Troubled With Tattoos

Chapter Thirty-Three

Taken

I started with Ashton and his illness. The boys were surprised to hear I had a sibling. Then I told them about my mother's drug addictions that came soon after his death. How she changed in a matter of weeks. I explained in such detail of how they weren't even recognizable. Then I explained that night. The night I left my house with my arm cut up like a turkey on thanksgiving. I even showed them the long scar that I couldn't bear look at. And in return, they stared at me completely speechless.

"Well, what do you know, the innocent Violet isn't as innocent as we thought." Declan chuckled running his hands through his hair.

"Violet...that's terrible," Luke said leaning against the wall as he peeked through the window every few minutes to watch the police search my house.

"And people say we're the bad influence, Violet is a wanted runaway." Camden pointed out as he shrugged his shoulders. He shot me his notorious smirk.

"Who else knows where you've been staying?" Declan asked holding his scruffed up chin his hands.

"No one," I recalled. How could anyone else know I'm with Aunt Cherry.

"Someone knows. We're one step behind them no matter what we do." Austin sighed. My heart had sunk to my stomach.

"This could all come crashing down before we know it, we have nothing planned, we have no strategies and we have no idea what we're doing because we have no idea what they are doing. Austins right, we're always one step behind." Luke said desperately.

"Luke, we got this. We always figure it out." Declan claimed as he patted Luke on the back.

"Hey, the cops are leaving." Cam pointed out as they drove down the street. A sigh of relief came out past everyone's lips especially my own. I don't feel safe anywhere anymore.

"I suggest you lay low from school for a while, they could have cops in the school if they receive a report," Declan said. The boys nodded in agreement as did I.

"I got suspended anyway," I muttered. Declan shook his head in disbelief.

"Maybe we are the bad influences..." Luke rambled. I then proceeded to tell them why I got suspended which Austin's ear perked up too.

"If you guys think this is the worst thing you've heard today wait until you hear this." Camden scoffed. He gave me a look. I sighed and told them that my dear Aunt Cherry was dating Ramiro Cortez.

"As if the story couldn't get any more complicated." Austin groaned.

"Violet... you said Ramiro left right before the cops came right? He knows who you are, he reported you. He wanted you out of that house." Luke said as he tried to solve this mystery called my life.

"Maybe it was a warning, like a threat almost. He wants you to know he knows who you are because you obviously know who he is too." Declan made a point.

"It is a warning, Violet... I think they want you now." Austin stood up as if he just solved the puzzle. The other boys had the same look on their faces, they knew he was right.

"Someone needs to be with her at all times, two people the least." Luke butted in. My heart was racing and my eyes were watering.

"She's not safe here, with any of us. They know where we all live." Declan pointed out.

"Shes not safe without us either," Austin yelled. His hand tightly holding mine.

"You think you can outsmart Ramiro? Do you remember the last time someone tried to outsmart him?" Declan yelled back. I suddenly felt like the black sheep here. The boys were arguing over me.

"He's right, I can't put you guys in danger anymore. They can have me." I sighed. A deep sadness suddenly washed over me like a wave. My mind was overthinking everything. I ruined my family, maybe Ash's death was my fault. My mother was right, it should've been me.

"Violet, we didn't get this far for you to give up now," Luke said. I looked up at him through my watery brown eyes. I was going to be gone soon, I'll never see my friends again.

"We're not going to let anything happen to you, get some sleep and we will all take turns on the lookout." Austin said opening the covers to his bed. I looked at it longingly. I slid into his bed that smelt like cinnamon and mens cologne. I curled up in a ball facing the wall. I didn't want to leave my friends but I didn't want to put them in any danger. I should just turn myself into Windrose.

An hour had passed and Camden had fallen asleep next to me. His heavy arm dangled across my stomach uncomfortably. I couldn't sleep, my mind was scrambling. I slowly peeled his arm away in which he turned his body in response to. Ducky was asleep on an air mattress on the floor. Luke must've been in his room. That meant it was Austin's turn on the lookout.

I stepped over his sleeping body and slid through the door only making a few creaking noises. Luke's bedroom door was slightly open, just enough where I could see an empty air mattress on the floor. I sauntered down the stairs in search of Austin.

I slid down the stairs slowly, the front door was open just a crack. The familiar smell of cigarettes filled the room. I peeked outside the door finding Austin sitting on the front steps. He was slouched over and looked troubled. I had a small argument with myself in my head on whether or not I should bother him. I might as well, who else would be up at this time. Besides, I didn't have anything to lose. I opened the door sucking in a breath that I didn't release till I sat down in the cold next to him. I shivered crossing my arms to contain any body heat I could. He stared down at his shoes flicking his cigarette after taking a long haul. After a few moments in silence, I decided to break it.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked barely above a whisper. He let out a little chuckle as he slightly shook his head in response.

"I'm thinking about why I waited so long to do this-" he said before crashing his lips to mine.

He kissed me slowly and softly, and I kissed him back. His lips had perfectly molded into mine, it felt so right to kiss him. He pulled away staring at me as he held his weight over my body. For once it felt like maybe my world wasn't falling apart. His lips warmed my soul and skin.

"I'm going to protect you Violet and I'm never going to stop." He breathed into my neck sending shivers down my spine. My heart fluttered even more at his words.

Suddenly two black SUVs pulled up breaking apart our long-awaited kiss. I internally groaned. Austin stood up so fast, he looked worried yet brave. Most importantly, he looked scared.

"Violet get inside," Austin said with all seriousness. I gulped taking in his features as it could be the last time I see them. But still, I stood there when all the gang members jumped out of the cars.

"Violet, please just go inside and hide. Wake up the boys." He said far from joking. I nodded remembering every little detail of him that I could. Remembering his tattoos, his brown hair, his beautiful eyes, the way his muscles moved when he flexed, the way he scratches the back of his head. The things I never wanted to forget. Gunshots went off the second I entered the door and I would have turned around if it weren't for someone chasing me.

I slid back inside the door racing up the stairs. I could hear the door open behind me which only made me run faster. I screamed hearing whoever was behind me shuffling up the stairs. More and more gunshots shot off. My eyes watered once again and my legs began to shake. I could hear his loud steps over my screams. I finally made it to the top of the stairs and with one hand on the doorknob, it was already flung open. A wide-eyed Camden and a sleepy yet alert Luke across the hall.

"Violet get in," Camden said pushing me inside the room and closing the door behind me. Here I was, defenseless as can be. The boys risked their lives for me and what did I ever do for them? I sulked trying to decipher where to hide. Maybe if I just jumped off the ledge as I did with Austin that time I snuck out I could escape in time.

I darted for the balcony hearing slams and shoves from outside the door I was trapped behind. I prayed and prayed that the boys were okay. My heart leaped out of my chest realizing how far of a jump it was. I opened the balcony door immediately being greeted by the breezy cold air. I closed my eyes for half a second remembering that night.

"Why don't you just jump?" Declan asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Are you crazy?" I asked bewildered. There was no way I was jumping. Those boys were strong but they would miss and my guts would be splattered everywhere.

"It's not that high up, just one level and we'll catch you." Luke offered. I shook my head no furiously.

"Just hang off the edge and drop, it's easy," Camden said coolly. They make it sound like they jumped off balconies daily. Which really wouldn't surprise me if they did. I hopped over the railing standing on the edge of the balcony. My heels weren't touching the balcony and I'm pretty sure my heart just stopped.

My toes and arms are what kept me on it as I held tightly onto the railing and my toes had all my body weight on them.

"Okay good, now drop your legs, haven't you ever snuck out a window before?" Luke asked.

"No, I'm a good kid," I muttered. I got on my knees holding on to the railing slowly letting my legs drop. Now I was only holding on by my arms. My weak, pale, skinny, spaghetti arms. That gave me so much comfort...not.

"Violet, you have to let go," Austin said standing below me with his arms out.

"I'm going to die!" I yelled looking down. It really wasn't that far but still.

"If anything you'll break an arm...or a leg...or your neck but no worries," Declan said. Austin elbowed him the ribs and he shut up.

"I'm going to catch you, don't listen to him," Austin yelled back, "besides even if you wanted to get back up you couldn't." I wondered using my arms to try to pull myself back up but not being able to move up an inch. He was right, I really had no choice now.

"What if I fall?" I asked. Couldn't they just get a ladder or something?

"Then I'll catch you," Austin yelled from below my balcony. In that moment I couldn't quite decipher if what he said had a much deeper meaning but it was exactly what I needed to hear so I reluctantly let go of the railing landing safely in his strong tattooed arms.

I looked at him trying to catch my breath. He whispered "I told you so" before putting me down gently.

I came back to reality and lifted one leg over the edge only to be greeted with a very hard object pressed against the back of my head. I didn't hear the door break open during my memory, I also didn't see Cash trap me between him and the railing. More men that I didn't recognize entered the room and soon the balcony. I stood still too scared to move, too scared to come up with a smart comeback.

"Hey princess, what's the matter? You don't look too happy to see me. I'm quite insulted honestly." He mockingly laughed. He grabbed me by the waist picking me up over the ledge to him. I tried wiggling my way out of his grasp but there were at least seven other men here who could easily tackle a high school girl.

"Awe, don't be scared. I told you I'd have you. I'm sorry your friends weren't much help, they were quite outnumbered. You need better bodyguards." he chuckled wrapping his strong fingers around my arm surely bruising it. I winced at the pain as he tugged me along back through the room. I gasped seeing Luke's feet in the doorway to his bedroom. The others I didn't see.

"What did you do to them?" I cried out. I twisted and turned my arm trying to get away from this monster. The thought of my friends being seriously hurt left a giant hole in my heart.

"Don't worry about them." He simply stated. The men followed behind us down the stairs. Pictures were knocked off the walls and smashed on the floors, paint was chipped and there were a few holes through the sheetrock. I swallowed every last bit of courage I had. Then I saw Austin.

He was on the floor of his living room face down. He looked terrible, more than ten men against four. It wasn't a fair fight. A stupid fight over me.

"You didn't have to hurt them." I cried feeling my watery eyes break the rim. Tears trickled down my cheeks and past my lips. The salty tears washing away the last piece of Austin I had left. He moved slightly and a huge breath of relief came out of me.

"But then it wouldn't have been fun." Cash laughed pulling me roughly outside into one of the black SUVs driven by Carlos Cortez.

"Remember me Princesa." Carlos rambled. I rolled my eyes at him spitting in his direction.

"Tie her up." He stated pulling away from the house. Tears strolled down my face at an alarming rate as I watched Austins house disappear from my eyes. The car smelled like sweat and tears and maybe a hint of blood. The men looked rather rough as well, of course, the boys didn't put up without a fight. Cash was right, they were outnumbered. I continued to watch the house fade even as the men tied my hands behind my back with a rough rope. I watched until they wrapped a black cloth over my eyes. Then after that, I had just hoped...hoped the boys were okay. Hoped my boys were okay.