Saved By My Step-Brother

Chapter 12 - "You don't have to answer; you're probably speechless"

- August POV, 6 years ago -

We were in an abandoned warehouse, it was filled with spider-web, dust, and animal waste. I woke up on the ground, feeling tickling on the top of my head just to reached with my hand and realize it was a rat. As I jumped up to my feet, breathing hectically, my head swivelled around, attempting to determine where we were. The door finally opened, and Dante entered, munching on some candy before raising his head and halting for a moment, his eyes widening. 

"You're awake," he whispered, closing the door behind him before hurriedly approaching me. "I gave you pain medicine, which is probably why you don't feel anything." He pointed to my left arm, who laid limply by my side. I had not even realized that it had not moved an inch, and as I attempted to simply exert a movement from my fingers, an excruciating pain forced a scream from my mouth. "I guess I didn't give you enough—"

"I'm fine," I dismissed with a wince. I was unsure what to think, as Dante's worried eyes examined my state, and without even cautioning what he was doing, he reached for the bottom of shirt and raised it. He pulled it over my shoulder, in order to examine the bandages.

Finally, a long sigh in relief escaped his lips, "Every time I placed a new bandage, it would be soaked red. I got a bit worried you'd have lost too much blood."

I did not reply, instead simply nodded my head. He released my shirt, and I placed it back how it was, avoiding his gaze. I returned to my seat on the floor, except he sat down in front of me, crossing his legs childishly and picking candies from the bag he had. We simply sat in silence, as my thoughts were gathered and the memories of Theo's family replaying in my mind. It caused my heart to clench, hearing his voice and their screams. Hearing the gunshots that both ended their existence, and the manner Dante did not even hesitate to pull the trigger. It made me wonder if running away with him had been worth the idea of becoming someone new, and forgetting that August ever existed. The horrible things that had been done to me; was all this worth running away from what had happened to August. I sat, biting my nails and staring at the crusting floor.

After an hour had passed, Dante finally began speaking, "You've been out for a day." I nodded my head, "And were almost at our destination."

"Where is that?" I questioned quietly.

"You'll figure it out when we get there."

Although I wished to inquire a bit more, I was in such a daze that I simply nodded my head. Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow in my direction and asked, "Are you okay?"

I did not reply, neither did I make a movement of my head. That was how he knew that I was not okay, and he approached me, placing his palm on my shoulder and pushing me towards him. As my face snuggled into his chest, leaning against him, that was when tears began running wild along my face. I was weak, spineless, and guilty. I was becoming a person I had never expected to become, and Dante was not the only one to blame, since I allowed this to happen to myself.

Dante patted my back. "Listen Nina," he cooed softly, "I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you, and I mean this. I know you wouldn't be able to overcome seeing the kids' being shot; that was the only way I could stop you. I told you already, I love you, and we're in this together. I might get angry and lash out at times, but deep down, the care I have for you is boundless." 

He reached in his pocket, pulled a object from his pocket and when I turned towards it, it was a small box. He opened the box, and it revealed a small ring in silver, glistening even in the darkness of the warehouse. I gasped, unable to turn away from it as he chuckled, "This was my grandmothers, and I stole it from my father a long time ago. I keep it with me everywhere I go. I wanted to ask you this at the hospital, but you seemed a bit dazed. Hence why I think this is the perfect moment; Nina Hawk, would you marry me?"

It was as if the entire incident with Theo and the twins vanished from my mind for a moment, as I observed him pull the ring from the box and grab my ring finger of my left hand, causing me to wince a bit as he attempted to fit it. It fit perfectly, "You don't have to answer; you're probably speechless. We're going to get married though," he placed his lips on my forehead, "count on it."

I was in such shock. I attempted to respond, but he quickly pressed his lips onto mine, as if he knew what I was going to say. In his perspective, he probably saw the kiss as being magical, with butterflies reigning in both our stomachs as he pulled my chin to deepen the kiss. His tongue enveloped mine, causing the hairs on my neck to straighten, and I felt one of his hand reached around my back and push me tighter against him. The kiss had gone for so long, that afterwards, I no longer even had the spirit to say no and instead began sobbing, wishing that I did not have to spend the rest of my life with that man.