Deceitfully Damaged
Page 22
For a moment she remains rooted to the spot, until a wide smile spreads across her face as she lunges forward to attack Avery. Shoving her twin back into the sand after she’d just managed to get to her feet, Meg’s running spurs Axel and Dax from the porch to run onto the beach. Seeming to avoid facing Dax, Avery chases Axel and Meg who took off in the same direction. Not one to be left out, Garrett also speeds towards them too, only to be tagged when Avery senses his presence behind her and quickly turns back. Shooting for Dax, Garrett’s legs thump powerfully in time with his arms as he gains on him in no time. Delivering a backhanded slap to his ass, Dax jolts and yelps although he hasn’t stopped smiling, like the rest of them. They make it look effortless, when I’m unable to rise from my seat, the heaviness of my limbs weighing me down.
The group run back and forth like the sand is a football pitch, diving and skidding with more than one victory dance. Axel is gunning for Meg, the sun’s glow reflecting off his scalp reminding me of a basketball as he runs at top speed. At the last moment, Garrett jumps into the way to receive the ‘tag’, acting chivalrous but I know he doesn’t have it in him. Twisting to a helpless Meg, his wide smile looks full on Joker and his eyes are laced with menace as he bends to throw her over his shoulder. Racing straight into the depths of the sea, she screams and thumps his back but there’s no stopping him from diving into the oncoming wave and taking her with him. Leaving them to it, everyone else starts to retreat inside speaking of breakfast but my eyes are glued on the pair in the water.
Having breeched the surface, Meg uses her legs to kick water into his face in an attempt to swim away. Ploughing through the spray, he catches her ankle and drags her into his body. Holding her close, a loud whistle rings across the space which has Axel pausing in the doorway. Garrett signals for him to join them with his hand but Axel waves him off, turning back to enter the house with a look of hurt flashing across his face. Not seeming to care, Garrett dips his head down and takes Meg’s mouth hostage with his. Their silhouettes grind against each other, Meg’s back arching and nails clawing at his shoulders. Not wanting to know what’s going on beneath the surface, I finally pull myself up from the seat and make my way inside.
Avery is by my side in seconds, sliding her arms around my waist and smiling up at me. Managing a hint of a smirk for her, she leads me to the table and gently pushes me down into a seat. Now I see what this ambush was about. A plate of toast smothered in jam is placed in front of me within seconds, alongside a coffee I’m not sure was originally meant for me since I don’t usually take mine so dark, but I’ll take it. Caffeine has become my best friend as of lately.
Across the table, Axel is pushing cereal around his bowl with the back of his spoon, lost in thought. If he seriously thought Garrett would be faithful to him, he’s deluded and I have no sympathy. Where I’m trying to fight the all-consuming anguish taking over my soul, Garrett accepted his, a long time ago. His outer bullshit is a rouse, luring women into bed so he can vent his frustrations sexually and say they were begging for it.
Managing to force down a whole slice of toast by the time Avery joins me with her own, her fingers trail along my arm in praise and I suddenly feel like a puppy being trained. What’s more annoying is how I’m not too bothered by it, just enjoying her sole attention. Dax slips in on her other side, looking over at us longingly but she keeps her head turned away from him. This time my smirk is almost genuine, the tables beginning to turn back in my favour.
Breaking the moment, Meg slops through the backdoor with Garrett right behind her. Dragging her athletic vest over her flushed face and dumping it by the washing machine, she stands in her sports bra appearing agitated. The plum coloured leggings glued to her lower half appears black as water drips onto the lino flooring. “I swear he was a fish in a previous life,” she grumbles, her nostrils flaring and teeth grinding as she stomps across the kitchen towards the staircase.
Garrett rounds the table once she’s disappeared from view, sliding his wet arm around Axel’s tense shoulders. Shrugging him off, Axel leaves his breakfast and the table without saying a word. Garrett’s slack jaw and panicked eyes are a balm to my stress, relishing that, for once, something has managed to affect him. Although not for long, dropping his sodden ass into the recently vacated seat, he begins to eat the soggy cereal with an easy smile back in place.
Torn between wanting to stay close to Avery but needing to be as far away from Garrett’s incredibly noisy chewing, I push myself upright and thank her for my breakfast before slinking back outside. Despite barely doing anything this morning, I feel like I’ve started a journey to conquer an internal mountain and returning to my room would slide me back to the bottom. Not stopping on the porch like usual, I venture towards the sea for the first time since arriving here.
The softness of the sand welcomes my bare feet, squishing between my toes with each step onward. My navy gym shorts waft around my thighs in a light breeze that also pushes my t-shirt against my body. The body I can’t bare to look at right now, but one step at a time. As soon as I can find the energy to exert myself again, I’ll be exercising three times a day to get back to my original size. Not for appearances but because I miss the delicious burn and next morning ache only peak fitness can provide.
Finding myself at the edge of the sea, I take one last step to allow the warming water to smooth over my feet. Like the wave that crashed to push the tide out to me, a dam within my core breaks and crumbles. I can’t hold back a gasp as a physical wash of relief floods my system, cleansing my pores and boosting me up the mountain I was just visualising. For the first time, I’m able to see the peak, a bright glow leaking out from behind it.
Glancing around me, footprints moulded into the sand start to wash away in the expanding tide. A fresh canvas is left behind as the water retreats, gracing me with an opportunity to add in my own next time. A perfectly blue sky hangs above cementing the start of a new day, a clean slate I can thrust myself into. Needing to share the buzzing in my veins with the one person in the world I can stand to be around, I turn to run back towards the house. An image in the sand grabs my attention, a large heart drawn with a nearby stick showcasing the words ‘Avery + Gaxel’ inside. Grimacing, I make sure to smash my foot through the centre on my way passed.
Avery has just finished washing up as I re-enter the kitchen, taking her by the hand and pulling her upstairs. As soon as my foot hits the top step, raised voices filter from under Garrett and Axel’s bedroom door. Unashamedly, I relax my hold on Avery’s hand to walk the length of the corridor slower than necessary.
“What’s gotten into you?” Garrett’s muffled voice sounds over scuffling of feet on the floorboards inside.
“You know what has. I’m not getting into this right now.”
“This is ‘cause I was messing around with Meg, isn’t it? I called for you-“
“I’m not a dog, Garrett!” Axel’s voice booms, making me halt to hear how this plays out. “I don’t give a shit what you do, but don’t give me some speech about changing unless you mean it!” A door within slams loudly, Avery flinching from the noise that vibrates through the flooring.
“Axel, come out of the bathroom. You know this is just the way I am.” I can imagine from the longing in his tone, Garrett is slumped against the door like a lovesick teenager which brings a smile to my face. Finally, something is affecting the asshole and it’s making my fucking day.
“When am I ever going to be enough for you?” The smile is wiped right back off again from Axel’s response. He should have known what he was getting into but still, if there ever was a man that deserved to find happiness, love even – it would be him.
Sensing that’s enough, Avery drags me along and forces me into my room. Her giggle is music to my eyes as we enter, reminding me of the revelation I had on the beach. Spinning and using her back to close the door, I push myself against her lithe body and steal a kiss. Surprised for a second, she melts into my torso and pulls me back down by the na
pe, crashing her lips against mine. Sweetness drips into my mouth as her tongue skates across mine, turning the blood in my veins to honey. Holding her face in my hands, I take every drop she is offering until I’m panting.
Her bright blue eyes are sparkling as I pull back, biting down on her full bottom lip while I try to control my sudden urges. A part of me had been worried my Johnson would no longer work after all this time, but the stiff bulge in my shorts has proved me happily wrong.
“What’s got into you?” Her tone is light, her words escaping on a chuckle. Drawing her towards the bed, I pull her down for a hug since I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but need her close. I’ve already run a marathon compared to where I was last night, I don’t want to push myself any further so soon. Her body curls into the side of mine, her golden hair spilling across my shoulder.
“I feel… better. A tiny bit.” I pull her closer and breathe in her vanilla scent that I’ve missed. “I don’t think the nightmares will be able to find me tonight. No more replays of that afternoon, the masked man with different coloured eyes and a scar in his eyebrow diving at me-” Avery’s body stiffens all of her sudden, her fingers digging into my chest as she begins to shake. Pulling her upright, the pure horror in her gaze sends lightening bolts of panic into my gut.
“You never mentioned those details before,” her voice quivers. “Not in the police reports or to me…” A tear escapes her eye which I quickly catch with my thumb. Her breathing grows rapid, terrified puffs leaving her trembling lips. Tilting her chin up to face me, I beg her to tell me what’s wrong while apologising for upsetting her. I don’t understand how I’ve hurt her again but I have, and that’s enough to plunge me back into the depths of my self-loathing.
“I can’t believe it was him. Fredrick Walters. The man who abused me, who I hoped I’d never be near again.” She twists her head from my light grip, shunning me with her back. “He was the one that shot you.”
Avery
Meg wraps herself around my body, making me flinch. I’ve been so distracted by my thoughts whilst staring into the rippling sea, I hadn’t even realised night had fallen. The waves spilling towards me and recoiling back has a hypnotic effect, pulling me into a trance where none of the secrets and pain exist. If it really is him, the one I fear the most is closer than I thought and was in my damn house, then I don’t know what to believe anymore. Has my whole life been a setup, a convenience in some revenge plot against my parents?
Squeezing me tightly, I lean my head on top of Meg’s, pulling on her strength to refill my own. At least we found each other again, that’s a blessing I can hold onto. My twin completes me, where I finish, she begins and I’ll never spend a day of my life without her again. Curling my arms around the soft jumper she’s wearing, we stare into the distance in silence together. The sky is incredibly dark tonight, a thick layer of cloud covering the moon and stars from shining down upon us. My eyes prick up, noticing how deathly quiet the beach is. Even the birds are hiding in their trees, the entire world waiting in anticipation for something to happen.
Figuring we should turn in for the night, hoping the morning brings a healthy dose of resolve with it, I link my fingers between Meg’s and slowly spin her towards the house. The moon breaks through the clouds, a spotlight shining down in the distance like a warning siren from space. In the brief illumination, a darkened figure becomes visible amongst the tree line beside the porch. Even from here, I know that silhouette isn’t one I recognise – the rounded middle and slightly hunched shoulders reminding me of an upright gorilla.
Every nerve ending numbs, a shudder rolling through me as Meg’s head shoots up too. Gripping my hand tight enough to bruise, she puts one foot in front of the other to slowly pull me forward. The only rational part of my brain that still works can sense trouble waits for us at the edge of the beach, but I also know our best shot to avoid whoever it is lies inside the house in the form of five guys. I believe even Wyatt would put aside his personal vendetta if I were truly in danger. Acting as calm as I am able, I stroll beside Meg pretending we haven’t seen the unnerving shape that’s hidden from view since the moon has been concealed by the clouds again.
Steering off to the opposite side of the porch, a scuffle of leaves in our new direction makes my blood freeze in my veins. Only ten feet left to go, nine, eight. Gorilla guy lunges for me from the left, a shriek leaving my lips as he approaches rapidly in my peripheral vision. A similar shape darts from the right, running for Meg as we bolt towards the back door. My foot hits the first wooden step when I’m yanked backwards into a wall of muscle. His sausage fingers cover my mouth, a sharp sting digging into my side. Meg has managed to dodge her attacker, making it past the porch swing before she notices I’ve been caught.
Pleading for her to run with my eyes, although I know she won’t, I kick and thrash wildly. My shoe connects with a shin, the resulting grunt and shift causing his hand to lift from my mouth a smidge. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, I lean forward and throw my head backwards into his face. A deafening crack beside my ear makes my stomach roll as I’m dropped to the sand. Scrambling, I leap and catch the edge of the timber railing with my fingertips, quickly pulling myself up and over. Pushing Meg through the back door forcefully, I scream at the top of my lungs as the men barge inside after us.
Garrett slams the fridge closed, his eyes wide as saucers as Axel hops down from the kitchen counter. Without hesitation, they dive at the men chasing us, allowing us time to flee towards the stairs. Squeezing Meg’s hand tightly in mine, we can’t help to glance back. Axel’s fists are already covered with blood, his inner beast coming to the surface to pummel his attacker relentlessly. With his amber eyes blazing and teeth bared, he appears to be more animal than human in this moment.
Not having the same luck with his opponent, Garrett’s head spins with the force of a punch cracking across his cheek. Fear has me trapped in its clutches with each hit Garrett takes for me, his eye already swelling. With a thump that floors his foe, Axel runs over to step between his lover and an oncoming kick to his abdomen. Taking it with merely a grunt, Axel’s shoulders bunch as he advances to return the favour.
Remembering to flee, we round the banister as the front door is kicked inwards and slams to the ground. A monster of a man, the biggest one yet, steps onto the fallen wood and sneers at me. Through the gap of a ski mask, his brown eyes are laced with a hatred that I don’t understand. Backing up, a heavy weight ploughs through us from behind, Huxley launching himself from the bottom step straight onto the thug.
Meg falls to the floor from the movement, her legs scrambling to regain her footing with my help, yanking her up by the jumper. Looking beyond her frightened expression, I see Garrett and Axel have managed to push the rest of the gorilla gang back outside, punches flying violently on the other side of the windows. Dax appears behind me on the stairs, his hand coiling beneath my arm and pulling me up the steps. Meg’s fingers are torn from mine on a scream, her hair twisted around the thug’s fist. Huxley is sprawled across the floor, struggling to get back up as Meg is dragged across the room.
“Get her to the study,” Meg shouts at Dax, as if I’m not here. My heart jackhammers in my chest, desperately trying to help her but Dax’s grip is relentless. Pulling me up the steps forcefully, I twist and reach for her even though it’s pointless. “I can’t leave you!” I scream, tears freefalling from my eyes.
Grabbing a lamp from the small table in the corner on the way past, Meg swings it behind her like a hammer throw champion. Catching her attacker in the temple, she manages to scramble from his grip to close the gap between us. Pulling me close, she kisses my cheek and stares into my eyes with urgency. “They don’t know about me. Go to the panic room, I’ll be right there.” Before I can respond, she moves over to help Huxley to his feet, checking him over for injuries. Finally allowing Dax to draw me up the staircase, my heart cracks with each step away from her but she’s right. She’ll be fine and can join us in a
minute.
Making it onto the landing, battle cries filtering through the floorboards from beneath, we dash towards the study’s open door. A slam at the end of the corridor has my head whipping around to see Wyatt emerging from his bedroom, his emerald eyes zeroing in on me with malice etched into their green depths. Not wasting another second, I enter the room and wrench out the book Meg showed me as far as it will go. The clicks release on the other wall, Dax’s eyes already noticing the slight shadow against the cream paint and opening the door for me to run into. Flying across the panic room, I open the laptop and key in the password to see what the fuck is going on downstairs.
Slamming has me whipping around, the locks sliding back into place making me gasp. Dax is standing in front of the release button, his stance wide and ready for the inevitable fight I’m going to give him. “What the fuck are you doing? Meg’s out there!” I scream. His eyes dart to the floor, scratching his scalp so his afro is bouncing viciously in the pale lighting. Crossing the small room and shoving him with my palms, he barely moves, his hands raising to hold me back by the shoulders.
“I’m sorry Avery, I can’t let anything happen to you. You heard Meg, they’re not here for her. Everyone is doing what they must to protect you, as am I.” His voice is low and even, considering I’m throwing my weight against him. I don’t want to hurt him but if he comes between me and my twin, I won’t hold back. Channelling my self-defence lessons, I step back for him to lower his arms before swinging a punch into his abdomen. It didn’t pack the whack I wanted but it’s still enough for him to take a step back and his piercing blue eyes to widen in shock.