Thirty-Six
“I gave chase, caught up with one of them. We fought a little and I tried to get his fucking balaclava off him, but the other guy appeared out of nowhere, hitting me over the head with something. I lost my balance for just a second, but it was enough for them to run off. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry… I failed. You gave me one job and I failed.”
I watch as the prospect lets his guilt show. I shake my head. It’s not his fault, I know that. I also know that he was tasked with cleaning the basement this afternoon, I’m fucking lucky he arrived here when he did.
“We tried to get her to wait for Maria at the Café.” I turn to Gears as he steps forward, taking up the space next to the prospect. “She rushed out the door before we had a chance to stop her. By the time we followed her out, she was gone. We rounded the corner on her street just as the prospect was yanking one of them away from her.” He turns to face me. “Your girl fought hard brother, when we rounded that corner, she was giving as good as she got. We yelled and the other fucker ran off. We went to your girl before Tongue gave chase.”
The room falls into silence. I swallow a lump in my throat and then step forward and hold out my hand. The prospect looksat it and then looks at my face. I nod and he grabs it. I pull him forward grabbing his face.
“Thank you. You did good kid.”
Forty minutes later the girls come out of the bathroom. Maria looks relieved and gives me a reassuring smile. I turn to see Marissa, her hair wet, I’m guessing she had a shower when they were in there. She looks around the room before her gaze settles on me.
Needing to feel her I take two long strides pulling her into my arms. I bury my face in her hair and sniff, the smell of coconut invading my senses. I feel her body relax as I hold her tighter, and her arms wrap around me.
“I’m ok,” she says in a barely audible whisper. “Thank you for coming to check on me.”
I pull back and look at her, holding her at arm’s length.
“We’re gonna get the fuckers that did this. I promise.”
She tries to pull away from me, but I hold her tighter. We stare at each other for several seconds, her eyes flicking back and forth between mine and then she nods and leans back into me. I pull her into my side as I walk her over to the sofa, sitting her down and taking a seat next to her, so close she’s practically in my lap.
Tongue reaches out placing his hand on her leg and I let out a feral growl like sound. He stares at me, showing no emotion. But my feelings are written all over my face. I’ll fucking cut off his hand if he doesn’t fucking remove it. Nitro laughs and I turn to glare at him. He tightens his lips trying to stop himself laughing. Prick.
I watch as Tongue moves his hand from her leg to her hand, she turns hers over letting him hold it. I should be pissed. Hell, I think I am, but she seems to take comfort from him being here and I won’t deny her of that.
“Hey baby. Can you tell my brothers and I what happened?”
She looks up at me and I pull her into me, resting my hand on the top of her head holding her in place. She inhales a heavy breath before blowing it out.
“I felt like I was being followed, and it wasn’t the same as when the prospect follows me.” She closes her eyes and for a minute, I think it’s just too much for her. But then she begins to speak, and I realise she’s reminding herself of the events that happened.
Her eyes spring open as the prospect suddenly appears in front of her with a glass of water. I take it from him, holding it to her lips. She tries to grab it but I tap her hand away forcing her to drink as I tip the glass just a little so she can get a small sip.
“They came out of nowhere,” she continues. “They never said anything to me, one grabbed me from behind, but I fought getting out of his grip and then the other slammed me against the wall. It escalated from there, he hit me, I hit him back. The other guy tried to grab me, but I kicked him in the dick, and he crumpled to the ground.”
We all groan, even the thought of being kicked there brings tears to my eyes. I hear Maria giggle; I chance a quick glance at her but then look down at my girl to see a faint smile.
Fucking amazing. I place a kiss on the top of her forehead waiting for her to continue.
“One of them pulled a knife on me…”
“What?” My heart races and I sit up shifting her causing her to wince in pain. “I’m sorry, Firecracker. They pulled a knife out on you?” I ask, gently moving her back down, making sure she rests against me.
She nods. “Yeah.”
I let her take her another sip of water, giving her a minute to pull herself together.
“I’m pretty sure that I’d be dead right now if it wasn’t for Prospect.” She looks at him for several seconds before he finallylifts his head to look at her. “Thank you,” she whispers before she crashes and her eyes close.
Panic sets in as her body leans into mine. I shift to move her, but I hear Maria, “I gave the Prospect something to slip in her water.” I turn to face her ready to rip her a new one, but Nitro places his hand on my arm as he watches Maria.
“Gave him what?” he asks.
She smiles, grabbing her things and moving toward the door, Tongue following close behind her.
“She needs rest. Right now, her mind and body are on overdrive, I gave her something to shut that off just for a couple of hours.” She stops and faces me. “She’s going to be a little sore and have a few bruises, but she’s going to be fine, Wrath. I promise. She just needs a little rest.”
