Chaos (Colby Brock)

28

"He asked how we met so I lied." I said as he stared at me with intensity. "Kinda. I said we met at my work. He asked where and I said the grocery store." I said, trying to recall the memories.

"He didn't believe me." I mumbled, feeling my heart start to race. "What do you mean?" Colby asked with concern in his voice.

I felt myself starting to break down at the idea that these men knew who I was. I didn't confirm it with them but they knew.

They knew who I was.

I put the bowl of ice cream down and brought one hand to my neck, feeling it start to close up with anxiety.

"Julia?" He asked and stood up, walking over to me. I shook my head and looked up at him, trying to hold everything in.

"Hey.." Colby said and brought his hand to my cheek, wiping the tears away. "Nothing is going to happen to you." He said gently.

"Th-they know who I am." I said with a sniffle. "Huh?" He asked as I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him.

"Shh...calm down then we'll talk about it. Okay? You just need to calm down." He said and rubbed my back gently.

I shook my head and pulled away. "It's over for me. I'm gonna die. I want to die." I said and looked into his eyes.

"Stop saying shit like that, Jules. Stop it." He said almost angrily.

"They're cowards. Idiots that walk amongst us. You saw what happened tonight. Do you really think I would let them win that easily?" He asked and brushed my hair back from my forehead.

"My family, Colby. They're gonna find them and kill them." I whispered. "No. My guys have a close eye on them, and they're doing okay." He said with a sigh.

"I'll make sure it stays that way. It's the least I can do." He said and pulled away. "Why does he know about me?" I asked as he shrugged.

"Couldn't tell you. Maybe he stumbled upon a missing persons poster." He said then turned and started pacing the room.

I watched him carefully, picking at my nails nervously.

"You'll be in lockdown." He said after a minute. "You stay in the house. Mostly in your room until I can ensure your safety." He said as I nodded.

"We put a bigger target on our backs since Sam and I killed his men." Colby explained. "Will you stay in lockdown?" I asked and pulled my knees to my chest.

"No. Business has to go on. I'm not scared of Tony and his men. He'll have replacements for them in no time." He said with a sigh.

"How's your arm?" He asked and looked at me. "It's fine." I said with a shrug.

"Good. We should uh..we should get you home." He said and came over to me, holding his hand out.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked and looked at his hand. "Nothing, Julia. I'm just trying to navigate this situation. I have to be ten steps ahead but I'm not." He said and ran his fingers through his hair.

"If you don't see me around, I'm not ignoring you. I can't get distracted." He said and helped me stand.

"If this is about the kiss I-" I started as he shook his head.

"It's not." He said quickly as I leaned down and grabbed the dress off the floor. "Okay." I mumbled as he looked at the dress in my hands.

"I'll get you a new one. Blood won't come out." He said then took it from me. I pursed my lips and grabbed the bowl of almost untouched ice cream.

"I really think we should talk about what happened." I said as he sighed. "Not tonight, sweetheart." He said then wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me out of the room.

"How's Jake doing?" Colby asked as Sam chuckled.

"He's fine. High off his ass. What about you, Jules? You okay?" He asked as I nodded. "Got all stitched up." I said quietly.

"Good. Are we going home now?" Sam asked Colby. "Yeah." He said then held his hand out for the keys.

"I'll get the others." Sam said then turned around.

There was a new tension in the air around Colby and I since our heated kiss.

I didn't know how I was supposed to react to it and I think Colby felt the same way.

We silently walked down the hallway, me with a bowl of ice cream in my hand and Colby with a blood covered dress.

"Burn this." Colby said as he tossed the dress to the man that was sitting at a desk by the elevator. "Why do you need to burn it?" I asked as he summoned the elevator.

"It's evidence. They'll find it and report it to the police since they know you're missing." He said as I nodded.

We got situated in the car then waited for the guys to come. When they got in the car we silently drove home.

There was almost a melancholy feeling in the air, knowing that tonight didn't go very well.

When we got to the house we all went to our respective rooms but Colby came to mine.

"Will you...uh...will you stay in here? I'm probably gonna have a nightmare." I mumbled awkwardly.

"Not tonight." He said and went to get some clothes from the closet. "Oh..uh..okay." I said as he came over to me.

"Goodnight, Julia." He said then leaned in and kissed me once before turning to leave the room.

I sat there stunned at the action, putting my fingertips on my lips.

What the actual fuck did that mean?