[Thad’s POV]I sit alone, watching Darlene finish her set, while wondering how much longer Brielle is going to be. A good twenty minutes had passed since she went out to take a call, and I was beginning to wonder if everything was alright.“You look perplexed.”Snapping out of my head, I lift my gaze to Darlene as she takes a seat across from me and steals my beer.“Oi,” I huff as she brings it to her lips and chugs. “That's disgusting, you know.”“I'm your sister,” she giggles, placing the empty bottle on the table. “My germs are your germs, and your germs are mine.”Gagging, I lean back in my seat and look toward the bar exit.“Are you worried about her?” Darlene asks, giving me a funny grin. “Shouldn't you go after her then?”“I don't know who you mean,” I smirk. “There are many pretty women around me, you know; you're going to have to be more specific as to what you mean.”“Pretty blonde. Didn't you see some thug was following her out the…”Darlene doesn't get the chance to finish
[Thad’s POV]My eyes slowly take in the scene in front of me from Brielle, who is on her hands and knees with a masked man positioned behind her. I don’t have to look closely to understand what is happening here, given Brielle’s flushed cheeks and where his hand is positioned.Fuck, what the hell is this? Some kind of freakish foreplay? Her whole fucking backside is red and welted from him hitting her, and she still seems to be enjoying every damn minute, to the point where I was sure she was still oblivious to my presence.“You!” The man growls, yanking his hand free and surging forward so that his body crashes into mine. “What the fuck are you doing here?”Letting out a huff from the force that I’m hit with, I try to dig my feet into the carpet beneath me to stop myself from crashing into the wall.“The door,” I hiss, lashing out and pushing him away from me. “You left the bloody door open!”As I speak, the masked freak moves forward again, attacking with his left hand while I attac
[Brielle’s POV]Panic begins to build as the paramedics start to attempt to lift me. No! I couldn't go with them; what if L came back, or worse, what if he didn't?“You,” I hiss, feeling my tears beginning to fall down my cheeks. “Why did you show up and ruin everything?”I knew lashing out at Thad was wrong, especially when he looked genuinely concerned for me, but I was becoming manic. What would I do if L disappeared from my life because of this?“No,” I gasp, feeling my throat begin to close up. “I can't!”I would be completely alone without him! He was all I had after my parents’ murder. Because both sides of my family were gone, L was the closest thing I had, and I didn't want to picture a world without him.“Please!” I beg, clawing at the paramedic, who is gently leading me toward a stretcher. “I can't go to the hospital! I have to find him!”“Find him?” The paramedic repeats. “Don't worry, the gentleman is right…”“NOT HIM!” I wail, beginning to fight. “L! I HAVE TO FIND L!”“
[Thad's POV]“Welcome back, little brother.”Darlene's voice is too damn chipper after what I just went through, and it grates on my last nerve.“Why are you here?” I huff, collapsing on my bed and throwing an arm over my eyes. “Do I look like I want to see you right now?”Honestly, if Darlene didn't insist I return Brielle's purse to her, I wouldn't be a human pin cushion, nor would Brielle and I be walking on damned eggshells. So in retrospect, this whole fucking situation was her fault.“I came to keep my cute brother company while he is in the hospital.” Darlene responds unphased. “What kind of sister would I be if I didn't?”As she speaks, she flips her long, dark hair behind her shoulder and wiggles into a more comfortable position in her seat.“Anyway,” she continues now. “How is your lady? You were just visiting her, yes?”How was she? Completely out of her bloody mind and defending the bastard that hurt not only her but me. Even if it happened because I walked in unannounced,
[Brielle's POV]“Prove it.”The words leave my lips before I can stop myself, but I’m in desperate need of proof that even if no one else was on my side, I had L and that he would be with me forever.“Do you know what you’re asking, little songbird?” L husks, keeping his head low so that I can’t make out his face. “Because I don't..."“I do,” I counter, feeling a slight sting of betrayal. “I know exactly what I’m asking.”I knew. I knew from the day he came into my life that he would become my world, and I need something to prove that is true. He is my everything, but at times I feel like I’m not his.Growing quiet, I wait as a low rumble of frustration escapes him, and when he brings my hand to his masked lips, I feel another sting of rejection.“Not now,” he sighs, beginning to get up while I watch. “Not when you’re like this.”Like this… What was he even talking about?“I don’t understand,” I whisper, pulling my hand from his in anger. “You act like you want me, and you make me do
[Brielle’s POV]I open my mouth, preparing to bear my heart, but stop as my phone begins to buzz. Frowning, I lift it up, and my eyes widen as I take in L’s name on the screen. With shaky fingers, I press the open option to the message that is waiting for me while fearing for the worst, but instead of that, I’m met with something more jarring.L: Make him leave before I do.Gasping, I turn my gaze toward the door just in time to see a shadowy form just beyond my window, but instead of getting up to chase it, I remain in place.“Are you alright?” Thad asks, not missing my sudden change. “If talking to me about whatever it was you wanted to is too hard, then..."“You need to leave,” I squeak, knowing that L would remain nearby until he saw Thad leave my room. “Now.”For a moment, Thad stares at me in disbelief, but when his eyes snap to the phone, I still clutch it in my hand, and a look of understanding appears. I know he knows what the message is.“The scary bloke must be nearby,” he
[Leo’s POV]“If you’ll look at these numbers..."I listen intently as Jackson goes over the numbers for the month. It was a welcome distraction from the many messages I was receiving the past few days from my little songbird, which I was leaving unread.As he continues, my phone goes off again, and he grows quiet while pointedly fixing his gaze on my phone.“What?” I ask, leaning back in my seat. “Are you finished?”“Aren’t you going to check it?” He asks, giving me a look of curiosity. “I’m sure it is your little songbird.”“Doesn’t matter,” I huff, waving a dismissive hand.Since seeing another man walk into her hospital room moments after my leaving and her even welcoming him, I was teaching my little songbird a lesson. If she wanted to depend on another man, then fine, she could do that. However, I knew she wouldn’t, but this was a punishment of sorts to remind her of who she truly cares for and who has consumed her mind. Once she realized this, things would go back to how they we
[Thad’s POV]I watch the boss as he quickly rushes out of the studio. Though he was doing his best to try to hide the panic on his features, I knew that something was clearly up, but did it have something to do with Brielle?Frowning, I remain in place, trying to remind myself that this has nothing to do with me. My only concern was advancing my career. However, with each passing minute where the boss doesn’t return, my own worry begins to grow.Letting out a string of profanities, I get up and head to the door, and when I peek out into the hallway, I find that the space is empty.“Where the fuck?”Remaining in place, I look around to make sure that maybe he just didn’t move further away from the door before I head down to reception.“Are you expecting something?” Moreen, the receptionist, asks me, giving me a smile. “Or did you just come to keep me company?"“Did you happen to see where the boss went?”For a moment, she doesn’t speak as she takes me in, and when her expression falls,