Tainted

5

~Poppy~

Keep quiet?! Is he insane? There's an active shooter and a total stranger is pulling me through a door marked staff only. They're looking for me.

I mean, I can't tell him I'm Poppy O'Neill. I'd practically be signing my death warrant. I don't know who this man was but with my fucking luck at landing myself in situations where I nearly die, he'd be my dad's worst enemy and slaughter me on the spot. Or kidnap me. Or kidnap me then slaughter me. Post me back to my dad. No. Can't say anything.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Away from the gun men going mad over some girl who's probably not even in there."

"How do you know she's not?"

"Because they're looking for Poppy O'Neill." He raised his eyebrow at me. "Do you not know that name?"

"Should I?" He half rolled his eyes, looking both ways before pulling me around another corner. I am definitely going to die around here.

"Poppy O'Neill is the only heir to the O'Neill family. No one has ever seen her in person. Her father's kept her under lock and key because of men like that wanting to do the same thing for much worse reasoning. Apparently, Poppy is supposed to make an appearance at some big event this weekend because she's looking for a husband." Yeah, 'she' is. "I guess they thought she'd be shopping for things to get ready for the weekend." Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious.

"Can you let go of my wrist now?" He looked down, dropping me instantly as he came to a stop, pushing on a door that opened to the outside.

"After you." I walked out, looking either way to try and find my way back to my car. "Did you come alone?"

"Hm?" I turn back to him, watching as he lit up a cigarette. I scrunched my nose up, wafting the air and taking a slight step back. Something about him seemed different today. He was still dressed smart. Black jeans, black shirt rolled up to his elbows. Still intimidating as hell but a little less than he had been earlier this week. "Oh! No. I uh-" Shit. "I need to get back to my car."

"Wait- I can drive you home."

"No thanks. I'm good." I took a few quick steps backwards. Dad's going to go mad if I don't find Enzo like, right now. He has my bags thank god I left them by his feet before I went in, citing I'd need both my hands. He'll have scooped them up and brought them down to my car. He knows I'm not stupid enough to stick around when something like that is going off and that I'd come down here. I'm good at getting out of public places unseen even without the help of blue eyes giants with huge forearms I want pressed into the headboard- oh my good god Poppy stop it. "Thanks for - that. I'd have gotten out but I appreciate it."

"You know I'm going to follow you right? Until you're with whoever you're here with." I pressed my lips tight together and turned around, walking in the direction I think was where I needed to be going.

I don't know who this guy is. I don't know why he seems to have suddenly started appearing right when I need a hand. I don't know why he seems to think I need his help. I'd have managed the book by myself eventually and after I'd spent a few minutes freaking out in there I'd have found the courage somewhere to get myself out of there alive because that's the number 1 aim isn't it? Survival. My survival. Mum's survival. Living.

I can't handle any of that if I'm cowering in a stack of discounted mother of the bride dresses.

Either way he does keep turning up and it's a little unnerving that I don't know who he is or where he came from. I don't have a name to put behind him but I know asking him is signing myself up for him asking me the same again and I wouldn't have the same excuse I did last time.

He's still got the same dangerous feel to him as well. Who wears all black, knows his way around the back of a mall, and has business in a library? It doesn't make any sense to me. He looks different in the day light too. His hair isn't black. Its brown with this hint of gold to it and it looks beautiful styled like that.

I turn my head back, catching him smirking before pulling the cigarette into his mouth.

"How old are you?" I almost stumble, his words catching me off guard.

"How old do I need to be for you to stop following me and staring at my ass?"

"Under 20."

"I'm 19." He made a noise and I turned around, stopping on the edge of the car park. The crowd gathered at the front of the building was huge. The whole place must have been evacuated. I literally just wanted to get out of the house for a bit. All this over me wanting a break.

"All this for one girl no one knows." I grunted, crossing my arms, and tugging the bag over my shoulder up slightly. "What's your name then?"

"You're still just some stranger who helped me with my book."

"And get out of a shooting that could have killed you."

"I'd have left before they got halfway across the room."

"You're very calm about this."

"About men storming a building with guns? What can I say, it's not the first time it's happened." I shrugged. "Bye strange stalker man."

"It'd be nice if I didn't have to save your life next time Pipsqueak."

"There won't be a next time." I pulled the keys to my car out of my bag as I walked away. Two times in Mr. Fallen Angels presence was more than enough. It's pretty much guaranteed I won't be leaving the house without Cian or him for the foreseeable anyway. Cian will probably end up groping me in some changing room whilst my dad will complain the whole time he's dragging me so hard I end up bruised.

"There you are! I was about to call you. Jesus Christ Poppy."

"I'm fine. Came out the back door. Let's go."

"My car."

"I'm not leaving mine here."

"Yeah because you driving yourself home when you're in shock is a great idea." Lorenzo rolled his eyes, pulling the passenger side door of his car open. "In." I sighed, obeyed, and climbed in. Let the lies begin.