Chapter Sixteen
Brit
“I bet that feels better,” Alia said when I came out of the bathroom.
Smiling, I looked down at the jeans and hoody she'd leant me, grateful for the fresh smell and comfort. “It really does. Thank you, again.”
“You don't need to keep thanking me.” Alia handed me a mug filled with steaming coffee. “Let's go to the guys and get this part over with.”
I followed her as she led the way out of the apartment and downstairs.
Deep voices came from inside and the door stood slightly ajar.
My heart rate increased as I imagined facing them again.
I remembered them from when they'd been in the compound, but I hadn't really been friends with any of them, despite being the same age. We were in a different league.
When I'd stood underneath the shower, letting the water wash the last few days away, I'd felt the numbness overtake me.
I had no more tears left to cry, and even though it had been traumatic, a part of me was grateful for my experience with Fly.
He had inadvertently set me free, and I would always hold a soft spot for him for that.
“Ready?” Alia whispered, waiting patiently while I psyched myself up.
Nodding, I indicated that she go first. I hated to use her as a human shield, but as she was with one of the men, they clearly respected her.
The men went silent when we entered, each looking up from where they sat on an L-shaped corner couch.
My gaze drifted to Fly, who sat on the edge of his seat, his hair wet and his chin clean-shaven.
The fly tattoo on his neck was more obvious now that he no longer had hair covering it. God, he was so hot.
“Fly is telling us what happened,” Moth said, gesturing for Alia to go to him. “You better take a seat.”
Fly glanced at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing when his gaze traced down me. I tucked my hands into the sleeves of the hoody and sat on the small armchair, smiling at Alia when she settled on Moth's knee.
If I could avoid looking at Fly, there was a chance I wouldn't betray the rushing emotions in my chest. A spark of something flew through me every time our gazes met and I was afraid that if I didn't squash it now, it would grow into something unrequited.
“I just told them that you were the one who got me kidnapped,” Fly said, drawing my attention to him right away. “I thought I'd let you explain that.”
Great. No wonder the other three guys were glaring at me as if they were wolves about to pounce on their prey.
“You remember Chad, right?” I asked them, waiting for them to nod, despite their frowns. “I was brainwashed by him from birth. I believed that I was going to take over the whole compound and carry on his message. Basically, become him.”
They scowled, clearly disgusted at my naivety. They were expecting me to be intimidated by them, but I refused, because no one could beat my father when it came to abuse and threat. Plus, I wouldn't be around long enough to bother them.
“I thought that kidnapping one of you and serving you up to my father would gain his complete trust.” I cleared my throat as anger strangled it. “However, I was completely misguided and, well, just plain stupid.”
“She learned a lot about her father after she tried to impress him with me,” Fly said, “and it was everything we already knew.”
“Are you completely sure she hasn't got a tracker on her right now?” Spider asked, eyeing me up and down.
Fly growled in his direction, his arm muscles flexing as he reached out and nudged him. “Don't look at her like that.”
Holding up his hand in surrender, he looked around at the other guys. “Oh fucking hell,” he cursed, “Here we go again.”
Ant chuckled and shook his head, appearing more pissed off than amused. Moth watched me intently, looking between the pair of us as if he were reading us like a book.
“I can assure you,” Fly said, his hands clenched by his sides, digging into the couch. “She's not bugged, she's not working for her father. In fact, the motherfucker wanted me to rape her, or he was going to do it himself.”
Alia gasped and put a hand over her mouth. The men cursed and got to their feet, pacing in different directions and muttering amongst themselves.
“We need to go back,” Moth snapped, “Now. We already have the weapons in the van. If we head there now, we can be there by nightfall, just like we planned. The motherfucker needs to be killed.”
Fly stood and held out his arms in an attempt to silence everyone. They were so in their minds, they didn't notice him. I took the opportunity to move closer to him, putting my fingers into my mouth and whistling loudly to get everyone's attention.
They went quiet and looked at us, all frozen in the middle of the room. I glanced up at Fly, waiting for him to take the lead. We knew what we had been through, and no matter how we tried to explain it, they would never understand.
“Did you…?” Alia stuttered, looking at Fly as she tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “…Did you have to…?”
Fly and I looked at one another. My neck flushed and the corner of his lip quirked into his cheek in a smirk.
“I didn't rape her,” he said, still looking at me. “If that's what you're asking.”
Holding up a hand when the men rushed to talk, Fly quietened them again.
“Let them tell us everything!” Alia said loudly.
Moth went to her, took her hand and kissed it. I had no idea of their story, but I hoped to find out more before I moved on. Alia seemed kind and she owned a bookstore, which seemed contradictory to Moth, the dark man who had a vendetta against my father.
“My father didn't rape me either,” I offered, “because we managed to escape. But, he'll be looking for me. So, I'm going to try and find a safe place to stay.”
“You are?” Fly stared at me.
I looked up at him and rested a hand on his forearm. “I'm grateful for everything you've done to get me out of the hellhole, but I have an older friend who left a few months ago. She gave me the name of a woman's refuge that she planned to live in.”
Frowning, Fly scratched his jaw. “And you didn't think to mention this before?”
I shrugged, unable to look him in the eye. I hadn't told him of my plan because I didn't want him to stop me from going. He had wanted to drop me off somewhere, and although I technically had nowhere to go, I'd remembered the lady who I'd caught leaving.
“I hadn't really thought about it until I was in the shower.” I yawned suddenly as tiredness overtook my body, pulling on it. “I remembered the name of the place so figured I could go there.”
The others hummed an affirmative, clearly happy for me to go. I understood, I was their top enemy’s daughter, even if I had disowned him as my father. I couldn't change who I was and what Chad had done to the guys.
“You need to sleep,” Alia came and took my hand. “You can stay in our apartment if you'd prefer not to be with Fly.”
Fly grunted and grabbed my hand. “No, she can have my apartment. I want to talk to her about the plan to make sure it's airtight.”
Stepping back, Alia released me and went to Moth, holding onto his arm as he stared at me, the way they were all staring at me.
“We trust you, bro,” Ant said, sniffing, “Just make sure she's legit and we'll support you leaving her someplace else instead of keeping her hostage.”
“Hostage?” Fly snarled and went to step towards his friend.
The word had obviously sparked something in him, he was acting like a caged animal.
I held him back, forcing him to stay beside me as the others got in front of Ant.
“It's like deja fucking vu,” Ant muttered. “I'm out.”
He strode out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Silence followed as we stood staring after him, waiting for someone, anyone, to make the first move.
“I need sleep.” Fly indicated that I walk before him. “I have two bedrooms and my own life. I shall do what I want and let you guys know the next step.”
We went to the door. I smiled at Alia when I looked over my shoulder, noting the tension in the remainder of the group.
Fly turned back to them with a dark expression on his face. “I'm glad to be back, but I'm disappointed that my welcome hasn't been that warm after everything I've been through.”
Moth and Spider began to remonstrate with him, but Fly turned and pushed me gently, closing the door behind us. I followed him back up the stairs, staying back so he could hobble and use the railings for support. Nothing needed to be said until we were back inside the apartment, alone.
“I'm sorry,” I rushed out as soon as the door was closed. “I'll leave as soon as I've slept. I'm sure the place is in London; I just need to find a map or something.”
Fly rubbed his forehead and leaned on the kitchen island. “And what if Chad knows where your friend went?”
“He won't.” I shook my head, sending my hair flying around my face. “He hated her, anyway. I don't think he would've noticed that she was gone, which was why I didn't say anything when I caught her leaving. Also…”
My sentence trailed off and I hesitated, ashamed of myself for not seeing everything before.
“Also?” his deep voice probed.
“I think, deep down, I wanted somewhere to go on the outside if I ever needed it.” I wrung my hands together. “I want to go there, Fly. I don't want to be a burden.”
He pursed his lips and closed his eyes briefly before pushing away from the counter. “Fine,” he said, not looking back at me as he headed towards the archway. “After we've slept, I'll take you. You can have your freedom.”