Tortured - Jaele

|| Chapter Ten ||

Riele-

"You got a name?"

A man in a charcoal black suit with dark hair and the same eyes as Jace lit a cigarette, blowing smoke out of his nostrils and tucking his cuffs into his blazer. His name was Xander, he had tried to shake my hand when he introduced himself. I didn't say anything, staring at the carpet, curling into myself on the sofa beside the other man with big questioning blue eyes and sharp features. His name was Sean, he didn't try to shake my hand but I didn't like the way his arm fell  across the stretch of sofa behind me.

"She's a mute. Just fucking great. Jace sticks us with a retarded teenage girl to look after like we're idiots. "

Xander rolled his eyes, taking another drag on his cigarette. I could feel Sean's eyes land on me. I tried to pretend like they weren't there. As if I was alone like every other day, watching If loving you is wrong and sorting through Promise's baby clothes. I was going to miss her more than I wanted to think about. I had gotten used to taking care of her while Jace was at work all day. We had bonded through something strong. Trauma. I knew he was taking her away. I could feel it. I was already missing her and she hadn't really left yet.

"She's not mute, Jace said she was just quiet. Either that or an asshole."

Sean said. I glanced at him and saw he was studying me. He wore a thick gold ring on his pinky and the first top buttons of his white button down were open. I loved the way they were talking about me as if I wasn't in the room. I stared at the television putting up a wall between me and them.

"Alright, enough of this bullshit."

Xander stuck his cigarette into the corner of his mouth, picked the remote control up and turned the tv off. I looked up at him.

"What the hell did you do that for?"

I said. Xander and Sean traded subtle surprised glances.

"She speaks."

"Hallelujah."

Xander flicked ashes onto the carpet and treaded over to me, sitting down on the coffee table. I pulled my feet up and hugged my knees to my chest.

"What else can you do?"

He asked, blowing blue foul smelling smoke into my face. I coughed, putting my head down.

"Get away from me."

I said, my voice was on the edge of shaking in rage. My jaw was set so tight it was hurting. I was starting to feel trapped. They were getting too close. My breath was getting clogged in my chest. I felt shut in. With nowhere turn to. Xander put his hand on my knee, smiling like the devil himself.

"Why don't you make me babe? Huh? Go on, take a little swing at me."

He lifted his chin and turned his head pointing to his jaw. I pushed his hand off my knee and almost took him up on that offer.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

"Uh-oh."

Sean leaned forward, touching one of my curls. He looked practically amused.

"I think we've upset the princess in her castle."

I smacked his hand away as he chuckled. They were just like Jace. My heart was swelling with anger.

"Aww, I think she's getting a little hot and bothered. What should we do about that Sean?"

Xander put his cigarette out in the candy bowl on the coffee table. I drew away from them, burying myself in that small corner of the sofa. Sean slid closer to me, giving Xander a knowing look. A dirty knowing look. The kind that feels slimy and unpredictable.