Jace Carson
Chocking me from the back a guy holds my neck, pressing into my jugular. I take both his hands with force and throw him over my shoulder as he falls with a loud thud. Wasting no time, I throw a couple of punches on his sick face drawing blood.
Satisfied, I get up brushing my coat, when a gut wrenching pain shoots through my rib. An ugly pale looking guy had pierced a knife in my left side over my rib.
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I wake up panting heavily, beads of sweat drenching my body and agonizing pain that trembles in my ribs. Checking for the wound, I'm surprised to see it has already been taken care of along with the gash on my hand which has been covered with band-aid. Looking around the place, I realize that; I'm resting on a white fluffy bed with dark wooden headrest. The beige colored walls make up the room while a small coffee table resting beside a queen size bed and a small wardrobe are the only things occupying it. Laying half naked on the bed with only my pants on, I sit up while relaxing my back on the headrest as my thoughts wander about this strange place-
How did I even get here?
F-U-C-K... Did somebody kidnap me? But who'd risk doing that to me? But then again that is if they knew about my status. Finally, it clicks.
The bar last night-
The beard pony guy-
The navy blue dress.
Damn! It's that ungrateful bitch!
Speak of the devil. Opening wide the engraved brown wooden door, enters none other than the devil herself. She stands there with a polka dotted yellow crop top on paired with gray cargo pants that hugged her toned legs comfortably. Folding her arms over her chest, eyes raking my conscious state, she has a neutral expression on her face.
The way her shoulders align together in a steady pose, the rhythm of her footsteps inching closer, face betraying no emotion, she is heavily guarded within the walls that she has created around her. I could see her struggling to figure me out as her gray eyes roam over every crevice of my face. Every aspect of her body is unnervingly calm and her stature is confident yet not so sure as she approaches me with a certain alertness as anyone would in the presence of a stranger.
Inches away, she reaches towards the edge taking a seat at the corner on the bed with her captivating eyes studying me. I try to look away.
Further, the door opens to reveal a man in his mid forties, with streaks of gray hair mingled with a few black ones, permanent wrinkles on his forehead as a casual smile lights up his face at the sight of us.
At that, the girl turns to look at him, conveying an undecipherable emotion through her silvery gray eyes. The intensity of their silent conversation urges me to look away. After a minute or, so I hear a sigh escaping her lips as she looks at me, the edges of lips turning up in a slightly unnatural manner.
Is it me, or is she actually giving me a smile?
This is the nicest gesture I've received since I met her. I scoff.
"Scarlett told me about you, thanks for what you did for her" he reaches out, extending his arm forward for a handshake in appreciation.
The ungrateful bipolar bitch does have a name after all.
"I'm Dave, and you are?" he asks, holding my hand in a firm grip. Scarlett gets up slowly and takes a step up to stand beside Dave, her expression conveying anything but that of gratitude.
"It's Jace Carson, and your welcome, but apparently your daughter doesn't feel the same" I taunt my green eyes boring into her gray ones.
A frown takes over Dave's features. "Scarlett's my girlfriend, and yeah I know she can be rough around some people" he replies, holding her hand protectively in a grasp.
"I didn't know that" I whisper lowly in the awkward silence as a throaty cough escapes my lips. I mean anyone in right mind could have mistaken that, she looks almost half his age!
"It's fine, anyway how are you feeling?" Scarlett replies still holding on to the fake smile that didn't go well with her face.
"Quite well actually" I reply returning the same.
"Just so you know; you have 3 bruised ribs, one fractured due to the knife cut. And a deep gash on your arm. You may find difficult to breathe for a while." she says adds with a careless tone.
I'm sure, nothing good comes out of that pretty little mouth.
"I had her check your wound, you're lucky the knife didn't pierce your lung. Don't worry you'll be good in no time." He says instead, an assuring smile on his wrinkled face.
"Are you sure she didn't inject me with Typhoid or Influenza?" I ask tauntingly masking the concern of the actual possibility as I look right into her face.
You cannot underestimate a crazy girl like her, who knows what she's capable of. I'm not taking any chances! In return though, I receive a hearty chuckle from Dave. "I assure you she hasn't injected you with any of the ancient plagues or diseases."
With that said he pulls Scarlett closer and places a chaste kiss on her plump lips. Surprisingly, like usual her features give away nothing but when my gaze lands on those silvery gray orbs, I see a flick of disgust in them. The abnormality of the situation arises a suspicion in me but without any further thought I choose to ignore it. It isn't my place anyway.
Not even a minute later, he walks out of the room. Now its just me and her alone. She looks at me irritatingly "You really think I would waste my time injecting you with some sort of weird diseases, I'm not that much of hypocrite." she says rolling her eyes.
"I'm surprised you've kept me alive" I whisper so low that she could've missed it. But she doesn't. "I know I wasn't good to you last night. I'm not gonna apologize cause I don't do sorry or thank you." sitting on the edge of the bed she says flatly.
"I got that yesterday." I throw a jab. With the events of last night flooding in my memory; I really want to ask her who were those people? What happened between them? Is she a part of some-
"Before you ask me any questions about yesterday. I wanna remind you three things: First, It was you who pulled out that stunt. Second, whatever I do is none of your business and lastly, I don't feel the need to answer any of your questions." she replies before leaving with a straight face. And there she is back with that shitty attitude.
"Ungrateful bitch serves you right" I whisper. And as if she almost heard me she stops in the doorway. Her brows narrowing on me as she says "You can stay here as long as it takes you to heal, but I wouldn't do that if I were you." with that she steps out of the door, the sourness of her attitude getting to me. I shrug at her hostility towards me for a second before taking a look around the place.
I see the food tray before me with honey glazed pancakes and fresh citrus fruits drizzled with my personal favorite- NUTELLA. I hear my stomach growling in protest, and yet I couldn't bring myself to eat any of it. Not that I didn't want to but I have to own my self-respect. I could see Nutella calling out to me awaiting to burst my senses with its amazing flavor and for a moment I almost give in.
Almost...
Most people wouldn't have any reason to not believe her since she was the one who bandaged me up but I can't ignore the possibility that maybe just maybe she brought me here all the way just to kill me so that she could get some thrill outta that.. I mean some people are kinky like that.
I sigh. That devil ruined my Nutella for me. I get up to rid myself from the traces of blood and sweat lingering on my body. After a nice warm shower, I walk out wearing the same clothes again all the while making amends with my growling stomach.
The house is pretty huge with woodsy oak furnishings and an extraordinary chandelier hung up above on the ceiling. It seems that this guy, Dave makes some really good money. The central hall has three black leather couches, fragile looking glass sculptors scattered at places with few fancy decors around the house and a huge home theater placed over the wall. It would be so fucking amazing to watch Superbowl in here!
"I got that from a guy in Japan, 110 inches" Dave almost startles me.
"It's okay if you wanna watch something. I can get us some beers?" he adds, in a friendly tone.
"No, I was just leaving." I state honestly.
"I thought you were gonna stay for a while. With that kinda wound; I would suggest leaving wouldn't be a good option." he sits over one of the leather couches, setting himself so snugly over it that it reminds me of the comfort of my very own place.
"That's kind of you to say but I'll take my leave," I shake his hand with a smile. I understand that he is actually not a bad person.
"You want me to send someone with you to drop you off?" he asks. "No, I'll be fine, in fact a friend of mine will here in 15." I reply referring to Ash, who I called right before I left the room. This place was not that far from my apartment and I've also been in this block a couple of times so the address wasn't much of an issue.
After waiting for another half an hour I get a message from Ash implying that he's reached. Dave and I chatted for a good half an hour, talking about Superbowl and the fact that he also owned 3 yachts and a four star hotels in LA. I find it easy to converse with him throughout. Bidding a goodbye to him, I take my leave but Scarlett is know where in sight.
Slowly, I sit down in Ash's car. He has a teasing expression on his stupid face "Speak up before your words choke you down" I say irritatingly.
"Whose bed did you crash in last night, seeing you all worn out and by the looks of your clothes almost ripped, no wonder that she was a feisty one" he chuckles in amusement.
Looking back at myself, I realize that I look like I had gotten a lot of action last night. The blood on my black coat had dried and was hardly suspicious if you didn't look closely. As we start making our way out, my gaze falls on something or rather someone in the balcony from the rear view mirror: Scarlett. But just as my green eyes turn to actually look at her, I find her already gone.
No wonder she's bipolar, I heartily sympathize with Dave.
As we're out driving on the road, Ash keeps giving me these weird glances which I'm in no mood to decipher. I take a deep breath which involuntarily causes immense pain in my left rib. I seriously needed to see a real doctor who knows what that crazy woman must've given me.
Glancing my way towards Ash, I could see he is in deep thought.
Something about that seems weird since he's never used his brains for so long.
Must've been something with Nera.
"So how are things with Nera?" I hope to get something out of him. He turns his face towards me for a brief second, before going to look back to the road.
"I don't know" he sighs, the pain obvious in his tone.
I get the feeling that something's up and for a second I wonder if he might have messed up again. Ashton was never a relationship guy to begin with. He always used to hook up with random girls at the bar, strippers and his ex-girlfriends from high school. But ever since the summer in Italy where he met Nera.. Let's say that- she's been hooked to his heart ever since. Crazy as it sounds, it is the first official relationship he's ever been in. And knowing Ash, he always finds ways to land up in trouble but it's nice to see them somehow manage through all of it.
"You know that you can always count on me." I assure him.
He gives me a weak smile.
Something is definitely wrong.
Clearing his throat, he begins "It's been different ever since I came back, it's just... she's gotten herself too busy with her new hotel and all now. She is hardly ever home and it's like we don't even talk to each other anymore without landing up in arguments and fights," A look of tiredness crosses his face as I give him a nod to continue.
"She's wearing herself out, I can see her pale face, the absence of the mischievous glint in her eyes, her fake attempts to smile. I can't understand; What has happened to her? What is happening to us? It's just crazy..." he inhales a shaky breath while his grip on the steering wheel tightens with each word.
She was good yesterday, all chirpy and moody.
Maybe all women are bipolar.
"Ash don't think about it too much, she is just engrossed with her hotel, now that it's in a good position and is striving hard to hold that reputation. You know how crazy she was with her job and now that she owns the place, it's hard to keep that shorty calm" He smiles, giving me a full toothy grin.
"I know that, it's just seeing her like that breaks me a little. I love her so fucking much. Can't bare to see her so upset and troubled." he says traces of the smile diminishing into a frown.
"Maybe you could take her out for a holiday, somewhere in Miami or Hawaii. It could take her mind off from work and that way you can have your break too." I suggest.
"Great! How come I didn't think of it?" his eyes light up.
Dumb ass.
"Because you need to have brains to think, and since you don't have any. I'm not surprised." I shrug with a snort.
He glares at me, but I don't miss the slight curve of his lips.
Getting comfortable in my seat, I take my phone off to check for new messages. There are some from Nathan, a few from my mom but there is only one that catches my eye, it is from Alexis.
Immediately, it brings a smile on my face. It's not that I'm cheesy or a clingy person in fact I've been with a lot of girls in my high school and even now. But yet something about Alexis is different, I've had a little crush on her from the beginning. But since she was with someone already, I backed off. And now that she's single, I'm waiting for her to make the first move. I was never the one to initiate anything myself, it had always been the girls.
Opening the message, it reads....
Alexis
Hey, are you free this weekend? I was thinking maybe we could catch up for dinner together.
I smile at that. I have a date this weekend!
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