Author note: Hey sorry Ya'll about taking so long. I have been really busy and it doesn't really help that my computer has been really gay. I hope this chapter makes up for it. I know it's a little long so bare with me. Enjoy
"Laina what do you think you are doing here? You don't work until nine."
Yea if you haven't noticed that's my boss. Mr.Hiddamen. He isn't the nicest guy around but he grows on you. He is five eight and around the middle of his thirties. His hair is pitch black and his eyes are a light gray. No other color but gray. He has a scar on his eyebrow and cheek. He was in a fight. I thought it was dumb but no one listens to me so the fight went on anyways. His loss not mine.
"I know but I thought I could take Bethany off shift early so she can get some sleep. I was already up and had nothing to do." I swear he looked at me just like that Katie girl did: Like I was stupid. I was beginning to wonder.
"You won't get paid extra for this. And you will have to work until you are scheduled off."
I rolled my eyes. He is such a pain in my ass, he likes me and I think this is his way of trying to either keep talking to me or to try not to like me. Either way some days I just want to punch him in his face. That would get me fired to I resisted.
"I know that. I didn't say I wanted the time off. Now can I go?" I tried so hard to keep the annoyance out of my voice and for the first time this morning I was actually able to.
"Go for it." He said as he looked at me, more like studied me then walked over to the register where two people were looking at us waiting for help. Well tough luck I'm not working yet. He can do it.
I walked into the back room to clock in when I saw Bethany crying silently in the corner of the break room. I raised an eyebrow and looked at her for a minute. She was one of my best friends; I have known her for about five years now. Not once while I have known her have I have seen her cry like this at work. This can't be good. So being the good friend I walked over to her and knelt in front of her.
"Hey Beth, what's wrong?"
I could hear her sniff and wipe her tears. That's when I knew she was going to sit up straight and tell me nothing. Wow that was going to piss me off so I stopped her before she could say anything.
Putting my hand on her leg I looked at her and my face was firm, you could see I cared but it was firm nonetheless.
"Now don't you dare tell me nothing. If it were nothing then I would not be here in front of you watching you cry. So what's wrong honey?"
That got her. I had to be firm with her or she would hole herself up and talk to no one. I didn't like that. She looked at me, her eyes reminded me of a puppy dog. I touched her cheek and wiped her tears away gently and smiled gently to encourage her. Finally she got herself together and put her hand on my hand that rested on her leg. Her voice was tear soaked.
"Me and Brad got into another fight. I walked into the house and he was already steaming. I asked him why he was mad and he stood up and yelled at me telling me it was all my fault, that I should mind my own damn business. I didn't understand so I asked. He told me that I was always nosy, holding him back and just a nuisance. He walked over and hit me. I yelled at him and told him if he ever touched me again I was going to call the cops. That just mad him madder. He told me that if I ever told anyone anything he was going to kill me."
Beth closed her eyes and tears streamed down her face. Brad was her fiancé. They have been engaged for a little about two years. He was an ex-football player. He had to quit when he tore up his shoulder. They both met from me because I knew Brad from high school. Never have I seen him mad. They both had fallen in love and dated for six months before he popped the question. This made me mad to hear what he had done and said.
"Oh Beth I am so sorry. Do you have bruises?"
I had to know because if I was to go kick his ass for this I had to have proof. It wouldn't do me any good to go in there to bust his ass when he could easily sit on me and squash me. He was at least 6'6". I'm telling you, he is huge.
She nodded her head and rolled up her sleeves showing two huge nasty looking bruises. Now I was pissed, not just mad but pissed.
"Stay here I am going to go get a camera."
Before she could protest I jumped up and ran to get the store camera. It was digital so I could easily print off the pictures. The boss wouldn't be happy but I wasn't here to please him so he can get over himself.
Grabbing the camera off of Boss mans desk I ran back to her. Good thing I was wearing sneakers or I would not be able to run like this. When I got back to her I took a few pictures of her arm then looked at her.
"I promise you he won't get away with this Beth. He will either say sorry or we will sue his ass. I have the pics so he can't say a damn thing about not doing it."
Again I left before she could argue. She knew I was right and even if she did argue she knew it wouldn't do any good. I just didn't sit around like that and wait for something worse to happen. I got the pics printed and folded them putting them in my back pocket. I had to comfort her before I left, couldn't exactly leave her like this. If it was anyone else I wouldn't be able to do a damn thing because I just didn't do good with people crying. Beth was my only exception.
So I pulled a chair in front of her and turned it so the back wards in front of her and I straddled the damn thing. I don't like sitting in these chairs the right way, one of the reasons was to piss off boss man and second was they felt awkward sitting in them that way so I didn't.
"Hey Beth. Look at me. What he did was wrong and you know damn well that the shit that's happening to him aint your fault. He was just being a dumb ass. You know you don't have to stay with him. You can leave him anytime. You have the power to do that and he should not scare you in thinking the opposite way. If he does you best come tell me and I will knock him off his damn high horse."
That earned me a smile. That made me feel a bit better but I was still going to drag his ass out of bed and knock him down a few pegs.
"Thanks Lainy you always did know how to make me smile. I guess I better get back to work before Erik (our boss's first name. He wants us to call him that but I refuse and call him back either boss man or his last name. Works for me and pisses him off. Bonus.) throws a ft."
I had to smile at that one. It's not that we don't like him its just that he act as if he has a stick up his ass. If once he could just relax and maybe actually smile then it might be different. Oh well you cant always get what you ask for so we resort to being mean. Works for us.
After hugging Beth she ran to the bathroom to fix herself up. Unlike me she wears makeup whenever she leaves her house. Brave women.
I had to tell Erik that I was leaving. Its not like I was leaving on my scheduled time but I doubt he will be very happy.
As I thought he wasn't
"What do you mean your leaving? Didn't you just get here?"
"Well aren't you a bright one. I have to take care of something. I have to do it now or it won't work. Chill out Hiddamen, ill be back before you know it. Scouts honor."
He groaned. He knew he couldn't win with me, that no matter what he says I'm going to leave anyways. He would fire me but he needed me so he couldn't. I love being me. He was smarter then I give him credit for. And if you are wondering yea he wont get that credit either.
"Fine but you best be back before 9 or you will be in big trouble. You hear me?"
"Gotcha captain."
With a mock salute I turned and walked out of the store. He was probably going to be still steaming when I get back but oh well. At least this time he didn't try to stop me like the last time. I was already pissed and I really would not like to have to punch him. Ok I take that back I would love to punch him, I would really not like to get fired and/or put in jail.
I arrived at his house. It was a one-story ranch style home. It would definitely look better if he hadn't been living there. Just the thought makes the house look nasty.
Going up three steps I took out the key from under the mat and walked in. I knew the key was here because Beth lived there as well and I have had my share of coming to get things she forgot. So I walked in as if I owned the place. His room was towards the back of the house, or should I say their room was. She did sleep with him after all.
The one thing people don't know about me is I'm not shy. I have walked into a boy's locker room when I was in high school to talk to the coach. The guys never let me live that down but it didn't bug me so it was all good. So it really didn't bother me to think that he was probably naked. Oh well it will embarrass him more then me. More bonuses on my side.
His door was shut so I crept to it silently. The element of surprise was on my side and I love it. I can be so mean some times but most of the times I am really nice. Mostly.
With the door open I walked in and saw him. I stopped to see what it was that I could that would piss him off and give me enough time if he decided to kick my ass.
He lay there on his stomach, his face turned towards the wall. The dark green sheets had fallen to his lower back, just right above his butt. He was shirtless just like I expected. The comforter, that was bamboo print in a light khaki color, was bunched up at the end of the bed on the floor. His arms were pulled to his chest.
The window was closed with black drapes. He works nights so the black drapes keep out the sun. In the corners of parts of the room were piles of clothes. Mostly his because Beth, she knew, liked to put her clothes where they belonged, he was a slob.
I grin as I get a great idea in my head. I walk over to the bed and putting my hands behind my back I lift up my foot, place it on his shoulder and push really hard. He jerked up and slightly gasped. He had jumped up and as he did, he twisted making him fall off the bed with a hard thud.
Oh boy I couldn't help but laugh. His eyes had been wide, like a deer in the headlights wide. It was just too funny. Trying to quickly recover himself he jumped to his feet. Forgetting that he was naked he ran a hand through his hair and looked around still slightly asleep. He wasn't exactly sure what had happened.
I raise an eyebrow as I see him in all his full glory. Now I knew what a guy looked like when he wasn't aroused. I laugh and couldn't help it. He quickly looked over at me and his eyes narrowed, as he was making sure I wasn't part of some weird dream of his.
"What the hell are you doing here Laina?" His tone was one that was not so nice and I really didn't appreciate it but what can I saw, I was the one who woke him up.
I try so hard not to look down at him but it was damn hard not to, he was just so … big. Shaking my head I make eye contact and ball my hands into fist.
"I'm here you bastard because of the shit you did to Beth. Yea, not nice."
His cheeks went red but I wasn't sure of embarrassment or of anger, but I sure know he did not try to cover himself up. Well now we know that I'm not the only one who isn't shy.
"She fucking went over to you? It's none of your damn business anyways so back off. Now get the hell out of my house."
I laugh. Who the hell did he think he was? Not my business, well if he didn't want me involved then he shouldn't have hit her in the first place. My cheeks went red right along with him.
"Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can just hit her and think I'm not going to do anything? Well you better think twice because I will not sit here and let you do that."
"Oh yea and what are you going to do little girl? Hit me with your purse?"
With that he started to take very big strides towards me. Me no likey so I started to try and back up but before I could he was almost on top of me. His eyes held anger and rage, both of which scared the shit out of me. He grabbed my throat and pinned me to the wall. His arms were huge and his fingers touched as they wrapped around my throat. I tried to get away but I could do nothing. Helpless again, damn not so fun.
"If you breathe a word of this to anyone I will kill you just like I will kill her. She has fucked with me for the last time and I will not take it anymore. IF you EVER come near me again I will kill you where you stand."
My face was turning red as my lungs burned for air. I gripped his arm hoping to relieve the burning in my lungs. With that I started to see spots in my vision as I was losing more air.
A man stepped into the shadows of the doorway, his hands clasped behind his back as he saw the naked man strangling the girl. That was not going to do especially when she was the one he came to retrieve. His master would not be too pleased to learn she was killed. Time to step in.
"I don't think so. Let her down and she will come with me."
The man's voice was smooth and soft, like the second version of softness to the mans voice on the phone. I closed my eyes trying to stay awake. Brad jumped slightly and looked over at the man. His arm trembled slightly but he quickly released and stepped back. Gasping and coughing I fell to my knees, my eyes still closed. That was a close call, it would not due to have been passed out in Brad's house. That was a recipe for disaster.
I could feel someone moved beside me but I didn't make an effort to move, if they wanted me I was too weak right now to move anyways. Before I knew it I was being held, bridal style, in some ones arms. The arms felt soft but strong. I open my eyes and look into the prettiest golden eyes I have ever seen. All I could do was stare, to weak to even move.
"Don't worry you will be safe soon. We all will protect you."
The words barely were able to register when I passed out. IT was weird how now that it was over I pass out. I didn't care, I felt safe. In a total strangers arms I felt safe. Later I would have to rethink that but for now I was too weak and out cold to care.