"People protect what they love." — Jacques Yves Cousteau
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Chapter 29
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Luke

My phone vibrated for the millionth time tonight. Just as I had all day, I moved quickly to pick it up, but of fucking course, it wasn't who I wanted it to be. Just my dad, or one of his assistants attempting to reach out to me.

I shoved a frustrated breath out, slamming the phone onto the mattress. Cupping my hands around my face, I pulled myself up until my back was against the cool headboard.

I needed to dunk my head in ice water or something. Anything. My mind was a shit-show right now, and I was nothing but the barer of it.

Why hadn't Norris called me yet? No text, no call, no update, nothing. And, it was driving me off my shit.

I'd done both, but to no avail. She hadn't even read it. The only source I had that she was still alive was Jax. He'd responded, and told me that she'd been locked in her room ever since she got home. As badly as I despised the answer, I appreciated the response. His sister could learn a damn thing or two.

Still, that didn't help my frustration. I needed to know more about what was going on. Was she okay?

Whoa.

My heart was beating out of my fucking chest. My body felt as if it were being wrung, and twisted like a towel. I couldn't understand what was fucking with me so bad about this.

I glared across the room, and right into the television for no reason other than wanting to push my frustration onto something else. Why was I frustrated, and why was that making me even more fucking frustrated?

Swinging my legs over the bed, I slammed my hands down on the mattress with much more force than necessary. I wasn't going to get any sleep, that bit was obvious.

A part of me wished I would have just shut the fuck up about her boy toy. I had noticed the earring on the driver's side of his car when I opened the door, but I figured there was no way in hell Maggie saw it. I didn't think it could be hers, because I'd never seen her wear earrings before.

And, if not for the earrings, it was him being way too nonchalant over letting his girl go to another event with another man. If a man didn't give a fuck that much, it meant that he had other plans, or other women to make up for it. I knew from that moment that he'd fucked around on her before, but she didn't have to know that.

I told her, though. I'd planned to say the shit just to fuck with her head, but the moment I saw the hurt in those huge ass green eyes of hers, I'd never shut the fuck up so fast. The only reason I opened it, again, was because I didn't like to see her dumb herself down for a bitch, or for any man for that matter.

I'd steadily been around the girl for less than three months, and even I could see the persona she wore around him. It drove me mad. Maggie was a brat, but she was a smart brat. No man would change that.

I didn't like her acting as if they, or anything else, could. She didn't need to change anything about herself for shit.

I'd tried to push the thought to the back of my head, but it remained, nonetheless. I was a selfish bastard, too.

Despite telling her for her own good, I knew that I had done it for me, as well. Seeing that fuckers' hands on her drove me along the line of insanity, and absolutely fucking feral.

I dismissed it for disgust alone, but that unfamiliar notion burning in the pit of my stomach was undeniable. I'd wanted to rip his hands from his body, and carry them around my neck the moment he laid them on her. I couldn't stand it.

And, Maggie. That little fucking pain in my ass. She knew that I wouldn't lay a hand on her, or even bring her close enough to the fight to risk possible injury. I knew she did just by the look on her face. I wasn't sure if I were more confused at the fact that I had actually walked away from a fight, or that I'd done it for her.

The girl was fucking with me beyond measure. Nearly every headache, every decision, and every thought, was because of Maggie Norris.

"Snap out of it, Luke." My head fell into my hands until I was nearly digging my palms into my bare eye-sockets. "Snap out of it."

I needed a drink. Or a nice, messy tit-job. Or both, in no particular order. I needed something else that had nothing to do with the curse of my existence.

And, as if I weren't already hanging off the edge, I hadn't fucked anyone in months. Fucking months. I blamed it on not having enough time, but I knew better.

Until I could teach either head to harden for anyone else other than Maggie, then it was just me, my hand, and my imagination. And, I had nearly used both up, already. I hadn't jerked myself off in fucking years, because I had never had to until now. Nothing else other an image of Maggie in my head, a fuck-ton of mental visuals, and a hand that I wished was hers pumping my cock seemed to get me there, anymore.

I had never wished for my imagination to become my reality as much as I did, right now, though. With my cock hitting the back of her throat, her creamy thighs smothering my face while I ate her out, and her plump lips—

Fuck no.

Shaking my head, I cast a glare over my blanket. As a useless distraction, I picked my phone up to see that it was nearing two in the morning, now.

When I stood, I caught Fang eyeing me from his bed in the corner of the room. His heavy pants were the only source of sound, as usual. I wasn't even sure why I gave the fucker his own room; he always insisted on sleeping in mine, anyway.

"Come on." I flicked my head at him, pulling my bedroom door open. "You're not pissing on my floor, again."

His heavy paws slapped against the tiles, and right past me. I followed behind him, walking through the silent house, and grabbing a cool beer from the fridge until we got to the outside of the house.

I waited for him to do his business, my hand sinking into my jacket for any source of warmth ,while the other gripped the beer. It didn't help that I'd only worn only that, and my boxers.

My attention settled on the untamed weeds. It didn't stand out too much against the rest of the chaotic bushes.

Jesus.

I'd fired the groundskeeper so long ago, I nearly forgot I had one in the first place. There was no need to keep him since I used to stay at Kade and Levi's so much, but now that they were gone, I needed to tend to this place a bit more.

Maggie would probably be horrified, if not amused, and with a mouth full of insults. My mouth perked as I imagined her trying to show me how to mow a lawn. She'd probably run me over with the lawnmower.

The fuck?

I shook the smile away off of my face, replacing it with a scowl. How in the hell had I connected my lack of garden care to Norris?

That was how it'd been since the event. Every single thing that I did involved me wanting to kick my own ass for questioning whether she'd like or hate it. If she'd be mad. If she'd laugh at it.

I was getting a headache, again.

I whistled for Fang, but he only whined back, and in other words, told me to kiss his ass.

I rolled my eyes, glaring down at the stairs with a huff; it was my fault for spoiling the little shit so bad. And, just like that, my mind took the opportunity of solitude to wander right back to the mystery of the night.

I wondered what Norris was doing, right now. Was she sleeping? Was she crying? Had she eaten or drunk anything? Was she having a nightmare?

My body stilled at the last thought. I had to stop myself from doubling over at the physical panic in my stomach. I'd told her she wouldn't be alone, but what was she, right now?

I jerked around to the front door, ready to run to her with only myself in a pair of boxers, and a beer in hand, but the realization made me pause.

I was being crazy. I was.

I needed to be rational, right now. Rational was that I didn't care about Maggie.

I didn't care whether or not my enemy was hungry, or if she was crying in her bed, right now. I didn't care if she had gotten her heart ripped out, today. If she was having one of those nightmares, again. If she was scared or distraught.

I. Didn't. Care.

I repeated the words to myself, daring the beat of my heart to claim it, too. It was all a matter of circumstances, and so was she. Maggie was my employee, nothing more. I should be thrilled about seeing her get a taste of her own medicine, not scared.

I wasn't scared that she'd cry herself to sleep for a couple of weeks. I wasn't scared that her friends were hundreds of miles away, and couldn't be with her. That she was probably blaming herself, or that she was hurting.

Was she hurting?

My breath sucked in so fast, I choked.

I wasn't scared.

I was fucking terrified.

"Fang!" I called out, careful to not hurt him as I tugged on the leash to catch his attention. "Come on!"

With a huff, he came trotting from somewhere behind a bush, a stick hanging out the corner of his mouth. I let him keep it this time, rushing him into the house.

With barely any patience left, I hurried, and ran to my room. I ended up nicking my foot against a corner or two, but I continued on past a series of painful curses.

Shoving myself into a pair of pants, I yanked my keys off of the nightstand, then went for my wallet. I could feel Fang staring holes into the back of my head, and the moment it became too much, I jerked around to face his judgement.

I threw my arms into the air with a scowl. "The fuck are you staring at?"

All I got was a pant, and his half-attention due to the stick. Beyond that, I felt like the dog was reading right into my bullshit. He always did.

"Quit it," I huffed, glaring down at him. "I'm not doing shit else other than making sure I still have an employee, so stop giving me that little look."

I felt every ounce of attitude in his huff before he plopped his head down on his paws. Even though he was an animal, I wouldn't put him rolling his eyes at me out of the picture so quick.

"Watch." Reaching for my phone, I continued to glare at him. "I'll show you, you cocky little fucker." His expression was definitely telling me to go fuck myself, but I paid it no mind.

I made sure to leave the door open for him. Even though he had an attitude bigger than mine, he was trained and smarter than most people, in my opinion. I felt bad cooping him up in here, so I left him enough room to venture if he wanted. Even though it hadn't happened in years, I'd take the responsibility if I came home to a damaged space.

I didn't waste any time after that. The beep of my car sounded out, and a moment later, I was inside, and ripping out of my driveway.

I'd never admit it but I didn't even need a GPS to Maggie's house. It was like muscle memory at this point.

I cut the time in half, slamming my foot across the pedal until my foot nearly broke through the flooring. I think I may have even ran a couple stop lights, but I paid it no mind.

My mind was on one thing, and one thing only.

A mix of guilt and fear hung me up by my toes. What if she thought I'd went back on my promise? What if she was scared? What if that fucker, Xander, triggered another nightmare?

My fingers tightened around the wheel until it grew painful. That son of a bitch. He had done something to put her in that this, and was probably sleeping peacefully in return, right now.

I'd handle that later, though. I was here.

I was in such a trip, I nearly forgot to put the car in park. It rolled under my foot before my feet slammed into the brake, and I hissed, "Shit." Once I had it, I yanked the keys out, slammed the door behind me; and rushed up to her doorstep.

My knuckles pounded against the material so hard, it shook under the weight. Only a second passed before I did it, again. No one was coming.

A growl ripped from the back of my throat as I crouched to the mat. Lifting it, my agitation only grew when I saw that there was no key this time.

"Fucking Maggie," I hissed under my breath. Of course, the little smartass hid it.

I paced in my spot, nibbling on the inside of my cheek. It was two in the morning, everyone was probably asleep. I couldn't get in without—

I didn't have time for this shit. I needed to see her for myself, and I'd make sure I would.

I peered around the exterior of the house for an answer, attempting to keep the pitch of anger from spreading inside of me.

My attention landed on the windows. I could break one, climb in, and—

No, that's crazy shit, Luke. That'd definitely freak her out.

My gaze returned to the door. The idea clicked, immediately.

I'd pay them back for it.

I stepped back enough to give myself perfect aim. Raising my foot, I swung it down until I were mere inches from kicking the door in.

Just as my foot came down, it opened from the other side.

A man was behind it. His dark eyes were widened at me in both shock, and terror. I couldn't blame him, considering what position he caught me in, but I didn't have time to aid in my defense.

"I-I'm sorry, who are you and why were you trying to drop-kick the door down at..." he paused to glance at his watch. "Two in the morning?"

I cast a glance over him in the form of a glare. He stood at around 5'6", with a muscular build, and dark-brown skin. He had a head full of locs that he currently had in a ball atop his head.

I stepped through the open doorway, pushing past him.

"What the fuck, man?" I heard him say from behind me.

My eyes skipped across any and all surface of the room, before looking in the direction of Maggie's hallway.

In my next step, a hand landed on my shoulder. I jerked around, swiping it off of me with a scowl.

I didn't even know who the fucker was. Maybe Maggie went, and fucked someone else to get back at Xander, or maybe he was a friend of hers. Either way, I was a couple seconds from snapping his neck in two.

He narrowed his eyes at me in warning, switching so that he block the hallway to Maggie's room. "I don't know what you think you're doing but you're not going near Maggie—"

"Get the fuck out of my way," I growled at him. "Try to stop me, again, and I'll do more than kick a fucking door in."

Without dropping his glare, he reached into his back pocket. "Okay, I'm calling the cops—"

"Tony," I heard Jax say from behind him. A moment later, he was to Tony's side, an arm around his waist. "It's cool, I know him."

I pieced it together, then. They were together. Thank fuck. Despite my previous frustration, the pressure in my chest lifted with relief at the fact that he wasn't with Maggie.

Tony continued to eye me with uncertainty. Jax turned his gaze to me, as well, his head tilting. "Did you try to break our door down?"

I was so fucking sick of all these unnecessary ass questions."Don't be dramatic; I was going to pay you guys back for it." I had to force my legs to remain still long enough to ask, "Where is she?"

Jax ran his eyes over me, his lips rolling under the other. I didn't know what that look meant, but if it weren't for his cooking, and his jokes, I would have told him to stick it up his ass.

Finally, he released a sigh, his arm tightening around Tony. He stepped out of the way of Maggie's hallway. "I just worked her through a..." his eyes fell for a moment. "Night terror. I'm not sure if it worked, or if she's just faking being asleep like she does, sometimes. If she's not, you can try talking to her."

I nodded tightly, striding in that direction. Before I crossed the threshold, Jax stopped me with a hand to my shoulder.

It was almost like I was looking into the eyes of his sister. His own narrowed at me, his hand tightening. "If you hurt my sister," he said, steadily. "I'm going to kill you. Vaudest or not."

I couldn't think of a response quick enough so instead, I stepped back until his hand fell from me. Moving closer, I didn't slow my feet until I was right in front of Maggie's door.

I stared at it for a moment. The picture of her friends, and her family mocked me along the painted door.

I lingered on Kimberly and Raven, my frustration growing. If they were here, they'd know what to do.

I didn't do emotions and shit. If it were anyone else, I usually found myself growing agitated at their tears, but this was different. For some reason, when I saw Norris even grow misty-eyed, it was a sense of panic and urgency to do anything to stop it.

I didn't understand it, but for the first time, I wanted to. I wanted to know what I could do, if I could do anything to make her feel better, but I didn't think it was possible. I didn't know a thing about good, because I wasn't that myself.

There was nothing I could bring to the table except myself, and that made me feel shit I never have before. It made me feel shittier than I ever had, because for the first time, I wanted myself to be enough.

Pushing past that lodge in my throat, I twisted the knob until the door opened with a creak. My eyes fell to the center of the room, instinctively.

There she was.

I shut the door behind me with a soft click, my eyes never leaving her.

From what it looked like, she appeared to be asleep. Her snores were light this time. The skin around her eyes were red and puffy, her body curled up in a ball. As if she were trying to use it as a shield from reality.

Stepping closer, my skin began to crawl at her face. It appeared to be normal to a stranger's eye, but I could see the pain that said reality had left behind.

My vision blurred for a moment until I saw red. The anger boiled in my blood until it snaked its way into every possible corner of my body.

That fucker was going to pay.

Maggie whimpered from her spot, the sound soft and barely audible. It reached my ears, though, and so did the reasoning behind it. This was how it had started that night at the hotel, before the nightmare.

My feet brought me to her bedside until I crouched next to her. I reached out before I could think it over, staring so deeply into her beautiful face, I was pretty sure I forgot how to breathe for a moment.

Hell. I think I forgot what the fuck breathing even was.

Another whimper fell from her lips, leaving them parted. Her body was beginning to tremble from under herself, and it brought me back to the now.

I tried to recall what I'd done in the hotel when the nightmare happened, but I couldn't. My mind was all fucked the moment I saw her. I couldn't remember how to calm her down, because I hadn't actually had a plan that night.

I'd been asleep at the time, but the moment I heard her screaming, I'd never woke up so fast in my life. I threw the pillows to fuck-knows-where, and tried my hardest to bring her back.

What I'd said, what I'd done, it'd all felt so natural in the moment. Like I'd been doing it my entire life. I guess, it was because I would have done anything, said anything to let her know that she was safe.

I cursed at myself, but I couldn't relish in my frustration. Not when her mind was going to such a dark place. I had to stop whoever the fuck was stupid enough to try to take her away from me.

Her eyelids tightened until it appeared painful as she whispered out, "No."

My chest tightened. I swept a finger through her dark strands of hair. It remained there while I said in a soft voice that I hadn't even known myself capable of, "You're okay, angel."

Maggie's face seemed to darken as she drew back into herself. "Stop...stop." I'd never heard her voice so weak before; I'd never seen her so scared. Until the nightmares.

My frustration only continued to build. I wanted to know why. I wanted to know what happened. I wanted to know who was trying to take her away from me, and away from herself. I'd rip them apart piece by piece for disturbing her dreams the way they did.

"Norris," I whispered to her, continuing to stroke her hair. "No one's going to hurt you, you hear me? You're safe, angel. You're untouchable with me."

Cautiously, her face fell into a calm mask, so slowly, I barely caught it. The thump of my heart did it got me, though.

The hand I had in her hair moved to the skin along her jaw. "It's not real, Maggie, okay? It's not. They can't hurt you, anymore." My words were so slow, I feared she wasn't catching them. "They won't hurt you."

A ghost of a smile drifted across my lips as I saw her body fall into a relaxed state. "I promise, angel. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. You hear me?" My fingers traced around the edge of her jaw until I got to her cheek.

Slowly, my hand cupped it, my thumb running in circles. Maggie let out a small, soft sigh, her lips perking as she leaned into my hand. It was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

My breath caught in my throat. It damn near stopped.

Fucking hell.

I nearly stumbled back into the wall at whatever the hell that feeling was. My ears were ringing, the tips hot and red. I'd gone so weak in the knees, I had to stand up.

I was losing my shit.

I needed to get it under control.

I was tired, or some shit. The beer was giving me a little buzz. Yeah, that was it.

That was the only reason why my hands had gotten so sweaty. Why I wanted to gather her up, and shield her from any threat. That was the only reason why I had felt my heart skip an entire fucking cycle when she leaned into my touch.

My hand fell from her, instead using it to swipe through my hair. I raised myself from my spot, running my clammy hands along my pants.

Jesus. I never had sweaty hands.

I glanced over Maggie with my misted hands hanging loosely to my side. She was calm now, a smile on her face as she returned to her loud snores. I pushed back the lump of emotion in my throat, and turned my back to her.

Pulling in a breath, I blew it out a second later. "You're tired, fucker. You're tired."

I tightened my hand around my neck until I felt it draw blood. I didn't stop my chant until my wreckage of a mind ceased just enough to allow me a bit of sanity.

Slowly, I shifted back around to face Maggie, again. Of course, she was still in the same spot, completely oblivious to the turmoil she was causing in my head.

"I hate you, Norris," I murmured, glaring down at her. "I hate you so fucking much."

She was still dressed, without a blanket to top her off, even though a couple rested at the end of the bed. I couldn't help myself; I didn't want her to catch a cold.

It was only because she'd miss days at my building if she did. That was it. Nothing more.

Stepping closer, I pulled her shoes off, and tossed them, then grabbed at one of the blankets. I threw them over her, fixing the edges until they covered her figure, entirely.

A vibration to the corner of her head made me pause. Another rung out la second later.

My curiosity grew until I found myself stepping closer to the phone. I cast a quick glance over her; she was too far gone to notice anything else. If she woke up, and caught me, though—

I scowled, and rolled my eyes. Fuck it.

My finger tapped at the screen until it came on. Risking a side glance to her, I saw her still oblivious, so I returned my attention back to the phone a moment later.

At it, my jaw clenched until I thought the shit would pop.

Xander and Quinn had called and texted so many times, their names were the only ones on the screen. Xander, though, was begging like a little bitch, apologizing in mass texts, and attempting to meet up with her.

My fingers tightened around the phone until I forced myself to put it down. As bad as Maggie would react to me reading over her messages, she'd hang me by my ballsack if I broke it.

That son of a bitch. I knew now. He had fucked one of her best friends, Quinn.

Then, he had the nerve to try, and fuck with Maggie as if he hadn't already done enough. The fucker should consider himself blessed that she even gave him the time of day.

I needed to hit something.

My attention zeroed back to the vibrating phone. The idea that followed was crazy and invasive, but we weren't too different in that sense.

I picked it back up, my fingers nearly cracking the screen as I typed, until I hit send.

If the fucker wanted a meet up, then he'd sure as hell get it.

I left the phone where it was, turning to Maggie, again. She was still in a peaceful state, this time hugging the blankets to her face.

Despite the rage, I felt something lift off my chest, but press down all at once, as well. It was troubling.

I averted my eyes, quickly, letting them cross the door, instead.

With a sigh, I tore away from her, despite the coolness of my skin when I did so. A part of me wanted to turn around, to stay, and make absolutely sure that she wouldn't be threatened by a nightmare, again.

But, I could never get what I wanted. I didn't deserve it.

Without my head intact, I pushed past the doubt, and left her room.

Shutting the door behind me, I stepped into the hallway to see Jax waiting for me against the wall. His arms and ankles were crossed, a half-smirk crossing his lips.

I planned on leaving without altercation, but I couldn't stop myself.

"What?" I snapped.

"Mhm?" He gave a half shrug, the smirk building. "Nothing at all."

My eyes narrowed in a glare. "Then, quit making that dumbass face. It looks like you're constipated or some shit."

"No worries. I'm simply an observer."

"Yeah, well you can take that shit and shove it up your ass," I grumbled, stepping past him. I didn't know what he thought he saw or heard, but he would be wrong. More than wrong.

I heard his laughing following from behind me. "Ignorance is bliss, Vaudest."

I threw a middle finger at him, yanking the door open. I wasn't going to entertain his bullshit. I swear, I could see the resemblance between him, and his twin every day, and I didn't just mean physically.

I pushed the botheration to the back of my head, then made my way to the car. I was glad I didn't leave it on.

Getting in, I hurried and typed the address in my phone. I'd gotten it from Preston as soon as Norris left to confront Xander.

I didn't want to leave the girl stranded if shit went south. I knew she could taken the fucker on her own if he hit her, but I didn't trust it entirely. I would have been more than happy to help if she would have called.

Xander was only a couple minutes from Maggie, but I tore that shit right in half. My foot never left the gas pedal on the drive. The car was the barer of my anger tonight, it seemed.

I pulled in behind his car, glaring at both it and his house. If I had time, I'd have more than enough fun fucking both items up. If he thought all he was getting were a few punches after hurting Norris, then he'd be in for a crazy ass surprise.

I turned the engine of my car off just in case he pussied out, and ran when he recognized it as mine. He wasn't running from shit.

I wasn't sure of the full extent behind his betrayal to Maggie, but there was no fucking way he'd do it, again. No one ever would. I didn't give two fucks whose ass I'd have to beat in order to keep that instated.

No one fucked with Maggie Norris except me.

I had to refrain from slamming the door off of the hinges as I got out of my car.

Storming past the decorative gnomes, I kicked a few over on the way to his front door. If it weren't for his ugly ass face, his damn decorative skills should have been the thing to turn Maggie off of him.

I jammed my finger into the doorbell so long, it got stuck for a moment. I'd give the fucker five seconds before I broke the shit down myself.

One. Two. Three.

I popped my neck, then my knuckles. Four. I raised my leg. Five.

Just as I went to kick, the door flew open from his side. His expression was molded around panic and desperation, but despite all of it, I could see the bruises along his body.

Pride flooded my body at it, since I knew where they were from. That's my fucking girl, Norris.

"Maggie, babe—" he paused, his eyes running up the length of my body until he got to my face. The rigidness told me that he recognized me, immediately. "What are you—"

Before he could shut the door, I swung.