Snow and her Seven

Chapter 26 - Barely Breathing

Sorry. 

Not. 

It was one of those rare times Snow was alone. Her house seemed to expand around her, leaving her on her bed, Baric nestled against her legs as if he felt not only the cold in the house, but deep in her bones. 

Snow sat back, absently petting Baric and letting her head drop against her abundant amount of pillows. Her room was made exactly to her liking. Big, open wood floors with a four poster bed and huge drapes that could block the world out of her dream scape. Her room was all shades of white, with fur rugs, fur coats and fur pullovers that costed more than most people's salary. 

It was everything she wanted in a room.

Just empty of her family. 

Snow felt it then, felt it crawl up her conscious and invade her mind, coating every thought with the longing and intense loneliness she felt from missing her father. It was tinged though, with strains of resentment that shocked her.

Why hadn't he realized something was wrong? Why hadn't he come back when she had broken down? Did he love her as much as he said he did?

Snow shook her head violently, exiling those thoughts from her head. Everything I have is because of him. 

Baric whined against her, nudging his head into her thighs as if he could sense her mental battle. 

She loved her father.

But sometimes she wondered, if he really did love her as much as he said he did. Snow sighed, knowing things weren't as simple as him coming home from work and just staying with her. 

But if he had....

"Snow?" A voice called, startling her out of her depressing stupor. She slid to her feet, placing her feet in her slippers and walking out as Baric stayed by her side. 

Dominic stood at her door, big and so beautiful Snow's eyes actually wondered how she hadn't seen it before. 

His face was open and concerned, those green eyes dark and worried. He stood casually inside her house, a thick jacket open and revealing his cut body clothed in a fitted mossy coloured top, worn jeans and boots. 

He analysed her slowly, brows furrowing, before stepping forward. "Are you okay?"

Snow stared at him. Feeling her heart beat accelerate with every moment of their prolonged attentions. Then she walked forward quickly, throwing her arms around him and burrowing her head into his chest. 

His arms were instantly around her, wrapping around her like steel bands of warmth and safety, and he held her gently. 

His proud, fierce woman that didn't know she held his heart. 

His proud, fierce woman that couldn't be strong forever. And he more than appreciated her trust in him, to show him her vulnerabilities. 

Dominic picked her up easily, staying silent as she trembled against him. They walked through to her room, and he slipped his boots off, then sat on her bed, pulling her against him like a man would do to a woman who was slowly dying in his arms. 

Because, in a way, she was. 

Her guilt ate at her everyday, the pressure of making sure everyone was safe and trying to atone for her sins biting away at her stability. Biting away at the fiery spirit he had seen the first day she insulted Abel. 

So he held her close, gritting his teeth as he felt his top become wet. 

After this. After everything was finished. After she was safe. Then he would tell her. But for now, he would give himself to her.

In any way she wanted.

____

Brutus stood at his desk, twirling the gun around his thumb as he looked over the Empire he had built. Drugs, guns, you name it, he dabbled in it. Everything except for slavery. He watched his workers, watched his cash roll in, and watched them all bring everything he had ever wanted in. 

Everything he had thought he had wanted. 

His fingers tightened around the gun and he downed a glass of whiskey, placing it on the desk as he paced around the room, immersed in his own mind. 

Brutus had killed his own parents. 

In some twisted way, they had deserved it. They had done things even he couldn't condone. His people thought he had done it out of justice- really, he had done it because he could and he wanted everything they had. And more. 

He pulled out his wallet, moving his gaze to the pale face he knew resided there. She stared back up at him, black gaze cold, full lips turned down in a frown as her white hair raged around her like a wind-induced halo.

Brutus shut it, then threw his wallet at the wall with a roar that didn't change any of the rage he felt. 

She was with Abel and Dominic? 

He knew she deserved better than him, knew he had no right to comment on what she did now. Not since he had left her behind and made his brother pick up the pieces. But by God did he fucking care. 

He wanted her with him, beside him, underneath him and just...around him. He wanted every piece of her, wanted those glares, wanted her scowls- wanted every emotion that ran through her body. 

He wanted, coveted, desired Snow. 

Brutus looked at his gun. Remembered what she had asked of him. 

Then he picked it up, shrugged on his leather jacket and left the room, a grim look of determination on his face. 

__

Bitch, I can't choose.