14: Little Lady

Wren

Rolling my full cart towards the pay station, Ezra’s jaw drops when he sees me.

“One of those bags better contain a better attitude,” he says, still staring at the bags.

I roll my eyes, glancing at his empty hands. “If you didn’t get anything, move. Stop hoarding the cash point.”

He steps out of the way, eyes inspecting every item I take out. The cashier scans, and packs them up for me.

As soon as the bill is printed, Ezra beeps his card, paying for my items.

My grin is wide. “Well, thank you.”

“What? No argument?” His brows pinch together as he pockets his card.

“Why would I argue about you paying my bills?” I frown. “I’m just a girl, Ezra, and you’ve just saved me money.”

He chuckles. “Just like that?”

“If you’re feeling a little more gentlemanly…I’m sure you won’t mind grabbing my bags too.” I hand him the shopping bags.

He takes them, his muscles flexing from the weight, and we make our way to his car.

“When Raymond asked me to take you shopping, I didn’t expect to be used.”

Apparently, Raymond remembered I needed to go shopping and ordered his “goon” to take me, like I couldn’t order an Uber myself.

At least said “goon” has some benefits.

Ezra puts my things in the trunk and rounds the car. The moment he gets in, he gets back out.

“Is something wrong?” I raise a brow, looking at him over the roof of the car.

“Extremely.” He nods solemnly. “I forgot to get something, give me a minute.”

Sweat trickles down my spine, and I groan, this sweltering heat is not the time to be outside.

“You were in that store for more than an hour, Ezra, and you didn’t remember what you had to get?”

He raises his hands in surrender, walking backwards. “I’ll be out before you know it.”

He turns on his heels and disappears back into the mall.

I huff, leaning on the door when I suddenly feel a craving for some candy.

I shoot a quick text to Ezra: Cn u git me a pak of swets?

The text double ticks immediately, then my phone rings.

“Birdie,” Ezra chuckles low.

“Did you get my text?”

“Yea, you needed a pack of swets, huh?” He teases. I can picture the smirk on his face.

My cheeks heat up. “Shut up! I meant sweets.”

“I know,” he chuckles again. “Next time, just call me. You don’t need to stress yourself texting.”

“I’ll do whatever the hell I want,” I snap, jamming the red button.

I barely have time to cuss him out in my head when I’m approached.

The man is tall, huge. Tattoos wrap round his arms, and neck. Thick beards, eyebrow piercings, and his bald head—which shines in the sunlight—makes him even more terrifying.

“Sweet thing,” he smiles, looking me up and down. “You look familiar.”

I force out a smile, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “I’m very sure we don’t know each other…Sir.”

“Oh no, you don’t know me. But I know you.”

“Urm—” I look around for Ezra but don’t find him.

“You’re Ray’s little sister.” His thin lips stretch into a wide smile.

I freeze, eyes dropping low. And that’s when I see a motorcycle emblem on his wrist. Engraved in small letters, Guillion MC.

My heart thumps painfully in my chest, a nervous giggle slipping out. “I don’t think you—”

“Heard about Ray’s little sister but didn’t believe it until I saw you with EJ.” His lips curve into a snarl. “Your brother and his VP have been sniffing their fucking nose in my shit.”

He takes a step closer, and I regret not getting in the car in the first place.

I back up, squishing into the car, wishing I could melt into it.

Goosebumps prickle my skin, and I fumble for my phone, trying to call Ezra without looking at it. But of course, that’s not very possible.

“I have nothing to do with it, er, but I’ll tell them to… stop?”

He licks his lips, leaning closer. My heart threatens to burst out of my ribcage, more sweat trailing down my back, and armpits.

“You have everything to do with it, Ray’s little sister. You’re gonna give them a message for me.”

Breath thick with smoke, and whiskey waft into my nostrils, nearly choking me while I try not to scrunch up my nose.

A sharp zing cuts through the air, and I freeze when I see the source, eyes wide.

A pocket knife glints in his hand, the blade too close to my skin.

Fear floods my body, limbs trembling.

Oh god, I’m going to die today.

“P-please, I know nothing,” I whimper, eyes filling up quickly.

He nods. “I know. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.”

He trails the blade down my neck and arms, and I shudder, stomach dipping in terror.

A squeak leaves my lips, throat tightening.

He sighs and closes the knife, stuffing it in his pocket before backing up.

“Tell Ray and EJ that I’ll see them soon.”

I nod immediately.

He chuckles. “Also tell—”

“What the fuck is this?”

The man and I turn to see Ezra jogging up to us, his face darkened. He rounds the car immediately.

“Lovely to meet you, little lady.” The man waves, and walks off. My heart doesn’t get it yet, it still pounds away.

Ezra is on me in a minute, eyes scanning my body. “Birdie, did that bastard hurt you?”

His hands roam my body, checking for injuries.

“No,” I reply flatly, and his hands stop their movement.

As if just noticing the tears in my eyes, he breathes. “I’m so sorry, Wren…”

“You said you’d only be a minute.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” He runs a hand through his hair, jaw tight. “I’m going to kill him for even talking to you, I swear, Wren.”

“Just take me home.” I open the car door and get in.

My eyes fall shut as I try to calm my labored breathing, and trembling limbs.

Ezra settles in, and turns to me.

I shake my head. “Not now, Ezra.”

His jaw ticks, hands flexing on the steering wheel then, he drives.

The ride is tense and silent, and slowly my heart rate slows down and the trembling comes to a stop.

“You really forgot a lot of things, didn’t you?” I voice out, grabbing one of the shopping bags.

I need some of those sweets to forget the last ten minutes.

But when I open it, my jaw drops. So many different packs of sweet, and different flavors.

“How many packs are in here?” I gawk, taking them out one by one. “I asked for one.”

He looks over. “Well, you didn’t tell me which one. I had to pick one of each.”

“One of each?!” I nearly shriek. And slowly, realization dawns on me. “Is that why you spent forever in there?”

He shrugs. “I’m so sorry, Wren, for leaving you out there alone. I should’ve come with some of our men, or atleast taken you in with me, or…”

“It’s not your fault,” I say, taking one of the sweets. “From the way he spoke, he’s probably been on the lookout for me.”

“What do you mean?”

I sigh, ransacking the other bag. “He knows I’m Ray’s sister.”

Ezra tenses, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel.

“What else did he say?” He grits out.

“That I should tell you and Ray that he’ll see you both soon.”

My feet is surrounded by packets of sweets, and when I dig in to remove the last item, I blink at the sight in front of me.

“That son of a—”

“Ezra, don’t tell me it’s condoms you supposedly forgot?” I clench the three packs of condoms in my grip.

His eyes widen, and he glances at the condoms in my hands. “I ran out and—”

“You said it was extremely important!”

“It was…well, before I lef—”

“You left me…with that disgusting man…to get condoms?!”