Coveted {FINISHED}

|Chapter Two |

His words hadn't really sunk in until a clash of thunder clapped around the manor. Suddenly feeling stupid for how naive I had been walking into this place with three men without a hint of hesitation. I hadn't even stopped to think about how dangerous this could turn out.

My eyes darted from his face to Regan's and to Jeremy, their faces completely natural. 

"I- uh-" stuttering, I tried to back away towards the door hoping I could bolt out. My skin had suddenly dropped temperatures, the heat from the fire more like ice jabs. "Please I'll just leave and-"

"Are you deaf or plain stupid? I said you're not going anywhere," he spat taking a large step forward, his hand shooting out too quickly for me to react and slammed it against the wall near my head using his arm to block my way. He lowered his head so his pure hot breath could scorch my lips and spat, "Looks like you just got real lucky." 

Lucky?! How was I lucky? I'm a goddamn hostage!

My breath stuttered from my lips as a bead of sweat formed on my forehead. His eyes holding mine intensely making whatever light there was blur out. 

"Stop it you wanker, you're making her think we're kidnapping her or something. What the hell is wrong with you?" Jeremy yelled as he pushed him away from me. When his eyes landed mine, they wore a hint of worry as he hesitated to speak. "This might sound a little crazy and maybe a little hard to swallow but um . . . Well . . . Regan's uh- we . . . Well, you see-"

His words failed, his eyes searching the ground for the courage. Ian crossed his arms over his chest shaking his head, "This is a mistake-"

"We're psychic. Regan to be precise." Jeremy quickly blurted out, his cheeks warmed as all eyes fell on me. The crackling of the fire seemed to get louder, my heartbeat slowing from what the hell was happening.

"Okay. . ." I replied, confused as to what this has to do with me. 

"He well- Regan can see certain people's futures when he touches them, usually its when that person uh-" he swallowed, his eyes shifting anxiously as he swayed back and forth on the heels of his shoes.."See the people who he get visions of . . . Well, usually it's um . . ."

"When they're gonna die. He saw you die." Ian muttered, his voice dry as he examined his thumbnail. 

At that moment, I was numb. Literally, every brain cell that worked a second ago just fried as I giggled. Jeremy's eyebrow rose and Ian dropped his hand with a look of confusion on his face as my arms wrapped around my stomach and bent over, my voice roaring as I laughed. By the time I was done my throat was hoarse and I had cried all the tears I had left, I stood back up my legs shakey. Except for the minute I had straightened myself out my whole body erupted in pain but still I bit down hard and cleared the remaining steaks from my cheeks.

"I'm sorry it's just um . . . Do you lot take drugs? That would really make sense especially with that ones everlasting tantrum." I replied pointing over to Ian as I looked to Regan. I couldn't take it seriously, what kind of bullshit is this? Still, whatever tension was here was gone as I smiled and shook my head. "This must be a prank, nice try but I'm leaving," I muttered slowly exiting the living room. Whatever these guys are into is not something I really need to stick around for. I'll take my chances in my car. "Thanks though!"

I yelled the last part as I ran from the room. I could hear Jeremy protest, his footsteps echoing close behind as Ian cursed but just as I reached for the knob someone's arm had wrapped around my waist lifting me from the ground and hard against their chest.

But at that moment all the fear and need to run away evaporated as something far hotter burned deep inside my stomach, my skin sizzling as those fireworks went off underneath my skin. My breath hitched, short and gasping as my whole body began to sweat. My vision blurred before shadows seemed to dance across my eyes, my heartbeat the only sound I could hear.

My hands grabbed at the arms around my waist but the minute my fingers trailed the slight definition of muscle and soft skin, my knees turned weak giving out from under me as I fell against him. My head spinning, I rested my cheek to the side only to feel lips grazing my ear before I was suddenly standing against a wall no touch or fireworks.

My hands as if on their own trailed up my neck into my hair. I needed to feel something . . . 

"Nancy, hey . . . Open your eyes, you need to open your eyes." Jeremy. His voice cut through the spinning of my emotions and slowly I did as he said finding myself embraced by his cool green eyes. "There you go,"  he mumbled as I focused on his, whatever was happening to me stopped. I was slipping to the floor, my breath controlled and my body shivering instead of shaking. 

"What happened?" I gasped, my mind so confused. What the hell was that?!

"Ian he grabbed you to stop you and . . ." My eyes flew to Ian to see his eyes fixed firmly on the wooden floor, his hands tucked into his pocket and his skin flushed, his jaw set tight. "He's an empath. He can sense other people's emotions if in close proximity and if he touches someone they sort of can experience a heightened level or their or his emotions. I'm taking it only heightened your anxiety."

Anxiety? I don't think it was that. The feeling itself scared me sure, I have never been so overwhelmed like that, never so . . . Sensitive or felt so many things all at once. It was as if every nerve in my body was on fire. I wasn't sure what I was feeling but anxiety wasn't one of them. 

"Please," I responded shaking my head and letting my arms fall around my shoulders. "I just want to go home."

"You can't." Regan's voice boomed down the hallway, his strength returning as he walked towards me and took Jeremy's spot kneeling in front of me. His eyes warm and alive took mine in as his lips moved. "It's not safe. Your boyfriend came to pick you up from the manor. He took you home complaining, angry that you were here with us alone. When you got home, you got into an argument. He beat you, using the yellow kettle near the island in your kitchen to beat your brains out on the vintage blue carpet in your single sofa living room."

I stared at him, my eyes wide with tears burning behind them at the detail. How . . . How does he know all that? Pure cold dread sweeps through to my blood but as I opened my mouth to deny it only two words fled, "you're crazy."

"Your boyfriend hits you doesn't he?" he asked ignoring me. I shook my head but Regan took no notice, all judgement hidden from his face. "You know I'm right, you know in your gut something bad will happen if you go home. He will kill you Nancy."

This is insane! Seeing the future, feelings other people's emotions, that's all magic and fake not reality but I still couldn't ignore his words. He knew so much and my gut twisted in doubt at going home. What if they were right? How would he know about me and Danny? Even if they had been stalkers . . . No one knew about Danny, not that side apart from me. 

Oh God.

"Please Nancy, we just want to help . . . We can help." I hadn't realised I was crying until Jeremy knelt beside his brother, his hand squeezing my shoulder as he offered a small smile. "I understand you are afraid but you need to believe us."

At this moment in time I had no idea what the hell I believe. 

How was any of this possible? How do I logically describe what happened when Ian grabbed me? How do I explain the things he knows?

"Who are you?" I whispered through my tears. I had no idea how to react.

"We are the Crowe brothers. The rest you know. Now please, spend the night. The storm is only going to get worse and leaving won't lead anywhere pleasant. Think of this as a hotel, spend the night and let us think of a way to help you. You can keep my phone throughout the night fully charged, whatever helps you trust us." The offer seemed to calm me as I wiped at my tears. "If you want to call for help and take your chances then we won't be able to stop you."

He handed me the phone, this time keeping his hand as far from mine as possible as I took it in shaking hands. I stared at it for a second.

You knew one day he'd hurt you, one day you wouldn't be so lucky. I thought, my eyes closing as I took a deep breath. Maybe this was my chance, my chance to leave him . . . Maybe they can really help. One thing was true, Danny was dangerous and whether they were liars or not, it wasn't too hard to believe he would actually finish the job to all those other bruised nights before.

I was dead either way whichever decision I made.

"Fine," I breathed, opening my eyes and staring right at Regan trying to hold my shoulders up straight. Slowly taking Jeremy's hands, he pulled me to my feet but the sudden thrust up had me yelping out in pain feeling my whole body crumble as I fell to the side. But before I could crash to the cold ground, Regan appeared in front of me, his arms standing me against him.

"You're injured." He stated.

"Its just my back and leg," I moaned through pain before he began to lead me towards the spiral staircase, the side of his body carrying the majority of my weight. 

Wait, how was he touching me? I forced my eyes to the hand he used to hold the railings and I noticed the silk black gloves over his hands. He led us to the first landing and straight past three rooms into the one right at the end. Flicking the light on it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust and see the large double bed opposite us, the covers black and red silk. The drapes in this room were covered with dust, the red faded. A few empty chest of draws sat against walls with a dresser and small stool. 

Sitting me down on the edge of the bed, he hurried towards the door to the left and disappeared into the small adjoining bathroom before appearing with a first aid kit. He pulled the stool towards us and placed the equipment down before taking a seat next to me.

"I should look at your back. Lie down and pull your top-up." At first, I felt ready to protest but the small groan that left his lips had me silent. Instead I shifted so my back was to him and lifted my top off over my head holding it to my chest. My cheeks were burning red as I lay flat on my stomach feeling his eyes scan my back leaving a pricking sensation travelling through me.

At first, he didn't move but then I felt the silk of his glove against my skin making me jump a little. He trailed his finger from my spine to my side and further down to the rim of my jeans. My heart jabbed away, my mind screaming at me at how stupid I was right now but I couldn't ignore the pinch of anticipation sweeping through me as his fingers moved so slowly.

"You have some pretty bad bruises on your side," he said before the edge of his side of the bed lifted as he stood. "Sit up on your knees." He demanded, at first it shocked me at how harsh yet gentle his voice was coming across. Slowly I did as he said, clinging my top harder to my breasts. I felt the bed tip once more, his legs resting near mine, his chest brushing my back every time it rose. His breath trickling down the back of my neck had me holding my own, the coolness teasing my skin as his hands slowly touched either side of my hips.

I couldn't help but let my eyes flutter closed as he slowly pushed himself closer so his chest was pressed to my back and his hands sneaking towards the button on my jeans. His fingers danced over my stomach, the silk a smooth contrast as his lips paused near my jaw, his cheek barely touching mine. My muscles tensed, my whole being on edge as I chewed on my bottom lip watching him again as he unzipped my jeans.

Why wasn't I stopping him? 

I don't know him!

He slipped the material down to my knees and ran one hand over my thigh making me flinch as pain soared back to life. "Sorry," he breathed holding me prisoner again as he moved one hand back to my stomach and the other remained near the dark black and blue marks.

"I'll bring you something to wear so when Shane gets home he can heal you quickly." He muttered cutting through the heavy air.

"Heal me?" I asked, as soon as he pulled away and stood up from the bed. Feeling his eyes bare into me, I yanked my jeans up and my top on before turning to face him.

"Shane is the second youngest, he can heal."

"I thought Jeremy was second youngest?"

"That's what he says." He replied before rushing off to get me a shirt. When he returned he passed me a large casual navy blue top but I waited for him to turn so I could undress, he stepped closer his eyes turning darker under the faded glow. "We only have two rules here, don't snoop and don't touch anything."

"Sure . . . Thanks for, um . . . Everything." I said uneasily not sure if I should be thanking them yet. 

"Shane will be right up when arrives, just relax and call if there's anything you need." I nodded again and waited a few moments before he left closing the door behind him and taking the tension with him.

The top reached mid-thigh on me and hid me perfectly but I still tried yanking the material further down before disregarding my wet clothes in a folded pile on the stool and opened the door stepping out into the silent hallway darkened apart from the small light cast from the living room illuminating up the staircase. I hurried over and leaned forwards past the marble railings, they were whispering but I couldn't make out anything they were saying.

I turned back to stare down the hallway, they would never know, I said taking a few steps forwards, besides this way I'll know if they're crazy serial killers or genuine, I said to myself again as I grasped the knob and stepped inside the first bedroom.