It All Started With The Kidnapping

Chapter 15 - Standing my Ground

Luna's pov

I turned around and stood up, facing my enemy. Mentally preparing myself for a fight, I noticed Theo getting pissed. I said, "Well, I did, so back away from me." Mason looked shocked that I was standing my ground and talking back. He stepped closer and put his hand on my cheek. I slapped it away and then slapped him across the face.

He rubbed his cheek and smirked evilly. "Oh come on, sweetheart, I was just having some fun."

He tried again, this time placing his hand on my waist. "Let go of me or you'll be in so much pain you'll be crying for your mommy," I warned.

He leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Like you can make me call for my mother. You're more stupid than I thought."

I spun around in his arms, pressing my body against his, and whispered, "I was different back then. Get over it." As soon as I said that, I kneed him in the balls. He tried to punch me as he went down, but I dodged it, causing him to fall flat on his face.

Sara stood up and shouted, "Leave her alone!" I also saw the boys getting up, looking pissed.

He got up and sneered, "Oh, okay, like you can do anything, little girl." Then he started to walk towards Sara. Oh hell no. There's no way I'm letting that monster get anywhere near my friend.

I stepped in front of him, shoving him back, and said, "Leave her out of this. This is between you and me." I glared at him, standing my ground.

He gave me a smile and said, "I would love to see you try, Luna." Oh, he is going to see exactly what I can do. No one will be dragging me off him until I'm done. He messed up my life for so long that I'm done running. I'm here to stay, and if I have to fight him, then I will.

But before I could do anything, Theo interrupted, "Wait, Luna?" He sounded so confused. Understandably, I don't look like the girl he once knew.

I turned, smiled at Theo, and nodded, "Yep, that's my name. Don't wear it out."

Theo's face lit up with a genuine smile, "Holy crap, you're actually back. I can't believe it, I have missed you."

I flipped Mason off and walked back to Theo.

I walked up to Theo, kissed his cheek, and whispered in his ear, "Believe it. Thank you so much for helping me, and I missed you too." I hugged him tightly, feeling him hug me back just as firmly.

Mason glared at us and said, "Now that everyone has said hi to Luna, let's get back to what we were talking about." Ugh, can he ever shut up and leave? Maybe he and Britney would make a good couple since they both love annoying me.

I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Oh, you mean the part where I kick your ass?" I took a step closer, standing right in front of him.

He sneered, "I was saying you're coming with me. Why can't you get it through that thick skull of yours that you can't beat me?" He moved in dangerously close, but before he could get any closer, I was suddenly pushed behind someone. It was Theo, standing protectively in front of me.

Theo's hands clenched into fists as he spoke, his voice filled with cold determination, "She will never go with you. That'll happen over my dead body." The dark expression on his face made it clear that he meant every word.

Mason shot me a threatening look and said, "Watch your back, Luna." Then he turned and started to walk away. As soon as he did, Theo pulled me into another hug. Sara, not wanting to be left out, shouted, "Group hug!" and suddenly all four of us were wrapped up together in a warm embrace.

After the hug, we all sat down and finally started to eat. It felt good to be back—I realized just how much I had missed this place. I shared a bit about my time in Italy, telling them I had a great time, but I left out the details of what really happened there. Just as Sara began to speak, the bell rang. She sighed and said, "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got class. What about you, Luna?"

I shook my head and said, "I've got three free periods since my teachers called in sick." The boys looked at me and, in unison, said, "Us too." Sara and I burst out laughing, while the boys just glared at each other.

Sara sighed, "You guys are lucky. Well, I'll catch up with you later." She got up, kissed Elijah goodbye, and waved to me and Theo before heading off to her next class.

The boys and I stood up, tossed our trash, and decided to head outside since none of us had any classes for the rest of the day. Theo suggested, "Let's go somewhere to talk," and I just nodded. We all climbed onto our motorcycles, ready to ride.

Theo told us to follow him, so I did. When we arrived at our destination—a hill overlooking the entire town—I took in the view as I got off my bike. We were in the middle of a forest, standing in front of an abandoned mansion that had clearly seen better days. Despite its worn appearance, I liked it; it had a certain old-world charm. However, I couldn't help but notice the guards stationed by the front doors, which made me curious about the place.

I shot Theo a suspicious look as we approached the house. My jaw nearly hit the ground when I saw the walkway—stepping stones lined with rose bushes in full bloom, leading up to the front doors. The place didn't look abandoned at all. I couldn't stop taking it all in. Theo asked if I wanted a tour of the mafia house, or rather, the warehouse as he explained. That explained the guards out front. I just nodded, speechless—this place was stunning.

When I stepped inside, the entryway was a pristine white, flanked by staircases on either side of the French doors, leading up to the second floor. The railings were adorned with intricate gold and black details, adding a touch of elegance to the space. A rich red carpet lined the marble staircase, drawing the eye upward to a stunning glass chandelier with gold accents at the top—a bold statement of luxury. The contrast between the grand interior and the unassuming exterior was striking. After finishing the tour of the house, we returned to the living room.