Chapter 16

“Nick,” Skyler growled, holding me against him. I could see his eyes had hardened as he glared over my head. “What are you doing here?” Skyler was obviously mad, as to why I had no idea.

“The same reason I’m always where you are. To bug the living crap out of you and maybe, just maybe get you in trouble,” the one who was Nick said, enjoying himself. “Now, little brother, why don’t you just hand over the girl,” Nick demanded. Skyler’s arm was set firmly around my waist and he was slowly moving me behind him.

“Start the car,” Skyler whispered, only loud enough for me to hear, as he slipped his keys into my jeans pocket. “On three, you run for the car, lock the doors,” Skyler whispered just as soft as before.

“Come on Skyler, just give her to me,” Nick said, lust in his voice. Skyler took a step backwards, bringing me closer to the car door. “It’s not like you can really…”

“Nick, why don’t you just run along to mommy,” Skyler spat, starting to walk backwards slowly. I reached for the handle on the door, not even noticing the people that stood about three feet away. I pulled the door open just as a hand closed around my wrist, yanking me away from Skyler. Skyler spun around, one of his arms going around my waist. His other hand went to his pocket, swiftly pulling out his pocket knife, flicking it open and holding it to the person that was trying to steal me (Or is it kidnap me?), all in less then thirty seconds.

“Let her go,” Skyler growled, the words clipped. I could only imagine the evil glare Skyler was giving.

“W-why?” the guy asked, squeezing my wrist harder.

“You wanna keep your hand?” Skyler asked, his voice spewing venom out of every syllable he pronounced. I watched as the knife in Skyler’s hand press down on the skin of the wrist.

“O-okay,” the man stammered, letting go of me and backing away.

“No! Don’t let her go!” Nick shouted from behind us.

“Get in the car, now,” Skyler said softly to me, as he led me into the car and closed the door behind me. I turned and watched Skyler as he walked around the back of the car.

A few minutes later Skyler opened the driver’s side door and got into the car. I held out the keys to him silently. He made eye contact with me and held it for a moment, trying to decipher what I was thinking, before taking the keys and starting the car. I stared at him as he drove out of the parking lot, my bangs had fallen into my face at some point and I was looking through them, too petrified to move them. What was that about? Who were they? Was that why Skyler didn’t want me staying at his mom’s?

“What?” Skyler asked, glancing over at me. He must have seen the crease in my forehead. My eyes became more focused and I realized we were parked. I crawled over onto Skyler’s lap, hugging him. “Are you okay?” Skyler asked, running his fingers over the spot, on my arm, where the person had grabbed me. I looked at my arm and could see a faint bruise forming.

“Yeah, I’m alright,” I replied, my voice shaking, making me sound small. I tucked my head under his chin.

“I’m so sorry. That should have never happened to you,” Skyler said, I felt his cheek against the top of my head.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I assured, leaning against his chest, my face in his shoulder.

“Yes it was.” I shook my head at his response. “Lexi, yes, yes it is my fault. If I wouldn’t have been there then they…” I put my hands over my ears and shook my head no. Skyler stopped talking when he realized I couldn’t hear him. I watched him laugh at me as he pulled my hands away from my ears and kissed my nose.

A few minutes late Skyler’s cell phone started to ring on the dashboard, where he had thrown it when he got in the car.

“Hey,” Skyler answered the phone. “We’re um… How ‘bout we meet you back at the hotel… Yeah, umh, we’ll be in the parking lot.” Skyler hung up the phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat. He reached around me as he stuck the keys into the ignition and started the car.

“What are they doing?” I asked as Skyler backed the car out of the parking lot it was parked in.

“They were trying to find out more about the gang, the one back at the store. They were trying to figure out how your dad and my half brother are related to the gang,” Skyler explained as he watched the road.

“See was that that hard to say?” I questioned teasingly. Skyler glanced down at me then back at the road.

“That’s not how I thought you’d respond,” Skyler commented grimily.

“So the gang is the reason you didn’t want me over at your mom’s?” I questioned, looking up at him.

“No, not exactly,” Skyler replied, torn between being amused or grim.

“Then what is the reason?” I asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Skyler said.

“Yes I…”

“No you really don’t want to know,” Skyler interrupted. One of his hands left the wheel to find my hand and squeeze it lightly. “Just trust me, if I told you then you’d wish I hadn’t.”

“It can’t be that bad,” I objected.

“Lex, just trust me,” Skyler pleaded, staring down into my eyes with those big brown ones of his.

“Okay,” I said softly, it felt like I had been reduced to a small puddle. “Um… who’s watching the road?” I asked meekly.

“Oh, right.” He looked up swiftly and turned the wheel, causing the car to move back into the proper lane.

Why won’t he tell me why he didn’t want me at him mom’s house? What is he hiding and why wouldn’t Kelly tell me when I asked. I looked up at Skyler. You don’t know it, Skyler, but I’m going to get you to tell me what’s so bad about your mom’s house.