"Barnaby," I whispered, freezing as the door closed behind me, and I stared straight into Barnaby's stunning blue eyes.

xXx

"Hey, Kotestu, what's up?" Barnaby asked with his usual cool voice, coming toward me. I took a shaky step backward, making him stop.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, panicking. Was this a coincidence? Did fate enjoy fucking with me all the time so that I had to be miserable constantly? Seriously; Trix was right outside the door, there's no way Barnaby could leave the bathroom with out Craig knowing, and Craig was going to hurt me badly for this...

"Just taking care of some business with Craig, unless he left you here," he said smiling at me as he place a hand on his hip. "Then I'd be free to pursue you, right?" he asked, letting his hand fall to his side as he approached me again.

I shook my head, backing up until I met with the door and Barnaby stopped in front of me. "I-I told you to forget about me," I said, trembling when he tenderly placed a hand on my cheek. Why wouldn't he just listen?

"I can't, Kotestu," Barnaby said softly, rubbing his thumb along my lower lip, but stopping when I looked up at him, terrified. "I've tried."

"Please leave me alone," I whispered, looking away, "You're going to make things worse again. Besides, Trix's right outside the door..."

I didn't respond to Barnaby's touch when he grabbed a hold of my shoulders and pulled me toward him, I was to busy thinking about how badly this meeting with Barnaby could go for me. My back pressed against his chest and he slipped an arm around mine just before opening the door slightly. "Trix," he called out, "Could you come in here?" I stared to shake again from fear as soon as he did.

"What's wrong Kotestu?" Barnaby asked, close to my ear. I couldn't believe Barnaby. Why had he done that? Did he want Craig to murder me later? "Relax," Barnaby said gently, giving me a reassuring squeeze, "Trix's working for me. Isn't that right?" he asked as Trix entered. Trix glanced at me nodding. The action didn't make me feel any better. I didn't trust either of them.

"So, Trix's like a double agent?" I asked cautiously, looking at Barnaby's he nodded. "So, last time at the restaurant was...?"

"Fake," Barnaby replied.

"What's your business with Craig?" I asked suspiciously, remember what Vic had said when he'd first spoken to me. I saw Barnaby's eyes darken before a malicious smile played across the blonde's lips.

"You'll see," he said. I didn't like that smile.

xXx

I'd never seen anybody look as shocked as Craig did when Barnaby came into his view, still holding me in front of him as we walked. It was probably mostly due to the fact that Trix was by his side, not doing a thing to stop him.

"Hey, Craig," Barnaby said cheerfully.

"Barnaby," he said, looking at the blond with contempt. He was very good at keeping emotions out of his voice, but not so much his face as he surveyed the scene. "Trix," he said darkly before glancing at him menacingly. Barnaby must've felt me tremble in front of him because he hugged me tightly to his chest. "Showing out true colors are we Trix?" Craig asked. His tone still dark. He glared at Trix once again before turning back to Barnaby."Is there something you want?" he asked Barnaby.

"Well," said Barnaby smirking as Trix pulled out his gun, pointing it at Craig, "Initially, your life, but since you brought Kotestu a long, I'm going to take him with me while I'm at it." I tensed when Barnaby said that but at the same time felt a little flutter of... was that possibly hope?

Craig's eyes widened at the statement as the seriousness of the situation registering in his brain. He was unarmed, there was a gun pointing right at him, and Andy wasn't protecting him at all... "Why the hell aren't you protecting me?" Craig asked panicking and rounding on Andy, who was next to him. Andy seemed to be in shock. "Are you with them too?" Craig demanded. He looked a lot like a newly caged animal as his panic began to set in. He obviously thought everyone was against him, unfortunately for Andy. Andy tried to deny knowing Barnaby and said that he didn't even have a weapon, but Craig wouldn't listen to him grabbed a hold of Andy's long hair, dragging him in front of him, before pulling out Trix's knife.

Barnaby's covered my eyes just before a scream of pain could be heard. Craig must've stabbed Andy several times by the sounds of it before Trix got the chance to click the safety off of his gun, making him stop.

"That's enough, Craig," Barnaby said coldly, "I don't even know the kid. Maybe you should've picked better body guards," he said, truning me around pressing my face against his shoulder lightly so I couldn't see what'd happened. It's not like it would've mattered if I'd seen what'd happened to Andy anyway; violence was nothing new to me. For some reason though, Barnaby wanted to protect me.

"Trix, hurry and call 9-1-1," Barnaby said. He seemed to be very concerned about Andy. Guess he wasn't as much like Craig as I'd thought.

Trix nearly protested until Barnaby reached behind his back and pulled out his own gun, pointing it at him before Craig. "Now," he said. I saw Trix stood before putting his gun away and running past the shocked patrons who still remained at the restaurant and were hastily taking their leave.

"Why would you hurt your own man, Craig?" Barnaby asked shaking out of anger. "Would you have done the same to Kotestu if he were siting next to you as well?" he asked, raising his voice and gripping me protectively. I felt cold as Barnaby said that. I already knew Craig would've.

Craig was silent. I wondered if he was glaring at Barnaby. "Why do you want my life anyway? Did Kotestu say something to you?" Craig questioned, "I'm sure we could work something out, you don't have to make such a hasty decision or jump to conclusions because of something a thirty or fourty year-old said."

Barnaby glanced at me questioningly but resumed his conversation when I refused to look at him. I didn't want him to find out what Craig'd been doing to me for a while. Not if I could help it. "Do you remember a bodyguard you had that you killed about two weeks ago named Mike?" he asked Craig.

"What about him? He broke the rules, so he deserved what he got." Craig said. He seemed oddly calm considering the fact that a gun was pointed at him. It was like he didn't believe Barnaby would really shoot him, as opposed to Trix.

"That was my boyfrienf you son-of-a-bitch," Barnaby growled, clicking the safety off.

"W-wait," Craig started. "I didn't know..."

"And by the sounds of it, you've done some sort of major injustice to Kotestu," Barnaby continued, sounding entirely pissed, "that alone should be compensation for me killing you. Your day of reckoning has come, you sick bastard."

"N-no wait, I don't want to-," Craig started.

"Well, see you," said Barnaby, ignoring Craig, pulling the trigger, and ending his life.

"I hope you enjoy hell."

xXx

"Kotestu?" Barnaby asked when I wrapped my arms around his waist, squeezing the blonde tightly. "Kotestu what did Craig do to you? he asked, lowering his gun, putting it where it should be and resting his chin on top of his head. "Kotestu," he asked gently once more, but stopped when he noticed that I was crying. "I'm sorry," Barnaby whispered, "Don't cry, please."

Barnaby misunderstood me as he wrapped his arms around me and apologized again and again, trying to calm me down. I wasn't upset; far from it. I was crying because I was happy. For the first time in over ten years, I felt relief.

Barnaby relaxed when I finally stopped and gave him a light squeeze before letting go. He didn't want me to look at Craig and even tried to stop me, but I hit his hand away and looked anyway. I wanted to see Craig dead. I'd wanted to ever since the first time he touched me.

We both looked at Trix when he reappeared and went over to a now unconscious Andy, checking his pulse before reclaiming his knife. "The paramedics should arrive soon, and Andy should be alright," he said aloud, taking off Andy's shirt and ripped it up, wrapping Andy in makeshift bandages to stop the bleeding. He wiped his knife off on Craig's shirt before sheathing it. "We should get going, Barnaby," he said, walking toward us.

Trix stopped in front of me, unable to look me in the eye. "Kotestu I'm so sorry about the other day, I-I wanted to stop Craig but..." he stopped when I grasped his hand.

"It's okay, Trix, I understand," I whispered.

"You should come with us," Trix said, squeezing my hand. I nodded in agreement. Where else could I go? If I wet home, which I wasn't even sure where that was, it'd just be more of my dad abusing me, and selling me. Now that Craig was dead, so was his drug supply.

xXx

"Barnaby's car was black and sleek. The blonde opened the door to the back seat for me, helping me inside before going around to the other side and letting himself in. Trix drove. We left only minutes before the paramedics arrived.

"Won't you get in trouble for killing Craig?" I asked as Ashley took off at a faster speed. Barnaby crossed his arms before leaning back.

"It'd be worth it for you and for Mike," he said, closing his eyes before I looked out my window. "I'm really sorry if I upset you, Kotestu," Barnaby said, apologizing again. I looked at him, he was watching me closely. I shrugged looking out my window some more. It was nice to be able to, since Craig had never left me alone before.

xXx

I must've fallen asleep in the car, because I woke up o a spacious bed, not remembering how I'd gotten there. I turned onto my side, a little startled to see Barnaby lying next to me. He must've fallen asleep beside me with the light on since I could see him so clearly and it was night time. I eased back down, relaxing when everything seemed to be in order.

This must be his room, I thought, stretching a little and inching a little closer to him. I froze when he stirred, furrowing his eyebrows just before stretching and opening those beautiful eyes.

"Kotestu," he whispered, his brown eyes immediately finding my blue. I opened my mouth to speak but no sound would come out as he inched closer to me, raising a hand to brush my bangs out of my eyes. I flinched when he touched me, so he waited until I relaxed before sitting up a little so he was hovering over me. "Kotestu," he said quietly, pushing me onto my back. He needed to say something, so I listened. "Ever since the first time I saw you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," Barnaby said, looking away. I didn't move or speak, unsure of what to think. "Now that Craig's gone, could you consider letting me in?" he asked, leaning closer to me. I froze, knowing he was going to kiss me, or at least wanted to badly. I decided to let him. He had saved me after all...

Warm, soft lips caressed my own. The way he kissed me made my lips tingle. He was so much gentler, so much more patient, not forcing his way into my mouth right away. He was not at all like Craig, who was possessive and jealous, or like the others. I tensed as I remembered. Barnaby kissing me made me remember it all; the rape the abuse... even though he was nothing like that, he still made me remember, and I started to cry again. Barnaby stopped and as soon as he noticed.

"Kotestu?" he asked looking down at me concerned and little hurt as I cried harder.

I looked away. "If I said no," I began, trying to calm down a little, "would you rape me just like everyone else?"

"That son-of-a-bitch," Barnaby muttered darkly as soon as I'd asked. I could tell that he was absolutely furious, cursing under his breath. He returned his attention to me after a moment, pulling me up into a tight embrace, which I fought until he said something. "I would never do anything like that to Kotestu," he murmured soothingly into my hair. I returned the embrace, sobbing into his chest as I had my second long cry of the day. I nearly missed what he said, I was crying so hard.

"Why didn't you tell me, Kotestu? I would have protected you."