21. 21 – Kayden
21 – Kayden
A iden grips me, his hold immovable. And… I let him. Just for a minute. “I’m fine.”
“Yes,” he breathes. And his voice – it shakes. “She… she held you up . Jesus, Kayd.”
For hours. She risked her life for a fucking stranger, risked Red’s punishment for me.
My eyes flit to where she’s laying on the ground. She looks as though she’ll collapse any minute, but she meets my gaze, her expression impenetrable.
She lifts her chin, as if daring me to approach.
I don’t. Not yet.
Instead, I examine her. She looks as though one good breeze would knock her over, but I felt the strength in her grip.
She refused to let go. Took my weight, held me up on her own when my damn useless knee went from under me.
I thought she was an easy target. The first one to fall, most likely. But now I’m not so sure.
And I find myself curious , about this girl with a hidden core of steel.
Aiden is watching her too as he pushes his shoulder under mine and we begin limping to the elevator. “I need to thank her.”
I grunt. “She already has a tribe following her around.”
He hums, but there’s something considering in it. “Maybe there’s a reason for that.”
Nothing good will come of Aiden’s puppy-dog expression. We’re probably all going to be dead in forty-eight hours.
I don’t say anything as we drag ourselves inside. I lean on Aiden, waiting for them. She’s not on her feet, her eyes closed as her friend ducks into the small space with her cradled in his arms. Hatter and Buck follow silently, spreading out to cover them on each side.
Both of us stiffen. “Is she alright?”
It’s not me who asks. I shoot Aiden a sharp look, but he’s not looking at me. He’s staring at her , a worried crease appearing in his forehead.
I still wait to hear the answer though. The guy carrying her watches us warily, his hands pulling her tighter. “She’ll be fine. You’re Kayden, yeah?”
His eyes sweep over me, cool and assessing, and I nod.
“The other one is Aiden,” Buck supplies. He leans back against the wall as the elevator jolts into descending, crossing his arms as he yawns. “Identical, you know.”
We both give him an incredulous look. We are identical, our facial features and eyes the same, but there are some pretty fucking obvious differences.
I clear my throat. “You?”
“Chess.” He glances down at her. “This is Alyss.”
Alyss.
One of the other men, a short fucker with a bald head that shines from the lights above us and attitude oozing from every pore looks over with a smirk. “She’s a fucking princess, isn’t she? She won’t last beyond tomorrow night, no matter how many of you she spreads her legs for. I wouldn’t mind a go though.”
Rage spreads across their faces as he cackles. He holds out a hand to me. “Bruce.”
The other man, tall and pale, shrinks away into the corner. Fear emanates from him.
Beside me, Aiden straightens, but I’m already moving.
Bruce howls as his nose crunches beneath my fist. Blood spurts as he sags back against the wall, cupping it. “ What the fuck —,”
My hand finds his neck. Grips it.
“You don’t look at her again,” I say quietly. He pales as my hand squeezes. Tightens. “You certainly don’t get to touch her. In fact, you’re going to try really hard not to breathe the same fucking air as her. Tell me you understand.”
Bruce gapes, and I yank him back before shoving him back against the wall. His head makes a satisfying thud against the steel. “Y- yes, fucking hell. I was joking—,”
I lean right in. Enough that he can see that I’m not fucking joking. “ Don’t .”
Everyone is silent as I return back to my spot beside Aiden. My eyes sweep across the girl – Alyss – again. Chess shifts, pulling her closer.
He nods at me in silent thanks.
And I… nod back.
Aiden shifts. His words are low, said under his breath as the elevator comes to a stop. “What was that you said? Don’t get attached?”
“Shut up.”