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TWENTY-ONE
KAI
There are parts of my life that make little sense. Moments lost in time. Bits and pieces of memories that come and go, playing like an old black and white film in my mind. Like a waking dream, blurring into the background, not making any sense at all. Most of my childhood feels like a black hole. The beatings I endured numbed me, making me succumb to a place where I felt nothing. A dark hole, an empty corner of the world where nothing else existed, where I could hide from the horrors of my reality.
That became the norm. I would close my eyes and wander off into this subconscious place anytime the world became overbearing. It’s the only thing that helped me cope, though instead of working through the pain, I buried it deep within me, until one day it would become too much for me to bear and it would erupt taking me along with it.
Today was that day.
This is Elijah Pearce, my fiancé. I’m getting married.
Everything in the room turned crimson. Rage consumed me, making my blood boil and my body tremble. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, couldn’t make sense of what I’d heard.
I had no idea why he was standing so close to her the moment I walked in, or why he was even here dressed like he belonged. Just because he was dressed in an expensive, surely knockoff suit, instead of the Cobra’s Cut, didn’t mean he belonged in a place like this. He was nothing but scum, a worthless piece of shit just like I was, who shouldn’t be within one hundred feet of Stella, yet there he was, by her side, with his arms around her like it meant something.
That’s the moment everything I’d been suppressing inside me erupted.
I saw the panic in her eyes, the fear of being caught in a web of lies flashed bright within her silver eyes. Fear of what would happen next.
And then she ran. Out of his arms and away from mine. My first instinct was to run after her. I’d chase her to the ends of the earth as long as it meant keeping her the hell away from his greedy hands.
Elijah must have found out she was wealthy and figured he’d make her fall for him, and then he’d be out of the slums and into her gilded palace.
That wasn’t going to happen, not if I had any say in it, and she was foolish to think I didn’t.
But first, there was something else I needed to do.
Without thinking, I walked straight to him, my right hook slamming into the left corner of his perfect jaw. His head fell to the side, but he kept his balance despite the force of the blow. He was a Cobra after all, which meant he was trained to fight along with the most ruthless of thugs.
I heard my friends gasp around me; the girls calling out my name in panic, but he didn’t strike me back.
Didn’t get the chance to because soon enough, I was gone. Away from him and running after her.
“Leave them. Whatever happens, they need to clear the air, Elijah,” I hear Ruby call out as I pass him by.
“Not like that. He’s furious, Ruby.” Fucking asshole doesn’t know what he’s saying.
“He’d never hurt her.” She’s right, I couldn’t hurt Stella, but at this moment, I don’t know what I’m capable of.
Taking the stairs three at a time, I reach the top just moments behind her. I hate being in this house, just as much as I’m sure she hates it. I need to get her out of here and away from everyone who’s forcing her to make these stupid as fuck decisions. This marriage is a sham. It has to be. Stephan Silver made it clear to me that someone like me would never be part of his niece's future. There is no way he’s accepted Elijah.
Stepping inside the bedroom after her, I slam the door shut, the sound vibrating through the walls.
“Get out Malachi!” she shouts at me, not bothering to turn around, yet knowing it’s me who’s followed her, not him. Luckily, he knew better than to get in my way a second time.
I’m shaking vigorously, trembling with violent rage at the image of his dirty hands on her. How fucking dare he touch what’s mine, and how dare she let him?
I wasn’t planning on coming tonight but was dragged here like a magnet being pulled toward her. This has been the longest four weeks of my life. Not able to talk to her, to see her, or even touch her. I thought once more wouldn’t hurt, that I could see her, take a hit of my most favored drug, and I’d be set for another month. That doesn't seem to be the plan.
Ignoring her request, I continue stalking behind her, reaching out to grab her by the waist as she heads for the door of her attached bathroom and yanking her toward me. Immediately she’s pushing away from me, trying her hardest to wriggle out of my hold, which only makes me harder than I already was just looking at her in the tight fitted white dress. She’s so fucking beautiful. Her hair is curled in perfect spirals down her back, the color of a delicate sunset.
My grip on her becomes constricting, and she continues to try to fight me, but it’s no use. “What game are you playing, Dollface,” I whisper against her lips, making her freeze as I press my erection into her, unable to hide it any longer. I’ve been so fucking hard for her since the day I met her, unwilling to show her how much, yet so eager to. I was afraid of breaking her, of tainting her innocence with my vile thoughts and unrestrained actions, but all of that went out the window the moment I heard her say she was his.
Over my dead, fucking body.
Her gaze is broken, eyes red, and full of tears I know have been a constant since my departure. I shouldn’t have gone away, but I did it to protect her. To save her from being dragged under my clutches, all life sucked out of her for being close to me.
I did it because of his threat.
