Arranged love

I look over at Grave, and he arches a brow at me as if to ask the same thing. I told him I love her. What did he expect? “We’re getting off topic,” I interrupt their conversation. “Derek, tell her what you told me,” I growl, getting back on track.

He plops down onto the couch and looks up at her. “I never told him that Lucky’s was in trouble. I ran into him at the Airport, and he asked if I knew you were fucking Cross.” He shudders. “I told him I didn’t give a shit who you were fucking. He laughed it off and asked how Lucky’s was. I said I had quit.”

“What were you doing at the Airport?” she asks. “Nothing good goes on there, Derek.”

“I was there with Ethan.” He shrugs.

I never thought to ask him that question when he confessed; he had spoken to Mitch. And I’m wishing she hadn’t. Grave drops the banana he was eating and steps into the living room. I move quickly, stepping in front of him. My hand on his chest. “Don’t,” I warn. “We’ll take care of it. One problem at a time.” I say the same thing to him that Titan had said to me.

His hard eyes go from mine to Derek, and his jaw sharpens. No one has seen or heard from Ethan since Bones kicked him out of Grave’s house the night of our celebration dinner for the girls. Guess that’s another problem Grave and April are having. He didn’t go into much detail but mentioned it to me in the car on our way to Alexa’s house earlier. April is scared because he’s gone MIA. And Grave just wants to find him to kick his ass.

“I promise,” I tell my best friend. “We’ll figure that out.”

“Were you doing drugs with him?” I hear Alexa bark at her brother.

“No.” he snaps as if that question was absurd. “I’m not a druggie. I’m not like him.” He points at Grave.

He shoves me out of the way and runs for him but I’m quicker. I grab his shirt and push him back. “Stop!” I shout.

Alexa has put herself between her brother and Grave. As if she was going to be able to stop him. Derek is up and jumped over the back of the couch, needing it for protection. Bones is now behind his brother while Titan stands beside him.

“One problem at a time.” I repeat, rubbing my temples. I’m fucking getting a headache.

“I’m going to kick your ass.” Grave warns, pointing at Derek.

“What’s the problem, Grave?” Derek smirks, feeling cocky. “April finally come to her senses and leave your ass?”

Grave runs for him again and I jump in front of him while Titan and Bones both grab him. “He’s not worth it man,” Titan tells him.

Grave shoves us all off and storms toward the door, picking up a glass bowl that sits on a shelf in the foyer, and turns throwing it right at Derek’s head. He ducks just in time, and it hits the marble floor shattering to a million pieces. Then he storms out, slamming the door shut.

“Jesus.” Derek breathes, relieved he didn’t just get knocked out for the second time today. “What the fuck is his problem?”

Bones runs after his brother while Alexa turns on hers. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She shouts at him.Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

“I was just joking about him and April.” He points at the door. “Not my fault he can’t take a joke.”

She just shakes her head at him, and I see tears start to build in her eyes. “April lost the baby, Derek.”

His face falls, turning white and his mouth forms an O shape. “I didn’t … I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me.”

She holds her hands out wide giving out a rough laugh. But I see it’s to hide her sadness. “Why would I tell you anything to do with the Kings? April? Or myself at this point? You hate all of us.” Sniffing, she pushes some loose strands behind her hair. “Just go.”

“Alexa.” He comes around the couch and reaches out to her. “You know that’s not all true.”

But she lifts her hands. “I’m tired, Derek. Just leave.” And with that, she turns and heads to my bedroom, softly shutting the door behind her.

ALEXA

I SHUT OFF the light to Cross’s bedroom and fall face-first down onto it just as the first sob hits. I bury my face into his comforter, hoping it drowns it out. I don’t want them to hear me breaking.

I’m so fucking tired. Everything seems to continue to pile on, and I can’t breathe. Plus, with the lack of sleep I’m getting just makes it all worse. I need to go home and get some rest. When I’m here, I spend my time working at Crown and fucking Cross. My body needs rest. But Cross already said I can’t leave. Now I’m stuck here because my psycho ex probably set my bar on fire. Who knows why?

My boyfriend punched and branded my brother. Grave wants to kill him. I can’t say I blame him. Grave is already fragile, and I know Derek’s words hurt him. I could see it on his face, let alone the actions that followed.

I haven’t been able to talk to my best friend for weeks because she’s dealing with her own problems that she won’t discuss with me.

And Cross? I’m in love with a King. And even though he just showed me who he really is, I still love him. I should hate him, but I can’t. He was protecting me. Even if it was wrong.

I saw the burn mark that was on my brother’s chest. It matched the ones that I saw on Cross’s back the night in his bathroom. Someone used to hurt him. The tattoo of the burning cross is to try to cover the scars.

It makes my chest hurt but explains so much about him. It makes me love him even more. I just want him to know that he’s loved and that someone cares.

Pulling away from the comforter I take in a deep breath trying to calm my breathing. Then I crawl up to the pillows and lie down on my side, curling up into the fetal position, I close my eyes and yawn.