A Brother's Love

The Kiss

Taking care of a bullet wound, even if it just grazed the skin whatever the hell that meant was not as simple as pouring on some alcohol on it and wrapping it up. Thankfully, Easton knew how to calmly talk me through it. He was currently seated on my living room couch while I cleaned up. I freshened up, pulled my hair up in a bun and tried to get rid of the bloody evidence. Easton told me not to be paranoid, he'd send someone to clean up and no traces would ever be found. I also didn't know what the hell that meant. But then again I and most people didn't live in a f*****g Godfather movie. If only Serena could see me now. Walking into the living room I shared a look with Easton. I took a seat on the one-seat at his right and leaned in, inspecting his wrapped up shoulder.

“So what happened?”

“A miscalculation, that’s all.” His voice was low and sounded calm but as I trailed my eyes up I could see a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“The guy you’re sending, is he also good at painting walls?”

“What?”

I pointed to my front door, “Your bloody handprint, can your guy fix it?”

He leaned back, closing his eyes, “Sure.”

He sounded tired so I didn’t want to disturb him, but I had to. I didn’t understand why the hell Easton Dehn would show up at my place when he got shot by someone. He had people working for him, capable people yet he showed up at the doorsteps of his little brother’s ex-girlfriend who he called useless and a waste of time. This man had to get up and leave.

“Look, I don’t know what is going on but you need to leave. So call up when of your men who like to play dress-up and go home.”

He opened his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned toward me. It scared me, not because he was so close but because he was moving around and the bandages around his shoulder didn’t look like they’d stay put. I placed my hand on his left shoulder, pushing him back in his seat and quickly pulled my hand away when I heard the sharp intake of breath. His eyes looked right into my soul, it made me freeze completely. My throat was dry and as I licked my lips I noticed how his eyes flickered to them. My gasp got muffled by his lips pressing against mine. I didn’t know what was happening, well I did know but I didn’t know how to respond. Easton laced his fingers through my hair and tilted my head back, deepening the kiss and when his tongue brushed against mine something snapped inside of me. I kissed him back, grabbing onto his biceps as I straddled his lap and kissed him with everything I had. His hands rested on my thighs while we made out on my living room couch. I didn’t know how long we stayed like that but when I woke up in the morning I was laying in my bed and Easton Dehn was nowhere to be found. I reached for my phone on my bedside table and glanced at the time. It was f*****g ten in the morning! Rolling out of bed I got ready for the day, quickly throwing on a pair of jeans, a plain grey tee and some sneakers. I pulling my hair up to put it in my now famous messy bun when I ran into a man in black.

“Hello?” I asked, stepping back unconsciously.

“Mr. Dehn send me.” He informed me.

He said nothing more, assuming that whatever information he relied on me was enough. My eyes flickered to my door which was thrown open as a group of men wearing overalls walked in. They looked like an actual clean-up team which confused me.

“I was joking about that.” I nodded to the bloody handprint by the door.

“Well, we don’t joke around, Miss Miller.” The man in black who was clearly in charge of this operation told me with an impassive face.

“Great.” I whispered, “I need to open my shop though.”

He stepped aside and gestured for me to walk past him, “We’ll be done in a few. I’ll keep an eye on this place for you for the time being.”

I nodded, that was all I could do. Stepping out of the apartment I let the men do whatever they came here to do and made my way out of the building. A car awaited me outside and for a split second I thought it belonged to Easton but another man dressed in a very nice suit stepped out and opened the door to the backseat.

“Mr. Dehn wants me to give you a ride to the flower shop.”

So taking care of a wounded Easton and then making out a little with him resulted into him taking control of my life. I didn’t know how to deal with this, but what I did know was that I didn’t want it. It freaked me out. The man unbuttoned his jacket and subtly showed me the gun he had strapped to the side.

"You're safer with me." He spoke quietly.

Knowing it was better to go with the flow I climbed into the backseat of the car and let this man drive me to the flower shop. I needed to talk to the man who was all up in my space but he disappeared without a trace. I could confront him at his office again but I doubted he’d be in his office today. He should be recovering at home. If only I knew where he lived, the man driving the car surely wouldn't tell me. For now, I had to endure this so I could think about this situation rationally.

***

Closing up the shop I turned around and nearly ran smack into the well-dressed man who drove me to work this morning. I stepped back immediately, flustered and apologizing immediately. I felt like he could kill me with his bare hands so I rather not get on his bad side.

“Mr. Dehn wants me to drive you back home.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Am I in danger?"

He didn’t answer the question, he stepped to me and placed his hand on my back. The guy guided me to the awaiting car and held the door open for me.

“Please, get in.”

Sighing I climbed into the backseat of the car and put on my seatbelt. I could protest all I wanted, I knew he’d get me in the car one way or another. He did drive me safely to work this morning so I didn’t think much of it. As the man started the car and drove away from the flower shop I noticed that we weren’t heading to my apartment building. It made fear wash over me.

“Excuse me.” I called, “Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer me which scared me even more.

“Could you answer my question for once!”

He sighed, “I’m taking you to Mr. Dehn’s house.”

“W-What?”

“Mr. Dehn wants to see you so I’m taking you to his place.”

I leaned back in my seat, feeling confused and still a little scared. I didn't think the well-dressed man would answer my question, it surprised me that he did. Then again I did raise my voice a little and he answered sounding like an exasperated parent. Easton must live in a nice house, surrounded by people like the man who was giving me a ride to Easton's house. I liked to think that Easton didn't dislike me anymore since I took care of him and we made out on my living room couch but just to be sure someone knew what I was doing I grabbed my phone and texted Serena. She didn't believe me when I told her about Easton but it couldn't hurt to let her know I was going to pay the guy a visit at his house and if she didn’t hear from me in the next hour something terrible must have happened and she should call the cops. Just to be sure someone had my back.