Page 70 of Unbreakable

“Yes I did, Arianna. I decided it was time for us to meet.” I hear come from the man sitting in front of me and my heart drops.

Jade was right, he is a silver fox. He looks to be in his early, possibly mid fifties with dark hair, splashes of silver noted in it. He’s not the overweight man I envisioned in my mind. He is built, though a leaner muscular build. He has a clean shaven face and dark eyes. He’s wearing a suit, though the jacket is open.

“You know who I am?” he asks, but when I don’t answer quick enough he asks more harshly. “I asked you a question Arianna. Do you know who I am? I expect to be answered.”

“Yes, you are the man my father owes money to. The one I was supposed to marry.” I say in a shaky voice.

“Yes, my name is Alexander. Your time here, and this foolishness you have been doing, is coming to an end. You will not dance for me here tonight in this cesspool, but in my home. I’m being generous by giving you a week, I expect in that time for you to end these relationships you’ve been having. When your father let you come here, I wasn’t expecting you to become some wanton slut.” he says those last words leaving his mouth with repugnance.

“I expect you to be in your home in seven days, do not make me have to come back. I will be taking you to the doctor to be tested to ensure you have not acquired any diseases during your time here, as I do not plan to wear a condom, and place you on birth control. After we’ve been married a year, and I’ve had my delicious brand of fun with your body, which you will come to learn, you will bear my child. I will be proposing officially at your welcome home party, and I expect a show of happiness from you. Understand?”

“No, I’m not going with you. I told you that already.” I tell him firmly, refusing to let him know how much he intimidates me.

“I figured you might resist and say that. I have something to show you.” he tells me as he hands me a manilla envelope.

I slowly open it, only to become sick, balling them up in my hand as I gaze upon the images of my mother, hooked up to a breathing machine, her face black and blue, with a cast on her arm and both legs.

“Seems your mother had a terrible accident. Oddly enough, it was right after you sent me that text. It would be terrible if something happened to her in the hospital. Now do you understand what I’ve said? Your time has now changed to five days.”

“Yes sir.” is all I am able to get out before he’s stands from his seat and heads out of the door, nothing else is said.

I drop onto the chair that is closest to me and break down.

What the fuck am I going to do!?

Ten minutes later, I‘m still trapped in my thoughts when I hear a knock at the door and Hank’s voice.

“You okay in there, Arizona? I saw the customer leave and you haven’t come out yet.”

“Yeah, I’m good. Just wanted a short break before heading back out. I’ll be out in five minutes.” I yell back to him.

Wiping the remnants of tears from my eyes, I stand and move towards the mirror on the wall, looking at my reflection. I use my fingers to wipe away the mascara that had managed to smear on my face. I slap my cheeks with the palms of my hands a couple times to get a little color to my whitened face and plaster on a smile. I already know what I’m going to do. What I need to do. I take the pictures and fold them up, sliding them inside of my bra until I can put them in my locker. I don’t want anyone to come across them.

Heading back out to the floor, I see Hank standing at the bar with Jace and head over.

“You okay babe?” Jace asks immediately as he stands and makes his way to me, taking me in his arms.

“I’m good. Just tired.” I tell him, not a complete lie.

“Go home then, they can fuckin’ do without you the rest of the night. You need to rest.” He’s my giant teddy bear, fierce but loving to a fault.

“I’m good, I’m excited to do my next dance then I’ll see if I can go.”

“Okay. I’m gonna watch it, but then I gotta go. I’ll see ya tomorrow though.” he tells me, still holding me tightly as he leans down and places a kiss on my forehead then my lips.

I head to the back and change into my devil costume. These people are about to get the most amazing dance they have ever seen in their lives. Before I head to the stage, I pull out my phone and see there is a train leaving at two in the morning and book it. I’ll have just enough time to dance then go home and pack what I’m taking.

Looking around the apartment that’s been my home for close to a year, I can’t fight the tears any longer. I decide to leave everything, except the pictures and personal items the guys have given me. I also decide to only take a couple items of clothing and leave everything else.

I move over to the table and take a seat. Picking up the paper and pen I had placed there earlier, I start to write.

Knox, Draco, Bash and Jace

I write your names in the order I met you, not because one is more important than the other. I know me leaving is going to come as a shock to you. But there were things about my life I never told you, hell, never told anyone. Knox, you know from our first encounter I planned to be here for a year and then leave, you just never knew why.

I know I selfishly never said anything when the four of us talked about our relationship and what our future would look like. That was such a bitch move on my part.

What you don’t know is that I had a year of freedom that I bartered my father for. You see, my life, my future, was taken from me, stolen. My father is a terrible man, hell my mother too, though sometimes I wonder if she was conditioned to be the way she is. My father made bad business dealings and was broke and looking at charges for his bad business dealings. But someone bailed him out. My father then owed money to this man and he promised to forgive the debt, and take care of his financial problems, on one small condition. My hand in marriage.

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