The Beast

The Beast (27)

"Adrian, I'm sorry-" Brent started hesitantly, only to be cut off by a glare from a beyond livid Adrian. His arms tightened around me and he tucked me further into his hard chest in a way that shielded me from Brent's wide warm brown eyes. I suppressed a shiver when I felt more than heard a low, terrifying growl spill out of Adrian's lips.

I peeked through Adrian's caging arms, not being able to help but worry about Brent. Adrian was obviously angry at him, and when Adrian gets mad, he gets absolutely scary. Who knows if Adrian would suddenly lash out?

Brent, though pale, looked at least a little composed and I couldn't help but wonder how many times he had to go through this. Adrian wasn't really known for being a happy and patient man and since Brent was his brother, it's pretty understandable that he had to have seen Adrian at his worst. If not once, then countless of times.

"Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on dad?" Adrian whispered, sounding eerily calm, making Brent and I blink in surprise. I lifted my gaze to his face only to find him staring down at me with those dark blue eyes of his that always managed to make me blush like a little schoolgirl who just had her first crush. But I kind of was.

Reluctantly, may I say, he tore his gaze from mine to stare straight at Brent, waiting impatiently for an answer. He visibly swallowed, and I immediately clung onto Adrian's shirt tighter, earning his full attention. Something deep within me just wanted to at least try to make him calm down. I didn't like to see him mad, especially when that anger was because of me. But he ignored my pleading gaze, turning to Brent yet again.

"Y-yeah, you did." Brent's voice faltered at the end, his eyes darting around to look at anything and everything besides Adrian. Somehow, I observed that this only made Adrian more frustrated at his brother as his blue eyes darkened to a near pitch black.

"Then what the hell was that?!" Adrian gritted out, gently letting go of me only to shoot up to his full height which was undeniably taller than Brent's. He effortlessly towered over his brother in a means to intimidate, and I had a gut feeling that if he wasn't going to calm down anytime soon, fists would be flying. I started to panic at that realization.

"You not only let dad escape, but you also let him take her. You let him hurt her. You let him touch her. And I know I made it clear that there shouldn't even a single scratch on her once I get back!" He inched closer to Brent, the anger practically spilling from each and every word he said and I know that he was desperately fighting that beast. The beast within him that was so out of control. Brent looked absolutely terrified but held his ground, his gaze flicking to me as I looked at the scene unfolding in front of me from near the blazing fireplace.

Not satisfied yet, Adrian grabbed a fistful of the front of Brent's shirt, effortlessly lifting him a few inches above the ground. "But then I find her bleeding. BLEEDING. And nowhere near you who should have been protecting her. Now tell me, Brent. Do you think I would let this slide? I will-"

"A-Adrian." I cut him off, standing up slowly with my hands toying with the hem of the jacket Adrian had given me. It still smelled like him, and despite the blood and dirt that marred the cloth, his scent remained and I bathed in the scent that embraced me without falter. My eyes were wide in fear when our gazes met. But it wasn't because I was scared of him, I knew that he wouldn't hurt me. But I was scared of what he might do to Brent. His hard gaze immediately melted into guilt.

In an instant, he dropped Brent to the floor and turned his large frame to me, his eyes fading back into the dark blue hue that I loved unconditionally. I tightened my grip on the jacket as I nodded at Brent to leave. He looked worried but I gave him a look that told him that I'd be fine. Adrian wouldn't hurt me. I knew that now. And with that, he scrambled out the door, leaving me with Adrian.