Her Mob Boss (Book Three Of The Brave Series)

15-Beaten Bloody

     15-Beaten Bloody

Elena felt odd about what had happened that morning, and since then nothing had changed. It'd been over a week now and Rysen still hadn't spoken more than a few brief words to her. She had started working at the bookstore so by the time she came home at night Rysen was either already asleep or wouldn't return until the next day. The smell of alcohol and cheap perfumes permeated the air of the bedroom to the point that by the third day, Elena had taken to sleeping in Regina's old bedroom. As long as no one found out then there would be no questions. Honestly, she didn't think even Rysen realized she'd stopped sleeping in the room and though they had never actually been in a relationship...something about knowing he was with other females? Well, it hurt.

Elena sighed, picking at her lunch food but not eating it.

"Is everything okay?" Jamie asked her, sincerity in his voice.

"Yeah, last week you were running away from the big bad wolf while giggling and announcing your never-ending love for each other and now here you are sighing woe is me." Elena lifted an eyebrow at Amy's overactive imagination. The girl put her hands up in surrender immediately.

"Okay, okay, I get it, but seriously, you have been acting strangely...well back to how you used to be anyways." She said with a shrug. Elena just sighed once more.

It was Friday now, and she had yet to receive a single text, call, or voluntary appearance from Rysen. If she were to admit it to herself, she'd say that she nearly...missed him. Chase and Harry had been giving her rides to school, dropping her off at work and then Michael would pick her up. She was surrounded by people that were kind to her but she realized in that moment...the only person she wanted most didn't want to give her the light of day. Standing, she told her friends bye, and left, dumping her untouched food into the garbage. As she walked through the crowd of people however, she felt a sudden shove to her back, causing her to stumble before she caught herself. The cafeteria went silent as Elena turned around to find a familiar face.

Amanda Jenkins, the star of the volleyball team. Popular, beautiful, and a terrible person in general. But then, what would high school be without one of the queen bees? Oh that's right, it would be peaceful. Amanda stood there with a glare to rival that of a murderer's as Elena lifted a brow in irritation.

"Look, I don't care who you are but just stay away from my man." She scolded Elena. Elena's irritation grew.

"And who is that? You've had so many." Elena quipped back causing the cafeteria to chuckle and Amanda's face to bloom bright red.

"Rysen Santigo, he's mine now, you weren't woman enough for him so he came to me, now just leave us alone and get out of his life." Elena froze. She knew he'd come home smelling like other women...but to sleep with someone from the school that they were lying to? Elena shook her head, what an idiot. She should've known. Rysen is just another monster hiding in the closet doing his dirty deeds behind the closed door. Except this time he had messed up and brought those deeds into the light. Elena's chest throbbed painfully even as she forced the smirk on her face. She was used to pain by now and though this time it was different, it was still pain.

"Look, I don't give a damn who you spread your legs for. Go ahead and take him, at least I walk out of this still a virgin with my dignity rather than some useless slut who only knows how to bounce a ball over a net." Elena said, the words sounding smooth and hitting her pride like an arrow through the heart. The crowd around them snickered as Elena turned to leave.

"You bitch!" she shrieked and charged. Elena was used to listening for footsteps. Her heightened sense of awareness coming from years of avoiding her adoptive brother. So when Amanda reached her, her arms no doubt coming back to harm Elena, she simply just stepped out of the way. Amanda went crashing over an empty cafeteria table, the loud ruckus causing everyone in the cafeteria to laugh loudly.