“So… you’ve been having a good time, I presume?” Mom was the first to speak, the distaste encased in her voice making me wince. I was ashamed to even look at her –or even dad for that matter– so I stared down at my lap, skin itching from the gazes casted upon me.
And to make matters worse, even Kasan was staring me down from where he was seated beside me. Despite the fact that my parents caught us in the act, he didn’t seem fazed one bit. Rather, the dickhead was finding this entertaining.
“W-We weren’t doing anything! I was just…” I waffled between words. “… uh… helping him?” It was more of a question than an answer.
Mom’s scowl deepened, Dad didn’t move a muscle and Kasan chuckled.
I jabbed him in the rib… hard, but instead of wincing like I hoped, his chuckle only got louder than before. Sending him a ruthless glare from the side of my eyes, I scooted over a bit and grabbed the fluffy pillow beside me, letting it occupy the little space between our bodies. He mumbled a quick ‘sorry’ in response to my actions and tried (rather pathetically) to retain his composure as he threw his arm over my shoulder, ignoring the fact that I obviously didn’t want him to touch me.
I quickly shrugged his arm off me and smiled nervously over at my parents.
“It seemed more like you were helping yourself.” This time dad spoke. His bruises were all healed now and he seemed visibly fine to me. “He… well… Kasan asked me to join hands with him and his group. I was going to but now, I don’t really see the need. You seem fine… too fine.”
I glanced over at Kasan in disbelief. “You asked my Dad to join you and your stupid goons? No better yet… you visited them without me?”
“You said to impress you… that’s what I’m doing. Aren’t you happy? They get to be one of us… of course that’s if they want to.”
“That’s the thing. I don’t want them here.” I told him bluntly, shifting in my seat so I was facing him.
“You don’t?” His grin dropped from his lips and he looked genuinely appalled.
“No, I DO NOT! Why would you even think that? You have more enemies than anyone else in this business. How long do you think they’d last?”
“Well, that’s a very good point.” He nodded. “Fine, the offer is off the table then. I’ll have them stay at one of our safe-house instead.”
My eyes bulged. “You’re locking them up?!”
“No!” He rose his hands in surrender. “I’m just keeping them safe… incase anything happens.”
Those words didn’t even come close to soothing me. “Incase something happens? Are they in danger?!”
“No. Stop being so sensi–”
“I’m surprised you both aren’t at each other’s throats. You get along so well.” Father interjected, leaning forward in his seat and smiling over at us. I cringed.
He thinks we get along well? What’s up with him? He’s being too… how should I put this…. unbothered. I mean, shouldn’t he be choking Kasan to death or something like that? He just found us pretty close to having sex just now. Why is he so cool about it? And now he’s even glad that we’re getting along?
That makes me wonder…. what the hell did Kasan actually say to them when they met up?
“What did you and Denzel talk about? When did he visit you guys? Did he hurt you?” I reached over and gripped dad’s face in my hand, angling it left and right so I could examine him for injuries. After thankfully finding none, I shifted my gaze over to mom and was about to touch her when she slapped my hand away. Ignoring the pang I felt, I pulled back, bewildered eyes looking over her figure.
What’s up with her?
“If you continue to keep her safe, then I can be at ease with her in your care.” Father continued, ignoring my own questions and shooting his words in Kasan’s direction. “It isn’t wise for her to be with us right now. The Riders are still in our pursuit since I’ve failed the mission.”
‘The Riders?’
Those shitheads who made him go head to head with Kasan in the first place? The most ruthless group around?… of course second to Kasan’s. They’re turning against him because he failed? What the actual fuck? Does that mean they aren’t safe back home? Kasan’s not the only threat? Are they–”
“It’ll be fine.” Kasan tried to soothe me, seeming to sense my uneasiness. “I’ve already placed a few of my guys on guard in the woods near their house. Besides, they don’t know their location. Your parents aren’t in any danger.”
I absorbed his words, only nodding when I found that he actually made sense. “I guess.”
“If that’s settled…” Dad clasped his hands. “We’ll take our leave then. You can get back to whatever you both were doing.” With a small smile on his lips and an uncomfortable look on his face, he took mom’s hand in his and made the move to stand, but I quickly gripped his wrist.
“You can’t leave, we barely even talked yet.” I said, switching couches and pulling them down beside me. “And we weren’t doing anything. I already told you!” I scratched my hair in embarrassment, cheeks tinting with a dark shade of red. “I-It’s just bodily desires… that’s all.” I grew impossibly darker.
Ignoring how I caught Kasan’s face harden, I promptly turned my full attention to mom, sending her a full-blown smile. “Mom, you haven’t really said anything since you arrived. Is everything okay?”
She had looked so helpless when I left, but now it doesn’t even seem like she cared about how I’m doing. She isn’t even looking at me!
“What’s there to say more than I will never approve of you and that anim—man!”
I jerked, startled by both her unexpected outburst and the intense hatred that bubbled with heat in her tone. I’m pretty sure she hadn’t shown this much hatred back then. What changed?
“I’ll leave you guys to talk. I trust you won’t say anything I wouldn’t approve of.”
I turned in the direction of the voice to see Kasan giving mom an equally heated glare. He then pushed himself out of his seat, moving off to wherever. But his feet halted just as he was about to pass me and he met my gaze. He didn’t look as goofy as I expected, but I didn’t let it bother me. He’s probably just mad because mom obviously doesn’t like him.
A few seconds of him solely staring at me passed before he reached out toward me, probably to ruffle my hair or tuck the unruly strands away. With me being as cautious as ever around my parents, I quickly shifted my head away from him on instinct. I didn’t want them to get the wrong idea, especially mom….
It seemed he understood just that because he retracted his hand and turned his heal towards the exit, stalking out of the house with his face as hard as a rock.
Dad spoke as soon as he was out of earshot.
“If you don’t like it here, you can tell us.” He reached for my hands, enclosing them in his as a worried look took place over his features. “… I’ll do everything in my power to get you out.”
My eyebrows pulled together. How should I answer that? Do I like it here?
Lately, I haven’t even been thinking of leaving, I’ve long abandoned killing Kasan because of what he did to my parents and plus, Kasan’s good at making things fun here… if you know what I mean. Moreover, I think I’m free to do whatever I want and whenever I want while I’m here. Keyword: think. So if someone asked if I wanted to stay a little longer before I make a run for it…. I’d say….
….. yes.
“It’s fine here.” I finally answered. I rolled my eyes when he didn’t look convinced. “I promise. Denzel even has a training ground round back. If you want, we can head there now.”
“Does that mean… you…” I saw his Adams apple bob as he gulped uncomfortably. “Do you like him?… Kasan, I mean?”
Wah?!
“No!” I answered almost immediately, brimming with embarrassment once more. “Why would you ask me that? I said it’s just sex… nothing more. There’s nothing to like!”
Mom shook her head in what seemed to be displeasure. “You’re getting worked up, Clara. You only do that when you lie.” She piped in, still fuming in her seat. “He’s not good for you. Come back with us before its too late for you. Is there a back door? We can leave through there and–”
“Mom…” I sighed. “… once everything’s settled, I will come back.”
She wasn’t pleased with my answer but I opted to change the subject before she could spew her protests. “Let’s head to the training ground. I have my own gun now by the way! Not the measly ones you guys have at home… Big guns! You’ll be amazed.”
“He gave you a gun?” Dad asked, eyes widening in surprise. I nodded.
“Let’s see it then….” He got up, pulling mom reluctantly behind him. “Lead the way.”
The rest of the day was spent showing off my skills with guns, talking about random things and getting mom to finally loosen up. Nate trailed behind us wherever we went, probably making sure that I didn’t try to run away while Kasan’s gone. But besides that, the little time we spend together was good. I even got them to stay a few nights with me.
Only bad thing was…. Kasan didn’t come back from wherever he went that day….