She raises her arm to do it again when I go straight for her throat. I’m not fucking around. Wrapping my hand around her neck I swing her into the wall next to the door, I barely just walked through. The shock on her face has me sneering.
“You always have to underestimate me. I love it.” I squeeze and I see the panic set in. Instead of backing off and letting go, I lift her off the floor. Not much, not even a foot, but I have her attention now.
“I’ve played nice Wren. I let you and your mother attack me, and I did as I was told, but I’ve had about enough of your shit now,” I growl.
Her face is bright red now and I can’t bring myself to care, especially after her outburst at Parker yesterday too.
I feel a hand wrap around mine that’s around her neck. Looking to see where that arm leads, I find my attention drawn to Oscar.
“Baby girl, I need you to let go of her now, okay?” I can’t help but frown at him. She deserves everything she gets, why is he siding with her?
“I’m not siding with her but, I think you’re pretty close to killing her.”
It’s as if he’s reading my mind. Had I said that out loud? I look back to Wren and as hard as it is, I find the strength to let go. Letting her slump to the floor gasping for air. Stark reality washes over me and I realize Oscar just stopped me from going too far.
How far would I have gone? My heart is pounding now. I feel like a loose cannon, completely out of control. Frantically glancing around everyone is staring in our direction. The other guys are holding others back and Red has Becky pinned to a nearby table. What the ever-loving shit just happened?
Suddenly, West is in my face.
“Get the fuck out of here now, cool down. You're done for the day.”
“Fuck you West, were you here when she came at me? I’ve had enough. I tried okay? But I’m done with their shit. I’m done for the day, and I’m done with you constantly fucking telling me what to do. I don’t see this as you protecting me, understanding me, looking out for me. Do you?” I growl.
Fuck this shit.
Fuck all of them.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
West steps towards me, but I just can’t. Shaking my head I step outside, taking a moment to feel the sun against my face. Heading for the closest Rolls, I’m ready to get out of here and clear my head. I see the driver is Ian, thank god. He looks concerned but doesn’t utter a word.
“Hey Ian, is there a quiet spot around here? I need a timeout,” I say it as a joke, but it falls short.
“Of course Miss Steele, would you like me to stop off at the coffee house on the way?”
See, this is why Ian is my favorite, he gets it.
I nod in thanks and offer a small smile which he returns. Once I’m in he settles in up front, and just as we’re about to leave the back-door swings open. I’m about to protest when Kai climbs in. He doesn’t utter a single word he just grabs my hand and laces our fingers.
Fuck. Part of me wants him to know how much I needed this from him, the other doesn’t want him to know how he impacts me. Ian looks at me, and I nod to continue on as planned.
We pull up outside of the coffee house, and without a word Kai gets out with Ian. Leaving me to stew in my own silence.
Would I really have taken her last breath?
My instincts tell me not, but she continues to push, and it feels like kill or be killed at the minute. I know I’ve overreacted, but she pushed past my limit. I’ve ignored all her sneers and taunts for nothing, she hasn’t backed off and I had to put my foot down. Just probably not that hard.
The guys are quickly climbing back into the car and Kai hands me a Frappuccino. Ian drives as if he’s going back to Ace, but he turns left at the library. He pulls to a stop next to a row of hedges.
“Miss Steele, there is an entrance just round the side, I’ll stay here as long as you need.”
Stepping out I follow Kai’s lead through the gate. Oh my god. This place is like a different world. Not big at all, but perfect cut grass leads a small path amongst pretty flowers and vibrant plants. In the center of it all is a little gazebo with a picnic bench.
Ian strikes a homerun again. I just found my new favorite place.
I kick my heels off and leave them at the gate. Feeling the grass between my toes, smelling the flowers around me, I feel much more centered than I did just moments ago. I take my time walking around, taking it all in before I sit at the bench. Kai has followed quietly behind me the whole time, and as happy as I usually am with his comfortable silence, I can’t take it right now.
“Are you waiting patiently to discuss what just happened?”
“Is that what you want to do?” he asks, always so calm.
“I don’t really know what happened, or how to process any of it right now. So no, not really, but I feel something in the air that isn’t usually there in your silence,” I reply honestly.
He sits down next to me, “I promise you Sakura, nothing is between us.”
I nod, relaxing a little more.
“Would you like to put our efforts elsewhere right now? Distract your mind?”
This is what I was hoping for, why I didn’t stop him from coming with me. He knows he relaxes me, and I’d hoped he would be able to help.
“Yes, please.”
He offers me a rare
