“She’s fine. I was able to talk to her last night for a few minutes between guard shifts. I explained to her to let them think she is you. She gets how important the situation is.”
“How did you end up mixed up in all of this Royce?”
“Does it matter, I had a debt o pay and a contract to fulfil. Come on let’s get out of here. People are watching us.”
I have no choice but to have faith in his answer for now.
Once we are on the road leading back to the city I ask where he is taking me. I am surprised to learn that he is taking me to his house. The
ride to his place is quiet and too calm. My nerves are all over the place. I feel on edge like a bad guy is going to pop out at any moment and drag me away. Not that I think Royce would let them take me willingly.
“Why are we driving my brother’s truck?”
“I thought it best that any cars connected to you guys stay hidden and your brother needs a car to get around so I gave him mine.”
“Won’t whoever is giving orders look for me here?”
“This is the last place they’d expect to find you. They have you remember?”
“Right,” I can’t shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don’t know if it’s my feelings or if I am picking up on whatever Royce is feeling. He has a lot riding on his shoulders. Most guys would have said fuck it and fed me to the wolves by now, but not Royce or my brother for that matter. There is still this doubt in the back of my mind that Royce is only doing this out of obligation. I want to believe that he really does love me.
Royce takes me upstairs to his room and runs me a bath. “You relax. I’ll get us some breakfast and find us a movie to watch.” I can tell he is exhausted. I wonder if he has even been to bed, probably not since he was out all night making sure I am protected. I don’t know that I can handle food. My head is still throbbing from my whiskey binge.
The bath water feels so good and I can smell Royce all around me. I love his scent. It feels like home. What more could I really want in a man. He would give his life for me. Royce will give me anything I want and always do right by me. When all is said and done I wonder if he will be willing to walk away from it all for me. Parker is nothing but a distant memory right now. A couple of rolls in the sack don’t compare to what Royce and me have shared and what we could build together.
When I get out of the tub Royce is stretched out on the bed snoring. He sleeps. Some body guard he is. I snicker to myself. He has left a tray of food on my side of the bed. Some fresh fruit and toast, but I’m not hungry. I just want to curl up next to my man, get some sleep and pretend that when I wake up this has all been a bad dream. When I awake I will just be a girl sleeping over at her boyfriend’s house. Before I curl up next to Royce I find myself locking us in the bedroom. I know Jake and Brad are his friends, but I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them.
**
“Stop, please don’t hurt him.” Jake is dragging me from the room kicking and screaming for Royce. But when I look at where Royce was sleeping next to me he is lying there lifeless. That’s when I notice the blood running from the side of his head. “No!” I cry out in shock. They couldn’t have! “Please, Royce look at me,” I cry. But he doesn’t. He’s gone, they’ve killed him. I try to fight Jake with all I have in me, but I can’t Royce is gone— I have nothing left.
Jake smacks me hard across the jaw. “Shut up Bitch!” He drags me out the door, down the stairs to Charlie, kicking and screaming.
“Brandi, I told you one day I would do something about that smart mouth of yours.” He blows his cheap cigarette smoke into my face causing me to gag as my stomach lurches in response to the fumes.
“I should have known you were doing this Charlie. Why? For money? My mother will never forgive you!” I kick out my feet towards him but I miss as Jake tightens the hold he has around my waist.
“That’s rich… your mom can’t stand you. She has merely tolerated you and your brother. But at least Kline is good for something. You’re just a whore.” His head rolls back as he chuckles at his lies.
“I hate you Charlie. I hope Parker Garett kills you when he’s through with you.”
I dig my nails into Jake’s arm going for blood.
I start thrashing. I have to get away from here.
“Babe, wake up, you are having a nightmare.” Royce is gently shaking me. Tears are rolling down my face. A hiccup of sobs escapes my throat.
“Shh…shh it’s okay. I’m here. You were having a nightmare.” Royce is cupping my face and wiping my tears away with his thumbs. He presses his lips to mine reassuringly.
“It was so real. I thought I was never going to see you again. Jake was here, he… he shot you in the head while we were sleeping, and he was working for Charlie. It was so terrible.” I bury my face in chest.
“There’s one problem with that scenario, Charlie isn’t that smart.” Royce laughs lightly, but looks at me with concern. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you.” He kisses my forehead trying to calm me, but the dream felt so real.
“I don’t want to leave you, but I have to go to a meeting. If I’m a no show it will look bad. It’s for the fight.”
“I understand, just come back to me okay.”
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.” I smile at his words reminding me of our first date. He took me out in the middle of the desert and we danced under the moon to that song. It was so romantic. Royce was always planning sweet dates like that. I can’t wait for this to all be over so we can move forward.