Sold To The GangLeader (Rewriting)

CHAPTER TWENTY - NINE

A/N: I know it's been a while so please remember some comments won't add up because it's from the older version of this story!

*A week later*

Ayla's POV

Sweat coated my skin as I threw punch after punch to the punching bag, occasionally throwing in kicks. My arms protested as I continued, but I don't want to stop. Not yet.

It's been a week. A week of acting like I'm okay when anyone asks, but breaking down when it's dark and I'm alone.

I'm just tired. Of everything. This life.

I hate it.

I hate myself.

After a few more minutes, I stopped my movements and breathed heavily as I tried getting my heart to calm down. I grabbed my water bottle and drank half of it as I took a seat on the bench.

I took the gloves off my hands and rubbed my face before turning to the clock on the wall. It's two in the morning, yet I can't sleep.

I'm struggling. I have nightmares. I'm afraid to sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see those lifeless ones staring back at me.

I'm haunted by it.

To distract myself from what I have done, I've been trying to get more details about the things my father has done, but Cole won't tell me anymore. He keeps telling me to take a break and collect myself, but I need to know more. I want him to tell me everything so I can get over it all at once. I can't keep going with the back and forth pain.

The door to the gym opened and I looked up to see Zach. He closed the door behind him and came to sit beside me.

Neither of us spoke. Not for a few minutes. We haven't spoken much to each other ever since that night.

I haven't really spoken to anyone. They've tried, but I shut down. I just feel so lost and out of control. I don't know how to steer myself back.

"I'm sorry, Ayla." Zach broke the silence and I looked up at him. "It's my fault. I push you to keep training and fighting, but I couldn't even protect us. I put you in a position to have to kill someone. If I could take it back, I would. In a heartbeat."

"Thank you." I replied. "But it's not your fault."

Zach let out a humorless chuckle and put his elbows on his knees. He sighed and ran a hand down his face before turning to me. He said nothing. Just stared at me.

"How are you? Layla mentioned you broke two ribs." I muttered, looking down at my hands.

"I'm fine, Ayla-bear." I almost smiled at the nickname. "Come on."

I looked up, confused as he suddenly stood up and began to walk away, but I followed after him. He led me to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"Sometimes, when I struggle to sleep, I drink warm milk." He said, grabbing the milk and two cups.

"I'm not a fan of warm milk." I responded, sitting on one of the stools by the kitchen island.

"I wasn't either." He chuckled and a small smile stayed on his lips. "But my sister made me drink some every night."

"I didn't know you have a sister."

"Had."

We both fell silent and I watched as he put the two cups of milk into the microwave, heating them up for a few seconds at a time and checking them to make sure they're not too hot.