The Mafia's Secret

Chapter 8 ✔️

SCARLETT

        "Hey! Get off her!"
        The man was quickly pried off of me. Taking the opportunity, I backed as far away from the man as the familiar face that belonged to Xavier, punched him in the face. The anger on his face as he continued punching his uncle seemed almost imaginary as I sat there, struggling to pull my clothes back on. What had just happened moments ago was playing over and over again like a song stuck on repeat. My entire body was shaking as nothing but guilt and shame flooded my mind like a tsunami. I had hardly realized more people filled the room until shouting filled the air. I refused to look up at them as they dragged the man into another room. I didn't care what they were doing to the monster as the door was slammed shut. Not having him in the same room was relief enough. Only it didn't stop the images that refused to leave my mind. Someone crouched down in front of me, placing a hand on my arm. I quickly flinched away, refusing to look up as tears slowly fell down my cheeks.
        "Don't touch me." I begged in a low whisper, unsure if the person had heard me.
        "Scarlett–" Caleb started but I quickly cut him off.
        "–I said don't fucking touch me!" I screamed at Caleb, shoving him away from me when he reached for my arm again.
        Darren came into the house, angrily stomping over to me. Fear consumed me as he forced Caleb out of his way, grabbing my arm just like my assaulter had done. "Get on your fucking feet or I'll have you dragged out!" He angrily demanded, tightening the grip on my arm. Tearing from his grip was impossible. Any attempt only resulted in small whimpers to leave my lips. Darren inched closer to my face, leaving only a few centimeters of space between us. "This is on you and you alone. Don't put your stupidity on anyone else! Now get your ass up before I have my men drag you!"
        Darren was suddenly pulled to his feet and shoved away from me. Looking up, Xavier stood between us, his fists clenched as he faced Darren. "That's enough, Darren! Leave her alone! Now get out of here! You've done enough!"
        Xavier was fuming with rage as Darren glanced at me before storming off. The two unrecognizable men followed Darren out the door. Xavier and Caleb were left. The two started a whispering conversation, far too quiet for me to hear. It only lasted a minute before Caleb left the house. Xavier crouched down in front of me. I side-eyed him cautiously as he stayed there in silence for a few seconds before he finally sighed, extending a hand.
        "Come on. Let me take you back." His tone was surprisingly gentle. His eyes filled with worry.
        "Why would I willingly go back with you?!" I snapped back.
        "Would you rather stay here? I'm sure my drunk uncle wouldn't mind having another go in your pants."
        His words cut deep but I did my best to hide how much it hurt to be reminded of what his uncle had done to me. It only took a few seconds to decide that being in the hands of Darren and Xavier was far better than here. Taking Xavier's hand, I let him pull me to my feet. My legs felt like jello the second I stood. I barely stood for a full ten seconds before my legs gave out, knocking me into Xavier. He let out a frustrated sigh before quickly picking me up into his arms, carrying me bridal style. The second I was off the ground, uncontrollable sobs escaped my lips. Weakness consumed me both physically and mentally as I felt a small amount of embarrassment build.

*   *   *   *  

        My entire body felt like I had been hit by a car as I sat on the roof with my feet hanging over the edge. The cold breeze hit the exposed skin on my arms and legs, leaving me shivering with goosebumps all over my body. Last night's events burned into my head as I sat there desperately trying to forget them. I had gone up to the roof, avoiding contact with anyone in hopes to clear my mind but the opposite seemed to be happening instead. I felt disgusting with all the blood and dirt caking my entire body. What made me feel even more so was the feeling of their hands all over me as they violated my body. I had woken up this morning, remembering every single detail of the event that had happened last night.
        The minute I woke up, Xavier had sworn his men would leave me alone. He had sworn that as long as I cooperated in finding Zayn, I would be untouchable and free to go wherever I pleased. There was no knowing if he was being truthful until he proved it. The tracking bracelet firmly secured around my wrist with no way to cut it loose had given me mixed signals about his words.
        "So this is where you're hiding."
        Nina Clark. She was three years older than me. We hardly spoke to each other in the past. She was just another girl to screw my brother before he left. I was never able to tell if they were ever truly romantically involved. The two did spend almost all the time together but in public they had made it seem like they were just fooling around. I was never really bothered by the relationship since it hardly changed my life. We were never friends and we hardly ever tried to make conversation that lasted more than a minute. I was never sure of why. I was sometimes certain it had something to do with me and my brother's relationship but I was never sure.
        Why Nina bothered to even try and act as my friend, infuriated me. She betrayed Zayn by involving herself with Xavier. The second she arrived here with Tyler, I had decided I hated her. The two were clearly romantically involved because the second they walked into the house, they were all over each other. It was the main reason I decided to ignore everyone by moving to the roof to clear the confusing thoughts consuming my mind.
        "If I was hiding, you wouldn't have found me." I finally stated as soon as she climbed up onto the roof, sitting down next to me.
        "Fair enough. I heard what happened. How are you holding up?"
        "I've had worse."
        "You look like shit. Are you sure about that?"
       "Don't try and insult me, Nina. You're the filthy whore fraternizing with the enemy."
Glancing at her, she seemed taken aback by my words. "I didn't mean it like that." She replied quietly.
        "Doesn't matter in what way you meant it." There was a long awkward silence that filled the air. It was at least a few minutes before I finally sighed, nudging Nina. "You know, I never asked you about your relationship with my brother and what happened after he was kicked out of town."
        "Not something we were really open about. That started back before Darren and Zayn decided to join their gangs to fight off Xavier's. Didn't really end well for either of them because they were forced out of town. I joined Xavier's gang a few months after. A month after that, Tyler and I became a thing. I'm not proud of betraying Zayn but I'm doing it to save my life. After all, I know what Xavier has on Darren. I know why Darren betrayed Zayn."
        "What Xavier has on Darren? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
        "You don't know?"
       "If I did, I wouldn't be asking."
       "Only few know. I'm surprised you wouldn't. Especially since you play a big par—"
        "—I don't give a damn about Xavier pulling me into whatever the hell this is. Just tell me what I want to know or I'll go up to Xavier and demand answers myself."
        "As entertaining as that would be to see, I doubt you'd be alive in the next hour. Xavier is not the man he seems to be. Get on his bad side—" She rolled up her sleeve revealing long scars across every inch of skin that was shown. There was hardly room for another scar. "—and he does things to you."
        "I already live in hell. I doubt Xavier could make it worse. Now tell me what I want to know because I'm about five seconds from walking away and going to Xavier myself."
       She let out a hesitant sigh. "He has Darren's daughter. Took her from his home. Killed his wife and nearly his sister too. He has his kid held in some sort of safe house." She finally looked up at me. "Darren may seem like the bad guy but the truth is, it's all a part of Xavier and his little scheme. Xavier ordered Darren to kill his sister or else Xavier would kill his daughter. Darren changed when Kendi was killed and Mindy was taken. Went all cold-hearted. That's why your brother left. To protect you and Mindy."
        "How is abandoning me, protecting any of us?!" I stood, dumbfounded by her words.
        "Because if Zayn disappeared and refused to have any contact with anyone, including you, What would be the point of hurting either of you? The message would never be sent to Zayn."
        "Nothing you're telling me is making sense!"
        I began to leave. This was too much to handle. I could hardly make sense of any of it. Darren had changed so much it was a shocker to have secrets such as these, revealed. I could hardly tell if I believed what Nina had just told me. I didn't know her very well and she seemed like a very persuasive liar.
        I didn't make it far before Nina grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "Listen to me. It would have been better for you to stay in the dark. Xavier won't stop making Darren's life a living hell like he's making yours, until Zayn comes back to give Xavier what he wants. Now man the fuck up and do as I say because all of your lives depend on it."
        "Why are you telling me all this? What does telling all of this to me, do for you?"
       "Because I know where your brother is. I know where to find him."