I want to run. I want nothing more than to run away. Not only from Zhayne, but everything in general. Being here really made me realize how stupid I can be and it's starting to take a toll on me. I can't help but continue to think about how much better off I would have been if it weren't for some of the choices I've made since yesterday. I have only myself to blame.

My mom would constantly worry about me, making sure I made the right choices, for the sake of my future. She was very passionate about teaching me how to be smart with my thought process and my decision making because in the end those two things could add up to something good or bad. She also always told me to pick my poison, and pick wisely. And up until recently, I did. At least I think.

Of all places I could have been to, I was stupid and chose this. I can't recall what exactly I was expecting being a 18 year old scrawny little boy waltzing into a darn club. But I can confidently tell you it wasn't this.

I didn't desire for any harm to be done. All I wanted to do was use my freedom to get a taste of what actual life felt like because I never had the privilege of doing so. My mom had been very overprotective of me since my father disappeared during my younger years, so she's been keeping me in the house because she doesn't trust anyone to be around me for some reason. I never asked her about it. I kind of went along with it. And that's how my anxiety came about. I'm so used to being confined to the comfort of my home that being anywhere besides there kinda shakes me up. And the thought of being around too many people scares me.

I let my anxiety overweigh my freedom. It began to worsen as I isolated myself from everyone, including my mother. And though it sounds odd, my anxiety was what made me feel safe. It kept me away from facing my fears and obstacles. In a way it was like a protective shield, protecting me from the dangers of the world. But as soon as I took the shield off, it was like all hell broke loose.

I felt Zhayne tap my cheek, making me snap out of my thoughts. As I came back to reality, the pain in my palm became noticeable again as well. I held it tightly with my unharmed one. "What are you thinking about? Hopefully nothing stupid."

I was quiet. I don't have anything to say to this sick man. I find it baffling how he expects me to speak to him as if nothing happened. That alone was enough to get my blood boiling. He turned my face to him roughly, making me scowl at him. "I don't care about your little attitude. You better not say anything that'll get you fucked up." He said in the most neutral tone. "Tell me what you're thinking. I can't read minds, Angel."

"I don't want-" I stopped mid-sentence, letting what he just said to me register fully in my brain. I sighed, quickly finding something else to say. Something I think won't make him mad. "I..I..you make it hard for me to want to t-talk to you. You're mean."

"That's trivial to the matter at hand. I asked what's on your mind. Not if you want to talk to me because you don't have a choice. Give me a better answer. I won't ask again." He crossed his arms, looking at me expectantly.

He doesn't get it. Zhayne really doesn't see the problem with all of this and that's what's honestly scaring me more than the situation itself. He thinks what he's doing is completely normal. Either that or he knows what he's doing is wrong but he doesn't care. Either way he's not all the way there in the head. And I don't think it's fair I've been left to deal with him. What have I done to deserve this awful man?

"Do you...not see anything wrong with t-this?" I asked him. Zhayne lifted a brow at my question, looking confused at first but then he quickly became amused.

"With what? What's 'this?'" He answers me with another question, making me feel frustrated. I can already see this is going to go nowhere. At least for me it won't. But I know Zhayne won't let me walk away with this conversation unfinished, so I explained what I asked him.

"You...you just...literally cut my hand up...demanding answers regarding where I was and w-what I was doing, l-like that has anything to do with you...Not only that...you're forcing me to be here when I've made it clear I don't want to be." I said carefully, eyeing him to watch for any change of emotion.

He thought about what I said for a short while. "Okay?" My eyes widened at his reply. What does he mean 'okay?' Did he really not see anything wrong with his actions. I felt a sick feeling in my stomach begin to form. Oh, lord. This man is definitely crazy.

"Okay?" I mocked incredulously.

"I don't see the problem Angel. I'm keeping an eye on what belongs to me. There's nothing wrong with that." He told me confidently and without shame.

"You- I- what!?" I placed my hands over my face, sighing loudly. I'm trying to hard to process what's going on but I can't. None of this makes sense. A man that's only managed to basically make my life a living hell in the last day is sitting here continuing to claim I'm his AFTER torturing me? "I-is this some sort of game you're playing? What a-are you trying to do to me?" I inquired with my hands still over my face. Zhayne removed them and held both of them in his hands, intertwining our fingers. His dark blue eyes focused intently on mine as he spoke again.

"I'm not trying to do anything. I want you."

"B-but you hurt me."

"You didn't listen to me." He told me, sliding his tongue across his bottom lip. I felt my breath stop in my throat as he said his next words. "You blatantly disobeyed me when I told you to be here at a certain time. Instead of listening to a simple command you went out and did some other fuck shit. If you would have listened the first time around we wouldn't be here. You shouldn't be complaining about shit. What you can do is be grateful I didn't do worse. I have to make it clear that you are yet to know what kind of man you're fucking with."

I sighed, still feeling absolutely nauseous. This man was making me sick. Who in their right mind says this to somebody? Somebody they barely know at that? This is insane. I still can't seem to make this whole thing make sense. My mind is completely boggled right now.

"Please." I swallowed, speaking in a softer tone. "I don't know why y-you're doing this to me out of all people...but just..please let me go. W-we can forget about this and-" Zhayne cut me off by squeezing my bloody hand in his with such a tight grip that I gasped. I wheezed in pain as I felt it beginning to throb again. I could feel fresh blood breaking passed the dry layer and dripping down my arm.

"You don't fuckin' get it do you? It ain't that damn complex, Angel. ," he tightened his death grip, making the tears start up again. "I'm not letting you the fuck go. You mine and that's the end of the fuckin' story. Angel you have one more time to say some bullshit to me." He growled, still staring deeply into my eyes as he almost smashed my hand to broken bones. It felt like it was a second away from being crushed.

I nodded my head hastily while whining in the process. I want Zhayne to let of my hand before he put me in even more pain by shattering it. As he watched me dang near break down, he slowly loosened his grip, making me immediately sigh in relief though the pain was still there. When he let go I noticed that as he pulled back, that more of my blood practically covered his own hand. He cut me up that bad? My hand throbbed at the thought.

Zhayne currently held a look in his eye that I couldn't put my finger on. If I'm not mistaken he seemed triumphant. But it was honestly hard to tell, given the cold and dark vibe he gave off. I didn't bother to try and figure it out for long though. This man is out of his mind. Psychotic. I don't want to figure him out. I want to leave. If I could go back in time and take back my mistake I would.

"Get my phone." He said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I furrowed my brows in confusion at his command. Couldn't he get it himself? Why did I have to do it?

"W-wha-"

"Get my phone." He repeated. I know I have no choice but to listen. I swallowed nervously, looking around in search of his phone. When I didn't see it anywhere near where we were currently sitting I assumed it was on his desk. So I moved to get up from his lap but I was stopped by Zhayne's growl and his rough hand pulling me back to him by my hip. He chose the bloody hand, by the way.

I looked at him, startled. What is it now? "You don't need to get up. It's in my pocket." His blue orbs turned a shade darker. I didn't even think that was possible. My heart beat sped up again. He really could have just gotten it himself. At this point he just wanted to torture me.

Hesitantly, I looked down and saw the phone print in his left pants pocket. But it was tilted sort of awkwardly so it was dangerously close to his man area, which I noticed slowly began to rise as my eyes set on it. I resisted the strong urge to hop out of his lap and make a run for it. I know it wouldn't end well for me so I decided against it. But I can't lie, I'm still considering doing it.

I felt Zhayne staring daggers into the side of my head as I turned away and reached out with my non injured hand to grab his phone. My fingers slipped past the entrance to his pocket and I immediately took the device in my hand and snatched it out as soon as possible, just in case he tried anything weird. Zhayne looked at me weirdly and rolled his eyes. He took his black iPhone 11 from me. "You're doing the most. I wasn't going to do anything to you." He unlocked his phone and began dialing a number. He held the phone up to his ear for a little while before he began talking to someone on the other end.

Well excuse me for being cautious around you. You haven't really proven yourself to be a trustworthy person since I met you. I looked at Zhayne with narrowed eyes as he talked on the phone. I wasn't exactly paying attention to what he was saying. Really I was thinking of ways to get away with hurting him. I know my chances of causing him any sort of harm are slim to nothing but I can't help but make up scenarios in my head of me doing very bad things to him.

"You got something you need to get off your chest?" Zhayne asked me. The phone was still raised to his ear and I could faintly hear someone speaking. I kept my eyes narrowed but turned away again.

"No." I mumbled.

"I'm just checking." Zhayne picked me up and sat me down on the couch next to him and he got up and walked to the door, hanging up the phone. I heard him open it and exchange a few words with someone before he closed it back again. I saw him walk in with another first aid kit box. It was like a repeat of yesterday.

Zhayne knelt on the floor and positioned himself between my legs unnecessarily. "Hand." He said simply. I held out my hand and he took out supplies he needed to clean my cut and got to work. He finished after about two minutes and wrapped my hand in gauze.

"Alright." He closed the box and tossed it aside somewhere. "Get up. We're leaving." He told me and I had no time to protest because he pulled me up out of my spot anyways and was already grabbing his coat and keys.

"Mr-"

"Angel if you're about to say some more bullshit I advise you to shut the fuck up." He said, grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. I stumbled on my feet as he practically dragged me out of his office.

"Z-Zhayne please slow down. I-I left my things in Nas' car!" Zhayne froze, stopping mid-step. Uh oh. His entire demeanor changed within less than a second. His tongue slowly ran across his pearly whites.

"Come again?"

I'm confused. I literally came here with Nas. Did Nas not tell him he picked me up and took me to the party himself? "He-he was my ride there...I thought you knew this already...D-didn't you talk to him?" I asked, beginning to get worried as I saw his anger intensify at what I just told him.

"He didn't fuckin' tell me he drove you there." He murmured, rubbing his temples with his pointer fingers. "I'll be right back. Stay your ass right here." That doesn't sit well with me. Something tells me he's trying to go after Nas.

"W-wait where are you going!?"

"To kill him." He's dead serious, too.

My eyes widened at what he said. When he started to walk away I hurried up and ran in front of him, blocking him from going any further. Zhayne pushed me slightly, telling me to get the fuck out of his way before stepping around me. I got in front of him again. He really could just throw me into a wall and keep walking but I'm not taking any chances. I got Nas in enough trouble. I won't be responsible for his life being taken. He doesn't deserve that.

But, I feel like I'm risking my own life doing this. Zhayne is currently glaring at me so menacingly that I felt myself shrink even more under him. "D-don't hurt him! Please!" I begged, unintentionally putting a hand on his chest. He looked down at where my hand was placed. When he gazed back up at me there was a slight twinkle in his eye. It brought cold chills up and down my spine.

I immediately tried to retract my hand from his chest but he brought his own up and kept it pressed there. "I'll give him a pass this time around on one condition."

My stomach dropped. I'm pretty sure he was going to say something that I won't really be okay with. But for Nas' sake I'll do it. I don't want Zhayne to kill him. My gut feeling told me that he is a man that keeps his word and is never one to play with. So I know I have to take this seriously. Besides, I got Nas into this in the first place, so it's only fair. "W-what is it?" I asked nervously, looking up at him.

"Will you be willing to listen to me without me having to correct you?"

See? That's what I was dreading right there. I knew he was going to do that. Well...there's no way out. I might as well keep it up for now. "I...I think so." I murmured.

"It's a yes or no question."

I shifted on my little feet, feeling anxious. I need to take some deep breaths before I have an anxiety attack. I did just that. "That...depends on what you want from me, Zhayne."

"That doesn't matter. You want your friend to live, right?" My eyes fell downward at his response.

"Y-yes."

"So answer my question correctly." He tilted my face up with his free hand. "Will you be willing to listen to me without me having to correct you?" His intense stare felt as if he were looking right through me. Like he was reading me or something.

I bit my lip, knowing I'll regret my answer but I can't go back now. It's too late. "Yes...I will." As the words left my mouth, Zhayne chuckled darkly and brought my hand up to his lips, kissing it softly. "He's let off this once. But remember what you just said, Angel. I won't be pleased if you go back on your word."

"O-okay." I said, my body trembling. I felt both relieved and fearful at the same time. Relieved because now that Nas was off the hook a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. But on the other hand I feel fearful because I have no idea what Zhayne plans on doing to me. It could be anything. And It's possible I might not make it through today.

"Come on. I'm trying to get you alone as soon as possible." And he started walking again, ignoring the fact that I was struggling to walk because of how fast he was. He was practically dragging me like I was some rag doll.

As we walked out, Zhayne pulled his phone out again and dialed a number. He held it up to his ear and spoke. "Dominic. Is Nasir still here?" He asked, making me look up at the sudden mention of the red heads name. There was a short pause before he said something else. "Tell him to get Angel's stuff from his car and bring it to me." He commanded simply and hung up.

"Do you need to pick up anything from your house?" He asked, avoiding the staring employees with ease as we exited the club.

"No." I said. "W-wait I'm not staying with you. Why would I need anything?" Zhayne looked at me from the corner of his eye for a quick second but continued guiding me out of the building.

"Wrong. You're staying with me tonight. Maybe tomorrow too, and the next day. Who knows? It all depends on how I'm feeling." By now we've reached the parking lot. I was immediately greeted with the cold air nipping at my skin, making me shiver uncomfortably.

"B-but tomorrow is Sunday and that's a school night. I have to be at home. I have tests to study for!" I tried telling him, and that actually wasn't a lie. He didn't listen though, he kept on walking until we reached a big black expensive looking SUV. Zhayne opened up the back door.

"Get in."

I was going to put my foot down and protest but I suddenly remembered what I agreed to earlier if he let Nas off with a free pass. So I sighed dejectedly and slid into the back seat with a frown on my face. Zhayne got in after me and shut the door. Of course he chose the seat right next to me. He sat with his legs agape and his fingers were intertwined. His head was down with his brows furrowed like he's thinking deeply about something. I don't care to find out.

I swallowed and turned away from him looking out of the window, staring into the deserted parking lot. I'm not fond of how close we are right now. Part of me wanted to elbow him in his ribs to get him away from me but I know how that'll turn out. It's best that thought stays a thought. I still can't help but be upset. There were two whole seats between us and he chose the one right next to me.

"Put your seatbelt on." The driver who sat in the front seat hasn't even pulled off yet. I turned to Zhayne with my eyebrow raised.

"I never put my seatbelt on." I lied. Despite the deal, I kind of just wanted a reason to pick with him. He mocked my expression after hearing what I said.

"I don't give a fuck. You're with me now which means you do whatever the fuck I tell you to. Put on the damn seatbelt, Angel. This is for your safety." He fussed at me. I sighed. What is his problem? I awkwardly stared back at him for about 10 seconds before slowly turning and putting my seatbelt on like he told me to.

"We haven't even arrived yet and you're already pissin' me off." I didn't respond. With that being said he sat back in his seat, the action causing him to invade my personal space even more. I promise he's doing this on purpose. I internally whined in despair. I'm able to feel every muscle in his arm and leg, since they were literally crushing my body.

Suddenly, my pity party came to a stop as I heard a knock on my window. Zhayne and I both looked up to see Nas standing there impatiently with my jacket and wallet in his hands. I smiled and opened up the door.

"Nas! Hey!" I said excitedly. He looked like he wanted to say something to me so badly but he was holding back. And I know Zhayne was the reason for that. I'm not sure what he said to him that has him all spooked but it must've been pretty awful.

"Here you go." He said, handing my stuff to me. Nas then spun on his heel to leave almost cutting our meeting short but I was able to catch his arm before he was gone. I mouthed to him, 'I'm so sorry'