Chapter 19
“What are you doing, trying to get yourself killed?”
Brendon twisted her wrist around her back. He dragged her into the house where
Kenyon and Zalia stood staring at Brendon’s violent display towards his
girlfriend. “Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell anyone you would be going
somewhere that you would need to take the car? Are you that stupid?! Were you
followed?-Or would you even know if someone were following you?” He slapped her
hard across the face, Ariella’s head nearly rocked off her neck. Tears spilled down her face, it wasn’t the
pain that made her cry. She had long since gotten used to the slaps and the
punches, but it always hurt her when he did it in front of people. “Stop it!” Zalia pulled Brendon away from
Ariella.
“Where have you been Ariella?” Zalia asked, her tone
cool, but not enraged like Brendon’s.
“I... I went to the store,” Ariella said lamely.
“Why?” Zalia persisted, “Did you need something?”
“No... I...”
The plastic bag Ariella had received from the grocery
store was tossed on the floor by her feet. Ramon now stood behind her with his
arms crossed over his chest. Zalia’s
snatched up the bag quickly and peeked inside, she frowned at the contents,
“Ariella...”
Brendon’s reaction was immediate rage, “This... This
is for Blondie isn’t it? You almost
ruin this so you can play Florence Nightingale to that pansy-ass Backstreet Fag
downstairs?!” Brendon’s eyes flared
with jealousy, “Do you think he’s cute Ariella? Is there something about him that you desire? I can put you down there with him if you
want him so badly!”
“NO!” Ariella found her voice and was shouting, “I...
I love you Brendon. It’s just...”
“She’s soft- hearted,” Kenyon stated flatly, “She
shouldn’t have been involved,” he looked pointedly at Brendon.
Brendon glared but said nothing, knowing that Kenyon
was correct, for once in his ignorant existence.
Zalia frowned at the lot of them, “Is there something
I should be aware of?” Ariella looked
at Zalia, Zalia who stood as tall, proud, and beautiful as an African
queen. Her father was over the
operation, which made her the voice of authority whenever her father wasn’t
around.
“It’s, it’s one of the boys...”
“Carter,” Brendon said flatly.
“Carter, he’s really sick and I just figured you
know, if we give them back when we have our money and something’s wrong with
one of them then...”
Zalia nodded in understanding, silencing Ariella’s
final words. “Why was I not informed
that we may have a problem downstairs?”
“Problem?
It’s not a problem, so the kid wheezes a bit!” Brendon fumed, “No big
deal!”
Zalia rolled her eyes, and Ramon, tall, dark,
handsome Ramon came to stand beside her. “No big deal... Wheezing means
breathing problem, breathing problem means possible breathing trauma, breathing
trauma can mean death... Death means multiple jail sentences and high ransoms
for US!”
“Ramon, you take this down to them. Get Sean to go
with you. I have to call my father,”
Zalia glared at Brendon subtly, “I’ll be down later.” She slipped back into the
foyer area.
Brendon glared at her, “I hate that girl. Just
because she’ s the bosses daughter doesn’t mean she can treat the rest of us
like ignoramuses!” He turned to Ariella who stood frozen in relief against the
wall, “Just because Zalia took defense for you does not mean you are getting
off the hook.” He pointed his index finger painfully into the flesh of her
chest. He stormed off, pushing past
Kenyon. Kenyon sneered at her, then
left the hall as well. Ariella’s chest
heaved with temporary relief but then tightened as she thought about the
torture she would have to endure later...
She felt the tears sliding down her face again. She wiped them off quickly and rushed to the
basement door and grabbed her face mask.
She wanted to go down with Sean and Ramon. They were nice enough, unlike
Kenyon and Brody. They were horrible, and friends of Brendon’s.
Sean and Ramon nodded to her as they opened the door
and began to trot down the stairs.
Ariella followed them lightly.
She was not wearing her cat suit, but her face was covered and that was
all that really counted.