faces this house.” Sutton watched as Maleiha turned to look back at them. “The nearest place outside of those houses that a sniper could set up is about ten miles away.” She shrugged.
Sutton picked some invisible lint from her shirt. “N-Nye says that the furthest a person is likely to hit a target from with a sniper rifle is a mile and a half, and the furthest that a bullet from a rifle like that can travel is a little over four miles.” She told them softly. When she looked up, she found Maleiha smiling at her, and it made her feel a bit more at ease with these women she didn't know.
With that, they all began to leave the kitchen again, and she could hear Korrae behind her. Though she was sure, it was entirely begrudgingly.
When they made it outside, Sutton had to agree that Maleiha was right. It was beautiful. The lights around the pool and the rest of the yard were dim, but there were so many of them that the entire area was well lit. It was a contrast, really. The area felt cozy and inviting at the same time that it felt lively.
The four of them made their way over to one of the tables and sat down. Maleiha poured them all drinks, and Sutton watched her sit back in her seat as she took a sip.
“So, Sutton. Kylen, huh? My apologies.” She told her before giving her that warm smile that Sutton was becoming to associate with her, and she couldn't help but laugh.
“H-he isn't that bad.” She defended, playing with her glass.
“He's the worst. The little demon.” Maleiha responded with a chuckle. “But I suppose he does have some good qualities. I mean...I've never seen them, but they must be there if you're willing to put up with him.” She finished with a wink, and Sutton smiled at her.
“He's...different when he's with me. Not as…” She trailed off, looking for the right word.
“Psychotic.” Maleiha supplied for her.
Sutton found herself nodding. “Yes.”
“I get it,” Maleiha told her with a shrug. “Grae's the same way. Though he isn't always in Hannibal Lecter mode like Kylen.”
Sutton took a sip of her drink as she watched Maleiha turn her attention to Larkin.
“What about you, Larkin? Emery isn't much better than Kylen.”
Sutton glanced at Larkin as the other woman shrugged before answering. “I haven't seen it really. I mean, unless you count her making a bitch out of a guy I was casually hanging out with, and then pulling a gun on him.”
“I count it,” Maleiha told her with a nod, and the three of them shared a small laugh.
“How are the three of you okay with this?” Korrae then questioned, and Sutton turned her attention to her as did the other two women. “I mean, they could be into who only knows what. There's no telling what they've done for these people to be after them and now us and you're all laughing like we're having breakfast at Tiffany's. None of you should be this calm about this. Our very lives are in danger because of them.”
Sutton bit her bottom lip as she grew a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't the fact that what Korrae had said scared her or brought about some revelation she hadn't yet had. It was simply she didn't do well with new people, people in general who had that tone. The other woman was angry, hurt, and borderline hysterical.
It wasn't a combination that Sutton wanted to have to deal with. It brought several of her insecurities to the forefront.
Maleiha must have sensed her mood change because the other woman placed her hand on Sutton's knee and squeezed it gently. When Sutton turned her attention to her, she found that she was staring at Korrae with a contemplative look.
Maleiha gently squeezed Sutton's knee. She could tell immediately that Korrae had made the other woman uncomfortable. She wasn't quite sure why, but she knew that Sutton was a shy, fragile little thing, and as bad as it sounded, she handled her the way she would handle a frightened child that came into the ER. Just not as if she was a child.
While Korrae had gone on her small rant, Maleiha had wanted to tell her that she knew what they were into, and because of that, she knew that there might not have been a particular reason that someone was out to get them. However, she knew that the siblings were not people you wanted to cross on a good day. So, whoever had decided to attempt this endeavor was begging to be hurt.
She wasn't aware of exactly what Grae had done to Adam after he'd attack her, but she knew he was dead. Some part of her felt bad, but another part figured he got what was coming to him since he had been warned. Twice.
Maleiha shook herself mentally. She was starting to believe that crazy was contagious.
However, that was far from the point she needed to make to Korrae. Simply thinking, there was no telling what would happen to people that actually tried to kidnap any of them. It wouldn't be pretty.
Though she could completely understand where Korrae was coming from. Her introduction to Grae's lifestyle was much of the same way as the rest of the women had been introduced. The only difference at the moment was that she'd had time to come to terms with it. She also cared about Grae, and she couldn't see herself with anyone else. Even when he got on her nerves.
“Korrae, calm down,” Maleiha told her. Korrae opened her mouth to say something, but Maleiha continued. She figured the less she allowed the other woman to say, and the more she forced her to listen, she may be able to get her point across.
“I get it. You're scared. I was too when I first found out about Grae and his siblings. And it wasn't unlike what happened tonight. He'd been shot. I'd stayed the night before. So, I was here when they brought him home, and they kept telling me he couldn't go to the hospital.” She paused for a moment. “These emotions that you're feeling. They were the same ones I felt when I pulled a bullet from his shoulder and patched him up. The same ones I felt when I crawled into bed with him after the fact to make sure he was okay.”
Maleiha let go of Sutton's knee, feeling that she had calmed down some. Placing both of her elbows on the table, she laced her fingers together, resting her chin on her hands.
“You're terrified for him, for what he does, but you're also terrified for yourself, because you realize that it's harder to think about walking out, about leaving him than it is to accept him and what he does. That's what truly frightens you, and I get it. I was there. Whenever they go work, I'm taken back to that place. However, I have to trust that Grae's going to be careful. I also have to trust that he wouldn't intentionally put me in danger.”
Maleiha cocked her head and studied Korrae for a moment as the other woman seemed to be having some internal debate.
“He cares about you and would never do anything to put you in danger, but would go to the ends of the earth to keep you safe and happy. A wise man once told me that. It made me realize that it was exactly what Grae would do. Ashton will do the same, and Emery.” Maleiha stated, turning her attention to Larkin briefly in case she had any doubts. She was assuming Sutton was all good. “The fact of the matter is that these siblings have staked their claim on us, and come hell or high water, they're going to do what they can to keep us safe, be there for us, and make us happy.”
She sat back in her chair, picking up her glass. “You can try to fight it all you want, but once they grab hold, they don't let go. Honestly, though, aside from the now and then crazy and what their line of work is, which up until now Grae has been able to keep away from me, who would want them too?” She finished with a shrug.
Maleiha took a sip of her drink, hoping that she had given the other woman enough advice to, hopefully, help her work through her indecision and figure out what she wanted. For Korrae's sake, she hoped that it would be accepting and staying with Ashton. Though she was sure he was by far less crazy t
han his other siblings, she was sure he still had it in him. And if need be, she knew that he would go to whatever lengths necessary to keep her.
Maleiha looked up at the night sky well aware that a few of the siblings' men were stationed throughout the backyard out of sight, and wondering just how long they were going to torture the man in the basement. It was going on eleven, and she was tired. She really had developed a hard time sleeping without Grae.
Sighing to herself, she turned her attention back to the women at the table and decided that all of them, Nyela and Luna included, because she was sure the latter would be staying in the house as well, needed some bonding time. She knew it would be another way to serve to make Korrae as comfortable as possible about the situation. As well as Larkin, though she didn't seem to be taking it as hard as the formerly mentioned woman.
Maleiha began mentally brainstorming things that they could do.
3
Emery listened as the man in the chair screamed out in pain. Henry was his name. They'd found his identification in his wallet, and it made her wonder how stupid he could have been to carry around anything that could identify him, even if there was the possibility that it could be fake. It was still dumb of him to do when he was essentially out that night to kidnap someone.
There were several questions that they needed to ask him, but as she watched her little brother slowly saw his fingers off with the dullest knife he could find, she was sure that they might not make it around to it.
She got that he was mad that the man and his associates had tried to kidnap Sutton, and Kylen was more than pissed. Emery knew she would feel the same way in his position. She knew that her brother's anger was also fueled by the fact that she had been shot.
So, like her older brothers seemed to be doing at the moment, she allowed the youngest Amato sibling to take his anger out.
