99 - Rats

"His eyes were the same color as the sea in a postcard someone sends you then they love you, but not enough to stay."

-Warsan Shire

. . .

"This restaurant definitely has rats." Ashton provided his wrong input, looking around with his face unfriendly as heck. Ashton was dressed in a black t-shirt, dark denim and a dark blue jacket, all of which he wore like a model.

I sighed, sitting down on the window side of a booth. We were at a beautiful Italian restaurant and the Creeds were being a baby about it not having enough stars.

"This place has been here for years," I told them as they finally sat down. "It was established decades ago and has been passed down in the family."

"Must not be much profitable, judging by...everything," Zavier muttered. He was dressed in dark jeans, a maroon t-shirt and a leather jacket.

"The interior compliments the place. But...yes, a few things can use a bit of renovation."

"A bit?" Xerxes inquired. He was dressed in a simple grey t-shirt, denim, a black jacket and a grey beanie which matched the colour of his t-shirt. He looked really good in a beanie and he had worn it in a way with letting some of his front hair frame his face while his shoulder-length hair was down to its length.

They looked casual. Yet I could see the outline of guns in their jackets. I wondered why I didn't feel threatened by the guns. Or by them. I should have been scared of them, it would have been a logical thing after finding

out who they really were and then having a letter carved into me soon by their enemy.

But, after what through had told me. All I felt was...protectiveness and love. My heart broke every time I thought of what they had told me. Our conversation had been of mere minutes but they had lived that for five years.

I used to think that I had it hard. I was living on a cloud compared to what they had gone through. I could not imagine it.

Three brothers captured and tortured, hurt so much that they held the evidence on their skin and in the darkness in their eyes.

I thought of what Xerxes had said about Adrik.

He is suffering.

I knew he was. I knew they'd make him suffer. I tried to find that kind and sympathetic part of me, but I felt like Adrik himself had carved it out of me. I could not feel pity for who had hurt me to the Creeds.

I was glad dad was dead.

Still, I felt no sympathy.

As we ate in silence which was broken only by them still insisting that the food was bad while devouring it, I wondered where I would have been if they never saw me. The panic which came with the thought knocked the breath out of me. They had intertwined their merciless and blood-filled life into mine so much that they had fused. Now, there was no way out.

Not that I needed or desired one.

. . .

I was tucked in Xerxes's arm as we walked on the sidewalk. Ashton and Zavier were getting me brownies.

"Have you thought about it, baby?" I knew what he was asking. Paris.

"I feel like my mind's screaming at me. " I snuggled into him, looking around. "I need time."

"Okay. We have all the time in the world." I smiled. "We do?"

"I don't plan on leaving you alone." He looked down at me. "I need you. You know that, right?"

I nodded. "I don't plan on that either."

We stopped when we heard the car. It stopped beside us and Ashton stepped out, opening the door. Xerxes helped me in and then got in himself. He put my seat belt on, raising an eyebrow when I said I could do it myself, and the car started again. Xavier was driving with one hand on the wheel and the other on his lap, eyes fixed on the road.

I looked out of the window at the passing city. Tonight had been perfect, just walking around and shopping - too much of it. I had tried to pay, with all of my strength, but they took my card and were yet to give it back. When I accused them of stealing and gently reminded them of the laws they just looked at me like I had lost it.

Of course, telling three mafia bosses laws was something smart.

I relaxed back in my seat. My wound had started to hurt again and the last thing I needed was it not letting me sleep at night.

"We can watch a movie while we eat!" I presented my million dollar idea. They enhanced glances and then Ashton spoke.

"What movie are you thinking of?"

. . .

"It is scary," I agreed. "But you can fight the spirits and ghosts away, right?" I peaked up at Zavier who instantly nodded, settling me down on a seat of their home theatre.

It was large and had too comfortable seats. I knew I'd be asleep halfway into the movie.

"Darling, I'd usually not have a problem with you clinging to us. But I don't want you scared. You are hurt already and we don't want nightmares, do we?" Xerxes asked softly, kissing my lips.

I sighed. "You are scared."

"You do realise that those stitches are eventually going to come out and leave your assspankable, right?" Ashton asked mockingly, gripping my neck. "We can watch it. But we are not going to because you will get scared. Choose another one, clear?"

I squeezed my thighs together. Damn it. "Yes, daddy." "That's my good girl."

. . .