Crushed Under the Weight

Chapter Three: Safe and Sound Part 1

Chapter 3:

~Aiden~

I rubbed my eyes as I sat up. The first thing I noticed was the sleeping young man beside me. The second thing I noticed was how messy the room was. A hand pushed me onto my back and startled me. Almost immediately, I became a pillow. Levi looked calmer with me beneath him.

Like he had done to me yesterday, I stroked his dark hair. I glanced over towards the window and wondered when we were meeting up with his boss.

A small gasp slipped out when Levi's hand crawled under my shirt. His callused fingers grazed the sensitive skin of my abdomen. The idea of not wearing pants to bed was starting to bite my behind. Levi's hand groped my thigh, and I honestly didn't know what to do. My breathing quickened. His hand caressed my leg. While his rough, calloused hands played with me, I buried my own hands in Levi's dark, luscious hair.

One of his hands remained under my shirt. My back arched at his touch. A small moan left my lips as Levi kissed my neck and collarbone. It grew worse when Levi began grinding himself into me.

Suddenly, Levi climbed off me and the bed entirely. He didn't seem too flustered, but we both knew the truth. Levi stared at me as I sat up. I ran a hand through my hair. That was one way to get hot and bothered.

"Wet dream?" I tried.

"Just a tad." He grinned at me.

Levi continued to stare at me. I watched him too. My mouth was dry. He snapped out of it at that point. Levi cursed under his breath when he glanced at his phone.

"Hurry up. We need to go. Mr. Burke has texted me a different address," Levi growled.

My legs felt wobbly when I climbed off the bed. It took a moment to find my clothes. Levi disappeared into the bathroom as I got dressed. Part of me hoped things would be awkward between us, but I knew they would be awkward anyways.

After a few minutes, we were on the road. Levi told me to sit in the back of the van since Mr. Burke wouldn't want me being treated too nicely.

It was spacious in the back, but I still preferred Levi's company. I had a feeling that his "dream" was part of the reason for me sitting back here. If that was the case, Levi had one pathetic excuse. Levi had left me with his jacket since it was chilly in the back of the van. There was also a blanket back here. I was a very cozy child. As soon as I was bundled up, I figured a nap was okay.

~Riley~

I couldn't help smiling. Kate always knew how to make me smile. We had been friends for the past three years. She had learned all she needed to know in order to brighten my mood.

The blonde-haired girl giggled a little. My grin only deepened. Nothing could change how happy she made me. Kate knew everything about me. I was glad that she was safe. The girl wore a plain black t-shirt, dark blue skinny jeans, and black boots. Her golden locks were tied back in a braid as usual.

"I'm really glad that you're safe," I said, my chest squeezing at the words.

"He'll be okay," Kate whispered.

Our smiles faded, and the blonde-haired girl slipped under my left arm. She rested her head on my shoulder. The only thing that kept me calm was the sweet smell of Kate's hair.

My shoulders tensed when a dusty black van had parked across the street. A young man walked around the van. I watched him as he opened the back of the van. My jaw slackened when the familiar face appeared. The short brunette was bundled up in a dark-colored hoodie and a light grey blanket. The dark-haired stranger sat next to Aiden, and I wanted an explanation.

Before Kate could halt me, I stormed over to the van. Aiden and the stranger both were startled by my presence. I was too enraged to speak. I stumbled over syllables, and my frustration intensified.

"Riley? What are you doing here?" Aiden asked with his eyebrows a mile high.

Not a word left my lips. The stranger spotted something behind me. His eyes had narrowed.

"Aiden, we need to get out of here," the stranger growled before turning his attention to Kate and me," Get in the van."

Although I didn't trust him, Kate dragged me closer to the dusty vehicle. In the blink of an eye, the situation changed. A gunfire sounded. I leapt into the van. The stranger closed the doors behind Kate. My breathing was hot and heavy. I hated panting like a dog. My heart pounded. The van lurched. A low grumbled filled the musty air.

~Levi~

The fast drive was too quiet. Only the engine's mumbling could be heard. Aiden sat beside me. His hazy light brown eyes were wide. As much as I wanted to stop and comfort him, I had to make sure we were all safe.

I bit my lip and rested my right hand on the boy's thigh. In the corner of my slightly-blurring vision, I saw Aiden glance in my direction. He gasped.

"You were shot," he whispered.

"It's not the first time."

Despite the new wound, I relaxed in my seat. I cursed. That was the meeting place. With a small groan, I fished my phone out of my jeans pocket. Before I could dial Mr. Burke's phone number, Aiden took the cellular device from my weakening grasp.

"What's the number?"

Once the damn thing started ringing, I began clenching my right hand into a fist, just to make sure I could still feel the limb. The pain had dulled greatly. That simple fact worried me.

[A/N: I hope you guys notice the name of the chapter. It'd be a really good idea to check the name of the chapter in the Table of Contents. Nonetheless, I hope you notice that it is a "Part 1". The parts won't be in any sort of consecutive order, but they will fall in line with one another. Anyways, what do you think of the characters? Is anybody concerned for Levi's well-being? Do you have any suggestions for what shall come?]