CHAPTER 7

When Lily finally made it to her brother's dressing room, she was relieved to see Jeff on the couch; even if he did look sick and Matt nowhere to be found. She quickly located and scooped up her bag. "Jeff?"

He didn't look at her.

She waved a hand in front of his face. "Okay then… I'm gonna take a shower." Shaking her head, she disappeared into the bathroom.

Jeff tucked his knees under his chin, sighing. "She's back." He muttered when Matt walked in.

Matt just nodded, his eyes filled with anger.

Jeff still couldn't wrap his mind around his sister and what the hell she was thinking. Fucking the Undertaker of all people? The man was morbid and not her type at all, or so Jeff thought. He remembered her saying something about meeting 'Taker at the club that night but said she hadn't gone back to the hotel with him. He snorted. That was a lie obviously. What else had she lied about?

Lily emerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, clean and smelling like her favorite perfume. She had pulled her hair up into a bun and changed into a sleeveless magenta shirt that fell to her upper thighs and black leggings. "Um, hi?" She said hesitantly, catching Matt's glare, wondering if her make-up wasn't doing the job. Frowning, she glanced at the back of Jeff's head, seeing he was tense.

"We know you didn't come back with John." Matt stated in a low, even voice.

Jeff was tense because he knew who she had been with but didn't want Matt blowing a gasket either, so he smartly kept his mouth shut.

"We've had enough of this shit, Lily. Your flight leaves at ten, be on it." Matt snorted, tossing a ticket at her before storming out of the room.

Jeff didn't defend her this time, just remained where he was; still refusing to look at her.

"You know." Lily said softly, moving around to look at her twin. When he wouldn't meet her gaze, she sighed and knelt down in front of him. "Jeff, please, please look at me." She pleaded, reaching out for him only to be shrugged away. "I'm sorry I lied but you and Mattie would have shipped me home." Which they were doing anyway. "I was with him that night and last night, all day today. You seen us, didn't you?" She whispered, wishing he would just look at her. "Jeff…"

He couldn't look at her no matter how much he wanted too, knowing it was killing her. "Why him?" He finally whispered, shaking his head back and forth as he stood up; yanking her arm out of her grasp when he felt her hand. "Don't touch me, Liliana."

That's how she knew this was serious. Jeff very rarely used her full name.

"I agree with Matt, for once. You need to go home." He walked out of the room as well.

Lily stared after him for a moment before getting to het feet and following. She found him standing at the end of an empty hallway with Matt, both speaking in low tones. "I'm NOT going." She announced, standing in front of them and folded her arms over her chest. "Matt, I was with 'Taker."

His jaw dropped.

"And I LIED about it because I knew you'd both overreact and make it a bigger deal then what it is."

There, she had come clean.

"So THAT'S why he kicked my ass!" Matt suddenly exploded, shoving her onto her ass; his eyes on fire. "YOU FUCKING WHORE!"

"Matt!" Jeff shoved Matt in turn, moving to help Lily up.

"What? Because of her I got my ass beat by 'Taker! I was wondering why he kept defending your slutty ass and now I know. You ARE going home because we're not providing for you anymore!"

"Matt!"

"I can provide for myself, Matthew! I've been giving Jeff the money to help cover my share since YOU wouldn't take it!" She shouted, wiping away the tears from her cheeks and got to her feet. A second later she had speared her brother, slapping him across the face. "I am not a WHORE!" She screamed angrily, hating him as much as he did her. "I TOLD you to stay out of my life but you couldn't do it!"

Jeff was watching all of this with wide eyes.

Growling, Matt pushed her off of him; his face stinging from where she had struck him and stood up as she did. He went to strike her in turn only to find his wrist being caught in a vise grip.

"Tell me you were NOT about to strike my angel." 'Taker's deep, dark and decidedly demonic voice seemed to resonate. The tears in Lily's eyes were not missed and he growled angrily. Before any of them could blink, his hand was wrapped around Matt's throat, Matt's feet dangling in the air. "Or made her cry!"

Jeff's eyes were wide as saucers. "Holy shit! Sis, do something! He's gonna kill him!"

Matt was gasping for air.

As tempted as she was to let Matt suffer, she couldn't. especially since Jeff was pleading with her. "'Taker, put him down." She whispered, placing a hand on his forearm. The power and anger that radiated off of him was terrifying but she knew it wasn't aimed at her. "Please."

When Matt was dropped, she kicked him in the ribs. "You can thank Jeff because if it wasn't for him, I would have stood here and LAUGHED."

Matt was too busy grunting in pain and getting air back in his lungs to care.

"See what a monster he is?" Jeff demanded, pointing at 'Taker while also keeping out of snatching range. He couldn't believe his sister actually CONDONED what just happened. "He nearly killed Matt in that match!"

'Taker snorted, cracking his knuckles one by one; green eyes flashing dangerously. "Boy, if I wanted your brother dead, trust me; he would be." He said evenly, wrapping a possessive arm around Lily; smirking when she leaned into him.

"LILIANA, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?"

"ARE YOU?" She shouted right back, her face contorted with hurt. "All he's done is call me a slut and a whore since I got here and you expect me to just take it lying down?" Lily frowned when she seen the look on Jeff's face. He was her twin; his pain was her pain and vice versa; feeling something tugging her heart. "Don't make me choose, Jeff." She pleaded.

"You're actually saying you want to be with… with…"

"Mark."

"M- Whoa, what?"

Rolling his eyes, he pulled Lily into his arms and passionately kissed her; not giving a damn who might be watching. He broke it to stare into her eyes. "Mark." He said again, smiling when she nodded.

This was too much for Jeff as he dragged Matt off, shaking his head. He couldn't help but wonder if his twin was suicidal.

Lily was kissing Mark as she cried, knowing she'd be lucky if her brother's even LOOKED at her in a year or so, much less talk. Her arms went around his neck, legs around his waist; finally just burying her face in his shoulder. "Why does Jeff think you'll hurt me?" She whispered, knowing that's exactly what he thought. Slowly, she looked up at him. Mark. That was going to take some time getting used to.

"Because I cold." Mark replied simply, wiping away her tears with the pad of his thumb. "Come on, let's go talk." He carried her down the hallway; ignoring the looks he was receiving as he walked with her in his arms. Once in his dressing room, he eased himself onto the couch, still holding her. "I could hurt you Lily."

She stared at him, obviously not believing a word he was saying.

"Not intentionally, but I could. I am a dark man. I'm vindictive and I get jealous; possessive of things that belong to me." His eyes locked with hers.

Lily swallowed hard, wondering just what she was getting herself into and if it was worth it.

As if determined she should know exactly what she was getting herself into, Mark continued. "I have a violent temper, though I would never strike you. I can hurt you however, mentally and emotionally. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Yes." She whispered, feeling chills running down her spine. Common sense told her to walk away from this before she did get hurt but she was already too far gone. There was just something about him that had attracted her the minute she had laid eyes on him and she couldn't summon the strength to say no. Maybe that was the attraction between them.

She was a rainbow and he was… well… a seriously dark cloud.

Mark sighed, bending down to kiss her nape. "You cannot let me control you, Lily. If you want to hang out with John, then you'll have to tell me and ignore my attitude. Or any other man or woman for that matter." He added thoughtfully. "I don't want to control you, but I will try because that is simply who I am; and I can't change."

Lily frowned even as she leaned back into him.

"Stay with me tonight."

"I will." She murmured.

Okay, boundaries. This was good, it was normal.

"I usually just hang out with Melina." She said softly, wondering if it really would be so bad to be controlled by him. Though that was just in the bedroom. She was her own person and always had been. There was NOBODY who controlled her so they had to establish that now. "And John. I like dancing with him. Speaking of… I need to let him know what's going on."

Mark fought down the jealousy, though his eyes clearly showed it as he moved her so she was straddling his lap; facing him and stared into her green eyes intently. "Just friends?"

Lily nodded, trying not to smile.

"Good because I'd hate to have to kill that kid." He grunted in satisfaction, bending down to passionately kiss her. When she tugged lightly on his hair, he hissed. "You're getting me started again." Mark cautioned darkly.

"Sorry, I don't think I ever got stopped." She laughed softly, shifting on his lap to grind against him. "You really wouldn't… hurt him, would you?" Kill just seemed too strong a word though when Mark's eyes met hers, maybe it wasn't strong enough. "I'm going to go see him." Lily tried to pull away, whimpering when he pulled her back. She was on fire again. "He'll know I'm off limits." She whispered. "I belong to you, no one else, Mark."

Sighing, Mark pressed his forehead to hers before giving her another heated, demanding kiss and then reluctantly set her on her feet. "Go." He ordered, voice rough with passion. "Go now before I take you."

Lily hesitated for a moment then took off.

Shaking his head, Mark watched her jet out of the room leaning his head back against the couch. What the hell was he doing?

"Making her mine." He thought, answering himself, a slow smirk forming on his lips.

***

She was out of her mind. When Lily was away from him, things were so much easier. She could think straight, for the most part. Right now all she was thinking was that she'd like to turn around and go finish what they had started but also knew she needed to declare her independence right away so he didn't try to 'control' her.

"Where's the fire, wife?" John said when she rounded the corner, catching Lily before she could walk right into him. "Lil?"

She blinked, looking up at him.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly, sighing when she started crying. He knew she was seeing 'Taker, EVERYONE knew by now, figuring this breakdown was due to her brothers being morons. "Screw them Lily, if 'Taker makes you happy then damn it, you shouldn't have to feel bad about it."

"Matt can burn in hell for all I care." Lily muttered, not raising her head from where it now rested on John's chest. She felt like he was something she could cling to no matter what happened. "Jeff hates me though." God did that hurt. It felt like a fist had wrapped around her heart and was squeezing. "He's afraid Mark will hurt me."She looked up, almost smiling at his wide blue eyes. "Is he really that bad?"

John cleared his throat awkwardly, not sure how to answer that because he really didn't know the man. "I can't say yes and I can't say no, Lily. I don't exactly hang out with 'Taker you know? He does…" He hesitated, hoping he wasn't about to eat what he was about to say later on and inhaled deeply. "He does like playing mind games on people though, so watch yourself."

Lily nodded, pulling him into an empty room and shut the door behind them, leaning back against it. "He told me himself that he could hurt me." She confessed. Now that she wasn't around Mark, she could think. "He said it wouldn't be physically but emotional and mental."

John nodded.

That must have gone hand in hand with the mind games, wondering if that was what he was doing to her. Silence reigned for a moment. "Maybe I want him to break me…" She whispered, almost to herself; gripping her hair in her hands.

All she knew was she wanted him and at any cost.

"Love does strange things to people." John mused thoughtfully, watching her head snap up and smirked. "You love him."

It wasn't a question and they both knew it.

"No matter how fast you think it seems, you love him on some level."

Lily just nodded, not sure what to say to that.

"You'll work this out and your brothers will just have to get over it. Hell, I'll be your big brother." John grinned, making a face. "Come on, smile."

Lily managed a small one for him, sighing when he hugged her again. When he let go, she wiped away her tears; glad her make-up was water proof. "Too bad I have nothing but sisterly feelings for you, at least you're safe." She teased, trying to crack a joke. "Well mostly… I don't know too many brothers who propose to their sisters."

Another joke, she was on a roll tonight.

John laughed, kissing her forehead. "I don't either but we can be the exception, right?"

"Right."

"We're still going stepping, Lil Lil. If 'Taker don't like it, he can take it up with me." He said seriously, not about to lose his new dance partner. "Hell, I'll have a talk with him if I need too. I'm not losing my wifey and you can't let him control you, right?"

Considering Mark had already somewhat hinted at killing John, Lily didn't think him going to talk to Mark was all that bright an idea.

"I know, I already told him." She said after a moment, smiling slightly. "You're my dance buddy and ain't no way that's being taken from me."

John started doing his victory dance.

"Okay Cena, enough. I'm not dressed for that. Come on… before people think I'm ravishing you, or vice versa."

"AGAIN?" John groaned. "You ravished me the other day, I can't handle anymore sex with you, Lil, seriously. You're gonna make my co-"

Lily opened the door and stepped out into the hallway before he could finish that.