Life Straight Up (reposted - feedback wanted)

Chapter Twenty Four

     I just stood there frozen as his words sunk in. Precious was here, she was in the next room. Cole brought Precious here. The more I thought of it the more the images of her kissing him swam around my head. The thought of them together physically soon followed. I knew they had been together and at one point he had feelings for her, even though he knew where I was and that I was his. My blood boiled. I had to see her, I had to see with my own eyes that she was really here. I needed to know what I was dealing with. Taking Cole by surprise, and myself a little, I bolted for the door and pushed it open. Inside was havoc, Grace was trying her hardest to stop her various wounds from bleeding. This wasn't the girl I met at the party this was a train wreck. She was beyond broken and I was unsure if she would ever be put back together. Although this thought wasn't exactly unwelcome, part of me, a very dark part of me, was glad to see the scene in front of me. That perhaps she had gotten her just desserts, but the Luna in me longed to comfort and help her. I was completely at war with myself. My heart pounded and my eyes filled with tears. She didn't belong here, she most definitely shouldn't be here. Something deep inside me was screaming that this was wrong, that bad things would soon follow.

"Ray come on you shouldn't be in there," I heard Cole say from behind me.

He grabbed my shoulders gently and guided me away from the doorway. As he pulled the door closed behind him his words sunk in, making the anger in me grow like a roaring fire. I quickly moved out of his reach and glared back at him. He looked back at me, eyes swimming in confusion.

"What?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You have the nerve to ask what?" I shouted at him as I shoved past him and hurried out of the building.

I needed to be as far away from her as I could, she may be at deaths door right now, but I didn't trust her. I don't want my babies or myself anywhere near her. In my heart, I still think she wants Cole and will go to the ends of the earth to have him.

"Ray hold up," I heard Cole call behind me, his footsteps quickly getting closer.

"Cole, I want to be alone!" I replied not even looking at him.

"What the hell has crawled up your arse?" he growled as he grabbed hold of my arm, forcing me to turn and look at him.

"Get your hands off me," I shouted back.

"You are not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is wrong," he growled again.

"You really have no idea what on earth could be pissing me off right now? Seriously?" I shouted, trying as hard as I could to pull myself out of his tight grip, but he wouldn't budge.

"Ray calm down, stop fighting me and just answer the question," he said pulling me flush to him, making me gasp.

As soon as our bodies touched I was filled with loving tingles, but it wasn't enough to calm my anger. I placed my hands firmly on his chest and struggled to get an inch between us.

"She is what's wrong, she shouldn't be here!" I screamed as tears streamed down my face, the last shred of my self-control slipping through my fingers.

He quickly pulled me close to him once more and this time I didn't fight him. I needed the comfort that only he could provide. I pressed my face into his filthy bare chest and cried loudly. He didn't say a word he just let me get it all out. He just held me, stroking my hair until I was finally able to calm myself.

"I don't want her here Cole," I said, my voice still shaking as I pulled my face from his chest.

"I know Ray, I don't want her here either, but I couldn't just leave her there. I couldn't leave her there like that," he said, as he looked down at me and stroked my cheek with his thumb.