 
Table of Contents

Dazed Bullet

Other Works by Serena Kearney:

Dedication:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Epilogue

Bonus Scene

About the Author
Dazed Bullet

the Scarred Bullet series Book One

Serena Kearney

Dazed Bullet

© Copyright 2016

Serena Kearney

_This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents, companies, organizations, products, and events in this book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance, other than those clearly public domain, to any real persons, living or dead, events, companies, organizations, or products is purely coincidental._

_No part of this book may be uploaded, or reproduced, in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews, certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law, and pages where permission is specifically granted by the author._

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase, or it was not purchased for your use only, you should return it and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Published by: © Serena Kearney 2016

serenakbelieves@gmail.com

Editing by: Wendi at Ready, Set, Edit

Cover design by: Justin at Ready, Set, Edit
Other Works by Serena Kearney:

Cursed Frames

Scarred Bullet Series Book Two

Define Us

Scarred Bullet Series Book Three

PNEUMA

Book 1

SURGE

Book 2

CAMATIC

Book 3

CLANE

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Table of Contents

# Dedication:

Moving forward. Forgetting and growing from the past.

This is for the scars you can see, but especially for the ones you can't.

You are strong.

You can get through this.

When you're confused or feel like you are alone--don't.

This is for you.

# Chapter 1

I didn't realize what was happening. Not until I saw it first-hand. I wish I hadn't, but I was glad I did. It couldn't have been real, but I had to snap back to help my brother.

I always wondered how and why Dem would appear with weird bruises, or a cut on his lip or face. He was only a year younger than me, which made us super close, and when he learned to talk, he still wouldn't tell me how they happened.

I found out when I was ten. I remember it; the day my innocence went out the window. My heart will never forget it. I was woken up in my room by grunts and loud noises. I got up and snuck out of my room, into the hall, and headed toward the living room. The sounds were getting louder. Once I rounded the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks, like I had an invisible wall slam me into place.

I didn't know what to make of it at first, but I did know, that's why I didn't want it to be real. I had to be dreaming. This wasn't happening.

Dem was on the floor, his hands up to protect his face. He already had a little blood dripping down from his lip. His black hair was ruffled and tears were slowly pouring out those dark green eyes and down his chubby face.

My mom's brown bun was sticking out in weird places, and she had her fist in the air. Her face was to the side, but from I saw, she had a cold look, hard lines all over--not the look I was used to seeing with her.

Her fist came down fast. I tore my eyes away, but the loud smack and Dem's whimper echoed in my head like I had watched it anyway. I looked again and she was about to do it again.

"Mom." I ran from the corner, breaking through that invisible wall. They both looked over at me; Dem's tense eyes and body relaxed at my presence, and he dropped his hands from his face.

Mom unraveled her fist and started to straighten her hair. "Daisy, what are you doing?" She stretched her arm out to me and took a step, but I flinched. She stopped and looked at me with the worried look she should have been giving Dem instead. I started to walk slower to Dem, keeping my fearful eyes on her. "No, Daisy, I wouldn't hurt you." She stepped to me again.

I was avoiding her, but kept my front toward her as I made my way to Dem.

"Daisy?" she stopped and called out to me.

I finally reached Dem and held out my arms toward him. He took my hand as I helped him up, still keeping my eye on the woman that I thought was our mother.

"You okay?" I asked. I glanced at him, and he was holding back the pool of tears built up at the bottom. He sniffed and gave a small nod, keeping his stare on the floor.

"Daisy?" Mom's voice was more panicked now.

Dem went behind me, and I started to move back toward our room, still keeping my eyes on her-- not her face, but her body.

"We're not done, Demon."

I flinched and so did Dem. We hated how she called him that. His full name was Demanry, pronounced deh-man-ry, but looking back, she named him like that on purpose just so she could call him Demon.

"Stop, Mom." I glanced up at her, and her cold glare went from Dem to me and then quickly softened.

"Dais--"

"Just leave us alone." I was trying not to cry, but it cracked in my voice. I was ten. I couldn't hold it back like I could now.

We got to our room, and I shut the door and locked it. She always said never to lock her out, but that night and every night after, I did.

"Dem." I turned to him and hugged him tight. He sniffed again, but he didn't burst into sobs. "Why didn't you tell me?" He still stared at the floor. He gave a small shrug.

"Come here." I pulled him to our small bathroom in our room. Luckily, we had one inside. I sat him down on the toilet and looked under the cabinet for the brown bottle she would use on our cuts. I took it and soaked a cotton ball and held it to his lip. He didn't even move; he was perfectly still.

At the age of ten, I knew and felt what real rage was, and I shouldn't have had to feel that.

Not when I was so young.

*

19 Years old

I had a temper problem throughout high school, a major one. Anything would set me off, someone pushing me or saying something I didn't like, especially if it was about my friends or Dem. I wouldn't tolerate it. I had no filter.

That came in handy that night.

My fists were shaking. I was about to throw another kick, and I was going to like it.

"Daze." Dem pulled on my forearm.

I tore my eyes from my curled up mother on the floor and found Dem's kind green ones. My pulse started to slow.

I had come home from working late at the diner and caught her in the middle of beating him again. I looked at the clock up on the wall: 12:34 AM.

I looked behind Dem where I had dropped his cake when I had walked in through the door. No more. "Dem, go pack your things."

"But--"

"Now!" His hand came off my arm, and I heard him running down the hall. I looked back down at my mother still curled up on the floor, her hands over her head. "I'm nineteen, Dem is now eighteen, you have no power over us." I turned.

"Daisy--"

"It's Daze," I snapped back. I hated being a dainty flower like my mom expected me to be. My fists started to shake again, and my pulse picked back up. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I wanted to punch her again. I wanted to beat her senseless. I wanted to beat her as much as she had beaten Dem and then some.

My foot twitched like I wanted to whip my leg around and kick her in the face as she started to sit up from her crouched position.

My shoulders were trembling, my ears felt numb, and my head started to throb.

"Daze?" Dem's hand came on my shoulder. "Let's go pack your things," he whispered, so calm, no tremor in his voice. My pulse began to slow again.

She looked up at me with that confused expression, like she didn't know why I was doing that to her or why I was pissed.

I overheard her spouting and sobbing one night when she was in the recliner and drunk. That the reason she beat Dem, and not me, was because he looked just like our dad. He walked out on us when Dem was born, another reason why she beat him. I was too young to even remember what he looked like, but I did know that we both got his black hair, and Dem definitely got his eyes. Me? I got my mom's, stupid, big, brown ones. Sometimes when I looked in the mirror, I couldn't stare for long, because I hated that I had them.

I knew if I wasn't there that night when she was ranting drunk, she would have beat Dem again.

Dem followed close as I grabbed two duffels and started stuffing them with clothes, toiletries, and any pictures I had of Dem and me. The ones of Mom, I left.

I went to a loose floorboard under our bed and found the cash that I had been saving up through the years. The owner of the diner knew something was going on at home, so he gave me the job when I was fourteen and paid me under the table. I saved almost every penny and tips and kept it hidden from her. I started grabbing and stuffing it in my duffle beside me. I had about ten grand, which would help us with an apartment and utilities, at least until I got a better job.

"I have some too." I looked up at Dem as he patted his book bag over one shoulder and a duffle over his other.

He also had a job with one of his friends, working under the table, doing landscaping or help repair houses. I nodded and smiled. I was shocked, but it still didn't surprise me.  
We had both been silently planning without telling each other. It was going to happen; we just didn't know when.

We headed for the back door, but Mom was blocking it with her hands behind her back. My pulse was beating again. I did not want to deal with her anymore and we weren't once we walked through that door.

"Move." I dropped my duffels.

"You can't leave me, Daisy." She sounded so unemotional.

"Move!" I went toward her, fists shaking. Before I blinked, she pulled her hands from behind her back and lunged at me with a knife.

"Daze!" Dem yelled behind me.

I moved, but she was too quick, and her knife cut me right at the top of my right shoulder. I fell to the ground, wincing in pain.

"Don't touch her!" Dem came flying from the side and rammed into her. Her body flew into the wall, making her drop the knife.

He towered over her, and she looked up and narrowed her eyes at him. Dem backed away and got our stuff. He was never violent-- until that moment. Even though his growth spurt made him shoot to six feet and his labor work made him built and tough as nails, that wasn't how he really was.

He never defended himself against Mom or laid a hand on her. He was a giant with the heart of a harmless firefly. He grabbed some towels and placed it on my shoulder while helping me up.

I took one duffle from him so he didn't have so much to carry along with me too.

"Let's go, Daze." He still had a glare toward her. We made our way to the door and stepped out. We got in my old, beat-up car, and we drove down our neighborhood and onto the highway.

My chest lifted, and I think I even heard Dem sigh next to me. My hand was on the stick shift, and I felt his come on mine. I looked to him, and he gave me that lop-sided grin of his.

I nodded and smiled back.

# Chapter 2

25 Years old

That was the last time we saw her.

pwe had each other, the obstacles thrown our way didn't matter. We had tough jobs. We had worked long hours and sleepless nights to get by, but we'd finally come to a good place.

Dem was going to college to be a lawyer--to help families with what we had. One of his friends he made, Dean, had an uncle that owned a big law firm and he was able to get me a desk job there, so it was a major plus. And because we had low income, he was able to get financial aid. He would still have tuition debt, definitely, but I wasn't worried about him.

I kept telling him he was going to do big things, and I couldn't wait. He would shrug it off like he didn't believe it as much as I did.  
Then he started to come up with a reply. "Yeah, well because of you, I can do it. So when I do make it big, you won't have to work, and I'll take care of you."

He was such a cheese ball, but I loved him anyway.

He was right, though, he knew all I did, was for him. To have a better life, something our parents should have done for the both of us. But I had learned to cope. As long as one of us made it, I knew my life would be complete.

"Daze!"

I stopped typing and looked up from my computer screen. There she came, bouncing with each step. Her cute heels and white business suit with a skirt. Only she would be the only person I knew of that could pull it off and make it look hot. She was obviously super cheery and girly.

I, on the other hand, was a jeans and t-shirt girl. If I didn't have to dress for work, well, that would be all that would fill my closet.

"It's Friday! Time to go out!" She planted her little butt on my desk and crossed those lean legs and then flicked her short black curls from her face. She sniffed the air, then leaned into me, sniffed harder, and then leaned back. "Is that you again? You always smell like cookies or chocolate. It's weird." I ignored her and rolled my eyes.

It was true; I had an old bottle of perfume I got from an antique store, and it had this scent, whatever it was--I loved it and bought it. I still didn't know the fragrance, but I was cherishing every little bit of it.

"Tally, not tonight." I looked back at my screen and continued typing. All I wanted to do was sleep.

Her sleek fingers and polished, pink nails blocked my screen. Damn it. I stopped and looked at her. "Oh come on, you need it!" She pouted. Geez. Really? "Oh!" She perked right up. "And bring that hunky brother of yours, and if he wants to bring some college friends, that is totally okay with me!" she teased.

"Tally," I scolded and rolled my eyes.

"What? He is!" She loved to give me a hard time.

When he came to take me to lunch one day when I first started, I thought all the girls were going to pass out.

They all sprang to life when I introduced him as my brother, and not my boyfriend--gross. It was short-lived, though, because once I threatened them that he was hands-off, they sulked. Most of the girls were single and had commitment issues. Dem needed someone way better.

They all didn't take my threat lightly, either. It's ironic, because one of the reasons why Tally got so attached to me was mainly the one thing I hated about myself: my temper.

When I first started three years before, an irate client tried to pitch a fit to Tally. He crossed over her desk and was trying to reach for her.

I came right behind him, grabbed his arms, and twisted it behind his back. I kicked the back of his knees, and he fell on the floor. Security came and escorted him out. Let's just say, after that, Tally and all the other girls accepted and respected me. It pretty much sealed Tally's and my friendship.

"Oh, come on, no excuses, pleeeease." She brought her hands together and begged.

I loved saving her and regretted it at the same time, like for this instance. She batted those big lashes and flashed her puppy brown eyes. Then she started pouting her pink-stained lips.

I rolled my eyes because I knew I was caving. "Fine, fine!" I waved my hand. "Now go away, some of us have work to do."

"Yes!" Her heels clicked on the tile as she leapt off my desk. "And wear something cute. No jeans." She walked off.

Ugh.

She didn't want to go out until ten at night. Which was ridiculous, but again, she begged, and I caved again. It gave me time to hit the gym anyway.

I changed in the bathroom in my white tank, black yoga pants, and sneakers. I tied up my black hair in a high ponytail. It used to be short, but it was well past my shoulders at that point. I got it cut into a lot of layers, but the length was still long. Luckily, the building had a gym, so I didn't have to pay extra for a membership. I texted Dem and asked him if he'd come.

Tally is draggin me to a night club called 'Blind Night.' Can you come and keep me company?

Yeah, the name was already giving a lot away.

He, of course, was thrilled.

Oh yeah! Down for it! Okay to bring friends?

I had to laugh.

Tally was counting on it. And please don't enable her flirting with you!

Can't make promises ;)! Meet ya there!

I rolled my eyes. I did some cardio and some weights, then I went to hit the punching bag.

That was one of the good things about going there, and not just getting my frustrations out, but because the view wasn't that bad either. There were four punching bags hanging from the ceiling that were about seven feet apart in a crooked square shape.

I took some white boxing tape that they kept hung on the wall and started wrapping it around my hand, in the crook of my thumb, then over my knuckles. I placed it back on the wall and turned.

There he was, like clockwork. Almost every night after work, we would be the only ones there. I took the front far left, and he was always at the back far right, like we knew to give each other space.

I liked to watch him sometimes, learn from his form and moves... and maybe to ogle him a little bit too. He was a powerhouse all right; toned arms, big legs and chest, and when he'd hit the bag just right, it would fly back, and his weighed more than mine. Mine was probably a hundred pounds if that, his looked like two hundred or more.

I could never get the bag to fly back like he could, but I did okay for my size, being five foot three did not have its perks in that kind of situation. I didn't need much, just something to take out my temper on. I knew I was a hothead when I was younger, but I'm an adult, and I couldn't let that come out. Not now. Not when our life was getting on the right track.

And how I kept it hidden, I punched the crap out of my bag. I was faster than him and had my breathing down. Sharp in, sharp out. In-in-out-out. I think I was imagining it, but I think he would copy me in those aspects.

His hair was a short dark brown and matched those piercing, focused, hazel eyes. He was in his usual grey tank and black sweat shorts. He punched the bag again, and I saw the ripple in his forearm and bicep.

I stretched out my arms and focused on my bag. Starting off slow and building to it, I looked over at him again and his eyes flicked to me. He gave a small nod. I held back my inner glee to squeal and jump.

I played it cool.

I nodded back and continued to punch.

It was my time. My time to actually let it loose. I hated my inner temper. I knew where it came from--my mom. The more I thought about her, the harder I punched, and the more my pulse beat against my neck.

I had her stupid, puppy dog, brown eyes, and I hated the mirror, because it was like she was there staring back at me. The only difference that kept me from punching it every time was my hair. It was jet-black, the same as Dem's, and that kept me sane. I didn't want to think that we got it from our chicken-crap of a father, otherwise I would have to go through life without looking at my reflection, making me wish I was a vampire or something.

I punched it harder and harder and ignored the pain in my hands. I hated looking like them. I hated that she made me look like her.

JAB-JAB-JAB!

I hate what she did to Dem. I hate that she made me like this!

One hard slam against the bag and it flew back like how he made his. I took a step back as it swung in the air.

"Angry, much?"

I took in deep breaths to get my panting under control. I looked over, and he had stopped punching and was watching me, leaning against his bag.

It was the first time in two years he had spoken to me. We mostly nodded and grunted.

"Sometimes." Oh god, that came out like a strangle. I cleared my throat.

He walked over behind my bag and held it. "Fix your wrist." I looked down and angled it, just before I was about to swing again. "Good, try now." I did, and it felt better, like it had more oomph.

"Thanks." I wiped my forehead.

"Friends call me Bullet." He held out his taped-up hand.

I cocked my brow. "Because you can hit like a bullet?"

He gave a smirk. Looked good on him. "Kind of." And I think I saw something else. Anger, maybe?

"I'm Daze." I placed my hand in his, and we shook. Oh, he was so warm.

His smirk got wider. "Daze? Like wipe you out in a daze?"

I laughed with him. "Kind of." Shrugging, we let go. I'd never told anyone my real name, not since we left Mom.

"Anger--" he pointed on the bag "--is a powerful thing." He turned and headed out, while unraveling his tape. "But also dangerous." I watched him stop at the doorway and he looked over his shoulder--a very toned, bulky shoulder. "Be careful." He then tipped his head toward me. "Nice meetin' you, Daze." I liked how he said my name, like it was a word that rolled off his tongue.

I didn't need for him to tell me that! I got angry again and did a couple more hits. Then I packed up and headed home.

I didn't see him again.

I never did.

# Chapter 3

I had a cute blue dress that came above my knees. It had pleats around the skirt and a skinny brown belt at my waist. Its neckline wasn't too low--it was rounded like a scoop neck. I paired it with some half-inch nude wedges. I was definitely a flip-flop or sneakers girl, but if I did have to wear heels, it was never tall.

Beauty is pain never registered to me.

BEEP-BEEP.

I took my old classic perfume bottle--it had one of those pumps on it, a light gold color with soft spikes designed on it-- and put it to the side of my neck and spritzed each side, and then on my wrists. I never needed much; plus, I wanted to savor it. I didn't know if I could even get it anywhere else.

I grabbed my purse and ran out of my apartment and headed down the two flights of stairs.

"Come on, saucy mama! Let's go!" Tally yelled from her window. Two of our other co-workers were in the back--I forgot their names. They mostly hung out at the

higher floors and came down to chat with Tally. I waved anyway when they greeted me.  
"Shh! My neighbors!" I got in the passenger's side and shut my door. "Go. Drive." I looked around to make sure no one stepped out to see what the noise was about.

"Aww, ladies, she's embarrassed," Tally teased as she drove off. They giggled in the back.

What they didn't know was that Dem and I were raised in a kind of rough neighborhood, so we were used to weird noises at odd hours, but now we live in a great place, and when we first moved in, the silence was kind of eerie. But then we looked at it as a good thing. That meant it was safe and total opposite from our childhood. So I didn't want to be the cause of noises in our neighborhood.

We got to the night club, and it was packed. It was dim, but colored lights surrounded the dance floor. The long bar to the left was jammed with people and tables were scattered around. Booths were up on the second floor, looking down at the dancing.

"This is awesome," one of the girls yelled behind us, and they were already heading to the dance floor.

"It's called 'Blind Night' for a reason!" Tally leaned into my ear over the music.

"I need a drink!" If I was going to go through with the night, yeah, alcohol needed to be present. I didn't really drink that much because of my mom, but once in a while wasn't bad.

"I'll be over there." Tally pointed to the two other girls that were dancing way too close for my comfort. I nodded and headed to the bar.

How the hell am I going to get through this crowd? I saw people just squeezing in between others, waving cash and cards in their hands to get the bartender's attention.

I moved through some and tried to squeeze, but I wasn't getting anywhere, plus, I really didn't want to touch anybody. Something could happen, and I know I'd lose my temper. I found a bare spot and went to the end of the bar, but it was far from the bartender. I leaned on the counter and waited.

After a minute, I felt someone shove at my shoulder. "Excuse you!" Yeah, there went my mouth. I should have looked before I talked, because a big bald guy was staring me down.

He grinned. "What'd you say?"

This is already not going well. My blood was rising. "I said, ex-cuse you." My hands were already balled into fists.

He scoffed and ignored me but then took a step closer, shoving me again.

My pulse was racing. "Look here, buddy." I tapped his shoulder, but then he grabbed my wrist.

That was it. I readied myself, my palm squirming to punch the shit out of him and never stop.

"I believe it's rude to grab a lady."

I looked next to me.

Bullet.

What the hell? He looked different. I was always used to seeing him in his gym clothes, but right then, he was in dark jeans and a black silk shirt that was a little too small for his chest and arms, but he made it work.

"Buzz off." Baldy gripped my wrist harder. There was going to be a bruise. I didn't know how he couldn't be intimidated by him, because seeing Bullet in the sea of bodies made everyone look tiny.

Before I could even scream, my wrist was free, and I held it to my chest. Bullet grabbed his wrist that was holding mine and the back of his neck and slammed him down onto the counter, his cheek pressing hard and contorting his face.

"I hate to repeat myself." Bullet leaned close to his ear.

I liked seeing him suffer, but I also didn't want Bullet to get in trouble because of my temper issues. "Bullet, stop!" I grabbed his shoulder--whoa, rock hard shoulder.

He looked up at me and that iced look almost reminded me of my mom. How empty and emotionless it was. He must have seen my reaction, because it softened quickly and I didn't see her anymore.

He picked him up and threw him a couple of feet from us. "Get your drink elsewhere."

"Problem?" I looked over at the bartender.

"No," Baldy mumbled and started to stagger away while gripping his neck.

He turned and leaned into me. "You okay?" He was calm, so different from what he was a second ago. I nodded.

"Daze!" I turned and saw Dem, along with ten other guys trailing around him. It was like the crowd parted just for them.

"Hey, Dem!" I waved then turned back to Bullet, but he was gone.

"Drink?" Dem waved the bartender and got one for him and me easily. What a damn charmer. Next time, just wait for Dem.

"Dang, who's the beauty?" one of his friends called out to me. Dem introduced me, but there were so many staring at me, I didn't even remember their names. All I knew was that Dem hung out with a good looking crowd. Oh, if they weren't college boys.

"You didn't tell us we were hanging with a super model," another one spouted.

I rolled my eyes again.

"Guys, my sister, cut it out," Dem scolded.

"Back off, guys, she's taken." Dean came out from the side and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

Dean and Dem were best friends, and I liked Dean. Even though he had that bad-boy feel to him. His blond hair hung over his forehead and he was just as built as Dem was. He had tan jeans that hugged his butt just right and a tucked in blue shirt that showed off his lean waist and chest. I also liked him because he was the one that got me a good job, so that scored him major points.

"Right, puddin'?" Dean kissed the top of my head. He was always like that. He knew I didn't like to be called anything dainty or cute, so instead, he settled for pudding, except he said it with his slight southern drawl. Of course, he came up with that when we met for a second time and I got pudding when we went out to eat. Go figure. I think we were all separated at birth, because he was like another brother to me.

"Get off, Dean. Damn it." Dem grabbed his hand around me and shoved it off.

"Dude, you're throwin' my game." Dean argued.

"Sister. Off!" Dem pointed into his chest. Dean just gave him a sly smirk.

"Dem!" Tally popped up from behind me.

"Hey, Tally." Dem gave her a shy smile. He told me once she overwhelms him. It was cute and Tally loved that smile, I could tell by her goo-goo eyes.

"Babe alert!" another one of the guys that followed Dem hollered.

"Oh, hello." The other girls popped up behind Tally. Soon, all of them were laughing and chatting. Dem and I just gave each other a look and rolled our eyes.

We found a spare table, pulled a bunch of chairs around it, and we all sat down.

Tally and the girls were loving it because all the guys were cute, single, and were all over them, more than one, since there were only three girls, but ten guys.

I scanned the club for Bullet, but I didn't see him again. It wasn't like you could miss him. Something about him made me wonder what his story was. Why he was so quiet but so destructive? I'd seen him go at the bag for hours on end, even before I got there. Sometimes I'd pick a treadmill that faced the boxing room and just watch him for my whole thirty minutes I was on there.

"Hello? Daze?" Dean waved his hand in front of me.

"Sorry, what?" I looked to him as he brushed some of his blond locks from his face.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing, what's up?" I was trying to hide my blush from thinking about Bullet.

"Want to dance?" Dean held out his hand.

"Um..." I looked over at Dem who was talking with Tally and the girls. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh, come on." He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor.

"Hey, Dean," I heard Dem yell from behind us.

"He's such a cock-blocker." Dean started swaying with me but kept us a good inch apart.

"Dean, you know you're like a long-lost brother, and this--" I pointed between us "--is never happening."

He shrugged. "Gotta keep trying!" He grabbed my wrist and twirled me and then un-twirled me. I laughed and let him lead.

I heard Tally giggle next to me and saw her dancing with Dem. Damn it. "Dem," I scolded, and somehow he heard me over the loud music.

He looked over and winked. "What? Dean can do it, so can I." He stuck out his tongue.

"Butt-hole." I made sure to mouth it extra so he knew what I was saying.

"Ass-face," he mouthed back, but we just laughed and continued dancing.

Dean was pretty good about keeping it civil, even though he would sneak in an arm around my waist, all I would have to do was give him a look.

He would raise his brows then shrug and let go and continue dancing. I'd sneak a look to Dem and Tally to make sure she wasn't doing anything risqué, but they weren't--they were as platonic as Dean and me. The music pounded some bass and everyone started jumping to it.

Dean laughed and started pumping his fists in the air. He faced forward, like we all did, and kept moving. I laughed and did what he did, jumping on my feet with each vibrating beat. I felt a warm body behind me, and it was a little too close.

I was about to turn and give them a piece of my mind, when I recognized his voice on my ear. "Still doing okay, Daze?" I felt his breath on my ear when he stretched out the 'Z'. I angled my head to look up at him, and there he was, leaning down by my shoulder with those gleaming, brown eyes staring at me.

I couldn't help but smile. I leaned up to his ear. "Great, how about you, Bullet?" I made sure to stretch out the 'L' to mimic him. I heard his throaty chuckle.

"A blast, actually." He leaned up and started to jump with the crowd. I laughed with him and continued jumping. I didn't even notice that I stopped.

"Daze?" Dean's voice bellowed. I looked ahead, and I noticed I got separated by the crowd from him.

I waved my arms in the air, but it didn't make a difference because everyone's arms were in the air. He stuck out from the crowd because he was facing away from the DJ and looking. "Dean!" I waved more.

He spotted me, and he must have seen Bullet right by me, because his eyes narrowed and he made his way through the crowd easily, almost shoving people out of the way. "You okay?" He leaned into me.

"Yeah, Dean this is-" I turned, but Bullet was gone.

"Was he bothering you?" Dean didn't sound like himself.

"Who, Bullet?" With the colors flashing, I swore I saw his eyes narrow even further. Does he know him? "Uh... no." I shrugged.

"Stay away from him, okay?" A light flashed around his face again and he had that flashy Dean smile. He was back to normal. I felt like it wasn't the right time to tell him that I saw him on a regular basis at the gym. I just nodded. We continued dancing and I scanned the floor for him again, but he was nowhere to be found.

"I need air!" Tally and Dem appeared next to us.

"I'll go with you!" She grabbed my hand and started moving us through the crowd.

"Want us to go?" Dem yelled and pointed to his chest and then us.

"No, we'll be back," I yelled back and shook my head. He nodded again and continued dancing. Not surprised that some girls weaseled their way in with them when we stepped away.

We went outside a side door, and I already felt better without the music blaring in my ear. Although, I did feel like I needed a hearing aid with the muffled sounds.

"Aren't you glad you came out?" Tally yelled a little too loud for being outside where it was quieter.

"You're yelling," I thought I yelled back.

She laughed and rubbed her ears as she walked to the wall across from us, farther from the side door. I did the same while we both laughed, leaning against it.

"You girls are having way too much fun." A voice called out.

Shit.

Baldy came out the side door with four other guys behind him. I stood from the wall and instinctively went in front of Tally.

I felt her hands on my back. "Daze?" I could hear the panic in them, and I hated that they were making her feel that way.

My pulse started to beat on my neck, and my head was throbbing. I was already getting pissed off. "Leave us alone. Didn't you learn your lesson earlier?"

He scoffed, "Well, your boyfriend isn't around to protect you anymore, now is he?" They started walking to us.

"Boyfriend?" Tally whispered behind me.

Of course that was the one thing that caught her attention. "Tally, not now," I groaned.

"Get her!" Baldy ran to me with the others behind him.

"Go, Tally. Get Dem!" I threw her body to the side and heard her tumble and call out my name.

I took my stance like I did at the punching bag and imagined my mother. That gave me even more fuel. Baldy went to grab me, but I ducked and jabbed him in the stomach. Another went towards me, and I punched him in the face, but I missed the other two as they grabbed each of my arms.

"Screw you!" I kicked and thrashed, but even though I was boiling on the inside and pumped with adrenaline, their strength was too much. They slammed me against the wall, holding my arms down.

Baldy wiped his mouth as he straightened out. "Get her, man," one of them said beside me.

"You think you're so tough, don't you?" Baldy came up to my face and slammed a hand by my ear.

I glared right back into those black eyes. "If your buddies weren't here, you'd be on the ground right now!" I was seething, but I said it with no fear in my voice. That was what happened when I got in my blinded rage. I thought I'm super woman or something. It was a strength and a curse.

"I like that in a woman." And before I could curse more, his gross lips came crashing on mine. I let out a muffled yell and threw out my leg. I was aiming for his junk, but I couldn't concentrate on aim with his nastiness on me.

I heard a big thud and my arm was free. I immediately pushed at his chest, and he came off me quick as I threw a punch in his face. He flew back a couple of feet. Bullet came flying from the side, tackling him to the ground.

"Oh, shit!" The other guy holding my arm was distracted, and I threw a punch at his face. He let go and then I threw my knee into his stomach and then in the groin, he went down fast.

Bullet was straddling Baldy on the ground, throwing punch after punch. The other guy was sneaking up on Bullet, and I jumped on his back and wrapped my arm around his neck and head and pulled. He screamed and tried to pull me off. He kept backing up and threw us against the wall, my back slamming into it, but I didn't let go.

"Get off of her!" Dem came flying around the corner with Dean and Tally close behind. Dem and Dean grabbed his arms and flung him to the ground. I let go at that point and stood, leaning against the wall. I wanted to go at him again and went to stand, but the darkness started to spin.

"Daze!" Tally grabbed me as I started to fall. "Dem!"

I was on my knees when my vision started to come back. I looked over and Bullet was still on Baldy.

"Bullet," I gasped.

He stopped and looked over at me.

Blackness.

# Chapter 4

I woke up in the hospital just when Dem was done talking to the doctors. "She needs to watch her anger and her heart. I've never seen someone her age have that much strain on them. It's a serious issue, Mr. Dabbs."

"I know. She boxes, it helps." Dem sighed.

"And that's good, keep that up. You don't want your sister to start developing cardiovascular problems."

"Thanks, Doc."

I opened my eyes as they shook hands and he walked out. Dem ruffled his hair, turned to me, and I didn't know if it was a scolding look or a worried one on his face--probably a little of both.

He sat down next to me and grabbed my hand. "You okay?"

"I will be." I placed my other over his.

"Daze, your anger, you need to-"

"I know, Dem." I gave him a pat on the back of his hand.

"But-"

"Dem."

He looked away. He knew I didn't like to talk about my health. My rage was way worse when I was younger, I liked to throw a lot of things and sometimes I'd get fainting spells because it was too much. I had a history in my medical records, so they knew me well for my spells.

Three years before, when I really started going to the gym, it helped a lot, but didn't make it go away fully.

"And another thing?" Dem looked at me suspiciously.

Uh-oh. "What?"

"Who's Bullet?" I laughed at how his face scrunched at the name.

"What about him?"

"He snuck in, tried to stay last night, but I sent him home. He put his number in your phone, said to text him when you get a chance." I couldn't help but blush. He pointed at my face. "Ah-ha! There it is!"

I took my hands and covered my face. I hated that he could point it out.

"Okay, who is he? Why have you been hiding him?" He started rattling off more questions, but I just laughed in my hands. "Well, he obviously cares about you, whoever he is, because he nearly beat the guy to death!"

I tore my hands from my face. "What?"

"Yeah, he's in critical condition, but no charges are filed. Dean handled it. Plus, I think his ego is hurt more than his face, so he's not really arguing at the moment."

"Thank Dean for me. And Tally is okay?"

He nodded. "I sent them home earlier. You take it easy for the rest of the weekend, all right?" He leaned and gave a kiss on my forehead. I nodded.

*

We spent the rest of the weekend like we normally did--watching TV and eating a lot of junk food.

I sent a quick text to Bullet to thank him and that I would see him Monday in the gym. I didn't get a reply, but that was fine. I texted Tally and Dean to let them know I was all right and to thank them too. Tally wanted major details, but I told her I would talk to her Monday.

I enjoyed the weekends with Dem, especially because he would be on campus with Dean most of the time. We didn't have enough for room and board, but Dean helped us in that aspect. So when Dem was home, we cherished it. We acted like how we should have when we were kids--care-free and no weight on our shoulders.

It was Sunday and our last day before I had to go back to work and he had to go back to campus.

"Okay, what do you want to do?" Dem threw a piece of bacon at my face as it fell on my plate in my lap. We usually always ate at the couch.

"Butt-hole!" I grabbed it and ate it. "Mine now." He stuck his tongue out. His phone buzzed that was on the end table next to him. He was sprawled on one side of the couch, while I was on the other side. "Hey, no phones!"

He scrolled and looked through it and sighed. "I gotta go." He stood with his phone and plate.

"But it's our last day." I pouted.

"I know, but school stuff and Dean needs me; you know how he can be."

Usually, when Dean needed him, we didn't argue. He had done a lot for us, so he was the only one I caved to. "Fine." He had packed the night before, so his stuff was already by the door.

He went to his room and changed out of his PJs, which we usually hung out in most of the weekend. He grabbed his toiletries and stuffed it in his bag then slung it over his shoulder. I was still on the couch, pouting.

I hated that part. The good-byes. It didn't help with my anger, either. Somehow, whenever he left, I would feel it brewing.

"Come on, Daze." He opened up his arms.

"Damn it." I put my plate on the coffee table and stood and went into them. His touch always made my heart slow. "I'll miss you."

"Miss you too. Stay out of trouble, okay?" He kissed the top of my head just like he always did when he was finally taller than me. I think he liked it as a reminder that he was bigger, even though he was younger.

"You too." I squeezed him tighter. He gave me one more squeeze and headed out the door.

Then I was alone and empty. I couldn't stay. So I changed into my gym clothes and headed there. It was practically empty on the weekends, so that was a plus.

I headed to the treadmill, but something caught my eye. I stopped at one of the rooms that would have the group classes and stuck my head in. Serene, classical music was echoing in the hardwood room. The front was floor to ceiling mirrors, and I saw him right away.

Bullet.

But he was different. His body was moving so loosely. He was in his grey tanks and black sweats. His feet were spread apart, one in front of the other. He had his arms straight but relaxed and he moved them down, then around, up his arm, and then above his head. The way he went with the music, it was almost like he was slow dancing.

I leaned a little, and the door squeaked. His head flew up, and his formerly poised, relaxed position went stiff. He stood straight.

"Sorry." I took a step in.

"Daze, I didn't know you were here on Sundays." He went to the stereo that was near the front of the room and lowered it.

"You looked, uh, great, peaceful. Sorry to disturb you." I started to head back out.

"How are you?"

I turned and jumped a little because he was already right by me. "Good. Thanks. Um, about the other night-"

"Don't worry about it." He cut me off, and I could see his neck stiffen. His breathing was getting heavier. I could spot the signs to know when someone was getting angry. "I'm just sorry I wasn't there earlier before he put his hands on you."

I glanced down, and those relaxed elegant fingers, were balled in a fist--bruises and cuts were healing. "I'm fine, thanks to you." I smiled. He stood there and stared at me for a couple of seconds which made me shift a little. "Well, okay, I'll let you get back." I started to step back.

"Wait--" he held out his hand to grab me, but then pulled back "--want to try?"

"What is it?"

He rubbed his head back and forth. "Promise not to laugh?"

I could feel myself wanting to do just that whenever someone asked me that. I bit my lip. "Promise."

"It's Tai Chi."

"Huh?"

"Come on." He waved and headed back to the stereo and turned up the music. "It was a type of martial art in China, but now it helps relax and de-stress."

Wow, if Dem heard that, he would have put me in one of those classes in the blink of an eye. I didn't normally do those kind of things. I guessed I should, but boxing was always more fun for me.

"Um... I guess." I sighed.

He stood next to me, and that warmth he radiated started to wrap around me.

"It's easy, watch." He took his stance again and started moving. I tried to imitate it, but I did not look anything like he did in the mirror before us. He laughed and stopped and then stood right by me. His hand landed on my back, and I swallowed on instinct. "Relax," he breathed into my ear, and I swear I could see my blush on the mirror; luckily he was too busy looking at my legs than at my face. His other hand came on my arm. He took a small inhale.

Oh geez. Butterflies started flopping around in my stomach. I think I started to sweat, too. It was a different type of emotion. I was nowhere near angry, but I felt my pulse starting to pick up. Where his fingers were on my arms and behind my back, it was sending hot trails all around me. How am I sweating when I'm not even doing anything?

"This is supposed to be relaxing, and you are stiff as a board." He laughed again and I watched him trying to wiggle my arms to get my tension out. More pricks firing on me.

"Sorry." I stood and stepped out of his grasp.

"Don't worry about it, come on." He stepped to me again and then took another small inhale.

"Um... no thanks, maybe next time."

And I ran out of the room.

"Daze!" he yelled, but I was already out. I headed straight to the punching bag room. I ignored the tape and went straight to my punching bag at the front far left and started hitting.

What is wrong with me? I mean, yes I've dated, but none of them made me feel like that with just a touch. I'd never really seriously dated, either. Whenever we would get into fights, it would be too much, and I would either break it off or they would.

The closest one I had was Callum. He stayed with me for a full year until I broke it off. Dem admitted he never liked him, but I thought he was going to be the one. The one who would put up with my anger and spells. The one who would calm me. He stared at me with those calm blue eyes and I would be done for. But then sometimes they could be so icy, I wanted to rip them out. His blond hair was so soft, too, and when I looked at Dean, I would try not to focus on his hair, because it reminded me too much of Callum. I think my own anger started to rub off on him. I noticed the little changes, and I knew it wasn't fair to him, so I broke up with him, and I haven't had another relationship since.

"Damn, Daze." My wrists were grabbed, and I was about to throw another punch when I saw it was Bullet. I looked down where his eyes were focused on my knuckles--they were red and were about to turn raw. "Why didn't you use the tape? Come on." He pulled me toward the bathroom and didn't care it was the woman's, probably because no one was there. He grabbed me by my waist and picked me up like I was air and placed me on the counter before I could even let out a squeal.

"Stay." Then he went to the other side of the wall and grabbed the first-aid kit.

This is stupid. I felt like I was five. "Bul-"

"Shhh." He took out some peroxide and gauze and soaked them and then gently took my right hand, which was the worse one, and placed it on there. It stung only for a second and then started to feel better. "You didn't even move." I looked up, and his face was right by mine.

"I have a high tolerance of pain; this is nothing." I shrugged and focused down at the gauze on my hand.

"Yeah, I can tell." He moved it to my left and held it there for a couple of seconds. "Tai Chi is really good for helping with your emotions. I can teach you whenever."

It was starting to feel like a therapy session. I was starting to think Bullet was just looking at me like a charity case instead of what I was feeling whenever I looked at him. "Look--" I took my hand out of his and hopped off. He moved easily. "--I don't like to be told what to do, and I just want to work out. Thanks again for the other day." I started to walk off, but he grabbed my wrist.

I looked down at his hand around mine, and he quickly took it off and held them up, like he knew I was about to go off. "I'm always here to help. I'm sorry if I offended you."

He looked sincere, almost torn. I relaxed my shoulders and remembered he did work somewhere in the building and we did box in the same room. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped. I'll think about it." He slowly lowered his hands, like he was scared I was going to go ape shit on him. How does he know? The only other person who knew when my temper flared was Dem. Even my other past boyfriends could never figure it out.

He gave a nod. "This is just a suggestion--" he arched his brow "--but you may want to lay off the punching until those are healed." He pointed down at my hands which had already curled into fists.

I sighed. "Okay, will do."

And then I walked out. I stood in the boxing room, staring at my bag. I stood there for a minute, going back and forth from wanting to punch versus walking away. In the end, I walked away. I went by the room and the door was cracked and the music was playing. There, Bullet stood, moving like he had no worries in the world.

His eyes caught mine, and he smiled, without losing his momentum. I waved and left.

# Chapter 5

Tally and the other girls bombarded me during our lunch time and insisted they buy me lunch so they could hear all the juicy details. I caved again.

"Look, look, there he is!" Tally tugged on my arm.

"Oh, so dreamy," another swooned next to me. I looked around, but all I saw were a group of security guys talking at the front desk.

"Who?" I asked.

"You don't see him! How could you miss that?" Tally grabbed my chin and angled my eyes to see what she was seeing. I didn't know if that was who they were talking about, but I saw Bullet immediately. He was in a sleek black suit with a dark purple vest and tie. He towered over all the others, and you could practically see the difference in height and build. He had an earpiece in, and so did all the others. It looked like he was giving orders.

"Him?" I nodded toward Bullet.

"Yeah, that's Bullet. He is too dreamy," Tally swooned again as we continued walking, but everyone slowed their pace because they were all busy gawking.

"He's head of security, and they say everyone calls him Bullet because he'll take one and not pass out."

"I'd want that to take a bullet for me any day," another girl said behind me, and our group burst into giggles. Of course, that got the attention of the whole security group, which most of them were either older or young recruits.

They all waved, and the girls did too. Bullet's voice boomed, and they all turned back to him. His eyes met mine, and I smiled. He held up his finger to the group and then started to walk over to us.

Oh no. Oh, geez. Don't. Go back!

"Is he coming over?" Tally gasped next to me and her arm wrapped around one of mine. Did she not remember him from when he saved me? Maybe not, a lot was going on--she probably didn't.

"Oh my gosh, he is!" More of them whispered behind me. I wanted to keep walking, but they all stopped and waited.

I can see why Bullet was head of security; he looked scary as crap. Like, I could feel the ground shake whenever he took a step. But he did it with such grace, it made him look like a bad-ass angel. The light was shining in from the lobby glass, and it made his hair have a glossy sheen and his brown eyes were practically sparkling. His suit was just his size--he must have had it custom made--but you could still tell underneath that he was built from the ground up. He had one of those sharp, angled jaws and since his hair was short, it accented it even more.

"Hey, Daze." He stopped a foot in front of me, and I could hear all the girls gasp.

"Uh... hey, Bullet." I cleared my throat and shifted, trying to ignore the major squeeze Tally was putting on my arm.

"How are your hands?" He pointed. The girls were trying really hard to not burst out laughing, but we could still hear the giggles. I thought maybe he was finding our interaction amusing. He held my gaze, but I could tell by the smirk pulling up at the corner that he was enjoying it way too much.

"Good, thanks." I shifted again. "I didn't know you were head of security." I pointed to the guys, who were still staring at us.

"Never came up." He shrugged. He finally looked away from me and at the other girls around me. "Group lunch?"

"Uh-huh, yeah," they all answered for me.

He smiled, and with the light hitting him, it shined brighter than normal. I wanted to kick all of them when I heard their swoons. He looked back at me and his expression changed--eerily still. "Well, you guys be safe; we've been having increased criminal activity around here, so we're beefing up the security. Don't go off by yourself and don't cause trouble." He leaned in a little, like he said that just for me and then took another small inhale.

I narrowed my eyes. "I think we can handle ourselves." I really meant just me. His eye twitched, and I think he got my hint.

"Thank you, Bullet. With you protecting us, we have nothing to worry about." Tally had her sweet, flirty voice on, but he ignored it and still kept his stare on me.

"No problem." He tilted his head to me, and then looked at all the others. "Well, gotta go whip these guys into shape. Ladies." He gave a small bow and headed back to the other guys where they were all whispering. Once he was back in front of them, they all straightened out and gave him his attention.

"Oh no, he did not," Tally squealed as we all rushed out the door.

More questions were being thrown all around me.

"How long has this been going on?"

"What's he like in bed?"

"Is he as built as he looks?"

"How did you meet him?"

"Why haven't you told us?"

"Is he endowed?"

I almost choked on the last one I heard. "Look, I'm going to need a lot more lunches." I was teasing, but they all jumped at the chance.

I finally explained to them that I didn't even know who he was when I started at the gym. And we didn't even talk--not until recently. And he was only asking me about my hands because we boxed together. I left the part out about the club and Tally never mentioned about seeing him that night, so I didn't refresh her memory.

I avoided the gym that whole week. I kept telling myself it was so my hands could heal, but really, it was to avoid Bullet. I didn't like how he was making me feel, and I had to distance myself. It had its consequences, though, because I really needed to vent out my anger, and I could feel it building inside me. Dem couldn't stop by that weekend--too many projects he had to do. I understood and told him not to worry. But I had no idea what I was going to do with my weekend.

Where are you?

Bullet texted me for the first time. I debated for a good minute if I should text him back.

He texted again.

Just want to know why almost every girl from your floor and others watched me box, but not you.

Oh crap. Yeah. Bad idea.

Well if someone didn't make a spectacle in front of all them, then I wouldn't have had to explain how I met you.

Ha! Take that!

Well, I've been avoiding it and I need exercise. Come take a walk with me.

What, is he serious?

No.

You owe me.

Ugh. Shit. I didn't know if he was talking about when he saved me or because I ruined his private boxing time.

Fine, where do you want to meet?

I'll pick you up.

No!

KNOCK-KNOCK.

I froze--it couldn't be him. No way. I threw my phone on the couch where I was lounging in nothing but a white tank and mini-shorts and ran to the door. I looked through the peephole, and there he was, phone in hand, leaning against my door in his grey tank and black sweat shorts.

Shit! I ran past my couch and heard it ding. I grabbed it and read it as I ran into my room to change.

I hear you in there! Might as well come out!

I had to laugh.

Give me a second, unless you want to see me naked!

I couldn't believe I text that, but it was too late to take it back.

... don't be a tease.

I threw my hair up and then threw on a blue tank, instead of my white, and my black yoga pants. I threw on my sneakers, did a small spritz with my perfume, and then went to the front door and opened it.

He looked up from his phone and scanned me from the bottom up. His chest rose as he took a small inhale. "This is not naked." Then that sly smirk went up.

"Ha-ha!" I was about to close the door. "Oh, water." I went back in. "Uh... Come on in, you want one?" I hadn't really had a guy there in so long. I didn't wait for him when I went straight to my fridge; I scanned my apartment for anything embarrassing or underwear scattered somewhere. Just my black couch, brown coffee table, and forty-inch TV. The rooms to my door and Dem's were closed, so that was good.

I grabbed a bottle from the fridge and turned. "Want one?" I saw he was already inside and looking at the framed pictures hanging off the wall by the TV.

"Sure." He pointed at one. "These your brothers?" I went next to him and saw one of my favorites. We had just met Dean on campus and we were sitting having coffee. I was in the middle and Dem was to my left and Dean had attempted to put bunny ears on both of us, but failed, making us give him a glare in the picture.

I remembered that day like yesterday. We had just come out of the administration office and talking about room and board.

"It's too much, Daze, we'll figure something out." Dem shrugged, playing it off.

"But you need to be on campus, our apartment is an hour away."

"Hey, you guys need a place?" Dean was walking toward the building.

"You got one?" Dem piped in quick.

"We can't pay much." I cleared my throat, because there was no point in having the conversation. I could tell he was rich by the Michael Kohrs sunglasses, the BMW keys that were hanging from his right hand, and the Armani symbol on his white shirt sleeve and leather vest.

All he did was give a smirk. He turned and placed a hand on Dem's back. "Come on, let's talk."

It was much too fated. We had coffee, and he explained he didn't need the money, just a study buddy to help him get through college. I didn't know how or why, but he and Dem hit it off, and I liked him right away. He was more down to Earth than what he looked like on the outside, a prep trying to be a bad-boy.

I didn't know how it came up, but he also brought up that his uncle needed help at his law firm, and I jumped at that chance.

Near the end of our talk, he took out his top-of-the-line smart phone. "This needs to be remembered! We're going to make history!" Dean leaned into me and so did Dem and he snapped some pictures. I saw in the preview he had bunny ears on us, and the next one he snapped, Dem and I glared at him.

It was the perfect moment, so I got a copy and hung it up.

"Dem is, he's on the left. Dean is on the right; he might as well be a long-lost brother."

He started to scan all the other pictures. "No parents?"

Why is he being nosey? "Did you come to walk or investigate?" I put a hand on my hip.

"Yeah, let's go."

"Hey, how did you know where I lived?" I locked the door behind us and handed him the bottle. He took it without looking at me as he went down the stairs.

"Employee information." He went down faster.

"Those are private!" I tried to keep his pace.

"Not when I'm security." He reached the bottom and looked up at me and winked. I had to laugh.

He took me to a park just down the road that had a big circle in the middle. It was Saturday, so it was a little busier than usual. His pace was slow, and I think he was testing me to see if I wanted to go faster, so I picked it up, and he followed without saying a word.

"So, Dem is your brother?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I looked up at him, but he kept his gaze forward. "Uh-huh, I thought we established that already."

"And Dean is..." He trailed off and looked down at me, waiting for my answer.

"Long-lost brother, remember?"

"Sooo... not..." What is he doing? He mumbled more and almost tripped on air. He cleared his throat. "Not, like-"

"What are you asking, Bullet?"

"Boyfriend?" he finally spits out. Luckily, I hadn't taken a sip of the water waiting for his question because it would have been all over him. I threw my head back and laughed. "Well, that answered that." He was laughing with me.

"No, not Dean, that's just gross." He cocked his brow like I was crazy. "I mean, yes, he's good looking, but no, not my type."

He smiled, "And your type is...?"

He was fishing again and I wanted to avoid it. I picked up my pace, but he kept right by me. "Do you have siblings?" I changed the subject fast.

"No."

Man, is he missing out. "Parents?"

"Dead."

I stopped, but he wasn't prepared so he kept walking, when he noticed, he stopped a foot or so in front of me. "What?" He acted like it was no big deal.

I felt like a total and complete bitch. "I'm-I'm sorry."

"You?" He waved for me to keep walking, and I did.

"Um..." My problems didn't seem so bad. I never thought on if my mom died, no matter how much I hated her, I wouldn't know the feeling. Even with my dad, I knew he was out there somewhere, but I probably wouldn't have missed him if I found out since I didn't know him very well. "Well..." I never talked about them at all, but with him, it seemed easy. "My mom was an abusive drunk and our dad left when we were young." I looked next to me and he was gone. I stopped and looked behind me and this time he had stopped. His fists were balled up at his sides, and his shoulders trembled just a hair.

"You okay?" He was about to go into a fit, but why? Over me?

He turned, and I saw his chest rise high and then fall. He did that about five times; I didn't want to disturb him. Others walked around us, giving us weird looks, but my gaze was on his focused face. I saw the tenseness in his jaw relax with each breath. His pinched brows started to unravel along with the deepness in his eyes. His shoulders and arms started to shake less, and his popping out biceps started to relax.

He shook each of his arms and then turned back to me. "Ready?" He continued walking.

"What was that?" I jogged up next to him.

"Breathing exercises. You should try them."

"For what?"

"Anger." He looked down at me with that intense gaze. I had to look away. We walked a few more minutes in silence. "Have you seen your mom?"

I shook my head. "No, we left and never looked back."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." I shrugged, but the softness in his voice almost made me break down right there. I felt his fingers by mine and our pace had slowed. He laced his fingers through my hand and stopped us. I didn't want to look at him, because his gentle touch was going to take me over the edge.

His hand came up and gently tipped my chin up to look at him. He didn't have pity in his eyes, but some sort of understanding? I didn't know, I couldn't quite figure it out. All I knew was that I liked it and I knew I shouldn't.

"Bullet?" His face quickly changed and he looked behind me. I turned and found another girl. She had her earbuds out of her ears. She was lean and tall and her waist was tiny in her black sports bra and yoga pants. Her thick blond hair had red streaks through them. She had tattoos all over her left arm and some on her legs.

# Chapter 6

He took a step in front of me, almost blocking me from her. "What are you doing here?" Bullet asked. I leaned my head to see her reaction because his voice was far from kind.

She just smirked. "It is a public park; you know?" When her eyes moved to me, he stepped more to block her. "Who's your friend?" I heard her walk closer.

"Randa." Her footsteps stopped. The tension was thick, and the others could feel it, because they walked a good distance around us.

"You look good." She was trying to sound sincere, but I could hear some resentment. Bullet didn't reply. "You know it's not the same without you-"

"Randa!" I saw his back shake with his fists. I placed my hand on his to stop them. His head moved a little, but he didn't fully turn to look at me. They stopped shaking, and he opened his fingers and laced them through mine again, all without moving from me.

"What? What's the big deal?" She sounded like she was taunting. I leaned my head again to see, and her dark

blue eyes moved to our hands that were laced together. They narrowed. "Oh come on, is that anyway to greet your ex?"

My fingers loosened, and he knew they did, because he gripped me tighter.

"Don't start, Randa," he warned.

"Oh, come on, were we really over?" She was taunting again.

I knew what it was, and I was not about to get in the middle. I didn't know Bullet that well anyway, and if he was lying to me, he better find some other girl he thinks is gullible, because it wasn't going to be me.

I snatched my hand from his and stepped to the side, away from him, and stared her dead in those glaring-blue eyes. "Look, this is between you guys, I'm not getting in the middle, and he is in no way, or will ever be, with me." I turned and started to walk away.

"Daze!" I heard Bullet's footsteps, so I walked faster.

"Let her go, we need to talk anyway," Randa yelled and his steps stopped.

I picked up my pace and was in a brisk jog.

I was on the shoulder of the road leading back to my house before I slowed down to a walk again.

Damn it. What am I doing? It was teenager crap, what I would do when I was younger. I should have been an adult and waited at the car. I looked up at the empty, two-lane road ahead. At least it wasn't a busy road and I didn't live too far, so walking wouldn't kill me.

Next time, think before you act! I took a deep breath. Why the hell did I react that way? Once she said ex, I felt... weird... jealous, I guess? And I'm never jealous! I can get pissed, but never jealous. But just thinking... knowing that her and Bullet were together, that she's touched him, that he--oh, geez, what the hell is the matter with me? I shook my head and took another deep breath.

A car drove by me and then screeched its tires. I looked up and recognized that white, convertible BMW M6... you didn't see those often anyway. It started to reverse and came right by me. Dean in the driver's seat with his flashy sunglasses and smile, and Dem in the passenger's.

"Dem!" I took steps back as Dean pulled off the road.

Dem came out and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my head as usual. "What are you doing out here?"

I laughed against his chest. "No, what are you doing here?"

"He was being whiny about leaving you alone and guilt trippin' me, so we drove down to get lunch with you." Dean came next to him. "We do have to head back after though, right, Dem?" He nudged him in the shoulder.

I pulled from Dem and saw him roll his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He looked back at me and tilted his head, "But really, what are you doing out here?" He waved to the side of the road.

"Um..." Just then, a silver sedan I recognized whizzed by us and then put on the brakes. The same silver sedan that drove us to the park. Oh, boy.

It slowly reversed and pulled over a couple of feet ahead of Dean's car. Bullet came out of the driver's side and headed toward us. His expression was hard to read, I didn't know if he was mad, relieved, or confused.

Dean and Dem turned and stood beside me. I felt Dean stiffen and take a step closer to me.

"Bullet?" Dem waved and he did too. "What are you doing here?" Well, it seemed Dem liked him. Made me wonder what they really talked about when I was unconscious. Dean still wasn't saying anything.

Bullet stopped a foot from us and shook Dem's hand. "Was around the neighborhood and saw you guys on the road, wondered if you had car trouble or something." He looked over at the BMW, and his eye twitched. "Or not."

"Nope, all handled, thanks," Dean answered in a clipped way.

Dem noticed and cleared his throat. "I don't know, Daze here just wanted to take a stroll, I guess?" He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I just shrugged.

Bullet's eyes finally looked at me, but I looked to the side, avoiding him.

"Anyway, we were about to go to lunch, want to join?" Dem invited. Ugh... No, please say no.

"We're actually in a rush," Dean said quickly.

"Dean," Dem scolded.

"No, its fine, I actually have to take care of some things. Nice seeing you guys again." I looked over and he was walking away. He got in his car and drove off.

"Come on, let's get out of here before more people stop to chat." Dean had his smart ass tone on, which I knew Dem hated.

"Dean, don't be a dick!" They both walked to his car, and Dem shoved his shoulder. Dem laughed with him as he held the door open for me to go in the back.

We got to my place and headed upstairs so I could change. I felt a little guilty about the way I acted with Bullet--it wasn't like we were dating.

"Oh, boy, move, emergency situation here." Dem moved past me and headed to the bathroom and slammed it.

I laughed and headed to my room.

"Hey, can we talk?" Dean said behind me.

"Fine, but let me change." I went in my room and he was still following. I turned and he closed the door. "Ew, perv, get out!" I pointed.

"I need to talk to you in private, away from Dem, I don't want him to worry." Dean was serious.

"Fine, turn around, and if you peek, I'll kick your ass, you know it," I threatened.

He did what I said, went to the corner wall and stuck his nose in it, leaning in. "Me? Want to see you naked? No, not like it's a life dream or anything." I kept my eyes on his back and saw him shrug.

"Ha-ha, very funny." I started to strip. "Well, talk."

"It's about Bullet."

I figured. "Uh-huh, what about him?" I went to my closet and grabbed some jeans.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him."

I rolled my eyes and slipped on my jeans. "Why?"

"Damn it, Daze, don't be stubborn." I saw his shoulder start to turn toward me.

"Ah-ah!"

He stopped and turned back. "Just trust me, won't you?"

I grabbed my bra and slipped it on. "He works in my building, kind of hard to avoid him. Plus, he's head of security, how bad can he be?"

His shoulders stiffened. "You don't understand; I know things about him."

I grabbed a pink t-shirt. "What things?"

"I can't." His shoulders drooped.

I threw on the t-shirt and I was dressed before sitting down on my bed. "Done. That's not a good reason."

He turned, and his face was not what I was used to seeing. Serious. "Daze--" he walked to me and kneeled down in front of me. That shocked me a little, but he placed his hands on each side of my legs, trapping me from moving. "--you and Dem mean so much to me." He wasn't staring at me, but at his hand that was picking an imaginary thread on my comforter. "You guys have shown me what family is really about."

Dem confided in me when Dean spent a couple of days with us. He came from a rich family, but his parents were never home and he was an only child. He was having trouble with suicidal thoughts, so he wanted to keep an eye on him. Of course, after that, I never argued about him staying with me.

I didn't tell Dean that I knew those facts, though. Decided it was best that they had their own secretes to themselves.

"And you know I would do anything for you." Oh, no, here it goes, his yearly love confession. I hated that I knew he felt differently than I did for him, but I had to keep reminding him of where we stood.

"Dean-"

He waved his hand and looked up at the ceiling. "Yes, yes, I know, long-lost brother, whatever!" He rolled his eyes. "Anyway--" he looked up at me with those baby blues "--please, promise you won't get involved with Bullet. I don't want anything happening to you." His brows rose and he was actually pleading. I didn't say anything. Why is Bullet so bad? "And for Dem, you don't want him hurt, either, right?"

My heart gave a thump. Damn him. He knew that Dem was my weak spot. What could Bullet possibly do to hurt me or Dem? And why would he? Something was telling me Bullet would never do that, but from the truth in Dean's voice, I knew what he was saying was true too.

And that was what scared me the most.

"I'll do my best." I sighed.

He smiled and stood from his knees. "Come on, puddin', let's get some food." He held out his hand, and I took it.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" Dem came out of the bathroom just as we were coming out of my room.

"Dude, totally banged her! It was exactly like I dreamed of!" Dean said it like it really happened.

I let go of his hand and gave him a small punch to the side. He made a grunt and gripped his stomach, leaning forward.

"Serves you right!" Dem laughed.

"Gross! Perv!" I stomped away, both of them laughing behind me.

# Chapter 7

We actually went to a blast from the past. We visited it only once in a while, because it was a little too close to where Mom lived and brought up bad memories, but we always wanted to check on Bob. It was Bob's Diner, the place I worked and saved up the money to get out.

Bob always looked out for us and we tried to do the same through the years. Plus, their food wasn't bad, either. I think Dem must have told something about why we visited Bob's. Dean argued one day and went into a rant of why we just had to go eat there. I didn't join in, but we went there anyway. It was a tense lunch. But after that day, and the next time I saw Dean, he apologized and offered to take us whenever we wanted. I knew then Dem did tell him something, I just didn't know what.

The diner hadn't changed. It had its regular orange neon sign at the top, Bob's Diner. Its outside was a grey-white and it had small pillars at the front of the double doors.

There were a couple of new faces since the last time we came, but we got our regular red and white booth in the

corner. The middle was a long, white table with red stools where you could sit at the front. I didn't see Bob, though, which was unusual, because he was always up at the front, greeting and taking orders.

We ordered our food and they talked about what was happening and what projects they were going to finish up. They also mentioned about interning at the firm where I worked, since his uncle owned it, so that would be good experience for both of them. I had a feeling, though, that Dean already knew more about law than he was letting on.

"You sure you don't want us to stay?" Dem asked. I leaned on the car as they sat in their seats and Dean started the engine.

"No, it's fine, I'll tell Bob you were here, then I'll head out, I'm sure he's hiding somewhere in the back." I laughed.

"Okay, text me later?" He put on the same MK sunglasses that Dean had. Because Dean didn't have any siblings, he pretty much spoiled Dem when he would let him. I was pretty sure Dem had no idea how much those were, though, because if he did, he wouldn't have taken them or wore them. Dean was sly like that, but he could never fool me. Dean also liked to pay for our food every time we went out.

Every. Time.

He made a good point that we weren't ready for. He wanted to spend money on the ones he loved and not on useless things. We stopped arguing after that.

I nodded and waved them off.

"Later, puddin'. Bedroom time next week too!" Dean made a click sound as he pointed at me and reversed. Dem hit him on the back of the head.

Once they were out of sight, I headed back to the diner, but then heard sounds that made me stop. Grunts and a loud smack. It took me back to the night I found out about Dem and my mom, because it sounded just like that. I turned and followed the noise down an alley.

When I got closer, I saw three bodies, a woman standing with her arms crossed, a guy on the ground, and another towering over him.

When my eyes registered who was on the ground, I saw red. It was Bob, he was maybe about forty now? I lost track, but he did age well if he was older than that. He did start to get some grey hair on his bushy head, giving him that salt and pepper look, a big beard to match, and a hint of small wrinkles along his eyes. He was almost an equivalent to a young Santa. Maybe that was why I liked him so much when I was younger. But right then, his usual blue apron was splattered with the blood dripping from his forehead. Those kind, brown eyes I was used to seeing, were now filled with fear and tears. He was scrunched against the wall, his arms up, trying to defend himself.

Bob was a good sized man, and I had seen him in action when he was younger. He could hold his own in the bad neighborhood, so to see him like that made me go from cool to boiling in less than a second.

I charged fast. I picked up the nearest hard object, which were two red bricks, and threw them at the bodies hovering over him. The woman dodged, but my main target was the guy standing over Bob. It hit him right in the side, and he moved a couple of steps back. I rammed into him, throwing him in the ground and started punching.

"Daze," I heard Bob yell my name, but it was muffled. My target was the one below me. His knee kicked me off him and threw me on the ground, but it didn't hurt. Not when I was like that. When I had a target, I didn't care. Sound and sight were muffled, and pain was non-existent to me. I could have a broken rib, but I would never notice. I lunged at him again, but then Bob came in my vision. I accidentally rammed into him, but he wrapped his arms around me, holding me back.

"Get off! Let me at him!"

"Breathe, Daisy, breathe," he whispered in my ear, and my heart started to slow. I relaxed my limbs and his soothing rubbing on my back made me my muscles less tense. Bob was the only one who knew about my spells and was the only other one, besides Dem, that I would let call me by my real name.

Really, Bob was like the father I had never had and to see him being beaten up was making my blood boil all over again.

"Breathe, Daisy," Bob whispered again.

I did what he said and my trembling was starting to cease.

"Well, well." I knew that voice. I had just heard it earlier. I came out of Bob's arms and turned.

Randa. She was dressed in a red mini-skirt, heels, a white tank, and a red leather jacket. "If it isn't Bullet's new pet?"

I gripped my fists harder.

"Please, she's just a confused customer, let me get rid of her." Bob ignored her and stepped in front of me.

Really? You're defending me?

"Bob, don't." I stepped from behind him, but he moved again in front of me.

"Bullet?" The guy I was punching came up next to Randa and wiped his bleeding lip. Good.

"I'm no one's!" I seethed.

"Then move, we have business to attend to." She waved her red nails.

My shoulders were shaking again.

Thump-thump-thump. My heart was ramming against my chest. "No, you're done."

"Daze." Bob scolded and turned to me. "Go away. You don't know who you are dealing with." His strained brown eyes and bleeding forehead was not making me any calmer.

I stepped away from him so I wouldn't have to stare at it. "What do you want?"

"He owes us money, and he's late on payment." She was looking at her nails, bored almost.

"He'll have it next month, come back then." I had no idea what I was doing, but I was saying whatever they needed so they would leave Bob alone.

"Daze, no!" Bob grabbed my arm, but I didn't move.

Her eyes flicked up to me and a stupid grin rose from her red-stained lips. "Very well. Next month, don't go anywhere." She turned, and the other guy followed her. "This should be interesting," she mumbled to him and they walked off.

"What did you do, Daisy?" I turned to Bob, and he gripped his head and was about to fall.

I went to steady him and took his arm and put it over my shoulder. "Come on." I took him through the side door and headed into his office which had a bathroom. I sat him down on the toilet and took out the peroxide and started cleaning his face.

"How do you know Randa?" he asked.

"What's going on, Bob?" I got a wash cloth and ran it under warm water, squeezing out the excess. He didn't look up at me but focused on the grey tiles. "Bob." He flinched when I started wiping around his head. I went gentler, remembering not everyone was like Dem and me with pain.

He sighed. "I owe them money; the diner isn't what it used to be."

"Who's them?" I re-rinsed the cloth.

"Exhaults." He let out a heavy sigh like he let out a big secret.

"Who?"

"The less you know, the better. You don't want to get involved here, Daisy." He finally looked up at me without moving his head.

"If you're involved, I am too," I deadpanned.

He let out a big sigh, the one I knew where he was extremely frustrated with me and then grabbed his head. "Damn it, Daisy, you have a good life, don't screw it up!" He tried to stand, but he sat back down.

"Easy." I was almost finished cleaning him up, and I didn't want him to pass out. "I'll find out on my own, you need to just tell me."

"Let's just say they're bad people, and they always get what they want." He groaned, almost defeated. And that killed me. There was the man that had helped me out at the roughest time in my life. I'd be damned if I didn't help him.

"How much do you owe total?" I kneeled down and his eyes watched me carefully. I saw so much in that second--he was hurt, scared, but most of all, ashamed. "How much?" I repeated.

He shut his eyes. "One-hundred-thousand--" I let out a breath through my now open mouth "--two-hundred total, with interest because I was late."

I only knew one person with that kind of cash, and I hated to get him involved. But when Bob reopened his eyes and looked so pained as he stared at his hands in his lap, I knew he needed me, and I would do whatever it took to keep him safe.

"I'll be back." He looked up at me with a mix of worry and hope.

I insisted he go to the doctor, but he didn't. He threw on a new apron, took some meds, and went back to work. I told him to call me anytime if something were to happen before then. I made sure to tell the cook, too, if he saw anything suspicious to give me a ring. He agreed. I had a feeling he knew something was going on, but didn't want to get involved, but he promised he would call if Bob didn't.

I headed back home and contemplated how the hell I was going to ask Dean for almost two-hundred-thousand dollars without having to tell him the real truth or getting him or Dem involved. Shit.

I racked my brain the whole weekend. Randa. Bullet. Exhaults. Bob. What the hell was going on? Should I ask Bullet? But then he'll want to know how I knew? Then he'd get involved? And I didn't want anyone else getting hurt. I had to help Bob, and I had a month to figure it out. Damn it.

I should have said six months, a year, something?

# Chapter 8

It had been a week, and I still hadn't figured out or gotten the courage to talk to Dean. Especially when he warned me about Bullet, and there was his name, involved with Randa and the Exhaults. I avoided the gym again, because I really didn't know what to say to him.

Not until I saw him waltzing down the hall, toward my desk. Crap.

"Hey, Bullet," Tally yelled from hers as he passed. He gave a small smile and wave. He was in a black suit with a blue vest and tie, but the earpiece was hanging off his shoulder out of his ear.

He stopped in front of me, but I kept typing--ignoring him. "Can we talk?"

"About?"

I saw his body move around my desk and to my side. He swiveled my chair to face him and then he placed his hands on each of my arm rests and leaned down to me. "What were you thinking?" He was keeping his voice down, but he was mad.

"Not here!" I looked around, and we were already drawing attention. He slowly stood and crossed his arms.

"Oh, now?" He tilted his head and let out a breath. "Fine, come on." I stood up and went into an empty conference room. He followed, and I shut the door behind me.

"Okay, talk." I crossed my arms and leaned against the door behind me.

His back was to me, but I could see it trembling some. "Randa said she saw you the other week."

"So you're back with her?" I don't know why I said that or why I even cared.

"She was warning me!" He turned, and he uncrossed his arms and had fists at his side.

What did she say to him? "About what?"

"You don't know what you're dealing with!"

"So I've heard!" I yelled back--my fists were at my side. His eyes looked down to them, and I saw his shoulders relax.

"Look, just stay away from her, all right?" His voice softened.

"Her? Exhaults?" His eyes rose to the ceiling, then he took big three steps and placed his hands against the wall by my head.

Thump-thump-thump-thump.

I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but the warning from Dean was ringing in my head. He's dangerous.

"Don't get involved with them." His eyes were piercing into mine, and I took a big swallow.

"Why?" It came out a whisper.

His intense gaze softened, and he moved his hand and tucked a hair behind my ear, so soft, so effortlessly, like he'd done it a thousand times before. My fists relaxed at my side, and I got the urge to just grab his shirt and pull him onto me. He must have felt the change, because the air around us was no longer hostile, a different charge was building and his shoulders started to relax with each second.

He took a long inhale through his nose. His eyes seemed to lighten, and they roamed all around my face. He took his other hand and tucked a hair behind my other ear and then rested his palm on my cheek. I leaned into it and he gave some sort of groan.

"Daisy."

The charge was gone. Melted and replaced with the rage I knew well. I picked my head up from his palm, then took my hands and pushed against his chest, off of me. He stumbled back with wide eyes.

"Don't you ever call me that! You have no right! And no clause to look through my privacy! Do it again, and I'll get you fired!" I swung the door open and stomped off. I grabbed my things from my desk.

"Daze?" I heard Tally call out as I walked by her.

"I'm sick, I'm leaving." I got in the elevator and pressed down. It closed, right when I saw Bullet dart out of the room and head toward me.

I stomped through the garage to get to my car when I saw a dark figure standing next to it. I was so not in the mood. "Hey, get off my car!" It moved fast and threw me onto the ground. My stuff flew out of my hands as I rolled onto the concrete. My head throbbed.

"You better have that money," a deep voice growled, then a kick came to my stomach. I let out a breath. "You think this is a game!" It was by my ear, and I couldn't help the tears creep down my face. So that was what Dem felt like, curled up on the ground, being beaten. I hated my mother even more. I reached up to grab whoever was on me, but he grabbed my wrist and twisted it. I yelled in pain, but then I heard a thud and my wrist was free. I slowly sat up, still holding my stomach, and saw Bullet on the guy, punching.

"Bullet," I tried to yell, but it came out a whisper. I crawled a little closer. "Bullet!"

He heard me, because he stopped, then he stood and gave him a kick in his leg. "Get up!"

"Bullet, no, I didn't-" The guy started to stand. "Randa told me-"

"I don't give a crap what Randa says, you tell them they touch her again, they have me to deal with, got it?" I had never heard Bullet like that before.

Raw.

Stone cold.

Unmoving. Deadly mean.

He muttered something then limped off. Bullet turned to me, and his posture changed as he walked over and kneeled down. "Come on." He picked me up, one arm over my back and the other scooping me up from my knees. I leaned against his chest and let him do it. My stomach was killing me. He bent again, and I heard my stuff being picked up from the ground.

"Where are we going?" He walked by my car and over to his silver sedan that was only a few spaces from mine. "You're staying with me for the weekend." His car beeped and he somehow got the door open without dropping me. He set me down and leaned over me and buckled my seatbelt, placing my stuff in my lap. He closed his door and I watched him walk to the driver's side. His fists were opening and closing and his chest was rising and falling fast.

We drove to his house which was like a small cottage--it had a pointed roof, white, petite, nothing like how he was. Colorful flowers decorated his mailbox and front porch. I got out on my own and looked around, admiring it. The neighborhood was small, quiet, and the houses kind of looked alike.

"Come on." He grabbed my hand and led me inside. I didn't know why I was following. I was fuming at him one minute, then worrying about him the next.

This isn't normal. Is it?

"Have a seat." He pointed to his living room to the right. "I have to make a call." He pulled out his phone and started dialing. "Be right back." A door opened and closed.

I slowly walked into his living room and stopped. I placed my purse on the couch. The room was really... white. The couches were a cream color, and the walls were covered in a light tan, with brown and gold curtains hanging from the windows. Wow, a lot of windows. At the front made a triangle shape and made up half the wall, but it made the living room even brighter.

There were no pictures anywhere, but he had a small square-shaped fireplace in the middle. Sitting at the banister above it looked like a small, sand, Zen garden. It was a grey square, with sand in the middle, a little rake, and small stones placed in different areas.

I went back to the hall and went down a little more. His place was so bright and neat. Nothing like what I would have imagined for a guy like him. Maybe a huge TV in the middle, empty pizza boxes, and bottled beers around. I came to his kitchen, and it was small, not even a dining table. In the center, though, was a rectangle shaped island, with four barstools on one side. The kitchen was covered in a type of white quartz color, making it look brighter in there, too.

I heard muffled sounds and headed to a glass that led to the back. There, Bullet was on a cute small deck in his backyard with his cell to his ear. His black shiny shoes and socks were off, scattered on the ground, so his black pants were being dragged as he paced.

I could tell by how his free hand was gripped at his side that he was not happy, but his voice was low, so I couldn't hear what he was saying.

What am I even doing here? Why did I just follow him? Each step he took gave the deck a little shake.

Something was telling me that he is dangerous.

He stopped and hung up the phone, his jaw ticking as he stared down at it. His brows pushed together with an intense concentration. It made me wish I knew what was going on in that head of his.

He looked up and saw me, and I knew the answer to the constant question in my mind.

Is he dangerous to me? Can I trust him?

Those thick dark brows of his pulled apart and rose slightly. That cold gaze he had turned soft, and it was like he was looking right into me. Seeing all of me. His frown turned up, and one side lifted higher as he gave me a small smile. He put his phone in his pocket, then started to pick up his socks and shoes and headed back to me.

No. He is not dangerous to me.

And yes. I can trust him.

I took a couple of steps back as he opened his door and came in.

Why did that answer in my gut come so fast? So resolute. So sure. I don't know. But that was what scared me the most. That I was so sure of it.

"Do you have your house keys?"

I nodded as he continued to stare at me. "Uh... over here." I went back to the living room, grabbed my purse and pulled them out. "Why?"

"Well, a friend of mine was going to get some of your stuff, and I thought it would be better to use your key and not break in." He held out his hand.

Well, that wasn't as sure sounding, but all I did was nod and hand them over. Once I did, I felt the pain in my stomach and hunched, gripping it.

"Crap, you okay?" I felt his hand come on my back and shoulder, his warmth right on me.

"It just hurts a little." The pain moved again when I breathed.

"Come on." He moved and picked me up quickly but gently. I gasped a little, but didn't move against him. He went up his stairs, then opened a door and set me down on a bed. He then went across, into the bathroom. I heard some shuffling, but then looked around at the room, which I thought was his.

He had big windows in his room too, covered in sheen white curtains. His bed was big, a king size, and had dark brown sheets and pillows, but the frame surrounding it was white. He had dark nightstands on each side with white lamps sitting on them. His dresser and a small recliner were brown and white too.

"Take these." I sat straighter against the headboard, still gripping my stomach. "You may have some bruises, and this will help with the pain." He sat down next to me. I took the pills and bottled water he gave me. He was still looking at my stomach when I placed the bottle on the night stand.

"What?" I asked.

He pointed. "Do you mind?"

"Huh?" I gripped my stomach more.

He rubbed his neck. "I want to feel and see your stomach for other damages."

I cocked my brow. "What, are you a doctor too?"

He laughed. "No, but I know my fair share of injuries." He shifted slightly. "Or I can take you to the hospital."

Ugh. No. I hated hospitals, and then they would just get on me about my anger again. I slowly slid back down to where I was flatter on my back. I took my hands and placed them up onto my chest.

He gave a small nod and his fingers made their way to my white top that was tucked into my grey skirt. I was getting that different feeling again. I could feel my fingers itch and my pulse begin to thump.

He slowly started to pull my shirt out, and he was either trying not to freak me out, or he was giving me slow, hot torture. He pulled it out and lifted it halfway up. If I was hurting, I was too busy feeling his fingers skim my abs to even notice.

His brown eyes kind of looked darker as he looked up at me. "I'm going to push a little, all right?" He sounded as out of breath as I was. I just gave a small nod, then he looked back down at my stomach. He started pushing in certain areas, and it was sensitive, so I flinched away. "Sorry. I'm just trying to see if you have anything broken or just bruising."

His fingers went higher, closer to my chest, and as he skimmed, he was leaving those hot, prickling trails that made me very aware of him. Then he pushed again, so that distracted me. "Does that hurt?" He sounded more composed that time.

"No," I whispered.

"All right." His fingers quickly left me as he pulled my shirt back down. "Nothing broken, probably bruises, but I can take you to the hospital to be sure."

"No!" I swallowed. "I'll be fine. Thanks." I started to feel really groggy--his ceiling was getting a little blurry. "I think I'm kind of... tired?" I yawned.

"Sorry, strong pain killers, should have warned you. Go ahead and rest, you're safe here. I'll take care of things." His voice started to drift, and I wasn't sure, but I think I felt a small kiss on my cheek.

It could have been a dream, though.

# Chapter 9

I was in my room back home. I noticed the stained white ceiling. I sat up, and my old dresser and creaky floorboards were all the same. My black book bag was scattered on the floor. The one that Mom got me because she said pink was too girly and to stick with black.

No. No.

I jumped out of bed and recognized my black pajamas. I flew open the door, and I was back in her house.

Grunts. Crying. SMACK.

I ran down the hall and into the living room.

Her back was to me, her brown bun was in that same mess right after she went into her fits and her fist raised in the air. Small Dem was on the ground, blood dripping from his lip and his hands up, waiting for the next blow.

NO!

Dem's huge tear-filled eyes looked over to me for help, but I didn't move.

Her hand came flying down.

NO! STOP! Get away!

"Daze! DAZE!"

My head throbbed.

Thump--Thump.

Oh, my chest and stomach hurts. I opened my eyes; I was standing in the middle of the room. Sweat was dripping from my brows, and I could feel it on my neck and back. Bullet was standing in front of me across the room with his hands out, eyes wide, and his knees slightly bent, like I was going to attack him.

Shit.

I looked at the bed and the sheets were almost off. The white lamp on the stand was gone and the other lamp was in my hand, gripping it with such force, I was surprised I didn't break it. Pillows were thrown on the ground. His once clean, perfect room looked like a war zone.

"Daze?" Bullet panted and straightened, making his way over to me slowly.

"Dem." I placed my raised arm to my side and dropped the lamp; it didn't break on the carpet, but made a small thud.

"Your brother?" He stopped and tilted his head.

"Where's my phone?" I couldn't even talk.

"Um... I think-"

"I need my phone!" I yelled louder.

"Downstairs, your purse is downstairs." He answered quickly and pointed to the door. I ran out and headed down. My heart was still pumping, and it was like I could see him plain as day on the floor, the grunts so fresh in my ear.

I found my purse still on his couch. I grabbed it and kneeled down on the floor, flipping it upside down as all my contents fell, including my phone. My trembling hands grabbed it, and I tried to slide it to open, but my hands were too sweaty, and it kept slipping.

And I couldn't freaking think of my numbered password!

I typed in random numbers, but it was all wrong and that incorrect pin kept popping up, making me forget even more. I was about to throw my phone across the room, if I didn't know that it was my only contact for Dem to pick it up at that hour... whatever hour it was. I glanced at the time-- 2:47 AM.

"Open!" I gripped it and just started tapping randomly.

"Here." I stopped as Bullet's hand came in my vision. "What's your pin?" His voice was soft, barely a whisper, and I closed my eyes and used it to calm me and focus on what the numbers were.

"Eight, eight--" I heard his finger pushed down and my phone moved in my grip "--nine, nine." Once I felt him move by me, I opened my eyes and my screen was open. I hit the green button and held down the number one for Dem's speed dial. It dialed, and I put it to my ear. My knee was twitching under me and my free hand was tapping the top of my thigh. "Come on, come on." It rang that fifth time before it was going to voicemail, and if it did, I was going to throw my phone.

"What up, puddin'? Didn't know you wanted to talk to me so bad." He laughed.

It wasn't Dem. No. Where is he? He couldn't be--she wasn't--no... No.

"Where's Dem?" I said it so fast that I didn't even know if he understood me, whoever it was, I couldn't figure that out at the moment.

"Whoa, puddin', what's wrong? Don't want to talk; we can have a late night rendezvous!" He chuckled again.

"Get me Dem, now. Where is he?" The line went silent. Shit. Did I lose the call? "Hello? Hello? Dem!" I was going to start crying. He was there. He had to be safe. At college. Away from her. Away from all of it.

"Okay, okay, hang on, Daze. What's wrong, are you okay?" I heard faint footsteps in the background, then pounding on the door. "It's Dean, he left his phone out in the living room.

"I need him. Now." My voice hurt, and my head was still throbbing. I said it too quiet, but he heard me by more pounding on the door. It's Dean. He's there. With Dean. Everything will be okay. I kept telling myself that, but my leg twitched more.

"I'm getting him, hang on." Dean was more serious, softer, and that made me feel better. Dem will be on the phone in just a second.

Big knocks were so loud; I thought it was in the same room as me. "Dem, get the fuck up, Daze needs you, now!" More pounding.

It stopped, and I heard a door open. "Dude, what's your problem?" It was Dem, and my back slouched at his voice. I held the phone with both my hands.

"Daze, something's wrong. Here." Dean sounded distant.

"Shit." More rustling happened. "Daze, Daze, it's Dem."

I closed my eyes and slowly fell to my side, letting the cool floor touch my cheek. My heart felt a million times lighter and the throbbing was slowing. "Dem," I whispered.

"Daze, what's wrong?" He panicked.

"Are you okay?" My voice cracked.

"Shit," he muttered. "Daze, did you have an episode?"

I nodded my head while answering, "Yeah." Episode. That was the right word for it.

"I'm fine. I'm with Dean, at college. No one is around me. No one is hurting me. She isn't here. We haven't seen her in years." He gently chanted the mantra that he always did when I started developing the episodes after we had left her. My heart was already slowing. "You haven't had one of these in a while, Daze," he whispered.

"I know."

I heard more rustling. "I'm coming over."

"I'll get my keys," Dean said in the background.

I was suddenly aware of where I was. I was on the hardwood floor of Bullet's house. Shit. I slowly looked around then up and saw him a foot or so away from me, sitting on the ground in nothing but grey sweat pants, his legs crossed Indian-style as he watched me.

I peeled my cheek from the floor and looked away from him. "I'm fine."

"Damn it, Daze-"

"Ignore her, let's just go!" Dean yelled again.

"No, really, I'm fine, plus, I'm busy with work this weekend, so don't come over, all right?" I didn't need to explain to them why I wasn't at home. "I just needed to hear your voice, that's all, I'll probably conk out after this." That was so not true. I could never fall back asleep after.

"Daze," he scolded.

"Come on," Dean yelled again.

"Demanry." He cleared his throat, and he knew I meant business when I used his full name.

"Dem-"

"Shut up for a second, Dean," Dem blurted out and then there was silence. He sighed. "Okay. Drink some tea, I love you." He sounded torn. I knew he wanted to come over, and I wanted him to, but it wasn't the time.

"I will. I love you too. And apologize to Dean for me; I'm not sure what I said." It was kind of hazy, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't nice. Dean had never seen me after an episode, or during, so I was pretty sure I freaked him out. And it made me feel even guiltier because he was still going to drive with Dem, even at that hour.

"Don't worry about him, but I'll let him know. Sleep tight, sis."

"Will do." I pulled the phone from my ear, which was covered in smeared sweat, and ended the call. I placed it in my lap and took deep breaths.

In. Out. In. Out.

I slowly stood, using the couch to help me up. My knees felt a little weak, so I stood there for a second to gain back the feeling in my legs.

"Daze?" I looked over and Bullet was standing next to me, but a good arm's length to give me space. His short hair had little spikes in different places, like he had just got out of bed. It was the first time I had seen his bare chest, and it matched exactly how I pictured it, at least by his arms. He had a small amount of dark chest hair around his lifted pecs, and it had a cute trail that went down to his-- Okay, don't go there, go back above the belt line! His abs weren't as prominent, but I could see the six-pack outlines faintly.

Then I noticed his broad shoulders, they had red nail marks all over the skin. "Bullet!" I closed the gap between us and hovered my fingers over his shoulder, not wanting to touch it. "Did I-"

"Don't worry." His hand enclosed on mine and pulled it to his chest. "Are you okay?"

I looked up at him, and he was tired, I could tell with his hooded eyes, but it had an understanding that flicked in the dim light.

"I should have warned you, I'm sorry." I took my free hand and placed it over a couple of the scratches that were on his shoulder. He didn't flinch.

"Want some tea?" he whispered.

I guess he heard our conversation. "I'll make it; you go treat those scratches." I noticed our close proximity, his hand holding mine and mine on his shoulder. I slipped them away slowly so I wouldn't offend him and took a step back.

He watched me carefully, looking like I would explode again.

"I'm okay now." I nodded. He walked by me, our shoulders touching as he went upstairs, still watching me until he was gone.

I didn't go back to sleep, I just sat on the couch with my mug--a white one with a rooster on it--and pretended to watch the TV. Bullet didn't ask questions and refused to go upstairs. He sat in his loveseat that reclined and fell asleep pretty quickly. Luckily, it was Saturday, and we didn't have to go to work the next day.

I made a trip back up to his room and fixed the mess I had made. I even swept up the broken lamp and made a mental note to buy him a new one. I fixed the sheets and made the bed, arranging the room back to its perfect style.

I found a duffle with a few of my clothes and bathroom products. It was seven in the morning so I went ahead and changed into a black cotton t-shirt, jeans, and brushed my teeth. The bag even had my brush, so I brushed out my unruly hair from the night before.

I went downstairs and Bullet was still asleep. I grabbed a brown blanket that was in a linen closet in the hall, but before I folded it over him, I really looked at him. His mouth was slightly open and deep breaths were coming out. His sharp features seemed so soft when he was asleep.

He couldn't be dangerous. Not to me. Not after what he did. Not after he witnessed my freak out and did all he could. It was like he knew me. In tune with me? How?

I looked at the red scratch marks on his shoulders. They seemed to have healed well, and were just faint red lines, so I didn't dig into him that bad. Dem used to get them much worse when I first started, but he knew to let it ride out until I woke up after a while.

My eyes hovered to the little trail going down his abs, but then something dark caught my eye. I kneeled down next to him and tried to take a closer look without waking or touching him. Mmm... I took a small inhale... He smelled like a deep forest or something else very earthy.

On both his sides, he had...scars? They were round, indented a little, and a little more pigmented from his already golden skin. There were two about five inches apart. Then there were three on his other side. I skimmed his skin more closely and he had two more on his left shoulder. What were they? Burn marks? Wounds?

I grabbed my right shoulder on instinct. I hated looking at mine in the mirror. Another reminder of her, and even worse... a permanent one. It wasn't too big, about a two to three-inch line, and it had a slight pink tone to my tan skin. It wasn't deep when she stabbed me, so it wasn't too raised, luckily. You could only see it if you were looking for it. At least, that's what I told myself.

But his scars? They were unique, and I'd never seen one like them before, let alone in multiple places.

I heard him take a deep breath, but he didn't wake up. I placed the blanket over him.

# Chapter 10

He probably wasn't going to wake up for a while, so I went to the kitchen and started making him breakfast.

I was done degreasing the bacon when I heard a groan.

"Mmm... you sure know how to wake someone up." I turned and he was stretching as he entered the kitchen. I looked back at the bacon, pulling my eyes from watching every muscle stretch on him, or eyeing his scars.

"I figured it was the least I can do after, uh-"

"Don't worry about it." He pulled a barstool out and sat down. I loaded his plate with eggs and bacon and placed it in front of him. Oh, shoot, utensils. I started pulling drawers open. "Way right," he said behind me. I went and pulled a fork and handed it over. He smiled. "Thanks." He took it, and our fingers brushed slightly.

I whipped my hand a little too fast, and he noticed, because he paused before he brought the fork fully to his plate. I cleared my throat. "Look, I appreciate everything you have done, and I'm sorry about my other outburst at the office, it's just, no one really knows my full name, or

calls me by that, except for a select few. It reminds me too much of--" I started picking at the black specs on the white counter. Why do I need to explain myself? "Anyway, sorry and thanks, but I need to go home."

He started eating so his mouth was full as he shook his head.

I crossed my arms. "I don't like to be a prisoner."

He almost spit out his eggs laughing. He chewed and swallowed, then got up and went to the fridge. I watched as he opened a cabinet, pulled out two glasses and poured orange juice into each one. He moved it over the counter toward me and then started drinking his own. I watched as his throat moved up and down and finished it in four gulps.

He let out a smack and a sigh as he licked his upper lip and placed the glass on the counter. My eyes hovered over his lips way too long, so I picked up my glass and took a little sip and then held it to my chest.

"I said don't worry about it. I can be a little too snoopy for my own good, I shouldn't have said your name. I'm sorry. And second, you're not a prisoner." He saw me lift my brow, but he continued, "You're just here until I know you're safe." He leaned against the fridge and crossed his arms.

"Why?" I tried to avoid his left shoulder. He tilted his head, and it was kind of cute how confused he looked. "Why do you care?"

He blew out a long breath through his lips. "It's a long story, but I feel partly responsible."

"Responsible? For Bob?" That reminded me I needed to check up on him sometime during the weekend.

He shifted. "The diner, I'm assuming."

I narrowed my eyes. "How much do you know?"

"Look, I just want to keep you out of this, so the sooner we square away whatever problem they have with him, the sooner we can both relax." He reached over the island to get his plate, and I was staring again at his bare chest and how the dip at his hips started to show more. "I'm assuming you wanted to see him this weekend?"

I moved my gaze to the juice I was holding when he looked back at me. "Yes."

"All right then, let me get ready." He turned and headed upstairs. How the hell is he going to fix my two hundred grand problems? I placed the juice on the counter. Damn it.

I grabbed my phone in my purse and Dem and Dean texted multiple times to check on me. Also five missed calls from Dem, but no voicemails. I texted them each back that I was fine and I would talk to them later.

"Ready?" Bullet came down in a dark, plaid, button-up shirt, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark jeans looking really...good.

"Uh-huh." I think my voice squeaked, but I coughed to cover it up. Get yourself together, Daze. Geez.

He didn't seem to notice when he pulled his keys out of his pocket and opened the door. He paused and looked at me. Why is he staring? He started to smirk and tilted his head to the door.

Oh, he was holding it for me. I got up, grabbed my purse and walked through, mumbling, "Thanks." And I think I heard him snicker behind me.

I went straight to the car, and when I went to open my passenger door, his hand bumped mine and he opened it for me. I looked up at him as he held it and smiled.

"Thank you." I went in and he closed it behind me. I saw him jog back to his door to lock it, then came back and got in the driver's side. I didn't even need to tell him where the diner was, and it was a quiet ride over there.

I was about to get out when he stopped me by placing a hand on my leg. "Hang on; let me take a look around. Stay here."

"You know I grew up around here, right?" I leaned back into my seat.

"Just--" I could see his jaw grinding "--stay here." And he got out, locking the doors with his keys. He disappeared into the diner.

Oh, no, I am not waiting in this car. I unlocked the door and stepped out, leaning my back against it. I scanned the area on my own, specifically if Randa was around again.

About a minute passed, and I heard a door slam and went over to the alley where the side door led. There, Bob was running toward me.

"Bob?"

"Daze! Get out of here!" He grabbed my hand and started to pull me until I saw Bullet come out the same door, looking to the side then saw us and stalked over.

"Wait, Bob, calm down." I tried to pull him back, but when he looked back at Bullet, he started to pull me harder.

"They sent him, that's it. I'm dead. Go, save yourself!" He stepped in-between Bullet and me and started to push me more, but then tripped and fell.

I kneeled down to help him, but he was so panicked. I had never seen him like that before. "Who? Who?"

"Bullet," he gasped when he was standing across from us.

"Bob, if you just-"

"Leave her alone!" Bob placed an arm over me. "She knows nothing!" He was breathing heavy, and I knew he had minor asthma problems that would flare up.

"Bob, relax, breathe." I rubbed his shoulders.

Bullet looked calmer than he should. "Bob, we need to-"

"No! I know what happens when they send you!" Bob pointed straight at him.

"Bob-" Bullet reached his hand out.

"No!" Bob scooted back more.

"Stop, hang on!" I scooted more in-between them. Bullet pulled his hand back. "Bob, what's wrong?" I looked back at him, and his eyes were wide looking at me. "Bob? Breathe."

"You know him?" He sounded almost strangled.

"Bob." Bullet sounded guarded, but I ignored him.

"Bob, what's wrong?" I demanded.

He slowly looked behind me at Bullet. "He's a killer."

I whipped my head to look back at Bullet. His open mouth closed shut into a hard line. I could see his cheeks twitch with his grinding jaw and his eyes went into an eerie stillness as his brows pulled together.

I didn't need any more. Just by his reaction, I knew what Bob said was true. "Get away." I could feel my blood pumping. The throbbing was coming on full force, and my fists were already formed.

"Daze-"

"Get away from us!" I stood, and my shoulders were trembling. He took a step back and looked at me from head to toe.

"Daze, I would never--" he whispered.

"Leave!" I took a step toward him and he took another back.

"If you would just let me--" He tried to reach out to me.

"Or I'll make you leave." I snapped, and I meant it. He had secrets. I knew he was lying. I just didn't know it was like that. Or that it would hurt so much.

"You heard her." Bob came up behind me and placed both hands on my shoulders.

I couldn't look at Bullet's eyes, so I focused on the brick wall behind him in the distance. His body slowly backed away then went back in the side door.

"Daisy, do you know who that was?" Bob whispered behind me.

"I thought I did." I started to breath deeper.

"That's Bullet, a hit man for the Exhaults." My chest felt like it was taking another stab. "He's called Bullet because a bullet couldn't stop him. That's what made him the top hit man in the organized crime syndicate."

"Come, tell me everything." He led me back into the diner. I looked out the windows when we sat down in a booth, and his silver sedan was gone.

I took out my phone and wanted to text Dem and Dean for a ride, but didn't want to get into that, so I texted Tally, hoping she would actually come through. I set my phone on the table so I could see when she responded. She wasn't the most reliable with replying.

"Who are the Exhaults, Bob?" I placed my hands in my lap so he wouldn't see my nervous twitching.

"There are two organized crime syndicates that are warring in this region, the Exhaults and Traxs. Bullet is the top hit man of the Exhaults. At least he was. He disappeared a couple of years ago, and this is the first I've heard and seen him, because usually if you see him, you don't live to tell about it."

A waitress came by, and Bob ordered some cheesy fries for us to share and tea. Bob also knew that tea calmed me. I took my hands from my lap and laced them together, placing them on the table. Our drinks came, so I gripped the white mug and used its warmth to try and calm me.

"How's your breathing, Bob?"

He took a sip of his mug and cocked his brow. "I could ask you the same thing." He let a small smirk lift, and his eyes almost twinkled. That made me smile. Then he set his mug down and he had small amounts of tea on his grey beard and mustache. I let out a laugh; he grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth. "Ha-ha, very funny." But he was laughing with me.

We let our laughter settle down, and I continued to stare at my tea on the table. I wanted to know more, I did, but when he started, I suddenly didn't want to anymore. I had punched and sweat with that man for years, and just recently he had done and seen things of me that I barely showed and he hadn't judged. He hadn't run away. All he had done was showed me kindness, understanding, and silent compassion. And then I find out that he's some sort of assassin or something? Betrayal was a good word right then. But hurt and wounded was what I was feeling all over.

I thought back to his scars on his sides and shoulder. Those were bullet wounds? A part of me wanted to kick myself for even trusting and letting him in. Another part of me felt a sense of longing for him. He was shot, but how he was before I found out he was a hit man, he was so gentle, so understanding. It made me want to beat whoever brought him those scars.

I brought my hands to my head and leaned on the table.

"Daze?" Bob whispered, and I looked up at him, he was eating a cheesy fry from the plate in the middle. When did those get here? "Did you hear what I said?" He pushed the plate closer to me, but I just shook my head. "Eat." He wasn't taking no for an answer.

I took a fry and ate one, and it was good, so I took a couple of more, never leaving the grip from my head.

"You didn't hear a word I said, did you?" I shook my head and looked back down at my tea. "I was asking why he listened to you. Why'd he leave?" I gave one shrug. Because he's not a killer, he's kind, and he's helped me, was what I really wanted to say. Ugh. "Well, I'm keeping this miracle to myself. Survived from Bullet, ha." He gave a small laugh.

My phone buzzed, and it was Tally. She was going to pick me up, so that would take her about a half hour. "Bob?"

"Mhm?" He was chewing more fries.

"What do you know more about Bullet?" I wanted to close my ears, but I had to know.

"Not much, just what I already told you. But to tell you the truth, he seemed less angry from what I've heard."

"What have you heard?"

"That he has a temper, that's how he became known as the top hit man," he answered.

Temper? Can't be any worse than me. But he boxes and does Tai Chi and his house is immaculate. How can he be a killer?

My phone buzzed again. It was Dem checking on me again. I took my hand off my head and sat a little straighter. I knew who would know more than Bob, and he showed all the signs that he did. Dean. I text Dem and said I was fine, then I text Dean.

I need to talk to you. Without Dem knowing. When can you meet?

I got a reply in about three seconds.

Sure. I can't meet this weekend, but next Friday? Dinner?

Damn it. That wasn't soon enough, but I didn't want to look eager.

Okay, meet at my place, 7?

Will do, later puddin.

"Everything okay?" Bob asked. I looked up, and he had some cheese on his beard. It made me smile again. "Damn it," he mumbled and grabbed a napkin, wiping.

Bob and I didn't talk anymore about Bullet or the organizations. We caught up with each other--his life, mine, and Dem's. It was the same when I would spend late nights with him just to stay away from my house, and he never complained. Tea, fries, and talking about anything. He was the perfect old man a girl could ask for.

# Chapter 11

Tally came and picked me up and chatted with Bob a little before we left. "What are you doing out here anyway?" Tally continued to scan the area the farther we got. I could tell she was a little scared. She wasn't one that was raised in the rougher areas or had been around them.

"Old friend, I visit him on occasion." I shrugged. I never really told her about my past, so I decided to keep it that way.

"And your car isn't here because...?"

Great, now she's getting suspicious. "I came with a friend and they had to go. Thanks again, though, for getting me."

"Oooh, friend? Date?" She perked up right away.

I groaned on instinct. "No, not a date."

"Good, because I could already tell you if he brought you here for the first date, ditch him."

"Will do, thanks, Tally."

She dropped me off and I waved before I went upstairs. I turned and he came out from the stairwell.

"Daze, just let me explain." It was Bullet, and it looked like he hadn't rested, even though I had just seen him two hours before.

I felt sorry for him, but was still guarded. The first initial shock of hearing about him made me lose my temper, but since I talked with Bob and had time to simmer down, I wasn't as mad. "You need to leave." He was blocking the stairwell. There was another staircase on the other side if I really wanted to go, but something was telling me to hear his side of the story. There were always two sides, I knew.

The past boyfriends and dating that I had would always just see one side. They would always say I was a bitter, angry woman and would end up alone. They never understood it from my point, and I always knew it would never work with someone like that.

"Please let me explain." Bullet begged and kept his distance. His hands at his side kept opening and closing, nervously, not aggressively. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have already.

"Okay." I relented.

He flinched a little, like he wasn't expecting my answer. He stepped aside and waved his hand for me to go first. I was very aware of his warmth when I walked by, and I found that I was actually missing it.

His footsteps followed me from behind, and I looked over my shoulder and he was about three steps away, not crowding me. I opened my door and went in and threw my purse on the small kitchen table, then I went over to my kitchen counter, crossed my arms, and leaned my hip into it.

He slowly closed the door and then made his way to my table. He pulled out the brown chair and sat down, facing toward me, he leaned onto his knees and laced his hands together.

He took a deep breath then looked up at me. "This is something I don't talk about, but I didn't want you to find out that way. I was planning on telling you, but how can I really?" He sat up and waved his hands around. "Oh hey, want to get dinner; by the way, I used to be a hit man for a criminal organization." He said it sarcastically and leaned back onto his knees.

"Used to be?"

He looked back at me. "I'm not with them anymore. I've put that life behind me. I've been trying to get my life straight and Henry helped me with that."

"Dean's uncle knows about you?" I started wondering if that's why Dean talked to me about him.

"How do you think I got that job? No one who knows about my reputation would ever hire me, and trust me, if they didn't, they would find out eventually." He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. "Henry helped with my background and to keep it under wraps in his firm. If people do know, they haven't mentioned it to me or complained. I take my job seriously there, and I want people to trust me with their safety, and through the years, I've proved that. I hope you can understand my discretion."

I tilted my head and lowered my chin, scared to ask the question poised at my lips. "Have you killed people before?"

"Yes," he answered, a little clipped, but right away and never broke eye contact with me when I looked up at him. "I'm not going to lie to you, Daze. I have and I am not proud of it, but I can't change my past." He stood from his chair and took a closer step to me. "All I can do is work for a better future." He inched closer, like he was testing me for my reaction. I didn't move, and somehow, I wasn't afraid. I just watched him...closely. And the weird thing, I knew what he was talking about. I couldn't change my past, but all I could do was fix my future.

"And... I was hoping..." He was standing right in front of me. He reached for my fingers that were hanging from my crossed arms. He stopped, his eyes watching me. His hand touched mine and his intense gaze was piercing me. He fully took my hand and placed it over his heart. His eyes closed and he let out a small breath through his nose, like my touch was healing him or something. "I was hoping that you would help me." He opened his eyes and took another breath.

I could feel his heart under my hand, and it was beating so fast, it surprised me that he looked semi-calm on the outside, but I could still feel his nervousness. He didn't say any more, and I didn't say anything. I wasn't sure what to say. Or what he was asking from me. Or what he expected me to do?

The air was so quiet; all I could hear were the faint noises outside and the air conditioning humming in my apartment. And we stood there, for how long, I wasn't sure, but the feeling of my hand on his chest and his eyes roaming around my face it just...seemed so right.

His other hand lifted, and he cupped it around my cheek, his thumb skimming it. I instinctively leaned into it and let out a sigh.

"I think you've left me dazed." I smiled, and he gave me a small smirk back.

"And I think you've shot a bullet into my heart."

A few more seconds passed.

"I don't know what to do," I whispered.

"Neither do I," he whispered back. He started to lean down to me. Closer. Closer. I uncrossed my arms and he took a step right into me, no air in between us.

His lips were so close above mine that I could feel his breath and hear the deep inhale through his nose.

Call me stupid. Call me stubborn. Call me careful.

But I couldn't kiss him.

"We have to--" I whispered, but it was enough for him to stop and pull back a little.

"Yes?" Oh, his heart was beating a mile a minute, probably the same as mine.

"We should... take it slow." Maybe that was my problem; I rushed into all my relationships, hoping that their love would take my pain away, but they only added to it. With Bullet, I didn't want that to happen. I wanted to do it right.

He stood straighter and was looking down at me, making me angle my head to look up at him. He had at least five or six inches on me. His thumb on my face caressed me one more time, and he lowered his hand off my face and took a step back.

"For you, I have all the time in the world." He gave my hand a squeeze that was on his chest.

"Why?" I blurted out. He cocked his brow. "Why me?"

He let out a deep chuckle. "Well, if I tell you the real reason, you may think I'm a stalker." I tilted my head. "I just knew the minute you walked in the boxing room and you took on that bag. I knew you were different. And the more I watched you, the more I got intrigued, so I looked you up in our database." He lifted his shoulder up to his ear. "Then I kind of watched you at work. Remember when you took on that client for Tally?"

"How could I forget, that's what made her get attached to my hip, along with the rest of the--" I thought back to when security came and took him away "--wait a minute, were you there?" How could I have missed him?

"Yes. I was kind of patrolling your area a little more than the others. That's how I got to you so fast."

"Um..." I thought back to the event, but it was so fast, and I was really pissed, so I ignored everything around me. All I could remember was a lot of screaming, specifically from Tally, the guy groaning in my arms, then a ton of security swarming around me, well, maybe just one, and then more followed? Was it Bullet? "I really can't remember."

He brought his hand up to his chest. "Oh, I'm hurt!" By his sly smile, he was being overly dramatic.

I pushed on his shoulder, and he acted like I threw him by his multiple steps he took backwards. "Shut up. How do you remember and not me?"

"Well, I remember it like it was yesterday, it was the day I knew you were different." He stared off behind me, like he was recalling that memory from the air.

*

Bullet

Ever since I saw her walk into that boxing room, her chin held high, her black hair tied up on her head, bouncing as she walked, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Something about how she carried herself, being on guard all the time. It made me want to know why she had it up and what was behind those walls. And when she glanced over at me with those big caramel eyes, I think I almost lost my footing and slammed into the bag.

Luckily, I redirected and punched harder.

I looked back at her, and she paused in front of the bag like she was assessing it. She stood there for about five seconds and then she started punching. She was so small compared to that bag, but she had good form. Her stance was solid, her posture and angle was good, but her punches needed a little work. I could tell something was bothering her. She went into her own little world and was focused on that bag like it was a person. I knew that look well. I was the one person who knew what anger looked and felt like.

Hidden, pent-up, true anger.

And, boy, did that girl have it.

I felt like an idiot. There I was, watching her on her floor right after I looked her up in our database. She was twenty-five, and her real name was Daisy, but she put Daze. It had her address and her emergency contact as Demanry Dabbs. It didn't say if it was her husband or not, but she wasn't wearing a ring, although she was boxing so she could have taken it off. Why am I even thinking these things? Did you not learn from Randa?

I walked parallel to her. The rooms were glass and she was on the other side. She had just gotten out of a meeting and was walking down the hall. People at their desks I was passing by knew who I was, some ignored me and some nodded. Not like anyone could notice that I was secretly stalking a girl.

She looked different than in her workout clothes. I felt she was more herself, more comfortable. Right then, she didn't look comfortable, more like she was putting up a front. She had a black flowing skirt that showed off her lean calves. She had a dark-blue button-up top that was tucked in and showed off her slender waist. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and her hair was down, blowing in the wind as she walked. She tucked a couple of strays behind her ears and avoided eye contact with others when they passed her by.

Some yelling happened, and she lifted her head and sharply turned back around. What is she looking at? A man in a tan suit was yelling at one of the blondes' desk--Tally, I think her name is?

Shit.

I started to walk faster to turn and reach the other side, but kept my eye on Daze.

"I need back up, now! Tenth floor." I said it low in my earpiece, but was pretty sure it was loud in their ears. I got multiple, "Copy that, on the way."

The man threw a pen at Tally, and she slid her chair farther. I started jogging, but was too late. I saw that look in Daze's eyes. The fire, the rage--and by the way she stomped over to him and her fists gripped at her side, I knew she wasn't going to let it go on. Her shoulders were trembling, and her chest went up and down. Her hair blew faster behind her as she picked up her pace.

The man reached over Tally's desk. She let out a huge scream and everyone was staring at them. More girls screamed, but not Daze. She stayed eerily silent. She went up behind him with such force; she grabbed both his arms before he even knew what was happening. She twisted it behind him and pulled his body, which was twice the size of hers, off of Tally's desk. The other girls gathered around Tally, who was on the brink of tears and stood there and watched instead of helping her. Not like she needed it anyway. He struggled against her, but when he did, she took her foot and slammed it against his knee. He then fell down on it and she twisted his arms more.

I finally caught up to them and replaced my hands with hers. Oh... she smelled good too, what is that? Vanilla, chocolate... I sniffed deeper. Both? Oh, I could just smell her all day. Her hands quickly let go and that snapped me out of it pretty well.

I faced him down on the ground. "Sir, calm down!"

"Get off of me! I didn't do anything," he spat at me.

Yeah, sure, was what I really wanted to say, but I had to remember I was turning over a new leaf and had to be professional. Henry was counting on me, and I wasn't going to let him down.

I looked up, but she wasn't looking at me, she was looking at Tally's desk. Why? Her fists were still gripped at her side and she was still trembling. For some odd reason, I wanted to just say screw the guy and hold her until she stopped shaking.

The others came up behind me to help, so I let go and they grabbed each of his arms, helping him up.

"Escort him out." I nudged my head, and they took him away, but not without him yelling a couple of curse words. I took a step toward her still body.

"Oh my gosh, that was so horrible!" Tally came out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around Daze. Her eyes flew open from whatever trance she was in and she almost tripped, but I placed out my hand and held her back. She straightened out as Tally continued to cry on her shoulder. No one even noticed I was there.

"Uh... you okay?" Daze awkwardly gave her a tap on the back. Oh geez, her voice was confused, but it was a sweet sound to my ears. Made me wonder how she would sound if she were on my bed, under... Okay, snap out of it, Bullet!

She pulled and started talking fast. The other girls came around and started congratulating her on her heroics. I started to step away and watched as she looked at them all confusingly, not knowing what to do with all the attention or the praise. I leaned against a wall and crossed my arms and continued to watch.

She had a sense of innocence with a hint of pain and I knew I had to talk to her. To get the courage to, that was another obstacle in and of itself.

I was just getting my life together, so for right now, it would just have to wait.

*

# Chapter 12

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. That all happened? The details he was saying, how he watched me from the first moment I stepped into the gym and helped me with Tally. How could I have not noticed him, I mean I did, but I just thought he was at the gym...

He continued to ramble, "I mean, anyway, yeah, it's weird, I know. I understand if you-"

I didn't know what prompted me or what was driving me. But I couldn't stand it anymore. I leapt up at him, grabbed both his cheeks, pulled him down, and kissed him.

He was shocked at first because I could tell by the stiffness of his lips, but he knew right away what was happening. They quickly relaxed and melded with mine and the fire planted in between us was melting my insides. His arms came around me and wrapped around my back as he pushed our bodies tighter than they could ever be. His lips were so soft and gentle as he moved around; like kissing me was second nature to him.

I opened my mouth slightly to invite him, and he slowly and achingly took it. Moving his tongue into me, so delicately, and almost like he was savoring every little movement and taste. I took my hands off his face and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him closer. I hooked my leg onto his and his hands came around my butt, scooping me up, and soon my legs were wrapped all the way around him. I was very aware of what was happening in his pants.

He let out a small groan, "Daze?"

I couldn't even talk, and I thought I gave a small grunt back as his lips slowly wrapped around mine.

He let out a deeper groan, "Oh geez, Daze." He sounded a little more urgent so that snapped me out of my hypnotized, clouded mind.

I pulled away and I was literally more out of breath than when I box. "Yeah?"

I was looking down at my chest when I felt his forehead lean onto mine. "I don't think this is slow." Well I didn't feel bad--he sounded as out of breath as I was. His voice went a little deeper than normal. "And I'm going tell you now, if we keep this up, I can't be held accountable for my slow actions." I heard him give a small laugh and felt it on my face.

I got the courage to look up, and he was staring straight into me. It was so weird. No other guy had ever just looked at me the way he did. Like he had known me my whole life. Like I was his whole life.

One of his hands came up and cupped my cheek. "I love your eyes," he whispered.

I looked down. "I hate them." Well, there's a slam into reality. I unwrapped my legs from him, and he helped me down, but didn't let me move away from him. He still had his other arm wrapped around me and his head on mine.

"Why?" he asked, curious.

"They..." I swallowed and shut my eyes. "They remind me too much of my mom."

His hand came off my cheek and went to my chin, tilting it up. "Look at me, Daze." I took a second, then opened them, and yes, he was still seeing into me. "You are nothing like her, and your eyes are nothing like hers. They are your own and the most soulful, heartfelt eyes I have ever seen."

He obviously never stared into his, because I could say the same thing about him. They were such a light-brown color, they looked almost golden to me. They were sparkling and had so many emotions flowing through them right then. He leaned down and gave me one more kiss and took another inhale through his nose before he stood straighter.

"So--" he looked over at my couch "--how about watching some TV?"

I nodded. "That sounds good."

He took my hand and walked me over to the couch and sat down. I sat next to him, giving him a little space, but he took his arm, stretched it behind me, then pulled me right next to him, our shoulders pressing together.

I had to laugh. "There's a lot more to you, huh?"

He turned on the TV and started surfing. "What? Other than my death hands and skills of stalking?"

I tucked my legs under me and leaned more into him, "Uh-huh, sure." I couldn't even concentrate what was happening on the TV. A couple more seconds passed, and I felt a small kiss on my head as his fingers skimmed the top of my shoulder.

"What about Bob?" I hated to break our moment, but so many questions were unanswered, and I felt we were both diving into unknown territory.

"Well, I tried to talk to him, but you see how that turned out."

"Bob says he owes them two-hundred-grand, with interest. I told them to come back in a month." I braced myself for him to jump out of his seat, react... anything? But he actually didn't do that.

"Interesting, he doesn't owe that much, so that's good."

And, of course, I reacted by turning to him and sitting up straighter. He looked over at me, calm, like nothing was happening.

I cocked my brow. "You think two-hundred-grand is not a lot?"

"Compared to what other places owe the Exhaults, yeah, not that much." His eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept it on the TV.

"Can we help him?" I asked eagerly.

He gave a small shrug. "I can probably buy us a little more time." He looked over at me as I started to relax again. "Is that all his problems?" I nodded, and he smiled. "Well then good, I can buy us some time. Let me handle it."

Something about how he said that didn't settle with me, so I sat up again. "Bullet?" He looked at me and smiled. "You promise me that you have nothing to do with them? And don't say yes if you don't mean it, promises mean everything to me."

"I promise." He tapped my chin.

"So you're not killing anybody anymore to fix Bob's mistake, right?" He shook his head. "Bullet." I said it more scolding-like, and he just tilted his head. "If this is going to work, I need to know that part of your life is gone and the real Bullet is who I'm with, not the other one."

He turned to me and leaned his forehead onto mine. He was seeing into me again. "I. Promise." I knew he was telling the truth. This is going to work. We were going to help Bob and everything would be great. I heard buzzing and looked over at my purse.

"Be right back." I stood and pulled out my phone.

Can't meet you next Friday, but I can meet you for lunch Monday.

Shit. It was Dean. I looked over at the couch as he continued to surf through the channels. He looked over at me and gave me that heartfelt smile I knew so well.

I didn't know what I was doing. Was I being crazy? Stupid? Probably. But my gut was telling me I didn't need to dig until I needed to. I was going all in with that one. Let's hope for the best.

Can't make that, but it's fine. I'll text you another date, it can wait.

I put my phone away and headed back to the couch and sat back down, taking my leaned position back on his chest. He gave another laugh and wrapped his arm more around me. "You hungry?" I felt his chin lay on top of my head.

"Um... maybe?" I couldn't tell, because my stomach was busy doing tumbles and turns and it wasn't because of food. I had never felt that way about anybody before. It was scary, but it was almost soothing at the same time.

"I can get some take-out." He took his other arm and wrapped it around me, squeezing me like he didn't want to leave. He was reading my mind.

I brought my hands up and held his arms. "Or we can call for a pizza or something."

"You read my mind." He leaned up and pulled his cell out of his pocket. "You like chicken Alfredo, right?" I heard the ringing from his cell.

I looked up at him, and he was smirking at me. "How do you know?" I asked suspiciously.

"I may have overheard at work." He then started ordering on the phone.

I thought back to lunch meetings or special group activities that involved pizza, and I remember, looking through them, I always had a chicken Alfredo and got excited whenever it was there. Was that because of him?

"Extra-large? Or large?" he whispered.

"Large is fine."

And that's what we did that whole day. It started off with the biggest secret that I couldn't believe, but right now, as I watched him take a bit of the pizza and cheese almost sliding onto his lap, him trying to catch and slurp it at the same time. I knew we would get through this. I was crazy, but we could do this. We could at least try.

Monday came, and it was time to get back to work. We did decide to keep it discreet, until we knew what we were doing before we broadcasted it to the world. Plus, he hinted that he needed his reputation to die out, he did have enemies, and he didn't want me in the line of fire, so I understood.

I parked my car and noticed that his silver sedan was right next to my spot. I smiled internally. I made my way into the lobby and saw he was waiting at the front desk, pretending to scan the area. I was actually thankful that I had to dress up for my job. I never cared about how I looked with other guys, but with him, I took the time to actually choose my outfit carefully. This blue pencil skirt was a little tighter than all my others, so it showed my curved hips. I tucked in my white button-up top that had cute little bell sleeves and paired it with black little heels.

He never was usually there... unless I just didn't notice him before. Damn, he looks good in his suit. He had black pants that matched his black vest that made his chest wide but slimming at the same time. He had a light-blue shirt and it popped with a bright yellow tie. I smiled again. His eyes caught mine and he gave the smallest smile with a nod, only one that I would notice. I walked to the elevators, and he started to follow.

"Daze!" Crap. I turned and saw Tally trying to catch up to me in her heels, waving her hand in the air. I stopped at the elevator and pushed the up button.

"Morning, Tally. You're actually on time?" I tried to hide my sarcasm.

She stood next to me. "I know right, I'm such a slack." Her black curls bounced as she talked and moved her head.

"Good morning, ladies." His voice came from behind us.

I turned the same time Tally did and saw her face light up. "Bullet! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" She took a step next to him. I slowly rolled my eyes, and Bullet just smiled.

"Do you ladies mind if I ride with you? I'm actually heading up to your floor." He was looking at Tally, but then his eyes went to me and I could see the sly sparkle in them. I had to smile at his stalking abilities.

"You should be permanently assigned to just our floor!" Tally flirted. Ugh.

He gave a small laugh. "I don't think Henry would appreciate that."

"True." Tally laughed with him.

The elevator dinged, and we got in. I went to the way right and Bullet came in next, taking his spot next to me, and that left Tally at his left. When we stopped at another floor, more people came in and Bullet scooted closer to me, his shoulder touching mine, sending that heat down to my toes. I watched the numbers, trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

Come on, this is torture.

Then I felt his fingers by mine at my side. His finger went into my palm and it drew two lines, then one across. Oh! An 'H'. I was hoping to concentrate on the message and not the slow touch he was giving me. I shifted a little. The next one was a line, then three across, an 'E'. He paused, and I smiled. The next one, he did like a 'V' then a line down. I tried to cover my laugh.

'Hey'.

He then drew slow circles around my palm, and I was almost ready to take him right there in the elevator.

I didn't even know it was our floor, until Tally was getting off and turned to us. "You guys coming?"

Bullet whipped his hand away, and I cleared my throat and quickly walked off with him following behind. I thought I heard him give a small cough, but it sounded like a laugh. Bastard.

"Daze." I stopped and heard Bullet stop behind me.

Tally turned. "Morning, Mr. Sailer!" And then she continued to her desk.

"Morning," he replied, then turned back to me and smiled. When he looked behind me, then back at me, then back at Bullet, it slowly disappeared.

"Morning, Mr. Sailer!" I waved and cleared my throat. I had known him for a while through Dean, so it was sometimes weird to be so formal at work.

"Oh, please, call me Henry." He smiled. He was practically an older version of Dean. He had the bright-blue eyes and blond hair, but it wasn't as long, styled shorter, and spiked a little at the top. He was in his early forties, but he always looked good in a suit and kept up his build.

"Morning, sir," Bullet said behind me.

He looked at Bullet, and his smile wasn't as friendly. "Yes, Bullet, you mind if I see you in my office for a bit. I'll be right there; I need to talk with Daze just for a second."

"Of course, sir." I watched Bullet brush by me and when he walked by Henry, he turned and watched carefully before he turned the corner to where his office was.

"How are you settling in? I hear great things about you," Henry continued.

"Good, I'm glad to be here." I nodded.

"Well, I wish Dean would visit me as much as he visits you," he teased.

"He visits you!" I moved my lips to the side, not believing my own words.

He laughed. "Yeah, right."

I gave a small laugh. "Well, I'll make sure to mention it to him."

"Will you, because you know, I would like to actually see my nephew and give his parents an update on how he's doing." He gave me a pat on the shoulder.

"Sure." I nodded

"And Dem is okay?"

"Yup."

He gave me another pat. "All right, well, better get back to work--" he looked around, then leaned in "--don't want people thinking I have a favorite," he whispered and winked, almost like Dean. "And one more thing?"

"Yes?" I tried to hide my smile.

He looked behind him and then back at me. "Do you know the head of security, Bullet, very well?"

I tried to keep my calmest face possible. "Not really, why?"

He put on another smile. "No reason. Keep up the good work." He turned and headed for his office.

"What was that about?" Tally asked as I passed her desk.

I shrugged. "He was just asking about his nephew."

"Oh, the blond you danced with?" I nodded. "Oh, he is super dreamy, too!" I rolled my eyes and continued to my desk, but not without worrying about what Henry and Bullet were talking about. Since Henry hired him, he knew about his past, probably more than I did.

I glanced at my phone and debated on texting Dean. No, it will be fine. We'll be fine.

# Chapter 13

It was one of our first weekends together, and he had somehow convinced me to work out with him on Sunday.

"Bullet, I can't do this." I watched as he turned on the stereo and went to close the door.

"Yes, you can." He came and towered over me.

I crossed my arms. "I can control myself, you know?" I smirked up at him.

"Ha!" He bellowed as the relaxing music came on. "Now come on, I had anger issues and so do you, so let's work on them together." He stood next to me, but kept me at an arm's length. "Watch the mirror." He pointed forward.

I uncrossed my arms and looked ahead. Damn. I did look short next to him. Was I really that tiny?

"Yes." I looked to him as he put his legs shoulder width apart and bent his knees, holding his arms out in front him. "You are that tiny."

"How did you--" he cocked his brow "--oh never mind!" And I bent my knees like he did.

"Let's do some beginner moves, and remember to breathe." He took one in, and I followed him. "Lift your arms up--" he lifted them in a small, flowing wave, palms facing down and only came up to his shoulders and then continued. "Now as you bring your arms down, breath out." And I heard him as he did it.

I took a deep breath in and lifted them as we did the moves together and then breathed out as I lowered it. We did that about ten times.

"Now bring your arms out and make a circle and meet in the middle." He stretched out his arms around him, raised it up, and made his palms meet in the middle and brought down to his chest, never losing movement as he continued the circle.

I breathed with him and my body actually started to feel relaxed... flowing even. Ignore his muscles and just keep going.

"Now push." He breathed in, took a step forward with one foot and started like he was pushing. He brought his hands up a little and pushed and then waved to the next side and did the same while rocking slightly on his heel.

He was so graceful, I just stopped and watched him move and breathe. His heavy chest lifted, and his eyes were relaxed, but focused. His body looked rock hard, but right then, it was flowing... almost magical.

"You're not doing it." He let out a breath, but he didn't stop.

I shook my head and did his moves, letting my muscles relax, but being in control at the same time.

"Now, comes the stillness." He put his foot back so they were shoulder-width apart again and stretched out his arms to form a small circle. He bent his knees a little and then closed his eyes, breathing in and out.

I mimicked his stance, but I didn't close my eyes, I watched him. He was perfect... absolutely perfect. My eyes wandered around his bare chest and honed in on the scars around him. It was the first time he took off his shirt there in the gym room, although it was a Sunday, so no one was usually there. But to think of the stories behind those scars. The pain he had to go through. What was he doing to get all of those? How did he survive? Oh, there must have been so much blood?

Who took care of him? Randa? I felt my blood boil at her name, so I pushed her out quickly and breathed again. Who did he have? Who visited him in the hospital... if he even went to one? Was he killing someone? Or saving?

I looked over to me and noticed the scar on my shoulder. My scar has a story... a hurtful and etched-in-my mind kind of memory. It was my only one, but he had multiple. Were they all in one? Or were they separate?

"What's wrong?" I jumped at his voice and stood straight out of my stance. Bullet didn't move from his, but those hazel eyes were open and watching me.

How the hell can he be so big, but eerily calm?

I knew we were close, but I didn't know if I should ask. I knew it was a personal question. My eyes went down to his side where his scars were.

His body shifted and he moved his arms in a circle again. "Say what you want." He breathed deep.

"Um... how did those--?" I pointed, but then brought my hands down quickly.

"They have their stories, some good and bad." He lifted one leg up as he held it and then did it with the other. I turned and watched him.

"What are the good ones?" His eyes twitched a little, the first sign he gave that he had some emotion.

After a moment, he answered, "A couple were from saving Randa."

I knew they would be saving. I wasn't surprised. Made me wonder if he would ever take one for me?

"One was saving her dad, Beck." He stopped and spread his legs far apart and brought his hands in, palms facing him where they made an 'x'. He bent his knees and kept on breathing.

"And the bad?" He closed his eyes, and we stayed like that in silence, nothing but the music filling the studio. He didn't answer. I didn't push it.

I took a step closer, and like he felt me, he opened his eyes and looked at me. I took my fingers and ran them through his short hair.

"The past is the past. The future and how you are now is what matters," I whispered. He took a deep breath and slowly stood from his stance, making me arch my neck to look at him.

He placed his hand over my chest. "You are so little to hold such a big heart."

I placed my hand over his and squeezed. "So many scars for someone so perfect."

Our eyes locked and we took the moment.

Absorbed it.

Absorbed each other.

The room was so big, but it was like just the two of us were left in a tight space, with nothing but our breaths to breathe.

He slowly bent down, and when I thought he was going to kiss me, he went over to my shoulder and kissed the scar there. "You're right." He breathed against it, and I closed my eyes, holding back the tears. His arms wrapped around me, and I leaned into him, embracing his warmth as he hugged me tighter.

He gave me one more squeeze and then sighed. "Okay, well, since you're obviously not into Tai Chi." He went over and shut off the music. It was a short moment, but one I will probably never forget.

"No, I like it, but I like watching you more." I smiled, but he just arched his brow. "But really, it did work, I just... need more practice. Baby steps, I guess."

"Okay, well, we have another way to control our tempers, come on." He grabbed my hand and led me to the boxing room. Our room.

"Well, I don't see how this is different, but okay." I started to walk over to my bag when he grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

He shook his head. "No, not there." He walked me over to the open blue matted area to the back. "It's good to punch things, but it's different when you actually have a partner to spar with." He took us to the middle.

"Spar?" Wow. I've never actually done this. "You want me to hit you?" I pointed to him.

He crossed his arms. "Don't worry, I can take a hit." He smirked.

"Oh, I don't doubt that." I gave a small laugh.

"Are you scared of me?" He tilted his head slightly.

Yes. "No." I cleared my throat.

"Look, I'm not going to go full-force on you, because obviously, I could just break you." He pointed up and down my body. "I already know you can handle yourself, but it's about having control and defending yourself properly, especially from someone tw--" his eyes roamed me again as he paused "--three times your size."

I rolled my eyes.

"Now, we'll start off slow, get you used to it." He got in his boxing stance, and so did I. "Now, I'm going to throw three jabs at you, and you're going to block, okay?"

I nodded. His fists went flying at my arm as I held it up, the first two weren't bad, but the last one stung hard on my forearm, but I took it.

"Did that hurt?"

Yes. "No."

His eyes flinched like he knew I was lying. "Again." When he punched, he took in breaths through his nose and let out three sharp grunts. It took my mind somewhere else in the bedroom... until the three hits stung so hard on my arms, but I gritted my teeth and took it. "Did that hurt?"

Fuck yes. "No."

He let out a big sigh and put his arms down as he stood straight. "Listen, the thing about sparring, it's about control and trust." I swallowed. "If you aren't honest with each other, it's not safe for either of you. Sparring is a relationship. You have to be honest, and I know those hits hurt, because even though I was holding back, I know my force and I wasn't gentle."

Nothing like being caught in my own lies. "Okay, fine." I sighed.

He got back in his stance and threw the same hits at me again. "Now, did that hurt?" He watched me and was staring me down.

"Yes." I sighed.

"Good." He threw some again. "That?"

"Not so bad."

"Okay, good, see, gives me a good place to start with." He threw more, and I continued to block. "Now, my leg is going to come up to your side after my jabs, I want you to block it." I nodded. He threw it and then I moved my arms to block the kick, but his leg was hard and threw me a couple of steps to the side.

"Was that hard?" He lifted his brow as I took my place back across from him, rubbing my forearms.

Fuck yeah! "Yes!"

He smirked. "Good, okay, again." And he did it again--that time his kick was less forced and I was able to stay put and watch his thick leg come up and then slowly back down. His calf muscle was twice the size of my own and the muscles were so controlled... I had to tear my eyes away from it.

"Again!" And he went fast that time. I blocked, but was too late on the kick, so he kicked me down on the side.

I expected him to come running, but he didn't. When I peeled my body off the mat, he was standing and waiting.

I was mad.

"Okay, again!" I stomped over to him, and the amusement glittering in his eyes just made me even more pissed. He did it again, faster, but that time I was ready, and when I blocked his kick, I looked down at his feet and ducked and threw my leg out to trip him.

He was fast and jumped up at the last minute. I got back up and threw more punches at him. He blocked each one and then swooped to the side and was then behind me. He pushed me on my back, making me stumble forward and I just got even madder.

My shoulders started to shake, and I turned and lunged at him again.

"This is for control, Daze. Control," he yelled, but I was getting madder by the second. He said for me to utilize my speed, so as he tried to throw a punch, I side-stepped and jabbed him in the side. He tilted slightly and that was when I ducked again and swept my feet under him, his body falling with a hard thud.

I took my ankle and lifted it, about to throw it on his chest, when I remembered what was happening. I stopped and took a couple of steps back.

"Shit," I panted and went to the wall throwing my palms on it, leaning as I pointed my head down toward the ground. I closed my eyes and got my breathing under control.

In. Out. In. Out.

"When we practice more, you'll get used to it." His warm hand came around my waist, and I felt his head rest on mine. "Breathe, Daze. Breathe." His head lowered to my back, like he was listening. I took another breath. "That's it," he said quietly behind me. I closed my eyes. "Everything will be okay, Daze. Everything."

And somehow, I believed him.

# Chapter 14

The rest of the week went by pretty quickly. There was a big case Henry was working on, so we had a lot to type up for them. I didn't see Bullet after that, and he wasn't at the gym either. He had texted me a couple of times, saying he was busy, but that he missed me. I would text him back to be careful and that I missed him too.

But sometimes, late at night, I would stay awake, wondering what he was really doing. Even though his secret was out, I still didn't know that much about him. How he became how he was and how he got... if he was out. It kept bothering me in my head and I was so close to calling Dean, but I decided if I wanted to hear all about it, I would want to hear it from Bullet.

Another week passed, and I was starting to get worried. I still hadn't seen him and it was getting harder to concentrate on my work. Plus, the months' time was going to be up soon for Bob and I hadn't heard anything about it from Bullet. I checked in on Bob every other day, and he said he was doing fine, so that gave me some relief.

It was Friday night and again, I was having trouble sleeping. My phone buzzed, so I sat up and brought it over my head. It was Bullet!

Bought more time for Bob, got another month, You up?

I jumped up and down in my chest and I couldn't help the big smile I had as I texted him back.

Wow! That's great! Yes, I'm up, why?

Hungry? TV?

I glanced at the clock, it was one in the morning, but I didn't care, any reason to see him.

Yes!

I heard some knocks from my front door. What the-- My phone buzzed.

Good, because I'm already here with Chinese!

What? I leapt out of bed and ran out of my room and flew open the door. There he was, standing with plastic bags in his hand, dark jeans, and a blue t-shirt. His big grin quickly fell, and something in his eyes went dark.

"What?" I asked.

"Do you answer the door like that all the time?" His eyes pointed to my body.

Shit. I was in nothing but my red camisole and shorts. I suddenly wrapped my arms around myself. "Well, yeah, when you come knocking on my door at one in the morning!"

I stepped back as he came in and closed the door. He went up to me and leaned down. "I'm not complaining." Then his lips brushed mine, and I pushed into him to deepen the gentle kiss he was trying to give. I hadn't seen or felt him in two weeks, and I had never missed someone as much as him.

He laughed against me, and I felt his arms wrap around me, the takeout warm against my back. "Did you miss me?" He gave me one more kiss and pulled away.

I smiled and nodded, trying to hide the rush to my cheeks. He kissed each one before pulling away, leaving those warm tingles. I looked back at him as he stepped around me to place the food on the table and when he went into the light, I noticed his face.

"Whoa." I ran to him and held his chin. He tried to move it and didn't make eye contact with me, but I kept my fingers firm on him. He had faint bruises on his cheek and around his eye, even a cut near his hairline, if some of his hair wasn't covering it.

"Don't worry about it." He took his hand and held the one on his chin. He still wasn't looking at me.

"Bullet. What happ--" My eyes grew bigger, and I started to feel my shoulders shake "What did you do?" I snatched my hand from his and took a step back.

"Daze, hang on, relax." He put the food down and turned to me, his hands reaching for me.

"No! What happened?" I'm not stupid, and I refuse to let him think that he can lie straight to my face. "Is this where you have been? Why you've been avoiding me? Are you back with them? You promised!"

Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump.

I hadn't felt so pissed off in a while, and it was coming back full-force.

"Daze." He was using that gentle voice I loved, but was hating right then.

"Don't screw with me, Bullet." My fists were shaking at my sides.

"Daze, I haven't killed anybody. I would never break a promise to you, please let me explain, I didn't want to anger you."

I crossed my arms. "Too late," I seethed through my mouth. "You have one minute to explain before I kick you out."

"The truth?" He took another step to me, but didn't touch me. I nodded. "I had to do some favors, not killing favors," he corrected quickly. "Just some scare tactics, to get Bob's extension."

Once he said that, guilt started to fill with my anger. Damn it. He got beat up for Bob? For me?

"Breathe, cutie."

I widened my eyes a little as his hand came up to my shoulder and started rubbing it, its trembling already relaxing under his touch.

"Cutie?" My lip twitched.

He took his other hand and went to my other shoulder. "What? Don't like it?"

I wasn't big on when others had tried to do that, honey, babe, and sweetheart, but I never liked them. Dean was the only one who I somehow tolerated with a nickname, and only because I did like to eat pudding. But somehow, with Bullet, how he stared at me, how he was rubbing my arms, and how it naturally came out of his mouth... I actually liked it.

"I am not cute." I tried to hold in my smile.

He let out a laugh and wrapped his arms around me. "Oh, yes you are, super cute when you're mad."

"Ha! I'd like you to say that to Dem, he will look at you like you're crazy."

He leaned down and gave a kiss on my forehead. "Forgive me?"

I sighed. "What did you have to do? And this was just for Bob?"

"Don't worry about it." That was starting to become his go-to phrase with me.

"Bullet," I scolded.

"Daze." He angled my chin to look up at him. He leaned his forehead down and continued to stare at me with those golden eyes, like I was the only thing in the room. "I would do anything for you. Please trust me."

I felt the lump in my throat. "That's what worries me." It came out as a whisper.

"Okay, let me rephrase, I'll do anything for you, as long as I can still be with you?" He gave a small tilt, like he didn't know what he was saying.

"You are ridiculous!" I stood on my tip-toes and gave him a small kiss on his lips.

"I am also starving." He gave me another kiss, and then pulled me to the table.

"But this is it? No more?" I asked before I followed.

"For right now, yes."

I didn't like how he said it, but I didn't want to spend all night arguing.

We ended up eating all the food and fell asleep on the couch watching some old horror movie, because nothing good was on at that hour. I woke up in my bed, the covers tucked around me, but no Bullet in sight. He did leave a note.

You are also a cutie when you sleep. Will call this weekend. Sleep tight.

I was a little disappointed he didn't stay, but again, was worried on what he was doing. I sent him a quick text to give me a call when he can.

I heard a knock on my door and smiled. That had to be him. I jumped out and opened the door, but then was knocked down, something hard hitting me in the chest as I slid against the floor.

"What the hell?" I groaned and slowly sat up, finding Randa standing across from me, with two other guys next to her. She walked up to me then squatted down in her leather skirt and top. Her red-streaked hair on one side of her shoulder.

Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump.

I hated being on the ground, and I hated her towering over me. I wanted to grab her face and smash it in, but I kept my fists planted on the floor, aware of the other two behind her.

"Who do you think you are?" She demanded. I bit my lip. "You think you can have our top hit-man just go dim-wit eyes over you?"

"Jealous?" I quirked my lip.

SMACK.

It came hard on my face, and I had no control, I leapt at her and tackled her to the ground, trying to punch her like my bag, but she was good at protecting her face and I wasn't on her long. Big hands grabbed my arms and threw me again across the room. I rolled a couple of times and then slowly sat up.

"Here's what's going to happen." She stood over me again, but I kept my eyes on the floor, afraid I was going to lunge at her again. "You are going to break off whatever the hell you have with him, or I'm going to make sure he ends up at Exhaults again, and this time, he won't be able to get out. Do you get what I'm saying?" She tapped her black boot one time on the floor.

I didn't respond. The sweat was building on my head and back and my heart was going to separate from my body. My vision started to blur. Shit. Shit. I was going to pass out. I knew this feeling very well.

"Yes," I breathed. Oh, please leave already. Oh my head is throbbing!

"Good, because I don't want to make another visit." I heard her footsteps walking away. When I lifted my head, the blurs were gone and blackness crept at the corners of my eyes.

I felt the cold floor against my cheek.

Blackness.

Grunts. SMACK.

No. No. Please. I opened my eyes and was back in my old room. In her house. I ran out and went toward the living room, expecting to find Dem on the ground, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Bullet, hands up, and Randa standing above him. She looked back at me, and her red lips lifted up in an evil grin as she lifted up her fist and drove down on him.

"NO!"

"Sedate her! Stop her! Get security!" Different, strange voices sounded around me.

"Don't touch her! She'll wake up!" Dem. It was Dem.

My vision became clear and there were a ton of nurses around me, their hands held out to me.

Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump.

I looked in my hands, and I had one of those silver long poles. Blood was dripping down my arm, and it was splattered all over the floor.

"Daze? Daze!" I looked up and found Dem the closest to me, he had blood around his grey t-shirt and jeans.

My chest and head were throbbing again, and my arm was lanced with a sharp pain. I covered it on instinct. "Dem?"

"It's okay, Daze. I'm here." But I wasn't worried about him. Where is Bullet? I scanned the area, and he was nowhere around. I needed to see him, but Randa's threat was fresh in my mind. Dem was talking, but I couldn't hear what he was saying, a loud, piercing ring vibrated in my ears.

"Dem?" I whispered. He came up and wrapped an arm around me, helping me stand.

"Get her a sedative, now!" Another nurse came up and stuck me.

Dem's green eyes got blurry. "I'm here, Daze. I'm here."

The whole room started to spin, and I saw black again.

I woke up in the hospital again, no episodes that time. The doctors double checked me and finally released me. I'd been out of work for a week while they ran every known possible test. Tally and the others visited and Dem stayed as long as he could, but had to leave for classes. He had borrowed Dean's car, so he was able to head back, which I had to force him to so he didn't get behind.

He said Bullet had found me and brought me there, calling him immediately. If it wasn't for him, I probably would have been in big trouble.

But Bullet hadn't stopped by or called me. And that made me worry even more. Did he know about Randa's visit? Do I tell him? Do I do what she says? Or do I say screw her?

I'd been sitting outside of Bullet's house for the past fifteen minutes in my car, debating on if he even still wanted me.

I sucked in a breath and got out and rang his doorbell.

He answered, and his face fell completely still--not the reaction I was hoping for. He poked his head out the door and looked around me, then grabbed my arm and pulled me in, closing it shut.

"What are you doing here?" He was looking out the peep hole.

"I don't know, wondering why you saved me and never came to visit." I crossed my arms. It looked like he came from working out or something, because he was in a white tank and black sweats.

"You can't be here." He turned and couldn't even look at me. His damn hazel eyes were concentrated to his living room to the left. I opened my mouth, but he continued, "I know why you ended up passed out, when I found out, it was too late. I shouldn't have left you and when I ran up your stairs and found you on the ground--" his shoulders tensed twenty times more and his hands balled into fists at his side "--I knew what she did, and I'm not endangering you anymore." He gave one shake and looked at the ground.

"So, you're going to listen to Randa, possibly ruining the greatest thing that could happen to either of us?" I argued.

"I am not having you die for it!" He raised his voice, and he almost sounded like he was growling.

I took a step closer and lifted out my arms. "Then what's the point?" He paused and his eyes flinched. "What's the point of living, if you're always going to listen to someone else about your life?"

# Chapter 15

I had stormed out of there and we hadn't spoken since. It had been another two weeks, and I hadn't seen him around the office or the gym.

"You ready?" Tally walked by and stopped.

"Huh?"

"For the fundraising event? Oh come on, it's all that the firm has been talking about." She sat down on my desk again.

"Oh, right. When is that?" I had forgotten about our annual event. It was a big thing between our local law firms. We raised money by having a tournament against the others. People bought tickets and the proceeds went to local charity organizations. It was the one big thing of the year, and I had missed the previous two, but promised Henry I wouldn't miss this year. Plus, Tally would always tell me awesome stories that would happen during the contests and the gossip with the other firms, and it sounded really fun in general. My mind had been too pre-occupied with Bullet, but maybe that would help.

"Bullet's team is usually one of the top contenders. I hope he'll be there; I haven't seen him up here in a while." And there it went, smacking me in the face again. She stood and looked around.

"Does he come here often?" I asked. Had I really not noticed him these past years?

"Hello? Where have you been, yes, for the past two or three years, he comes up here twice a day." She waved her arm around. "But recently, he hasn't. Maybe they changed his shift? But I thought him being the boss, made him free to patrol anywhere?" She placed her finger on her chin. "But why here? Most of the big guys are way at the top." She shrugged, "Ah, what do I know?" She started to walk back to her desk. "But don't forget, bright and early tomorrow!"

Yeah. He had stalked me this whole time, and I was just an idiot. I couldn't believe after all that, I get one visit from Randa and he just gives up?

The tournament should be good for me, keep my mind off of him. Fine, if he wants to be a quitter, let him be!

The next morning came, and I made sure to rest up. I put on my dark-green capri pants and my comfortable, flexible, green tank top. It held my chest in well and it had a cute 'X' on the back too, accenting my shoulder blades. At the curve of my waist, it had a purple smoothness to it, making it breathable. Luckily, it was our team's color. I tied up my hair at the top of my head and made sure to pick up all my loose strands, so it didn't get in my face.

Tally had said these things could get intense, like military contests, so I made sure to load up on some carbs. Tally offered to carpool with me and some other girls, but I declined it. I like to have my own escape and not depend on others. Especially if I needed to leave by seeing Bullet. I had underestimated the time it took to drive out to the middle of nowhere and park so I was already ten minutes late.

I jumped out of my car and bypassed all the other people who were coming to watch. It was like a mini-fair. There were food vendors, small games, and a couple of small rides. I ran toward the activities area and found my group that had the bright green. It was a huge plot of land that one of the other firms owned, so we could convert it into whatever contests we wanted. A ranch wasn't far away, either. There were four other colors, we were green, then there was blue, red, yellow, and orange.

I could already tell the courses were going to be sick. There was a tug of war station and a big trench in the ground. A wall with ropes to climb up, wires you crawled under in the mud, a food station, and a lot more that I couldn't see in the distance.

Tally's blond head popped up from the other bodies. "Daze! Where have you been?"

"Sorry," I panted from my jog.

"It's okay, we're all still warming up anyway, well, we were done a minute or so ago, now we're just watching the guys." Tally pointed, and over in another green huddle were the guys of our firm, including Henry, the other lawyers, and most of Bullet's security team. It didn't take me long to spot him, because he was one of the biggest. His tight green tank trimmed over his body in all the right places. His chest poked out from it, and you could see the dip in his waist. The black shorts came just below his knee, so you could see the bulky outline of his calves as he stretched out one leg.

"Oh, yes, stretch that, buddy," one of the girls whispered. They all laughed.

"But there's lots of other goodies around too." The other girls looked around at the other players, but I was too glued on Bullet. I had missed him... a lot. And I hated how he was acting and how easily she got her way.

Bullet sensed me staring, because he looked up from the ground and scanned the girls until his eyes stopped on mine. He was kind of unreadable, but he didn't look mad, maybe content? Maybe he was happy not to have me?

One side of his lip lifted, and he gave a small nod.

"Oh, oh, that one. He is too cute. Oh, is he a new one? I think he is!" Tally was squealing with the other girls.

Bullet's eyes shifted near me, and he stood straighter, his content face turning into a hard scowl. I looked to the side, and suddenly the girls sighed and started to shush each other.

He was walking in a bright yellow tank that had in big black bold letters 'W & S Law'. It had the long skinny straps and showed some of his chest at the top. His blonde hair was shorter than I remembered, but he still did little spikes at the front. Those blue eyes were set on me, and his white smile practically matched the brightness of the sun.

He lifted and waved when he stopped a couple of feet from me and the other girls. "Hey, Daze."

I could feel the daggers of all the girls around me. I cleared my throat and shifted. "Hey, Callum." When we broke up four years ago, he was almost done with law school, so I guessed he had gotten a new job at one of the other firms. I had never really gotten how or why a guy like Callum even went out with me. He was the perfect picture of a man. Not as big as Bullet, but not lacking, either. He had a body that could satisfy any woman. He had a great family and a great heart. But somehow, not enough to be with my screwed-up one.

"It's been a while. I didn't know you worked for Sailer." He shifted and pointed at me. "You look great." His eyes roamed like how I remembered they used to.

"Daze, aren't you going to introduce us?" Tally grabbed my arm, throwing off my thoughts. The other girls murmured in agreement.

"Um... Callum, this is Tally and my team. Girls, this is Callum, we used to..." I had to swallow hard. "Date."

He looked at all of them and waved, flashing that perfect smile. The girls started chattering around me, but all I could do was stare. He was the one I let go. The one who I thought could have tolerated me, but something was off that didn't quite fit, so I ended it. The memories were so clear; I couldn't help but feel relieved that I got to see him again.

"Excuse me, ladies, but I was hoping to have a word with Daze before the events start." He came beside me and put his hand on my back, just like he used to. He guided me away, and when he did, I caught Bullet out of the corner of my eye. He was talking with the other guys, but his eyes were straight on me, moving with our steps. We stopped, and I still had him in my peripheral. I shifted so I didn't have to see him right then.

"How have you been?" Callum whispered.

"Good. Great. You?" I said that a little too fast.

He gave a small laugh. "Good, thanks. You seem different?" He tilted his head and brought a hand to my cheek, brushing it lightly. I waited for the sparks he would give me, but I actually felt nothing from his touch.

"I'm...happy, I guess."

"I'm glad." He smiled. "Listen--"

"Daze." My shoulders stiffened. Oh no. This is not happening. I turned and Bullet was somehow next to me, glaring at Callum. "Can I have a word with you?"

"Who's this?" I could feel something change in the air, and I was in the damn middle of it. Something was coming off of those two, and it was making the air crispy. Callum was not happy any longer; I could tell by how his angelic faced turned quickly into his devil look, glaring back at Bullet.

"Um... Callum, this is Bullet, he's head of security at our firm. Bullet, this is Callum--"

"Ex-boyfriend," Callum finished for me as he held out his hand.

I frowned. "Thanks."

"Oh, ex? Good to know." Bullet said it in a happy, sarcastic tone. They shook and stood there. I watched their fingers close in on each other's hand tighter... and tighter. Their glares not moving from each other's eyes.

"Hey now, Callum, don't you be hoarding my teammates." Henry came up next to us, then his grin started to slip when neither of them answered. "Problem, boys?" He looked to me, and he was not stupid.

"No, of course. Just having a friendly chat." Callum was the first to let go.

Bullet brought his fisted hand to the side. "I think he wanted to check out the competition."

I started to choke on air.

"Yes, well, it seems it's not much." Callum used his sass.

"Oh, I beg to differ, we are a great team!" Henry seemed clueless as to what they were really talking about.

"You probably haven't seen it all? It's probably better than yours." Bullet gave a smirk back.

"Okay!" I threw my hands in the air and pushed back on Bullet's chest. "We have to go back and prep for our team. We'll talk later, Callum." I waved, but he was still glaring at Bullet.

"You can count on it," he said back.

"That boy has potential; I've heard he's doing good things at WS." Henry walked beside us, totally oblivious to the fuming Bullet beside me.

We didn't get a chance to talk because we immediately got pulled into a team briefing, then the game started and somehow, at every turn, Bullet and Callum were against each other. I don't know if fate had a messed up sense of humor, or they were both planning it together.

In the relay race with the batons, once each of them got it in their hands, they ran three times as fast as anyone and they looked like they were on steroids or something. When they climbed the walls with the ropes, they were neck and neck and didn't slow down at all. And when they had the dart contest, you would think they were throwing it at a bullseye of their faces.

"Man, Bullet and Callum are super intense, right?" Tally also seemed to point it out to me every chance she got.

I shrugged. "I don't know; they just want to keep up with their team." I did not want to feed into her truth.

It was the final contest, and it was down to our team and WS. The game was... tug-of-war. We all spread around the long rope. Tally was in front of me and somehow, Bullet was behind me.

"Having fun?" he whispered down to me as I watched Callum eye us as he took his spot on the other side, near the front.

"Oh, not as much as you guys," I scoffed.

"What are you talking about?" He really could have fooled anyone, except me.

"Don't screw with me! You're the one who left!" I tried to keep my voice down while Tally trash-talked with the other team.

"I didn't leave you; I'm protecting you," he seethed back.

"Okay, keep telling yourself that."

And the referee yelled, "Go!"

And the rope below my fingers tugged. I planted my feet into the ground and leaned way back, pulling. I was well aware of the heat radiating off of Bullet behind me. He didn't even sound like he was winded while I was grunting like mad.

"You don't know what can happen," he grunted. "I still care about you." He pulled hard, and I felt the rope in our favor.

I put one hand in front of the other and pulled again, leaning back. "Some way of showing it!"

"Damn it, Daze. Can't you see, you matter more to--" he paused and grunted "--I will do anything to keep you safe!" He gave another tug, and we all fell back, Tally on my legs, and me in Bullet's warm lap. I shifted to help myself up, but then found his warm arms around me.

He took a deep inhale in my hair. "I've missed you so much. I care about you. Don't ever forget or doubt that. Ever." He sounded so pained... profound... maybe even truthful? I wanted to lunge deeper into his arms and kiss him right then and there. But he never gave me the chance. His arms left me and he was standing away from me.

"That was awesome!" Tally squirmed near me, and I saw her hand at my face. "We totally won!" She pumped her other fist in the air. I took her hand, and she helped me up. I looked around, but Bullet wasn't there; he was getting pulled away with the other guys as they jumped up in the air. I looked across and the bright yellow tanks were dusting themselves off from the ground.

"And the winner is Sailer!" the referee announced and the crowd cheered in the distance.

"Good game, you guys." Callum came up next to us.

"You too, Callum!" Tally smiled, but it didn't seem to be in the normal flirty way she did with all the others.

"Daze, you mind if we talk a little?" He pointed behind him.

"Sure, we'll meet you at the victory tent in a few." Tally pushed my shoulder and I was off, walking with him. I looked over my shoulder and Tally wrapped an arm around Bullet and laughed. He looked at her, then searched behind her and saw me. His smile went to a frown.

"So..." Callum pulled me back to him. "I don't know if you know this, but you need to stay away from that Bullet guy." I was about to argue, but he continued. "I've heard rumors about him from other firms. They think Mr. Sailer is crazy for having him there, and they can't figure out why. He's a killer, Daze, I don't want you near him."

My fists started to shake at my side. "Number one, you can't just come back in my life and spout out orders. Number two, I work there, Callum, I'm not quitting my job because of a rumor, and number three--" I moved from his side and held out my finger, jabbing it in his face "--we're not together anymore. You have no say on who's in my life and who's not!"

"I wasn't a part of that decision," he spat back as he took a step to me, making me take one back. "You-you totally shut me out. And for no reason, Daze! I loved you, and you practically ran the other direction!"

I did. I knew I did. When he said those words and kept saying it. I couldn't be with him anymore. He started to take it out on everyone around him and I saw how angry I was making him... How different he was becoming. It wasn't fair to him.

"Everything okay?" Bullet came up next to us, and I immediately felt a pull to him.

"Yes. We're done." I turned, but Callum grabbed my wrist.

"No, we never were," he whispered, but I couldn't look at him.

"I think she just said you're done, so I suggest you get your hands off of her." He had the eerie quiet growl to his voice again, but Callum didn't let go.

"Callum." I placed my hands on his that were holding my wrist, but I couldn't look at him. I heard a heavy sigh from him and his fingers let go, but not without giving mine a small squeeze.

"Maybe we can get some pizza or something later, talk over chicken Alfredo?" Callum offered.

I quickly looked up at Bullet, and his jaw was twitching as his lips stayed in a hard line. His leg shifted toward me, but then stopped and went back.

"Not right now, Callum." I let out a deep breath and walked to Bullet. That was what I was doing. I didn't know how or why, but I chose him. Somehow, I think he knew it too, because he looked down at me and smiled. I smiled back, and he gave me the warm feeling I had been missing.

# Chapter 16

Bullet stayed near me throughout the whole event. Well, our team stuck together, got food and drinks, but he specifically stayed by my side, and not obvious, either. Tally was somehow keeping security with us and the girls, so wherever they went, they followed. We didn't talk directly to each other but did with the whole group. And when we would sit next to each other, his hand would come on top of my thigh, stroking me slowly, and he made me feel like we were never apart.

The next week started to get better, almost the same. Bullet was back patrolling our floor like he normally would, watching me as I worked. I would glance up from my computer screen, staring at him from across the room. He would be looking at papers or talking with a co-worker, but every time I would look at him, he would know, and he would stare back and then give his small, corner-lift smile.

"How are you?" Tally planted her little butt on my desk again.

"Fine, Tally. Why?" I continued typing.

"Well, seeing an ex, that must have been hard?" She actually sounded sincere, so I stopped typing and looked up at her. She had her hands folded in her lap with her brown skirt and her eyes were soft.

"Callum is... complicated." I shifted in my seat.

"Well, if you need to talk, I'm here." She placed a hand on mine that was still on the keyboard.

Even though she annoyed me sometimes, she was still the closest thing I had to a best friend. "Thanks, Tally." I smiled.

"But hey, us girls and security are going out tonight, since we bonded so well last week. You're coming." Why did she bother to ask me, if that's what that was?

I thought of Bullet immediately. "Everyone?" I cleared my throat, trying not to be obvious.

"Yeah, I think so, I think Bullet is. I think he's coming to this floor to watch me." She gave a small clap with her hands.

I did nothing but roll my eyes and continued typing. Well there she went, back to her normal self.

We all met up at Blind Night. By the time I got there, they had two big tables pushed together and they were all talking. I had hoped my dress wasn't too tight or sparkly. Again, Tally roped me into buying it and said it was perfect. It was black and curved around me. It had a kind of toga effect, where there was only one strap from my right shoulder, then it dipped down under my left arm. It also had a big dip behind, so half of my back showed. She suggested heels, but instead, I wore some nude flats. I at least had to have my feet comfortable.

Bullet was next to Tally, but he was busy rolling his beer bottle on the table when I approached. His eyes lifted up to me, and he immediately brightened, not looking so bored like he had ten seconds before. Then his eyes roamed up and down me, and something dark changed in them, making me squirm. He wasn't even touching me, but his look alone was leaving trails wherever he stared.

"Helloooo," one of the guys yelled, followed by a wolf whistle.

"I told you it would look amazing!" Tally squealed from the table along with other comments. There weren't any free chairs, not until one of the security guys, a young, brown-haired one, grabbed a chair and set it next to him. I didn't want to be rude, so I nodded and sat down. I looked down the table, and he was so far, there was no way we could talk to each other. Bullet leaned down and said something to Tally, then got up and headed toward me. I watched as he sauntered his way over. He looked just as good with his light-blue-colored shirt and dark jeans.

He leaned next to me, interrupting what the young guy was saying. I didn't even hear him talk. He whispered something to him and they both smiled and he gave him a tap on his shoulder. He stopped talking to me and started talking to the other guys.

"May I have this dance?" He held out his palm.

I swallowed and took his hand as he led his way to the dance floor. He wrapped an arm around my waist as I laid one on his chest, then took my other hand into his as he slowly swayed us back and forth.

"You look stunning tonight," he leaned and whispered into my ear.

"Thanks, you too," I yelled back at him over the music. Not as slick as he was. He let out a laugh, which made me laugh at the same time.

The music changed, and it was suddenly pumping through the dance floor. He twirled me and then started dancing with the beat.

"Go, Daze!" Tally came up behind me and soon, our team surrounded us, yelling and cheering.

I looked up at Bullet, and he winked, tapping my chin. I smiled back and let the music take over as we all danced the night away.

"Bullet, you have a ride?" Tally asked as she got into a car with other girls.

"No, but I was going to ask Daze if she could give me a lift." He looked to me and smiled.

"Uh..." I looked at Tally, and she was giving me the eye that I better do it. "Sure."

"Okay, drive safe, you guys! See you Monday!" She got in and they drove off.

"I hope you don't mind." Bullet laced his fingers with mine.

I couldn't help but smile back. "I don't." I squeezed his hand and he did the same with mine.

"Well, well--" Bullet froze at her voice and turned, placing me behind him. "What have we here?" I looked around Bullet's shoulder and there Randa stood, in a deep-red, barely-there, tight mini-dress. She had another girl with her and three other guys behind them.

"It was a co-worker event, Randa. Relax." It sounded like a threat, though, coming from Bullet.

She lifted her brow. "Huh, sure it is." She looked down at me and then back at Bullet and narrowed her eyes. "I hope you didn't forget what we talked about."

Huh? What? What they talked about?

"I get it, Randa. Back off," he growled.

"Just giving a reminder." She turned and then gave me a scowl before all of them walked off.

"A reminder of what?" I pulled Bullet to face me. His body turned, but his gaze was still watching them walk away. "Bullet."

He slowly looked down at me, and his deep scowl turned soft. "Reminder that they're everywhere and can hurt you." He placed his hand on my cheek, and I leaned into it.

He was about to let go, but I took my hand and held it there. "Don't go," I whispered. "Please don't run away."

He shut his eyes and took a couple of breaths. "Well, I still need a ride." His thumb skimmed my cheek. He looked behind him one more time before we went to my car.

The car ride was silent and he kept his gaze out the window, deep in thought.

"Want to come in for some tea?" he asked. He had stopped halfway from walking away from my car, then jogged back and tapped on my window.

I smiled and shut off my engine.

He started the tea kettle and put out two mugs--one was my favorite, the white with the rooster.

"She told you to stay away from me, didn't she?" I was on the barstool, and he was on the other side of the island.

He looked on the table and not in my eyes. "That's why you were in the hospital; she set an example that she could do what she threatened."

"That's why you didn't visit me?" I whispered. He gave a small lift of his shoulder. "Why would you let her control you?"

He gave a scoff and crossed his arms. "You don't know my life, Daze."

"I'm trying to." I stepped off the barstool and went in front of him. "Someone once asked me if I could help him work for a better future." I placed my hand on his cheek, and he finally looked at me as his brows raised. "How can I help him, if he doesn't help me, either?"

He took a deep inhale and then his arms uncrossed and quickly wrapped around me, his lips crashing down on mine. I wrapped my arms quickly around him, and he lifted me up on the island, the tea kettle hissing into the background as he continued to kiss me, deeply and urgently. He let off from my face for a second as he turned off the oven and moved the kettle over, then came back and started kissing me all over.

His hands roamed all along me, slowly driving me to the edge along with his soft lips. All our feelings of being away from each other were being slammed into this one moment. I needed him as much as he needed me, and I didn't want to let go. He let off my lips and kissed my cheek and then made his way down my neck. I lifted it and gave him more access as he went down to my right shoulder, pushing off the strap with his fingers. His kiss stopped at the top and hovered over the scar.

I quickly wanted to recoil, but he held me tighter with his other arm around my back. He lifted his lips off, and I could feel his warm breath. He took his finger and traced it over the raised area of my scar. I shut my eyes, blocking out the memory.

"I will take away your pain." He kissed it. "Nothing will ever harm you again." He kissed it again, and it was like he was healing it with his touch. "I will protect you." He gave it another kiss then trailed back up my neck and onto my mouth. I opened it wide for him as a groan left my throat. He picked me up from the island and I wrapped my legs around his hips. He started walking, without ever leaving my lips against his.

We somehow made it into his room, and he set me down on my back. He lifted and threw off his shirt, but before he could come back down, I pushed on his chest to stop him. I slowly sat on my knees on the bed as he stood in front of me, bare chested. I went to his left shoulder and touched the small scars. He made a small hiss, and I looked up at him. His eyes were shut, and I knew that feeling. The feeling of running away and not letting them in to see the real you.

I leaned down and kissed it. His stiff body started to relax again. I skimmed down the hard planes and found the ones at his side and kissed each one. I went to his other side and kissed those also. He took a deep breath with each one.

Before I kissed the last one, I took a deep breath. "Nothing will hurt you again. I'm your future." Then I kissed it. He gave a deep groan, and I was on my back again, his lips on mine. Kissing me like he never wanted to let go, and I didn't want him to.

He held onto me like he never would.

When I woke up, I felt warm all over, and his deep breath and snore was like music to my ears. The sun was peeking through his curtains, and his face was lit by it, his mouth slightly open as he breathed. I was on my stomach and his heavy arm was over my back while his leg hooked around me. I could get used to waking up like that every morning.

I scooted closer to where my face was right by his mouth. He had a little morning breath, but it was a part of him, and I didn't mind. I gave him a small kiss and he gave a couple of smacks. I gave him another and that time he didn't let go and moved into me.

He released a deep groan. "Mmmm... I must be dreaming again." His arm wrapped tighter around me as he continued to kiss me.

"What would you do in a dream?" I whispered to him, and he gave another groan.

"Oh, you asked for it." He started to kiss me down my neck, by my chest, slowly down my abs... and yes, he showed me exactly what he would do, and I forgot if it was my dream or his.

And the whole weekend became a mix of our dreams, mixed with a little food, TV, then more of our "dreams"--it was perfect.

When I got into work the next morning, Bullet was at the front again, but that time, he went straight for me and grabbed my waist to give a deep kiss right there.

I cleared my throat and looked at everyone around and some weren't even paying attention to us, yet some were staring with ease.

"Good morning, cutie," he teased against my lips, then gave me one more peck before he pulled away.

"Well, I guess we aren't discreet anymore, are we?" I was kind of nervous, even though it was what I wanted, it was still kind of a shock.

"Well, I can't have the other security ask you out, or have Tally keep on flirting with me, now can I?" He laced his fingers through mine as we went to the elevator.

I laughed with him. "No, I guess we can't."

# Chapter 17

When he walked me to my desk, hand in hand, all the girls stared and whispered. I wanted to let go, but he just gripped me harder.

A loud squeal came up next to us as I put my purse on my desk. Tally came and grabbed my other free arm. "Yes. I knew it. I knew it!" She pointed back and forth between us.

"Huh?" I cocked my brow.

"Was it my flirting? Did it work?" Bullet looked as confused as I was. She looked back and forth between us with a beaming open-mouthed smile. "Oh come on, admit it! If I didn't flirt with him, you would have never known your true feelings!" She leaned her head on my shoulder and let out a sigh.

"You got me there, Tally." Bullet answered and smiled.

"I knew it!" She let go of my arm and did a twirl.

"Uh... sure." I went along with him.

"I am awesome!" She hummed and skipped back to her desk. Only she could skip in heels.

"Hey, it makes her happy. Plus, she had good intentions." He gave my hand a squeeze.

I smiled. "I guess you're right."

He leaned down and gave me a small kiss. "Gotta head to work."

"Okay." I gave him another kiss, and then he gave me another, and then I gave him another and we both laughed. He finally gave me one more, then let go and headed back to the elevator.

Thump-Thump.

My heart gave a small jump, and for once, I didn't feel an angry bone in my body.

We had spent that whole week getting lunch together. Sometimes Bullet would be nice and invite Tally and the other girls, and on Friday, we had a group lunch with some of his men and the girls too.

Dem and Dean had been busy with assignments, but they finally had some time, and they were going to visit in a couple of weeks. I was ecstatic! I felt like I hadn't seen them in forever. But I was also dreading what to say about Bullet.

Sunday morning, we met up to take a small walk around the pond in the park.

"Are you sure? We can wait." Bullet rubbed his fingers against the back of my hand as we walked slowly.

"No, I hate lying to my brother, so we better get it out in the open. The sooner we do, the faster he'll accept it."

"I think he likes me." Bullet said proudly.

I huffed. "Yeah, until he finds out you're my boyfriend, then the hate-switch turns on."

"Boyfriend, huh?"

I bit the bottom of my lip. I guess we never categorized what we were. "Uh... if you-"

He stopped and turned me to face him. "As long as I get to call you my cutie girlfriend." He leaned down, and his lips hovered over mine.

"Goof ball." I smiled and he kissed me.

"Hungry?" He gave one more kiss before he continued walking, putting his arm over my shoulder.

"You read my mind."

We ate some sandwiches, and since it was a little early in the day, he suggested we go on a hike. I wasn't very savvy, clumsy is more like it, but he insisted he would help me every step.

He took us into the state park and we walked through the forest trails. The day wasn't too humid and there were some clouds, so it wasn't too hot. He helped me through every rock, branch, and hill. It was like we were one person, reading our body language and helping each other through whatever got in our way.

I didn't know if he was doing it on purpose, but it meant a lot to me.

"Come on, cutie," Bullet called from the top of a tall inclined hill. I was in the middle, trying to catch up with him. What is he made of, jet-fuel? I knew I wasn't that out of shape, he was just being ridiculous!

"You can stop showing off now," I panted. He turned and gave that damn smirk of his, then decided to run back down the hill toward me. I stopped as he did a hard slide, dirt kicking up next to me as he slid to a stop, his hands on the ground to help keep him balanced. "That is still showing off." He laughed with me. He ducked under my stomach and swung me over his shoulder.

"Come on, you sack of potatoes!" He spanked my butt and continued to climb up the hill.

I hung limp and bobbed as he moved. "Still showing off." His shoulders moved as he laughed, tickling my stomach. He hit my butt again, making me laugh and scream at the same time. He continued carrying me even though the hill was gone and I wasn't complaining. I was tired, so if he wanted to be Superman, go right ahead. Another hiker walked by and looked at us weird.

"Hey, how you doing?" I felt Bullet lift one of his arms that were around my legs.

"Hello!" I followed his lead. Once he was out of sight, we both started laughing again. "Is this really what hiking is all about?"

"No, this--" he set me down and turned my shoulders "--is what it's about." I looked at the view, and I was somehow happy that he dragged me there. The sun was mid-way through the cloudy sky and the trees ruffled through with the small wind blowing.

"Whoa," I breathed, and his arms came and wrapped around me as he lay his head on my shoulder.

"Your face is worth it," he whispered.

I looked over at him, his face right by mine as his lit eyes watched me carefully. His cheek lifted and his eyes got smaller as he smiled.

"Thank you for this." I kissed his cheek. He puckered his lips, and I kissed that too.

"So worth it." He sighed and kissed my nose. I laughed on instinct.

We stood there and watched the sun slowly go down. His small breath by my ear and his warm body against my back. I took deep breaths and knew I would remember the simple day forever.

The next week was practically perfect. Too perfect. He met me every morning and even brought a coffee or a muffin. He even would bring my whole floor Danishes sometimes, which made Tally and the girls love him more. I swear he would do it on purpose just so I could hear from the girls all day how lucky I was. Which they were right, I felt very lucky. He would eat lunch with me every day and walk me to my car every night. Sometimes, he would have to stay late, so when we did leave together, we would get dinner too.

Another weekend I was excited for, and dreading, was when Dem and Dean were coming. I made sure to let Bullet know for me to handle Dem. It was always tricky when I introduced another guy into our life. Dean was another problem, because I did not need him to start freaking out on me.

Rapid knocks came on my door, like ten people were there, but I knew it was them being idiots. It was almost dinner time too.

"Okay, okay!" Once I opened the door, I was tackled and made a big 'oof' sound as Dean threw me over his shoulder and ran around in circles.

"Puddin'--puddin'--puddin'!" Dean chanted under me. "It's like we haven't seen you in forever!"

Dem put their stuff on the couch and turned toward us. "Are you done? Can I have my sister now?" He crossed his arms.

"Yeah, but put me down slowly, I think I'm going to puke." I whined.

He did another circle. "Oops." Dean laughed. He stopped and then gently put me down, steadying my shoulders as the floor moved under me.

"Don't get her sick. We just got here, you fucker!" Dem smacked him on his head as he kissed me on mine and gave me a quick hug. "How've you been?" He scanned me from head to toe, like he was searching for injuries.

"I'm great!" And I really was.

He arched his brow, looking at me suspiciously. "Huh? There is something different about..." He stopped and his lips went to a hard line. "Who is it?" He crossed his arms.

"Huh?"

"What?"

Dean and I said at the same time as he came and stood next to him.

"Why-why would you assume that?" I turned and hugged myself. "It's kind of cold in here." I went to my thermostat by the door, pretending to check it.

"Daze." Dem let out that scolding tone.

"Yeah, Daze." Dean tried to mimic it, but I could hear his laugh. Dem had no trace of one.

Damn him. He was going to find out eventually. "Can I just have a good visit with my brothers?" I turned and pouted. Both of them had their arms crossed, glaring. Well, Dem was glaring, but Dean would glance over at Dem and hide his laugh as he tried to glare at me.

"Yeah, come on, man; let's just have a good weekend! I need to go out! Unwind!" Dean threw his arms in the air and wrapped one around Dem's shoulder, trying to loosen his stiff posture.

"Daze. Who is it? You know you always go through this, happy at first, and then you sink harder than before you went in." Dem shoved off Dean and took a step toward me.

Bullet is different. He just didn't understand. "I saw Callum last week." That ought to change the subject fast.

His eyes widened. "Oh no. No! Please tell me you are not back with that idiot!"

"He wasn't that bad." I lifted my shoulder a little.

"No, I can't..." Dem started to pace. "No, no!"

"Did I know this guy?" Dean scratched his head.

"No, before your time," Dem answered, still pacing.

"Dem, relax! I'm not back with him!"

He stopped and his shoulders drooped. "Good." He let out a breath.

"Look, Tally needs me to pick up some cookies she made for you guys, so I'll be right back." I grabbed my phone and keys off the table.

"Oooh, cookies!" Dean clapped.

"Doesn't mean we're not talking about this," Dem called out as I was halfway out the door.

"Okay, bye!" I headed downstairs and went to my car. The wind shifted a little, and I froze. Something gave me chills. It creeped little dots all along my spine. That intense feeling of eyes boring into my back made me turn around. One of my neighbors got out of his car with his groceries. Another walked by with her dog. I didn't like that feeling, like I was being watched. I stayed there for a couple of seconds, just looking. When I convinced myself it was just my imagination, I got in the car and drove.

Tally answered her door in a bright-pink apron, her black curls in a messy bun at the top of her head and flour all over her face and hands.

"Just in time!" She waved me in, and I followed her straight to the kitchen, where three, big, silver, round plates had piles of cookies on them.

It smelled amazing in her house, but her kitchen was a mess too. "Geez, Tally. I didn't know you became a bakery."

"It's not all for them!" She laughed and took out a zip bag. "Some are for the other security on Monday."

I laughed. "You are going to spoil those boys."

"Okay, so, there's the classic chocolate chip, coconut, and sugar." She pointed to each one.

"Mmmm... well, I know Dem and Dean would love them all." I took a chocolate chip and bit into it. Oh, so warm and gooey with the right amount of chips.

"No, no, call them and see which ones they want, I gotta clean anyway." She started to rinse out a bowl.

I took out my phone from my pocket and dialed Dem on my speed dial. It rang and rang, then went straight to voicemail. Weird. I waited a little then I redialed and that time, it didn't even ring, his voice message came on. I hung up and dialed Dean's. It rang and then went to voicemail.

"Everything okay?" I looked up at Tally with my phone still at my ear. She looked as worried as I felt.

I wiped whatever was on my face. "Uh... yeah, they're probably just screwing around, let me try again." I dialed Dean's number again, and it went straight to voicemail. My heart did a twist, and I knew something was wrong, but I kept telling myself it was just my imagination, they were probably playing a game on the TV or something. I took the bag she left on the table and took a couple of each. "I'm just going to get a few. Thanks, Tally!" I was running out the door already. "See you next week!"

"Huh? Oh, okay, bye! Maybe we can do something this weekend?" She was talking really fast because I was half out the door.

"Sure, text me!" And I ran my fastest back to my car and headed back to my place.

It's okay. Everything is okay. They just have no phone manners.

Everything is okay.

# Chapter 18

I kept trying to focus on the road and not to crash. I pulled into my parking spot and ran up the stairs, chanting to myself.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

I stopped at the top, facing my door, and it was cracked open. They've done this before, it's okay. I gripped my keys in my hand and pushed the door a little open, the small squeak it normally gave was like a gong in my ears.

"Dem?" I poked my head in. "Dean?" Then I stepped in, closing the door behind me.

Thump-Thump.

My couch was skidded closer to the TV and my dining chairs were on the floor. I looked to the table and saw a piece of paper.

You think you can screw with my life. Well, I'm going to screw with yours. Head to Bob's Diner, we'll direct you from there. And don't even think about calling him. I'm not talking about the police either. Be smart, unless you want your brother and feisty blond to die a horrible, slow, painful death because of you.

--R

I crumpled up the paper in my hand and threw it on the floor. My shoulders and hands were shaking so bad, I had no control over it. I couldn't even ball my fingers into fists. I tried to breathe, but it wasn't slow or deep, they were fast and short.

No. Not Dem. Not my brother.

I tried to walk, but my feet wouldn't move, so I fell on my knees and closed my eyes. My chest heaved in and out, and my heart pounded against my chest.

Focus. Focus. Think. You can get them back.

Focus, damn it!

My hands started to tremble a little less, and I slowly stood, forcing my muscles, and headed for my room. I went in my nightstand drawer and took out my small switch blade and tucked it on the inside of my jeans on the side. I went to the other side of my nightstand.

Please be there. Be there. I opened the drawer and there it was: a small .22. Bullet's gun. When he started to sleep over, he made sure to bring it and made sure I was comfortable with it. I didn't have a concealed-carry permit like he did, but I had to take it.

I took it and placed it in my jeans, behind my back, covering it with my blue t-shirt. I changed out of my sandals and put on my sneakers. I tried to call Dem and Dean again, but both went to voicemail.

I wanted to call Bullet. He would know what to do. But I wasn't going to risk it. Not on Dem's life or Dean's. I got in my car and headed to Bob's. I kept looking out at the road, searching for any signs of them, but found nothing.

Once I was on the road that led to Bob's, a black SUV came out a side street and flashed its lights at me. I practically had to put on my brakes when another came out in front of me. We drove by the diner and we didn't stop. I followed them for fifteen more minutes and was pulled into an underpass of an old bridge, out of the sights of the public. There were two more black SUVs and a white van already there, their lights lighting a path for us in the darkness. It was already almost nine at night.

The doors of the SUV in the front and back opened and two guys came out, guns in hand. One tapped on my window and waved his barrel for me to come out. I shut off my engine and took a breath.

For Dem.

Get Dem and Dean out.

That's all that matters.

I opened my car and all four guns were pointed at me. They walked me into the light, but somehow, I wasn't afraid. Even though my whole body was yelling at me; sweat was building at my neck, my chest was going to collapse, and my nails were digging into my palm. My mind was elsewhere.

Dem is all that matters.

"Where's Randa?" I surprised myself with how smooth and demanding it sounded.

"Oh, little Daisy." I flinched, but kept my stance steady as she walked out from the darkness and stood a couple of feet across from me. "You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into, huh?" I couldn't miss her bright-red pants and black top that showed way too much cleavage.

"Where are Dem and Dean?" I demanded.

She nodded her head to me. "Search her."

Shit.

Two guys stood next to me; one held his gun on me and the other started patting me down.

"Hands!" Randa yelled as I lifted them higher. I was trying to inch for my gun, but I guess they've done this before.

"Gun." He pulled it out from my back and handed it over to her.

She inspected it, and then her eyes narrowed. "Huh, I see he left his favorite one with you." She held it with one finger in the air as another guy took it and put it in his pants. I couldn't help but smile with the jealousy in her tone.

He patted me down more and stepped away. "That's it."

I tried not to do a happy dance that they didn't find my knife still tucked in my side. I lowered my hands back into fists. "Now where are they? They have nothing to do with this! You have me, let them go!"

"Oh, no, you are not getting away with it that easy." Randa waved her stupid red fingernail at me.

"I want to see them." My voice started to shake, not because I was scared, but if I didn't see them soon, I was probably going to get myself shot in the process.

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. Two of the men went to the white van's back door that was next to her and opened it.

"Dem!" I was only able to take a step to him when guns cocked in the air, making me stop. They were both leaning against the wall across from each other, handcuffs on the wrists behind them and their ankles wrapped with multiple layers of rope. I tried to pull myself together. My vision of a scared Dem kept popping in my head, because he looked just like that. His hair was messed up, the gag around his mouth was covered in blood, and I could already tell his face was starting to bruise. The smacks and grunts were filling my ears, and I had to shake my head to get them out.

This is different. This is very different. She isn't around.

There was a different threat, and I had to stay strong. I had to stay level for him.

I looked over at Dean, and he had a deep cut on his forehead, the blood was starting to dry on the side of his face.

When both of them saw me, their eyes went wide and they started struggling more, trying to get out of the van to reach me. Both were gagged, but that didn't make their yells or screams any less quiet. Dem jumped from his spot and out of the van. Dean tried to follow, but was quickly pushed back by one of the men. Dem fell hard on the ground, but that didn't deter him any less. Two men grabbed him by his arms and lifted him as he struggled more.

His gagged scream came out so easily in my ears: "Daze! No! Leave! Daze! DAZE!"

No one but me knew what he was saying and that made the tears I was holding back flow fast.

"Stop it. Let him go! Stop!" I ran toward him, but Randa came in front of me and pushed me down onto the ground. I watched as one of them punched him in the stomach, making him fall over and stop struggling. Dean stopped fighting as they brought Dem's groaning body back in the van.

"Dem! Dean!" They looked up at me with strained eyes as the doors closed back on them. I heard a couple of thuds and the van rocked a little, like they were trying to burst through. "Just kill me! Get it over with! Let them go!" I stood slowly and screamed at her, waving my hands. "What's the point of this? Because your ex is moving on and doesn't love you anymore? Grow up!" I gripped my fists and didn't even flinch when she pulled out a gun from her back and aimed it at my face.

Her finger on the trigger gave a small tremor. I knew I had gotten to her.

Cars engines roared in the distance, and she gasped as I turned to see where they were coming from. A couple of sedans and SUVs came barreling in, screeching to a stop. Randa grabbed me by my neck and pointed the gun on my forehead, using me as a shield. Doors opened and closed and her men surrounded her.

"Get back in your cars, you idiots!" It was a deep voice and he came into the light. He was about fifty, grey hair, with thick side burns that had small red streaks in them. He was dressed in all black, but had a deep-red leather jacket on. His forehead had a deep scowl as he stared at us, making his wrinkles stand out around his eyes.

"Dad?" Randa called out. "What are you doing here?"

"Let her go, Randa." I think my insides might have melted just by hearing his voice. Bullet stepped out beside him, except he looked like he blended in more with them than what I was used to seeing. He had a white t-shirt, with black pants, and a leather vest. He had a gun in his hand, but even though he looked as badass as ever, his hazel eyes looked to me and I knew it was him. He was looking into me, trying to tell me everything was going to be okay.

"You brought my dad into this?" I could feel Randa's heart beating behind me against my back.

"You brought this on yourself," Bullet spat.

"Dem and Dean!" I nudged my head to the van. She wrapped her arm tighter on me, making me gasp.

"Randa!" Bullet took a step, but her dad held out his hand and he stopped.

"Randa, who do you have in there?" Her dad stepped closer.

"Just some guys, they screwed with the Exhaults." She answered flawlessly.

Oh hell no, she was not about to try and save her ass.

"She's lying," I choked out, but she squeezed me harder. I moved my hands slowly to my side and pulled out my knife, hiding it behind my wrist.

"Beck, if I may." Bullet tucked his gun behind him. "I'm pretty sure they don't know anything about the Exhaults, I've met them before."

Beck eyed him carefully with those dark eyes and then gave a small nod. "Let him see." The other guys backed away from the van as Bullet approached. He opened the door and I could hear their grunts and yells.

"These are her brothers," Bullet said and I heard some shuffling.

"You stupid crazy bitch. Let her go right now or--" My body relaxed again, just hearing Dem curse was all I needed.

"Dem, not now," Bullet snapped.

"I'm gonna--"

"If you guys be quiet, we'll all get out of here in a second," Bullet cut off Dean quickly. "Come on." I heard footsteps and saw them walking across. Bullet took off their gags and un-did their feet, but kept their cuffs on. Smart man. Especially the way they were giving death glares all around, like they were planning their own assassination. Dem's eyes landed on me, and I gave a small smile. He didn't give one back, but he gave a small nod and mouthed I love you. I did the same.

"Stay in my car and be quiet." I could hear Bullet whisper as they walked by and went past Beck. "Put them in my car, gently," Bullet warned. The other men took them and I couldn't see them anymore. As long as they were safe, that was all I cared about.

"Randa, how dare you put our name in jeopardy and over jealousy?" Beck almost spit on the floor.

"But... Dad." Her gun inched closer on my head.

"Randa, let her go." Her dad commanded.

"You always liked Bullet more than me! Why won't you just listen?" She pulled the gun from my head and aimed it at her dad.

Her heartbeat picked up. She was losing it. I could tell from the signs. Her shoulders were shaking, and her voice was erratic. This isn't going to end well.

"If she was just gone, then we could be together and take over Exhaults, just like you wanted!" Her gun cocked and it went back to my head.

"No!" Bullet ran toward her. She took the gun and aimed it at him.

"She isn't special. Just love me!" Her finger was going to pull the trigger.

Not Bullet. Not him. I won't have it.

"No!" I took my knife and cut her arm, pushing her back, making her fire a couple of shots instinctively. Yells came all around as we wrestled on the ground for her gun.

"You dumb bitch! You ruined everything!" Randa threw a punch at me, but I dodged, rolled over on top, and punched her in the face. She waved the gun at me, and I grabbed her wrist as three more shots fired all around. My ears were throbbing, but I didn't care. I punched her again and the gun flew from her grip. She threw her body at me and rolled on top of me. She was about to punch my face when Bullet came up behind her and grabbed her off.

"Let go! Let go!" She kicked and screamed.

Beck came up next to them and slapped her straight across the face. She went still. "Get in the damn car and shut up." Beck had his face right in hers, but she kept her eyes on the ground. Three more men came next to her and walked her back, all without touching her.

"You okay?" Bullet helped me stand. His touch on my back and hand already made me feel lighter.

"I'm sorry about this again, Bullet." Beck stood in front of us. "I hope this won't affect our relationship."

"Well, there is one thing you can do." Bullet said.

"Anything." Beck replied quickly.

How was the criminal so... easygoing? Do those exist? Was it because one of his scars was for Beck?

"Bob's diner owes money; I'd like that debt erased and off of the organization's list." I gasped as Bullet said it so easily. Even then, he was still thinking of me. If we weren't surrounded by a bunch of guns and guys, I would have pulled him down and kissed him right there.

"Done." Beck held out his hand, and they shook. His eyes looked down at me. "Well, I can see why Randa is jealous, she is very beautiful, Bullet. I wish you all the luck. Sorry about this again."

Sorry? You're sorry? I felt my shoulders shake again, but Bullet's hand came up to them as he wrapped it around trying to calm me.

"Thanks, Beck, hopefully we will not meet again." Bullet said calmly.

Beck gave him a nod and headed back to the cars. "Pack it in! Let's go!" He twirled his hand in the air and the engines started and bodies started to leave.

# Chapter 19

"If I can't have you, no one will!" Bullet was busy looking at Beck and he turned around, too late. I was the only one who saw her red pants come back into the light, gun aimed at Bullet's back.

A bullet rang in the air.

I'd always wondered if he would take a bullet for me. But the thought of taking a bullet for him... there was no question... It just... happened.

One second. One thought.

One chance. One change.

One.

"No!" I used all the strength I had and imagined myself pushing a boxing bag, because that was what he was like. He is solid and unmovable, but not against me, not against the drive I had of keeping him alive.

A sharp pain flew into me, like a million hot pokers spread throughout my body and the force alone threw me onto the ground. I grabbed my stomach on instinct, and I could feel warm liquid start to pour out of it. My body

started to shake and everything was getting jumbled and hazy.

"No-no-no! Daze. Daze! Daisy!" Dem's green eyes came into my vision.

"Daze, we're here!" Dean came up on my other side.

"Bullet." My throat was clogged, and I tasted a lot of iron.

"I'm here. I'm here." His light eyes came from above me. My body was numb, but I could see his hand caress my forehead. The love in his eyes. The hardship, fear, and passion that was burning... That one look made it all worthwhile.

"We need an ambulance," he growled into the air. "Get someone, now!"

The darkness crept in through the corners.

"Don't you die on me, Daze!" Dem yelled from somewhere but my focus was to get lost in Bullet's one second. One thought. Just one more time.

"Stay here. Stay with me, cutie. Stay with me."

"Cutie?" I heard Dean's disgust, which made me want to laugh, but it was one of the most perfect things to hear if it was my last.

Blackness.

*

"Why the hell would you put her in danger?" It was Dem, but I couldn't move, only hear him.

"I'm not having this discussion over and over." Bullet was by my head. He sounded tired, his voice sounded really hoarse.

If only I could open my eyes.

"Don't fuck with me, Bullet. Is that even your real name?" I think Dem was pacing because I could hear his footsteps give a small echo in the room.

Bullet gave a small laugh; it seemed forced, though. "It's Bolton, but don't tell her that." I felt a squeeze on my hand. I laughed in my head and I wished I was laughing in real life. Bolton reminded me of Michael Bolton. He looked nothing like him.

"Ha! Okay, you got me there. That'll stay between us." At least Dem laughed at that.

The sounds started to fade.

"We're here for her, anything she needs."

"Thanks, Henry," Dem answered.

"Don't worry about the reports; I'll have my team handle it."

"Thanks, Henry." Dean too.

"I'm glad you're safe."

I started to fade again.

"Please. Please." Who is that? Bullet? Why did he sound so rough... hoarse... broken? "My Daisy. Please..." I felt his hand on my cheek as it gave a little pressure. "My cutie. You are my reason for living. I know that now. Everything that has happened, I know you are meant for me. You are meant to fix me." His breath was by nose. "If you can hear me... I l-"

Muffles... more jumbles... Silence.

Loud beeps were in my ear and air hissing filled the room. Were those dreams? If only... I slowly opened my eyes.

No.

My throat was closing.

No!

The air was being sucked out of me.

I needed to be dreaming now. I had to be.

"There's my little flower."

I started to panic. She was sitting on my bed, her disgusting hands on mine as she looked at me with those big brown eyes. I stared at the hospital room around me. It was white, the covers on me were light-blue, the machines were hissing, and I had a burning pain in my stomach. I looked back at her. She had aged since the last time we saw her; more wrinkles were around her eyes and mouth, but she looked neatly-kept in her polka dot top and brown pants. Her brown hair was tied neatly in a side ponytail.

Beeping next to me started to go faster and faster, matching the thumping in my chest.

"Don't touch me!" I looked for Dem or Bullet, but no one was in there with me. I grabbed my hands and wrapped it around my stomach.

Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump.

"My Daisy, don't. I'm here for you, for anything." She reached for me again, but I flinched, and she stopped.

"Get away from me." The pain in my chest and stomach was building. "Get away from me!" I went to move out of the bed--the pain grew, but I didn't care. I didn't want to be near her any longer.

"Daisy, don't-"

"Don't call me that! Don't come near me!" I found my foot on the floor and stepped down, but then fell to my knees, leaning against the wall. I took off the tubes from my nose to scoot farther from her. She got off the bed and started to approach me. I ripped off the other wires on my chest and arms. The beeping stopped and the monitor went flat.

The door flew open. "Get. Out." No. Dem.

"Dem," I cried out for him as our mother turned and she stood straighter, her hands balling into fists.

"Don't you talk to me like that!" She took a step toward him.

"No!" I reached for her but gripped my stomach again.

"What the--" Dem came around, avoiding her. "Daze, you're not supposed to be moving." He leaned down next to me.

"Dem." I wanted him closer, and like he read my mind, he leaned down and wrapped his arms around me. I couldn't move my arms, so I nuzzled my head into his neck. "I'm glad you're safe," I whispered.

"Well, you freaking scared me to death." He laughed against me. "Come on." He started to help me stand; supporting me, and now, we were standing in front of our mother who was eyeing us very carefully.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this." She waved to me as she glared at Dem.

"How the hell did you find out?" Dem spat.

"I am her contact in her medical records."

"Well now, you won't be." I seethed. I couldn't believe I never changed that. Breathing was getting harder by the second.

Dem's shoulders and whole body was more tense than I had ever felt it. "Get out," he gritted through his teeth.

"I'm not leaving my daughter who needs me." Her shoulders started to shake, and I had to look away. That was where I got it from and it made me sick.

"Yes, you are." Bullet was by the door, his arms crossed, and I could see the hardness in his jaw as it ticked. "Get out, or I'll make you."

She eyed him with that cold glare she would give Dem. "Who the hell are you?"

"Someone who doesn't beat their children." He uncrossed his arms, and it looked like he was going to slam into her, but he didn't. He stepped aside for her to leave.

"You heard him." She turned to me with those stupid innocent eyes. "Leave! I don't want you here." I looked up at Dem, who smiled down at me.

"Daisy-"

"It's Daze," Bullet snapped, but she ignored him.

"I have done so much to protect you, but I can't anymore, you're all going to regret this." Something changed in her eyes. Something I had never seen before. Her shoulders stopped shaking, and a cold stare pierced into me. "We will meet again, dear, and next time, you will beg me to take you back." She then turned and left. Bullet closed the door behind her, but not without giving it a small slam.

Silence filled the air.

The room was dripping with that intense tension.

"You're not supposed to be up." Bullet came quickly to my side as they both helped me back on the bed.

And just with his words, it was like it melted away.

I didn't even pay attention to the pain, only being in their warm embraces made me forget all about it. Bullet's arms were around my knees as Dem's gentle fingers helped my arms. "Geez, and you ripped off everything." Bullet looked panicked. He went to the door and opened it. "Nurse! I need a nurse!"

A second later, a small, round, older lady came in and started attaching everything back. If she was scolding me, I didn't know; I was ignoring her and was busy watching Bullet and Dem hover to the side as they let the nurse fix my mess. Dem looked like he had just showered; his black hair was slightly damp.

Bullet smelled like fresh linen from his blue t-shirt and jeans when he helped me up. That would explain why neither of them were in here before.

"Okay, now, don't do that again, let me get the doctor to double check you." She wagged her finger at me and went off. "Don't let her get out again," she warned before she closed the door.

"I think you have a mini-General as a nurse." Dem laughed as he sat down on my bed.

Bullet came and sat on my other side and held my hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, now that you guys are here." I opened my other free hand and Dem placed his on mine. "What happened?"

"Didn't I tell you? My name is Bullet. I can take one and you should have let that be my job." He leaned forward and placed his hand on my cheek, slowly caressing it with his thumb. Oh, how this feels so much like my dream.

"Okay, gross, put your PDA away while I'm here!" Dem shivered next to me.

"Oh, you don't want to know what--"

"Bullet!" I cut him off fast as he let out an amused chuckle.

"Not funny." Dem glared at him. "So this is the guy that had you all happy and giddy, huh?" He pointed.

"How much do you know?" I looked over at Bullet for any indication. He just shrugged. Some help he was.

Dem sighed. "I know enough, okay."

"He knows everything," Bullet finished for him. "He's your brother; I couldn't keep it from him." He took his hand from my cheek and placed it on top of mine. "You're lucky Bob saw your car driving by, that's how I even knew where you were."

"Yeah, you sure know how to pick them, Daze." Dem managed a big eye roll.

"Dem he--"

"I'm not finished." He looked at me and smiled. "But for a guy to go get Bob's debt erased, rescue you, and practically pummel a whole criminal organization, well, I suppose he's all right." He gave a shrug. "I'm not happy with the situation, but I'm not disappointed that you found a guy who would do those things for you."

I looked over at Bullet, and his brow arched as he looked at Dem like he didn't know him. "Really? We've been arguing for days, but now I'm okay?"

Dem shrugged and then let out a sly smile, winking at me.

"This family is going to give me heart attacks, I know it." Bullet leaned his head down and rubbed his forehead. "Anyway, Henry was able to keep this under wraps, but you will have to talk to the cops. I told them we'd give them a call when you woke up."

"You don't have to do this now." Dem squeezed my other hand.

"No, give them a call, get this over with."

# Chapter 20

The cops came and questioned me. I gave them my honest answers... kind of. I left out the part of the organizations and of Bob. I twisted it a little, saying I was trying to save my brother and I got shot in the process. Something to that extent.

Anyway, they said they would be looking, but I knew they wouldn't find them. Bullet even agreed that the Exhaults had some dirty cops and they would probably make sure it became a cold case. I didn't press too hard. I just wanted that part behind me.

"Okay, well, I have to go back to meet Dean, he's whining about his car." Dem stood from my bed. "But he sends his love." He kissed me on my head. "I won't come back to her with another hole, will I?" It was more of warning when he glared at Bullet.

"Never again." Bullet placed a palm over his chest.

Dem stared him down for a second and then finally left. Once he did, Bullet's shoulders sunk. "Geez, your brother is intense, huh?" Bullet scooted closer to me and I lifted my arms for a hug. I didn't move, though, but he did

it for me. He came right by my side and leaned down, hugging me tight as he put his face in my hair.

"You had me worried, you know that?" He was muffled, but I heard him.

"Sorry," I mumbled back. "What's going to happen with Randa?"

He pulled away and cupped my cheeks. "Don't you worry about that."

"No really." I took his hands from my cheeks and he sat down next to me.

"Well, Beck is one of the higher-ups in the Exhaults, so I'm pretty sure he'll be handling her right now."

"Really?" I lifted my brow.

"Yes, she's lucky for that, too, because, otherwise, she probably would have died right there." He looked to the side like he was in deep thought. "How's your stomach?" He looked down at it.

"Um... I think it's okay." I shifted a little. "They gave me more pain meds, so it's not as bad.

"Can I see?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

He lifted off the blanket and his fingers started to linger up the stupid hospital gown. It would have been sexier if I was in lingerie, but that didn't stop the scorch marks he was leaving. And he was going slow... like torture. Both his hands were on top of my thighs and they were lifting and slowly going up at the same time.

Just go and look, how hard is that?

He finally reached it and he assessed it, tilting his head back and forth.

"Well?" I asked.

"Not too bad, I've seen worse--" he looked up from the gown "--obviously." He gave a sly smirk.

"Right." I laughed but stopped because it hurt. He put my gown down and covered me back up with the blanket.

"I won't let anything like that happen again." He stood and paced.

"Bullet, it wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was." He gripped his fists, and I could tell he was losing his temper. "It was Randa. I should have seen her jealousy. Took her warnings more seriously. I got cocky, and I thought nothing could happen. I should have done something more!"

"And what were you going to do, keep me under lock and key?" I asked sarcastically.

"Maybe!" He stopped and waved his arms and then started pacing again.

"Really?" I sighed.

"Okay, no, but--"

"Can you stop pacing? I'm already a little dizzy with these meds." I rubbed my head.

"Sorry," he mumbled and sat back down next to me, his fists on top of his knees.

"Bullet." I placed my hand on his and it relaxed under me. "I'm glad you're here with me. Isn't that what matters?" I whispered.

He took in deep breaths and closed his eyes, his fists forming again. "If you would have died there..."

"I didn't," I corrected.

"If you had, I don't know what I would have done." His whisper was low, but so powerful. He looked up at me and a fierce tenderness glowed in them. "You are my future, and I'll be damned if I have someone take that away from me."

"Bullet-"

"I love you, Daze." I didn't even have time to reply, he just kept going. "I think I've loved you since I saw you the first time you walked into the boxing room and I almost collapsed into my bag." He gave a small laugh and his fists came apart as he laid them on my hands. "You've been my future ever since then, and I don't know why it took me so long to realize it."

"Bullet." Everything is right. I smiled. "You collapsed on your bag?"

He gave a nervous laugh. "You saw that?"

"Yeah, but I thought you just hit it harder and was pissed because you didn't have the room to yourself anymore?"

He gave a small smile. "Oh, Daze, don't you see?" He leaned by my ear. "I was pissed because I was alone."

We are going to be okay. I didn't know what else to add... He had said everything in the most perfect way. "I love you too, Bullet."

He cupped my cheek, kissed my ear, and then my cheek, all the way to my lips, as gently as he could. It made me groan and I leaned into him more, deepening the kiss. He reacted right away and he took his other hand and cupped my other cheek, kissing me like we had no other choice.

Kissing me like we knew no one else's.

Kissing like it was just us in the world.

*

Even though Bullet visited me every day and Dem too, when he could get away from class, I still felt cooped up. I didn't like hospitals, but Dem insisted I stay at least one more day. The good thing was Tally, the other security, and Henry kept sending me flowers, candy, cookies, and stuffed animals. So when it was time for me to go home, let's just say Bullet, Dem, and Dean had their work cut out for them.

"Is this all necessary?" Dean was walking next to me with his arms full. I couldn't see his face because it was covered with one of the stuffed animals, so he was kind of muffled.

I laughed. "Blame your uncle." There was a door opening right in the line of Dean. "Bullet." I pointed. He was wheeling me, so he grabbed Dean by the shoulder and pulled him out of the way. I thought the wheel chair was a little much, but hospital policy.

"Whoa!" Dean teetered to the right a little, but then found his footing again as he shifted the stuff in his hands.

"I do not need to wheel someone else out, all right?" Bullet mumbled.

"Well, blame your girlfriend for being too loved by everyone," Dean teased.

"That she is." Bullet kissed the top of my head and I looked up at him and he smiled. I couldn't help but smile back.

The sun felt good on my skin; it was good to take in the fresh air. Dem pulled the car around and got out, grabbing some of the things from Dean's hand.

"Can this all fit?" Dem asked and went to the open trunk.

"It has to," I whined.

"Yeah, yeah," Dem mumbled as he started to fill the trunk.

"You can stand?" Bullet held out his hand, and I took it as he put the brakes on and placed his other hand on my back, steadying me.

"Yes. I am not breakable, you know?" I stood and the pain had subsided quite a bit from a couple of days before. I wasn't used to being waited on hand and foot and being treated like I was a helpless... Well, I was used to it from Dem, but not another guy.

"Okay, come on." Bullet walked next to me at a snail's pace.

"Bullet." I had to let out a laugh. "I can walk normally." I picked up my pace and he matched mine.

"I just don't want you to fall." Bullet held me tighter.

"Bullet." I laughed again as Dem opened the door for me.

"She doesn't like to get help a lot." Dem rolled his eyes but then winked at me.

"I can see that." Bullet mumbled and helped me inside.

I let out another small laugh. "You guys are ridiculous!"

Bullet buckled me in, careful of my wound site, and closed the door.

When we got to my place, they watched me carefully on the stairs. Dean and Dem would stay two steps up and just watch me as Bullet stayed behind, making sure I didn't fall. When they finally got me to my bed and made sure I was tucked in, they all went down and gathered all of my stuff from the car. It was good to be back home and in my room, much better than the hospital.

I saw my perfume on my counter and went up and spritzed a little on my neck. Mmm... I have missed that.

"What are you doing up?" Bullet set my bag at my door. He stood next to me and then took a small inhale. He closed his eyes and released a small groan. "Oh, you are killing me here, Daze." He reopened his eyes, and they were probably a shade darker. I knew what that meant. But because of my restrictions, we weren't going to do anything that was going through his mind right at that moment.

"What?" I asked innocently.

He looked at my bottle on the table and sniffed it and then sniffed me. "Mmm... I could smell you all day." He kissed my cheek. "If only you knew what your smell does to me." He kissed me again.

"Hey, hey! Put that PDA away!" Dem walked in with a bunch of my goodies and dropped them by my closet, purposefully not staring at us. "Now, get back in bed." He pointed.

"Uh-oh, Dad-Dem is here." I rolled my eyes and did what he said. Bullet just laughed.

"I'm going to get us some food, maybe pizza?" Dem tucked the blankets under my mattress to make it snugger. "Chicken Alfredo?" He looked up at me and smirked.

"Yes, please!" I beamed.

"See, Dad-Dem isn't bad when he's getting you pizza, huh?" He crossed his arms as I bit my lip.

"He's got you there." Bullet sat down next to me.

"Hey, Daze, can I talk to you?" Dean stood at the frame of my door.

"Sure." I answered.

He looked over at Dem and Bullet and then back at me, but didn't say anything.

"You need company on that pizza run?" Bullet asked annoyed as he looked at Dem.

Dem looked up at Dean and sighed. "Sure, why not. I gotta stock up her fridge too if you don't mind grocery shopping." He took out his keys from his pocket and headed to the door.

"Wow, I wish I could see that sight." I held my laugh and Bullet got up from my bed.

"I'll see you in a little, okay?" He gave me a soft kiss on my lips, which made Dean clear his throat. Bullet ignored him. "Drawer." He nudged his head behind me where he still kept his gun.

"I know." I gave him a small eye roll. He kissed me again and headed out, ignoring Dean as he moved out of his way.

The front door closed and Dean's shoulders relaxed about an inch. "About time they left!" He went and sat down on my other side, leaning back against the head board and crossing his ankles.

"Okay, Dean, what's wrong, what'd you want to talk to me about?"

He leaned his head back and when he looked over at me, some of his blond locks moved from his eyes. "Are you sure about him?"

I wasn't surprised. "You knew, huh?"

He looked up at the ceiling. "I knew of him, the basics, just that Henry told me to stay clear of him because he's killed people. I didn't know he was so involved with the gangs or whatever they are."

"He told you the truth?" I asked.

He nodded. "When you were out, he sat us down in your room and told us."

"Really?"

"Yes and also made sure to make his point across that he was not involved with them anymore and he would do anything to protect you, loved you--blah-blah-blah!" He waved his arms. "I kind of tuned him out when he was confessing his love for you." He put his hands behind his head. "So, are you sure about him?" He didn't move his head, but looked over at me through the corner of his blue eyes.

I turned to face him a little more. "I love him, Dean." I wanted to add so much it actually made me hurt, but kept that to myself. His eye twitched and then he looked back up at the ceiling. "Trust me, when I found out and when we started this, I didn't know what I was thinking, but you know what, he makes me happy and makes me feel loved. No one has ever made me feel like he has. No one has understood my anger as much as him. And you know--" I placed my hand on his shoulder and he looked at me "--everyone has a past, it just takes that special person to go accept it with you."

He placed his hands in his lap and laced them together. "I guess you're right." He looked up at me and smiled. "I'm happy for you, Daze, but we can't have this every week." He pointed to my abs.

I gave a small laugh; it was getting easier. "Trust me, if this happens every week, I'll shoot myself." He cringed. "Too early?" I asked. He nodded, but laughed anyway.

"You are like a sister to me, Daze, and I think Dem is rubbing off on me with his brotherly ways." He shrugged.

"I love you too, Dean." I smiled.

"You sap!" He leaned and gave me a hug. I set my head on his shoulder and took him in.

I was a lucky girl.

# Chapter 21

One year later

Because of my incident, Dem and Dean got a little behind with their classes, but they were graduating, and it was the greatest moment of my life.

"He's up next." Bullet had his arm around me behind my chair as he tilted the pamphlet toward me.

"Demanry Dabbs." The announcer called, and I was thankful they said it right. I stood, screaming, along with Bullet and Bob on my right, Tally on my left, and Henry on the other side. He looked so cute in his black cap and gown. Bullet was in charge of the pictures because I told him I would be too busy cheering. Dem shook his hand and turned to us and waved, having the biggest smile on his face. He stepped off, but still continued to wave, and I waved frantically back.

"Okay, he gets it, stop embarrassing us," Tally muttered next to me, and that was when Dem took his seat again.

"What? I don't care what the others think." I laughed as she pulled me back down. Tally just rolled her eyes. "Did you get good pics?" I turned to Bullet as he looked into his camera.

"Yes." He put it away. "But you can't see them yet."

"But-"

"Oh, yeah, that's a good one," Bob said next to Bullet. He looked so cute in his collared, green shirt and black pants. I was so used to seeing him in an apron his whole life that it was good to see him dressed up. He even trimmed up his grey beard.

"Bob got to see it," I whined.

"Ah-ah! Photographer rules." Bullet scolded. He leaned in and gave me a kiss on my pouting lips.

When it was over, we waited outside for Dem and Dean to come out, and when they did, they spotted us and ran toward me.

"Dem!" I jumped up, and he caught me in his arms and twirled me around. "I'm so proud," I whispered into his ear as the tear I was holding back rolled off.

"Couldn't have done it without you," he whispered back, which made my tears fall faster. I had to keep my eyes shut. He set me down, but we stayed embraced, savoring the moment. I didn't know what he was thinking, but I thought of where we came from, what we endured, what we went through, and what we accomplished... together.

He gave me a kiss on my head and stayed there, rocking me back and forth. "I love you, sis."

"I love you too, Dem," I whispered.

"Yeah, okay, like I had nothing to do with any of his college, no love or acknowledgement here?" Dean made us laugh as we pulled away and opened our arms.

"Come here, whiner!" I laughed. Dean piled in and I was sandwiched between the two guys I knew were everything to me. I looked over Dem's shoulder and saw Bullet with the camera, snapping away like he was invisible.

"Oh, I think I'm going to cry." Tally sniffed next to us.

"Um... hi." A small voice called out to the side.

We pulled apart and a cute girl stood near us. She was small and petite, at least from what I could tell in her cap and gown. She had really thick, long, black hair, not as jet black as Dem's, but on the border of a really dark brown. It was tied in a braid at the side and it made her face look even smaller as it was puffed around her. She seemed like a shy, hidden gem, but had some personality to her; I could tell from the white-framed small glasses that had a small pink flower at the corner of her right eye on the frame.

"Oh, hey!" Dem greeted with a big smile on his face. "This is Willora, Willora, this is Daze."

She looked at me with those brown eyes. She did a quick scan of me and then her eyes did a flick to Dem and then back to me. She put on a smile and held out her hand. I looked over at Dem and then at her.

Could he really be that dense?

I picked it up in five seconds.

"I'm his sister." I placed my hand in hers and those dark honey eyes quickly lifted and looked brighter. Yup. I was right. She had a thing for Dem, and she thought I was the hidden girlfriend.

Gross!

"Oh, wow, I didn't expect you to be- I mean, he has talked about you, but-um... I mean..." Oh, boy, is she a little nervous.

Dean leaned over to her. "Breathe."

She took one. "I mean, you can call me Willa, it is so great to meet you! Dem always talked about you!" She held my hand with both of hers as she shook it fast, still really nervous.

"Willa." I took my other hand and held hers, stopping the shaking. She inhaled again as she paused. "It is great to meet you, but I don't think I've heard about you." I looked suspiciously at Dem.

"She helped us study through college, she's a year younger, super smart! And now we got to graduate together." Dean piped in and wrapped an arm around her. She shrunk a little.

"Dean." Dem half-coughed and pretended to clear his throat, but I heard it clear as day.

"So yeah, that's our Willa." Dean took his arm off, and I knew he heard it too.

"Well, Willa, thank you for looking after my idiot brothers." We peeled our hands apart, and she quickly put them behind her back.

"No, it was no problem. They kept me entertained." I didn't miss her eyes hovering to Dem, but he didn't seem to notice, he just smiled.

I saw Bullet in my peripheral with the camera. "Oh! Let's get a picture of you guys!" I went to Bullet. "Can I see?" He handed me the camera and kissed my cheek, and I looked over at Willa, who looked away and blushed. "You two, over here." I pointed to Dem and Willa.

"Hey, what about--"

"In a second, Dean." I gave him a glare. He rolled his eyes and he and Henry started talking, along with Bob and Tally. I focused back on Dem and Willa. They stood next to each other and didn't even make contact. "Dem, get closer, wrap your arm around her too." I put my eye into the view finder. He looked down at her and smiled. She mouthed it's okay and he did, slowly and carefully. He leaned his head on hers, and she looked up at him like she was in pure bliss. I snapped a couple of times without them knowing.

"Ready?" Dem asked.

"Okay, say grads!" I cheered. They both did and gave big smiles. I snapped more than one, but I think the first one said it all.

"Me next, me next!" Dean ran up next to Willa, but stopped before he put his arm around her while Dem watched him carefully. Something was going on there, I just couldn't figure out what.

"Okay." Willa smiled at him.

He nodded and put his arm around her. She looked so cute with the two tall idiots beside her.

"Okay, say grads!" I repeated. They all yelled and smiled, while Dean put bunny ears on Willa's head.

"I saw you!" she scolded, and I took another.

"Dean!" Dem scolded, and I took another.

"What?" He shrugged as they both glared, and I took another.

"Dem, get him," Willa said it sternly, but she had a cute smile on her. On command, Dem launched on him, throwing off his hat and messing with his blond locks.

"Oh, come on!" Dean whined and struggled under him, and I kept snapping pictures, Willa laughing beside them.

"Okay, come on, let me get a good one with you guys tossing your hats!" I yelled, trying to get their attention again. Dem gave him one more rub on his head, then broke off.

"Geez, they're just bunny ears!" Dean scoffed and laughed as he picked up his hat.

Willa took off hers and she had a little hat hair on her thick head. She must have been used to it, because she was trying to fix it. "Is my hair okay?" She asked and looked up at Dem. He looked at her and tried not to laugh.

"Here." He started to run his hand through her head and she kept still, staring at his eyes as he did it.

Oh, she is smitten!

"You think he knows?" Bullet asked by my ear and kissed it.

"Does he look like he knows?" I scoffed.

"Good point." He laughed against me.

"Good to go." Dem nodded. He actually did fix it nice.

"Thanks." She smiled at him again.

"Okay, get ready." I said, positioning the camera. They posed and jumped in the air throwing their hats as I snapped the picture.

"I really am proud of you, Dean." Henry came up and patted him on the back. "If I had a son, I would want him to be just like you."

"Yeah, well, thanks. I wish my parents were here." Dean said softly. He didn't look good with a frown on his face.

"His loss." Henry whispered and wrapped an arm around him. I snapped a picture before they knew I was taking it.

"Well, I have to go." Willa pointed behind her, but I didn't see anyone in particular.

"We were about to go to dinner, want to come?" Dem invited.

She shifted a little and looked behind her. "Um... no thanks, but we'll keep in touch, right?" She asked hopeful, unable to look Dem in the eyes.

"Sure, you have our numbers." Dem pointed at Dean too.

"Right." She let out a small sigh and turned to me. "Do you think I can get copies?" She eyed the camera in my hands.

"Of course." I answered and looked at Dem. "Oh, but do you have a phone?"

She smiled brightly and pulled it out. "Do you mind?" she asked, and tapped the screen, handing it to me in camera mode.

"No problem." I smiled and gave the camera back to Bullet, who started snapping pictures again. "Come on, Dem, another. Do like before." I waved them together.

He slowly wrapped his arm around her and leaned his head on her, and she started to smile again. I snapped it as quick as it would let me so she had multiple. "Okay, say grads!"

They both looked at the camera and beamed big smiles. Dean joined and I got multiple more for her phone.

"There, do you want more?" I handed it back to her and as she scrolled through, her eyes got brighter and brighter.

"No, this is good. Thank you! And it was nice meeting you." She waved and started to walk off.

"We'll talk later, okay, Willa." Dean said as he waved and Dem said bye at the same time.

"Okay!" She waved again and went around a corner.

"She was adorable!" Tally came up next to us. "Hey, let me get all of you guys. Bullet!" she called, and he appeared next to her with the camera. "Dem, put your phone away! No texting!"

We all gathered around and she took multiple pictures of Dem, Dean, Bullet and me. Then she took some with Dean and Henry and then of Dem and Bob.

"Okay, you and Bullet." Tally pointed.

"But we didn't graduate." I shrugged.

"Just do it!" Tally was already snapping.

Bullet grabbed me by my waist and kissed my head. "Just go with it, you look beautiful anyway."

I looked down at my light-yellow dress and black belt. It was simple and fell just above my knees. "I've had this dress for a while."

"Well, it's cute, for my cutie. Smile." He wrapped his arms from behind me and put his chin on my head. I looked at the camera and smiled. Then I felt his head down on my shoulder, and I couldn't help but kiss his cheek.

"This is too adorable!" Tally squealed.

"Okay, get the camera away from Tally." I laughed and so did Bullet next to me.

# Chapter 22

We got to my place, and I was damn tired. Dean and Dem were always a handful when we went out. Bullet and I called it in early from their graduation celebration, where his class met up at Blind Night. Well, if you call two in the morning early.

I went straight into my bedroom and fell face first onto the bed. Bullet chuckled behind me. I heard him walk over to the nightstand, open the drawer, and place his gun in. Even after all this time, he had never faltered. He made sure my safety was never compromised, even though we hadn't heard from the Exhaults since that incident. I didn't think he was paranoid... I thought he was smart. Sometimes my paranoia would get the best of me and it would feel like I had the bullet still in me.

My episodes were not of my mom or Dem anymore, but of Randa and Bullet. It was strong after the incident, but Bullet stuck by me and stayed through every night and sweat.

"Come on cutie--" he tapped my leg "--get changed."

I groaned a little, then stood up and went to my dresser, grabbing my night shirt. "Can you unzip me?" I moved my hair from my neck.

"You never have to ask that question." He was already behind me, unzipping my dress. When I felt it come undone, I wanted to go into the bathroom and change. I still felt weird, having my scar right there. "You're beautiful, come here." He knew I had insecurities and he always made sure to never make me feel horrible. I loved that about him. He took me to the bed and let my dress fall at my feet. I went to cover my stomach on instinct.

"Here." He sat me down and took off his shirt, revealing his bare chest and his own scars. He moved and kissed my scar on my right shoulder. He kneeled down in between my legs and slowly moved my hands to the side. I watched as he looked up at me, so vulnerable, so open... It made me forget about my own demons.

"You are everything to me." He placed his palm where my own bullet-scar lay. "I hated that this happened to you, but what I like to do is try and turn it into a good thing." I tilted my head. "Want to know how?" he asked and smiled softly. I nodded. He leaned down and kissed my left side, where my scar was. "Now you have a piece of me with you always, a bullet." His hot breath kissed it again and I couldn't help but laugh as a tear fell off my face. I placed my hand on his cheeks and lifted his face to look at me.

"Only you would be able to turn something traumatizing into some sort of love proclamation, huh?" I half-choked and half-laughed.

"I love you, Daisy." And somehow, him saying it, coming from his mouth made the anger and hatred behind it--melt away. He had turned it into something I could tolerate. From him, at least.

"I love you... Bolton!" I teased. His face fell. "Oh, come on." I poked him.

"Daisy!" He came on top of me and pushed me onto the bed.

"Bolton." I nudged my nose with his.

"Daisy." He nudged back.

"Bolton!" I nudged again.

He stopped and stared into me. He moved the hair from my forehead and I couldn't tear my eyes away from his. "I love you, Daze," he whispered, and he meant every word. I couldn't stop the tear falling from my eye and hitting my ear. "You are my past, present, and future. I will never forget you. And I will always be here for you."

Another tear fell and hit my ear again. I swallowed the hard lump forming in my throat and for the first time in a long time, I knew what true, real love was.

That was it. And I didn't want to let go.

"I love you, Bullet. Scars and all," I whispered.

He leaned down and kissed me hard and deep, that scorching flame bursting stronger than ever.

We had changed each other's life, even before we knew it, and even before we talked to each other.

We had the hard hits, but I knew we would stand as strong as we started.

It all started in that boxing room.

 The End.

# Epilogue

"Hello, may I help you?" The girl with the curls, who I'd seen hang out with my flower, looked up from her screen. I knew she wouldn't be working since she was in the hospital.

"Yes, I am looking for Henry Sailer I think his name was?" I answered.

She gave a polite smile. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but I think it's pertinent I talk with him, it's private." I shifted my foot back and forth.

"Okay, let me go check." She stood up and went around a corner.

After a minute, she came back out. "You are in luck. He has only five minutes before his next meeting, but he will see you now." She waved her hand over. I nodded and followed as she opened a big mahogany door and closed it behind me. His office was big; a lot of bookshelves and a huge window behind him. He sat down behind a thick, cherry-colored wooden desk.

"Please come in, how can I help you?" He finished what he was writing and then looked up at me and leaned back in his chair, holding out his hand for me to sit.

Huh, he really did look like an older version of that demon's little blond friend.

"I just need a minute and am hoping for your discretion." I started.

"Of course." He nodded.

"I am Violet Dabbs, Daisy's mother."

His bright-blue eyes shot up and he leaned forward. "Oh, wow, I think I see it now, she has your eyes." He pointed, and I mustered up a smile. "Well it is great to meet you. I don't think she has ever talked about her family much, except Dem."

I bit my inner cheek from screaming.

She loves me! And it's because of that damn demon is why she hasn't talked about me!

He stood up, came around, and held out his hand.

I didn't want to touch it. "Sorry, getting over a cold." I folded my hands in my lap.

He closed his hand up. "Oh, of course." He leaned onto his desk. "So, what can I do for you, so sorry to hear she's in the hospital. And don't worry; everything will be taken care of."

Huh, I'm sure. "Yes, well, I just had an inquiry, and I'd like you to be honest with me."

He crossed his arms. "Anything."

"Tell me about this Bullet man." He quickly stiffened. He knew more than what he's going to tell. "And please don't lie; I'm just worried about her safety."

"Mrs. Dabbs-"

"Miss," I corrected.

"Excuse me. Miss Dabbs. You have nothing to worry about; Bullet is capable of taking care of your daughter."

I'm getting nowhere with this idiot. "Where did he come from?" I prodded.

He shifted against his desk. I knew he was going to lie again, but with the glare I was giving him, he gave a heavy sigh. "He was part of a criminal organization, but don't worry, that was a long time ago." He finally answered.

So, he was a part of them... This may be easier than I thought.

He looked at his watch. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get going." He stood off his desk as I stood from my seat. "It was good to meet you." He held out his hand, but when I just stared at it, he folded it back up.

"Thank you, Mr. Sailer. And please, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep this between us." I headed for the door, him walking by my side.

"Of course." He opened it for me and I left.

ONE YEAR LATER

I watched as that bastard of a man came out of the building with his stupid blond friend that he was always with. I've kept up with both of them ever since they left and got more and more fuming mad at him taking my one joy in life.

It's his fault.

It is always his fault. Just like his father.

He turned her against me. Every damn day for years... He'd always kept her from me.

There she was, beautiful and breathtaking. Her yellow dress made her as bright as the daisy she is. And there were the damn other people that kept her from me, especially that big one, hovering close to her side like a leech!

How dare he threaten me!

I wanted to vomit when that demon collided into her arms and embraced... How I should have been holding her right then. They snapped more pictures.

Laughed, touched, and hugged.

That should be me with her, not them!

I glared at his stupid black hair as he threw up his hat and his stupid green eyes... Oh... I despise those eyes!

I felt my hands ball into a fist already.

It's his fault. He has to pay.

I saw a small, petite girl go up to them. Who was that? A classmate? A new girlfriend? I thought I'd seen her in the library with them? She was definitely looking at him like she was.

When she left, I watched her round the corner and lean against the wall, peeking back over at him. I looked over to him and my flower, and that killer, posed for more pictures... The demon took out his phone and started typing in it. I looked back at the girl and she looked at her phone and smiled, then continued to walk away.

"You are going to pay, and I know where to hurt you," I mumbled. I looked at the stupid buffoon towering over my flower. "And you will be taken care of too."

He continued to touch and hug her.

I couldn't look anymore. I turned and left.

I dialed his number. I hated to do it, but he was an expert in those things and our planning will have to go unhitched.

"Yeah," he answered and I always cringed at his voice.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

"Almost, just tell me when."

"Oh excuse me." The petite one that was talking to the demon almost ran into me. I just stared at her as she fixed her white frames. "Sorry." She gave a nod and headed to her car.

"I have some new developments." I watched as she took off her gown and threw it in an old green beetle.

# Bonus Scene

Willa

I searched for them as we all spread out, looking for our families. I knew mine wouldn't be there, so I looked for the closest thing I had. And there they were, coming out of the building, always together. Dean bounced as he skipped and Dem always looked like he walked on clouds, or it could have just been my own imagination, but he was perfect.

His smile grew so big. The biggest I'd seen and he was so perfect. He started running... Who is he-?

I found her, running toward him in a bright-yellow dress. She yelled his name and jumped into his arms. He wrapped his around hers and twirled in the air. He set her down and they stayed like that for a couple more seconds... at least before Dean said something and they pulled apart.

Oh geez, and she was gorgeous.

Freaking, undeniably, stunningly beautiful! Her brown hair was in perfect layers as it fell on her shoulders and back. Her skin is flawless, and her legs were long and lean in those nude sandals she was wearing.

Of course a perfect specimen like Dem would have an equally-perfect girlfriend. I thought he was dense to me trying to flirt with him... If that's what you would call it, but I guess it was because he wasn't interested.

Well, at least we graduated and I could say my final good bye and they can go off, marry, and have beautiful babies. I took a breath and started the heavy walk over.

Gosh I wish I had smooth hair like hers. I tried to tone down my thickness, but who was I kidding? As I approached, Dean and Dem sandwiched her into a big hug. Great, she had both of their attentions? Quit being obvious, Dean! And I thought he actually liked me. I should have known he was just like that with everybody.

I cleared my throat. "Um... hi." Just say good bye and get it over with. I pushed my glasses up a little as they pulled from their hug and looked at me. Oh, she is even prettier close up! Are you kidding me?

"Oh hey, this is Willora, Willora, this is Daze." Dem said.

She really has the perfect body. Her waist wasn't too tiny, but curved just right and those eyes, oh man, she had big brown perfect eyes with big lashes. I looked to Dem and then back to her.

Perfect.

They were perfect for each other.

Just say good bye and go.

I held out my hand and smiled.

She placed her hand in mine. "I'm his sister."

Huh? What did she say? I tried to hide my real feelings, where I wanted to jump up and down and scream and hoot into the sky, but instead, I did the other stupid thing I did when I was nervous. I babbled.

"Oh, wow, I didn't expect you to be--I mean, he has talked about you, but...um... I mean..." Oh crap, oh geez, someone stop me now before I say something stupid like, oh wow, so that's why you guys look super perfect, because you're related!

Dean leaned by me. "Breathe."

Thank you, Dean. I stopped and took a breath. "I mean, you can call me Willa, it is so great to meet you! Dem always talked about you!" He just failed to mention how you look or show me a picture of you... Oops.

"Willa." She took her other hand and held mine, stopping the shaking that I was doing. How the hell did I grab her hand with both, when did that happen? I'm crazy... just plain-ass crazy. I took another small breath through my nose and just stopped.

Just stop talking, let's go with that.

She smiled at me, and I liked it, it was really kind. "It is great to meet you, but I don't think I've heard about you." She gave a kind of glare over at Dem, but I couldn't help my heart plunging.

Dem never talked about me?

"She helped us study through college; she was a year younger, super smart! And now we got to graduate together." Dean piped in out of nowhere and then he did the unthinkable... He wrapped an arm around me. I tried not to react... No... Don't... Because then his sister will think I'm really crazy.

Just relax, chill out. Don't panic.

I looked at Daze, but I think I did do something, because she eyed Dean and me.

"Dean." Dem half-coughed and pretended to clear his throat, but I heard it... He was good at keeping Dean's touches to a minimum. Whenever Dean would step out of line, Dem would correct it pretty quickly and he caught on pretty fast.

"So yeah, that's our Willa." Dean said unfazed and took his arm off.

"Well, Willa, thank you for looking after my idiot brothers." She peeled our hands apart, and I quickly put them behind me so I didn't do anything else stupid with them.

"No, it was no problem. They kept me entertained." I looked over to Dem, and his smile practically melted me right there.

"Oh! Let's get a picture of you guys!" Daze went over to the big guy with the camera and started talking. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Oh. She's with him. She looked over at me, and I quickly looked away.

"Got any job offers, Willa?" Dem asked.

"Um..."

"You two, over here," Daze called out and pointed to us.

"Hey, what about--"

"In a second, Dean." She gave him a glare. He rolled his eyes and started talking to others that were standing to the side.

"I'm sorry; you don't need to do this," Dem whispered as he came and stood next to me.

"No, it's fine." I shifted a little, but he kept his distance. I'd been trying to get used to their touches and had gotten better. I didn't know how Dem picked up on it so fast, but maybe that was why we were good study partners... and why I was falling for him-- hard. He understood me like no one else.

"Dem, get closer, wrap your arm around her too," Daze called as she looked into the camera. He looked down at me and smiled, but he was still hesitant.

I mouthed it's okay, and he put his arm around me, slowly and carefully. The touch was shocking at first, but when it didn't hurt and felt actually warm, I relaxed under him. He surprised me by leaning his head on mine, making me look up at him. And for once, I loved having his touch.

"Ready?" Dem asked, and I looked back at the camera.

"Okay, say grads!" Daze called out.

Dem and I yelled grads at the same time and I gave a big smile, because I was actually really happy to be here with him.

"Me next, me next!" Dean ran up next to me, but didn't put his arm around me. He looked at me and smiled, like he was asking permission.

I was thankful for that. "Okay." I smiled back at him.

He gave a nod and slowly put his arm around me. I let it sink in that it wasn't hurting, and once I was in Dem's arms too, both of them on my sides, I felt...okay.

"Okay, say grads!" Daze said again and we did what she said. I felt a thump on my head and knew Dean was doing his bunny ears.

"I saw you!" I glared at him.

"Dean," Dem scolded beside me.

"What?" He shrugged like he was some innocent being.

"Dem, get him."

With no hesitation, Dem launched on him, throwing off his hat and messing with his blond locks.

"Oh, come on!" Dean whined and struggled under him and I just kept laughing. Serves him right!

"Okay, come on. Let me get a good one with you guys tossing your hats!" Daze called again and Dem gave him one more rub on his head.

"Geez, they're just bunny ears!" Dean was always good-spirited. He was laughing as he picked up his hat.

Damn, my hair. It's a damn curse, I swear. I took off my hat and tried to fix it. "Is my hair okay?" I looked up at Dem, who just smiled, but I knew he wanted to laugh.

"Here." He started to run his hand through my head and I kept still, staring at his eyes as he did it. Oh, his fingers were so gentle. If I just don't move, maybe he'll keep fixing it forever.

"Good to go!" Dem gave one more flick and smiled.

"Thanks." I smiled back at him.

Dean's uncle came up and started talking and so did the others, so then I felt awkward.

Maybe if I pretend there's someone else waiting, it'll give me an excuse. "Well, I have to go." I pointed behind me.

"We were about to go to dinner, want to come?" Dem invited.

I looked at everyone around and didn't think it was a good idea, even though I had nothing better to do. I shifted my foot and looked behind me. "Um... no thanks, but we'll keep in touch, right?" Since I knew he didn't have a girlfriend, I had to look away to hide my blush.

"Sure, you have our numbers." Dem pointed at Dean too.

Of course he means all three of us, not just us. "Right." I was about to leave, but stopped when I saw Daze and her camera. I really wanted pictures of us together. At least a memory that I had someone who understood me in my life. "Do you think I can get copies?"

"Of course." She looked at Dem. "Oh, but do you have a phone?"

She is like a damn mind reader! Like the best sister ever! I pulled it out and wasn't about to let this pass me by. "Do you mind?" I handed it to her.

"No problem." She gave her camera back to the big guy. "Come on, Dem, another. Do like before." She waved us together.

And then I was back in a happy place. He slowly wrapped his arm around me and leaned his head on me again, just like before. I couldn't help but look up and smile.

"Okay, say grads!" She called my attention back to the phone and I smiled big. Dean joined and she got more.

"There, do you want more?" She handed it back to me. I scrolled through the silly pictures of us and Dean and they were great, then I went through Dem and me and she took a lot! She just kept getting more awesome! And I actually looked happy and so did he! These are perfect! I wanted to jump up and down and hug her, but let's not act all crazy again.

"No, this is good. Thank you! And it was nice meeting you." I waved and started to walk off.

"We'll talk later, okay, Willa." Dean waved and Dem said bye at the same time.

I had to get out of there. What happens if this is the last time I would see them? It was starting to get to me and I had to go. "Okay!" I waved again without looking and turned the first corner. I stopped and leaned against it, tilting my head up.

I peeked back around the corner and they all looked so happy. So perfect. They all started taking pictures and then she and the big guy had their own photo shoot. They seemed totally opposite, but from how he wrapped around her and how she kissed him... they actually seem right.

My phone buzzed in my hand. It was a text from Dem!

This isn't good bye, we will meet again! Thanks for taking pics with me! I'll frame the good ones! Call me if you need anything. I mean it.

I sighed against the wall. Maybe this isn't good bye after all.

Tune in for Dem and Willa's story!

See cameos of Daze and Bullet!ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

We all have our scars, whether it be visible or not. I want to thank my husband, David, for healing mine.

I want to thank my unspoken friends (who are like family) who helped me even though they didn't know: Amy G., Sara P., Arvadia M., Alyxis B., Deb S., and LaTamra S.

I can spend years not talking to them, yet when we get back together, it's like we were never apart. They are one of the best; healing without even trying.

Shout out to New Adult Book Club on Goodreads! Thank you Derna for welcoming and helping me! Thank you to all the gals: Nicola, Micheala, LeAnn, Dee, and Karina!

Thank you to Alanna B. for providing feedback and always being there for me, right from the beginning!

To my editor Wendi and cover designer, Justin, thank you for your help and patience!

Thank you to all my readers and fans for supporting me! There will never be any words to say how much I appreciate each and every one of you!

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# About the Author

 Serena Kearney was originally born on the island of Guam, a US territory. She moved to Durham, North Carolina in the year 2002. In 2003, she met her high school sweetheart, and now husband, David Kearney. They live in their house with their spoiled cat, Bongo-Bongo. She has done a lot in her life, from working with animals to writing books.

She was never an avid reader in her younger days, but now, she can't seem to stop putting books down. Finally, she wanted to bring the same joy to people that the books she read brought to her. She wanted to bring out her pent up imagination through words. She self-published PNEUMA in November 2014.

She loves to hear from her readers and read their reviews! If you want to show some love, don't forget to leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads!
