Hot Rush

chapter 16

She was almost home, she thought wearily, her shoulders sagging in relief. Hitching her pack higher on to her shoulder she soldiered on 'are you sure you don't..' Jay began but was silenced when Rosa replied irritated 'No Jay, I am more then capable of carrying my own pack, please just stop asking.' She almost moaned she knew he was just being a gentlemen but she needed to feel in control, everything was seriously messed up, she needed to do things for her self, but deep down she knew that the real reason she wanted her pack with her was because her Berretta was in it, and she needed it with her, her earlier fear never once leaving her, she had jumped and whimpered at every rustle of leaves and sound that sounded as if it had come from nearby, Jay had asked her repeatedly to relax and not feel so jumpy when she was with them, but she couldn't help but scan her surroundings nodding absentmindedly to his constant advice.

Nearly home the breathed in to her mind, as she recognized the path way that led directly to her balcony. She had never felt more happy that she had decided to live away from the tribe then she did now, sighing in relief, she trudged on, her muscles were sore, her whole body tired and aching, it had been through so much, there was a limit to what she could endure in 24 hours and she seemed to be nearing hers, her body showing signs of exhaustion and dehydration, again she fished in her pack for her water bottle, greedily gulping the last few drops before the gurgling sound indicated it was empty, sighing she threw it back in to her pack and slung it over her shoulder again, all the while knowing all the men's hawk like eyes were on her, they had been watching her like this since they began the journey as if expecting her to randomly break down.

Her body felt dirty and sweaty from all the action she had undergone. The chill in the forest now that it was nearing dark was making her aware of how filthy she felt. She desperately needed a shower she thought grimly, knowing her hair was greasy with sweat and dirt and plastered to her head, her clothes sticky and clingy were so uncomfortable against her skin, and her long hair that had come undone while running was itchy on her back. Huffing she reached a hand up to expertly twist her thick hair back in to a not, securely tying it on top of her head she let her arm drop from weariness. Her neck felt better rolling it she grimaced at the pain at the same time she felt a dangerous dip in the atmosphere, snapping her eyes open she focused on her setting to see that Jay was standing just a step in front of her but his eyes seemed to be glued to her neck, quickly shooting a hand to her neck to cover as much of it as possible her gaze was drawn to the dangerous glint in his usually relaxed eyes, his fists were clenched and he looked beyond pissed. 'Who?' he spat the word through gritted teeth, Rosa blanched at his tone, hastily throwing a glance behind her hoping the others hadn't noticed but with the way they had been watching her she knew it was futile, there faces all looked confused before she saw all 5 pair of eyes zero in on her neck, the forest seemed to fall silent, she felt the tension in the air rise to unbelievable levels. Everyone of them seemed to have stopped breathing, she saw their faces all mirror the same shock then one by one she saw them turn murderously angry even Marcos's usually neutral face displayed a snarl and his eyes looked feral, all the men looked so damn dangerous Rosa's hand that was attempting to cover the apparently very visible bruises instead wrapped round her throat as if protectively, she took a step back, it wasn't that she was afraid of them hurting her for some reason she trusted them to keep her safe as they had promised, but she was afraid of what they could do, these men were unpredictable. Swallowing painfully her eyes reluctantly found Blaise's and she was once again lost in his expressions as they seemed to never be settling on one, there was shock as if he had been slapped, there was hurt that she couldn't understand, she thought she saw his head drop as if in failure or guilt and then undeniable and unsettling anger, she saw the veins in his neck and arms strain as his fists and jaw clenched, his whole body seemed to be shaking with it, his eyes in a frenzy they looked midnight black and exactly how she imagined the eyes of a cold blooded killer's would look. She didn't have an answer for them, the words wouldn't form and but she knew she couldnt say anything, because she would then have to tell them everything, she wasn't ready to relive it not yet, she would lose herself again she knew it and she wasn't sure if she would be able to pull back again. In a state of panic Rosa did the only thing that came to her mind, run. Whirling on the spot she was off sprinting before the men had time to even blink, pleased with her bodies fast reactions and speed she sprinted the last few meters to her door, stopping for less then a second as she threw it open and jumping inside she slammed it shut on the 6 blurring figures she saw speeding towards her. Her breathing ragged and heart racing, Rosa slowly backed away from the door, still facing it awaiting the inevitable, she felt her back hit the wall opposite the door and closed her eyes tight as she heard the thunderous bang of her door being knocked clean off, followed by the gruff and harsh breathing of 6 very angry, very dangerous and very focused males. She opened her eyes and gulped.