Unforgivable

Chapter 8

After a few minutes of him driving, I placed my hand on his arm as I did earlier, but this time he didn't jerk his arm away.

I looked at his eyes, hoping he would at least try and make eye contact with me, but even as we were stopped at the red light, his eyes were glued to the road. My free hand wandered up to the volume knob, and I slowly turned the music down.

Booker's eyes met mine, and he let out a long breath.

"I shouldn't have taken you here, I could've gone alone," he sighed, his fingers adjusting around the wheel.

"It's okay, this wasn't your fault," I lie, "I just snapped when Matt called you-"

"Dangerous." He spoke, with a sly grin plastered over his face. I frowned, and turned my face to stare out the window. I watched as the objects in the rear view mirror disappeared over time.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, squinting against the sun as I tried to read the road signs.

"Back to my place," he replied, his grin never leaving his face, "we could just talk."

I felt unsure about this, Booker didn't seem like the kind of guy who would "just talk" with a girl after taking her to his house. But, I was in his car, I couldn't really object.

"Just...just promise me you'll stay good, okay?" I mumbled, my voice shaking, hoping he didn't catch my drift. I follow his eyes as they study my body.

"I understand," he answered back, his grin wiped clean, "I just want to talk, Rhea. I'm not going to do anything bad to you."

There's a part of me that makes me believe him, mainly because I feel bad for him. I don't know why I do, though, after what he did to me. He is dangerous, and we both know it, but I ignore it. Silly me.

"We're here," Booker speaks between gritted teeth, "Hurry, before Nico sees us."

"Nico?" I ask, freezing in my tracks. "Who's Nico?"

"A judgmental bitch," he responds, making me laugh, "he thinks I mess with every girl who comes by here."

His hand finds its familiar spot on my wrist, and he leads me into his apartment complex. The smell inside reminds me of his car, and I struggle to breathe without coughing. As we went up the flight of stairs to the second floor, we were stopped by a voice behind us.

"Well, well, well," a male voice snickered, "you didn't introduce me, Booker."

Booker whipped around, jerking my arm forward. His green eyes caught mine, and he let my wrist drop as he signaled me to walk upstairs. I listened, and continued up, but stopped at the top so I could hear what they were saying.

"Leave, Nico," Booker grumbled, "she isn't like the others."

Nico chuckled, taking a step closer until he was an arms length away.

"Then who is she? Sydney? Laura? The one you fucked and left in the street," he rambled, his fists closing tightly, "I could go on for ages!"

I forced myself to stop spying on their conversation, but I couldn't help but think about what Nico just said. Who was Sydney? Laura? Were there others?

I could go on for ages, his words repeated in my head.

My instincts forced me to stumble around the second floor, searching for another set of stairs. I had to leave; Matt was right. I shouldn't be talking to guys like him.

"Rhea!" Booker and Nico's voices called in unison, "where are you?"

I panicked, and pounded on the closest door. I needed to get away from them as quickly as possible. I froze as they appeared around the corner, picking up their pace as their eyes caught my body.

"L-leave me alone!" I sputtered, my knuckles burning from pounding on the hard door, "I-I don't want to talk to you!"

Nico's hand gripped my arm, and he pushed me against the door. I let out a small gasp as I felt his lips touch my neck, and he gently bit at my skin.

"S-stop," I exclaimed, pushing him off, "what are you doing?!"

"Didn't think I would remember you, huh, you little whore," he spat, "coming up here with Booker was a bad choice."

"Booker, p-please," I cried, hot tears streaming down my cheek, "please."

Booker approached me, and I sighed in relief as he came to my side.

"T-take me home," I wailed, desperately searching his face for an answer, "I want to go home."

Booker's hand flew up to my neck, his fingers slightly closing. I struggled to breath under his heavy hand, and my fingers clawed at his arm. His free hand cupped my cheek, and slid down to trace the mark that Nico had made on my neck. He grinned, and exchanged glances with Nico, who grinned back. My body was shaking, I was petrified.

"What do you want from me?!" I screamed, only to have my mouth covered by Nico's hand.

Booker's grip suddenly loosened from around my neck and I gasped for air, breathing heavily. His eyes turned glossy and I watched a tear roll escape the corner of his eye. His hands fell to his sides.

"Nico, stop," he sighed, his hands reaching up to run through his hair, "I-I can't."

A gasp left Nico's mouth, and his stiff hand made contact with Booker's cheek. Booker's eyes widened, and he pushed back the hair that fell across his forehead.

"What the fuck was that for?" he yelled, the veins in his neck becoming more visible.

Booker's hands curled into fists, and Nico stumbled back after Booker threw the first blow. His heavy hands crashed into Nico's face until blood streamed from his nose. I took a few steps back, still shaking. Booker's hand was still raised, ready to hit him again, but Nico's hands were raised in front of his face.

"C-calm the fuck down, Booker," he spoke, his voice shaking, "I thought that's what you wanted. That's why you took her here."

"I would never hurt her," he snapped, his fists loosening, "she isn't like the others. I brought her here to talk."

"Talk? Whatever you say," Nico laughed. He opened his mouth to spit out another remark, but decided to hold his tongue as Booker's blazing green eyes met his.

"Let's go," Booker grumbled, placing a hand on my back. I slowly nodded, still in shock about what just happened.