Roman and Bunty had spent many hours in his little, homemade medical room. Eventually she had become more and more awake. He had gotten her up to sit. He had made her drink and eat something. She looked a bit better.
"Why did you do this to me?" She asked.
"I don't know," he answered.
He looked down for a few seconds. He was ashamed of himself, of what he had become, and of what he had been part of doing. He looked up again and found her eyes watching him. They were screaming of betrayal. He had betrayed her.
"I used to think this gang meant something when I was younger. We were supposed to be a brotherhood protecting each other. Baron grew darker over the years, and we all just went along for the ride. He didn't change from day to day. One day I woke up and realized how fucked up it all had become," he said.
"But you didn't leave," she said.
"I didn't leave," he sighed. "I could just disappear. And I probably should. I got the money to survive. It's just a hard step to take."
"I did it," she said.
"That makes you more brave than me," he smiled sadly.
The door swung open and Baron stepped inside. Roman wanted to wrap his arms around Bunty and protect her. Instead he just stood there.
"I need her in the play room," Baron said.
"Hasn't she gone through enough today?" Roman asked.
"It's never gonna be enough," Baron smirked. "But don't worry. I'm gonna go easy on her. Get her in there."
Before Roman could react, Bunty stood up on her own and walked past both men. She walked slowly due to all the pain but she made it to the play room on her own.
"This is why I wanted her in the first place. She's always so eager to please," Baron said.
"Or just scared to say no," Roman said.
"Same deal to me," Baron chuckled.
Baron walked into the play room while Roman walked back to the small gym. His knuckles shouldn't be taking more damage today but he didn't know what else to do. If her screams started sounding through the house again, he needed a distraction.
Baron chained Bunty like he had done twice before. She sat on her knees and watched him as he stepped in front of her. He looked down at her with that cold look in her eyes she knew all too well. He opened his jeans and pulled his dick out.
"I've missed you, darling," he said. "Open up. And don't be so stupid to even think to bite. You know what I'll do to you if you do."
He grabbed her face and forced his dick into her mouth. He kept pushing in further for each thrusts. He heard her gag around him but he didn't stop. He didn't for one second think that she would throw up over his dick but that was exactly what she did. He took a step back and looked horrified at his crotch and pants covered in vomit.
"You bitch!" He yelled.
He backhanded her. Her head turned to the side. He grabbed it and forced it back. Her lip was already split but it wasn't enough for him. He threw three punches at her, aiming for her mouth each time to punish her for not being able to control herself.
"Seth! Roman!" He yelled. "Fucking clean up this place!"
Roman looked towards the door. He hadn't punched the bag yet. He walked over to the door and saw Seth step out of another room.
"Baron said..." Seth started.
"I heard him," Roman said.
Roman walked towards the play room. He was scared of what he might find. Only a short time had passed and he hadn't heard her scream. Baron came walking out with an angry look on his face. He passed them without a word.
"Did she vomit on him?" Seth asked.
"It looked like it," Roman said.
The two men stepped into the room. There was vomit on the floor. Bunty had her head up. She watched Roman as he stepped over to her. He examined her face quickly.
"What did he do to you?" He asked.
She kept her lips pressed together in a hard line. He unchained her and helped her up. This time he didn't need to carry her. They walked together to the medical room. She sat up on the table. He stepped up to her and leaned down to look at her face again. She spat him in the face. He took a step back in horror when he realized why she had kept her lips so tightly together. She had her mouth full of blood. She had just waited to punish him for what he had done to her. He looked down at the floor and saw something else that had come out of her mouth as well. A tooth.
"I deserved that," he said.
He wetted a cloth and cleaned his own face before stepping back to her and cleaning her face. She didn't do anything else. She just sat there and allowed him to do it.
"Open your mouth," he said. "You lost a tooth. Does it hurt anywhere?"
She opened her mouth and pointed at her left side. At least it was the tooth in the back. No one would be able to see it unless they examined her like Roman did.
"Does it hurt?" He asked.
"Everything on me hurts," she answered.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Stop saying that. I'm tired of your lies," she said.
"I'm not fucking lying!" He snarled.
He grabbed her face and kissed her hard. It was anything but a beautiful moment. She smelled of blood and vomit. He was angry and hurt. She hissed in pain from her cut lip. And still he needed to get his point across. He was sorry. He broke the kiss and panted as if he had just run a marathon.
"What?" He snarled.
"You kissed me," she reminded him.
"I had to. I needed to. I wanted to," he said.
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for another kiss. A deeper kiss. He grabbed her shoulders and enjoyed the moment until she broke the kiss.
"What happens now?" She asked.
"I don't know," he sighed. "I don't fucking know. I wish I had all the answers."
He took a step back and looked at her.
"We should probably get you in the shower," he said.
She nodded and got down from the table. He escorted her to the bathroom. He had to wait out there while she showered to make sure she didn't make a run for it. He kept his eyes on the wall. He refused to see her naked like that. Once back in her underwear, he walked her back to her room and locked the door.
After that he went to the gym and started punching the bag. His knuckles screamed in pain but he needed to feel it. He deserved to feel pain. He didn't stop until his phone buzzed. He took it out and looked at the text from his cousin Jimmy. All there was sent was a name. The name of the witness.
"Dolph Ziggler."
"Motherfucker!" He growled.
Bunty had been truthful all this time. She hadn't talked to the police. Baron being caught had been her way out of the relationship but she had nothing to do with him being caught in the first place. Some man had witnessed Baron almost kill another man.
"Hi, Roman," Seth said.
Roman looked up to see the younger man enter the gym.
"What?" Roman barked.
"Oh, nothing. I thought we could hang out," Seth shrugged. "Baron and Corey went to the man cave to play games and I'm not invited."
Seth walked over to the punching bag and gave it two playful punches.
"One day when you're strong enough, you can lead your own gang," Seth said.
"Not interested," Roman said.
"What are you interested in?" Seth asked.
"Bunty," Roman answered without thinking.
"She's a fox," Seth grinned. "I really wanna fuck that sweet, little pussy just once."
Roman saw red. Without thinking he punched Seth and knocked the man out cold. Seeing Seth passed out on the floor suddenly made it all clear to Roman. He had a choice to make, and he had to make it now. It was either the gang or Bunty. The answer was clear as daylight. He didn't need the gang but he needed her. He wanted her.
"I love her," he said lowly.
As soon as he spoke those words, he couldn't take them back despite no one having heard them. He knew it was now or never. He had to act fast. Seth was out for now but he would wake up soon. Roman found some duct tape and taped Seth's hands and feet together before placing a piece over Seth's mouth. Seth would get free eventually but not in time to warn Baron and Corey.
Roman stormed to his room and grabbed the locked briefcase under the bed. It was full of money. Enough to live for. He grabbed his car keys and a clean t-shirt from his closet. Everything else could be replaced. He had to get her out of the house now. No time to wait. He ran to her room, unlocked it and threw the t-shirt at her.
"Put it on," he said. "We're leaving."
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"As far away as possible," he said.
She put the t-shirt on and made her way over to him. She was more slow than he liked thanks to Baron. He took her hand and pulled her to a room she hadn't been in. It was full of weapons. He took a small device and looked at her.
"What's that?" She asked.
"A homemade car bomb," he answered.
"Shit, did you make that?" She asked.
"Corey did. He's our bomb expert. Time to test this shit," he said.
"What are you planning on doing?" She asked.
"What needs to be done," he answered.
He pulled her with him outside. It was dark outside by now. No one noticed them out there. He handed her the briefcase so he could work. He worked as fast as he could with the only light coming from his phone. He knew it was risky. It might blow up on both of them while he was working in these conditions. At least they would be gone from Baron if that happened. She wouldn't be tortured anymore. He sighed in relief when the device was ready.
"There," he said lowly. "Get in my car."
They got in his car and drove away to where they could still see the house but they were far enough away to be hit by anything. He took out his phone to call Baron. She placed her hand over his phone to stop him.
"Roman, what are you doing?" She asked.
"Seth and the others won't be a problem. They can't function without a leader so it'll all fall apart around them. No one will step up to take over. But Baron and Corey need to be taken out. They're dangerous," he said.
"You're talking about murder," she said.
"I know," he said.
He grabbed her head and pulled her close. He pressed his lips to hers and forced himself not to break down.
"I don't fucking deserve you after what I've done. I know you'll never be able to believe me. I abused your trust. I'm the reason you're here. But I fucking fell for you, Bunty. I fell so hard. That's why I have to do this. I don't care if you walk away afterwards but I need to do this for the both of us," he said.
She watched him for a few seconds.
"I kept hoping that you would ask me out on a date. When you said you had a surprise, I kinda thought that would be it," she said.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I'm starting to believe you," she said.
"I'll do anything to prove it to you," he said.
She moved her hand away from his phone and nodded. He dialed Baron's number and put it on speaker so she could listen in on the conversation.
"Hello?" Baron asked.
"I took her," Roman said.
"Took who?" Baron asked.
"Bunty," Roman answered. "I took her out of the house."
"You did what?" Baron screamed.
There was a sound of something being knocked over. Roman didn't know what and he didn't care. All he cared about was Baron being angry. He needed that.
"What's going on?" Corey asked.
"Roman fucking took Bunty out of here!" Baron yelled.
"Why would he do that?" Corey asked.
"Because I can't stand the fucking sight of you two!" Roman growled. "I'm done with you. I'm leaving with her. I don't give a fuck what you think."
"You don't give a fuck. That's cute," Baron mocked. "We'll find you, Roman. If it's the last thing I ever do, I'll fucking find you."
"I'm coming with you," Corey said.
Roman and Bunty listened on the phone as Baron and Corey ran up the stairs and out of the house. They heard the sounds of two car doors being opened and closed. Roman smiled at Bunty through the darkness. Both men had taken the bait.
"Run, Roman," Baron said. "We're coming for you."
Baron turned the key. The explosion sounded through the night. Roman and Bunty pressed themselves back in their seats as the sky was lit up further ahead.
"And now we leave," Roman threw his phone in Bunty's lap. "Mind breaking that apart for me? I'll find a place to dump it. I don't want any of the other idiots trying to call me."
They drove in silence through the night until they reached her apartment. He helped her up the stairs to the first floor. Once inside she got out of his t-shirt and her underwear to find some fresh clothes to put on. He watched her naked for a few seconds before stepping up behind her. He wanted to step close and wrap his arms around her but he didn't dare with how her back looked.
"Bunty," he said lowly.
She turned around and looked at him.
"You're naked," he chuckled nervously. "If only you knew how many times I've pictured that in my mind."
"Do I live up to your expectations?" She asked.
"You're better than my expectations," he answered. "God, I wanna kiss you so bad right now. Can I kiss you? Or should I leave? I should leave, right? You don't want me anywhere near you. I understand. I fucked up my chance with you. I'm to blame for all this."
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the few seconds it lasted.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked.
"You wanna come with me?" He asked.
"I think you proved all that needs to be proven. You wanna protect me. Of course we gotta work on that trust but since I'm standing here naked and you're not trying to do anything, I think we're on the right track. Help me heal, and I'll help you heal as well," she said.
He smiled at her. He didn't deserve a second chance but she was giving it to him.
"So where are you taking me?" She asked again.
"I don't know. How does Florida sound?" He asked.
"We can try that out," she answered. "Help me pack and we can be gone before sunrise."
He leaned down and kissed her again. It felt like a dream but it was all real. The roles they had played were disappearing fast. The lamb and the wolf. Suddenly they were on the same side of the fence. He wasn't sure what to call them. Humans, probably. Broken humans ready to heal with each other.
"I love you," he said. "And I don't fucking deserve you."
"What do I deserve?" She asked.
"Anything you want," he answered.
"I want you," she said. "Do I deserve you?"
"Yes," he sniffled. "I'll never hurt you like that again. That's a promise. I'll do whatever I can to protect you for the rest of my life."
"Good," she smiled. "Because I love you too, and I'm going to Florida with you."