Passion.

Chapter Twenty One

As soon as we got into the car, I was panicking. Nervous of the scenario that was yet to be seen. I know it could be bad, I mean I've been kidnapped and beaten, but invasion? What could that possibly even look like.
When we arrive, Roan jumps out of the car and gets two guns from the glove compartment. Oh, I guess they're always there. He gives me one and says "You know how to shoot safely, if I, David, or Reggie need help, you have to hurt someone today." He says. "Okay." "Okay?" He asks. "Yes. I'm not letting anyone hurt the people I love." We get out of the car and run into the house, guns pointed. A powerful entrance. What we see is horrible. Two men are beating the shit out of each other, I have no idea who's on our side. One man has David in a chokehold while the other is kicking him to the ground, gun pointed to his face. I see Reggie fighting multiple guys, he's doing well, but there's a knife in his leg and the men behind him seem to be delaying his process. I run over to where David is and kick the man holding him in a chokehold, in the face. He falls to the floor, especially since I have heels on. As for the other men, they've stopped touching him since I have a gun pointed at his head. David picks up his gun and shoots them for me. "I didn't need help!" I yell. I run over to where Roan is, and realize he needs help. Reggies gun is no where to be found, and they're battling with to many men. David manages to shoot some of their ankles, knocking them to the ground, and I finish the job. Making it quick and simple, a headshot. It doesn't affect my mentality much because Roan and Reggie physically remove me from the room, pushing me to go upstairs. "You don't need to see this. We'll handle the rest." "I thought you needed help." I insist. "We don't." They say simultaneously. I walk upstairs and lock the door in my room. What a crazy moment. Feelings and mind fucking- thoughts mess with me. Was it cruel of me to be so okay with shooting multiple men? Or was it just because I was defending the people I love? I'm not a killer. I'm not a murderer.
Oh my god I murdered someone. Oh my god I'm a serial killer. But I didn't enjoy it, it wasn't planned, it was in self defense, to protect my men! I'm having an inner battle when I hear Reggie walk up the stairs. Ugh. What the fuck does he want? He opens my door and sits down next to me, on my bed. "Listen." He says. But I cut him off before any bad thing could come out of his mouth, "If you're going to say some snarky or rude comment, I don't want to hear it." "I'm not. Listen, I'm not a good guy. I don't try to be. But with this line of business, you have to be that way. So if being in a relationship with these men are putting you in danger, or fucking with you, don't do it. It's not worth it, trust me." "You're just saying that, so you could try to take me away from them. I'll never be yours Reggie, you and I both know that." "That's not why I'm saying it, love. I'm telling you because if you get hurt, there's no going back. If David couldn't make that call, as soon as you got here you would've both been killed today. Is that a risk you're willing to take?" And at this time, the condescending, rude, and annoying prick that is Reggie Richardson, has become a little less annoying and a little more caring.
"I love them. Of course that's a risk I'm going to take." I say, honestly.
"Putting your life in danger for the people you care about... you're very special Claire."
"I'm not special. I'm realistic." I admit.
"As you please." He smiles and walks out of my room.
For once, there was a bit of productivity in a discussion between him and I.
I answered his question truthfully, I love David and Roan. But, thinking harder about it now than when I answered emotionally, do I actually want to take that risk? I know what I signed up for, literally, but the contract had nothing to do with The Mafia.
Nothing in that contract said I had to stay. It specified that I could leave whenever I want. This is final, I'm going to get myself an apartment and a job. Get out of this house more, and enjoy independence.
I'm no ones wife, and I'm certainly not an object. Roan enters the room and I walk over to him. "Is it over?" I ask. "Yes." He replies. "Good." I stand up, walking over to the door and locking it. "What are you-
Roan is cut off by my lips crashing against his.
I back him up against the bed and he sits down on it, legs on the floor spread enough for me to feel his bulge pressed against my skirt. "I've been waiting for this all day." He says. "Me too." I moan into our kiss. I put my hands on the hem of his shirt and rip it off. Grabbing the top of his sweatpants, I pull them down as much as I can and press my thighs against his urging cock. Knowing I'm flexible, flexibility being a trait he likes, I wrap my legs around his lower back and stretch my arms behind my head, moving my upper body onto the floor, and the other half remaining on his hips. "Fuck. I didn't know you could do that." He says, strongly. "There's a lot of things I could do that you don't know about." I smirk. He groans and bites his lip. I thrust my pelvis against him as he sticks himself inside of me and I cry out for more. He bends down and glides his tongue over my stomach, and up towards my chest. Sitting back up straight he fondles my breasts, causing me to become even more aroused. We pick up the motion of our collided bodies and I do an erotic dance with my ass, slowly moving against Roan's heated body. He sticks his hand to the spot on my pussy right above my clit and rubs it, intensifying the pleasure of sex. I can't take it anymore. My thighs are burning and I lift myself up out of the gymnastic position I'm in, and wrap my arms around Roan's neck, kissing him. I missed his lips like this. So charming, so seductive. Being close to him at a time of chaos is everything I need. His hot skin, captivating lips, deep stare, and tendentious hands are delivering a gratification so consuming, I don't want to stop. But as we move faster, I'm impatient and enthusiastic to orgasm to the fullest.
Together, we do just that and Roan falls back onto the bed, pulling me with him. After we're finished, my legs are still sore and shaking. Roan puts his hand on my thigh and massages it. I love this man.
I move to beside him and put my arm around him, ready for this day to be over already. We both let out relieving sounds of "ahh" and laugh at our connected minds.
Our peacefulness is disrupted when David barges in and says, "Sorry for the interruption, but we have a problem." "What problem?" Roan asks. David looks surprised at how he wants me to hear what is really going on. "Turns out, the people who invaded us were some of Reggie's men, that's why he let them in. They planned to kill Claire. Not us. But when they saw you both weren't home; they came after us instead. They're following someone else's orders, we don't know who, but Reggie got some input that they're planning on coming and attacking us tonight." Roan stands up and puts his clothes on. He walks out into the hall and discusses something with David. I can't hear exactly what, but there's distant chatter of 'safety' and 'caution.'
Roan's POV:
"There target is Claire. I also didn't tell Claire this, but I have a job to do tomorrow. I want you and Reggie to take Claire to a hotel about twenty miles away from here. The one a little bit further, by the beach. Michael will hook you up with a hotel room, and he knows not to allow any visitors unless it's me. As for me, I will come back here. Invite my ten men to be armed and prepared, for when they come. We'll take them out, and I'll do the hit tonight, just to get it over with." I tell David.
"Alright. What car do we take?"  "The one I used today. It doesn't have a traceable plate, and you won't get pulled over in it. You change your clothes and shut your phones off as soon as you get there, so you can't be tracked. If they find her, they will kill her. She doesn't know what this side really looks like, she got a small glimpse of it tonight." "Alright. I'll tell Reggie the plan." David says. He walks away, but I have to remind him of the one thing that's been bugging me. "Oh and son," "What?" "Don't let Reggie put a hand on her. He's only here to protect her." He nods and walks away.
Claire's POV:
Roan walks back in with a calm look on his face. How is he so calm? Why isn't he panicking?
"You're going to go to a hotel far away from here with David and Reggie. They will protect you, as the entire hotel has guards that are armed. It's a very secretive place, so I know you'll be safe there. I might not be back until morning, but when I am, I'm driving to the hotel to stay with you. We might have to stay there for a while, so I'm going to have someone send over your clothes and belongings tomorrow."
"Why do I have to stay here for a while?" I ask.
"Because what I thought was going to happen, is happening. There's many people in this world that want me dead. Hell, half of those people want David dead. But knowing we have you, the women we love, they're likely to kill you rather than us, because killing us would make more problems and less organization for them. But killing you, would put us through eternal misery. You're our weakness Claire. But you're also the strength that holds everything together."
I start to cry. I can't help it, there's so much going on that's all new to me. "Hey. Hey. Shhh." He says, wiping my tears and putting his arms around me. I lean into his chest and gather myself as best I can. Thinking of irony and humor in this moment, I release from his arms and say, "I've never had anyone try to kill me before. The most action I ever had was when I would watch a horror movie
alone in the dark." I laugh. "You see. You're going to be okay baby."
"Promise me you'll be okay."
"I promise." He says, kissing my forehead.
As he's about to walk out of the room I say,
"I love you."
"I love you Claire Stone." He says one last time before leaving.
Two Hours Later...
The drive here was silent, I made sure of that. I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want silence. Peace. Is that to much to ask for?
David greets a man named Michael and we get the key to a room on the top floor. There's not many floors anyway, but I guess somehow it's safer. We walk upstairs and enter the room. It's lovely. It truly looks like an apartment. This is more luxurious than most apartments I've seen, but it's still small and it's not home. I don't care about the size, truly. It's about the fact that I can't look forward to seeing Roan for the next few hours and that panics me. I take a quick shower, eager to head to bed and take a deep breath.
I change into comfortable clothes and put on a robe. David walks in and says "Are you okay?" "Yes. I just want him to come back." "He will baby, he will." I kiss David's lips and am comforted for a few seconds before he walks back into the dining area. I keep my lamp on, but manage to fall asleep quickly. When my mind is wandering I tend to go to sleep as an escape, or I over think. I preferred sleep tonight.
I'm awaken by someone's lips kissing my forehead and I open my eyes to Roan. I look to the clock and see that it's 4am. Wow. He's been gone for so long. I lean my body half way up and squeeze him so tightly he falls onto me. The bed is even more comfortable now that he's in it. "You came back." "I promised you I would." I gently kiss his lips and keep my arms wrapped around him. He moves and shuts the lamp off, getting under the blanket and pulling me closer to him. I get under his arm and rest my thigh on him, keeping him extra close. I lay my head on his chest and he nuzzles into my hair.
It is now that I realize peace does exist in these insane moments. It is not the scenario, surroundings, or worrisome moments that make peace so valued.
It is the people that give us comfort and peace without even knowing it, that makes it so valued when we live in the quiet and support of others for a few short moments.
And that is something worth fighting for.