Unknowing Attraction

13. Safe and Sound.

The man's hand reaches for the door.

My mind races as his hand inches closer.

He's going to find me.

I'm gonna die.

"Maxim!" a man yells, and Maxim stares at the closet for a brief second before lowering his hand, walking back towards my bedroom door. The three men now all standing in my room.

They wore suits, their hair slicked back and their eyes filled with rage. The clothing and accessories they wore looked expensive, as well as custom made.

Tears pour down my face as fear consumes me.

"I didn't find anything G- I mean- sir." Maxim says. The man, who I now know as G, turns to him angrily, his hands smoothing his short, gray hair down. A gold pinky ring glistened in the light of the sunset outside.

"We have to find it. You looked everywhere?" he asks, clearly impatient. "Yes, sir. I think maybe-"

"I don't give a fuck what you think, Maxim. Dante, go get my gun." he says, and my eyes widen.

My hands shake as I clutch my book to my chest, feeling it's the only sense of security I have. I clench my jaw, trying to not make a single sound. My breathing shakes as my heartbeat accelerates- and I feel like my heart is going to pound right out of my chest.

Maxim groans, turning around with his hands over his face. Dante reappears, a small handgun with a silencer attached clad in his hand.

"You really don't-" His voice cuts off.

My hands shoot to my mouth to quiet the loud scream that so desperately wanted to escape my lips. My eyes wide with horror. I can't breathe- the closet now feeling like a coffin instead of a safe haven.

Without another word, Dante and G exit the room.

Maxim's lifeless body, now in the middle of my bedroom.

"Jaz?" Caius says, and I'm ripped out of my previous thoughts. I can't move, my body feeling like it's being weighed down with bricks.

"Jasmine, what happened?" He asks, a layer of stress apparent in his words. "I-I don't-" I couldn't speak. Before I know it, I'm sobbing again, unable to breathe.

"Hey- shh. Calm down, baby. You're safe now. Safe and sound, in my arms." he whispers, rubbing my back and holding my head to his chest. He breathes deep, hoping I'll follow suit. I try to match his breathing but fail, as I am still mortified.

"What the fuck happened here!" Jade almost yells, scaring the fuck out of Caius and I both. A scream escapes my lips, and Caius jumps.

"Fuck, Jade. You couldn't have said something to let us know you were here?" Caius says.

"I did- I asked what the hell happened." she says. She looks down to see Maxim's dead body on the ground.

"Holy shit- who the hell is this guy? Oh my god, wait, Jaz, was I right? Oh you fucker" Jade says and angrily walks towards Caius and I, pointing an accusing finger in his face.

He stands. "Jade-" he is cut off, as she smacks him in the face.

"I cannot BELIEVE you involved my LITTLE SISTER in your MAFIOSO BULLSHIT!" She screams, still smacking him as his does his best to protect himself.

"Jade- stop- Jade- JADE!" He yells and she finally stops. "She hasn't told me what happened. All I know is someone broke in. She texted me 'help' and I got here as fast as I could. I found her hiding in the closet." He says, his hand motioning towards me.