She is Not Who You Thought She Was

Chapter 93/Sweetheart

I hugged Flora immediately after she told me, but I didn't pressure her to tell me the 'story'. I am not going to make her relive that. Instead, I drew her a hot bath with a pink bathbomb and rose-scented candle. While she soaked I ordered food to be delivered. I got Mexican food and some sushi, her favorites. I laid out comfy PJs in her bathroom and some cozy socks for when she got out of the bath. She insisted on wearing a hoodie so I switched out the black one with a soft blue color. I set all the food up in a pleasing way in front of her bed so we could eat and watch a light comedy. It was about 7:30 when I finally got Flora to sleep. I told her I wouldn't leave until she was fast asleep. My anxiety got the best of me and I double-checked the window was locked before tiptoeing out of her room. All the other rooms were quiet and I wondered if Rock had come home while I was with Flora.

I made my way down the stairs and to the front door. As soon as I stepped out into the chilly air I zipped my hoodie up to my chin with a slight shiver. I felt a buzzing in my back pocket and grabbed my phone. Seeing 'Asshat' on my screen gave me a jump scare almost causing me to drop my phone. I took a couple of quick breaths and then answered it.

It was silent. Dead silent.

"Rock?" I asked.

"Hey, Buzz." He spoke quietly his voice almost too steady.

"Hi. Where have you been?" It was an odd question, but he never called me...until now. Does he even know what Flora has been through? He never answered me. "Where are you right now?" Silence.

"I'm at Ebony." I hung up not waiting a second.

I raced to Ebony quickly. I don't know what compelled me to do this, but by the sound of his voice something has happened and I need to know what. I've been in the dark this whole weekend and I'm sick of all this bullshitting. The fact that Flora had been going through all this alone, if something even remotely similar is happening or has happened to Rock I need to be there. For him.

I know that some type of shady business goes on in the back of Ebony, but they never have closed it before. Something really big must have happened. I parked outside Ebony seeing Rock's black Camero, but Jefe's supra was nowhere in sight. I stopped for a moment wondering if Rock had been here all day and if I hadn't noticed his car before. I went up to the door tugging on the handle. Still locked. Fuck. I looked inside. No one. I started banging on the door. Rock's here. I need to find him. Finally, someone came up to the door. Lumberjack. He unlocked the door opening it just enough for his head to peek through.

"We're closed tonight, sweetheart." He went to close the door, but I stopped it with my foot and I winced at the pain. He glanced down at my foot and back up at me.

"I'm here to see Rock." He stopped looking me up and down then cleared his throat.

"He's around back." He gestured with his head to go around the back of the building. I nodded at him as a silent thank you.

I swallowed before continuing down the sidewalk to get to the alleyway that led to the back. I stepped carefully the flickering streetlight so dim it might as well just give up already and stop trying. I turned the corner and saw a small candle lit at the end of the alleyway or at least I thought it was. I kept on making my way down and saw it wasn't a candle it was the end of a cigarette and it was being held by a familiar figure. I got closer to him and could finally see his face in the low light. He looked angry. Sad. Hurt. Pissed. Tired. His full lips brought the cigarette to his lips again and he took a long drag the end of it flickering and he dropped his hand by his side blowing out the smoke.

"Hey, princess." His voice was low and deep.

"Rock." He lifted his head and watched me get closer to him. He appeared like he had more muscle. He got taller...bigger. I looked up into his dark eyes. They were black. "Where have you been?" I asked him with worry.

"Here." He hit the cig again. "I've been at Ebony all weekend." He clarified.

"Rock." I stopped myself. Should I tell him about Flora would that be going behind her back? He deserves to know, but I should know what he has been doing this whole time before I even consider telling him. "What have you been doing while you've been here?" I asked knowing I won't like the answer. I got closer to Rock as he flicked his finished cigarette into oblivion. I noticed he was still in his red velvet button-down from Saturday night. It was undone he only had about two to three buttons put together at the bottom.

"Waiting for our people to find them." He spoke vaguely and instead of asking who 'them' was, I thought for a moment.

"The men?" I asked. The men who assaulted Flora. Rock looked down at me his face giving me the answer. I swallowed and skimmed the ground nodding. "What did Jefe do to them?" I asked probably already knowing the answer.

"Jefe?" Rock breathed breaking eye contact then locked eyes on me before continuing, "Jefe watched while I finished them." My heart dropped to the floor. I didn't speak, but I also didn't move.

"You...killed them." It was more of a statement of confirmation than a question.

"It..." Rock stopped stepping back to lean against the brick building. "It had t-to be done." Rock cleared his throat. He was struggling. He didn't want to kill them. "You should go." Rock leaned his head back on the wall. I can't go when he is clearly struggling right now.

"You waited too long to call me. I'm not leaving." I got so close to him that my leg brushed against his. He kept his eyes away. "Rock. Come here." He didn't move.

I stood on my tiptoes pulled his neck down and pulled him against my body enveloping him in a hug. His body felt limp against me as if he was the one that died and not the rapists.

"Your..." I fought back tears as if I could sense tears running down Rock's face. "the greatest brother Flora could ask for." Rock finally hugged me back squeezing me so hard it would have been hard to breathe, but I don't need oxygen right now. I need to hold onto Rock for as long as I can.

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P.K.