Page 114 of On The Edge
I pull my shirt over my head, and gesture towards the bathroom to Kai. “It’s free if you want. The three of us showered, but didn’t use all the water.”
Kai nods, pulling his shirt off and climbing gently over the bed before closing the bathroom door. My eyes catch on Melody.My Reverb. Adam’s got his arms wrapped around her so tightly as they sleep, I can’t help but smile.
This whole dynamic might be a little odd to me still, but seeing him hold her like that and look so at peace? It makes me feel lighter. For the first time in years, it’s like I can breathe.
“I’m calling dibs. I’m laying right there beside her, don’t even think about it. When Kai gets out, we’ll talk,” Markus says, slipping in on the other side of Mel. I don’t know how Kai’s getting out of the bathroom now, but I don’t think any ofus really care. If I didn’t need to search through the phone, I definitely would have crawled in there myself.
I watch as he slides in, resting his hand over her arm, and laces their fingers together. Markus closes his eyes, pretty much instantly falling asleep. God, it’s so annoying that he can do that. It’s nearly impossible for me to sleep well with the nightmares… My heart beats harder in my chest when I realize.
The nightmares haven’t happened since Melody and I fixed us. Since she walked back into our lives. Since she forgave me. It’s her. She’s the reason why we’re all better. She makes us all so much more relaxed, peaceful, happier, than we were before. Of course, sleep comes a little easier.
God, I’m the luckiest fucker ever.
I step out of the curtain, and grab my backpack, not sparing a glance to make sure that bitch is in the galley where she should be. That’s my first mistake.
“Reis, Mr. Mathers, please. I didn’t mean anything bad by it.” The stewardess comes up to me frantically, and grabs my arm. I freeze at her hands on me, I’m not used to being touched without warning, and my initial reaction is to throw a punch.
My hands clench at my sides, my fingers tightening dangerously around the phone in my hand.
“Get your hands off me.” My voice is like a pitchfork through gravel, rough and ominous.
She lets go immediately, holding both of her hands up in surrender.
“Please, I didn’t mean anything malicious by it.”
What a load of bullshit. Idiot.
I shake my head and scoff. “People like you “never mean anything by it.” But that’s an outright lie, isn’t it? You always do. Fifteen minutes of fame, cash, some kind of payout from the magazines. Scum like you–people willing to sell private, sensitive information–are always looking for something. Andyou,” I growl, “you picked the wrong girl to fuck with. She’sours,and we’ll protect her with the full fucking weight of our names.”
Sarah’s eyes widen, filling with tears as she realizes just how much she fucked up. “I haven’t sent it to anyone yet! I swear!”
“Ahh, there it is.” I laugh maliciously. “You didn’t send it to anyone—yet. You haven’t sold us out—yet. You haven’t done anything you think is wrong—yet. But you know what? You’re not sorry you did it or of the effect it would have had on us, onher, you’re only sorry because you got caught.” I watch with a sick, cruel satisfaction as she crumbles and cries, because I know I’m right. More importantly, she knows I’m right.
“So… Thanks for telling me you’re an awful fucking human. I already knew that.” I bend over grabbing my bag roughly, and pushing past her to grab the basket of snacks we always have on here, and at least four bottles of water. The others can deal with this bitch when they get hungry or thirsty.
“I’m sorry!” She cries out, pulling at my leg as I pass her.
“Get the fuck off me,” I snap, and shrug her off.
“Oh god!” She wails, and I turn around quickly, getting in her face to shut her up.
“Keep your fucking voice down,” I snarl, fingers clenching with the need to cover her mouth so Melody doesn’t hear. If it wasn’t drilled into our heads not to lay a hand on anyone due to how easy it would be for them to sue us into oblivion…
“I’m so sorry!” She cries loudly, and I snap.
“If you say one more goddamn word on this flight, I will make sure that you don’t walk again. Do you understand me?”
Her eyes widen, but I don’t think she understands just how serious I am. There’s a look of disbelief in her eyes, so I lower my tone and press in menacingly.
“I might not be able to break your legs myself, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have people in my back pocket that won’t hesitate.”
Her jaw snaps shut and she goes mute.
“Depending on what I find here… you might be getting a visit from them anyway. So here’s the warning for you to give out to all your scumbag buddies. That girl in there? She’s off-limits. She’sours.And we protect what’s ours. To whatever end.” There’s a finality in my tone, and I absolutely fucking mean it. The words that I chose were awfully reminiscent of the first time some ass made an off-handed comment about Melody back in high school. I didn’t play about her then, and I don’t now.
Sarah nods, looking down at the ground, and the tears stream down her face.
I shake my head in disgust before turning my back on her.
