In the arms of evil

The beggining of the truth

It's been a week since Colton left. I haven't seen him around anywhere. I don't know why, but I want to know more about why he was at the club that night. And why he reacted the way he did. He  hurt me; the fear was there. And that was enough for me to walk away from that. God, why does my heart hurt so much.

"Hey there she is" Garret says as I enter the bookstore, sending Lucy running over. I pick her up and give her a hug to hear her sweet giggles before placing her back down. "Garret, um, if it's not too much to ask, do you maybe have a job slot open here?" I ask sheepishly. "Yeah sure! I'd love it if you could lend a helping hand. Especially with Lucy's treatments coming in, we might be gone a while and stuff. How does $6 an hour sound and you can pick your days?" I smile at the offer "that'd be great Garret. I'd love to." Finally. A job. Not that I really need one. The money I got from selling the house and the auto shop has me set. But I need to do something besides sitting at home and reading all day.

I was off to the coffee shop when I noticed the road down to the club. I let out a shaky sigh before heading down there. Hopefully to find some answers.

"I did what you wanted alright! Now I want out. I don't do this stuff anymore Marcus, this isn't me. I did one last job for you now leave me alone. I mean it." That sounds like Colton. I hide behind the side of the club and peek out over the corner to see Colton talking to a tall grim looking man. His skin is ivory and littered in tattoos. He has no hair but is built bulky. With dark circles under his eyes and veiny hands, he chuckles at Colton as four other men move in closer towards him. "Really colt? Because the way I see it is, you either do as I say and get the job done or that pretty little thing you were hanging around with might just go missing" my heart began beating frantically, banging like a drum against my chest. "Don't you dare touch her" he heaths.  "I did what you wanted. I killed him. It's done. I did what I owed. That's it. Now let me go!" Killed him? What was he on about? I can't picture him killing someone. There's no way. "You did. But I'm not done with you yet. You used to be such a good addition to the gang Colt. What happened?" Marcus chuckles. "I had enough" Colton says, emotionless. "Or was it the torture and near death experience that sent you packing?" Marcus teases. Coltons fists tighten, but he takes in the other four men around him and realises he's outnumbered, releasing his fists from their grip. "Good boy" Marcus taunts. With that, all five men walk away, leaving Colton defeated in the car park. "Colton?" I whisper coming out from my hiding place.

Colton spins around, and once he sees me, his eyes grow wide. He come rushing towards me but stops once he notices I've become uncomfortable around him. "Brook... what are you doing here?" He asks, looking around, making sure Marcus and the men have left. "I came to see why. Why you did what you did to me that night" his squeezes his eyes shut at the memory of that night before he whispers "I'm really sorry Brook. I never meant to hurt you. I was just scared that- it doesn't matter. There's no excuse. I should never have put a hand on you and made you scared of me." He takes one look at me, eyes showing how completely broken he is. "Is it because of Marcus?" I say without thinking. His eyes shoot up to mine, full of concern. "How do you- no, it doesn't matter. Brooklyn, listen to me. Whatever you heard or think you heard-"
"That you killed someone?" There goes my mouth again. With that, Colton grabs me and shoves me into an empty club. "You don't understand, and I don't have time right now. Tonight. I swear. I'll explain everything. I'll meet you at yours around 11pm. Go straight home. You hear me?" He has his arms on either side of me, blocking me from leaving. "Brooklyn?" He asks getting slightly agitated. "Fine. Now...can you please back up? You're too close" I mutter, rubbing my wrist. He looks down at me rubbing my bruise he left on my wrist where he grabbed me that night. "Fuck" he mutters under his breath, "Look Brook, I know me saying it isn't going to change your mind, but please believe me when I say, I'd never do that to you again. I was scared and angry because if you get involved, I can't protect you. I never wanted to be the one to hurt you. Never. I just freaked out. I shouldn't have. Please Brooke, I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm just asking you to try and trust me again. Please" he begged, taking a step back. I see flashes of Troy and Colton morph together and shake them out. "I don't know if I can Colton. Even after I told you about Troy, you still hurt me. I don't want to be afraid of you. But I am." My words wound him. I can see it in his eyes. "I love you Colton. Maybe that's why I'm here. If I didn't care I wouldn't have bothered to come find answers. But what you did is unforgivable. I get that you were scared. I do. But you shouldn't have done what you did. I don't know if I can ever forgive or trust you again. I'm scared Colton." Tears begin to streak down my face. "Oh doll..." he wipes away my tears and pulls me into him. I melt into his arms and sob louder. "I hate you Colton. I hate that you broke my heart" I sob into his chest as his arms snake around my waist and rub my back. "I know baby. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry" he whispers, never letting go. I lean off him, his arms still on my waist. "I have to go Colton." I walk away, rubbing away the tears.

Bang on 11pm, Colton is knocking at my door. "Hey" he says sheepishly as I open the door. "Hey" I reply back, moving aside to let him in. He takes a seat on my couch cautiously, as I take a seat on the opposite one seater. His hands shake as he begins to explain his dark past. "I was sixteen when I first got involved with Marcus. We used to work in Tennessee for a couple years before coming here. I started off selling drugs."he sighs at his poorly made choices as a teen.
"Once we arrived here in Nantucket, I was eighteen, a hot head, and really good at beating people up. I was Marcus' bodyguard for a while. And I was really good at it. Romeo, you remember Romeo?" I nod, the memory of him from our first date pops into my head. "Romeo used to work for Marcus. He was a hustler for him. I used to help him out from time to time. Some guy who owed Marcus money didn't pay up, and I was asked - ordered, to kill him. After that, I had to watch my back more than before. When Romeo heard what I had done, he had enough. Romeo up and left to open up a seafood joint. I left when I was twenty. After I ended up waking up in a hospital from almost bleeding to death. Someone Marcus had a dispute with back in Tennessee wanted to get even for not getting cover from the police. He was just a drug dealer. Marcus had no use for him. So he threw him aside. He got mad that Marcus didn't need him, found me, drugged me, tortured me, cut me up and bruised me, then left me out on the street for Marcus to find. When I woke up in the hospital two months later, I told Marcus I was out. Done. I couldn't anymore Brook. That night scared the shit out of me. I thought I was going to die. Alone and in pain" he looks to the floor, obviously pained from the memories. I stood up and walked over to him, sat beside him and held his hand, rubbing his knuckles in a circular motion. "Oh Colton...I'm so sorry" my eyes began to water, feeling sympathy for him. "I had no idea" I whisper, kissing his shoulder. "I never talk about it. It's a night I'd much rather forget. But I'd do it all again if I could take back that night I hurt you" he says, taking me completely off guard. "Don't. What happened, happened. It was awful, yes, but I'd never wish for you to go through that pain ever again. I'm so sorry Colton. No one should ever go through something like that." I pull his head to my chest as I see the tears escape his eyes. This great big muscular man was breaking down in front of me. Let his vulnerability be seen by me. I fell in love with him even more for being so raw and open with me.

We stay like this for long moments before he continues "Marcus wanted me to kill a man that night you told me your story. He owed him money and said if I did it, I'd be out for good. But then he found out about you. And threatened me that if I wasn't there for his beck and call, you'd be next" my heart drops. Fear rises in my chest. Colton notices my breath quickens in a panic and rises, holding my shoulders, trying to calm me "listen to me Brook. I'd never let them hurt you. Never, you hear me? I swear. I'd die before they lay a hand on you" his eyes tell me he's telling the truth. And that scared the hell out of me.

This is Colton and Brooklyn's aesthetics: