In the arms of evil

Half truths

Eating Chinese sitting crossed legged on the couch, Colton seemed relaxed as he watched the league of extraordinary gentlemen on the flat screen tv. "Keep looking at me like that and Chinese isn't the only thing I'll be eating tonight" he turned and winked at me, slurping down the noodles. I kicked his ribs playfully, laughing. In quick movements he had set the Chinese down and was over me on the couch. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?" I giggled, ruffling under him. "Having a bite of desert" he said clearly, kissing my neck.

My body relaxes under him as his lips leave gentle trails of hickeys on my collarbone. Before I know it, his fingers are fumbling with the hem of my panties under the long white tee I have on. Another hand slips under my shirt and fumbles with my breasts forcing moans to escape me. I wince when his rings graze along my bandaged ribs. "Fuck," he mutters under his breath, propping himself up on his arms. "I'm sorry baby. I didn't mean to" he says, eyes searching mine for forgiveness. "It's okay colt. I don't want you to stop" I whisper, running my hand through his hair that fell softly past his face. "Not yet" he says, shaking his head, getting off me completely. "I could hurt you. I don't want to be the one causing you pain" he mumbles like a hurt child. "Baby, it's okay. You didn't hurt me. I'm fine" I place his hand over my bandage, not flinching. "See? You didn't hurt me. You could never hurt me. I love you baby" I whisper, kissing his ear as I cup his face. He brings his head down to my chest as his arms snake around my waist. He lays in my arms on the couch, carful not to put his weight on me. "I love you so much Brooklyn. I'm sorry for everything you've been through because of me. If I could've stopped all the pain you've been through in the past, I would" he says against my chest. "What Troy did wasn't your fault. Nor was what the men did in the alley. What matters is you're here now Colton. You're here now." I stroke his hair and rub small circles with the finger on his back. He doesn't say anything back. Just holds me tighter until he falls asleep.

I hear a soft knock on the door, forcing my eyes to flutter open. Colton is still asleep beside me on the couch, arms wrapped around me. I slowly lift them and get up off the couch, stretching out before opening the door. It's Sammy. "Hey, how are you?" He asks, startled. "I'm fine. What do you want?" I ask before yawning. He peaks through the apartment and sees Colton asleep on the couch. "Tell him Marcus wants to see him. He says... he's looked after you long enough and if he doesn't kill the target..." he took a deep sigh before meeting my eyes "the target would kill you."

My eyes were left open in shock as my heart hammered in my chest. Shutting the door, I had hardly noticed Colton stirring awake. "Baby?" He asks tiredly. When he sees the worry on my face, he bolts off the couch, running to me. "Brook? What's wrong? Who was that?" He asks angrily, looking at the door before his hands take hold of my shaking body, resting his palms on my shoulders. "Sammy"I manage to say, pointing at the door behind me. "He says... Marcus wants you to kill the target or..." my eyes fill with water as I try to get the rest of my words out. "Or what doll? What did he say?" He pushes, gripping my shoulders tightly. His  eyes grow wide with the dark reality when my eyes meet his. "Or he's going to kill me."

Colton is up and getting dressed into a sports tight black top and ripped jeans. He throws a worm black leather jacket over his muscular body before reaching for his motorbike keys. "Where are you going?" I ask, watching him dash past me in a hurry. "I can't take the job Brooklyn. I want to protect you but I can't kill the guy he wants me to. Someone else has to" he says as he opens the door. I grab his elbow, begging him not to go. "Who is he? I don't want you to kill him either but why does Marcus want you to do it so bad? Why you?" He turns to face me slowly. Taking a deep breath, his eyes slowly meet mine. "Because. I'm the reason he is the way he is. I'm the reason he joined the gang. Because he's... my little brother."

Coltons eyes stay on mine as I process what he's said. "That's messed up. If he's your brother, why does Marcus want you to be the one to kill him? It doesn't make any sense. And why would he want me dead?" My voice is hurried and my grip on him has grown. Why didn't he tell me this before? He doesn't answer me. He just sighs, shrugs me off him and leaves. I chase him down the stairs until he's on his bike. "Colton tell me the truth! Who is he?" I shout from the doorway as he starts the engine. "I'm sorry babygirl. But I can't do this. Not even for you." With that, he drives off, leaving nothing but dirt in his tracks.

I race upstairs, my hands rubbing through my messy hair frantically. What the hell do I do? Tying my hair in a pony tail and  throwing on a pair of jeans and high knee heeled boots, I grab the keys to his truck and race to Marcus where Colton will surely be.

Coltons pov
I couldn't tell her the truth. I wanted to. It was at the tip of my tongue. But the look of worry on her face would surely turn into disgust if she knew the truth. I couldn't do that to her. Not in a million years.

"Marcus!" I yell, jumping off the bike. I see him sitting on a log smoking. He smirks as I walk closer to him. "Well now that took you long enough. Come with me, I'll give you all the information you'll need for the assignment," he takes a deep inhale of his cigarette as he gets up. "No." It comes out firm and full of authority. "No?" He asks, blowing out a heavy puff of smoke. There's a tone of anger in his voice. Maybe a little confusion. "I'm not going to kill him Marcus. He's hurt her and he's fucked up but he's still my kid brother" I say, fists clenching. "He will kill her Colton. You know he will. When he finds her, it's game over. You're really choosing him over her?" He throws his cigarette to the ground, eyes never leaving mine.

I hadn't heard her, but when her hand came and collided with mine beside me, my features softened. She had just pulled up to the hideout and all eyes were on her. "He's not choosing, Marcus. You can't ask him to kill his little brother. It's not right. He won't hurt me as long as Coltons by my side" she smiles as she looks up at me. It doesn't quite reach her ears, but she's trying to be strong for me. "Why don't you tell her who he is Colton" Marcus says, smiling wickedly at us. "He told me it's his brother." She's trying time defend me. But when she finds out the truth... she may very well shoot me.

"Do you know his name sweetheart?" Marcus asks, eyes glowing in the moonlight. She shakes her head slowly, looking up at me with those innocent brown orbs. "Tell her Colton. Tell her his name." That bastard. "What's his name?" She asks like an innocent child, clutching my hand. "Please doll. Let's just go home..." I beg her, cupping her face.

Brooklyn's pov
His eyes are full of fear and for whatever reason, something is telling me I really don't want to know. "Okay. Let's go home" I whisper, stroking his face with my knuckles. He instantly relaxes as he kisses me gently, hand intwined in my hair. "It has to be you Colton." Marcus's words stop us. "You have to be the one to kill him. You and I both know that. And you're lack of loyalty to me will get her killed. Brother or not. You know what you have to do."

Colton picks me up, bridal style, eyes searching mine for an answer. "I love you" he whispers into my hair. "It's okay. You don't have to kill him to prove that. Whatever happens, I've got your back." With that, he turns to face Marcus. "He's my brother. But she's my life. I won't go looking for him. But if he comes to us, consider it a done deal. He's gone if he comes in sight with her." Marcus nods in agreement as Colton takes me through the tall pine trees, disappearing into the night.

He sets me on the back of his bike. "What about your car?" I say, wrapping my arms around him as he starts the bike. "Sammy will send it over in the morning. Right now, I just want your arms around me. I want you as close as possible and when we get home..." he turns to face me "I'm going to get even closer" he says with a smile.