Page 45 of Freestyle
“Put me down, Gray! Nix, help me out here, please?”
She kicks and screams, trying to get away. “You two are fucking crazy, you know that, right? I have to work! You can’t do this!”
“Keep your mouth shut, Rowyn,” I warn her, my grip tightening.
“Fuck you! You don’t tell me what to do, asshole! Now let me go!”
“You heard the man, Rowyn. Keep your mouth shut,” Nix says, stepping in front of me as he slaps her ass hard, eliciting a surprised yelp from her. She begins punching my back, her efforts futile but endearing.
As we step outside, the cheers from the bar fade into the night, but the tension between us remains thick. Rowyn tries to pull away from me, but I tighten my grip, my determination unyielding.
“Let me go!” she demands, her voice sharp with frustration. “I’m not going anywhere with you two!”
“Sure you are,” Nix replies, his tone dripping with condescension. “You think you have a choice? That’s cute.”
“Yeah, it’s adorable,” I add, smirking. “You really think you can just walk away from us? You belong with us now, whether you like it or not.”
I place her down next to my car. Rowyn glares at me, her eyes blazing with defiance. “I’m not your property, Gray! You can’t just bully me into doing what you want!”
“Bully?” Nix chuckles darkly. “Oh, sweetheart, this is just the beginning. We’re not asking nicely because we want to be your friends. We’re doing this because you need us to keep you safe from yourself.”
“Safe?” she scoffs, shaking her head. “You’re the ones making me feel trapped!”
“Trapped?” I echo, stepping closer, invading her space. “No, Rowyn. This is about protection. You can’t see it now, but we’re doing you a favor. You’re too stubborn to realize how much danger you’re in.”
“Danger?” Her voice wavers, uncertainty creeping in. “You think I can’t handle myself?”
I lean in closer, my breath brushing against her ear. “You can’t handle those guys at the bar. You think they see you as anything more than a pretty face? They’d chew you up and spit you out without a second thought. We aren’t letting that happen.”
Nix steps beside me, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “You can fight us all you want, Rowyn, but it won’t change a thing. You’re coming with us, and you’ll thank us for it later.”
“Thank you? For what? For dragging me away from my life?” she retorts, but there’s a tremor in her voice that tells me she’s wavering.
“Exactly,” I say, my tone low and commanding. “You think you can keep living this way? You’re too good for this place, and we won’t let you waste your potential on a bar full of losers.”
Rowyn’s expression falters, the fight in her eyes dimming as she considers our words. “I don’t need you to save me,” she insists, but the conviction is fading.
“Then prove it,” Nix challenges, crossing his arms. “Come with us and show us how independent you really are. Or stay here and let those guys continue to gawk at you like you’re some prize to be won.”
“Don’t you dare put that on me!” she snaps, but I can see the conflict brewing inside her.
“Then make a choice,” I say, leaning closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Stay and risk losing everything you’ve worked for, or come with us and let us show you what it means to be truly cared for.”
“Cared for?” Rowyn echoes, her voice shaky. “You mean controlled.”
“Call it what you want,” I reply, my tone firm. “But we know what’s best for you. You’re coming with us, and you’ll appreciate it.”
Nix smirks, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And if you don’t, we’ll just have to make your life a living hell until you do.”
Rowyn’s breath hitches, and for a moment, I can see the gears turning in her mind. “You’re both ridiculous. You’re not giving me a choice, you’re giving me an ultimatum,” she says, but her defiance is faltering, and I can sense her resolve crumbling.
“Ridiculous or not, we’re not letting you go,” I say, my voice steady. “So, what’s it going to be, Rowyn?Are you coming with us, or do we have to make this even harder for you?”
She hesitates, her eyes darting between us, and I can feel the weight of her decision hanging in the air. “You’re impossible,” she finally mutters, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Maybe,” I reply, a smug grin spreading across my face. “But we’re your impossible now. So, let’s go.”
With that, I take her hand, intertwining my fingers with hers, and Nix steps closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. The crowd inside the bar may have cheered for her, but now she’s ours, and we won’t let her go.
