Not So Delicate ||18+|| ✔️

Atticus ~48~

I was fucking livid.

I was mad at her, at myself, at Joshua, at everyone who worked with him, at my security system, at the twins, at God, at everything.

I went back into the house after calling the twins and asking if they got him. They reassured me and told me they were already getting information out of him. I walked into the house, storming up the stairs to Brooklyn's room. I look around her room, searching for cameras or any way that bastard could've snuck in.

I had followed the bastard and dragged him into an alleyway, not even getting a look at his face before beating him to a pulp. He sent curses my way but I couldn't have cared less. I left him unconscious on the ground, letting the twins take care of him.

I go into Zachary's room, hearing her sobs. My heart clenched for a moment as I watched her pace, her hands shaking.

When I announced my presence, she turned and looked at me with sad eyes. I was still pissed that she didn't attempt to try and get away from him. I glared at her, my arms crossed over my chest.

She deflated and backed into Zachary, making me drop my arms. She can be upset that I'm mad at her but she sure as hell won't be scared of me. I walk out of the room, hearing her run after me. She grabs my hand but pulls it away immediately after. As if my hand sent volts of electricity through her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please don't be mad at me." She sobbed into her hands, trying to calm herself but failing. I looked at her for a moment, trying to speak to her but I couldn't find my voice.

This always happened when I was feeling too many emotions at once. I sigh in frustration and run my hand through my hair. She looks at me through her fingers, her hands dropping to her sides. I clench my jaw and walk away, going downstairs and leaving her standing there.

She watches me leave with such sad eyes it makes my heart ache. I was still too upset to do anything about it. I walk into the kitchen and start to cook lunch to get my mind off of everything.

I started cutting up some vegetables, the house was dead silent, making my thoughts grow louder. I nearly cut my finger off for being so distracted. I focused on what I was doing, muting my thoughts.

Minutes turned into an hour and the food was almost ready. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard small sniffles get closer. I look over my shoulder at Brooklyn who was walking towards the kitchen, her eyes on the floor. The smell of food licked her nose, making her look up at me. Her shoulders tense and she turns around to leave.

"Brooklyn." I force out, my throat feeling uncomfortable to talk. "Lunch is ready in 10."

"I- I'm not hungry..." She stutters, trying to walk away again. I scoff and turn around, turning the stove's heat up and adding a bit more water into the pan.

"I wasn't asking."

She nods her head softly and walks up the stairs, nearly tripping over her feet. I clear my throat and continue fixing the food, taking everything to the table and setting it out. I text the group chat a quick 'Come eat.'

After a few minutes, Callan walked into the house, looking livid. I quirk a brow at him and he shakes his head, sitting at the table. Zachary walks down next, sitting with us. I look towards the stairs, waiting for Brooklyn. She doesn't come down.

"Where's Brooklyn?" Callan asked, making me shrug. Zachary looks at the stairs and bites his cheek.

"She was in her room, she said to start eating, and that she'll be down in a bit." Zach said, reaching forward, grabbing some food, and placing it on his plate. "I'm fucking starving."

We all ended up plating our food and eating, my eyes were glued to the staircase, waiting for her to come down. I knew damn well she wasn't coming down. And I knew damn well I wasn't gonna let her skip a meal.

I finish my food quickly and get up, taking my plate to the sink and grabbing a clean one, putting some food on it, and grabbing a can of soda. I walk up the stairs and barge into her room, seeing her curled up on the floor beside her bed. She jumps up quickly, holding her chest.

"You scared me!" She shouted. Her flushed face caught my eye. I walk in and place her food on the night table.

"You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"I will force-feed you if I have to." I threaten, watching her roll her eyes and crawl into bed. I clench my jaw, trying desperately to cool my nerves. She turned her back to me and lifted the blanket over her shoulders. "Brooklyn."

"I'm not hungry, Atticus." She said my name as if it was poison on her tongue. If I was being honest, it hurt.

It hurt how she said my name as if it was venom dripping from her teeth. How she refused to look at me. Her emotions are confusing me. One moment she was fine, the next she was crying, and now she's mad at me.

I rip the sheet off of her, making her sit up and look at me with a glare. I grab her ankle and pull her to the end of the bed, making her send curses my way. I grab her wrist and pull her up to sit. She goes to get up but I point my finger at her, glaring at her.

"Stay. Put." I grit out. I take a step back and groan when she immediately stands. I breathe in slowly, biting my tongue to steel myself. She looks at me with defiance in her eyes. That's when I see it. On her side table is the wrapper of a very special chocolate.

My little brat is horny.

She loves this. She loves seeing me pissed off. She's provoking me just for the fun of it. And a part of me feels like she's doing this to release some of my anger.

"Brooklyn, I swear to everything holy, I will put you on your fucking knees." I threaten, watching as her eyes glint at me.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." She says, beginning to walk past me. I let her reach the door before my fist wraps around her ponytail, keeping her in place. She lets out a small whimper but recovers quickly.

I tug her backward, pulling her back against my chest. I press my mouth against the side of her neck, dragging my lips to her ear.

"You have two options," I whisper in her ear, nipping at her earlobe. "You keep being a brat and I'll punish you hard, or, you be a good girl and I won't tell Callan and Zachary about just how bad you're being."

She huffs and sucks in a breath. I pull back to look at her, my eyebrows knitting in confusion. I jerked away from her when she let out the most blood-curdling scream known to man. I grab her throat and pin her against the wall, glaring at the huge grin on her face.

"Oops."