Scarlet Kiss

Chapter 2

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"What the fuck are you doing here?" a familiar voice growled down at me shaking my shoulders. I sucked in a sharp breath and peeked one eye open praying it wasn't who I thought it was, but of course I have the worse fucking luck in the world.

"You're only 20-years-old, how did you even get in here?" my brother yelled harshly making me flinch. With his bulky 6'4" frame, he towered above me, forcing me to tilt my head up so that I could look him in the eye. "And where the hell is Paul?" 

"He, uh...he left?" I mumbled, trying to pull away from his strong grip. 

"He what?" Killian exclaimed. "I'm going to kill that idiot! He should know better than to leave you in a place like this." He ran a hand through his dark brown hair identical to my own in everything but length. His eyes closed briefly, then took a deep breath trying to calm himself. I guess it didn't work because I could practically see the vein in his forehead pulsing with rage.  

"What is your deal?" 

"You need to leave," he murmured. "It's not safe here." His eyes opened again, his pupils dilating with a chilling glare. His hands on my arms tightened to the point of leaving bruises on my flesh. 

I flinched and studied his expression, a bit startled by how vehemently he wanted me to leave. It made me wonder what it was about this place that had both Paul and my brother so wound up at the idea of me being here alone. I set my face into a hard mask and stared steadily back at him. It annoyed me to no end that he was yet again trying to dictate my life.  I'm not a little girl anymore. "You can't tell me what to do, Kill. You're not Dad, so back the fuck off."

He blanched at me, caught off guard by the coldness in my voice. His grip slipped from my shoulders and I yanked my body away from him, taking a step back and crossing my arms over my chest. Ever since we were young, Killian was always so overprotective of me. I couldn't understand it at the time, and honestly I still don't get it now. He went way beyond what was normal for the 'protective older brother role' and made me feel like a breakable doll that was unable to make decisions for herself. After our parents' deaths nearly 11 years ago, I moved in with our grandmother, while Killian being 14 decided to live with a friend in the next town over. Even though it gave me the space I needed to start creating my own identity, that didn't stop him from coming over to check in on me three times a week like clockwork. 

Last year, I nearly died of shock when he had 'agreed' to let me move in with Paul, especially since the two of them have never gotten along very well. It was absolutely mortifying the first time I had to watch Killian give Paul the big brother speech, and unfortunately it happened at least six times after that. Paul had fucked up enough times in Killian's book to make him come over and threaten to beat his ass on more than one occasion. In reality it was just a forgotten anniversary here, or not coming home for a day or two there, because heaven forbid I'm left alone or mistreated in the slightest. Now anytime that Paul has a business trip that causes him to stay out an extra day or two, Killian takes it upon himself to drive four hours and spend the night at our apartment. Something I never agreed to. 

Ironically, I think this is another one of those situations where Killian is getting his big brother speech ready again because Paul fucked up, and I'd rather not be around to see that happen.

"Aria, I'm just trying to-" he started, but I cut him off.

"I know what you're doing and I'm telling you to back off. You are suffocating me, Killian! Don't you see that!? I can't breathe!" I needed to get away from him before I smacked him in the face. My anger was starting to get the best of me. I turned to walk away, but felt his hand grab my wrist and pull me back.