6. Maya
Maya
Tucking my phone in the bottom of my backpack, I stepped out of my room. The trailer was quiet, and I made it nearly to the front door before a gross, meaty hand grasped my neck. I cringed at the feeling and waited for the scent of tobacco to disappear.
It didn’t.
“You think you can ignore me?” Jed growled quietly, trying not to wake my mother.
“I slept in,” I mumbled.
“Ignore me again and your door stays unlocked at night,” he hissed through yellow teeth. His hand bit into my neck as he pressed his disgusting body against mine. I whimpered, but it only seemed to encourage him.
“Jed, baby,” my mother’s voice called. “Come back to bed.”
Jed grunted, squeezing my neck harder before releasing me and walking away. I stumbled through the door and practically jogged toward the waiting SUV, letting my hair fall onto my neck and offering a weak, watery smile.
“What’s wrong?” Ledger asked immediately. Henry helped me into the back and gave me a sweet but concerned smile that made my heart flutter nervously.
“Nothing,” I mumbled.
Anani turned in his seat and looked me over with intense eyes. “Your bruises are gone.”
I shrugged. “Maybe they weren’t as bad as you thought.”
Ledger sighed and pulled onto the street, and Henry mumbled something before grasping my hand, the action making both of us blush. I don’t think Henry blushed because he was embarrassed like I was, though.
It was a gloomy morning, and I couldn’t seem to shake the sadness that had invaded my bones. Once Atlas told them, they would think I was all messed up. They wouldn’t want to be my friends anymore.
“Coffee?” Ledger asked while pulling through a green and white drive-through.
Henry and Anani ordered while I frowned at the menu. Ledger smiled. “Have you ever had coffee?”
I shook my head and leaned forward on my knees, over Henry, to peek at the menu.
Henry made a low sound in his throat as the hand clasping mine moved to my hip.
His hand was hot, but it steadied me. Anani turned in his seat to see the commotion and groaned, and I looked back over my shoulder to find Ledger silently laughing.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“What would you like to drink, firefly?” Ledger asked with amusement.
“Something sweet, please,” I decided and sat back. Henry’s hand gripped my waist gently, and I settled against his warmth.
Human contact felt great…except I wasn’t positive they were humans. I mean, I didn’t know what they were, but the dragon theory seemed valid. I sighed contently because I fit perfectly into Henry’s side.
“We should get her some leggings,” Anani muttered.
Ledger let out a loud laugh. “You don’t notice the skirt on anyone else.”
“I don’t mind it on her, I mind anyone else seeing her in it,” he shot back.
I raised a brow. “Why do I need leggings?”
Henry snorted. “I’m sure Anani is just worried about you getting cold.”
“Oh, that’s sweet.” I smiled. “Don’t worry, though; I’ll be okay.”
Anani muttered something under his breath as Ledger passed out our drinks. I took mine, a dark blended color, and sipped it, humming in content at the sweetness that exploded in my mouth.
“Good?” Ledger tossed back a look.
“Amazing,” I sighed and tapped Anani’s shoulder, leaning forward.
He looked back and arched his brow. “Yes, peanut?”
“What does yours taste like?” What? I was curious!
He smirked. “Not as sweet as yours. I like my coffee bitter.”
“Why?” I frowned. “Sweet things are the best.”
Ledger chuckled softly. “He knows that. It’s his metaphorical cold shower right now.”
“Cold shower? Are you hot?” I wondered out loud. “I’m sure you could take off your shirt if you are.”
Henry sputtered as Ledger started laughing, a deep chuckle. “Yes, Anani, why don’t you take off your shirt?”
Anani tossed him a scowl before giving me a playful smile. “You want me to take off my shirt?”
“Of course—you’re hot,” I rationalized.
Anani bit his lip, holding back a smile. “Thanks, peanut. I’ll be sure to remember that.”
I flushed at the heat in his eyes. Well, now I really wanted to see him without a shirt on. I wanted to trace those tattoos.
Ledger hit the back of his head. “Shut it, Casanova.”
“Is that his real name?” I asked Henry. He raked his hand through his soft blonde hair with a head shake and smile.
“That would be very neat if it was,” I continued. “Giacomo Girolamo Casanova is a very well-known historic author, from what I’ve read.”
Henry made a sound of curiosity. “You know about Casanova?”
“I’ve read a lot,” I noted. “Mostly about history, but you have to learn the past to understand the present.”
Something sparked like a firework in his gray eyes as both boys up front groaned. “Now you’ve done it, firefly.”
“What?”
“Ignore them,” Henry said. “Come on.” We’d arrived at school, and Henry gently pulled me out of the car by my hand. Almost immediately my gaze fell on a BMW that was two rows away from us. My brow dipped in confusion—was that Marco’s car? Couldn’t be…why would he be here?
As I sipped my coffee drink on the way inside, I frowned as I became distracted by a more pressing concern—-figuring out how I would pay the twins back for it.
“Henry?” I asked, his hand still in mine. “Can you help me find a job?”
Henry’s jaw tightened before a strained smile came onto his lips. “I’m sure we can find you something, but the boys don’t think it’s a good idea for you to work in town.”
“Why not?”
He chuckled, although the sound wasn’t filled with amusement—instead it sounded concerned. “They don’t like the idea of our…friend working.”
“But you’re all friends, and half of you work,” I reasoned.
Henry’s eyes flashed with something I couldn’t read in response to my words. “Right—friends. Just trust me on this, sweetheart. How about we find you something with Marco’s company?”
I bit my lip gently. “Maybe. What if I find something I really want to do?”
His eyes crawled across my face, and he smiled. “I don’t think anyone would ever have an issue with you pursuing something you want to do, Maya. Just as long as you aren’t doing it due to some misplaced notion that you need to pay us back.”
I did need to pay them back, though.
We continued to walk toward the school, entering a large crowd of students. I cringed at the confined space and shuffled toward the side, the twins following behind us as we made our way to the lockers.
“Lil Henry getting his dick wet?”
Henry let out a sound that made my skin break out in shivers as both twins moved with ease to flank us.
“Lorn.” Henry’s voice grew vacant, and a cold chill flashed across his face. “Didn’t you learn your lesson yesterday?”
I looked up and was surprised to find Lorn had a bruised face. My mouth popped open as a sneer formed on his lips.
“Didn’t you know, princess? Your boyfriend’s older brothers beat the shit out of me yesterday.”
I flushed and felt my body tremble. I hated being the cause of violence. Something else sparked in my chest, though, something very defensive about the way he was talking about—and to—Henry.
“Don’t bring her into this,” Anani snapped, his temper rising.
“Why?” Lorn grinned. “She is literally the reason for this.”
I sank into Ledger’s chest as he wrapped an arm around my waist. Lorn snorted and shook his head. “So not just Henry, huh?”
A voice sounded from the end of the hallway, causing all of us to pause. “Mr. Matchers, I do believe you're supposed to be in a meeting.”
I found Marco strolling toward us, suit pressed clean to his body, radiating power. Lorn scoffed and shook his head. “What do you know about my schedule?”
Those pale green eyes found mine with amusement as he answered, “A lot, considering I just had you benched for the next game.”
“What the fuck?” Lorn thundered.
Marco grinned a predatory smile. “Harassment charges could’ve resulted in something far worse. I’d take your luck where you can find it.”
Lorn snarled, “Fuck all of you. This whore isn’t worth it.”
I cringed at his harsh words as Marco snapped out a hand, closing it around Lorn’s neck. “Call her that again and the ending of last night will be vastly different.”
With a distasteful sneer, Lorn jogged away. I instantly relaxed, and instead of being scared of how the men had acted, I felt comforted. Was that terrible?
It felt nice to feel protected. Safe. Sheltered. I was always getting beat up on, and now there were people who weren’t allowing that. I would have to make sure to be an equally good friend in return.
“Classroom, now.” Marco pointed to a door. His eyes were hard and plastered to my face.
I paled, knowing he had talked to Atlas.
The boys started to follow, but Marco held up a hand. “Go to class. I need to talk to her alone first.”
My fight or flight instincts surfaced, and I flicked my eyes to the door because a very small part of me wanted to get the heck out of here.
Anani grunted and pulled me into a tight hug. “See you soon, peanut.”
“Firefly,” Ledger said in a lazy, smooth tone. Henry squeezed my hand and walked off with them. Marco’s calculating smile was gone, replaced with anger. I flinched away from him as we moved into a classroom, his big hands locking the door.
“Maya,” he whispered, his voice thick. I was confused by the heartbreaking expression on his face as he picked me up and held me in his arms.
Oh. My body relaxed against his. I had expected anger, not this.
Then again, I always expected anger.
“I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t want to lose my new friends.”
Marco let out a low rumble. “You would never lose me as a friend, Maya.”
I pulled back and frowned. “You promise?”
Those green eyes sparkled with darkness. “As long as you promise to tell me the truth.”
I worried my lip and shook my head. “No, I have to protect you guys.”
Marco sat down at the desk and pulled me to sit in front of him, my elevated position making him seem less scary. I was so small compared to him; I imagined I must look funny next to him and Atlas. I was like a tiny mouse standing at the feet of a lion.