I Refuse To Be Hurt Again

Chapter 7

Amelia's POV

Jumping was not something easy to do. But the rope was long enough, and I was so sure that I would be able to get down there, and once I did that, I would run.

He had let me go. I was no longer an ex-convict or some weakling.

I could do this. I could jump and he would not find me. He would never.

Taking one step at a time, grabbing the rope like my life depended on it, I slowly dragged myself down to the ground and then jumped, hitting the ground.

I stayed silent, always afraid of waking someone up or his guards. A man shone a torch at my side. “Is there someone there?” he asked.

I remained silent, my sweaty palms pressed to my face as I stayed quiet, not saying a word.

Lord, please, let him not catch me. Kayden did not look like someone who would accept me running away.

And then he walked away.

I heaved a sigh immediately after he left. Slowly, I walked towards the tall, huge back gates. Which would have been another problem, but the fence was not that high.

Just some short, aesthetically pleasing fence. Jumping would be easy.

Looking back at the house— the prison I had stayed in for a day that had brought me so much tears and anxiety—

I jumped once more.

“Argh!” I screamed immediately I hit the floor. On the floor were several broken bottles all stacked like some garden flower. “What the f**k!” I whispered.

My legs were already bleeding, scars on my body.

“Someone ran away!” a man screamed from inside.

My heart sank into my chest. Oh my God.

They must have found out that I had disappeared, and they were now looking for me.

I had to go. I tried to stand up but fell back, pain running within my blood.

I closed my eyes and dragged the hem of the blue gown he had asked me to wear today and cut the edge, using it to tie my hands.

The door creaked open; gunshots filled the air. “Find her!” I heard Kayden shout.

I had to go. With the last strength in me, I ran from the house, past the street, to the road.

The road was quiet— not a single car. Not a single soul. Like there were some rules not to pass after nine in the night.

I looked around and started walking, not knowing where to go, with a bleeding leg, a torn shirt, blue gown, and scattered hair.

Soon a cab passed by. “Hey, please stop!” I shouted.

It drove past me and then stopped, reversing back. The driver rolled the glass down. “Hey young lady, how can I help you?” he asked.

Beside him was a man equally his age, in his late thirties, smoking m*******a with a long pipe, his eyes red.

I cleared my throat. “Emm… I am lost. I am meant to be… Look, I just want a place where I can pass the night. Somewhere far away from here.”

The men exchanged glances. “So you know where you are?” he asked.

I looked around, my heart racing, every moment making it possible for them to find me. “No.”

The man who was smoking nodded slowly, his eyes scanning me— from my legs to my short gown and then stopping at my boobs. “You are in Vale. Vale, the den of vipers. No one enters here and leaves freely except the boss, Viper, allows it. But you are a pretty girl, and I would help you. Hop in.”

Goosebumps crawled on my skin... I knew I would be a fool to think they would ever save me. Or maybe they would.

But the hungry looks in their eyes, the way the man stared at my boobs, and he deeply inhaled the smoke and exhaled it on my face—

I had to do this.

Either I die or I die trying.

Making the sign of the cross, I hopped into the car, slamming the door.

They immediately sped off. They had only driven a short distance when we noticed a car coming after us, another one by its side.

“f**k! Did you do something?” the man asked.

I shook my head. “No. I didn’t. They just want to kidnap me. Please can you speed up!” I begged.

The man increased his speed but stopped as another vehicle was coming from his side. Soon all six vehicles had surrounded us.

“s**t! Girl, you messed with the wrong people,” one of the men said.

Kayden jumped down from one of the cars, holding his gun in the air.

He slammed his fist on the car boot. “Amelia, come outside!” he shouted.

I remained inside, holding myself, pressing my knees to my chest, shaking— tears rolling down my eyes.

“No,” I muttered. The men stepped outside, but I remained inside.

No. I haven’t come this far to give up.

He came to my window shield, glaring at me with red eyes. He was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt that had been unbuttoned a little bit and black trousers, his hair wet like he had gotten the news of my escape.

“Amelia, get down!” he shouted.

I shook my head. “No. You want to use me as bait for Daniel and to get your own desires. That is not something I would allow, so no. Go find someone else!” I snapped.

He glared at me, took a step backward, and punched the glass. He opened the door almost immediately.

“What the f**k were you thinking? Leaving the house in the middle of the night?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes. “I was running away,”

I spat back.

“And you decided to run away in the night with them?” he asked.

My eyes moved to one of the men, who winked at me. “Kayden, I never knew you had a woman,” he said. He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled a deep fume of smoke.

“Whoever she is to me is none of your f*****g business. Now get lost. Take the goods and tell your boss that the next time he sends some miscreant who picks girls in the middle of the night with the intention to harass them, I will burn his home down. If he should touch her”—he pointed at me—“he should be ready to say goodbye to his life. Now get lost.”

They glared at me one last time before they walked away.

Kayden’s eyes moved to mine. He noticed the blood stain on my dress. “s**t, you are bleeding! Did they hurt you?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. Not like it is your business.”

He rolled his eyes before meeting mine. He grabbed my chin, making me look at him. “Least you forget, Amelia. You are Amelia Montclair. You bear my freaking name on that paper. So you are my wife, and you better start acting like it!” he snapped.

Before I could say another word, he carried me over his shoulder and walked towards the door, ignoring my pleas and shouts.

“You bloody monster! I said let me go!” I screamed, hitting the window.

“Me? A monster?” he asked, his voice softer. “Amelia, I saved you from jail, and just because we had a little argument you ran away. You jumped. What if you got hurt? In fact, you are already bleeding, but what if it was worse? And to top it off, you ran into the hands of drug dealers. What were you expecting? What if they raped you or hurt you— what would I do?” he asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to understand if he was being sarcastic or if he was being real.

His eyes remained on mine, the dark blue eyes softened just a little bit. “Well, you hurt me. Stop pretending that you care. You used me as a bait for your brother. You are both the same, Kayden. Both evil, hurting me and—”

He slammed his lips against mine, shutting me up. My eyes widened; I stayed there for a while unable to move. He deepened the kiss, his tongue caressing the edge of my lips, begging for entrance.

I opened my lips slightly, just a little. He rushed in, his warm cigarette smell hitting me.

I tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip around my chin until I gave in, kissing him back, wrapping my hand around his neck.

We pulled away, resting our foreheads on each other, panting heavily.

“What was that for?” I whispered.

He remained silent for a while, his thumb caressing my face. “To show… to show that I care, Amelia. That I care about you. More than the way you think I do.”

He pulled back and rested his head on the car seat. “I will call the doctor to look at your legs, and don’t you ever run away from me again.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

I don't even know why I whispered back. Why I was not so eager to run away. But that kiss melted something within me.