Fight With Me (Fight and Fall) (20 page)

             
“I started asking people about her at school. I didn’t even know who she hung out with or who her boyfriend was. I figured if I found him, I would be able to understand her more.”

             
“I finally tracked him down, realizing that he wanted to keep their relationship a secret,” he says, his mouth twitching. “He was in my grade and even in a few of my classes and I even knew his name. I knew of him but I didn’t
know
him, dammit,” he breathes out.

             
“It was Marcus, Emma. The very same person that did this to you, killed my sister,” he says, looking pointedly at my face.

             
I shiver at the coincidence, everything about him finally making sense. The pieces of the puzzle finally are in place. I drop the bed sheet from my grip, crawling over beside him at the bottom of the bed. I put my hand on top of his in comfort, as he looks down at my knuckles above his. He stares deeply into my eyes, threading his fingers through mine, squeezing them gently.

             
“When my sisters’ body was examined after she passed, the coroner found severe bite marks and lacerations on her skin. I asked around and…found out that Marcus was known for rough sex, leaving his imprint on every girl he had been with. The autopsy found that there was cocaine in my sisters’ system, and I just knew that he had given it to her. She was always against drugs. and I knew that he got her hooked. I guess he was the go-to guy for drugs at my high school and I didn’t even realize it.”

             
“I confronted him one day after school, just before graduation, and he just laughed at me. He called my sister a decent piece of ass but a pathetic and needy drug addict who got what she deserved in the end. All I remember is wrestling him to the ground and getting a few punches in before Officer Mendez, the school security guard at the time, came over and broke it up. He told us to not let it happen again and that we were both free to go and forget it ever happened.”

             
His mouth twitches slightly as he pauses, remembering. I see the memories flashing behind his eyes, his expression of utter frustration and pent up anger. I know that feeling. It’s been keeping me rooted to the past, preventing me from moving on and into the future.

I remove my hand from his and I hesitate, instantly regretting what I’m about to do. I sit up, my knees planted on the mattress. He looks at me, confusion
appearing on his face. I move my hands to his midsection, wrapping them around his back, my cheek resting against his chest. He freezes beneath my touch, obviously shocked by the contact. I’m nearly as shocked as he is. I just wanted to comfort him and dare I say, be closer to him. He feels the same pain that I do, and he’s the only one right now that truly understands me. Not Lucas, Leslie, or even Aiden understand. Just him.

I feel his arms envelope me, holding me close to him. The human contact that I’ve pushed away for so long finally is getting to me. I start to shake, tears welling up within my eyes. I didn’t realize how alone I’ve truly felt and how good it feels to just be held in another persons’ arms.

I bury my head in his chest, sobs now racking my body.

“
Shhh, Emma. I’m right here. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I told you about my sister,” he says almost pleadingly.

“N-n-no. It-t-t-t’s not you. I, I’m the one that should be sorry,” I murmur into his chest.

“I just wanted you to know why I’ve
seemed so intense and engrossed with this case. I guess I have a personal vendetta against Marcus and knowing that he did this to you, well…it brought a lot of pain I suppressed to the surface again. I feel like I’m the reason this happened to you, Emma.”

“No, you…” I protest.

“No, listen to me. The reason I became a police officer was to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. I had a full scholarship to a university but I turned it down. I had no choice really. How could I live my life being so selfish when my sister didn’t get the chance at all? I made a vow to put Marcus away but I failed. I tried but he never slipped up. Not until you, Emma. Do you know how elated I was when I found out what he did? I finally had a reason to lock him up and then I saw you and…I was disgusted with myself for even feeling that way. How could I be happy, knowing what he did to you? When I saw you in that hospital bed, I almost became physically sick. The guilt and anger hit me all at once when I saw you. You were barely keeping it together and I just wanted to hold you in my arms and make it all go away. I imagined what my sister felt before she passed and then you…you were looking at me like you knew what I was remembering, as if you saw all of me. I could see the fire in you, Emma. Even though you were barely hanging on, you were still fighting,” he breathes out, stroking my hair with his fingertips.

“You’ve been through so much. I don’t know how you’ve managed to be so strong. First Arizona, now this. You’re a survivor, Emma,” he whispers to me.

I tense up against him, trying to figure out if I misheard him. I pull back away from him, my tears slowly dissipating. He keeps his hands on me, resting them against my waist.

“Emma, it’s okay. I know what happened to you when you lived there.
I had to know about your background because of the investigation. I would have never invaded your privacy if it wasn’t necessary. I’m so sorry about your husband and…”

“Stop!” I yell, hating the pity I see in his eyes.

I instantly close up on him, the painful memories of my past rearing its ugly head. There are some best left forgotten. Things that don’t need to be remembered.

“I’m sorry. I believe you, Emma. Those police officers should have been arrested for not…” he says.

I hear the bedroom door fling open, hitting the wall from violent force. I look over, Aiden’s murderous form gracing the doorway. I see him look down, noticing Colin’s hands still attached to my abdomen. He strides towards us and before Colin and I can react, Aiden has him pushed up against the wall by his throat.

I scream in horror and shock, trying to figure out how to diffuse the situation.

“Aiden, stop! Nothing was going on. Please let him go,” I plead.

“Fucking touch Emma again and I…”

“You’ll what, Aiden? She’s not yours anymore and I’m pretty sure, last time I checked, that there are repercussions for assaulting a police officer. You think that I can’t get out of this choke-hold you have me in? Get your hand off of me before you really irritate me. I won’t hesitate in taking you out. It’s your choice,” Colin says calmly.

I see Aiden squeeze his throat more tightly and I move over towards them, putting my hand on Aiden’s shoulder. I feel his shoulders relax, the muscles on his back slumping from my touch.

“Please, Aiden,” I say, my voice shaking.

I see him release his hold on
Colin, turning away from him and directly towards me. He moves directly beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist, pressing me closely against his side. If this isn’t a blatant display of ownership, then I don’t know what is.

I let him hold onto me, for fear of making the situation worse and setting him off once again. I won’t admit to myself that I actually miss his touch. I couldn’t possibly admit that.

I see Colin’s jaw clench, obviously not liking the situation. I can tell he’s angry that it seems like I’m siding with Aiden, when that’s the farthest thing from the truth. I’m not siding with anyone. I’m just trying to keep both of their teeth intact, saving them a trip to the dentist’s office. This pissing contest is unnecessary and confusing as hell. I can understand Aiden’s jealousy but Colin’s is just baffling. He barely knows me and I barely know him. Even though we both have a connection because of Marcus, it doesn’t mean that we have something deeper.

“Get the fuck out of my house. If I see you here again, you better have a warrant,” Aiden says to
Colin, his voice practically bouncing off the walls.

“Emma, you don’t have to stay here. You can come with me right now and I can find you someplace else to stay. Don’t think that you’re trapped here,”
Colin says to me, completely ignoring Aiden’s last comment.

“
You have the fucking nerve to talk to her?! I hear her yell and then I find her with tears in her eyes and your hands on her. You’ll stay the fuck away from her, do you hear me? She’s mine and I’ll protect her no matter what I have to do. Don’t think for one second that I won’t do anything and everything to keep her safe,” Aiden snarls, his body rippling with anger.

I quickly wrap my arm around his waist, making sure that he doesn’t act on impulse.
Colin continues to look at me and I realize what I have to do. It may not be the smartest decision but I’ve run out of options.  

“
Colin, please, just go. I’ll be fine,” I say to him, practically begging him with my eyes to leave.

I know he doesn’t trust Aiden but I do. Aiden would never hurt
me. He may be a jealous, hot-headed jerk sometimes but he won’t let any harm come to me. It may have taken me awhile to remember that deep down, I do trust him, more than anyone.

I see
Colin’s expression reach that of utter defeat. I close my eyes, hating that I put that look at his face. I know that he’s trying to make up for his sister’s death by trying to protect me. The only problem is that I already have a protector. Aiden.

“I’ll leave but I will be back. I’m not giving up, Emma. Just know that. I’ll let myself out,” he says turning on his heel and out of the room.

I hear the door slam and I flinch at the sound. His last words make me wonder if he was talking about more than not giving up on finding Marcus. Could his words have had a double meaning?

I feel Aiden withdraw from me, walking out of my bedroom without a word. I stand there dumbstruck, trying to figure out where to go from here.

A few moments later, Aiden renters my bedroom, his face void of emotion.

“I had to lock the door and set the security alarm. Not happy that I came back, Emma?” he says, his voice tinted with anger.

I just stare at him, not quite sure how to answer that question.

“Did he hurt you, Emma?” he asks me abruptly, his voice rough.

“No, it wasn’t like that. I put my hand on his and then…” I say truthfully.

“So you wanted him to touch you, is that it?” he says laughing harshly.

I see him rub his neck back and forth, the nervous tick making its appearance. I shake my head vigorously, realizing that whatever I say to defend the situation, he won’t care.              He knows what he saw and nothing, not even the truth, will pacify him.

He walks over to me, stopping directly in front of me.

“Touch me,” he says, his eyes almost baiting me.

I look away from him, not liking this game he’s playing. I don’t know what he thinks he will gain by testing me. My fists clench by my sides, hating myself for wanting to touch him with everything in me.

He moves his fingers to my chin, moving my face back towards his. He moves his lips only an inch away from mine, his warm breath tickling my skin.

“Use me. Pretend I’m him, if you want. I really don’t care, as long as you touch me. Here, I’ll help you,” he says, his eyes accusing.

He moves his hands down to my wrists, bringing my hands up and around his neck. I know I should push him away and stop this cat and mouse game but it’s no use. I move my fingertips back and forth against his skin, as I begin to see his eyes change. His pupils grow larger, obviously not expecting me to give in. If I wasn’t mistaken, I would’ve thought that he wanted me to reject him and admit that I wanted Colin.

I smile inwardly, realizing his game after all. I need to make sure that all doubt leaves his mind. I may have liked being in
Colin’s arms but not in the same way I do being in Aiden’s. I feel connected and remorseful towards Colin but that’s all. With Aiden, I feel everything.

I feel his arms move hesitantly towards my lower back, gently resting his palms against my shirt. He looks at me, trying to figure out
if I’m actually going to take him up on his offer.

I take my hands away from his neck, realizing that I need to take matters into my own hands. He removes his palms from my back, probably thinking that he pushed me too far and
that I’m going to kick him out of my room. He looks at me nervously now, his former confidence now obsolete.

I move my hands down towards the hem of my shirt, as I watch his confused yet rapt expression. I pull the shirt completely up, throwing it to the floor beneath us. I reach for my yoga pants, the elastic at the
waist running down the length of my legs. I look up at him, his expression confused by my sudden campaign against wearing clothing.

“I know who I’m standing in front of. I don’t need to pretend that you’re someone else.
Is this enough proof for you, Aiden?” I say to him.

He groans loudly, practically slamming his body into mine. He plunges his tongue into my mouth, knocking his teeth against mine. He moves his hands down to my ass, his nails biting into my flesh. I feel his arousal against my stomach, as he lifts me up against him, my feet dangling behind his legs.
I arch against him, as he moves his lips to my neck, sucking on the skin. He nips my neck with his teeth, moving down to my shoulder as he rains kisses across the sensitized flesh.