Misery Is Sweet

Chapter 12 The Wounds

Meika's POV

As I stare at Kristoff's engaging eyes that look like there is so much more to them than I can ever imagine. I lean in closing my eyes and puckering my lips to kiss his again because I can't help but love the feeling of when our lips touch.

A shooting pain hits me on my forehead from him apparently taking the mask off of my head but brushing right over my newest head wound. I jump and groan in pain as he quickly sits up to help me. But unfortunately for me, his hand lands straight on the one wound he knows nothing about.

I quickly take my arm away from his hand whimpering as I protectively hold it.. but this automatic reaction gets his attention instantly. "Did I hurt you?" He asks me reaching for my arm as I nervously bite my lip and shake my head not wanting to answer him. I pull my arm away from him not wanting him to touch it let alone see it.

"Meika.. let me see your arm." He says in a more demanding tone.. but I shake my head again not wanting to do this right now. But obviously fate has its own plans for my life as he quickly reached out taking my hand into his just to pull me closer to him. But in doing so he pushes my sleeve up, exposing the newest wound I was hoping to hide and not have to explain until it heals.

"What the hell is this? A cigarette burn?!" He asks but knows the answer so I don't have to reply. I just keep biting my lip and staying as silent as possible as he investigates.

"This is new.. this hasn't even started to heal.. who did this to you? Is it the same person who hit your head?" He inquires of me as I now have to bite the inside of my cheek and look away to keep myself silent.

"Was it your brother?" He asks and I still don't look at him, just afraid to answer because of the consequences that may come from this. I feel his hand leave my arm just to grip my cheeks. Turning me to face him he asks again. "Did he do this to you?" I swallow the lump in my throat as my eyes fill with unwanted tears just hoping they won't fall.

"He did, didn't he?" he softly asks as I sniffle still not making a sound out loud.. but my body can't control itself as the tears begin to fall just thinking of the torment from earlier.

"That f*#king assh*le.. did he do this to you because of me?" he asks me as I look away again... I don't want him to blame himself for this because my brother is just a straight assh*le.

"He did, didn't he? F*#k Meika.. he told me he made it very clear to you that we shouldn't be together and I'm going to assume by your silence that this was his warning." He spats making me stiffen as the tears flow endlessly now.

"F*#k I can't believe you're getting hurt because of me Meika... that isn't right... I just want to murder him for this!" He yells out turning away from me as quickly grab his arm and shake my head just to beg of him now since the cat is out of the bag. "Please don't say anything to him.. he said if he found out that I told anyone that he wouldn't just hurt me but you... please don't."

"So it was him?" He huffs our running his hand through his hair swiping his arm from my grip to pace back and forth as if he has a lot to think about. "I'm sorry Kris... I told him we weren't together but he didn't believe me.. he told me I had to stay away from you or else." I frantically explain as he scoffs. "That's the problem Meika... I can't even take my lady out to dinner or parade her around to my friends I have to hide you just as much as you have to hide me and that's not right.. he shouldn't have any say in our relationship!" He spats at me but I know his anger isn't towards me.. doesn't make it any easier to hear.

"I know... but he runs this place now.. what he says goes.. and he runs everything underground.. he could do so much worse to us than we could to him... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you." I try to explain as he states. "But that's exactly what's happening to you as we speak and it's all my fault. I mean come on, look at this." He says reaching over and exposing my arm once again as I look away. "Look at it Meika."

I reluctantly look down at my wound that has festered probably from the rubbing of the sweater over the top of it this time. "How could you want to be with me knowing this is what you get when you are?" He snaps at me before letting go of my arm in a fit just to turn around and stare off, obviously thinking about this hard situation.

I walk up behind him as I softly say. "I want to be with you because I know in my heart that you're nothing like him... I don't care if he thinks he can scare us away from each other. I won't let him scare me from the one thing my heart not only wants but aches for. You're the only motivation I have to look forward to and the only person I want in my life at this point.. he can threaten all he wants I don't care because these wounds will heal.. but what won't heal is the broken heart I would receive from losing you. If you don't feel that same way about me as well then this is not what I thought it was... But the way you described your feelings for me, says to me that you do indeed feel the same... so don't let that sorry excuse for a man come between us... please." I beg of him as he flips around taking my face into his hands and creating a heated, hunger-filled kiss that makes my heart rapidly beat as if it's about to burst out from my rib cage.

He backs us over to the wall again as he hovers over me kissing me as if there is no tomorrow. That's before he pecks my lips between his words. "But.. what.. if.. he.. finds.. out.. about.. us?"

I shake my head pulling my lips away to respond as his lips trail over my jawline and across the curve of my neck. "I don't care.. all I know is that I want you and I won't let him take the one thing making me smile away from me... I have wanted this for too long to let his sorry ass destroy it. I won't let him destroy my happiness anymore."

"That's somehow all I wanted to hear.. but this is still not ok.. his treatment of you isn't alright... ugh... I want to be so mad and bring down hell on that man.. but when I look at you... uh... I mean look at you... How can you turn me on and make me feel better at the same time.. this is all so crazy. You somehow have me wrapped around your pretty little finger already. How can just your voice and the words coming from them, calm me down from tearing this place down? I don't understand it." He says to me in my ear as I smile wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and keeping him close.

"Just promise me you won't let him destroy us," I ask him as he leans back to look down at me. "I promise I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe." I shake my head as I state as if it should be obvious. "That's not what I asked you to promise me."

He nods sadly to me before responding softly. "I know... but no matter what, I will do what I need to, just to make sure you're OK. You're all I care about Meika... I want you to know that."

"You make it sound as if you're going to try to solve this for us, with him," I say with shock as he stares down at me. I can tell his mind is running with so many thoughts and I just wish I knew what those thoughts were. I can't read this mysterious man and that's what scares me.

"I'm going to do what I can to protect you." He says to me so protectively which gets my heart racing with fear and anticipation being the main driving force for this. "But if you come at him.. that could be at the expense of us.. it could cause you to get hurt... please don't," I beg of him as I start shaking my head.

His hands strap over my cheeks trying to calm me. "Shhhh... Meika calms down... it's going to be ok... Don't worry about me... I just want to make sure you're safe.. that's all that matters to me. I have hated the way he has treated you for years... but now I can finally say something to him because we are together and because I have seen the way your father reacts to your brother and his stupid actions... So I'm thinking that maybe even your father could help us, as crazy as that may sound... Your brother won't like the fact that I'm going over his head for this, but I don't care... I'm going to talk to your father privately... This is for your safety and also showing concern for his business just so he knows what's happening behind his back and who knows how much more there is happening behind his back... Your father didn't like the fact that your brother hit you yesterday and was mad about it.. so if I tell him what he has done to you now, maybe he will have our back... maybe not mine.. but at least yours and like I said you're all I care about... you don't realize this and might not believe it but it's true. I would do anything for you." He says this so sweetly to me and as much as I want to swoon I know this means he is going into the lion's den with no protection just a sword hoping for the best but not very much good has come from my father ever.. let alone my brother.

"Let's just run away together now.. let's just drop everything and go.. please let's just go.. don't do this for me.. we can just leave with what we have and figure everything else out later.. please," I beg of him as he lets his iconic grin fill his face.

"As amazing as that sounds... you know your brother would just come after you... you know he wouldn't let you leave.. we have to tell your father what your brother is doing and maybe we will get his help and we will be fine here for the time being... I just need to get your brother to stop and leave you alone.. and then we can go to wherever you want." He states plainly to me as I shake my head.

"Why can't you just leave this alone? Why can't we just leave? My brother hates me, yes, but I don't think he would go to the lengths of torturing me from afar... I know he and my father have the resources to do so, but that doesn't mean he has the ambition or even attention span to do it. Just be with me away from this hell please." I beg once again as he shakes his head... I think he is letting his protectiveness get in the way.

"No Meika, he can't get away with this shit... So I'm going to hit him hard and where I know it will affect him the most... This is his livelihood we are speaking of.. this will hurt him for hurting you... no one tortures you and gets away with it." He spats with so much motivation but also anger threatened through every single word. It's that manly testosterone coming into play.

"That's just going to make him mad," I state the obvious as he nods his head at me. "Oh I know it and that's the point... I want him to remember why he doesn't mess with you... I want him to regret ever hurting you because what he is doing isn't right and I don't care that he owns this place.. his actions will have consequences. Everyone has to learn their lesson at some point and I'm going to be the man to do it to him for hurting what's mine... You're all I care about and I won't let this man torment you any longer." He says to me as he leans down to kiss me then walks away leaving me up here alone.

I groan out hating that he has to do this... Why couldn't he just forget this all and leave with me now.. we could have been long gone before my brother even noticed... I could have changed everything for Kristoff.. my hair, number, name.. anything that would make me look like this girl that's being targeted.. and for him... Why couldn't he do the same for me? Why couldn't he just forget his anger and testosterone that's building up so quickly inside of him having to do this? I just wish he could drop it.. all this is going to do is make things worse.