Dirty ties with my brothers

Adopt you

XENIA.

"Cold," I muttered under my breath as I shivered, wrapping my hands around myself, sitting on the floor and watching people pass, despite my attempt to call them over;

"Hello, please help me." I pleaded, trying to c***k into a smile despite my cheeks which were already swollen.

The beautiful woman dressed elegantly with an expensive handbag, scrunched her nose into a frown at me before snorting and turning to leave.

"Pest". I heard her say and looked downwards; my lips pressed together as my eyes watched the few coins I had gathered into a bowl from those kind enough to give me alms.

"Well, well, well, who do we have here?". A voice said and I froze, my heart racing as I suddenly felt a lump in my throat.

'Was that......?' I had barely completed my thoughts when someone grabbed me and I gasped as I came face to face with Ariana, my breath getting caught in my throat as I tried to breathe, my mind racing.

"How did she find me? This wasn't her territory, I made sure of it".

Ariana, seeing all colors draining from my face let out a smirk, the side of her lips curling up to reveal her brownish teeth that sent shivers down my spine.

"You really think you could run away from me, huh?" She questioned as she brought me closer to her, her face so close to mine that I could perceive the strong smell of alcohol that made me feel dizzy and have the urge to throw up.

My stomach rumbled at that moment, hurting me, and I winced, especially when Ariana giggled before flinging harshly to a side, well, not exactly to a side as my back came in contact with the huge concrete wall behind.

I let out a groan, feeling my bones cracking as I fell heavily to the floor, my head which I was sure was bleeding, pounding heavily.

Ariana moved closer, the sound of her footsteps sending fear across me.

"P-p-please". I tried saying, but she cut me off by giving me a kick to the side of my ribs, then another to my stomach, making me cough out blood; as I saw stars, my vision blurry.

My insides felt like they were being torn with a knife, and I cried out, feeling tears rushing to the brim of my eyes.

'Why was she doing this to me?' I pondered, fighting back the urge to cry. I wasn't going to give her that pleasure.

"I can't believe you really think you could run? I mean, didn't David tell you? All the territories in these streets belong to me. You were just scammed and fooled". Ariana told me and my eyes widened in disbelief.

'So I was being watched all these while?'.

"Boys, teach her a lesson. This time, you can go extreme. I am done protecting her". Ariana said and I fought back the urge to scoff.

'Protecting me? More like tormenting me because I had no one.' I thought but then her first words were replayed in my mind.

I shivered and struggled to look up, my hands moving to hold my stomach which was hurting when someone grabbed them.

Despite my pain, I tried screaming and struggling, but no sound came out of my mouth because another hand immediately covered it.

My eyes bulged out and I tried raising my legs to kick when another caught them, holding them to the ground before forcefully separating them and coming in-between.

Cold sweats formed on my forehead as my heart beat repeatedly against my chest. I shut my eyes as the guy between my legs, tried tearing my gown.

The other guy's hands were still at my mouth, so I bared it open and bit him hard.

He let out a howl, immediately removing his hand and I took the opportunity to try and get up when I was given a resounding slap

The tears I was trying to fight back all came rushing, and I sniffled, still trying to struggle, but then, my hands and legs were caught and spread apart again.

I closed my eyes, preparing myself for the impact when;

"Let her go." A deep voice commanded with authority, cutting through the heavy tension. I stiffened, while the boys paused mid-action.

We all turned at the same time to see a not, too, old man.

Perhaps late fifties, dressed in a well, immaculate, tight-fitting suit, with tons of bodyguards at his back, who looked tough and ready to fight.

One of Ariana's boys, James, scoffed as he got up from my legs and walked closer to the man, his head raised high as he frowned.

"Beat it." He told the man who snorted, before arching his eyeballs at James, in disbelief.

I too, was surprised. I mean doesn't he see how well- protected the man was. He screamed wealthy. Before I could blink, the other two boys left me to join James, as the man made some kind of signal to the boys.

I shut my eyes, then opened them to see the tough bodyguards and Araina's boys in a fight. James and his dogs couldn't lift a finger against those men.

I shivered as I heard the sound of bones cracking, followed by the painful groans James let out, that sent a wave of satisfaction through me.

One of his boys tried sneaking on one of the guards from behind, but got kicked to the face, his nose cracking as a result. Blood sprout out, and when I glanced around, I saw the other two in the floor, all beaten up, breathing heavily.

The bodyguards, not done yet, cracked their fingers and moved forward, aiming for another hit. Immediately, Ariana's boys saw this; they all got to their feet and made a run for it, leaving me backward without looking back while I lay on the floor, too shocked to even move a muscle.

I heard his footsteps as he moved closer to me, his head slightly bent as if to scrutinize me with his gaze.

"Are you alright, young miss?" He asked, putting his hand into his suit to remove a hundred dollar bill and handing it over to me.

My jaw dropped.

"Here." He encouraged me with a smile, and I slowly sat up to take it, feeling my heart melting.

'So there were still good people? Not only did he save me, but he also gave me money.' I thought as I watched him leave with his bodyguards after thanking him.

I sat there for a while in silence, and then thunder struck, making me jump up to my feet. I looked up to notice the sky darkening and hastily tried to run when I tripped over something and fell flat to my face.

"Ouch!" I cried out, feeling my nose throb. I turned around to glare at whosoever tripped me when I gasped.

It was a wallet. I immediately picked it up and opened it to see lots of hundred-dollar bills. New notes.

As I was still busy looking at it with surprise, my eyes caught something.

I pulled it out and it was an ID, with the face of the man who saved me just now. He must have dropped it when he put his hand into his suit to give me money.

'I have to return it.' I thought and made to run in the direction he passed but then halted.

"He is rich and you are poor, so why don't you keep it?" My wolf, Hazel, suggested and I found myself actually thinking this through.

I mean, losing such an amount wouldn't matter to him, he might not even notice the missing wallet.

'Perhaps I should keep it!' I thought and was about to put it into my chest when I remembered this man had saved me and even offered me money.

If I took this without returning it, I would be like Ariana. A thief and nobody who took advantage of any situation.

"I have to return this," I told myself, making a decision and running in the opposite direction, praying for me to catch up to the man.

It was already really raining, and I was soaked from head to toe, my clothes clinging tightly to my body.

Luckily for me, I saw him about to get into his car, an umbrella over his head when I screamed.

"Sir, sir, sir. Please hold up." I yelled with all my might, dashing towards his car with such speed I never knew I had.

His guards, seeing me coming, surprisingly, paved the way for me, and I came face-to-face with him.

"Oh! It's you. What is it?" He questioned politely, giving me the same smile which I returned this time.

"Sorry for stopping you but you forgot your wallet," I told him, offering it to him.

His smile dropped as he looked at me in disbelief, taking it from my hand and going through it to see everything was still intact.

"OMG! Thank you so much. I had an important card in here. Bless the moon goddess." He cried out, clutching the wallet tightly like it was a precious jewel.

I found myself, letting out a sigh of relief, happy I had done the right thing. Turns out it was really important to him.

I was about to leave when someone caught my hand. I stopped and turned to see him, getting out of his car.

"How do I repay you?" He inquired, his eyes scanning me earnestly. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"It's okay. You don't need to. Just happy I did the right thing". I said to him softly and he shook his head sideways.

"Of course not. Don't say that. Many would have stolen the wallet instead of returning it. You deserve a reward". He insisted and my heart prickled with guilt.

A few minutes ago, I was one of those who wanted to steal it.

Silence brewed between us for a while, and I felt goosebumps all over my body.

"You don't have a home, do you?"

"Nope. I stay in the streets." I answered, wondering where he was going with such a question.

"Then about I give you one?" He questioned and my world stopped as I furrowed my brows at him in confusion.

"Give me one?" I repeated and he nodded, while my heart skipped a beat.

'Was it what I was thinking?'

"How about I adopt you?".