“Thanks, boys. Go back to bed, please.” Andrea insists.
“But mum,” Ayden complains but stays silent when she shoots him a pointed glare.
“Night, Lexi,” Marcus says, yawning and leaving to walk across the hall to his own room.
Ayden doesn’t move for a moment, his eyes locked on me, concern etched across his face. Why do I have to be such a freak? He doesn’t need this in his life. None of them do. They are all good people in this house. They at least deserve to have an uninterrupted night's sleep. I really need to call my mum tomorrow and see if she can come home yet.
“Ayden, off to bed, please.” Andrea urges, and Ayden’s eyes finally leave me to look at his mum.
“Fine. Night.” He sounds like a grumpy child and looks like it when he walks out the door, grumbling under his breath. It’s hard to hide my amusement from Andrea.
When we’re alone, Andrea takes my hand. “You want me to sleep in here with you? Or I can grab my laptop, and we can watch a movie if you like?”
Is she really offering to deprive herself of sleep just to babysit me? Is that what she would do for Ayden? Even as I think it, I know it’s true. She would. If he needed her, she would be there. As much as that sounds nice, it’s kind of weird to me since she’s not my mum. In fact, if my mum offered to do that, I’d still probably say no. I guess I’m just too damaged to be a normal child.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be okay. I’m so sorry for waking everyone up.”
“Don’t be silly. There’s no need to apologise for that. I just wish I could help you.” Andrea’s warm smile reaches her caramel eyes.
“You are helping me. You’ve given me a roof over my head. A safe place to stay. Meals. It’s so much more than I’ve had in a long time.”
“Perhaps. But you are so young, too young to be having such worries.” Andrea sighs, “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”
“I’m sure. Thank you.” I offer her a warm smile hoping she buys my confidence.
Standing from the bed, Andrea cringes, “It’s possible we will all be having nightmares about Tony tonight. Did you see how white his arse was?”
I burst out laughing, and Andrea joins in. She finally leaves me alone and returns to her room when our laughter dies down, but I can still hear her giggle to herself as she walks away from my room.
Since sleeping is out of the question, I decide to settle in for a night of reading. Through tired eyes and overwhelming exhaustion, I keep nodding off while I try to read, but dreams drag me back to my reality each time which makes for a very long night.
My Monday morning starts with a trip back to school for my mandatory counselling session with Mr Matthews. Typically, my visits with him are spent deflecting, but today I push aside my pride and open up. I can’t deal with re-living the assault by Mike or my dad's strange behaviour, but I talk a little about my mum, as well as the things that have been going missing from my house.
Our hour session goes quickly, and before I know it, I’ve caught the bus back to Marcus’s to an empty house since everyone is at work and school. I try to ring my mum, but she still won’t take my calls. I do my usual search on the internet to see if anything pops up about Mike or my dad, but there’s nothing as usual. I sit in the lounge and try to watch TV, but there’s nothing on. It’s a lonely feeling when I’m in someone else's house, so I’m thankful when I go to the kitchen in search of food and come across a note on the bench with my name on it.
Lex, there’s a surprise for you in the garage! xx Ayden
A smile instantly engulfs my face, and I rush out to the garage. Lifting the heavy roller door, I push it all the way up, and my eyes widen when I lock onto my gift. Hanging from a ceiling beam is a shiny new boxing bag. I squeal and do a girly jump and clap my hands. Jesus, this guy has the ability to turn me into a sappy chick!
Taking out my phone, I line up a shot and take a selfie with my new bag behind me before sending it to Ayden. He replies, straight away.
Ayden Mitchell
You look happy! I take it you like it?
Lexi West
Hell, yes I like it! I LOVE it!
Ayden Mitchell
☺
Lexi West
Thank you!
Ayden Mitchell
No need to thank me!
Lexi West
Are you kidding? Of course, I need to thank you. How can I make it up to you?
Ayden Mitchell
You don’t want to know the answer to that!
Lexi West
Yes, I do!
Shit! Wait! No, no, I don’t. I mean, I do, but I know what his answer will be, which will just complicate things.
Ayden Mitchell
What I really want is to feel your soft lips on mine again.
BUT because I can’t have that, all I want is for you to be happy.
Fuck me! Seriously! Why does he have to be so good at making me weak at the knees? Now all I’m thinking about is his lips.
Lexi West
I am thrilled with the bag!!! I’m gonna enjoy kicking the shit out of it!
Ayden Mitchell
That’s my girl!
Why do I think I can resist him? And why am I trying to? Ugh!
Frustrated, I decide to take it out on the bag, which is what I spend the next hour doing. It helps to get out my pent-up anger and pass the time and not think about the fact I’m alone and lonely. That feeling doesn’t last.
As if someone has walked over my grave, my skin chills, and a ripple of warning runs up my spine. Someone is behind me. I know it as much as I know Ayden will never give up trying to win my heart. The same heart that races as I continue punching the bag, not wanting to let whoever it is know that I’m aware of their presence.
All my instincts are screaming at me to run, but since I’m fairly certain it must be Mike behind me, I don’t want to run because I’m going to kill him! He needs to pay! He needs to be gone forever. It’s the only way I know I’ll ever be able to walk down the street and not need to look over my shoulder.
As soon as I feel the slightest shift in the air behind me, I spin around, throwing my fist out. A firm hand catches my gloved fist mid-air, and I come face to face with Muz.
“Is that any way to greet a visitor?” Muz drawls past the unlit cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
Gasping, shocked to see him here, and disappointed that it wasn’t Mike because I’m ready to get that shit over with, I rip my hand out of his grip.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Lexi, Lexi, Lexi. Such a little firecracker, aren’t you?” Muz is wearing a blue cap which makes him seem less menacing, but his dark eyes still hold evil intent.
“You need to leave!” I hiss, standing as tall as my 5’5” height will allow me.
Muz grins, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a lighter to ignite the cancer stick sitting between his lips. Taking a deep drag, he blows the smoke to the side before speaking again, “Pretty girl. I’ve come a long way to visit you. You really need to work on your people skills.”
“What the fuck do you want?” I still haven’t moved. I don’t want him to see an ounce of fear from me, even though I’m scared shitless right now.
“Where’s lover boy?”
“Busy. Now fuck off!”
Muz chuckles before shooting me a smile that’s nowhere near nice and then lifts his shirt so I can see the gun tucked into the front of his black jeans. He did the same move when Ayden and I ran into him in Melbourne a few weeks ago.
“I’ll ask again. Where’s Aydo?” His raspy voice sounds less impressed this time.
I shouldn’t poke the bear, but I do because I’m sick of these arseholes trying to control me with violence and threats. I can play that game too!
“And I’ll tell you again, he’s busy. Now fuck off!”
Muz moves fast, tugging the gun out and aiming it at my head. My heart just about leaps through my chest as I look down
the barrel of what looks like the same gun he pulled on Ayden and me last time. Then… I lose my mind.
With heavy breathing, a heart that’s ready to burst, and legs that shake ever so slightly, I take a step forward so the barrel of the gun presses against my forehead.
“Do it!” I hiss through my teeth.
“Pretty girl, what are you doing?” His dark bushy brows draw together in confusion.
“I’m making this easy for you. Pull the fucking trigger and put everyone out of their misery already.”
My words make him flinch before he frowns again. He takes a step back but doesn’t drop the gun, so I step forward, pushing my head against the barrel again.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He growls and steps back again.
“What’s my problem?” I ask, anger consuming me. “What’s my fucking problem?” I scream, stepping forward into the barrel again. “You are my fucking problem! People like you are! I’m fucking sick of arseholes like you who think it’s okay to control people with violence, especially women! Fuck you Muz! Fucking pull the trigger or fuck off!”
Muz is static. Not moving, face blank in shock. Then he lowers his arm and the gun and drops his head back in laughter.
“Aydo’s a lucky son of a bitch to have snagged you. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m jealous as fuck.”
My shoulders slump, and I sigh. “Muz, I’m serious. Ayden’s busy. You need to leave.” Turning my back on him then, I step back to the bag and start my punching combination.
Movement out of the corner of my eye drags my attention away from the bag, and I watch Muz sink down onto the battered couch along the side wall.
“What are you doing?”
“Sitting. Waiting.” Muz says simply, “You need to widen your stance. It will give you better balance and control.”
“My brows shoot up. “You’re giving me boxing advice?”
“Use it. Don’t use it. What do I care?” Muz says, his voice slurring slightly with tiredness. His olive skin seems paler than the last time I saw him, and the dark shadows under his eyes indicate that he’s either not well or hasn’t slept in a while. I can sympathise with the latter.
“Did I say you could sit there?” I snap, and he grins up at me from the couch as he lays back in the corner, looking like a lazy king on his throne.
“I don’t need your permission, pretty girl.”
I throw my hands up in frustration. “How about you tell me why you want to see Ayden, and I’ll pass the message on? I’m sure he has your number or something.”
“Nope. I’ll wait. Where is he? Work or school?”
“None of your damn business.” I throw him a dagger that doesn’t bother him in the slightest.
“That’s where you’re wrong. Aydo is my business.”
“Care to explain?” I ask, wanting to know more. I can’t for the life of me figure out why he’s here in Fox Pines.
“Not really.” He yawns. “Why aren’t you scared of me?”
His question takes me by surprise. The fact that he doesn’t think I’m scared of him means my acting skills have improved tenfold. Maybe I have a future as an actress?
“The real question is, why aren’t you scared of me?” I ask.
A deep gravelly belly laugh rips from Muz, his hand slapping over his tummy like the act causes him pain. Shit, maybe he’s injured.
“You’re fucking hilarious, you know that?” Muz chuckles. “I can see through it, though. You’re deflecting. You’re very good at it.”
I shrug. “It’s a skill that can’t be taught.”
That makes him laugh again. I’m on a roll here. Maybe I should be a comedian instead of an actress?
“Tell me, Lexi, why aren’t you at school?”
I shrug, “They couldn’t handle me, I guess.”
He laughs again. Yep. Comedian it is.
“You drop out?”
“No! Just taking some time off.” It’s a half-truth, right?
“Really? By choice?” He looks smug, his grin revealing a missing tooth in the upper left side of his mouth. That’s new.
“Nope.” I start hitting the bag again. Muz is obviously going to stay even if I don’t want him to.
“Damn girl, you get suspended or something?”
“Or something.” My vagueness makes him chuckle.
“You really are a surprise, Lexi. Aydo’s a lucky guy to have you.”
“He doesn’t,” I say the words before I can consider the consequences.
“Trouble in paradise? What happened?”
“You happened!” I snap and grab at my gloves, trying to rip them off.
“Me? What did I do?”
“Really? What did you do?” I growl, finally freeing one hand and tossing the glove at his head. He dodges it, smiling. “You forced Ayden to snort that shit. He was fucking clean, and you destroyed him!” I’m yelling now, my temper at the surface, ready to kill.
“I gave him options, pretty girl. Not my fault he chose badly.”
My other glove meets his head this time, and it gives me a brief moment of satisfaction at the smacking noise it makes. He’s up and in my face so fast I barely see him move. Instinctively, I throw a punch, landing it on the side of his slimy face before he locks my wrists in his grip and pulls me flush against him.
“Your sassiness is making me hard. If you don’t want to get fucked, you might want to calm the fuck down!” His voice is low and menacing, reminding me of Mike.
“Get your hands off her!” Muz loosens his grip when he hears Ayden’s voice, but he doesn’t let go. He turns his smirk towards Ayden, who is standing in the driveway with the guys and Rhys all flanking him.
“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you, Aydo. Me and your little piece of arse have just been catching up. Oh, wait.” Muz chuckles, “Not your little piece of arse anymore, is she?”
“I’m here, so let her go.” Ayden steps forward, and my pack, including Rhys, follow suit.
“Take a step closer, and I’ll put my gun to her head,” Muz growls.
Ayden’s eyes widen, and he stops moving. So do the others.
“Jesus Christ!” I spin, the action causing the grip Muz has on me to break. “Stop wasting everyone’s time and cut to the chase.” He falters a little when I push him away from me.
“Lexi, be careful,” Jared growls.
“It’s fine Jar. This idiot isn’t going to shoot me.” I turn back to Muz, “Are you?”
He grins. “Nah. Not today, anyway.” Then he shoots me a wink.
Everyone but Ayden looks confused. He grins, too, like he’s in on our secret.
“She’s been giving you a hard time, hey?” Ayden asks Muz.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle. Sure is feisty, isn’t she?”
They both chuckle. What the?
“Are you two done?” I snap, and Ayden turns serious again.
I’m standing against the workbench between Ayden and Muz. I will not cower behind my friends. No. No way. If something goes down, I’m stepping in front of them!
“Why are you here?” Ayden asks.
“You and I need to have a little chat. Turns out your dad somehow influenced Ringo to cut me off. I need you to get your dad to reverse that, or someone is going to pay.”
“Cut you off how? Like out of the family?” Ayden asks, confused. Everyone stands behind him, quiet and curious.
“More like cut me out of the business,” Muz explains, his lips curling as he says the words.
“But Ringo isn’t in your business,” Ayden states, his blue eyes darting to me every now and then, checking to see if I’m okay.
“No, he isn’t, but the motherfucker has connections, and he got them to cut me off.” Muz takes out his smoke packet and pulls out another cigarette, lighting it and inhaling deep.
“How did my dad get Ringo to do that?” Ayden looks calm right now, but the hunched form of his shoulders tells me he’s anything but.
“Fucked if I know. P
robably threatened to go to the police again. It doesn’t matter how he did it. I just need you to get him to undo it.”
“My dad won’t do that.” Ayden frowns, speaking the truth.
“Well, then. I’m going to be your little bitch’s shadow until it’s done. The longer you keep me waiting, the closer I’m going to get.” The threat Muz delivers is real.
“The fuck you will!” Ayden hisses, launching himself towards Muz, but skids to a stop when I step between them.
“Move, Lexi!” Ayden growls, his face turning red in anger. So naturally, I don’t, and I cross my arms over my chest, raising my blonde brow in challenge.
“Really? You’re going to protect him? He put a fucking gun to your head.” Ayden hisses, his pretty face turning red.
“He what?” Rhys speaks up for the first time, anger turning her gaze dark.
“Rhys, it’s fine. He’s too much of a pussy to pull the trigger.” I step aside and turn to Muz again. “Isn’t that right?”
Muz chuckles, shaking his head as he slips his gun back into the band of his jeans.
“Tick-Tock Aydo. Time’s ticking!” And with that final word, he walks away.
Everyone else is silent. Stunned.
I, however, slip my gloves back on and start pounding away at the bag.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Apparently, tonight is ‘let’s all gather together and do our homework at Marcus’s house’ night. I’d kind of thought the guys would back off now that I’m safe with my temporary living arrangements. As usual, I’m wrong.
Ayden’s mum and Marcus’s parents aren’t due home until after 6 tonight, so Rhys and Marcus disappear upstairs as soon as we come in from the garage. Ten guesses as to what they are doing. It’s only 4pm, so they have plenty of time to “study”. Meanwhile, the rest of us cram into the living area to do homework no one cares about. Since the teachers have been emailing me work, I have plenty to do as well. It’s been hard to concentrate, though. Every time I look up, my eyes meet Ayden’s. I don’t think he’s getting any work done either.
Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) Page 26