15. Team Up
1197 Words
Three days passed since that night. Mary made a lot of questions but I couldn’t made myself up to open to her. She already knew so much…
Maybe it was time for me to move on. Maybe I had extended my time there searching for something that was never meant to be. Problem was that the snow was now falling, and soon we would be cut off from the outside world for a month, maybe two. And that scared me. What if I got stranded in the middle of nowhere? I didn’t know the place, didn’t know where to go…
Mary understood all too well my need to leave. In that day she poured me a cup of hot tea, sweetening it to her content.
"You’re thinking of leaving, aren’t you?"
"How do you…"
"Lass, I felt the same when Mack approach me. That big oaf swearing his undying love for me? I wanted to run out of here as fast as my feet would take me. But I was tired. I wanted to feel myself rooted somewhere. Why not here? With or without Mack, I needed a place to stay. Mack came afterwards. As a part of a bundle. So, I made of this my home. And you should too."
"I don’t know…"
She patted my hand.
"Think about it. This God forsaken town has something none other has. Once you find it, you’ll truly be happy."
What did she mean? I was still wondering about it when a shadow approached me and I lifted my eyes. It was Alexander… the man of my thoughts. He looked... ragged. He had bags under his eyes, as if he hadn't sleep a wink since we last met. I didn't allow myself to pity him, however. I couldn't allow myself to feel or the pain would break me in a way Thomas hadn't succeed.
I stared down at my tea, absentmindedly.
"I need you to come with me."
"And a very good day to you too."
The old Nadine would never answer this to any man in her life. But now? He wanted me to fight? I would… with every fiber in my being… Starting with him and that small sparkle of something that was burning inside my heart.
A shadow of a smile crept in his lips but soon faded.
"I have something to show you. Would you please come with me?"
"Well, you’re asking so politely…"
It wasn't that I didn't what to go. I was just afraid. He might not knowing it yet, but he had the power of completely and utterly destroy me.
So with him I went, having the distinct feeling that if I had said no he would throw me up to his shoulders and left, caveman style. He was walking two steps ahead of me, but we didn’t go far. His jeep was parked outside and he opened the door for me.
"Get in."
"Where are we going?"
"To my place. I have something to show you."
If I thought Herbie had a heavy foot, I was wrong. Herbie was a feather when compared with his grandson. Alexander was the one with the heavy foot and we made it to his house much sooner that I had anticipated. When he stopped the car, I saw Liam in Alexander’s rocking chair, his long legs resting in the balcony.
"Hello doll. Ready to leave his sorry ass and flee with me?"
His voice was lazy but Alexander really growled when he heard that.
"Careful, shithead."
Liam winked his eye but followed us into the house. I was tense, last time I was there and everyone was playing and eating in an amiable camaraderie. Now, I even hadn't the time to appreciate the view. In the middle of the dining table there were laptops, a printer and a bunch of papers. Jared was there, coursing between his breath.
"What is all this?"
I tried to be more business like, impersonal, but they didn't ackowledge my distance. Liam winked again and made a playful bow.
"Your freedom, milady."
His wry smile made Alexander clench his teeth. A stream of coursing coming from Jared, however, interrupted their manly demonstration of strength. He seemed unaware of my presence up until then. Jared’s incensed eyes looked upon me and he asked me, shoving a piece of paper into my eyes.
"Is this you?"
"Careful, Jared."
Alexander was growling once more, his hands upon my arms, but Jared started pacing the room, furious. I started reading the papers and to my astonishment, they were my hospital records. Broken arms, damages to the spine… there had been so many times… I felt my eyes tearing up again and my hand was trembling when I turn the pages and saw images. Images of me. Lying broken in a hospital bed. Bruised beyond recognition. black eyes, bruises everywhere, caskett... Suddenly, I remembered Alexander was right behind me. I turned around and faced his granitic expression. He was cold. Furious. Never had I seen him like that. I wasn’t fearing him per se, just his reaction. Even Jared’s paled by comparison. While Jared was fire, Alexander was ice. Cold as if the Winter had frozen him on the spot. Liam seemed the only one to remain calm, although his teeth were clearly clenched.
"We should go and give this guy the same treatment."
So much for calmness. I put down the pieces of paper and said, slowly:
"I got out… I left that hospital bed… I crawled up and put myself together... and here I am."
"Scared, on the run and unable of living your life."
The answer was spited by Alexander. I turned around and tried to think rationally.
"He cannot hurt me anymore."
"Yes, he can. Every time you jump when someone snizes, he hurts you. He hurts you when you’re alone. His words, his fists, they all hurt you over and over."
Those were Jared’s words. Great. Now I had three tigers in the same room that I was, all enraged for me. Not with me, but for me. Because of what Thomas had done. That made all the difference.
Alexander’s hand fell upon my shoulders. His words came from his gritted teeth:
"I will fight with you for this. I will gain your freedom some way or another. I love you and I want you by my side, every step of the way. As my wife, as my lover, as my better half."
My eyes started tearing up again. His arms were around me and I give in. I returned the embrace with everything that I had. I loved him and wanted to live my life with him. I was still scared of Thomas, but I knew, deep in my heart, that my Alex would protect me.
"You were brave, little one."
Those were Liam’s words and when I heard them, I wanted to cry. I never felt brave, but earing these men, these... heroes... praise me… it meant the world for me.
I was in my Alex's harms once again and for now, I felt contented.
- Writer
