“Why in God’s name did we choose to be involved with a bunch of stupid alpha males?” Chelsea groaned as we walked through the college campus toward the carpark. “Last night, Optimus found me with Blizzard. He yelled at me, and Blizzard just lay there with a stupid smirk on his face. And they say woman are complicated.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as she went on and on about how Optimus drove her crazy.
“How’s things going with mister overbearing?” she asked, trying to deflect the attention from her.
I sighed. “I have no idea. He just won’t give up.”
“Isn’t it kinda nice to have a man that wants you? He doesn’t want anyone else to have you, and he’s proud to stand up and say you’re his.”
I didn’t miss the small glimmer of pain in her voice. Chelsea wasn’t as dedicated to the club life as I was. She loved the guys and she loved the sex and the parties. But essentially she wanted her fairy-tale. She thought a knight in shining armor riding a white steed would come and sweep her off her feet. They’d live happily ever after and all that bullshit.
I just don’t think she realized that her knight might actually come in the form of a sexy tattooed biker president riding a motorcycle. If only he would pull his head out of his ass and see what was right in front of him. That was far more appealing to me anyway. I didn’t really like horses.
Caleb trailed along behind us like a good little babysitter. We’d given him hell the day before, making him follow as we got pedicures and manicures, our hair done, shopped for a few new outfits and then got ice cream. By the time we got back to the clubhouse he was less than impressed and had stomped off to do his duties.
We weaved our way through the cars in the carpark, trying to remember where we had parked this morning. It had been a long day, but luckily we were now on break for two weeks.
God, I needed it.
I heard Caleb’s phone ring and he yelled at us to hold up while he took the call.
“What…I can’t hear you…The reception is really shitty, bro,” he said as he moved around, trying to find a better place to talk.
I heard the squeal of car tires and an engine revving before I saw them. They drowned out Caleb’s constant, “Can you hear me now?”
“Harmony,” Chelsea yelled as she grabbed me and pulled me backward, throwing me into the side of a parked car. The air was forced out of my lungs with the impact and I slid to the ground, holding my chest. A large dark van came to a screeching halt in front of us and the side door was thrown open. A man in a black suit threw himself from the van, leaping toward us. I remember thinking his suit looked expensive. His white shirt was bright against the black suit jacket and pants, and he had a bright blue tie which did not work with the look at all.
I could only stare as he advanced toward me. My body tried to move away from him, but I was struggling to breathe and the asphalt was tearing at my bare legs. Chelsea pulled at my arm and dragged me to my feet as another man in a suit jumped from the van.
“Caleb!” Chelsea screamed as I swung my backpack at the closest guy. It did nothing but piss him off and his stern face became furious. He snarled, grabbing a hold of my small fist as I swung it at him. Chelsea tried to help, but he was too strong and by the time he managed to wrap his arms around my middle and pulled me away from Chelsea, I knew it was too late.
I kicked and screamed, even noticing a few people watching in horror as I fought off my attacker.
A shot fired into the air, quickly followed by a second. Then everything was suddenly silent and still. There was no screaming, no yelling. Nothing but the sound of a bullet zipping through the air. I felt an intense burn in my shoulder and I cried out in pain. I was released and I was sure I’d even floated in the air for a few moments before landing with a painful thud on the hard, coarse ground.
I heard the engine of the van rev once again and the smell of burning rubber filled my aching lungs, causing me to cough uncontrollably in between groans of pain.
“Harmony…Oh shit…I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you.” Caleb threw himself to the ground beside me and gripped my shoulder tightly. I screeched. The pain was immense. Almost like he’d stabbed a knife into me and began twisting it. I tried to swat him away. “Harmony, stop! I need to stop the bleeding.” My mind was whirling and in the moment I took to look at where he had his hands, I knew it was the wrong thing to do. Blood seeped through his fingers. “Shit, shit, shit,” he mumbled.
Chelsea was frantic, pacing next to me. “We need to go, Caleb! Someone’s probably called the police.”
Caleb quickly lifted and cradled me against his chest. At that point, things started to blur a little. I knew I was hurting. I could feel pain in more places than one, but it was like the energy was draining from my body and I was beginning to go numb.
I briefly heard Caleb order Chelsea to drive me to the clubhouse before the door slammed, the sound resounding in my head.
“Stay with me, Harmz. Please,” she begged.
“He shot me,” I croaked in utter shock. “Bastard…shot me.”
“I know, babe. Caleb’s an asshole. And a fucking horrible shot,” she replied, panic still clouding her voice. “Swear, curse, damn him to hell. Do anything. Just don’t die!”
She asked me every twenty seconds if I was still there. But by the time we were nearly back at the clubhouse I was ready to scream at her and tell her to shut up. The numbness was gone and with every bump in the road a sharp pain shot through my shoulder. I could now feel blood in my mouth from where I had bitten my lip to stop myself from crying out in pain. The car skidded to a sharp stop. It threw me off the backseat and onto the floor. The little bump that runs through the center of the car hit me in the back and the profanity that came from my mouth was very unladylike.
My mother would be appalled. Shot or not, ladies didn’t swear.
There was a bustle of activity, yelling and doors slamming. I was laid on a couch in the main room, my eyes finally focusing on where I was. I could feel tears slipping down my cheeks. Everything hurt. It was so bad. I tried to wiggle and move to get comfortable, but every time I did I felt another sharp stab.
“It hurts!” I cried.
I felt a hand wrap around mine and I knew it was Chelsea. I found her eyes. They matched mine, tears streaming uncontrollably. “I know, babe. Caleb’s gone to get Kit and Optimus from the gym. You’re gonna be okay.”
My body relaxed slightly at the sound of Kit’s name. I needed him to make the pain go away. He promised. He promised me protection.
“Harmony!” I heard his voice and that was all I needed. My body relaxed and I finally let myself give in to the darkness that had been flickering on and off.
He was here.
He would protect me.
He promised.