Never Dare A Duke

Chapter 14 (Needless to Say)

                               Chapter 14 (Needless to Say)

Nathan had scavenged money from his pocket and updated Brad about their situation. Candice leaned back against the glass phone booth and breathed in the scent of wet grass. They were stranded on a stretched out road and in front of a vacant gas station. The only thing that seem to work were the vending machines but even they seemed suspicious to her. 

"Let's find a place to crash. Brad is coming to get us." Nathan came out of the booth. He was still holding the gun but for her sake he did a very good job hiding it.

"How long will it take them to get here?" she asked wondering what she could do to make the bruises on his face go away. 

"A couple of hours maybe." he smiled but the light in his see were dim. Candice nodded like a child and wrapped her arms around her swollen body. She was tired of running. Her head fell down towards her chest and she shuddered as the cold wind swept past them. 

"You're cold. This might help." Nathan half grinned pulling her into his arm. His chest met with her cool back and she shuddered as her sudden cold body felt the rush of heat. 

"It does." she peaked over and watched him smile.

"I though so. I suppose you don't want to go into the station?" he asked.

"No. It'll be infested with rats and roaches. I'd rather freeze." she squirmed in his arm and turned in his hold to face him.

"I understand-" he paused and kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you." she muttered.

"For what?" he asked pulling back enough to see her eyes.

"For understanding. I know I've been really hard to manage; but after what had happened to Anthony and I, I couldn't trust anyone." she rested her head on his chest, burying deeper into his torn shirt.

"I don't want to hurt you but I want to know- why?" he asked running his free hand through her tangled hair.

"when we were little our mother took us out to eat. It was Anthony's birthday and I half way dragged her to be there for him. He was turning ten." she paused recollecting the memory.

"If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to." Nathan whispered.

"You earn an explanation. My father recently left so my mom was a bit torn. She couldn't stay focus on one thing but that day I though she was going to be fine. She was smiling and actually took the time to comb her hair. I began to think everything was fine- but like always she began to space out and instead of feeding Anthony his food she fed him her's, and her plate had peanut oil. That night Anthony began to have a hard time breathing. Mom thought he was trying to weasel his way out of going to school the next day; when I went to wake him up the next morning he didn't wake up." she paused trying not to cry bit tears were already streaming down her cheeks. Nathan's grip tightened and for a second they both stood under the darkening sky in each others arms.

"Of course he woke up; but it took four hours to bring him back.Those were the longest hours of my life.I don't know what I would've done if something happened to him. Actually I would have died myself. When the doctors told my mom that he might not make it- I couldn't breath. Anthony was all I had and losing him meant losing everything. I couldn't trust my mom with him and if I couldn't trust her I couldn't trust anyone." she cried now.

"Shh." Nathan stroked her back comforting her. "You still have him. He's not going any where, neither are you and I'm not going to let you." he said in a powerful voice. She gave him a stingy smile and went back to resting her head on his benevolent chest. 

"I also understand that you're enjoying this very much." he joked pointing out they have been standing in each others arms for some time. 

"Don't let this get to your head. I'm just a little chilly." she shuddered to prove he point. He sighed ; Candice could feel his grin growing deeper. 

"There are other ways to warm up." Nathan kissed the top of her head. Dandre blushed but surprising her shy self she burst out laughing. 

"You just had to ruin the moment Nathan." she laughed. He shrugged innocently.

"I have no idea what you're saying and by the tone you're using with me it seems as if I'm being accused." Nathan shook his head as if really disappointed. Candice poked the side of his ribs and pushed him back.

"Can we give you a ride?" Eliot spoke with a wide silver grin. His smile was bright and the bruises have completely vanished. There was no cast and his hair was settled and tussled just like Nathan's but a bit shorter.

Anthony glared from the back seat. Candice smiled with a sigh of relief. She couldn't get into the car fast enough. Anthony hugged Candice and she hugged back. Neither of them wanted to let go. They were both so close to death. It was nice to see each others faces and to be able to hold each other.

"Where's Brad?" Nathan asked pushing Elliot over to the passenger seat. He frowned and turned back and winked at her.

"He's just trying to act tough in front of you." he grinned making Candice smile warmly. Nathan elbowed him but he failed at hiding a smile. Elliot stopped laughing noticing Candice's swollen lips. They had cleaned up at the gas station but they couldn't hide it all; considering the lack of medical supplies.

"What happened to your lip?" Anthony asked as if reading Elliot's mind. Nathan flinched in anger and Candice reluctantly touched her bruised lips. 

"Nothing-" Candice began to stutter. 

"It was Aiden." Elliot realized turning his attention to Nathan. "Why did he hurt her?" he asked angered. 

"She stabbed him." Nathan grinned looking back from the rear view mirror. Elliot burst out into a laugh but Anthony was still stiff next to her. 

"I'm not going to let him get away with it." Nathan hissed under his breath. There was a quick glance exchanged by the three guys; a mutual understanding and Candice felt the air becoming more dense. They weren't going to leave it alone. 

It had been hours and they were still driving. Candice had fallen asleep besides Anthony.Anthony looked at Candice a piercing pang shifted from his stomach and into his heart.

He wanted everything to go back to normal. H couldn't see her cold, and beaten? That was the last straw. It was amazing how a person could be so helpless. He would do anything o protect her but he didn't know how. All their lives Candice was the one to pick up tue pieces. She made every problem he ver had disappear. If she could do it, how come he couldn't make her's vanish? 

Every one seemed to be wondering how to make their problems disappear. Anthony let Candice lean on Ophir shoulder and rounded her closer with his arm. She very much needed her sleep. The dark circles under ulcer usual lit eyes were mouth to signify that they didn't yet much sleep. Anthony turned away from the other reason they sen so restless. The way Nathan was holding her- Anthony didn't want to think about that. He wasn't going to let his sister fall for Nathan. She would be in New York living her dream if he hadn't kissed her. Anthony gripped the corner of his jacket and squeezed so he wouldn't lash out and punch Nathan.

"Where are we going?" Anthony whispers. 

"Where ever the wind takes us." he grinned. Anthony didn't mind Elliot. He was a pretty cool guy; foolishly brave but a relaxed guy. Except right argue moment he didn't seem to be on Anthony's good side either. 

"I'm serious." He said pulling the small blanket over Candice's shoulders. He was mad at everyone, he didn't know where to guide his anger. It was just there. 

"Back home." Nathan said monotonously. Anthony jumped out of his seat "What!?" and realized he had waken Candice up. She looked at him surprised but still drowsy.

"Is everything okay?" She asked pulling her hair back away from her face. 

Nathan shot Anthony a cool stare and Anthony leaned back hugging Candice.

"Nothing; just a really bad dream" he said glaring at Nathan, he turned away with guilt in his eyes.