The Guardian Angel

Chapter-2: Leah

I sat in a corner, trying to calm my raging heart. I had my eyes shut and pretended to be asleep. It was just to stop me from conversing with the man beside me. My fiancé. Ugh. Don't make me puke. I was just a showpiece for him. My dad loved him, don't even ask me why. Probably because it would strengthen his so-called empire. Just to make it clear, I didn't give a fuck about his mafia empire.

Stephen's dad controlled another part of the city with his gang. And these two thought it would be best if I and Stephen were married. Stephen didn't care. He was a playboy. Probably fucked every girl in our school. Yes, we went to the same school, poor me. He had tried his ways with me too, but he was so disgusting I would get nauseous even thinking of kissing him. Sex? Oh, hell no. I've had few boyfriends during these 24 years of my life. Half would run away at the mention of my dad. The rest at the sight of Stephen. Really, my life hasn't been the best so far. Marrying this asshole is only going to make it so much worse.

I had introduced one of my boyfriends to my family one night. The next day he disappeared from town. Great. That's what I got for wanting Stephen to back off. The guy wasn't even interested in me! Probably would go around fucking other sluts and whores even after our marriage. I would not be a part of that.

Only one person was on my side in this chaos, that being my uncle. He despised my dad for putting me in this shit. My mom wasn't exactly a bad person per se. But she loved my dad a lot. Slowly in time, she had also become much like him. Power minded. Lusted after money. Honestly, I could go on and on. The only reason I was me, was because of my uncle. He'd taught me what was right and wrong. Admonished me if I had done something wrong.

I wouldn't say my parents loathed me. They were just the type of parents who thought buying their child everything equaled loving them. I'd had a comfortable life. But not exactly a happy one. I would've definitely traded in some of that comfort for some happiness. It did hurt me when I saw other kids with their parents. Carefree, smiling, all the Disney stuff you see in the movies? Add them. And here I would be hoping that they wouldn't murder someone in front of me.

Just then I felt a hand reach out towards my cheek. I tensed. Then heard a distinct smack, as someone slapped the other hand away from my cheek.

"Let her sleep. She has had a rough night." My uncle growled.

"And what exactly was it that made it rough for her?" Stephen asked, his voice having a dangerous edge to it.

"Isn't being engaged to you enough boy?" Uncle spat. At which, Stephen rose from his seat.

"Enough." My mom's clear voice rang out. Both of them grumbled and took their seats. To my relief, Stephen sat farther away.

On a gloomier note, Mom turned towards me and said, "Enough pretending, Leah. You are marrying Steve and there's nothing you or Michael can do about it." My mother said referring to my uncle.

I opened my eyes and gave my mother a glare. I was met with cold impassiveness. She turned and walked long graceful steps back to her seat next to my dad. We had rented a minibus in which my parents had demanded that Stephen and I—no way was I calling him Steve – sit way at the back to have some privacy. Yea, no shit. If he so much as dared to lay a hand on me, he would be short a couple of balls. Even he knew that.

He had always been interested in me. Even while fucking other girls. Gross, I know. It probably had something to do with all girls fawning over him, while I absolutely loathed him. He took it as a challenge that he would get me. It did not help that my parents adored him. He had taken it as a green light and tried to woo me every time he could.

At least these girls he had sex with, provided very interesting encounters. They'd come to me and try to make me jealous. Then they would get to know that he was eventually going to marry me. Then get jealous. Then would try to threaten me, get a broken nose and a hand full of blood. Run to Stephen. And he would just laugh at them and shoo them away. This had happened.... about 5 times? 6? Honestly, I stopped counting. Why can't he just go with one of them? Why me? The stubborn ass.

The trip from Albuquerque to Phoenix took about six and a half hours. I had managed to stave off about two hours before my mom inconveniently pointed out my act. After that Stephen had started going on about how much he loved me, what a great couple we would make, how it would make our fathers proud. I tried to ignore him, but before it had been even an hour, I was starting to lose it.

"You are extremely lucky. You know that, don't you?" He asked. That's it. That was the last straw.

"Lucky? How so Stephen?" I spat at him. "Since I get to marry you? Here's an FYI, I had no choice in this! I despise you; we haven't had a single conversation without me wanting to cut your head off."

His face flashed with shock and hurt, but I kept going.

"Have you once thought if I wanted this arrangement? If it made me happy?" I screamed at him. "You have no idea what is love, Stephen. You just see me as another body you can have your way with. Don't pretend otherwise. I know you more than you think I do."

The shock on his face morphed into anger.

"You are right. You don't have much of a choice, sweetheart. So better accept your fate." He sneered.

"And this is exactly why I DO NOT LIKE YOU, Stephen!"

I realized we had attracted quite a few prying eyes with our not-so-quite argument. Mom and Dad sat at the front seething. Serves them right. Who asked for this marriage? Surely not me.

We reached Phoenix by around 10 at night. I immediately ran to my room in the hotel, using "I'm tired." as an excuse.

Within a couple of weeks, the wedding would take place. I ran the plan back through my mind. My BFF from high school said she lived here, and would definitely host my uncle and me if we were to escape from Stephen. Sullivan, she called him, even though I tried to tell her that Sullivan was a good monster and we should use Frankenstein instead. She had just acted confused.

So, a few days before the rehearsal dinner, we would meet outside. I'd climb out of the window, and meet him in the garden at the back of the hotel. We would make our stealthy escape and go to Jessica's house. From there, my uncle would find me a flight to somewhere in Europe.

I yawned. I was getting sleepy. Should probably think about these later. There is time anyway. I crashed on the far too comfortable bed.

I stood in the living area. I clutched the gun in my small hands and peered at it, then at my parents sprawled on the floor. Their eyes shut. Neither of them responded to my pleas. I knelt next to Mommy. I shook her. No response. I shook harder. Still no response.

"Daddy?" I called, my voice trembling. But he too didn't give me any answer.

My eyes welled with tears. One made its way down the side of my nose. When it reached my lips, I could feel the salty taste it had. The gun in my hand clattered to the ground.

Just then I was tackled by both of them laughing. Dad held me, while my mom tickled me. I tried to squirm out while laughing or crying. I couldn't tell which.

After a few minutes, we all lay on the floor panting. Mom wiped the tear off my face.

"We will never leave you, Jamie. Never cry. Always be the happy boy. The one which we know." She ruffled my hair.

I woke up, feeling strangely restless. That was a weird dream, and not the first either. They had started about 2-3 months ago. They were random. Didn't really have any pattern to them. And I never knew any Jamie.