Page 12 of Most Of All

Swallowing my frustration, I continue, until eventually, I find something. Raine’s parents, Howard and Rose Marks, took Jack in before his mother died. That doesn’t give me a reason why he would be following Raine. Is it a brotherly thing? Or are they actually a thing? Regardless, she is mine now, and nobody touches what is mine. Rubbing my hands down my face, I lean back in the chair. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. I won’t disturb her now, but this is a conversation that I will need to have with Raine. I need to find out what they are to each other. My mind won’t settle until I do.

OhGod.Err…Whatthe fuck happened to me?

I feel like I have been run over by a truck. My whole body is screaming at me. Rubbing my eyes several times, I try to adjust to the light. It doesn’t help much. It only causes my head to throb more. Taking a moment to gather my strength, I get up from what I hope is my bed. With a slight shake in my legs, I steady myself. Slowly, I make my way to the bathroom, holding on to any bit of furniture I can along the way. It really does feel like I have just done ten rounds in a boxing match.

Leaning over the sink, I take a second to catch my breath before I reach a hand up to the cabinet overhead to grab some painkillers. I pop a couple of the pills into my mouth and run the cold tap until it’s freezing. I cup my hands to gather water and swallow a large mouthful. My throat must have been drier than I expected because as soon as the cold water hits, it sends a shock down my throat, causing me to spit out the tablets. I cough and splutter water everywhere. I pop another couple of pills and carefully sip the water this time. Once they’re down, I sink myself to the floor; I just need to lay here and wait for the pills to take some effect.

I must have fallen asleep on the bathroom floor while I waited for the medication to kick in. I pull myself up, using the sink to help me, taking my time to make sure I’m steady. I feel better than earlier, but still like shit. I still can’t recall what happened. Last thing I can remember is coming home after searching for Raine. Shit, Raine… Where’s my phone?

With a sense of urgency, I head to the bedroom to search. I ransack everything with a desperate need, but I come up short. Then I do the same in the living room, and kitchen after. Exhausted and completely out of breath, I flop down on the kitchen stool. I try to catch my breath and wait for the slight nausea to pass. Once I feel somewhat normal again, I head to search the office.

What the…No... No... No... It’s empty.

All my files and research are gone. All that’s left is the desk, the monitor, and the stupid fucking chair. Even my diplomas are gone off the wall. As the suffocating wave of a panic attack crashes over me, I grip the door frame tightly, using it as an anchor. My heart races, pounding in my ears. This moment will not defeat me. I dig my fingers into the wood as the panic slowly recedes. But as the fear subsides, it leaves behind a smoldering anger. “FUCKING HELL!” I scream out, gripping my hair with both hands tightly. Unable to contain myself, I rush forward into the room. Picking up the monitor from the desk and lifting it up over my head, I smash it against the nearest wall. The impact causes a loud, shattering bang.

“Fucking years,” I yell over and over. I gave up my life for this. Now, it’s all gone. Stepping back, a moment of unease settles over me, did I do this? No… There is no way I would have done this. I glare down at the now broken monitor. The moment of unease washes away, rage again fills me fiercely. I start kicking the screen hard and continue kicking, only stopping when a shard of screen flies up and hits my arm.

Glancing at where it hit, it’s only now that I notice the marks on my wrist. The raw marks erase all doubts I had about what transpired. This was not self-inflicted. This was done to me, and I think I know exactly who it was. Grey Archer. That son of a bitch is not getting away with this, even if I have to kill him myself; this stops now. Choosing not to dissolve my anger, I will embrace it as it settles deep within me, allowing it to fester and bloom. From now on, I will do whatever it takes, no more playing by the rules. It’s time to get my hands dirty.

Wakinguptoasoft knock, I bolt up in the bed, forgetting where I am momentarily. I feel slightly lightheaded. It’s either from all the sleep or from the painkillers I have been taking. It takes me a second to get my bearings. “Come in,” I answer, trying to sound sweet. But it comes out croakier than I hoped. Clearing my throat. I repeat, “Come in.” The door opens with a creak and Linda steps in.

“Raine, love, how are you feeling?”

“I'm ok, a little lightheaded, but good overall.”

“Good, good, do you need me to help you to the toilet or anything?” I was on the verge of saying yes but then remembered that my entire bottom half is naked, leaving me feeling exposed, so instead I reply, “No thank you, not right now.”

She smiles at me sweetly. “Alright, love, you let me know when you are ready.”

“I will, Linda, thank you very much.”

“It’s my pleasure, love, I will be around all day, you just let me know.”

With that she turns to leave, crashing into Don on her way out. “Oh, I’m so sorry, sir, I didn’t see you there,” she says to him with a light laugh in her voice.

He chuckles at her before turning toward me.

“How are you feeling, how’s the leg?”

“Better, thank you.” I scan the doorway to make sure Linda has left before I whisper, “I’m bursting to go to the toilet. Linda was going to help me, but I realized that my entire bottom half is naked, so…”

He lets out a hearty laugh, he’s always laughing at me. “Do you want me to help you, Sweetheart?”

“No,” I snap, disapproving of the fact that he’s laughing at me. “Could you just pass me my pants from the floor, please?” I snap again.

He hands me my pants from the floor with an apologetic look. Then, giving me some breathing space, he walks down to the edge of the bed. Shoving my pants inside the duvet, I pull them up the best I can. With the mood I’m in, I don’t want him glaring at my naked backside. I toss the covers off then sit up. Searching the floor for my underwear I can’t seem to locate seems to be pointless, because I don’t see them anywhere.

“If you're looking for your underwear, don’t bother.” I shoot him a questioning look. “There are clean clothes in the bathroom waiting for you.”

“I’m not wearing one of your hussies' clothes, thank you very much, clean or not,” I bite.

Testing to see if my injured leg can take any weight, I stand up. It’s still sore, but nowhere near as bad as it had been. Ignoring Don, I start to hop my way over to the bathroom, stopping several times along the way. I glare back at him once I have reached the door. He’s being overly quiet and for some reason it doesn’t sit right with me. He’s sitting on the bed, staring at me intensely, causing me to swallow with a loud gulp. Standing up, he slowly makes his way toward me. His eyes are dark and wild. As he approaches, I stiffen.

“The clothes were bought new for you, they are not… What did you say? ‘My hussies.’” His tone is hushed, and he continues to step toward me. Tapping me gently on the tip of my nose with his finger, his tone lowers more as he whispers, “I think after everything, I deserve to keep your underwear, don’t you?” He’s standing so close now, just a breath away. I can feel warmth radiating from him.

My heart races as my mind struggles to find the right words to say. The moment hangs heavy between us, charged with unspoken tension. “Cat got your tongue, Little Wasp?” Blindsiding me, his hand grips my throat tight, but not too tight that I can’t breathe. My pussy clenches, causing me to squeeze my thighs together. He presses his forehead against mine. His heavy breath brushes against my face, sending a shiver down my spine.

“I don’t know what you are doing to me, Sweetheart, I can’t…” he whispers, his tone full of tension. He doesn’t finish what he’s saying, just leaves the words unspoken. God, why am I so turned on by this? Backing up, he lets go of my throat. Instantly, I miss his touch and the warmth it brought me. “Shit, sorry your leg, you shouldn't be standing for too long.” Giving me a shock, he scoops me up, walking me into the bathroom until I’m sitting me on the closed toilet seat. “I will let you get yourself sorted, then I would like to have breakfast with you before I need to head out.”

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