she's mine.

32

I opened my mouth to say something as I backed up into Eli, his hand catching my waist as i stumbled back. But before I could speak, another feminine voice cut in.

"Hey Jonny," Lea intervened stepping in front of Jonny. "Maybe we should go outside?." She asked innocently as she stepped toward him again blocking his vision, forcing him to look down at her petite self.

I watched his jaw clench and unclench multiple times before he turned and almost threw the door of the hinges. Lea quickly followed him out the door.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Just as I noticed the silence that had flooded the diner, I heard a deep scoff from behind me as Eli snickered at my brother's temper.

I whirled around on him, pulling away from the hand that had been resting lightly on my waist which left me colder than it should've.

"Why do you always have to antagonize him!?" I accused him.

His brown eyes were confused before they went back to their blank stare.

"Me?" he asked sarcastically. Gosh he was frustrating.

"Yes! Why do you always have to push him like that!?"

"I'm sorry I didn't realize you wanted this," he gestured between the two of us. "To be a secret."

His words hit me.

This is exactly what I had been afraid of, but from him. I thought he was going to be the one to keep me in hiding. How did this happen? How was would he think that I would want us to be a secret? To hide him away? Look at him. He should know. How could anybody ever want to hide that?

He was beautiful. The sun should be ashamed of itself next to him. And on top of that he was a man. He may be barely 18, (Lea had told me he had turned 18 just before their parents passed- she said they were lucky because that meant they could together with him. Only people who had been through the worst of it could find how they could be lucky after such an awful event.) but he was a man.

He took care of his family, he was willing to do whatever it took to keep them safe yet he still had boundaries he wouldn't cross to keep his integrity in tact. He was intelligent and always making me laugh. He brought out a side of me that wasn't afraid anymore, that felt strong and safe.

But.. if Jonny didn't like him..

Jonny was my only family. Jonny and my mom, but I know mom wishes to go back to Phoenix to be with her mom once i graduate. When that happens, Jonny will be my only human. I know she is hesitant to leave us, she doesn't want to, but we all know she's getting too old to be apart of this fight anymore. Besides, I think we all understand that it's Jonny they want, not her or even me.

Jonny has already tried convincing me to go with her, but I think he knows I wouldn't ever leave him. My mom is the best mother I could ask for, but she needs her life, too. She lost her husband and has been on the run ever since. Jonny and I both knew when my father died that a piece of her died with him, she will never be the same. She needed the time to remorse since she hadn't been able to yet.

I know she feels guilty about it, but when Jonny graduated he made her promise that she would get out of this. Again, that's why Jonny works as hard as he does; he wants my mom out of this mess. He wants me out as well, but there is nothing that will convince me to leave him.

So when I say he's all I have, I mean it. I need him, I can't have him going to jail over a boy that I just met, even if I may be falling for him.

Eli's hard brown eyes brought me back. I shouldn't be allowing this man right here destroy my family, no matter how much I want him. Jonny has sacrificed more than I could ever repay, just to put him through another head ache- I couldn't do that to him.

I sighed.

Why did the one guy I fall for end up being the one that I couldn't have?

Jonny has good reason, too. I understood why he didn't want me near him- I mean he did almost get me killed and add on another set of killers we have to look out for now. Which if we are being honest, Jonny will be the one to have to take care of.

Okay.

Really I get it.

But every time I look at the man in front of me all logical thinking goes out the window and I can't think of anything but him.

Ugh.

Get a grip.

Fine.

"What is this exactly?" I said in a low voice, breaking my own heart as I did.

There was the slightest flash in his eyes before they were back to the glazed boredom.

He let out a low chuckle. "Don't ask me, I was just looking for a good time. Oh wait, i forgot- you've never even been kissed." The smirk on his face as he said it hurt more than anything. I stepped back feeling like he had shoved me.

Just then, I heard a gasp that wasn't my own. I realized then that we were the only one in the diner talking, and everyone was watching my heart fall apart- they should grab their popcorn honestly- I bet my pained face next to his stoic un caring stance and cold eyes was a sight to see.

I glanced to where I had heard the gasp come from to see D with her hand over her mouth as she stared. She reached out a hand to me as she walked over.

I stole a glance at the others. Jake stood wide eyed and mouth gaping as if he couldn't believe the words coming from his brothers mouth. Kameron shared the same look before looking away as if he couldn't watch anymore. Loyal Levi was the only one who looked un phased by his best friend admitting to only wanting me for one thing. The only sign of irritation was the tight crease of his mouth focusing on keeping it shut.

I didn't know if they expected a response. They shouldn't- there nothing to say here. I should have known. Why would a guy like him want to be with a girl like me? Other than to brag with his friends about ruining an innocent girl.

I looked back to Eli just as D grabbed my hand.

"I should've known," I said quietly. He didn't even move, wasn't phased at all.

I turned and walked out of the diner with D by my side.

What a disaster this was.

Just as quickly as I find a man, I lose him. How stupid could I be?? Why was it him? Why did he have to have his own gang out to get him? Why did he have to be a thief? And why did he choose me if all he wanted was a GOOD TIME?

I willed myself not to cry as D pulled me into a hug.

"I'm so sorry," she said as she rubbed my back. "I didn't expect that, i'm so sorry." She repeated the words.

I didn't either.

I mean I expected a fight, I didn't expect him to be nice when I acted like what we were was nothing, but didn't expect him to humiliate me.

I hate him.