Rescue us, p.21
Rescue Us, page 21
“You have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“I don’t?” I laughed. “Trust me, Sammy, I know enough.”
“Do you give my brother this much sass?”
I glared at him. “No, because your brother actually loves me, and I love him.” I wasn’t opposed to being a brat for Cyrus but that was a whole other story I would discuss with only him.
“Love.” Sammy scoffed, rising to his full height. “Right.” He left the building, the door slamming shut behind him.
“Ainsley.”
I looked at both Piper and Jaron who were still standing there and who clearly had watched the whole exchange.
“I’m sorry but I’ve had enough,” I told them, jumping up from the chair and following Sammy out of the building.
He was walking across the parking lot, a cloud of smoke following his trail.
“Sammy,” I yelled, catching up with him.
He stopped, looking at me over his shoulder. “Why are you talking to me, Mouse? This whole time, you haven’t said fucking boo.”
“Mouse?”
“It’s your nickname.” He said it like it was the most obvious reason.
I shook my head, finding that while I liked the nickname, I would dwell on that later. “Why do you hate me? I’ve never once given you any reason to not like me or at least put up with me. But this...this is...”
“I don’t like that you’re taking him away from me.” Sammy stuck the smoke back between his lips, puffing hard.
“I’m not—”
A black SUV suddenly pulled into the parking lot. It drove into an empty spot, the engine cutting shortly after. Cyrus stepped out of the vehicle and came toward us.
“What’s going on?” he asked, coming up to me. He kissed the top of my head. “I missed you,” he whispered.
“I missed you too,” I mumbled.
“Mouse and I were just having a conversation,” Sammy told him.
Cyrus looked between us. “You were?”
I ground my teeth together.
Sammy chuckled.
That sound, that single sound grated on my very last nerve. Pushing away from Cyrus, I stomped toward Sammy and shoved him. He was much bigger than I was so the impact didn’t make him move much, but it definitely got his attention.
“I don’t know what your problem is, but you don’t scare me. Trust me, Sammy, I’ve dealt with far worse people than you could ever imagine. You’re a pussy cat compared to them. I love your brother and if you can’t accept it, that’s your problem. Not mine. And not your brother’s.” I turned back around and went back up to Cyrus.
He hooked his arm around my shoulders, staring at his brother. “What’s your deal?”
“This is it?” Sammy asked. “You choose pussy over your own sibling?”
Faster than I ever thought possible, Cyrus stepped around me and charged for his brother.
***
(Cyrus)
I had never been as furious at my brother as I was in that single moment. When I charged for him, he stood taller and waited for the impact. It was like he was intentionally pissing me off just to get into a fight. Well, fucker, you got your damn wish.
My fist connected with his jaw before I could stop myself.
Gasps sounded from somewhere, demands and pleas for us to stop.
“Leave them.” That was Jaron.
We shouldn’t be fighting here. I knew that. But I couldn’t stop myself. I’d had enough. If he would just tell me what the hell his problem was, we could deal with it and move on.
“Come on, Cyrus,” he sneered. “You can hit harder than that.”
I got in his face, grabbing the collar of his leather cut. “Tell me what your issue is with my girlfriend.”
His jaw clenched but his gaze never wavered from mine.
Releasing him roughly, I headed back to where Ainsley was now standing with Piper and Jaron. “I’m moving out,” I told my brother.
“What? Why the hell are you doing that?” Sammy bit out. “Is it because of her?”
I cupped Ainsley’s face, taking a deep breath. “Will you still love me if I kill my brother?”
She covered my hand. “He feels like I’m taking you from him,” she murmured softly.
I was taken aback by her words. Looking at Sammy over my shoulder, I wondered if that was the case, but I could use that. “Meet me at your place. I need some time with him.”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a key before slipping it into my jeans pocket. “Now you can come and go as you please.”
“I’ll never go, pet.” I kissed her forehead. “Will you make sure she gets home and into her apartment safely?” I asked Jaron.
He nodded. “Of course.”
Before they could ask what was going on between Sammy and me, I kissed Ainsley one last time and went up to my brother.
“We’re taking a walk,” I told him, heading past him and not waiting for him to catch up. I knew he would because I was sure he was as sick of this as I was. Being so damn negative all the time was too much work. It needed to stop. Both of us deserved happiness. We fucking earned it.
Just like I thought, Sammy fell in line with me. His hands were shoved in his pockets but I knew he was itching for a smoke.
“Smoke, Sam. It’ll calm you down.”
He lit one up before I could even finish the sentence. “I like her for you,” he said, inhaling the spicy sustenance.
I grunted. “You don’t have to say that just to humor me.”
“I’m not. She’s got some sass in her. I know it’s what you need.”
“She’s a good girl. That’s what I need,” I corrected him.
“You love her.”
It wasn’t a question, but I ended up nodding anyway. “And she loves me.”
“I was shocked when she spoke to me.”
“Me too but I know why she did.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, fingering the key she had given me.
“Why’s that?”
“She respects you.” It was the only thing that made sense.
“Why? I haven’t been overly nice to her.”
I looked at him then. “Nope, you haven’t but I also know that if something were to happen, you would do what you could to protect her because that’s how you are. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Red. Maybe that’s part of the reason for your mood swings but I know you love her. You don’t have to admit it, but love is definitely there, among other things.”
“Among other things,” he repeated, stopping. “I’m sorry.”
I stepped in front of him. “For what?”
He threw the smoke to the ground, butting it out with his Shit-Kicker. “Red has me unraveled. I’m not used to a woman making me react this way. They need a handbook on this shit.”
I chuckled. “If that were the case, Jaron and Piper would have talked right away.”
Sammy grunted. “Red and I may not be serious but at least she knows where she stands with me.”
“Does she really?” I asked, not used to the fact that we were having a conversation about the one and only woman who had gotten under Sam’s skin.
“I gave her my number and told her to text me whenever she wants to fuck. I’ve also punched a few fuckers out who hit on her.” He shrugged. “Can’t really get clearer than that.” He lit up another smoke. “I’m sorry, brother. I’m sorry for being an ass. I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated your girl. I can see that you love her. But I...I just...” He swallowed hard, looking away.
Going up to him, I pulled him into my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. This isn’t changing shit.”
“But it is.” His voice wavered. “It’s always been you and me. When Mom died, and then Dad...”
“You can’t expect me to remain single for the rest of my life, Sammy.”
“Fuck.” He shoved away. “No, I don’t expect that.”
“Then what the hell is going on?”
“I can’t lose you too,” he yelled.
“You won’t lose me. Ever.” I went up to him and pulled him back into a hug. “My promise stands.”
“It can’t when you’ve fallen in love. You’re going to get married, have kids of your own and shit. I—.”
“Stop. I told you that no matter what happens, you and I will always be best friends and that we come first before any woman. Ainsley pushed me to talk to you, but I said that everything was fine. Obviously, it wasn’t and that’s on me. Not her.” I leaned my forehead against his. “Okay?”
He nodded. “I guess I should apologize to her.”
“You can but later. We’re going to The Ring.”
***
(Ainsley)
Jaron and Piper dropped me off at home. They were walking me to the front door of the building when the hairs on the back of my neck tingled. I faltered in my tracks, looking around me.
“Ainsley?” Piper frowned. “You okay?”
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My words were failing me as my eyes scanned the area. Nothing was out of the ordinary. I lived in a safer part of town, but that didn’t mean anything. Not when I knew there was still a possibility that people from my past could find me.
“Did you want me to call Cyrus?” Jaron asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I shook my head, walking past them and into the building. They walked me to my door like Cyrus asked of them and made sure I was safe inside.
Just when I thought they were going to leave, Jaron came into the apartment.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Not leaving you alone unless I know for sure you’re safe.” He headed down the hall toward the bathroom and my bedroom.
I looked at Piper.
She only shrugged.
Jaron came back a moment later. “You’re good.”
“What were you looking for?” Piper asked, taking the question right out of my head.
“I was making sure there was no one here who shouldn’t be,” Jaron said like he was talking about the weather and not the fact that there could have been someone in my apartment.
Piper gasped. “Oh my.”
Jaron grabbed her hand. “Cyrus would kill me if we left, and something happened to her.” He looked at me then. “He loves you. I haven’t seen much of him lately but that’s because he’s been spending time with you and working when he isn’t. I’m right, aren’t I?”
I nodded.
“He’s happy,” Piper told Jaron. She came up to me and pulled me into a hug.
My body stiffened but that familiar anxiety was soon replaced with a sense of peace. I returned Piper’s embrace, hugging her back. Hard.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“We’ll leave you alone now but if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call either of us,” Jaron instructed. “You’re Cyrus’s girl, so now you’re automatically family.”
My eyes welled, a lump forming in my throat.
Piper released me, a wide smile on her face. “It’s true.”
I’ve never had a family before.
Jaron frowned.
Piper sniffed. “She said she’s never had a family before.”
“Now you do,” Jaron said gently. “Let’s go, baby,” he said to Piper.
She nodded, giving me one final hug before they slipped out of the apartment.
As soon as they left and I was alone, I let out a harsh sigh. Locking up, I entered the security code into the panel. Leaning against the wall, I slid down until I landed on the floor with a soft thud.
A family. I have a family.
If what Cyrus and I had turned into something even more serious, I knew that Sammy would be my brother in-law, but I never even clued in that it would include more people. I mentally smacked myself. Of course it would come with more people. Sammy wasn’t Cyrus’s only family. He had the club and the people he grew up with. That fact alone, forced a smile to spread on my face. My body felt lighter, and this sense of calm washed over me.
“You’ll never amount to anything, you dirty little slut.” The dark eyes peered down at me, the voice cold and deep.
As broken as he left me, I still lifted my chin defiantly. It was all I had for fear of losing myself completely.
The man chuckled, his fist landing against the side of my head while another man brutally violated my body.
A gasp left me as the memory hit me. I tried forgetting. I tried to forget him. But every now and again, the memories slipped through the cracks when I least expected it.
Ever since meeting Cyrus, the disturbing memories were few and far between. But when they came, they came out of nowhere and usually took my breath away.
As I rose to my feet, a hard bang sounded on the door. I jumped, almost falling back on my ass. My skin became clammy. It couldn’t have been Cyrus. Not when I slipped a key into his pocket.
I checked my phone anyway but when I didn’t see a text from him, that didn’t leave me feeling any better.
The hard knock sounded again.
I wanted to ask who was there, but I had seen enough horror movies to know that you shouldn’t do that.
Slowly making my way to the door, I took a deep breath and looked out the peep hole. My stomach dropped when I didn’t see anyone standing on the other side of it.
Someone had been watching too many horror movies and was clearly trying to scare me.
I made sure the door was locked and double-checked that the security system was armed.
I sent Cyrus a quick text that I hoped he and his brother were able to work out their issues and spent the rest of the evening cleaning, trying to get my mind off whoever it was that knocked on my door. It didn’t make sense. This sudden feeling like someone had been watching me. I felt it when Jaron and Piper dropped me off but hadn’t sensed anything out of the ordinary since I ended up at the deli. I wondered if Cyrus and I would still have ended up together if I hadn’t gone into the restaurant that day.
Once I was done cleaning everything, I saw that it was now pushing eleven at night with no response from Cyrus. I just hoped that everything was okay and that he and Sammy were able to talk it out.
I decided to get ready for bed and read for a bit. Once I was settled beneath the covers, I opened my book. My eyes became heavy, but I tried fighting through it when suddenly, a heavy body wrapped around me.
A scream broke free, my hand landing against a cheek.
“Shit, baby. It’s me.”
I struggled against the heavy body, the deep voice forcing bile to my throat.
“Ainsley, wake the fuck up.”
My eyes snapped open at the rough command, landing on Cyrus’s handsome face. I must have fallen asleep while reading.
He stared down at me, his brows furrowed.
My chest rose and fell, my heart thundering in my ears.
“You were dreaming,” he said gently, pushing my hair off my forehead.
My eyes welled, the remnants of the nightmare settling on my skin. “I’m...I’m...”
“Shhh...” He pulled me into his arms, hugging me against his chest as a sob broke free. He lifted me off the bed, holding me tight.
I was vaguely aware of us leaving my bedroom, but I couldn’t focus. I didn’t know what time it was. I didn’t even remember falling asleep.
When I was placed on something hard, I looked around me. We were in the kitchen, and I was sitting on the counter. Roughly wiping under my eyes, I took a deep breath and then another, calming the racing of my heart.
Cyrus moved around the kitchen like he belonged. In fact, he did. He always belonged. From the first time he spent the night at my place to now, he wedged his way into my life without even realizing that either of us needed it.
He pulled milk from the fridge, grabbed honey from the cupboard and mixed the two together in a glass. He added a shot of rum from the bottle I had purchased weeks ago for whenever he was over. He put it in the microwave and waited the minute it took to heat before coming back toward me. “I usually put more rum in this.” He stepped between my knees, handing me the glass.
I took the drink from him and sipped at it. The sweet taste hitting my tongue, easing some of the anxiety rushing through me.
Cyrus wrapped his arms around me, kissing the side of my head.
“Thank you,” I whispered, finishing the drink and placing the glass on the counter beside me.
“Are you okay?” he asked gently, cupping my nape and running his fingers through my hair.
“I was reading and must have fallen asleep. I didn’t know it was you in bed with me. I thought...” I looked down at my hands on my lap. “I was having a nightmare, but I don’t remember what it was about. You scared me and I’m sorry.”
“Hey.” He pushed his thumb beneath my chin and tilted my head back. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I was about to join you when I heard you whimpering. I assumed you were having a nightmare and was trying to gently wake you up. That’s my fault. I should have turned on the light or spoken to you. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
“Don’t be sorry. I guess my mind still isn’t used to having someone in bed with me.”
“We probably should have eased you into this.” Cyrus ran both hands through my hair, pulling my head back gently. “I love you, pet, but if you need me to sleep on the couch, I will.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve felt out of sorts since earlier this afternoon when Jaron and Piper dropped me off.”
“What do you mean?”
“I felt like someone was watching me and then when they left, someone knocked on my door but when I looked through the peephole, there was no one on the other side of it,” I explained. “It creeped me out and I think my mind was just playing tricks on me.”
“Have you noticed anything else off? I mean, since that man followed you to the deli. I know you said when I asked you last time, that everything was fine but...” Cyrus’s grip on my head tightened. “I don’t like this fear rolling off of you.”
I swallowed hard. “I know. I don’t like it either. But no, nothing else has happened. Not since today or...” I glanced at the clock on the microwave, seeing that it was now into the morning. “Yesterday, I should say.”
