✧

My breath had been caught in my throat.

"What are you doing love?" She questions taking a step closer towards me.

My eyes are wide and my breath is ragged as I take a step back.

As I took steps back, her steps became closer and closer until I eventually hit a wall behind me.

She went up to me, her breath fanning my face and her aroma filling my nose with a mix of rose-scented perfume and the smell of tobacco.

Her hand came up from her side, making me instinctively flinch, but she didn't hit me as I expected her to. Instead, she stroked my cheek.

She had a malicious smile on her face as she gazed down at me; she was considerably taller than me, standing around 5'10, whereas my 5'4 self wished hard to be as tall as this girl.

"Angel picked a pretty one, hm." She says as she studied my appearance, she twirled one of my curls around her finger.

If I'm being honest, she intimidated me far more than any male ever could.

It could be because she appears to be a walking psychopath, but Michael is as well, so...

"Now, what are you doing untied?" She says this while faking concern.

I chewed on my bottom lip while keeping my mouth shut and looked at the ground.

Her hand suddenly came to my chin and lifted it up with her fingertips.

As my head returned to normal, I avoided making eye contact with her as she pulled my bottom lip out of my mouth with her thumb.

Before returning my gaze to her green eyes, I briefly glanced at the open door behind her.

"Baby, you need to talk; otherwise, I'm not going to mind messing up your pretty face even more."

I let out a shaky breath before returning my gaze to her. My fist flew from my side and connected with her jaw, taking her off guard.

She stumbled back, and I dashed up the steps to the door. I had just made it through the door, but there was a huge bulky man guarding the entrance, and he moved in front of me, preventing me from going any farther.

"No!" I yelled when I realised how far I'd come.

Suddenly, I was dragged back with a pull on my hair, causing me to yelp in pain.

My body had crumbled to the floor beneath me, and I staggered back.

The person who had pulled my hair stepped around me, her green eyes piercing into mine, all amusement had vanished, leaving only pure anger.

"Didn't think you had the guts." She laughs bitterly.

I whirled around to find that I was positioned exactly on the brink of the staircase, one small shove and I'd be in the hospital for weeks.

"I'm sure a few of broken bones wouldn't bother Angel." She says looking towards the bulky man beside her, he chuckles darkly.

"No, please!" As her foot approached my chest, ready to force me down, I screamed.

"What the fùck!" From behind her, a powerful voice boomed.

Delilah drew her foot back and rolled her eyes, an irritated grimace on her face.

"Get out of here, brother." She says, her voice low.

Francis looked down at me with wide eyes and rushed up to me, pulling me up off the floor.

I gripped his arms for support as he lifted me up with one arm around my waist.

"Your insane, leave her alone." Francis says looking at his sister with a glare.

"You don't have the authority to tell me what to do, now go back home." She says, reaching out to grab me.

Francis drew me behind him, as he glanced down at his sister.

"You said you wouldn't hurt her," Francis says gritting his teeth.

Delilah scoffs as he looks at him, then at me.

"That is, after all, her own fault. She chose to attack me, therefore I'll bite back. Stop being so immature, Francis, and hand her over to me." She says, a dark expression on her face as she stares at Francis.

"No." He says sternly.

"Don't fùcking test me, Francis; I won't think twice about hurting you." She says this as she takes a step towards him.

Francis fixed his gaze on her, and she locked hers on him as well.

"Keep her down there but I don't want another hand laid on her."

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" She sneers as she pulls his face towards her.

He yanked her hand away from him and straightened up, his figure towering over her.

"Delilah, that's all I'm asking." He says sharply.

Her jaw clenches as she returns my stare and then turns back to Francis.

"Fine." With a little smile on her lips, she says sweetly.

Her gaze returns to mine.

"Don't attempt to escape again, baby, because I won't be as kind as I am now." She says, coldly staring at me.

"Make sure he returns her back down there." Looking at the massive man, she orders.

With a glare on his face, he nods and turns to Francis and me.

"Your boy toy should arrive tomorrow; we don't want him to see your pretty face fùcked up any further, so stay put." As she turns around, she winks at me and bites her lower lip.

Delilah turns around, her red hair flipping as she walks away, and I stare at her blankly.

The man stands motionless, keeping an eye on Francis and myself.

Francis turns around and faces me.

"Come on," He whispers quietly, as he guides me back down the steps, holding my hand in his.

I'd just noticed the large folded blanket under his arm and silently thanked him for it in my head. I was practically a vampire due to how cold my skin was.

We made it down the steps, and he led me over to the little corner I was in; despite the fact that my back ached, I was finding some comfort in it.

As I gazed up at Francis, I sat back down in the corner, my back against the wall.

He took the blanket and draped it over me, caressing my body with its warmth.

"Thank you." I say quietly,

He nods and takes a seat next to me; I observe him with curiosity as his green eyes dart towards mine and he pats his leg.

"You can rest here. I'm not going anywhere because I don't want them to hurt you." He says with sincerity.

I look at him for a moment before nodding and resting my head on his covered thigh.

I wasn't complaining because it was far comfier than the smelly wall.

We sat in silence, neither of us saying anything.

"Are you afraid of her?" Playing with the ends of my hair, I ask him.

"Delilah?" He questions.

I give a slight nod.

"I mean, the things she does scare me, though I'm not afraid of her." He informs me.

"I suppose I can't be because I knew her before she became the person she is now. She wasn't always like this, but after our parents died, she became into a psychotic gang leader who dragged me into all of her crime." He clarifies.

I remain silent while I take in the knowledge he had given me.

"Are you?" he asks.

My expression is confused as I bring my gaze to his.

"Am I what?" I ask.

Afraid of her." He says.

I suppose I was, she intimidates me for sure, despite the fact that she was just another person like me with small psychotic intentions.

"I guess..." I reply, a little hesitantly.

"What did she mean when she said Angel will arrive tomorrow?" I ask him.

He runs his fingers through his hair as he glances up at the staircase.

"They figured his team would find this place by tomorrow, so he'd come here to save you," He explains.

Just the thought of seeing Angel and getting out of this mess makes my heart leap.

"She's not going to hurt them, is she?" I ask, slightly anxious for Angel and everyone else who will be helping me in my rescue.

Francis sighs and returns his gaze to me.

"Only if he agrees to give her his Mafia, otherwise..." He pauses for a moment, his gaze falling to his hands.

"Let's just say all hell will unleash."

Just those words made me cringe instantly, not liking the sound of it.

My mind drifts off as we return to silence.

*

A/N

I would like to say, please prepare yourself for tomorrow's chapter.

And I apologise in advance.

- lei