Lesson Twenty-Four - The Pain Of Today Is The Victory Of Tomorrow.
My focus was clearly on the bullet wound. I grabbed Riker's arm tightly when he flinched once more. I sent a deathly glare his way. He needed to stop moving or else we were going to be here forever.
"Will you stop it." I growled out as I released his arm once more. Blood was still running down his arm and my hands were covered in it. Just as well I didn't pass out at the sight of it or else we would be in serious trouble right now.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" He asked as he watched me grab the needle and thread.
"I've done these loads of times if you must know. My brothers were always killing each other or someone. Plus you seem forget I used to go out with Zane."
His arm tensed up and I knew it wasn't because of the needle that was now piercing through his skin. I looked up and seen that his gaze was focused on me. It was like he was trying to work something out.
"How did someone like you get involved with Zane Knight?"
I raised my eye brow at him pausing. "Someone like me?"
He rolled his grey eyes at me. "You know what I mean. Your family isn't like mine or his, so how did you get involved with someone like him. I'm sure your dad knows who is his family is, the same way I'm pretty sure he knows about mine."
I shrugged and finished off what I was doing with the needle. "My dad knows I can handle myself. Plus it's my life choice who I get involved with and what I get dragged into. I knew what I was getting involved in when I went out with him."
"Do you regret getting involved with him?" There was a pause before he continued. It was like he was deep in thought. "Being involved with his life?"
I cut the thread and stood up straight. I could see his question was one he wanted me to answer. I didn't know where he was going with all this but it seemed like something he really wanted to know.
"In honest?" He nodded his head and I sighed walking over to the sink and started to wash my hands. "No I don't regret any of it. There's something about that side of life that gave me such a thrill. I loved it, I loved the fear of never knowing what was going to happen next. I don't even regret going out with Zane. I'm a stronger person for it and don't take anyone's shit including his. So no I don't regret any of it."
"You know what I think?" I frowned at him but I was curious.
"What?" I asked not sure what else to say. I could feel him studying me, trying to work out every little thing about me. I was hard to read and I knew that and that's the way I wanted to keep it. The less people knew about me the better. I loved being unpredictable it was who I was and what I wanted to be.
"I think your loyalty to those that you are closest to is either what is going to make you great or it's going to be your down fall, Princess. I seen you with Sky when we were being shot at. I could see it in your eyes. You would do anything to keep her safe, your brother to."
I thought for a few seconds about what he said. I knew he was right but I was proud of that fact but I also knew it was one of my greatest weakness. "My loyalty kept me in some situations that common sense should have taken me out of. I will do anything for my friends and family even if that means ignoring what my head is telling me."
He looked down at his arm a smirk creeping its way onto his features. "We would make one hell of a team if we were in the same world that's for sure, Princess."
I looked at him carefully. "The reason why your dad wants control in our empire is to hide what you are doing isn't it?"
He put either hands on the side of the sink so I was trapped behind them. He was staring at me, looking for answers. He always seemed like he had to be 5 steps ahead of everything.
"In honesty we are making to much money from our dealings to keep it under the radar. We need something bigger to keep it hidden and what better way than one of the biggest empires in the world."
"Is that who those people were? They were after you because of the life you live."
He shifted slightly but didn't move away from his position. I could see every detail of his face, the sharpness of his jaw as he clenched his teeth together to the light freckles around his nose. He knew I wouldn't rat him out. I could see it in eyes as he tried to find a reason not to trust me.
"And what if they are?"
I shrugged. "It's none of my business but I will tell you one thing." I poked him in the chest my finger rest just above his heart. "If everything turns south with you and your family, and you take my family for everything we have built with you. I will rain hell on your ass."
He leaned in closer to me his face only inches from mine. "Why do I sense that's a promise, Princess."
I leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Because it is." I kissed him on the check and then pushed him away from me.
It didn't go as I had planned though. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me straight back making me collide with his chest. I tried to pull back but he wasn't having any of it and in that moment I remembered who he was. He could easily over power me if he wanted to. All that shoving and hitting I managed to do was what he let me do. He let me get away with that stuff all the time and it's funny how I didn't even noticed until now.
"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was deep and husky as he looked down at me his cloud grey eyes clashing with my ice blue ones.
I remembered the first time he had said that to me. I was leaving the school as he sat on the steps smoking. At that point my biggest worry was having both of our schools joined together now look at me. My life was a shit storm but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
The longer I stared at him the more I could feel my heartbeat getting faster. It was a weird feeling me and Riker standing here in my house together without one of us ripping the other persons head off. I didn't know if I liked it or not. Riker was always able to make me feel alive when we came face to face. It was almost like the rest of my life was nothing but a blur and maybe it was. Maybe there was more to life than just trying to make a success of your life. Maybe in life you needed to have that bit of craziness in order to say you truly lived.
"There is something about you Princess that I can't seem to put mind at rest about." His voice was low so low in fact I was surprised I could hear him. I knew though that even if a bomb went off right beside us now he would be the only thing I could hear.
I leaned in closer to him and I felt his grip hold me even tighter. "That something Riker is the fact that I'm a goddamn Queen that can go from being Royalty to gangster in zero point five seconds. You seen how Blake's men stood down by just the sight of me, now if I can do that to a mafia like his what the fuck do you think I could do with the rest of the world."
With that I pulled my wrist out of his grip and he let go this time. The smirk staying put on his face, I didn't know what was going through his mind but I could see with what I said I couldn't have put it any better.
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"Lyra!" I watched as Sky ran up to me soon taking me into a large bear hug. The girl was just full of hugs all the time. Me on the other had wasn't the most affectionate person in the world but for her I would do anything she wanted me to.
"What's wrong?" I asked her concerned as I looked over her shoulder to my brother for answers but he just shrugged his shoulders showing me he knew just as little as I did.
Sky pulled back looking over me carefully. It was like she needed to see me whole in order to make sure I was OK. Of course she would be looking at me to see if I was fine, she never really thought about herself when things happened. It was one of the reasons I loved her she was so selfless about everything.
She seemed to sigh in relief when she seen I was fine. "Thank god you're in one piece."
I laughed slightly. "I'm OK Sky don't worry. I can't say the same thing about Riker though."
It was almost like Sky remembered about Riker's arm as she gasped and ran over to him with worry all over her face. She reached up and gave him a hug and Riker stood there frozen not sure what to do. At first he looked like he was going to push her away but his eyes clashed with mine and I gave him a warning look. I seen his eyes softened for a moment and he gave Sky a quick hug back. This seemed to put Sky in a good mood as she pulled away.
"Is your arm ok?" She asked full of concern.
He nodded and turned his attention to my brother Damon once again. The softness in his eyes was long gone and it place a hard stone cold look took its place. He was now going to get down to business. I knew that look better than anyone.
"We need to go."
I seen Damon nod from the corner of my eye and seen that he had the same look on his face. They were going to plan out there next moves it didn't take a genius to see that.
"But your-"
"It's fine Sky, let them go." I said giving my best friend a warm look. I didn't want her to worry anymore than she already was. "They have stuff to do I'm sure."
Damon gave Sky a cheeky grin. "It's fine Sky I'll be home later don't miss me to much." He sent a wink her way and I seen my best friends face turn red.
I rolled my eyes at there exchange. As I did so I get someone rest there hand on the top of my head and mess up my hair. After a moment I noticed it was Riker who was now walking towards the door. I tried to fix the mess he had left as I sent a glare his way. Not that he would notice or car anyway.
"I'll see you later Princess."