“That’s Beast,” Skull says helpfully, while the big guy turns back around ignoring me.
“You’re shitting me? Well fuck my ass and pull my hair, I think I’m going to be his Beauty at least for a night or two. Yo! Beast! Turn back around here and let me see those baby blues.”
“They’re brown.” Some man beside Beast joins in.
“Well hell, I don’t care, can’t see them anyway, I just want to look at him some more.” Beast keeps ignoring me and that kind of ticks me off.
Now, normally I run from men, but whether it’s the alcohol and narcotics in my system, or just the lure of being safe, I don’t know. Before I can question myself any further, I climb down in the man’s lap beside Beast. I would have sat in Beast’s, but he’s making that impossible.
“C’mon give me some attention here. I promise not to bite.”
“That’s too bad.”
His monotone, bored-sounding voice is not encouraging. Still, his eyes…
“I think you’re playing hard to get. Why is that do you suppose?”
“Babe, you looking for dick, you can get it from any man here, why don’t you put your efforts into choosing and leave me the alone.”
Boom. I’m not sure you can get slammed more than that.
“You don’t find me attractive?” I ask and he studies me for a minute. Can he tell that I would totally understand that? I feel like the ugliest person around. Maybe that’s why his words sting.
“Beast here lost his old lady a bit ago, but me and the boys can show you a good time,” the other guy chimes in and despite being on his lap, I ignore him.
I can see pain flash through the Beast’s eyes. He cared about his woman. I grieve with him and find myself jealous of this unknown woman at the same time. She may be gone, but at least she had someone who truly cared about her. My hand goes over to Beast’s and I squeeze it. I thought he would push me away, he doesn’t. He lets me hold his hand and then eventually pulls me onto his lap. There’s nothing sexual in the way we’re sitting. It’s the first time I’ve relaxed in months.
I’m feeling good and even half-way safe around Beast. Skull and his crew might be the answer to my problems. Beast is definitely safer than Crusher or Dragon. I can say that unequivocally. After the movie we are walking with the crew, discussing going to a bar. I don’t really want to. Although, more alcohol might help at this point, I don’t know. That is put to an end when Dragon arrives upset, because Skull is putting the moves on Nicole.
Guns are drawn, knives…Instantly I am transported back into the past. Dragon is no longer Dragon. He is Michael wielding a knife. Michael holding it towards me. Michael grabbing me, threatening to end me. It is Michael stabbing me in the stomach repeatedly. I scream out in terror. I can’t stop the sound or the tears that gather, though I do my best to fight them back. My entire body starts shaking and that’s when Beast covers me. He stands in front of me. Protecting me. He pulls me tight against his back, not letting my hand go. It stops my screams, though the tears refuse to end. I can’t stop the shaking, but he doesn’t seem to mind. Over his shoulder I see Crusher and he’s holding a gun and pointing it in Beast’s direction. In my direction.
I have to get away from Dragon, Crusher and that whole crew. I need to get Nic away. Dragon will turn his anger on her someday. I can’t let what happened to me, happen to Nic. I can’t. I feel like I can’t breathe and the memories try to swallow me. I don’t even notice that the confrontation has ended. I’m lost in the past. That’s when Beast grabs my face and forces my eyes to him.
“You’re okay, little hummingbird. You’re okay.”
I don’t know where the ridiculous nickname comes from, but something about this gruff man who could snap men like twigs being soft, pulls me out of the darkness. I still can’t quit shaking and I feel so cold.
“I…I…can’t stay here.” I gasp, my voice winded, broken, and weak. God, it’s so weak. Beast nods and begins to pull me away from the crowd. Crusher puts his hand on my shoulder and stops us. I look up into his dark eyes. I see concern there and I want to believe it’s real. Then I remember how he held a gun on us…on me. I can’t trust him. I can’t trust Dragon. I know their types.
“Don’t do this, darlin’.”
His hand warms me. There’s so much heat coming off of him, through our connection. I want to embrace the warmth, because I feel so cold, but I pull away. Instead, I look at Beast. Who has been nothing but kind and even now is holding onto me. If he wasn’t, I would fall to the ground. Beast protected me. No one ever has before.
“Can…can you get me out of here?” I look up at Beast, begging him silently.
“Let’s go, hummingbird.”
“You’re making the wrong choice, sweetheart,” Crusher says.