His Rose

Bullets for dinner

I sat in my bathtub, thinking of Jack. He was from New York, and grew up in foster care. That must have been tough. I can't imagine anyone growing up in that awful system, scar-free. He's so... rugged, and big and possessive. Is it bad that I'm kind of attracted to it? I've always been intrigued by the "bad boys", but it was just a fantasy. I need caring, stable and safe. And Jack was none of those things.

After I showered, I started getting ready. What am I supposed to wear to this dinner? Is it fancy? Casual? I barely even knew those people. I felt the anxiety building up in my chest. I sat on the floor, staring at the ceiling, taking deep breaths. I can do this, it's one stupid dinner and then I will never have to see him again, right? Right.

After a couple more pep talks, I was finally able to finish getting ready. I wore light makeup and left my hair in its short natural waves, and chose a long blue and white dress with strappy open-toe heels; casual but elegant. I sprayed some of my favorite flower-scented perfume and grabbed my purse. I gave myself a once-over in the mirror before nodding and exiting my house. As I was locking my door, I felt a hot breath on my neck. I swiftly turned, ready to scream for help, when my eyes landed on his. 

"Hello, pretty Rose" he mumbled, caressing my cheek. Oddly comforted, I whisper back a quiet greeting, making him let out a small, barely-there smile.

"You didn't have to pick me up, I was planning on walking there", I gently said. His eyes turned darker as he took my words in, a slight animalistic rumble vibrated through his chest. He grabbed my hand and I noticed how my palm was so much smaller than his. The idea made me smile. I looked at him, he was also staring at our joint hands, almost in awe of the sight, but then shook his head and turned to lead me towards his car. He helped me in and buckled my seat belt, and got in. My dress had a slit on the side, exposing my thigh. I tried covering it up, but Jack grabbed my hand, stopping me.

"Don't", he croaked, putting his large palm on my thigh. My breath hitched, and my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. He lightly squeezed my skin, making me involuntarily gasp. I don't know why, but I did not mind the contact. I am losing my mind. 

"You are so beautiful", he quietly whispered, never taking his eyes off the road. I gulped, feeling the heat rush to my face. I managed to croak out a small thank you, when suddenly, our car was hit from the side. I screamed in fright, as Jack cursed, trying to regain control of the car. We finally stopped spinning; I did not realize I was crying until Jack grabbed my face, wiping my tears. 

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he interrogated, his eyes roaming all over me. "I-I'm fine", I stuttered between breaths, but before he could reply, gunshots were fired at us. I screamed and ducked down, as Jack quickly undid my seat belt and pulled over his lap. He opened the glove compartment, and pulled out a sleek black gun. My eyes widened.

"Holy potatoes", I could not help but whisper. Jack quickly opened the door and pulled us out. I clung to him like my life depended on it; which in this case, it did. 

"What the actual hell is happening Jack?" I questioned once my brain took in everything that's happening around me. I tried wiping my tears away, but they just kept falling. 

"Some old friends of mine, but don't worry baby, we'll be fine", he said before he aimed his gun and shot it. The shit was so loud, I think it burst my eardrum. 

Suddenly, four men charged at our car, shooting. For a moment I though this is it, I'm going to die on the street, shot to death by some gangsters. And the idea of my lifeless body being sent to my parents made me sob loudly. 

"HEY JACK! THIS IS FROM DIEGO!" a voice shouted, before another wave of shots were aimed at us. Jack's car was completely and utterly destroyed at this point. he turned to look at me. "Listen to me, stay here. Do not move, you hear me?" he ordered. My eyes widened, and I started shaking. "No, no no no you can't leave me here no no", I cried. He grabbed my face and kissed my forehead, a gesture I would of thought of as romantic, but given the situation, it felt more like a goodbye type of kiss. "Don't worry, I'll be right back baby girl", he smirked.

I gasped as he sprung from behind the car, shooting his gun like his life depended on it. I heard stream of curse words being shouted. I took a deep breath, and tried to peak from the side, when someone grabbed me y my hair. I screamed in surprise and pain. 

"Please let me go" I cried. The man chuckled as he pulled me by my hair towards the center of the gun fight. 

"Look what I found" the man laughed, in a sing-song voice. Three men were down, and only two left, standing in front of Jack.  Jack's eyes darkened as soon as they landed on me, and the vein in his forehead was about to pop. 

"Santiago, you have about 5 seconds to let her go before a bullet goes through your head" Jack menacingly threatened.  

The man behind me, Santiago I am assuming, laughed mockingly and pulled harder on my hair, making me cry out in pain. Jack visibly flinched at the sound of my scream, but pointed his finger (Note: I saw this in a movie and thought it was so cool) as if his hand was a gun and pretended to shoot. 

I flinched and screamed as the bullet flew an inch away from my temple and landed on Santiago's face; his blood spattering all over the right side of my face. Santiago's body fell, taking me down with it, covering my white dress in his filthy criminal blood. 

Jack smirked; my head was spinning. The two men looked at Santiago's body wide-eyed, unable to process what he hell just happened.

"Take his body back to Diego, and show him what it looks like to cross me, and hurt what's mine" Jack spat, shooting one of them in the leg, and the other in the arm. My ears were ringing very loudly at this point, and this whole thing was overwhelming. 

I barely registered Jack coming closer to me and picking me up, before my eyes rolled to the back of my head and passed out.