Forget about me

Chapter fourteen

Alexandra

The fear of me toppling over is very real. The entire room spins around me. My emotions have been strapped into a rollercoaster and they're not being let off any time soon. Three of the men I hate most in the world are on their knees before me swearing a blood oath to protect me. Always.

The word reverberates through my bones all the way up to my skull rattling my brain around with the force of it. The thump in my chest is almost painful. My mind can't put together what I've been so certain of all these years and their behaviour now. Past and present doesn't match. It's as if someone's taken two puzzles and tossed the pieces into the same pile scrambling them together. Here I am, picking up pieces that don't fit.

They rise together, moving as one. Shade goes to the kitchen bringing back a glass of water. Since my body remains unmoving, he gently lifts it to my lips. The cool liquid does wonders for my parched throat. Croaking out a small thank you I take the glass from him and drains it in one go. Diligently Shade takes the glass from me, fills it up and returns. Once again, I snatch it from him and gulp it down. My nerves are wracked and my brains fried. I wouldn't be able to recite my name and birthday if you asked me to.

"Well, I'd suggest we still book a hair appointment. Make you a bit more difficult to point out." Mr. Rux's gruff voice interrupts our little bubble.

As I lower the glass Shade pushes my dark hair off my shoulder. My skin pebbles under his touch and I fight the urge to shuffle my feet. Tracing the rim of the glass absently I bob my head. Ryder responds and turns away slightly to continue discussing with his father. I tune out. It sounds as if I'm underwater. Their voices muffled and low. I can hear them speaking but can't make out a word. It might be because of the trauma I had to relive or from the shock of Ryders and the others actions. I don't want Hunter's rejection to sting but it does. It almost smarts more than his cruel words. I know that's how he protects himself. It always has been. I shouldn't take it to heart but that coupled with what he said last night... it hurts. It really does.

Which is only further proof that I should get as far away from these four boys as physically possible. My battered and bruised heart isn't safe here. Their promises and pretty words almost made me cave. Made me want to crawl into their arms and stay there. Safe and sound. I nearly believe I would be. What I do believe is that they would shield me from the rest of the world, but who would shield me from them?

I will never raise a hand to hurt you.

They've already proved that they don't need fists or weapons to hurt me. I'd rather they put a bullet in me than shatter my heart. Again.

"Alright, let's go love." Ryder holds out a hand for me.

Slowly, I lower the glass. "Go where?"

Jem places a kiss on my cheek before saying goodbye. Hunter returns only to disappear into the basement with Jem on his heels. Right, they're going to work. Shade splays a hand across my lower back silently urging me forward. He takes the glass from my fingers and leaves it on the kitchen counter. They guide me toward the garage making me pause. "Wait, we can't just leave Draco here." Looking around I find him sleeping on the couch belly up.

"He'll be fine for a few hours." At my glare Ryder backtracks. "We can have the guards check in on and feed him." He offers and I nod satisfied with that.

In the garage Shade and Ryder snatch a t-shirt each from the hooks by the door. Mr. Rux  leaves through the front door, presumably heading to where he parked his car. Ryder tosses me a helmet. Sighing, I put it on. My fingers grapple with the buckle. Impatient as ever, Ryder slaps my fingers away, tilts my chin up and buckles it for me. Rolling my eyes at him I slide onto the raised seat behind him. Gripping my wrists Ryder pulls me forward and locks my arms around his waist. Chest flush with his back, I hold on tight as we fly out of the garage, Shade following closely behind. Mr. Rux blasts music in his dark blue car as he leads the way into town. We split up, Mr. Rux heading toward the lower part of town and us heading toward upper town. We glide onto high street. People dressed in all sorts of fabulous expensive clothes mill around the sidewalks. Women in large sunglasses and even larger hats strut around in heels so high I wouldn't be surprised if an ankle or two will break. I have never been elegant enough to walk in those things. I can barely walk on flats.