A month had passed. And nothing, nothing had happened, no more threats had been made, no more break in’s, no more scare’s. It didn’t sit well with me, it was eerie silent on Anton’s end and I knew, that something was brewing, I could almost feel it. Silence was never good, silence to me, meant there was danger.

Kaden and my brother had been on edge ever since, always aware and alert, they were preparing themselves, because none of us knew what to expect, that to me was the scariest part, not being aware of what could happen.

Some nights Kaden didn’t speak, he was quiet and distanced himself from me. I wanted him to talk to me, open up to me and tell me how he felt but I knew he wasn’t that type of man, he preferred to deal with it his way and that was alone, but I didn’t like that, but I never forced him to talk to me either, I was afraid he would only push me away further.

I could tell he felt guilty for what had happened to John’s café, even though John said so himself, Kaden was not to blame for the sins of someone else and he wasn’t. I knew he didn’t believe us, the guilt was evident in his eyes, it killed me to see him blame himself, but again there was nothing I could do, he didn’t want my comfort, at least that’s what I felt.

I had been running more often. It helped with my anxiety and depression that had found its way back to me again, it clawed beneath the surface and forced its way into my head. Although, running had been no good for my muscles, some days I could barely walk with how far I would run. It wasn’t healthy, I knew this, but it was my way of coping.

The girls kept asking me what was wrong, they so desperately wanted me to talk to them. But I couldn’t because it was Kaden’s story to tell not mine. I wished like hell I could tell them, then they would tell me everything was going to be alright, that they would be there for me no matter what. I couldn’t, I had to keep it a secret, it would be unfair to Kaden if I had told them, but I also felt like I was lying to my best-friends and I didn’t like that, I hated lying, it made me feel sick.

I had lost all motivation in college. I was starting to despise my courses with each passing day and kept questioning myself, was this what I wanted to do for the next two years, because I really didn’t think I wanted to. But then what else was in my future, what would I do for a career, I was honestly stuck because at this point in time, I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. I had never known what I wanted out of life, college was just there.

I had been writing a lot lately. A book actually, at least it was turning into one. I felt devoted to it and couldn’t seem to put my laptop down, I always wanted to write another paragraph. I found it was on my list of escapes from reality. I was writing about a girl who was trying to find herself. She had no family, no home and was alone, she had it rough and was looking for a break, but hadn’t yet found one, until one day she had a saviour, a man, who gave her a home, he gave her freedom and a fresh start. She enjoyed singing, it calmed her, she was good to, but she didn’t know it, she believed she wasn’t good at anything, but that man, her saviour she liked to call him, believed in her and held high hopes for her, he hoped one day she would see what he did a kind-hearted girl who deserved the world and so much more.

The book was coming along, but it was a bit draftee and needed work. I didn’t know maybe one day I would publish it. Someone would enjoy it, at least I hoped they would.

I was headed over to Kaden’s soon. He said he wished to take me out for the day and I think it’s what we both needed. It’s been a while since we had spent an entire day together.

I put on my casual dress shirt, and wore my small healed Chelsea boots, I let my hair down in its natural waves, not bothering to do much else with it, I also liked my natural hair, I thought it suited me. I wrapped my coat around me, it was freezing today, so I wanted to be warm.

I got in the taxi, it took me to Kaden’s flat. Reaching Kaden’s place, I paid the fare and climbed out. I felt nervous today, but then again, I was nervous most of the time when it came to being around Kaden, he did all sorts of things to my emotions.

I wrapped my fist against his door. He opened the door for me to come in, he was on the phone at the moment, the conversation seemed heated, I couldn’t help but overhear. I placed my bag on the counter and waited for the phone call to end.

“How can he fucking disappear again,” he growled. “That just doesn’t happen,” he paused, listening to the other person. “Who’s his fucking nephew? I didn’t know he had any family, I thought he was an only child. Find out who this dipshit is, I need details Mike a picture, I need to know what I’m up against,” he paused again. “Yep. Ok. Bye.”

“Everything ok?” I asked cautiously.

“Yep fucking fine,” he threw his phone onto the kitchen counter. “Shit Eva, I’ve had enough of this crap, let’s escape, just you and me. Go away together.”

“As much as I love that idea Kaden,” I sighed. “We can’t do that. I have college and my family’s here, and you’ve got your club. You can’t run away from your problems Kaden you need to face them.”

A humourless laugh escaped him. “And what the fuck have you been doing Eva huh,” he shook his head. “Because from where I’m standing you’ve been running a hell of a lot more than usual, to me that seems like your using that as an excuse to escape your problems, so don’t tell me about my problems, how about you focus on yourself?”

Tears stung the back of my eyes. “Do you know what Kaden,” I grabbed my bag of the counter. “Go fuck yourself, you prick.”

I yanked open the front door. He called my name, but I ignored him and ran down the stairs as quick as I could. I needed to get out here. What gave him the right to speak to me this way, all because he was angry, well now no thanks to him, I was fuming. It hurt me, he shouldn’t take his anger out on me, I wouldn’t him. I walked away because otherwise things would’ve escalated, and I didn’t want that to happen.

Outside was pouring down with rain. I pulled my hood over my head, I took some deep calming breaths, needing to calm myself. My phone rang in my bag, pulling it out Kaden’s name flashed across my screen. I shook my head and switched it off, I couldn’t deal with him right now. He didn’t come after me either, he knew I wanted to be alone, he knew it was best we both calmed down. Although I had to admit, I felt a little hurt, a stupid part of my mind wanted him to chase me and apologize.

I understood his anger, I really did. I was angry that Anton was on the loose, I wanted him to be found as much as he did. He was a cruel man and deserved to rot in hell. But we couldn’t escape, our lives were here, he had his club, I had college, it wasn’t plausible for either of us. I would love nothing more than to get away, just the two of us, but we couldn’t run. It made us cowards and we were not cowards. 

God, he could be such an ignorant fuck sometimes. I felt like banging my head against a brick wall.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I shielded myself from the cold. I started to trek home. It was at least a thirty minutes’ walk. I groaned inwardly, this was going to take a while.

The rain pelted at my face, making my cheeks sting from the cold attack. Great, my coat was soaked right through making my dress stick to my body. In this moment I hated my boots with a passion, my feet had blisters, they were so sore, I could cry right now, it was a good job it was raining because you wouldn’t notice they were tears. I didn’t want to cry, I felt a fool, I was in the middle of a pathway, I needed to get a grip.

I’m walking down the road with my head turned downwards, when I heard the horn of a car. I looked up to see Ben winding down the window.

“Get in Eva, you’re getting soaked,” he yelled.

I ran to his car and quickly climbed in. I pulled my hood down and turned my head facing Ben. “Thanks, shit weather huh?”

“Sure is,” he pulled away from the curb. “What are you doing walking out in the rain anyway?”

I sighed, “long story short, Kaden and I got into an argument.”

“Ah,” he said. “I see, what about?”

“Just stupid shit. It doesn’t matter,” I told him. “Mind dropping me off home?”

“No problem. I just need to pop somewhere along the way,” he said, almost sounding nervous. I looked at the side of his face, I could tell something was off with him. Sweat beaded on his brows, his hands gripped the steering wheel making his knuckles appear white, he was biting his lips anxiously, he was making me feel anxious.

“Are you alright Ben? You seem distracted.”

He glanced my way and gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m truly sorry about this.”

“Sorry about what?” confusion washed over my features.

“This,” he leaned over me, went into the glove box and pulled out a gun. Oh god, my stomach churned with fear, my body started to shake, what was happening. Ben raised the gun, and smacked me in the side of the head with the butt of the gun, pain radiated through my skull, darkness pulled me under.