The last thing I remembered before darkness swept me under was Braiden’s lips on my brow and his soft whisper, “Sleep, Malen’kaya, I’ve got you now.”
CHAPTER 18
BRAIDEN
I woke long before Em, her slow breathing and soft features too beautiful to disturb. I took advantage of the quiet moment and took a quick shower, then called Sam. He lived right above the office, and I knew if he wasn’t already up, he wouldn’t be far from it. The man damn near lived and breathed his computers. I couldn’t imagine him being away from them for longer than necessary.
“All quiet here, Boss,” he said with a yawn, “I’ve got the account setup in such a way that as soon as it gets any activity, I’ll get an alert.”
I found myself both relieved and nervous that Em hadn’t received another email from Jonas. “Thanks, Sam,” I said, while struggling to hold the phone between my ear and shoulder as I made a fresh pot of coffee.
“No problem. Anything else you needed?”
“Is Dillon there?” Dillon’s bedroom door was open, but he was nowhere in sight.
“No, but I think he had some Christmas shopping thing with Eli today.”
That wouldn’t be awkward much, taking the son of the woman, who recently rejected him, shopping.
“Thanks. Keep me updated.” I hung up and threw the phone on the counter so I was free to concentrate on the task at hand. With the coffee made, fresh juice poured, fruit, yogurt, toast and cereal spread out on a tray, I made my way back to the bedroom. Emily was sitting up in the middle of my bed, her hair a tangled mess, her clothes rumpled, and her pale blue doe eyes looking a little lost and confused. When she saw me standing at the door, she blushed. Such an innocent reaction that made it almost possible to forget the atrocities she had endured over the years.
“Thought you might be hungry.” I strolled into the room and pretended not to notice her bashfulness.
“I slept,” she murmured.
“You did. It’s after nine already. I called Larz last night, and he told Rebecca where you were. He told me you normally have the day off today so I didn’t bother waking you. You obviously needed the sleep.”
“But I didn’t have a nightmare,” she continued. She looked more than a little surprised. I sat down and placed the tray of food on her lap. “And you made me breakfast,” she noted.
“Very observant of you. Eat.” The command spilled easily from my lips and I cringed. I didn’t mean for it to sound like an order, but Emily gave me a small smile and went straight for the cereal. She responded to my command with such a casual ease that it went completely unnoticed. She fed herself and that alone made me realize leaving her when I did had been the right thing to do. She had gained so much of herself back in such a short expanse of time.
“Have you done your Christmas shopping?” I found myself asking her.
Emily looked like a deer caught in bright headlights. She gave me a small shake of her head and took a sip from the glass of juice.
She cleared her throat before she spoke. “I haven’t had to buy gifts in a long time. I’m not sure what to buy or who to buy for.” She seemed a little embarrassed to admit that.
“Let’s enjoy your day off then and go to the mall. Bomber and Gabbie can tag along; they need to get out before they kill each other.”
She fiddled nervously with hem of her shirt. “I’m not really good in those sorts of situations. I’m not entirely comfortable around large groups of people.”
“You like shopping though?”
She shrugged. “What girl doesn’t like shopping?”
I laughed and admitted to myself that I liked the thought of taking her shopping. The thought of caring for her, providing for her made me feel ten fucking feet tall. “Well, you’ll have me beside you scowling and looking very intimidating; that should keep the other shoppers at arm’s length. Gabbie and Bomber will be right there, too. If it gets to be too much, we’ll leave.”
Emily thought about it for a moment. “Alright, I’ve saved a little money and I did want to buy something for Rebecca and Charlie. I need to change though. I think I smell a little funky, and I have morning breath.” She cupped a hand over her lips testing her breath.
“I think you smell perfectly exquisite first thing in the morning, but we can stop by your place before we go to the mall.” I took a piece of toast from the tray and pulled on my shoes, trying hard to ignore the slightly stunned yet thrilled look on her beautiful face. If I ever had any doubts about making Emily mine, they had completely evaporated in the last twenty-four hours.
***
Emily didn’t lie when she said crowds made her uncomfortable. Her legs bounced with excitement the entire car ride, but as soon as we walked through the doors, that excitement drowned under the fear that radiated like a thick blanket around her. With eyes as wide as saucers, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead and trembling hands, Em stuck to my side like glue. Gabbie and Bomber strolled casually on either side of us, but I knew that behind that casual swagger two soldiers were at the ready—their eyes always observant, their hands loose and ready at their sides. We knew Jonas had someone observing Emily in Claymont, and the fact that none of our team had picked up on it was slightly unnerving.
The stores were a little busier this time of year, with the holidays quickly approaching. Christmas decorations hung from the ceilings, lights twinkled, and shoppers looked both frazzled and excited. A stark contrast to Emily who looked ready to bolt at any moment. I took her hand in mine, and made my grip firm and reassuring, as I pulled her towards a store I knew she would be grateful to find. It was a store that I knew had a selection of vintage and retro items. Charlie told me about it when I quizzed him about my own gift for him and Rebecca. I felt Emily’s tension drain as soon as we were out of the crowds and in the empty store. Bomber and Gabbie remained just outside the doorway, arguing over something as frivolous as holiday decorations. Emily immediately noticed the clearance section and drew away from me to look it over. She finally settled on a retro red and white polka dot dinner setting, and a small framed poster that pictured a retro style pin-up girl holding a cup of coffee, the saying along-side of the woman read, “Drink Coffee: Do stupid things faster and with more energy.” I had to agree that it was perfectly Rebecca-like. I carried her bags and took her hand again as we left the store.
“Em, maybe you should get Eli something. How about a new Xbox game,” suggested Gabbie.
“Okay,” Emily agreed. “I wonder what he would like.”
“I know he wants a game called Lego: Marvel Super Heroes, it’s some sort of super hero game that Dillon said isn’t too violent.” We found a shop that specialized in gaming, and Emily’s thoughts became lost in the wall of games; she barely noticed the people milling around her. We found the game for Eli, and I didn’t miss the look of disappointment as Em noticed the price.
“How about we all split the cost. It can be a gift from all of us. That will save me from having to find him something.” Bomber grinned.
Gabbie smiled. “Best idea you’ve had all day.”
Em glanced at me, and I shrugged. “If that’s what he wants, it makes the decision easy for me. Pick one for yourself while you’re at it.”
Emily’s brows drew together in a cranky looking frown. “Why?”
“Because then I can wrap it and give it to you for Christmas. I would prefer to get you something you want rather than something you have to feign interest in and politely smile at just to appease me.”
“Good idea, pick two and the other can be from me,” said Bomber handing me some cash.
“Don’t look at me. I’m hoping to pacify your feminine side by buying you clothes,” said Gabbie.
“That means I have to buy you all something, too!” Emily said in a panic, and then realized she’d said it out loud. “Not that it’s a problem, I just wasn’t expecting it,” she mumbled, trying to cover her outburst.
“I don’t need anything,” Bomber replied. �
��All my crap’s in storage until I find a house. I’m living out of a suitcase right now; I don’t need more stuff to weigh me down.”
“I like chocolate, maybe you can get me some from Annie’s shop. She has those chocolate covered coffee beans. They are to die for.”
I knew Gabbie was finding Em an inexpensive way out of buying her a gift. Em wouldn’t be happy if we all told her not to buy us anything. She looked to me waiting to hear what I had to say.
“You’ve seen my place. I have everything a man needs.” I took her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I have everything I want this Christmas.” She blushed, and thankfully didn’t notice Bomber’s grin or the roll of his eyes.
The cafeteria was a mad house, but we still managed to find a booth at one of the far corners. Strategically it was perfect. We had our backs to a wall, an exit to one side and a perfect view of the entire crazy scene before us.
“What do you all want?” I asked as Em slid in one side of the booth, Gabbie and Bomber into the other. “Boss’s treat.”
“And here I always thought you were a tight ass,” said Gabbie with wonder in her voice.
“You wanna buy your own lunch?” I smirked.
“Club sandwich,” she promptly replied. “With fries.”
“I second that, and a chocolate milkshake,” added Bomber.
I glanced at Emily.
“Ummm, that sounds fine, and a chocolate milkshake, too...please.”
“Good to know someone at this table has manners,” I remarked.
“Thank you, Boss,” chorused Gabbie and Bomber as I headed into the madness of the food court.
EMILY
Gabbie and Bomber went straight into an argument as soon as Braiden walked away. It seemed to be all those two did, argue. Strangely though, it wasn’t out of spite, nor did they dislike each other, quite the opposite. They actually seemed to really, really like each other. Gabbie leaned into Bomber a little as she spoke with a low irritated growl in her voice. Bomber gave her his most charming smile and didn’t once look away from her dark brown eyes. I wondered if they were oblivious to everything except each other in that moment. There was entirely too much sexual tension between the two.
“Oh, come on, you really think American Idol ruined modern music? That’s ridiculous. If anything, it paved more paths and opportunities for musicians who wouldn’t ordinarily have the slightest shot at it.”
“Exactly, they don’t have a shot at it because they don’t have the talent. If they don’t have the talent, they shouldn’t be there!” Gabbie’s Spanish accent, barely noticeable usually, became thicker when she argued.
“Ordinarily they wouldn’t have a shot at it because producers simply don’t have the time to view them all. This way, the entire world gets to see them perform, and even if they don’t make it through, someone out there might see them and give them a chance.”
“Or, recording artist A over here, who is full of unrestrained talent yet gifted with looks less than graceful is working hard, trying to make a name for herself, while recording artist B over there has some mediocre talent but a perfect rack and pretty face, therefore, is more suitable for some ridiculous TV show that is all about ratings rather than music.”
Bomber became quiet and thoughtful for a moment. “Is recording artist A or B a hypothetical person, or do I sense a note of personal soreness here?” Gabbie’s lips closed tight and she took deep breaths in and out through her nose. “You auditioned for American Idol,” Bomber exclaimed.
Gabbie moved slightly away from him. “I did not nor would I ever lower myself to audition for American Idol,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Holy shit, you can sing?” Bomber seemed to be getting more excited by the moment.
I lost interest in the conversation, even though I was fascinated with the relationship unfolding before me, this argument was mind-numbingly boring. I glanced around the busy food court, looking for Braiden. It seemed like he’d been gone for a long time. As my eyes took in the frantic shoppers around me, a face stood out from everyone. Buzz cut short, dark hair, thin lips, and cold eyes. My heart tripped over a beat and the world around me seemed to swirl into an inaudible mess. But that face remained clear and focused. I tried to speak but no words came out. I wanted to look away, but I was scared he might disappear. My breathing grew ragged. I finally tore my eyes away from him and searched for Braiden. When I looked back to the place the familiar face had been, it was gone. I rose slowly from the seat, and anxiously scanned the crowds.
“Em?” came Bomber’s sharp voice from beside me.
My breathing was wild, my heart was beating so loudly it echoed in my ears, and dark, blurry dots filled my vision. “N...N...Nate,” I managed to stammer out before darkness claimed me.
“You think you’re something special? I’ve got news for you, Pet, you are nothing but a stain on his shirt. You are replaceable and insignificant. The moment he tires of you, I will put you down like a dog, like I did all the others.”
The cold steel barrel of his gun pressed hard under my chin. My sobs were almost uncontrollable. Tears, snot and spit dripped from my face making me feel just as pathetic as I was. For one year I had been metaphorically chained to Master Jonas, one entire fucking year, and Nate knew I wanted him to pull the fucking trigger. He knew I wanted nothing more than the death he promised me.
“It’s not time yet,” he growled, as if reading my thoughts. Bringing his gun away from my face he drew back and hit me with it. It sent me sprawling across the tiled bathroom floor. He grabbed the bottle of pills off the vanity beside me. “Where did you get them?” he yelled. I rolled myself into a ball, my hands over my head, protecting myself as best as I could. I knew what was coming because there was no way I would betray Jen, the girl from the club who had acquired the forbidden drugs for me. “Fucking useless whore, you die when he says and not a fucking moment before.”
The first kick sent a jolt of pain through my body, so deep and endless I thought I might pass out. I wasn’t that lucky. More kicking, punching, spitting until my entire body was numb, until darkness shadowed me, until the pain was blessedly gone under the gift of unconsciousness.
“Malen’kaya, open your fucking eyes,” came a familiar voice that seemed too far away. “Come on, baby, come back to me.”
Forcing the heavy weight of my eye lids open, I took in the calming vision of Braiden, hovering so close I could feel his breath on my lips. I blinked once, then twice. “What happened?” I breathed.
“You passed out, right after you said, ‘Nate.’” The memory jolted me to my senses and I sprung up so fast I almost smacked my head against Braiden’s. “Steady.” His hands kept me from standing. I glanced around. We were no longer in the food court. We were in a long hallway, a set of large swinging doors at one end that Bomber stood in front of, his gun held in two hands pointing to the floor. Gabbie stood behind us before another set of swinging doors, her weapon also drawn and at the ready.
“Nate was there,” I said. Panic threatened to take me under again.
Braiden gripped my cheeks and kept my eyes on him.
“We need to go,” he said out loud.
I nodded in agreement. Yeah, we really did need to fucking go. Braiden pulled me from the floor and held me upright until my legs regained control.
“My bags,” I murmured, thinking how ridiculous I was being when my life was on the line. But they were gifts, for people I cared about and I didn’t want to lose them.
“Bomber?”
“On it.” Bomber disappeared out the doors.
Braiden drew his gun from the back of his pants and pulled me towards Gabbie. He let me go long enough to grab his keys. He threw them to Gabbie. “Go get the car and pull it around.”
Gabbie disappeared, too, and I shivered in fear. I knew Braiden could protect me on his own, but I feared something might happen to Bomber or Gabbie. Braiden pulled me close and held me tight, the warmth from his body helped the ice in my ve
ins thaw. I almost scaled his chest in fright when the doors at the end of the hallway slammed open.
“It’s just Bomber,” Braiden confirmed. We heard a car screech to a stop beyond the doors behind us. “Let’s go.”
Bomber covered our backs as Braiden opened the doors. He moved out first and pulled me quickly behind him, straight into the open car door waiting outside for us. Gabbie was in the driver’s seat, and her eyes watched the parking lot like a hawk. As Bomber climbed into the front seat, Braiden pushed my head down into his lap.
“Stay down, Malen’kaya, just until we’re sure we aren’t being followed.” His hand remained on my head, running through the strands of my hair in a soothing manner.
“I missed that,” I whispered.
“What did you miss, Em?”
“That name, Malen’kaya.”
His hand slipped from my hair and gripped my hand that rested on his thigh. “No more so than I missed calling you by it. It didn’t seem appropriate before, but now...” I glanced up at him and he gave me a wink before returning his gaze out the window. “Now your mine and it’s entirely appropriate.”
CHAPTER 19
EMILY
There had been an impromptu meeting at Rebecca and Charlie’s house. I hated calling it mine, even though in Grandma’s will it had been left to me, too. It was Rebecca and Charlie’s home—they had made it theirs in the one way it mattered most—with love. The house had been over capacity, even in its extended, renovated state. Dillon, Braiden, Larz, Gabbie, Bomber, Sam, Parker and Drew packed themselves into the large dining room. Jax and Ella showed up fifteen minutes later, and Rebecca’s large home suddenly felt very small. Rebecca sat on the kitchen counter looking a little bewildered and stunned. I sat in composed silence in the living room, listening but not really participating. It was quite obvious that things were slightly outside my area of expertise. Braiden explained to everyone that Nate had been spotted at the mall. Then Sam told everyone that Jonas sent me another email. The email insinuated Jonas knew I didn’t really want to come back and I was going to die, painfully. Nothing I hadn’t heard before. In light of the fact Jonas had men in Claymont, we were on lock down. I was being shipped off to Braiden and Dillon’s house with the two said men, as well as Gabbie and Bomber. Larz and Drew would stay behind to watch over Rebecca and Charlie, and Parker would stay with Jax and Ella. It was agreed that the likelihood of anyone going after them was slight, but the threat was there, so they were given extra security. I shoved clothes into an overnight bag and grabbed the mantra Braiden wrote to me months ago from under my pillow.
Tortured Soul Page 18