"𝕀 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟'𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕝. 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕, 𝕒𝕟𝕕, 𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕥, 𝕀 𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕨 𝕚𝕥."

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♬  ᵀᵉⁿᵉʳⁱᶠᵉ ˢᵉᵃ ⁻ ᴱᵈ ˢʰᵉᵉʳᵃⁿ   ♬

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Ｍａｓｏｎ

Within seconds I was pulled out of the booth and wrapped in his arms, my face pressed firmly to his chest. I instantly calmed as his familiar scent surrounded me. His arms were wound around me like a vice. I didn't mind though as my hands tightly clutched the front of his shirt. My eyes closed as I felt his lips on the crown of my head, his arms tightening in the slightest. My face was throbbing slightly from being pressed against his hard chest but I honestly didn't care enough to move. I felt safe for the first time since yesterday and I wasn't about to give it up.

I wasn't sure how long we stood there before I felt his palms rest on either side of my neck, his thumbs splayed over my jaw and cheeks. Tilting my head my gently, his eyes immediately scanned over my bruised face, guilt and sadness filling them. He opened his mouth to say something but seemed to change his mind, closing it, he pulled me back to his chest, his fingers now entangled in my hair.

"I'm so sorry." He mumbled into my hair.

I pulled back slightly, confused. "Why are you sorry?"

His eyebrows furrowed instantly. "Because Mason, I'm the reason you were taken again. It's all my fault. I mean, just look what they did to your beautiful face."

I couldn't help but blush as the fact that he had called me beautiful. "It's not your fault Alex."

He looked at me incredulously, "How could even say that, Mason?"

"I mean, sure if you weren't a fighter than this wouldn't have happened but it's not like you asked them to do this, nor this you expect them to. You can't control everything Alex and you sure as hell can't help the fact that Gabriel's money hungry, psycho."

"Mason."

I shook my head. "Nope, I'm not going to let you take the blame for this. Plus, Gabriel isn't the one who messed up all of," I paused, gesturing a circle around my face. "This."

"Then who?"

I shrugged, pulling myself completely away from him so that I could slide back into the booth to continue eating. "Let's just say Lucas has some anger management issues."

"Luke did that to you?" His jaw clenched achingly tight.

I nodded, shoving a handful of fries into my mouth. "Yeah, he got a little upset when I headbutted him."

Miles nearly spit out his drink. When the hell did he even get a drink? "You headbutt him."

"I did and as you can tell," I paused, once again gesturing to my face. "He didn't take kindly to it. But like I told him, Gabriel and Nico; he hits like a child. So although it wasn't painless, it surely wasn't as painful as I'm assuming it could have been. I reckon it looks a lot worse than it actually is."

"It doesn't hurt?" Miles asked, staring directly at me.

I swallowed, willing myself, for once, to lie like a fucking champ. "It's not so bad." I could feel Alex staring intently at my face as if he could see through my lie. Maybe he couldn't and I was just being over dramatic and he was actually just staring at my face because I mean, let's be honest; it does look pretty bad. Nico, Miles and I talked while Nico and finished eating but Alex chose to keep quiet. His hand, however, was tightly gripped my thigh the entire time.

I offered to pay for my meal but of course, Nico denied. I swear these boys never let me pay for anything. Alex slung his arm over my shoulder, pulling me flush against him as we headed outside. As we approached Nico's car, I started pulling away. "I'll see you when we get home."

Instantly, I was pulled back so quickly, I almost tripped. But his arm was now wrapped around my waist, held me up. I looked up at him, surprised. He simply shook his head and looked to his brothers who apparently seemed to know exactly what he was saying even though he never actually said any actual words.

"Uh, I'll ride with Nico and you can go with Alex. Yeah?" Miles smiled, shoving stepping towards Nico's car.

"Uh, are you sure. I mean, I don't care. I just don't want to inconvenience anyone."

Miles smiled, shaking his head. "You're a dork Mase." He stepped forward pulling me from Alex's grip, though he made sure that he was still holding my hand as Miles pulled me into a hug. "I'm so thankful you're okay, Mase. I love you."

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder and hugging him back with my one free arm. "I love you too." Just after the words left my mouth, Alex tugged me back forcing Miles to release me.

He held his hands up in mock defense, a small smirk growing on his lips. Without another word, he and Nico climbed into the car and backed out. Alex, on the other hand, continued to stay quiet as we got into the car and for the entire ride home; though he kept my hand securely in his. I wasn't exactly sure why he wasn't speaking but it was beginning to worry me. Was he upset with me or something? As soon I was out of the car, he was at my side, once again grabbing my hand. I let him lead the way up the stairs and to his room.

As soon as the door was shut behind us, he released my hand and walked into the bathroom, practically slamming the door. Okay then. I sighed as I slipped off my shoes before climbing onto the edge of his bed. I still felt exhausted and seeing as he wasn't speaking to me at the moment, I didn't exactly know what he was doing.

After a moment of silence, the sound of things crashing to the floor echoed through the door. I stood up just as a bang echoed against the door. Taking a few steps forward, I called out, "Alex?". He said nothing in return, so I walked the rest of the way to the door. "Alex?"

Again, he didn't reply. Grabbing the handle, I slowly turned it and pushed the door open. Alex stood with his back to me, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly. Pushing the door open the rest of the way, I stepped in and gently laid my hand on his shoulder blade. "Are you okay?"

He tensed immediately and pulled his back away from my touch. "I'll be out in a second."

Tears began welling in my eyes as I raised my hand again to place it on him before changing my mind, letting it fall back down.

"Okay." I practically whispered.

Shutting the door behind me, I grabbed my shoes and quickly made my way back into my room.. Shutting the door with my back, I rested myself against it as my shoes dropped. He was mad. I couldn't blame him. I should have never been at that fight. If I hadn't have been there, then none of this would have happened. He's told me time and time again to not come and yet, I still did. Regardless of whether or not the boys had threatened to blackmail me, I still went when I knew he didn't want me to. Even if he had apologized earlier, he could very well still be upset with me and all I've caused.

After a few deep breaths, I climbed into my bed and burying myself under all of my blankets. Tears dripped off of my face and onto my pillow as I squeezed the life out of it as I tried to regulate my breathing. The blanket lifted off my body momentarily as someone slid in behind me. As soon as his arms wrapped around me, I started crying harder. Grabbing my hip he pulled back gently, urging me to turn around. Slowly, I did making sure not to look at him. Once I was facing him, he gripped the back of my thigh, pulling me against his ass his other hand snaked under my head; his hand entangling in my hair.

I rested my cheek against his chest, while his came to rest on top of my head. "Why'd you leave?" I stayed quiet, not wanting to answer him. "Mase?"

I swallowed tightly, "I just, I didn't want to upset you anymore."

"What?"

"You seemed upset with me and I figured it was just best if I left you alone."

His arms flexed around me, holding me tighter. "I'm not mad at you, Mason."

"Then..." I trailed off not really knowing how to finish the rest of the sentence.

"Then why was I throwing shit in the bathroom and punching the wall?"

I pulled away from him instantly, "You punched the wall? Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"

Pulled me back to his chest, he shook his head. "I'm fine, Mason."

I pulled back but only slightly this time so that I was able to look up at him. "Are you sure?"

A small smile grew on his lips. "I should be the one asking you that."

"Why?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "I'm okay."

"Yeah, except for the fact that your face is completely bruised and your lip is split." He ground out.

Looking back down, I sighed. "I'm really okay."

"It doesn't matter if you're okay now, Mason. You should have never been put in that situation in the first place and if it wasn't for me then,"

I cut him off. "You and I both know that that's complete and utter bullshit. Gabriel would have come and found me whether or not I was at the fight. I mean, sure it had made it easier but still."

"But still nothing. If I wasn't fighting in the first place, this would have ever happened."

"He didn't do anything to me. All I did was sit in a chair the whole time."

"Why are you acting like this is no big deal?" He asked, getting upset.

"I'm not saying that it's not a big deal. Obviously, it was scary as fuck and I didn't enjoy getting my face punched. Regardless, none of that was or is your fault. I'm the one who baited Luke and continued to do so. I mean, of course, I don't enjoy being kidnapped but he only did it to scare you and I'm sure the first time he wouldn't have hit me if I hadn't pissed him off."

He scoffed, pulling away and sitting up. "It doesn't fucking matter how much you pissed either one of them off, Mason. They don't have the right to lay a fucking hand on you! Nor, kidnap you."

Sitting up along with him, I sighed. "I didn't say that either, Alex. I just, I guess I'm just trying to get across to you that it's not your fault. You can't control Gabriel nor can you control Luke."

"That's not the fucking point!" He snapped, gripping the roots of his hair. "The point is that you got fucking hurt, again; because of me. Do you not get that Mason? I know I can't control Gabriel or Luke but that doesn't mean that this isn't still my fault. It is. He's told me time and time again that he'd ruin me and of course, I never gave a fuck about what he had to say but then you came along and he started saying things about you. I didn't take him seriously because he's been threatening me for years and nothings come of it. I mean, of course I did my best to distance myself from you because I didn't like him talking about you either way. Then got Luke involved but I thought maybe it was just a coincidence. I didn't actually think that he would go that far but again, I was wrong. He told me to stop fighting or I was going to regret it after the first time he took you but again, I blew him off. He fucking told me, Mason. He told me that I'd regret it if I didn't drop out and I ignored him and he took you again."

"Alex." I whispered, tears forming in my eyes as I watch the anguish on his face.

"He took you and I thought this was it. I thought I fucking lost you just when I got you because I had to be a cocky asshole who thought he was untouchable. You were gone for almost forty-eight hours Mason." He whispered the last part, looking away from me and down at his lap. "I thought you were gone." His voice cracked.

Climbing on my knees, I grabbed his face making him look at me. I swear my heart broke in two, seeing tears on his cheeks. "But I'm not, I'm here and I'm okay. He only did it to scare you."

"How do you know that?"

I shrugged, "Because he told me."

"What?"

Sitting back on my legs, I dropped my hands from his face to weave our fingers together. "He told me he took me to scare you. He gave me the whole rundown of who he is and what he does and said that he wants his fighters to win which is impossible when you're fighting, so seeing as you won't let him sign you; he's taken to other measures to ensure that his fighters win. He said I'm your weak spot and by taking me, he's hoping it'll scare you enough to stop fighting."

"Well, he's right."

"What?"

"I'm done, Mason."

"What do you mean you're done?"

"Exactly what I said. I'm done, I'm not doing this anymore. Not when it puts your safety at risk."

"But you love fighting. I argued.

"I love you more." 

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authors note, 

Hiiiii! 

I don't start my new job until Monday, so I'm going to writing as many chapters as I can before then but since I left you guys on yet another cliff hanger, I'd give you another chapter. Though I did leave this one on another cliffhanger as well. I promise though, it wasn't intentional. I hadn't even planned for him to say it. I just write until I feel that the chapter is finished. Hence why some are short and some are long. 

Anywho, 

Aside from the cliffhanger, I hope you enjoy it! 

I love you all & I hope you have an amazing rest of your weekend. 

M