THIRTY-FIVE

*NOT EDITED*

*I JUST WANTED TO POST TO WATCH TWD EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY WATCHED THE EPISODE*

THIRTY-FIVE

There wasn't much I should have expected from this car ride. No sort of conversation was going on, silent between both men and I ended up thinking about how further away from being rational I could be from now.

When a scary looking man, who could pass as both a superhuman from an alternative universe and a supermodel with blinding features, comes to your door and says you have to go with him... you just don't go with him.

Whether I knew Nolan or not, there was something about being rational, thinking twice before acting like I was totally in control and acting as though getting requests from bosses was nothing out the ordinary, that somehow passed over my head.

I looked down at my hands that were firmly clasped together, my finger nails digging into my skin. If I didn't look so nervous, my hands would be a dead giveaway.

Come to think of it, they were really not helping my in-control demeanour.

I stopped focusing so hard on my hands since it was doing me no good, and instead opted to look out the window. I didn't give my head a moment to gather its thoughts because I didn't want to think of anything. Thinking things through seemed like a foreign thing to do right now. I wasn't thinking before this morning, I was sure not going to start right then but instead just see where this no thinking Orianna was going to take me.

Mace and Nolan were quiet throughout the whole ride, and even thought I tried to get something going, five minutes in, I knew it was best to keep my mouth shut. Nolan seemed like he had something in his mind. And Mace just seemed like the type who didn't talk.

Mace. His name didn't exactly spell badass but everything else about him did. He looked like he worked for some secret government shit, or some top mission where only the best of the best were recruited. He looked like someone you didn't want to mess with, like really didn't. And it didn't help that he was just very quiet. For me, it just added to his badass persona.

"Erm-" I started to say, albeit in a very small voice since a part of me was hoping they didn't hear me. But there was no point in even finishing off, since my unvoiced question was already answered.

Nolan came to a half infront of a massive, towering building, the long steps leading to a pair of glass doors. Uncertain whether this was the place to go, I didn't get out the car for a while, until the door flew open next to me. Mace was standing there, looking me in the eye and silently telling me to get the hell out the car. I glanced at the passenger seat, slightly shaken up since I didn't even hear him get out - let alone see him get out.

Mace seemingly inpatient at my slowness, reached inside and tugged on my arm. "Let's go," he said in a low voice.

I nodded obediently and stepped out the car, with the help of Mace. I didn't bite his arm back because I didn't need the help, but I couldn't exactly face off with a man like Mace. Plus, he just helped me out the car, big deal.

I muttered a small thank you, and kept my eyes fixated on the building. I felt something brush my arm and when I looked down, I just caught Mace's hand moving away. Even with the slightest touch, perhaps to get my attention, I felt it travelled through my leather jacket and right to my skin.

"This way," he said, lifting his head to the direction of the glass doors.

I wanted to make sure Nolan was here, as it seemed wise to have someone familiar around me in such unfamiliar place. I looked back over my shoulder and stopped when I saw the car was gone, along with Nolan.

"Where did he go?" I asked, my voice coming out a tad bit high.

Mace looked down at me, a small frown materialising on forehead. "Calm down." He said slowly, reaching with his massive hand for my shoulder.

My eyes widened, as I looked around the whole empty road. No cars were driving past and Nolan was nowhere to be seen. "I am calm." I said quickly, trying my best to hide my panic.

What was I supposed to do in a situation like this where-

I felt both his hands come down on my shoulder and he slowly twisted me around so I was facing the building again, rather than staring out to the road like some lost traveller. "Nolan is inside so don't worry," Mace started to say.

I snapped my eyes at him sharply. "How?" I asked.

"He's parking behind the building in our spots." Mace filled me in slowly.

My lips slightly parted in a small 'o' shape as heat shifted all over me. I felt my whole face go red at my stupidity. Growing up seemed like something I still had to master.

I headed up the stairs, Mace walking close behind me until we got to the top and he walked past me to lead us inside the building.

Upon entering, there was a young blonde haired woman sitting by the desk at the front. She looked up and when she caught Mace she smiled and put her head down.

He lead the way to the doors at the side, and soon enough, I was surrounded by dark brown walls and a heavy stench of masculinity. Don't ask me how, but everything smelled of men as I walked down the dark hallway.

We passed several rooms, all of them closed except one that had security on it. I didn't need to peek inside to feed my curiosity since the second we walked past it, the door opened fully.

Out came a giant. A genuine giant who I had to lean fully back and look all the way up to catch his face. He had sharp blue eyes that cut right to my face, angular jawline, a sharp nose and a very short buzz cut. His muscles seemed like they tripled as he moved and his legs.. they made the ground shake by the movements.

"Errol," Mace's voice said from behind me

The man turned to look over my head and gave a small head jerk in reply. "Mace." His voice boomed. Like literally.

"Is this Link's girl?" He asked Mace without actually looking at me.

"Yeah," Mace replied.

I was half bothered to correct him, and say that I wasn't Link's girl. Far from it actually. The way Link and I were sparring, it would be clear there was nothing friendly going on between us.

With the exception of last night.

Errol nodded and started to walk down the hall. I thought we would follow him but after a few steps, Mace turned us around the corner and lead us into a decent sized room. There was a long table in the middle and a sort of bar table to the side.

He pulled out a chair for me and I sat down in it. He took the chair next to me and we both waited.

"What we waiting for?" I asked just as the door opened and Nolan walked in.

"You guys should really have appointed car spots." He said over a sigh.

"Why?" Mace questioned.

"Because I really don't want to walk twenty miles back to the door when I could have parked right by the door."

"You don't work here." Mace said slowly.

Nolan sat down in front of me. "Exactly. I want to get in and out quickly."

"Who parked by the door?"

Nolan rolled his eyes. "Who else is a lazy fuck around here."

"Jared." Mace nodded.

Just then the door opened again and then Lucian walked in. You couldn't ever let someone like Lucian leave your memory. His distinct features were hard to misplace. He was tall, dark and the complete definition of a dark soul. His dark hair, similar to Nolan's, framed his his hard face.

He was dressed in a dark v-neck shirt that clung to all his muscles and a dark pair of navy jeans with black combat boots:

And again, from the last time I saw him at the strip club, he gave off nothing but true power.

"Orianna, nice to see you again." His deep voice greeted me.

He walked over to Nolan's side and sat down next to him.

"Nice to see you too," I said back. I sounded stupidly even to my own ears but what else was I meant to say?

"Our last encounter was a brief one, so let's hope this one will be the same," he said. He looked over to Mace.

"I see you met Mace."

I nodded in reply. "And Errol as well although we didn't exactly speak." I said in a chirpy voice. Instantly, I snapped both my lips shut.

What was I saying? I was in the presence of men that, potentially, came from an alternate universe, who all seemed like wouldn't let girly shit I was pulling off right now slip over them. If you were in the presence of these men, you act like a badass.

"You like the office?" Lucian asked, making easy conversation. He looked like he was trying to ease the whole tension that surrounded the room.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool. What do you guys do?" I asked him directly. I probably shouldn't have been so direct since I saw his eyes take another form right before me.

"We like to hunt," Lucian said, the words coming out slowly. A shiver rippled down the back of my spine. "For people." He finished, holding my gaze with his dark eyes which just added to the cold feeling that rushed through me.

Who are these people?

I didn't give myself a minute longer to ponder on that, but instead nodded casually at Lucian, acting as unfazed as I could when I was the total opposite.

"Hope it keeps you guys busy," I said to him.

Mace shifted in his seat next to me.

"It sure does," Lucian said back.

I cleared my throat, hoping that whatever was happening between Lucian and I would pass. "So why am I here?" I asked.

Lucian leaned back on his seat, looking a little less tensed than moments before. "I just wanted to get to know you better." He said which took me by huge surprise.

"Why?" I asked him.

"You seem like you've been through a lot."

His eyes held mine once again, and I found myself staring into his dark pools and fishing for any clues as to what he was getting at. I've been through a lot. But how did he know?

"School has taken its toll on me." I said carefully.

Lucian shook his head. "School is not what I'm talking about. We both know what I'm talking about."

I decided then and there to act as dubious as I could until I could get the hell out of here. I wasn't at ease, especially now that Lucian was going down a bad route with me.

"I don't know what you mean."

Nolan decided now to join the conversation. "Orianna, just listen."

I looked at him, confused. Did he know as well?

Panic drifted all over. What was happening?

"I'm not going to sit here and act like I know what you guys are talking about." I carried pretending as though everything was jolly good in my life.

"Orianna," Lucian grabbed my attention once again with my name. I flicked my gaze back onto him, hoping that I didn't give anything away. "We know."

It was like a someone punched me right in the gut.

"Know what?" I asked, looking between all men frantically.

What did they know? How much? Did they know all of it?

I couldn't help myself, I was striped of any aid to keep myself intact and no one knew how much I needed that right now. A huge ball appeared in my throat and it forced itself to get down my pipe, forcing me to hold in a gag.

"Just say you want him gone, and he's gone."

That is what did it for me. I felt all air rush out from me and I visibly quivered.

Mace turned around to me and I didn't register his hands on me until the door was kicked open and a furious Link stood by the door, his eyes scanning over everyone until they came to Mace's hands on me.

"What the fuck?" He growled.

****

For those who didn't know -

To read Mace's story, check out Complications

To read Nolan's story, check out His Assistant

> HELP! a little help with the name of Link Dane Book 2 would be hugely appreciated guys! Drop some suggestions down below!!

> sorry for the long wait, I was enjoying my 20TH bday the last few days :)

> PLEASE PRESS THAT CUTE STAR BUTTON AND VOTE IF YOU LIKE THIS XOX