Blood Secrets

Chapter One

Chapter One

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Till' We Aren't Strangers Anymore

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You're so damn pretty

If I had a type then baby it would be you

I know you're ready

If I never lied then baby you'd be the truth

Here's the situation

Been to every nation

Nobody's ever made me feel the way that you do

You know my motivation

Given my reputation

Please excuse me I don't mean to be rude

But tonight I'm loving you

Oh, you know

That tonight I'm loving you

TONIGHT (I'M LOVIN' YOU) ~ ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

Her dark eyes stared blankly into the small square shaped glass, her fingers nervously twisting it back and forth, watching the liquid as it slushed about. The thought of just downing the contents appealed to an old part of her; a part of her that had once been reckless, careless and loved to have a good time. But the part of her that now felt guilt, now knew what the consequences could be, found drinking the amber liquor almost appalling.

Why had she even went there? Why had she sat down and ordered? Why couldn't she just shove it away or drink it? Why was she breaking a promise she'd made to her parents, her brother and most of all herself? She felt the tears prick at the backs of her eyes as she thought of the night she had made that promise.

* * *

The rain beat down like tiny bullets, exploding against the windshield as the car sped down the empty road. The headlights glared off the soaked pavement, barely piercing through the thick sheet of rain in front of them.

“Harley, slow down,” Colton warned, “They're gone, you don't have to run.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes feeling swollen from the onslaught of tears she had been fighting since her brother had showed up to get her out of yet another mess. But she still couldn't get her pulse to slow down as her heart beat fiercely in her chest, causing a slight pain spread through her. She had been in bad spots before but what had happened that night was worse than any little bit of trouble she had previously encountered. A sob threatened to choke her at the memory of where that guy’s hands had been, of what he had been trying to do to her. She gripped onto the steering wheel tightly as the panic tried to wrap around her again. No one did anything! They just watched! She thought frantically, no one even offered to help her.

“Harley, calm down,” Colton said softly, evenly, his voice low and comforting. “They will never hurt you again, you’re safe now.”

She eased her foot off the gas, her fast paced breathing beginning to ease as her hands slowly loosened around the wheel. Harley's dark eyes glued themselves to the road, her mind beginning to focus only on getting home. Getting them home. “Thank you,” said Harley, her voice rough. “For still coming for me.”