Chapter 19

 

“He knows we’re here?” I can hear how nervous she is. The shakiness of her voice, the tears in her eyes.

“Yeah... Wiley said he'd get a search warrant.” Everleigh gasps loudly.

“They will find us here! Oh, my God. I can’t go back, Dragon! I won’t!” She tries to pull away from me, but I won’t let her. Instead, I look over at Haylee as she smiles and helps decorate the tree. Pulling Everleigh down the hallway, I push her gently against the wall.

“Didn’t I tell you that I would protect you?” She won’t look at me, in fact, she’s looking everywhere, except at me. Grabbing her face roughly, I pull it to look at me.

“Don’t doubt me now, Ev. I have a plan.” The tears that always fall don’t fail this time either. They trickle down her cheeks, breaking every piece of me.

“Everleigh.” Saying her name, she pushes up on her toes. Her lips press into mine like they were always meant to be there.

“I don’t doubt you, Dragon. I can’t let him get her. I’ll go back if I have to—but not her.” Has she lost her mind? There is no fucking way that I would let her go back!

“Have you lost your mind? Why the fuck would you even consider that shit?” Ev slinks down, moving under my arm before stomping down the hallway.

“Where the hell are you goin’?” I roar as I follow behind her. She’s giving me the silent treatment.

“Everleigh! Everleigh! Goddamn it!” When she starts to open her door, I grab her around the waist.

Jerking her up I spin her around, slamming her against the wall.

“What the fuck are you doin’?” 

  She looks so stoic. She’s putting up a front that I’ve never seen before.  She’s hardened herself. I would guess this is what she did when he would hurt her. I’m not him, though.

“Get your hands off me, Dragon.” Her tone is even, and I can see the look in her eyes, she’s serious.

“No. I’m not him, Everleigh.” Her features never change. She keeps that mask in place.

“Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me.” She pronounces each word slowly, staring me in the eye.

Something inside of me wants to snap. I want to slam her against this wall and fuck her until she can’t walk. I want to shake her, and make her understand that I would throw myself in front of a bullet for either of them.

That reality doesn’t go unnoticed by me either. I would, though. She means that much to me; they mean that much to me.

“You want to run back to him? Do you want to throw yourself back into the abuse? Why, Everleigh?” Cocking my head to the side, I watch her face.

“You don’t understand what he will do to you, Dragon.” Is she serious? I chuckle before taking a deep breath.

“You don’t know what I’ll do to him. Don’t even think that he is a threat to me. You’re scared. You’re scared to let him go. You’re fuckin’ scared to love me! Admit it!” I know what she’s scared of. I can see it all over her face. She’s afraid of me.  This has nothing to do with Anderson, and everything to do with me.

“Is that what you think? You have the biggest fucking ego I’ve ever seen! You think that everyone wants to fall at your feet? You think that you’re that special, Dragon?” Look at her pushing me.  

***

 

Nodding my head silently, I look back at her.

“I don’t think anyone wants me. I don’t throw myself around like that. I know who I am, and who I’m not. When you want to admit that you’re fuckin’ scared of the feelin’s you have for me, we can talk. Until then, I’ll lock your pretty little ass in a room, tied to a goddamn bed, but I will not let you go anywhere near that motherfucker again. If you think you want that life... go. But don’t you dare put that helpless little girl back in that position.” I shove off the wall, heading toward the lobby when I hear her scream. I know she’s pissed. I pushed her limits, as much as she’s pushed mine. Her fists collide with my back before I even make it six steps away.

“You, son of a bitch! You don’t know me! You don’t know what I feel, or what I want!” She screams. Devil peeks down the hallway, but I just shake my head. She doesn’t need the audience. Devil gives me a quick nod before he disappears. Everleigh’s rant keeps going, though. I spin around, seeing the fury in her eyes.

“Hit me Everleigh.” I tempt her into doing it.

“Fuck you! You think you know everything!” Her fists slam into me once more.

“Do it—hit me.” Gritting my teeth, I need her to take out her frustration somehow; I’d prefer it be on me.

“I don’t want to hit you!” Her screams only get louder.

“Yes, you do. Now do it. You’re mad at me, hit me! Make yourself feel better! Because I can fuckin’ promise you after this little rant, you aren’t goin’ anywhere!” 

We stand in a silent standoff. She doesn’t back down, and neither do I.

One of us is going to break and it sure as fuck isn’t going to be me. The muscle in my jaw ticks with every breath I take. My shoulders are corded tightly. I want to grab her and make her understand me.

“I’ll die running from him—it isn’t worth it for Haylee.” Finally, her words make sense.

“Do you listen to anything I say to you?” Lifting her face under her chin, she looks at me with such sad eyes.

“I meant what I said. Stop pushin’ me away, Ev. I’ll deal with him, and I will take care of you and Haylee.” The tension between us is palpable.

I need to break that down. I need her to put her trust in me. Hell, I just need her.

Reaching around her I grab and turn the door handle, shoving the door open. I don’t touch her, though.

I make her walk backward, getting into her space.

“Let me take care of you.” The fear is there. I can see it. I hate it, but I see it.

I start pulling my clothes off slowly while she watches.

Taking a step toward her, I pull her shirt over her head. Moving to her jeans next, I slide them down her legs without any protest. I like it when she lets me do what I want.

“Are you gonna let me, Ev?” Gripping her hips in my hands, I slowly walk her backward until the back of her knees hit the mattress.

“Tell me—say you want me to take care of you.” Breathing closely to her ear, she shivers in my hands.

“Ok... I’ll let you.”