Page 17 of Chaos
I can’t remember the last time I let myself indulge in food. Food and I never had an unhealthy relationship, until Evan. He made food an enemy to me. Since letting him go, I have been trying to enjoy the things I loved before. It will take time, but I am glad to be on the journey.
After breakfast, I sit down on the couch in the living room. I know I should be in school today, but it’s the last thing I want to do today. Facing everyone after what happened is something I want to avoid for as long as possible. It’s not that I am ashamed of what happened to me, but the stares and questions that will follow make my skin crawl. Mom called me out for the foreseeable future, at least two days, but said I could stay out longer if needed. I’m not sure how long I want to stay at home, but I will have to take the step eventually.
I can hear Mom on the phone with someone from her office. She doesn’t give them any details. Only saying that she will be taking a few days off to be home for me to help me get through some things.
I switch the TV on, turning it on to a random channel. An old re-run of a show my mom used to love to watch is on. We used to sit and watch this together while I was growing up. I grab the blanket from the back of the couch, cocoon myself in it, and enjoy the joyful memories this show brings.
The doorbell rings, jolting me awake. I hadn’t even realized that I dozed off at some point today, but the bit of sleep has helped me feel a little less like a zombie.
Mom rushes from the kitchen and answers the door as I wipe the sleep from my eyes. Leaning back, I try to get a better look at the three looming figures who stand outside.
My skin starts to crawl as Zane, Ryker, and Axel stand at our front door. Mom tries to tell them to come by later, but they are persistent and push past her. Mom stumbles out of the way as they enter like they own the place.
They each take me in as I sit on the couch, still wearing the same sweats from yesterday and wrapped in a blanket. I don’t bother greeting them or even saying anything to them.
They each give me a weird, predatory smile before Axel and Ryker lead Mom into the kitchen, talking to her. Mom looks over her shoulder at Zane as he sits on the couch far too close to me. I give her a reassuring smile. Letting her know I can manage this. At least I hope I can.
I sit up straighter, moving as far to the side of the couch as I can, wanting any distance between the two of us. Zane lets out a low chuckle before scooching closer to me. His thigh is against mine. I can feel the warmth from his body, but all it does is chill me to the bone.
“How are you feeling?” His words are sickly sweet, as if he cares about what happened to me.
But I know that’s not the case. Ok, maybe it could be, but all I can think about when he is near is that room at the clubhouse and the way they were touching and kissing me. I still haven’t told the guys the full story behind that. They deserve to know, but once they do, chaos will rain down on their dads. Midas, Odin, and Zeus all hate their fathers, but I feel like this tidbit of information would send them over an edge that they would never be able to climb up from.
“A little sore, but I am alright.” Trying to keep things light and not wanting to delve deeper into what happened. The less information this man has on me, the better.
Zane lightly glides his fingers up my arm until they stop right over the bullet wound. I try to keep my face neutral, not wanting my discomfort to show, but his hand wraps around my bicep and squeezes the wound. A small yelp leaves my lips against my will.
Sick satisfaction brightens his face as he stares into my eyes.
He leans close. His lips against my ear, and the faint smell of cigarettes takes over my senses. “I hate seeing you hurt, little one. Not unless it is done by my hand.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Praying that he would move. He doesn’t, and I just waited for his next move. He chuckles in my ear. “You are such a good girl. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut. It’s a skill most don’t know anymore. You would be the perfect little toy to play with.” His tongue licks up the side of my face, causing unstoppable tremors in my body. “I can’t wait.”
With those threatening words, he finally lets go of my arm, which is now throbbing with pain, and walks into the kitchen.
I haven’t ruled Zane, Ryker, or Axel out as my creepy stalker, and after the weird encounter, it’s starting to seem more like them. Plus, he called me little one. My stalker has called me by that name more than once.
The more time I spend around them, the more I am starting to be more certain it’s them.
But the man who attacked me didn’t sound anything like them. Or maybe in my panic, I didn’t hear the voice properly. Honestly, I don’t feel like I could identify the man if I were in the same room as him. My mind is just so jumbled, and I don’t feel like I can fully trust my memory from that night.
I hate not having answers.
Thirty minutes later, they all walked back into the living room. Mom is standing far away from them, her arms crossed over her chest. She doesn’t look pleased by their visit. On the other hand, Zane, Ryker, and Axel look like they are having one of the best days of their lives.Weirdos.
“Just let us know if there is anything we can do. You know you can always count on us.” Zane says to my mom with so much sympathy in his voice. Mom doesn’t respond as their footsteps get closer to me. “Same goes for you, Serena. If you need anything, just let us know.” Zane's hand lands on my sore arm again.
He is trying to send a message to me, and I am reading it loud and clear. I try to hide the grimace on my face, but a full wave of pain wracks through my body.
“Thank you,” I say quietly back.
He gives me a smile that once again reminds me of the night I was in that room with them at the clubhouse. More memories that I would love to vanish from my mind but never will leave. I try to stay still, not wanting him to know that I am thinking of that night.
I still feel disgusted from that night. Their phantom hands still can be felt on me at times, and especially now I feel them. I didn’t ask for what happened to me, but a nagging voice in my mind blames me for it. If I had done something different, they wouldn’t have touched me. Kissed me.
I will always be grateful to the guys that night. The Kings were there for me that night in a way I didn’t know I needed. The guys were able to erase the lingering feelings of their hands, lips, and bodies from mine. They made it feel like it never happened. I felt so safe with them that night.
That was the night that I decided I wanted them. I wanted to make something work with them. The next day wasn’t the best, but they proved to me again that I could count on them to protect me.
