Intertwined

Chapter 22: Now Let's Get You To Your Juliet, Romeo

H U N T E R
(When Hunter was 18)

"How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from that filthy Jacobs girl?" my father seethed, sitting on that chair of his, tapping his fingers together.

Nothing he could say or do would keep me away from Mia.

"I'm sorry, Dad," I say for the 100th time.

He gets up, walking agonizingly slowly, inching closer to me and immediately my back stiffens, preparing itself for what's coming.

"Well, we'll have to make sure it doesn't happen again. Aren't I right, son?" he removes his belt.

My mother's near the door, I'm sure, crying her eyes out, wishing she could help me. But I had strictly forbidden that. If she helped me, Dad would hit her. And I'd rather take the pain alone.

And the pain did come. Until I was bleeding and crying on the floor.

***

"Shit, Hunt! Did he hurt you bad?!" Nick runs to me, holding me up, his messy brown hair all over the place.

His lip was busted and his eye was nursing a bruise.

"What the hell? Did his men hit you?" I say, wincing as the cold wind beats against the freshly cleaned wounds on my back.

"Hey. Don't worry about it. I didn't tell them anything," he smiles.

"But-"

"A few punches are nothing. We're brothers. We stick together. Now let's get you to your Juliet, Romeo," he leads me to his car.

"What about you and Jennifer?" I wiggle my eyebrows.

"Screw you," Nick laughs, blushing.

***

She's not here yet. I swear to God, if they hurt her, I'll-

"Boo!" her voice yells from behind me and I yelp.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," her long black hair cascades down her shoulders and her beautiful brown eyes sparkle.

"Where the hell were you?! Do you realize how worried I was? I thought they hurt you! Our parents didn't get rich from doing nothing. They know how to hurt people-" My yelling is interrupted when she kisses me.

Ah, damn it! I was supposed to be mad at her. Now I can't remember why.

"I'm fine. What about you?" she whispers against my lips, and I feel my back stiffen.

She goes to hug me, touching my wounds and I wince.

"What did he do to you?" she seethes, lifting my shirt, going behind me.

"It's nothing. Please don't worry about it," I reassure.

For a few seconds I don't hear anything, I turn around when I hear the sniffling.

The tears roll down her rosy cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you," her shoulders shake.

"Oh, baby, it's not your fault," I softly cup her face and she softly holds them in place.

She sobs into my chest, all the while whispering 'I'm sorry'.

"It's okay." I pull her away. "I love you."

"I'm gonna kill him," she breathes heavily.

"Just relax."

She shakes her head. "Why can't we just go far away?"

"One day, I promise. We'll be successful and rich, happily married with children. We'll come back here and they won't be able to touch us," I pull her closer.

"We'll love our child. More than anything," she reiterates.

I'll never hit my child. I'll be a good father.

"I will marry you, one day. We'll have children and see them turn into adults who make horrible decisions, like us."

She snorts. "Horrible decisions? Marrying you seems like one of them. Having a child with another child..?" she teases.

"You know when people get pregnant, their breasts..." I tease, trying to lighten her mood.

She narrows her eyes playfully, placing a light kiss on my lips. "I hate you, sometimes."

I laugh, kissing her. Something I wish I could do forever. "You should."