Page 25 of Leather & Lace

Later on that night, after we returned home and had passed out in bed, I heard something loud crash fromdownstairs, starling me out of a deep sleep. Jenny jumps up in fear, sweat beads starting to form on her forehead. I can hear yelling and screaming downstairs.

I grab my gun that is strapped under my nightstand and tell Jenny to stay put. I sit by my door and listen closely with my ear pressed firmly against it. Then, I hear Eli’s name being screamed by Brook. I threw my door open and ran down the hallway to the stairs and the commotion breaking out. I know he is in an episode. I just hope it’s not directed at her and it’s not too late.

CHAPTER 13

ELI

I need to get away. I need to get away from her. I have snapped. I fucking pushed her into the fridge, sending her to the floor where she cut her hand open on broken glass. All because I couldn’t control my rage.

My bike rips through the small country roads, heading towards the freeway. I can’t hear anything over my pounding heart and screaming thoughts.The Redby Chevelle, blares inside my helmet speakers.

I almost killed him.

I really hurt Brook. What the fuck did I do? I hardly remember anything but the pounding in my ears. It’s all a blur. His hands touching her...her yelling for him to stop when he wouldn’t let go. It just sent me over the edge. Everything went dark at that moment. So fast.

I know he wants her. I know he is fucking obsessed with the thought of her. I heard what he said about me. It’s all true. So, why am I so pissed off? He painted the perfect picture of me. Iamthe monster he portrays. The demon that will ruin her. Maybe that is what I was trying to show her.

That she would be safer with a normal, mentally stable guy like him. I let her see the true devil that lays under my skin tonight. Its brutal, poisonous claws that sunk deep into Chase’s neck. My fucking hand is shooting up blaring pain through my arm. Definitely broke some bones in my knuckles.

The rage and darkness are still vibrating through my veins. The farther away I get from her, the better. I was a fuckingfool to believe I could be anything less than a fucking animal with her. I am sure she is probably terrified of me now.

Her Aunt would surely never want her to be with someone like me. My shadows have finally accomplished their twisted plans. That I would stay utterly alone in this world. To stay in their full control. The sick games they play with me. Pain and power are all that consumes me.

I need to get far, far away. I can’t let myself snap like that on her again. It is too hard to control. She is an innocent angel that my inner shadows want. They aim to drag her down into hell with me. When my beast takes over, all I see is red. She kissed me. That one act of her soft lips on mine, broke that hold. Her light beamed into my darkness like a lighthouse in the middle of a dark storm. She broke that hold so easily.

The hold I could never escape on my own. She must know the effect she has on me. To break through my rage so easily. That...I can’t allow it. I can’t afford to show any weakness, because I know that even if she can break it, it will never go away.

I can’t allow her goodness to provoke that darkness that lies embedded deep in my soul. I can’t let her in. If I do, she will never escape me.

Hitting the freeway, I kick my R1 into sixth gear, and fly. Weaving in and out of the blurring cars, I scream at the top of my lungs. The adrenaline pumping through my veins is the only thing keeping me from turning back around and ending what I started. I fly like death isn’t an issue.

That if this is the way I go out, then so be it. I will gladly meet the reaper and give him my middle finger and smile. Fuck that guy. I will take his job.

Catching a pair of red and blue lights behind me, I crank my bike up on one wheel, and speed off in between cars, making my way to two semi-trucks. I split through them, letting myhands spread out to touch both trucks, gliding them on the cold metal beds.

I pass through them both, then take the next exit and speed down the quiet back road. I see the lights fly by on the freeway behind me. I laugh and continue down the deserted road.

I pull into a gas station grabbing smokes and a pack of beer. I crack one open and let the fizzy wheat taste slide down my throat, chugging it fully. My phone has been vibrating off and on for the past hour. I check to see, and it’s Dane. I don’t want to fucking hear it. I know I went too far.

I fucked up, but he fucking put his hands on her and tried to sway her away from me. Probably for his chance to get his own fucking dick wet. I was on my fourth beer and sixth cigarette when my phone went off again. The morning sun is starting to peek its way up behind the sleeping mountains. I decided to answer.

“What?” I say in a low growl, blowing smoke out of my mouth from the lit cigarette that hangs off my lips.

“Fuck, man!”Dane’s voice trembles on the line.“Dude, where the fuck are you? Are you okay? What the fuck happened!”

Taking a deep breath, and after I exhale, I answer, “I’m fine. I just needed to get away.” Thinking back to Chase, guilt starts to rack into my stomach. “Is Chase okay?” I asked with hesitancy. Even if he had his hands on her, or was warning her about me, he still didn’t deserve that kind of wrath.

“Dude, you almost killed him. But yeah, he is okay. He had hardly any idea of what happened. He left shortly after you, once he calmed down.”

“That’s probably for the best,” I say in an irritated voice. “It’s probably best if he stays away for a while.” I take another sip of my beer and a hit of my smoke.

“Man, what the fuck happened? I love you dude, but you were… gone.”His voice shutters.

“He shouldn’t have touched her,” is all I can make myself say.

“Wait, this is about Brook? What do you mean he touched her?”

Shaking my head I reply, “Just let it fucking go.” Thinking about Brook I ask, “Are they still there?” I don’t even know how I will face her again. I am sure I probably scared the hell out of her. I hope she is long gone.

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