The next few days I tried to avoid Ryan. When I woke up that morning he wasn't there next to me and my bed felt weird and empty. The only time I would leave the apartment was to go out onto the balcony, the grocery store, and make my usual walk around town, helping out locals at the stores.

That's what I was doing now. I clutched my sides as the chilly wind blew through the streets. It's been really cold lately, much different from the normal sunny weather we usually have in South Carolina.

"Buenos tardes, Autie!" I heard someone call from the corner store. He was an older Spanish man in his early 50's. More on the chubbier side but he was extremely friendly to anybody and everybody.

"Buenos tardes, Mr. Rodriguez! How is everything?" I stopped my walked and approached him. I haven't come by to help out at the store like I always had.

"All is good! Except business is running a little slow. I got a letter from my boss yesterday in the mail! If we don't pay our bills in the next two months, we gonna have to close up shop!" He exclaimed running a hand through his black hair.

I placed a hand on his back and led him inside his store. He always felt more open when behind its safe walls. "Don't worry Mr. Rodriguez. I'll figure out some way to help. Maybe I could start working here for free so you could drop one of your workers." I suggested respectfully.

He glared and waved his hand in the air. "No! Never! I couldn't get rid of one my workers just because we're low on money! I have never even considered firing one of them, not even when Gabriel mix the milk and the ice cream price tags. These workers are like family. Never could I stop them from working here!" He insisted.

It was true, everyone who worked here were very close and acted as though they were joined by blood. Speaking of family, that's when the Janitor, Miss Gobber walked out of the back room.

"Hola Autie!" She exclaimed coming up to me and giving me a welcoming hug.

"Hola Mamá!" Everyone in the town who is a regular costumer here calls her that. Of course that's a small amount of people since Q-Mart wasn't a very big business.

I sat around and talked for about five more minutes before I looked down at my phone. "Well I have to go. I need to get to Maria's before it gets too busy. It was nice to see you two again. How about afterwards I come by and help with the cleaning."

Mamá gave me thankful smile. "It's about time someone offers to help me! Gracias Autie." I waved to them as I stepped out the door.

~*~

I rounded the corner and skipped happily to the Q-Mart. I had just gotten done with painting bright colors on the old sign at Maria's and was on my way there to help clean as I had promised.

I looked through the dirt-stained glass doors to the Q-Mart and saw a commotion going on inside. I burst through the doors and saw a gun be fired at a random customer. The bell at the front door rang as I enter. The man that had shot the bullet whipped around and put a gun to Mamá's head, while putting her in a head-lock. She screamed in terror.

He was wearing a mask as he stared at me. I looked at his eyes through the narrow slit in his mask. They were glossed with fear, and what I think was sadness. That sadness soon took over me when I saw what was on the "strange" man's wrist. It was the bracelet I had given Ryan. The one he wears at all time.

"Let her go!" I yelled. He instantly let go and walked towards me. He tried to hold my waist but I pushed him away roughly.

"Autumn please-" he begged quietly.

"Get out of here before you can hurt any more innocent people you asshole!" I screamed.

He looked hurt. Extremely hurt. But I just witnessed him killing a person. That's not something what to see a loved-one do. I started to cry when I saw him run off in a alleyway next to the corner store.

I went up and hugged Mamá. "I'm so glad you're all alright." I sobbed into her shoulder.

She pulled me back and gave me a sympathetic gaze. "Who was that Autie."

I glared at nothing in particular. Just the thoughts swirling around in my head. "Nobody important." I mumbled.

As I passed the limp body on my way out I choked on the smell of blood. Which only made me cry harder. I didn't run off like I usually would. I just walked the longest route possible home. Mainly because I knew Ryan would be there waiting to talk to me but also because I just need to think. That's something I need to do more often. Stop, and think. I didn't exactly feel a certain way right now. There were a million different feelings swirling inside of me at once.

While I was walking peacefully by myself in a deserted alley, I felt a hand tightly clasp my mouth and a strong arm pick me off of the ground.

"Let me go!" I tried to screamed. But it ended up sounding like, "Mef mi goo!", as his hand muffled my words. I tried to kick the stranger but it was no use. This person wasn't budging and only walked closer and closer to a white van.

Tears poured silently from my eyes and he whispered into my ear. "Oh princess. The things I will do to you." He sent an unpleasant shiver down my spine as he started to nibble on my ear.

"Let her go David." I heard a deep voice growl behind us. One that I instantly recognized as Ryan's.

"Or what?" Questioned the man, turning around so we could both see Ryan.

As soon as Ryan saw how frightened I was his jaw clenched. "I swear to god. Do one thing to her and the last thing you'll ever see if my fist connecting to your face."

"Oh yeah?" I could hear the smug tone in his voice.

"Yeah." Challenged Ryan, taking a step forward. As much as I hated Ryan right now I wanted to be in his safe and comforting arms.

"What if I did this?" The stranger asked, sliding his lips up and down my neck. I struggled harder but it didn't do anymore than it did before.

With one more step, Ryan punch the guy in the side of the throat, making sure he didn't touch me in the process. As his grip loosened I managed to bite down on his hand which made him immediately let go of my mouth. "Ryan help me." I whimpered, tear streaming down my face freely.

Ryan took one more swing at him but this time, his fist landed on his temple. Making him release me completely and fall to the ground. "Is he dead too?" I whispered while Ryan took me in his arms instantly.

"Come on we have to go. Now." He urged, ignoring my question. He put a hand on my waist and guided me through the alley, down another, and across a street to yet another van, this one was black though. I looked at Ryan, scared out of my mind. He hopped in the back first and pulled me in afterwards. I relaxed when I saw the rest of the boys sitting In back with us, with Dylan and Myah in the front seat.

"Look who I found." Ryan smiled at them all, trying to raise my spirits without letting the others know what had happened. But no matter what he did or say I couldn't forget the boiling anger inside of me.

Ryan sat down on the floor next to Logan and Andrew. "Come sit with me. It'll all be okay."

I glared evilly at him. "You almost killed my friends, not to mention you did kill an innocent person. I would rather be taken into the other van, than sit with you." While that's not true at all I couldn't have Ryan slip past that easily. I don't care what the reason was, you can't kill people.

The hurt expression in his gaze returned as all the others in the van tensed up. Ryan stood angrily. "What the hell Autumn! I just saved you from rape and possible death."

"Yet my comment still stands." I narrowed my eyes at him daring him to bring the argument farther.

"Oh my god! Are you serious right now? You know, sometimes you can be really selfish."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "At least I don't go around killing people. Good people Ryan. Who didn't deserve any of that." My voice cracked as tears formed in my eyes.

"You dumbass!" He yelled at me. "The person I shot took money from Henry! I was sent out to kill him! It was either me or him Autumn! Who would you rather it be?"

"You know, right now I'm kind of wishing it was you, Jack-ass!"

Everyone was sitting their silently listening to the intense argument happening in front of them.

"Maybe I should have just let that man take you. At least I wouldn't have had to be in the same area as you like I am now you little piece of shit!"

I walked up to him and smacked him. Hard. A red mark was forming on his skin where my hand made contact with his face. "Son of bitch!" He yelled clutching his cheek.

"If your so unhappy with me maybe we should just break up!" I cried.

His glare turned into a sad expression. His gaze softened and if I didn't say so myself it looked like he could start crying. But he wouldn't do that. Not right here in front of all his friends. "Autumn.." He mumbled.

"What?!" I yelled back. I've been hurt so many times I should be used to it. But to be honest I never want to be a person who is so used to pain, that it doesn't effect them anymore.

He grabbed the sides of my face with his hands. "Look at me." He demanded softly, turning my head.

As I looked into his eyes I didn't need to search for any type of emotion. It was all right there in the tears that were about to fall from his eyes. He was sad that I had even thought of something like that. And it didn't help that I yelled it out loud in front of everyone.

After a few seconds his gaze turned to stone again. No emotion was left what-so-ever. Just like the normal Ryan who I've gotten to know oh-so-well since I met him. "No. We aren't going to end like this." He gave me a small kiss, which made everyone around us turn away and pretended they didn't notice what was going on. When Ryan sat back down in the same spot as earlier, he looked more assertive this time. "Sit." He pointed to his lap and I obediently sat down leaning back on him as he wrapped his arms around me and gave my neck soft kisses. "But I swear if any other man touches you like that again, he will not live to see the next day." He grumbled against my skin.

~~ Hey everyone! Please check out my new book Alyssa's Journey! It is guaranteed to be my best book yet but is also a work in progress :) i hope you find the time to read the prologue.