Chapter 2 - Sailor

3122 Words
10 years later I didn’t want to come back here. Nix knew I left ten years ago for a reason, but that didn’t matter not to someone like Nix. I cursed and shifted the teal lambo into the next gear. It had been a present from Nix. I was still his after all this time, and it didn’t matter that I wanted out. I tried that once, I have a scar on my left shoulder to prove it was never going to happen again. It was after that that he’d bought me this beauty. He’d told me it was his present for putting up with him for all these years. I just wanted out. He’d never understand that. Now he sent me to hell. I’d left everything here after the night I had my heart ripped from my chest. It’d never been the same for me after the betrayal I felt from those closest to me. From the ones I once loved. I pulled into the driveway of my family’s home, music blasting. It’d been too long since I’d seen them. My parents knew I was arriving today, but my brothers did not. The four of them would have told people I didn’t want to know. It was bad enough that I stayed in contact with Bentley. He’d emailed me one night several years ago and explained some things. It didn’t make it easier. It didn’t make it hurt less, but knowing he didn’t know about what was happening helped me forgive him. Not the others, I could never forgive them. I craved to see him, though. To see all of them. It was like some sick joke to myself. I wanted to see the people that destroyed my life. To tell them, to let them see that I’m still standing after all these years. Putting the car in park, I stared at the house in front of me. There were cars here that I didn’t recognize, and that made my gut turn. Had my parents forgotten that I’d asked only family to be here? Or was this their way of telling me I needed to get over what the others had done to me? Not that my parents know about anything. They’re the innocents in this equation. I chewed on my bottom lip as I debated whether to go inside or not. If they were here, like my gut told me they were, I didn’t have control over the situation. I always had control. There were a few things Nix learned real quick about working with me. I wasn’t like normal girls. I wasn’t his to pass around or to offer. I was twenty-six and still virgin. I cringed at the thought. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had the time, or the offers, it just never felt right. I could fool around with the best of them, but when it came to turning in the V card, that was a hard pass. “f**k it.” I mumbled to myself and shut the car off. I opened the butterfly doors and set both of my booted feet out of the car and took a deep breath. I’d thought long and hard about what I wanted to wear today. I’d changed since the last time anyone had seen me. I went with skin tight jeans, knee high heeled boots and a blue halter top that showed off my tattoos and my best asset. Apparently I hadn’t finished developing at sixteen. I’d been a mere C cup back then, which I thought was incredible. Until I grew into the DD’s I currently sport. My once short brunette hair was now in waves down to the small of my back. Nix used my appearance to his advantage. I’d gone from fighting in the ring, to fighting on the runway. But I still fought. Whenever Nix needed me to come out of “retirement”, he’d buy me something new. I was good at fighting, wait no scratch that, I am f*****g amazing at fighting. I hated it though. Ever since the night I sold my soul to the devil, fighting has never been the same for me. I grabbed my bag from the passenger side and headed up to the front door. I could hear deep voices coming from inside and I was starting to feel nervous. I take a deep breath and ring the doorbell. This hasn’t been my home for over a decade, but ringing the doorbell felt weird. The door swings open, laughter booming out of the house like it was being kept locked up. The man in front of me just stares. I wasn’t ready to see him, but I guess my parents forgot the family only request. “D, who’s at the-” My oldest brother, Aries’ voice cuts off as he comes into view. He’s gotten a little more muscular, tan too, and are those more tattoos? Practically shoving Dallas out of the way, my brother engulfs me into a hug, knocking the air of my lungs. “Holy s**t, Lor!” The childhood nickname brings warm feelings to my cold heart. Apparently the others either got curious or heard him because they come barreling through the house and all but tackle us to the ground. “Hey guys.” I manage to say with a smile, while still trying to catch my breath. My eyes find Dallas’ and I’m a little taken back by what I see. There’s pure hate in his eyes. My heart cracks a little, but I get that traitor under control and break my gaze from his. “Can’t. Breathe. “ I laugh and they all let go. I take a deep breath and give them a genuine smile. “I’m going to guess Mom forgot I was coming today?” I ask with a shake of my head. “Who’s sick ass lambo is out front?” A voice says behind us and I whip around to see Gage and Matthew coming up the steps. I take a step out from behind my brothers and wave. “Mine.” The two of them stop in their tracks and their eyes go to Dallas, and then back to me, then back to him. Weird. “It’s nice. '' Gage shrugs and heads into the house. Matthew follows, daring a glance back at me, he even winks before disappearing inside. I lift my eyes to Dallas, his jaw is in a set line and his fists are balled. I’m more confused than ever. Why is he so angry to see me? Not like I care or anything. Aries drapes his arm around my shoulder and guides me inside as one of the others grabs my bag. “Mom and Dad aren’t here, for like a month.” He said and I frowned. I told them when I was going to be in town. “What do you mean they aren’t in town. I told them weeks ago when I was going to be here. I wouldn’t have come if they weren’t going to be here.” I snapped. It was Aries’ turn to frown and he removed his arm from my shoulder. I hadn’t seen them in ten years. I wasn’t there when they woke up from their coma. I wasn’t there when they graduated. I wasn’t there when they got married. The last one had me looking around. Had they gotten married? Surely Nix would have said something to me? He was always good at keeping tabs on my own family. “Didn’t know you felt like that Sailor.” Aries was still frowning and now I felt bad. I shook my head. “It’s not like that, Ari. “ I said softly, lowering my eyes to the ground. My submissive side was coming out and I hated it. “I’ve missed you guys too, but things are different now.” My eyes lifted to him and his face had softened. He stepped closer to me and pulled me into a bear hug. I had missed these kinds of hugs from him. “I know you’re still working for him, Lor. I know you’ve made so many sacrifices for us. I told mom and dad to take this trip, things here about to get hairy around here.” He said gently and I lifted my head to look at him. “How hairy?” I asked as if I were a small child. Aries always had that effect on me. Making me feel like I was small and safe. I hadn’t felt safe in ten years, it was a nice thing to feel again. “Like, worse than Chewbacca, hairy.” He cracked a smile at his joke and I shook my head, fighting my own smile. “Sorry to break up the reunion, but we have business, Ari.” Dallas’ voice interrupted us. It was cold, and emotionless, just like the man himself. I regained my composure, and took a step back from my brother, who was nodding. What had changed in the last ten years? “Make another place at the table D. Sailor is going to be joining us.” My brother cracked a smile at me, and I glanced at Dallas. Oh he looked more pissed than before, but he just nodded and disappeared back into the living room. I cleared my throat and sighed. “He hates me.” I stated, still staring at the place the man that once had my heart just stood. Aries laughed. The kind of laugh that had him holding his stomach doubled over as if I ‘d just said the funniest thing he’d ever heard. He clasped a hand on my shoulder and wiped away tears that had fallen from his laughter. “Holy s**t that was funny.” He let out a “whooo” before clearing his throat. “That man does not hate you. You’ve got it all wrong. He’s never hated you. He’s...difficult to understand, always has been. “ My brother’s face softened and he turned me to face him, gripping both of my shoulders now. “When you left, it ruined him. He’s never been the same, blames himself for everything that happened. If you’d just hear-” I started to shake my head. I wasn’t about to listen to my brother tell me to give his best friend another shot at explaining things. I was still Nix’s because of them. All of them. The only reason I talked to Bentley was because he told me he didn’t know about the deal the others made with Nix. “You don’t understand, Aries. '' I said softly, blinking back the tears that started to form from the memory. “I loved him, all of them. They betrayed me that night.” My eyes found his and I could tell he was holding back his own emotions. He slowly started to nod his head. “Despite what you think, baby sister. I do understand. Because I know they love you too. They’ve never stopped.“ He kissed my forehead and moved towards the living room. I was frozen in my spot. He didn’t say loved. No, he said love. I know that’s what he said. I haven’t lost my mind, have I? I pushed aside the tingling of feelings I was starting to get. Nothing could happen between any of us, my heart couldn’t take the rejection again. It was barely holding on as it was. Blaring music pulled my gaze from the living room to the front door. When it quieted, I could hear a car door closing and then his emerald eyes came into view. I couldn’t help the squeal that came from my mouth as I lauched myself at him. His face split into a grin and he caught me with more grace than I’d thought he had. Bentley had definitely buffed out in the last ten years. “Bentley!” I breathed into his neck as I wrapped my legs around his waist. His strong arms came around me and held me to him so tight it was hard to breathe, but I let him. I needed him more than I thought. “Sailor.” His sultry voice rumbled and I could feel my insides liquify. I didn’t want to let him go, and I could feel the chuckle bubbling inside him. “I have to get to the meeting.” He whispered against my ear and I pulled back enough to look at him. “Ari said I had to be there too, so you can just carry me there. I’m not ready to let you go. “ I said softly, bringing my bottom lip between my teeth. He sucked in a breath and threw his head back with a groan. “You kill me.” He mumbled with a smirk before heading to the living room. I lowered my head back into his neck, squeezing him as tightly as I could. Even though we’d been in contact the last several years, I haven’t seen him in ten years. I haven’t felt his touch, his hugs in ten years. Part of my heart warmed at us being so close. And the traitorous organ had to wonder what it would be like to hug Dallas again. We had so much damage between the two of us, it was never going to work. No matter what my brother said, Dallas didn’t love me. I could hear their voices as we got closer to the living room, and then the moment they all stopped. Bentley tightened his grip on me as we walked closer to them, a growl came from behind me and I gave a shiver. It did things to me that it shouldn’t. With a quick squeeze, Bentley let go of me and I slid to the floor. When my feet hit the ground, I didn’t turn around, I couldn’t. The man in front of me cupped my face and pressed a kiss to my forehead with a smile, his eyes finding the brooding man across the room as his lips stayed attached to my skin. Naughty man. “If you’re done f*****g around, we actually have important things to talk about.” Dallas said through gritted teeth. I sighed, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This job was going to be so long, so emotional and so frustrating. “Best if we sit down.” Bentley whispered with a sly smirk and I opened my eyes. Turning around, I didn’t bother looking at Dallas, but I could feel his eyes on me as I found an empty seat between Aries and Hunter, my second oldest brother. He reached over and pressed a kiss to my cheek and squeezed my hand. I gave him a smile before glancing at Aries. The i***t had a huge grin plastered on his face. I rolled my eyes and forced my attention to Dallas, who was still staring at me. Matt cleared his throat and that seemed to snap the large man back into reality. His eyes moved from me and I instantly felt the loss of his eyes on me. After all this time, he still has this affect on me, it baffled me. “Right. So, things are changing. Nix is out by the end of the month and the new boss is in. “ Dallas started and I found myself at the edge of my seat. Nix never told me what was happening, but he had hinted that things were going to change. This was my last job before I was free, I could taste it on my tongue. Freedom. “Hear the new boss is a real hardass.” Aries pipes up, an amused look in his eye as me looking around the room. They’re all smirking. What in nine hells am I missing. I feel Dallas watching my reaction and turn to face him. A slight smile tugs at the corner of his lips and he folds his hands in front of him, raising a brow slightly as if begging me to question things. I cave. I need the answers, because I need my freedom. “Who’s taking over for Nix?” I can’t even tell if my voice comes out strong or not. At this point I don’t even care, in this moment it’s not about being strong. This is survival. They know something I don’t and I need to know what it is. “Me.” It was like cold water being poured on me. I was numb, unfeeling. He couldn’t take over for Nix. He’ll never let me out of this. I closed my eyes, letting that two letter word sink in. I couldn’t stay in the same room as him right now. I might end up actually trying to kill him. I stood suddenly, opening my eyes. I stared at him for a moment, my eyes probably showing too many emotions before I turned and ran out of the living room. I could hear my name being shouted, but I ignored it and headed to my room. Once inside, I shut and locked the door before sliding down to the floor, my hand over my racing heart. This was why Nix didn’t want to tell me who the next boss was. He was giving it over to him of all people. I felt the tears falling and did nothing to stop them. I was never going to be free now.
Free reading for new users
Scan code to download app
Facebookexpand_more
  • author-avatar
    Writer
  • chap_listContents
  • likeADD