In Dark Times: Book 2 Dark Trilogy

Chapter 14 Confrontations In Dark Times

Chapter 14 Confrontations In Dark Times

I was frustrated with the way Silas acted this afternoon.  I love the guy, but to not give me any time by myself unless I was in the bathroom... That is unacceptable.  "I thought we already had this discussion on our journey here?  I cannot have you guys treating me like a two year old.  I know there are dangers out there.  Hell, there were already dangers out in the world for the first 17 years of my life, but I survived those practically on my own."

"Trouble, I hear you, and I am listening, but now you fucking have us and you don't have to take on the fucking goddamned big ass world alone anymore!"  I smiled despite myself.  Maybe it's the fact that he is always throwing the F bomb in his sentences.  I don't know, but when he gets all worked up, I just want to giggle.

"Cupcake, you are special to us.  We want to take care of you."

"I know Luke.  But you don't HAVE to take care of me.  I am a grown up.  When I need help, I will ask."

"Will you?"  Sean asked under his breath.

Luke was agitated.  He stood up, running his fingers through his hair, walking a few paces left then a few paces right.  No one spoke.  It must be unusual to ever see Luke like this.  He turned his chocolate eyes on me and they were piercing my soul.  "Is it so wrong for your boyfriends to want to take care of you?  Because I don't think it is!"  He stormed off toward the kitchen area, banging around in the cupboards.  I winced with each slam of another cabinet door.

North stood up, "excuse me a moment."  He went toward his room.  I looked around at everyone else.  They were all stewing in their thoughts.  I might just lose them all over something stupid.  But if they continue to 'babysit' my every move I am going to feel suffocated.  And that will turn into resentment.  North walked past us clutching something in his hand.  He went into the kitchen where Luke was.

A few moments later, they both came back to the living room and sat back down.  Luke had a glass of water in one hand and a small bag of candies in the other.  I looked between the two brothers, but saw nothing that spoke of what had transpired.

"Princess, can we go back to just taking a turn working with you for the day?  None of us want to lose you."  Victor sounded nervous even asking this.

"I would like that.  A lot.  I will forget that today ever happened," I glanced at Silas and saw hurt in his eyes, "and we can continue to get closer by working WITH each other."

"Aggele, I could hear you and Mindy screaming from almost across the camp today.  I didn't mean to become a Neanderthal, but when I got to you... You were curled up into a tight ball, your arms covering your head protectively.  I found out, it was only the rooster, but not until after you slithered up my body and clung to me like a boa constrictor.  YOU made my possessive caveman instincts come out.  Given the circumstances, I would do the same thing tomorrow I did today."  He crossed his arms over his chest.  Nathan and North fist bumped him or slapped his back.

"Ten, Sweetie, can I put in a suggestion?"

"Go ahead Kota."

"You continue a training regimen with Nathan, and whomever he needs help from or asks for assistance from, and we work in pairs for a trial period of time.  Say six months.  Then if you feel we are overstepping your personal boundaries, we will back off."

I thought through his words.  "Six months is a long time to feel like you have no control over your own life."

"Miss Sorenson, Sang, would you agree to a three month training program?  At the end, we will perform a test.  That way we can all be assured you know how to defend yourself.  This is the same training each of us have gone through.  We attended a camp, such as this, for a three month boot camp training."

"Yeah Peanut!  I bet all of the training equipment is available to us.  We probably just need to ask.  It wouldn't hurt any of us to spend this time we have here training with you."

"You would all go through another boot camp training for me?"

"For you Pookie, we would do just about anything.   You can't tell me this, what we are building here together as a family, is not worth trying for.  I can't help it!  There is nothing we want more!  We would fight for you, we would lie for you, hell anyone of us would die for you."

"Uh, Doc.  You just fucked up the lyrics."  Gabriel mumbled quietly.

"Whether he fucked up a song or not, he makes a good point.  If what makes you happy, Baby, is for us to dance around a bonfire naked with fucking pink tiaras on our heads..."

"I don't know we would go that far Mr. Taylor."

North glared at Owen and then challenged him, "are you telling me that if Baby asked you RIGHT NOW to do that or she was gone, out of here, would go live on her own and try to make it out in this crazy ass world without us... YOU would choose to let her go?  NOT ME!"  North stood up and pulled his shirt off his head.  Then he toed his boots off his feet.  His hands went to the button on his black military pants.  As he popped the button and started unzipping his pants, he looked at me.  "Just give me the tiara and I'll dance my ass off for you Baby!"

My eyes were locked on his half naked body, his intense dark eyes, his willingness to be vulnerable... FOR ME.

I hadn't said anything for I don't know how long.  I was contemplating how undeserving I am to have any of them as mine.  Let alone all nine of them.  My mind had disconnected from my surroundings as I thought through what they were saying, but when my mind reconnected with my eyes, I saw that all of my men, including Owen, were standing in nothing but their boxers. 

I smiled and a small giggle escaped my lips.  A few more giggles followed right behind.  The more I fought to be an adult and act my age, the more giggles burst out of my mouth.  I doubled over with laughter, rolling on the floor, I was laughing so hard tears were seeping from my eyes.

"Oy, she's fucking laughing her ass off at us!"

"Brilliant plan Baby Brother.  We are in nothing but our underwear and she is laughing at us."

"That can't be a good thing, can it?"  Nathan asked.

"How the hell should I know!"  Silas answered.  "Removing my clothes has never had this effect on a girl before."

"You started this fiasco Mr. Taylor.  You take the lead on fixing it."