Alex’s POV –
I leave her alone in the tent as I try and find the source of the gunshots. I don’t want to leave her unarmed but I have no choice. I have to protect her as well as my friends. As soon as I leave the tent, I squint in the darkness, crouching down low to shrink my large frame.
Opposite me is Caleb and Nikki’s tent, looking exactly the way it did a half hour ago. I frown and scan the area, my guard on high alert as I keep my finger hovering over the trigger. Complete silence surrounds me, the only noise is my heavy breathing. I take a slow step forward, the leaves crunching underneath my feet. In that second, another gunshot fills the air, startling me. I drop to the floor, my eyes wide as I desperately search the area again.
I don’t see anyone, I don’t see where it’s coming from.
Then, I hear it.
“Nikki, baby, do it like this.”
“I can’t Caleb! Every time I fire, it bounces back and hurts my wrist.” A whining voice fills the silence, a voice that be-longs to Nikki.
I clench my jaw, pocketing my gun in the waistband of my jeans as I followed their voices. Relief washes over me as I realise they’re both alive but it’s quickly masked over with anger. When I walk behind their tent, I see them, standing by the lake.
Nikki is holding out Caleb’s gun, aiming for something in the distance. Caleb is stood behind her, his arms guiding her to the right position. I let out a hiss in anger, storming over to them in the dark. As soon as I reach them, I grab Caleb by the scruff of his neck, whirling him around.
“What the hell?! Alex?!” He yells at me, stumbling on his feet. My eyes are two burning flames as I glare at him, the anger inside of me bubbling away. With one hand, I swiftly reach out, snatching the gun out of Nikki’s hands. Her eyes widen and she takes a step away from me. I throw the gun behind me, out of both of their reach.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I yell at Caleb, my arms shaking with the strain of holding him so tight. His eyes widen considerably, hands struggling to loosen my grip. I glare at him, fists clenched tightly in the fabric of his shirt.
“I was teaching her how to –” Caleb whispers in response but I shake my head, cutting him off.
“No! Please tell me you are not that stupid Caleb! It’s not a toy!” I scream at him, throwing him to the floor. He lands on the grass in a crumpled up heap, staring at me with fear in his eyes.
“Alex, it’s not his fault! I was asking –”
I snap my head towards Nikki, glaring at her.
“Stay out of this.” I warn her off, turning my attention back to Caleb as I notice her nod silently.
“Do you know what ran through my head when I heard those gunshots? I thought you’d been killed! I risked my life to come and save you! I have Ariana in my tent! Please tell me you are not that stupid?!” I yell at him, disappointment filling me. I’d taught him to never be reckless with guns and here he was, doing just that.
His eyes fill with understanding and he winces, features crumpled up with disappointment.
“I thought we were under attack Caleb.” I say bluntly, my tone of voice lowering. I hear the crunch of leaves behind me and turn around to find Ariana watching me, her eyes burning holes through mine. Her dark hair is wild around her shoul-ders, large eyes filled with such innocence. Fuck, she looks so good. My eyes quickly scan down her body and I give her a small smile before turning back to Caleb, my anger replaced with disappointment.
“I’m sorry man, it was a mistake.” Caleb mutters under his breath, picking himself up off the floor. I shake my head at him, unable to believe he’d do something so reckless.
“Make sure it doesn’t happen again.” I say sternly, walking over and picking his gun up off the floor. I turn the safety on before throwing it in his direction and Caleb catches it before placing it into his pocket.
“She doesn’t even have any training Caleb. She could have killed you.” I say quietly and Nikki gasps, hurt flashing across her features. She storms up to me, narrowing her eyes.
“I would not have hurt him!”
I raise one eyebrow, letting out a deep sigh.
“Do you know how to use a gun?” I ask bluntly and she pauses, shoulders slumping in defeat. She shakes her head and I take a step away from her, my jaw clenched.
“My point exactly.” I say harshly before storming off. As I pass Ariana, I reach for her hand, wrapping it up in mine. The contact with her skin has me sighing in pleasure. Her eyes widen in surprise and she scurries to keep up with me.
“Where are we going?” She breathes out, her large doe eyes looking up at me. I feel guilty for wanting to rip away the in-nocence in her eyes but I can’t help it. Being around her makes me lose control and the mere thought of losing control with her has me stirring in my jeans.
“Wherever you want to go hermosa.”
*****
Ariana’s POV –
“Ariana! Get down here now, you waste of space!” The yelling is becoming more frequent and I close my eyes, breathing deeply. I can hear his footsteps pounding up the stairs, each one more angrier and forceful than the last. My bedroom door swings wide open, smashing against the wall.
“Mark, don’t do this,” I whisper, backing up into the corner of my bed. I grab the closest teddy towards me, sinking my fingers into the soft fur. His eyes narrow at me, chest rising and falling heavily.
“Mark? Call me Dad, you little shit!” He screams at me, taking a step forward. I wince, tears building up in my eyes. I stopped calling him Dad because he wasn’t my father anymore. No way. A father doesn’t cause unimaginable pain to their daughter.
A father loves and protects.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter an apology, sinking my fingers deeper inside the fur of my teddy. I can feel the beads on the inside, digging under my nails. In that moment, I wish for my mother harder than I’ve ever wished before. I wish she never died, turning my father into the monster he’s become. He takes another step forward but I’m already working on zoning myself out.
If I don’t think, I don’t feel.
“You know I hate you, right?” He hisses at me. I silently nod, tears continuously streaming down my face. When I feel pain, I scream until my throat burns. I scream until I’m on the verge of passing out, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. I scream until I feel warm hands, shaking my shoulders, pushing back my hair, soothing me.
I scream until I know I’m safe.
“I’ll kill him, I swear it to you, I will find him and I will kill him.” Alex says over and over again, holding me tightly as I hyperventilate from the nightmare. I have to close my eyes and breathe deeply, bringing myself back to the present tense.
“How much do you know?” I whisper, my body trembling with fright. I grab a fistful of his shirt in my hands, burying my head into the crook of his neck. When I breathe in his scent, I realise why I stopped screaming. I felt safe.
“I know enough.” He murmurs, his voice laced with anger. I keep my eyes closed, focusing on my breathing. I regularly had nightmares but not ones that were so vivid and lifelike. I’d end up screaming out for help in the darkness of the night, alerting anyone I can.
“Listen to me Ariana,” Alex says firmly, his hand massaging the back of my hair.
“I will never let anyone hurt you ever again.” He continues, his voice soft. When I pull back to look up at him, his eyes are covered in a glossy sheen, unshed tears. I knew in that moment that he could feel my pain and I reach out, placing a hand on his cheek. His eyes remain staring deeply into mine, never once blinking.
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep.” I whisper, giving him a small smile. I can taste my tears invading my mouth but I let them run freely, I’m not scared of showing my pain to Alex. He shakes his head, his arms tightening around me. I’m sat in his lap, the only light coming from a torch on Alex’s sleeping bag. It causes shadows around the tent, illuminating one side of Alex’s face.
“Give me a chance to prove it to you. I’ll protect you Ariana, with my life if I have to. You know why?” He asks, his warm breathing fanning my cheeks. I remain silent, willing him to continue.
“Because you’re special. You’re worth it.” He breathes out, leaning forward to place his forehead against mine. I close my eyes, breathing in his scent deeply. His words chipped at the block of pain in my chest, making it easier for me to breathe.
The panic inside my chest melted away and I was back to being myself, not a scared little girl. He leans back and presses a kiss against my forehead, igniting the area with flames. His lips barely hovered over the skin but the feel of them had me weakening in seconds.
“You’re my kind of drug hermosa.” He murmured, the corner of his lips tugging upwards. I smile back at him, letting out a low chuckle.
“You do know you’re going to need rehab after you’re done with me?” I tease him. His eyes flash with humour, sparkling at me despite how dark it is around us.
“Who says I’m ever going to be done with you?” He asks, one brow arched up at me. His words causes caged butterflies to fill my stomach and I smile, biting down on my lower lip. I want to respond but the truth is, I don’t really know what to say to that.
Being speechless around Alex is starting to become a regular thing.