Athena
The car ride was pretty quiet on our way back to Harry's house, considering the intense interaction we just had with another Violet King. I've never been in the VK's territory nor have I ever interacted with one. My brothers always protected me from that area and made it their goal to never let me get close to one.
They knew how ruthless and unforgiving they were, and now I was finally able to see it for myself and understand it. Ranger was ready to shoot me without a second thought just because I was a stranger. They don't care who you are, they just want you dead- far away from whatever secrets or material possessions they're hiding.
I've never been more terrified in my life, having being threatened like that. I know I was in that exact same situation with Harry, but this one felt different. Ranger didn't give one hell who I was, and I bet my offer wouldn't have worked on him if the roles were switched. He would of shot my brains out.
So then what makes Harry different? His whole gang wanted me dead except for him. What is it about Harry that made him want to spare me? Was my offer really that valuable to him? Did it really mean way more to him than own his ruthless reputation?
Harry glanced over at me briefly, causing my heart to beat a little faster than normal as I pretended I didn't even notice. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and looked out the window, trying to occupy my mind with something else.
He looked over at me again as we shared the silence comfortably, making me wonder why he kept staring at me. Was he concerned about me? Was he wondering how I was doing after that encounter?
Nonsense, he's heartless and he doesn't even care. Why am I overthinking it?
"That guy..... Ranger." I tired to stir a conversation to get my mind off of the fact that Harry was glancing over at me every other minute. I didn't know why he kept looking at me but it made me uncomfortable and quite annoyed.
"Oh don't worry about him." Harry responded almost immediately, as if he was glad I broke the silence.
"I'm not worried about him." I said softly as I looked out the window again.
"He's..... a tough one to get along with, very rough on the edges as well as on the inside, and quite... insane." Harry tried to explain as I remembered the moment when Ranger became vulnerable. It was the moment he said it was possible to fall for a pretty face.
But the way he said it was different. It wasn't just any face, it was an enemie's face. Someone you're not suppose to fall for.
"No.... He's in pain." I spoke barely above a whisper as Harry glanced over at me with confusion.
"What?" He asked as he continued to drive.
"He comes off as protective and aggressive, but it's just an act. It's a shield." I answered him as I started to analyze Ranger more.
"You don't know what you're talking about. You don't even know the guy. He's a part of my gang don't forget." Harry defended as I chuckled to myself, feeling bad that he had no idea.
"He's in pain Harry how could you not see that?" I asked as I glanced over at him.
"He put a gun to your head without hesitation. How was he in pain?" Harry stated as I looked ahead of me.
"You didn't catch it?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Catch what?" He asked, growing impatient.
"He lost something.... or someone. Whatever it was, it hurt him greatly and he's been suffering about it ever since." I mentioned as he laughed.
"You got all of that from our conversation back there? I swear you were trembling the second I pulled you away from him. How did you even have the time to believe this false story?" Harry questioned as I licked my dry lips.
"I think you're so caught up in your own world, and in your own life that you don't realize the people around you are in pain. You didn't even take the time to care about Ranger. You probably don't even check up on any of the people in your gang cuz you're so caught up in trying to be the best one." I said as he clenched his hands around the wheel.
"I didn't take the time to care about Ranger? Who was saving your ass back there huh? Who?" Harry hissed as I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
"You just proved my point Harry. It always goes back to you. Everything is about you, and if it doesn't involve you, you treat it like it's dirt and you turn the other cheek. What a great- and genuine title you've set for yourself. I bet you're proud to be a part of the Violet Kings. A famous gang who doesn't give one crap about the other person because you're all selfish." I vented as he seemed to get offended by my statement.
"I don't know where this silly talk is coming from but you need to shut your damn mouth! You know nothing about my gang and I can say a whole lot of sh*t about yours! Ranger and I have been close ever since I was eight years old. I grew up with him my whole life and I view him like he's my own blood. He is like family to me and it is his job, and his duty to protect me and his own territory no matter the cost." Harry informed as I crossed my arms.
"If it wasn't for me saving your ass, you would of been dead on his driveway by now!" Harry raised his voice as I swallowed tightly.
"I never said Ranger was the sh*tty friend." I commented as Harry looked over at me.
"Why do you constantly have to be a b*tch all the time?!" Harry growled as I gasped.
"Why do you have to be an egotistical dickface 24/7?" I snapped back as he clenched his jaw.
"Do you know how embarrassing it was that I had to beg my own mate to not kill you?" Harry asked as I rolled my eyes.
"Oh cuz being vulnerable is such a turn off in your gang isn't it." I faked a pout as I looked over at him.
"God I should of just let him kill you." Harry groaned as he started to get frustrated.
"Yeah maybe you should of. But I'm too important to you aren't I." I said as I smiled in victory to myself once I saw how pissed he looked.
"You don't mean sh*t to me. I had to say what I needed to say in order for Ranger not to shoot you. It would of been a waste of all this effort and time if he did." Harry responded.
"Well he seems to value you highly if he chose not to. That guy was dead set on wanting me dead." I sighed as I leaned back.
"Ranger doesn't show mercy to anyone. He kills on sight. The only reason he didn't shoot you right off the bat was because he wanted to know why you were with me." Harry explained as I slowly looked over at him.
"What if that person was a sweet old lady?" I asked as Harry kept his eyes forward.
"There would be a dead grandma on the news." Harry replied as I gasped.
"Your gang is so twisted!" I breathed as my eyes grew wide.
"Oh please, don't tell me your gang is all sweet and innocent. I know you guys do some wicked things yourself." Harry scoffed.
"Only when they deserve it. Not just for fun like you guys." I defended.
"Ranger doesn't do it for fun." Harry replied.
"Oh right, it's a protection thing." I quoted as Harry glanced over at me.
"He's always been that way." Harry stated as he looked away.
"Yeah... because like I said.... he's in pain." I mentioned again.
"Quit with your 'he's in pain' story. It's getting on my nerves." Harry snapped as I shrugged my shoulders.
"Well it's true." I mumbled.
"Literally how? What did you get from him during that short period of time huh? Enlighten me." Harry asked as I looked forward and thought hard.
"From the time that you've known Ranger, has he ever been in love?" I asked as I peered over at Harry, watching as he knitted his eyebrows together.
"Yeah, what does that have to do with anything?" Harry questioned.
"And was that person someone that wasn't in the Violet King's territory?" I asked as Harry grew silent for a while.
"Meaning what?" Harry asked.
"Someone that you would consider as..... the enemy?" I wondered as Harry closed his mouth and didn't say a single word after.
It grew silent in the car as Harry was deep in thought while driving, making me wonder if I guessed correctly or not.
"Ranger was in love with someone who was considered the enemy once yes." Harry admitted as my heart started pounding.
"What happened to her?" I asked, wanting to know more.
"It's none of your business." Harry shut me out as I chuckled madly.
"What- are you serious? I can't even know a simple story?" I asked.
"No." He was quick with his words as he no longer seemed interested in this topic.
"Even if I was right about it?" I pushed as he shook his head.
"You don't get to know anything about our gang life. You don't deserve it." Harry snapped as he clenched his hands around the steering wheel.
"But I just want to know about her. I don't care about anything that involves you or the other guys." I said as Harry shook his head.
"Athena just shut the hell up- I'm tired of hearing your voice!" Harry snapped as I looked over at him while narrowing my eyebrows.
"I swear I can never have a normal conversation with you." I spoke in annoyance.
"That's because we're enemies Athena. How about you wake the hell up and realize that." Harry hissed as I clenched my hands into fists.
"Why do you even want to talk to me? I know how much you hate me." Harry asked.
"Oh believe me- you'll never fully understand just how much I hate you. And I'm not interested in wanting to talk to you to get to know you, I simply just want to hear about Ranger's story with the girl." I spoke harshly as I looked over at him.
"Why do you need to know so bad? Did your brothers use to read you love stories while you slept in your little princess bedroom?" Harry asked as I clenched my jaw.
"You're so deprived of love that you need to hear someone else's version of it." Harry offended me as he spoke.
"You're such an ass." I spat as I pulled my knees up to my chest and looked the other way.
"Yeah? And you're an annoying little b*tch that I have to bring along with me everywhere I go." Harry hissed.
"You chose that decision." I fought back before the car ride got quite again.
"If you don't shut the hell up I'll have Zayn finish what he started this morning." Harry threatened as I closed my mouth.
"Who knew you were such a handful." Harry sighed heavily to himself before he pulled out a cigarette and plopped it in his mouth, catching me off guard as he lit it up with his free hand.
I didn't know he smoked.
"I'm gonna need you to be quiet for the rest of the night because the boys and I are gonna be busy catching a high once we get home." Harry mentioned as I widened my eyes slightly.
Does he mean do drugs?
"You guys do drugs?" I dared to ask as I looked at him carefully.
"Everyone does Athena. What do you think I just bought off from Ranger?" Harry informed as my eyes grew even wider.
I then turned around and looked at the backseat, realizing what Harry had brought in the car from the exchange. I honestly didn't even remember seeing Harry receive something from Ranger- let alone put it in the car.
But sure enough it was a massive bag of illegal drugs, probably enough to share with a whole city. I wasn't sure exactly what kind it was, simply because I wasn't brought up in a druggy household- but it didn't look good from the looks of it.
I then looked back up at Harry as I saw him as a whole new person now.
He was exactly like who the people said he was, except way worse. He was addicted to drugs and spending money like it was nothing, and treating others like they're pure dirt.
And if I'm not mistaken I think Harry spent a good chunk of the money solely on these worthless drugs.
My God how did I end up with you Harry?