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Him

I left her there, eating alone in a cave full of lions. They were ready to tear her up. Though I was used to hearing my name being whispered in the halls, I wasn't used to hearing her name. Micah was a fucking asshole.

I was so in my thoughts that I didn't see him in the hallway, and only returned to reality when his shoulder hit mine.

"Watch where you're fucking going, ass," He spat.

I stared down at him, clenching my jaw. It was taking all of my strength not to punch him straight in the jaw. I only raised an eyebrow at him, trying to stick by Inesa's words; he's not worth it.

I turned away from him, not wanting to waste my time with him nor risk my sanity. If I got into another fight, I would for sure be expelled.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" He yelled at me.

I stopped walking, gripping the straps of my backpack before turning around to face him, "What?" I scoffed.

"You need to stay away from Inesa."

"Really?"

"She's my girlfriend."

"I thought you got the memo," I cocked my head, a smirk playing on my lips.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm pretty sure you sticking your little dick in Liz ended that."

His face turned red and the veins in his forehead bulged. He took a step back, winding back to send his fist toward my face. I rolled my eyes, catching his hand before bending his arm back and pressing him against the wall.

"Watch it. Don't start something you can't finish," With one last shove, I walked away. There was nothing to gain by being hotheaded.

His quick footsteps on the tile floor alerted me to his advance and I spun on my heels, throwing my arm back and landing my fist on his face. He groaned, falling back and pressing his hand on his cheek.

I chuckled, exiting the building with a smile on my face. It was quickly sedated but the sudden buzz of my phone in my pocket.

I fished it out, seeing Kevin’s name on the screen, “Hey, man.”

“Hey, Kian. You need to come home.”

“What’s wrong?” I looked around, the bell ringing to signify the end of lunch hour. His voice was serious, sending my blood into a panic.

“Jacob’s minions are here.”

I pursed my lips, nodding before I realized that he couldn’t see me, “I’ll be right there.”

I hung up, placing my phone in my pocket and walking to my car.

I drove fast, my nostrils flaring as I pulled into the driveway, noticing the black, nondescript car on the street.

"Fuck."

I slammed the front door behind me, freezing in my spot as I looked at Kevin, who sat awkwardly straight on the couch. He smiled at me, and waved his hand, nervousness playing on the edge of his lips. He looked to the man that stood closest to him, Brone, who had his arms across his chest and grumbled before rolling his eyes.

“Jacob’s been trying to reach you, Kian.”

I heard his deep voice from the kitchen and turned toward him after he clicked his lighter, a cigarette filling the house with smoke.

“Don’t smoke in here,” I muttered.

He smirked, raising an eyebrow before scoffing, “You’re ignoring his calls.”

I chewed on my lip, trying to sensor the words that built up in my mind before they spilled from my mouth, “We had a deal.”

Ozul shrugged, letting the cigarette balance on his lips as he spoke, “Jacob is in the position to be able to break deals, and you are not in the position to be able to refuse them.”

I clenched my jaw, looking away from him and catching the teasing smirk on Brone’s face.

“You had to bring the muscle,” I looked back at Ozul, “Too afraid to face me yourself?”

Ozul looked bored, lifting his shoulders in a long inhale and letting the smoke out through his nostrils, “He’s giving you three days to make up your mind. Call him back or he will drag you back to the hell you thought you had escaped.”

“So I have no choice?”

He shrugged, “You can choose to be a willing participant or not. That’s your choice.”

He lifted an eyebrow at Brone, nodding toward the door. Brone grunted, his stomps shook the floor as he walked past me and out the door. He was at least a foot taller than me, and was made of nothing but pure muscle. I shuddered, remembering how he had left men who stood in his way. Unrecognizable.

Ozul chuckled, following him out the door, dropping his cigarette by the door, inside the house. I slammed the door behind him, hearing his chuckle as he walked away.

I looked over at Kevin, who was pale, his features open with obvious fear, “Fuck, man. You’re deep in this shit.”

“I told you.”

“Fucking Kento-“

“Don’t,” I warned, only realizing then how tightly I had my hands in fists.

My palms ached and adorned crescent moons from how hard my nails had pressed into my skin.

“Sorry,” Kevin whispered, sighing as he scratched the back of his neck, “What are you going to do?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, irritated, and slammed my hand hard against the wall “Did you hear a fucking word he said, idiot? I don’t have a choice!”

He flinched and pressed his lips tighter, seriousness covering his eyes in shadow.

He nodded, “Let me know if I can do anything for you, brother.”

I exhaled and threw my head back, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I never meant for you to get caught up in all of this,” I brought my head back down to look at him, “I never thought I would get caught up in this.”

He nodded again, “Sometimes we aren’t dealt the best of hands.”

I knew he understood perfectly, some of the pain I experienced. He had lost family and friends, just like I had. It didn’t help to have a drunk for a father and a druggie for a mother. Yet here he was, alive, and for the most part, a good person.

“Yeah, tell me about it.” I chuckled, before worry turned my features into ice. “I’ll uh, be in my room. Thinking about all of this.”

“Yeah.” His voice was soft, and I could tell he was worried. Afraid even.

I walked past him, not wanting him to see me break down, and made my way to room. Slamming the door shut behind me, I slumped to the floor, letting my shoulders shake and my head fall to my knees, tears streaming down my face.

What had become of my life?

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