Charleigh's POV
It's just a new crush, I told myself. No need to go back through this all over again.
I shot my hand down after realizing Murphy was staring me dead-on in the face. He had a different showing on his face, though. One I couldn't decipher, then my phone scared the hell out of me when it vibrated from my pocket.
"You by yourself?"
Fuck. My crazy, psychopathic ex-husband calling me, after 2 years of not a word, was not a good sign.
I scrambled from sitting next to Murphy and found myself in the kitchen, looking out the window over the sink.
"What do you want, Jessub?"
"Are. You. By. Yourself?" I heard him clip each word through his clenched teeth.
"Yes".
"Who are those boys?"
"Are you spying on me?" I tried to whisper as best as I could.
"Do I have to repeat myself?"
"Jessub, in case you forgot, we are no longer together. You are violating the restraining..."
"Order?" He laughed. "They don't care if I violate it. The cops are my buddies, what makes you think they'll stick up for you? Anyway, I called because I need your services. McLeo..."
"Fuck you, and fuck MeLeo. Your a sick man, Jessub".
I went to hang up, but then he said something about Carlos. Judging from me not responding, he knew me too well, knowing the phone wasn't up to my ear.
"If you don't do what I ask, I'll kill you and make Carlos watch".
"Carlos has nothing to do with this. You need to leave me alone and quit harassing me". I thought my words over carefully.
"You don't wanna play with me anymore?" He laughed maniacally. "I'm not afraid of the Saints, so if they're your new bodyguards, you might wanna tell them to get a head start on their tombstones".
My anger rushed through my body like the rum from earlier. I threw my phone to the ground and watched it smash into tiny pieces.
"Ye okay?" I jumped around to see Murphy standing in the doorway.
"It's nothing to worry about".
I hurried out the front door and looked into the narrow street. I could only see the normal neighbors' cars, maybe a car or two different. That wasn't unusual though. When you live in a house on the main street of Boston, you see new things everyday. It then clicked in my head. The Saints from years and years ago were sitting in my house at this very moment. I smacked my forehead, pissed at myself for not recognizing them any earlier.
"Charleigh?" Murphy spoke softly.
"What's ta matta?" Connor now sounded.
I crossed my arms over my chest and slowly turned to find the twins' standing on the only step before our front door.
"Charleigh, who was..." Murphy started but I couldn't help to interrupt him.
"I'll answer your questions if you answer mine first".
In the same pattern, same time, they nodded to me.
"Does Carlos know you guys are the Saints?"
"How..." Connor could only get out.
I took a step closer to Murphy's direction, looking him dead in the eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's not sometin I like to tell someone the first day I meet 'em". Murphy defended softly. He couldn't stare me straight in the face and looked to his feet.
"Trust me, I've been through enough hell, anyone seems heaven-sent". I told them truthfully.
"Whatta ye mean?" Connor asked, his hand on my shoulder.
"My ex-husband," the second I said that, I looked to Murphy. He had an eyebrow cocked. "He put me through so much shit, I never thought I'd make it to this day". I thought for another second. "So, that's why I've never met you before. You guys broke out of prison, right?"
"Ney. The people running the prison thought we did. We just lefta little earlier than intended". Connor smiled.
"Did he say he was out here?" Murphy asked, trying not to look suspicous while scanning the street.
"Let's go inside". I headed in first, and to my relief everybody was crashing. Romeo was sleeping on the floor, Carlos and Shaina on the couch. I figured Deanna and Cassy were in the spare room upstairs.
I sat at the living room table, Connor sitting to my left. Murphy grabbed 3 beers and sat to my right.
"How do ya know.."
"Connor, let her ask questions first". Murphy told him, opening and staring at his beer.
"Are you guys really bad?" I got out a Red and lit it, my hands visibly shaking just a bit.
"No, we ain't bad. We kill the 'bad guy', I guess ye could say". Connor started. "We only kill rapists and murderers and drug dealers. We don't just kill 'em because we feel like it. In one way or anotha, they deserve..."
I interrupted him. "You don't have to defend yourself. I believe what you guys do mean good. But if that were the case, why were you sent to prison?"
"Our last kill was a set-up. Supposively killin an old innocent man. It's all his fault what's wrong with our Da".
"How did you guys escape?"
They shared a small grin. "We have some cop friends. They like to help us out every great while". Connor conversed, Murphy keeping tight-lipped.
"Oh, I see". I was now out of questions. Connor took advantage of this.
"Why did ye race outside?"
"My ex-husband called. It's a long story, but he's a bastard. I guess he's keeping tabs on me now, even though we haven't talked in years".
"What he do to ya?" Connor leaned in.
"Nothing". I could only say. I didn't like to relive those memories. He was such a horrible man.
"Charleigh. We've already heard part of it, you can tell us the rest. This won't leave the room".
I glanced over to see Carlos and Romeo sleeping. I buried my face into my hands, trying to keep the tears from falling.
"He was a horrible man. My father was best friends with his father, so we grew up together. I thought I knew him so well, so we started dating when I was sophomore. When I turned 18, we got married. We weren't married too long when he started working with his father. They told me they were construction contractors, but that wasn't completely true. They ran a prostitution ring, only they kidnapped teenaged girls. Once I found out, they made me do it with them. When I would refuse to, they would both beat me and raped me. Remember how you met Romeo?" I asked them, taking in deep breaths.
"Yes". They both shot me suspicous looks.
"He had to flee America for a while because he killed one of Jessub's best friends. He was trying to kill me when Jessub was out one night".
I watched them as they looked to Romeo, then as if in their own little 'twin speak', they nodded and had a small grin on their faces. It disappeared as soon as they faced me again.
"Ye know what we havta do, don't ye?" Connor asked me seriously.
"No. This is my problem, not yours. The most he'll do is kill me, but he won't". I told them truthfully. "I still have value to him ".
"Ye can't owe yer life to him, Charleigh. Your an adult, and ya have yer own life to live".
"Doesn't matter. It's almost like he's in the mob; you can't take him down. And if you do, it'll be war. Just please. Don't bother". I was very frustrated at this point, put out my cigarette then headed to my room, which was around the corner of the kitchen.
Not thinking at all, I took my shirt and pants off. I found my pajamas only a moment too late before I heard someone crack open my door. In that same split second, I caught Murphy's eyes. He was staring at my back, then went to shut the door.
"Murphy, come in". I drew out a deep breath while putting my bottoms on first.
Before I could tie them, I felt a cool finger on my back. He was tracing the scars from knives and glass Jessub had imprinted on me.
"Do they hurt?" He asked so quietly, I had to strain to hear him.
"Not anymore. This is the last scar". I faced him and showed him my belly.
The last one was the worst one. It was a thin line reaching from one hipbone to the other.
"T'is looks like one of the marks lasses get from having a baby". He gently ran a finger on it, then froze. "Do ye have a baby?"
I choked up. "I should've".
In a matter of seconds, his face went from guilt to pain to anger. "We will kill 'im". Even when he was pissed off, his accent was still amazing.
Usually when I think about my past, I get upset and wouldn't want anybody around me. But Murphy was so gentle, so careful, I couldn't help but like him more and more as he found out more and more about myself.
"Killing him would do him a favor. He should suffer".
"I'm s' sorry, Leigh". He hugged me.
I had threw my arms around his back and neck, taking in his comfort. I closed my eyes, his smell dancing around me. Although you could smell the alcohol and cigarettes off him, there was another smell that dominated, and it was amazing.
He went to pull away, but I didn't want him to leave. He moved his head back just enough for our noses to barely touch.
"Can you and Connor stay?"
"If ye want us to".
I kissed him, I couldn't help myself. He was just so comforting. He put his hands on my hips and kissed me back. When he started rubbing my back, I brought my hands to his jawline. He picked me up and tenderly set me on my bed. He broke from our kiss and pushed my hair from my eyes, staring at me for a good moment.
"What's wrong?" I asked weakly.
"I can't just do this. Kinda makes me feel like I'm takin advantage of ye".
"No, your not. If anything, I'm taking advantage of you". I looked as I rested my hands on his chest.
"Your eyes, tey just so amazing".
I smiled and brought him back to me. "Just don't go anywhere".
"Can we just sit here and talk? I haven't been with any lasses in a good while, and I don't wanna just jump into anytin".
I might've sound easy, but he's what I wanted.. at the time. "Please, Murph. Just once?"
"I like ye too much". He started shaking his head. "I can't".
"Murphy." I went to kiss him again but he pulled away even farther.
"Charleigh, I can't". He got up and slammed the door behind him.
"Fuck!" I slid on my shirt and walked back into the kitchen. I grabbed my 'emergency' bottle of Jack from the fridge and gathered my keys. As I walked through the hallway to the front door, I could hear Connor and Murphy talking. They were speaking in a different language.
"Und ya tat nichts mit ihr? Jesus, Murphy. Was ist mit Ihnen falsch?" (And ya didn't do anything with her? Jesus, Murphy. What's wrong with ye?)
Good thing I'm German, I thought to myself.
"Schien nicht richtig. Selbst wenn sie bereit war". (Didn't seem right. Even if she was willing)
"Murph, wir tun kaum jemals irgendetwas. Wenn Sie lustig mit ihr haben wollen, haben Sie lustig. Wenn das ernst ist, dann ist das ernst. Es wird nicht schmerzen wenn nicht". (Murph, we barely ever do anything. If you want to have fun with her, have fun. If it's serious, then it's serious. It won't hurt if not.)
A good minute loomed before Murphy said, "Soll ich gehen sehen, ob sie schläft?". (Should I go see if she's still sleeping?"
I quickly tip-toed back to my room. I still had the Jack in my hand. I took a good sip before setting it on my nightstand and sprawled out across my bed.