Cataleya's POV
I closed the door to Tia's room and stood there staring in blank space. I was standing in the dark room trying to calm myself and something caught my eye, making me move towards it.
It was my phone feeling happy I quickly unlocked the iPhone and checked my messages. It was mostly from Shaggy, my childhood best friend. I didn't hesitate and called her.
"CATALEYA, YOU BITCH WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
I laughed at her outburst. "Shaggy, gosh I missed you."
"You still haven't answered my question but I missed you too." She replied.
I bit my lip unsure of what my answer should be. "Look I can't tell you now but I need somewhere to stay for a while. Somewhere safe, away from any harm. Somewhere no one will be able to find me."
"Catt, what's happened." She asked her voice filled with worry.
"Shaggy please I can't explain now." I was close to tears.
"Okay, I won't ask any questions. Do you want me to come pick you up?"
I smiled already feeling better. "Yeah I'll text you the address be here at 10:30 am. I'll be with Tia."
"Okay see you then." She hung up.
I changed into pyjama shorts and a loose white top. I washed off my make up and brushed my teeth. I jumped into bed and let my eyes close, I was close to drifting off to sleep but someone knocked on the door. I groaned and got up to open the door. It better be important.
Daniel stood there, his dark jeans hanging low by his waist and he was shirtless making me kind of drool. No one should look this sexy, it should be illegal. I forced my eyes to look at his godlike face. He looked pained and tired, I felt bad but it's his own fault.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
He sighed slightly frustrated. "I'm sorry, I swear I didn't kiss her. She forced herself on me, you know I would never hurt you."
"Well it's too late because you have hurt me and besides It's none of my business so you don't need to explain anything. If you don't mind I'm tired and I want to sleep."
"Why are you in Tia's room and not mine?" He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion.
I smiled. "Darling, I can be wherever I want to be this is a free country."
I was about to shut the door but Daniel held the door and walked inside. He shut the door behind him and I stared at him waiting for his next move. I stopped breathing when he slowly raised his hand.
My stepmother raised her hand and smacked me. She picked her umbrella up and used the sharp end to poke me hard in the stomach.
I gasped in pain and fell to the floor, it hurt like a bitch. Tears were forcing their way out of my eyes. I blinked them away not letting her see the pain she was causing me. It would only make her more happy.
She looked pathetic when she was angry and this made me laugh out loud. She stared at me confused, this only made me laugh harder making my stomach ache even more, I eventually stopped when the pain got excruciating. I wanted to die right there, I was a nobody and she made me believe it.
She then punched me in the stomach making me wince in pain, and after she threw a couple more punches she started choking me making my face turn blue and then I blacked out.
I stared at Daniel with wide eyes, I cowered back and slightly whimpered.
He used his raised hand to trace my cheek. "What's wrong why are you afraid of me?" He asked slightly confused.
I sighed and cursed for jumping to conclusions that he was going to hurt me. This is Daniel I'm talking about he would never hurt me. He's the one who took care of me and saved me when no one else bothered. "Nothing...I...I just...nothing." I stuttered.
He stood still. "Cataleya did you think I was going to hurt you?"
I didn't answer and stayed silent hoping he would change the subject or just leave the room. With no luck he pulled me in for a bone crushing hug, his body was warm and his skin was smooth. I wanted to let him hold me like this forever. I knew it was too good to be true. "I would never hurt you. You mean the world to me and I will do anything in my power to protect you. Tonight I made a mistake, it wasn't my fault it was Lucy's."
I stayed silent once more, and broke the hug. The warmth escaped and I felt cold and lonely once more. I wanted to believe him but the pain was too much to bear. I went over to the door and held it open for him. "What about us?" He asked pained.
I stiffened and didn't know how to reply. I was falling for Daniel but dangerous men like him tend to break hearts. I closed the door and turned around to face him I walked over to where he was standing and pushed him against the wall. I put my hands on his belt which held his jeans up, the thought of being this close to him was making me go crazy. I leaned towards him and our lips were inches apart.
"Do you care about me?" I whispered.
He nodded.
"Do you like me?"
He nodded again.
"But do you love me?"
My question surprised him and he leaned even closer our lips in touching distance. He put his hands around my waist trying to pull me closer if that was even possible.
"Yes." He answered in a clear strong voice. I was surprised and shocked that he admitted to having these strong feelings for me. Internally I was screaming in joy but he hurt me too much. He was a player and well...it's a good thing two can play a game.
I smiled at him and looked him dead in the eyes. "It's a shame I don't." My voice came out powerful almost shocking myself with the strength it carried.
He looked taken back and he stiffened. His angel like face was now stone hard and furious. He pushed me away from him which made me lose my balance and trip on the floor. I cursed under my breath and he stormed out of the room slamming the door hard making the windows vibrate.
I heard the front door slam as well and I ran to the window. Daniel got on a black motorcycle, he looked towards my window and I hid against the wall. I heard the bike roar to life and speed away.
I sat on the bed the realisation of losing Daniel was sinking in making my chest ache with a tremendous force. Tears started falling down my cheek and there was no way to stop them. I spent most of the night crying and hating myself for being selfish. After I calmed down I silently sneaked into Daniel's room and packed all my stuff and brought them to Tia's room. Then I packed Tia's belongings but leaving her some clothes for the next day. After everything was packed I set the alarm and sent Shaggy the address. I wrote Paris a letter telling her how grateful I am of her and finally I let myself drift off to sleep.
I woke up to the sound of the annoying alarm clock. I looked around confused to why I was in Tia's room and everything came back like a lost memory. I sighed and got ready. I wore black skinny jeans with a white top and my favourite leather jacket. I put my black timbs on and put my hair in a high ponytail. I waited till all the boys left the house and went to search for Tia. I looked everywhere with no luck in the end, I found myself standing outside Jack's room. I knocked and waited patiently for the door to open. When Tia opened the door she looked tired and annoyed.
"Please tell me this is important because I was having my beauty sleep." I laughed at her cute sleepy face.
"Get ready." I gave her the clothes. "We're leaving, Shaggy will be here in 15 minutes." I explained.
She held my shoulders and started shaking me. "What do you mean we're leaving? This is the only safe place we can stay." She was close to tears.
"Look Tia, I will explain later. I found a better place and don't argue, now go get dressed." I walked away before she could say something.
I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a couple granola bars and waited patiently for Tia. She walked in wearing grey skinny jeans with a sky blue shirt, her hair in a bun.
She stood still. "I don't know why you're doing this Catt. I like staying here, and I like being with Jack."
I nodded in sympathy. "I'm sorry but this is the best thing to do at the moment. If you want Jack and the rest of the gang to be safe as well as Auntie then you would leave with me."
She looked terrified and after what felt like hours she nodded and we both left the house with our belongings. Shaggy stepped out of the white range rover with tinted windows. We ran towards each other and hugged, she always acted like a sister to me. I smiled at being reunited with her.
"I missed you." She grinned.
I laughed at her happy expression. "I missed you too."
Tia didn't say anything she shoved her stuff in the backseat and got in. I rolled my eyes.
"What's up with her?" Shaggy asked and I shrugged. "I will explain later."
We drove for two hours in silence, I felt bad for making Tia leave. I wanted to say I was sorry but I knew she wouldn't forgive me at the moment she was too mad. I wonder if Paris has called Daniel informing him that I had left. Will he miss me?Even though I hate him right now I still can't stop thinking about him. I have never liked a guy as much as I like Daniel. When he admitted to loving me I wanted to kiss him, but I can't ruin his life.
The main reason to why I left is to protect the gang, I know they are planning to kill the Boss and I didn't want anyone getting hurt because of me.
"We've arrived." Shaggy said.
We stepped out of the car and entered the large suburban house. The house was decorated in beige and white accessories. It was beautiful and very homely.
"No one knows of this house and you will be safe here. I have to go home now, there are groceries in the kitchen and if you need to go anywhere there is a car in the garage. I will call you to check up on you." Shaggy explained.
"Thank you for everything." I smiled at her and we hugged before she left.
Tia and I walked up the stairs choosing rooms. Tia decided to stay in her room till tomorrow, I felt frustrated that she was still ignoring me. I lay on the queen sized bed thinking about my plan to protect all of the gang members who had become family. My phone rang bringing me out of my thoughts, I looked at the screen, it was an unknown number and I was debating about whether to pick up or not. I gave in and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"What are you playing at? Where the fuck are you? I have been so fucking worried about you." Daniel screamed down the phone but then someone yanked the phone away from him.
"Catt where's Tia? Is she ok? God please tell me she's not hurt." This time Jack was speaking.
The phone was passed back to Daniel. "Just tell me where you are and I will come to pick you up."
"Tell Jack that Tia is fine and you don't have to worry. I can't tell you where I am but I want to thank you all for the things you guys have done for us. I won't cause anymore trouble and I'm not stupid I know you're trying to track us down. You have 10 seconds left."
"Cataleya, please just listen to me." He said.
But I knew my time was up and I hung up. I knew that they were trying to track me down and that speaking to me for more than 45 seconds would give my location away. The phone rang again and I didn't pick up. The phone didn't stop ringing for the rest of the night and I was getting really frustrated and angry.
"What do you want?" I shouted.
This time it wasn't Daniel. "Hello darling, I've finally found you" I knew who it was instantly.
The Boss.
"Congra-fucking-lations. Now what do you want?" I asked.
"You know what I want, I want you to join my gang."
I rolled my eyes. "Okay I will join your gang."
"I knew you would say no but let me tell you...wait what?" He sounded surprised I couldn't help but smirk.
"I said I will join your gang."
I knew he was smiling at his accomplishment and I couldn't give a shit about it.
"Meet me at Holland park by the pond. No one will find us there." Then he hung up.
I couldn't believe I had finally agreed to join his gang but I knew this was the only way to protect the people I love. It didn't matter if I joined his gang or not because either way I was fucked.
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