THE RISE OF CAIN FAULKNER

seven

sleep | citizen 

. . . .

As we were talking to the living room, Cain and I passed the room where my brothers were in, Bash standing guard outside the closed door.

"Protect them, please," I pleaded with him and the only reply he gave me was a nod. He was taking his post seriously, I could tell by the ticking of his jaw. Cain whispered something to him and then motioned me to follow him.

Once we entered the living room (seems like everything happens here), Jill smiled brightly at us. Riley stood beside her, hands on her waistband and a carefree smile on her face. Her eyes told anyone even thinking about harming Jill to "fuck off." Confident in Riley's ability in doing her job, Jill looked relaxed as well; the only sign she was worried was the tautness of her smile. While smiling, Jill slightly tilted her head and gestured with her eyes. Cain seem to have gotten the message because he gruffly shook the hands of the guy in the room. 

"Cain," the man with a buzz cut, tattoos, and dangerous lip piercings smirked. 

"Wasp," Cain acknowledged with a head nod. Wasp turned and gave me a sickly sweet smile that made me shiver in disgust. His eyes roamed from my head to my toes but lingered on my legs. It made me uncomfortable. 

"And you are?" He softly asked and I leaned against Cain on purpose. As I moved my body towards Cain's, he stood ramrod straight. When I fixed myself, Cain relaxed against me. Maybe if this guy saw how close Cain and I were standing, holding hands, he would get the memo and scoot away from me. 

"Alex," I tightly smiled and averted my eyes. Riley caught my gaze and gave me a soft smile, leaving me confused.  

"It's a pleasure to meet you, dearie," Wasp cooed before Cain cut him off. 

"As much as Alex likes speaking to you, I don't. Why don't we get down to business?" Possessive Cain sounds so attractive, I swatted the thought before I began blushing and embarrassed myself in front of Wasp. I unintentionally made eye contact with Riley again, and this time she waggled her eyebrows; seemingly knowing what my thoughts about possessive Cain were.

"Ooo touchy, touchy," Wasp chuckled and my attention was on him once more. He stared at us before looking over to Brennon. "Are you sure they're a couple, Bren, Jill? Cain looks oh so uncomfortable." 

"We're here to discuss other matters, Wasp, not Cain's relationship status, or there lack of," Brennon shot before Jill could answer, and then cleared his throat. Addressing me, he exhaled stressfully. "The people who kidnapped your brothers, Alex, were not affiliated with Wasp."  

"What's he doing here then?" The words left my mouth before I got a chance to sensor them. I shot Wasp a fearful glance but when all he did was chuckle, I relaxed.

"I'm here to help find the one who did," Wasp pursed his lips. "I'm assuming she knows at least something about the RM?" This was directed at Brennon and I bristled at the 'RM' topic came up again. For God's sake!

"Alright," I scathingly began, "what the hell is the RM?! Wasp?" I continued at his nod, "you're talking about it like Brennon and Co. here and I am truly lost."  

"You haven't told her?!" Wasp asked, exasperatedly. "What the actual hell, Brennon?! I expected this from Faulkner, but not from you!" 

"What?!" I almost begged him, dignity be damned. 

"First off, Girlie, the RM is not an 'it', they are a group. The letters stand for Russian Mafia, better known as the fucking Russian Mob and those are people you do not want to mess with, even I don't fuck around with them." 

"Why the Mob? What do they have to do with me?" I asked, my voice frantic. I could feel myself hyperventilating. Russian Mob, what do they want with me? I didn't realize how bad I was shaking until Cain tightened his grip on my hand and started rubbing the inner side of my wrist with this thumb. 

I attempted to pull my hand away from his, but as he looked at me from the corner of his eye, I could tell it was his way of saying that he'd only let go if I wanted him too. This Cain is still slightly drunk. That's the only reason he's letting you grab his hand this way, my thoughts reminded me and I kept them in mind as I took action. 

Instead of pulling away, I did something that surprised both of us- I clenched his hand tighter. 

"Simple," Wasp shrugged. "They want to kill you."

. . . . . 

posted: 12/24/15