When I woke up the next morning, it took me a few minutes to remember that I was at Brandon's house. It didn't take long though, the aching in my thighs and the smile on my face were hard to ignore. Brandon wasn't next to me, but the smell of bacon wafted through the air. I stretched my arms high above my head, trying to wrap my mind around the flood of emotions in my mind. Last night had been incredible, like a dream, and waking up in his bed the next morning was almost just as good. This had been everything I had ever wanted at one point in my life, to spend romantic evenings together and go home to make passionate love, to wake up still naked in our bed as Brandon made breakfast down the hall. It was like a dream come true. The only problem was, that the only reason I was here was because I was betraying Brandon and he'd hate me when he found out. That is, if I kept lying to him.
I had to tell him the truth. He'd be upset at first, but at least he would know before any more damage had been done. I hadn't done anything too far to come back from yet. I had given Herrera the Sampson Hill location, but by the time he had gotten there, they had cleared everything out just like I had hoped. I had played both sides of the fence for now, but I knew that couldn't continue. If I told Brandon, maybe he could help me. Maybe he could figure out some way around all of this. But was that even possible? I had broken the law, Adam had broken the law. Brandon had a substantial amount of pull, but was there ever enough in a case like this? I was going to end up in jail and all the work I had done to keep Adam out of the gang life would be for nothing.
None of that mattered to me anymore though. I had to tell him, especially after last night. No grudge of mine was worth putting her or the Avenettis through this. As angry as I was at what had happened to my parents, if I went through with this, I wasn't any better. I couldn't betray them in this way, and I'd just have to deal with whatever consequences came from it. From Brandon or the law.
I got myself out of bed, and started looking for my clothes. The only pieces I could find were my bra and panties, so I grabbed one of Brandon's dress shirts and slipped it over my shoulders. As I did, something on his dresser caught my eye. Was that...? Right there on a small jewelry dish was a ring. A single band that alternated with diamonds and sapphires, completely breath taking in its simplicity. It was the same one he had given to me, promising the world to me on the very night my parents were killed. All the air left my lungs and I turned it over in my fingers, remembering that night and the love between Brandon and I. My feelings for him hadn't changed the last few years, and I could only hope that he keeping this ring meant Brandon's hadn't either, and that they would be strong enough to withstand what I had to tell him.
When I opened the bedroom door, I could hear the sound of music playing and followed the delicious smells of breakfast to the kitchen.
I glanced at the other rooms in the house as I passed by. It looked more like a show home than bachelor pad, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Brandon. Everything had it's place and stayed there unless absolutely necessary. I couldn't count how many times I had teased him about it when we were together, making sure he realized that he was going to have to kick that habit when we had children. He'd laugh it off, but it looked like nothing had changed in the last few years.
Brandon was standing at the stove with his back to me.
He turned around at the sound of me clearing my voice with a sparring grin on his face. "Good morning, Princess." He handed me a cup of coffee and brushed his lips against my cheek, before returning to the stove to take the bacon off the burner. "I hope you're hungry."
"I am. Everything smells amazing, but you didn't need to do this." I slid onto the bar stool to enjoy the show in front of me. Brandon was so damn sexy, wearing only a pair of silky sweat pants, and I found it hard to take my eyes off of his perfectly sculpted back. It was full of elaborate tattoos and one in particular caught my eye. It was a compass that mimicked the one I had on my hip. I had no idea he had done that.
"I know, but we have a lot of time to make up for. I like the look by the way, you look way better in my dress shirts than I do." He smirked, setting a plate in front of me and dishing up some bacon and scrambled eggs onto it.
It was overwhelming how easily we had settled into this routine already. We hadn't even talked about getting back together, and I had no idea if that was what he wanted, or what I wanted, yet here we were acting as if we were.
After he had everything turned off, he joined me with his own plate.
"Brandon..." I started. "What exactly are we doing here?"
Brandon let out a sharp laugh. "We're having breakfast? This seems like a trick question."
"You know what I mean. This thing between us... what is it?" I sighed
Brandon turned toward me and rested his hand on my bare knee. "Sadie, I know where your mind is at right now. I don't want to rush into anything, there is no need to define what this is right now."
"Yeah, but what happens when I go back to Colorado?" I protested.
"Are you going today?" Brandon arched his eyebrow at me.
"No, but..."
"Tomorrow?"
A anxious laugh escaped my lips as I shook my head.
"Then who cares? We'll figure it out when we get there. Try to relax, and enjoy getting to know each other again. Can you do that?"
"Yes, but..."
He pressed his lips to mine to silence me. "I love you, and I have loved you every day of my life since I was 14 years old. That hasn't ever changed. But I know that we have a lot of shit to work through, so let's just take this slow and see where we end up."
"Okay." I agreed
"Thank you." Brandon squeezed my knee. "But there is one thing I want to address..."
I already knew where this was heading, but I still needed a little bit of time to tell Herrera I was out. "And what is that?"
"You need to level with me and tell me what the fuck is going on. Is someone stalking you?" He asked, genuine concern in his face.
My eyes widened in shock. Where had he gotten that from? "What? Stalking me? No, nothing like that."
"Then what is it? Why did you come home?" He pressed.
"Brandon, I'm... I'm sorry." I bit my lip, pushing back tears. "I should have been honest with you from the beginning but I... look, why don't you come by the bar tonight? It's supposed to be a slow night and I will tell you everything, I swear."
"Why not now?"
"Because I have a few things I have to take care of. But I swear, I'm done lying. I will tell you everything tonight." I pleaded.
Brandon looked reluctant as he scratched his jaw, considering what I was asking. "Okay. But I want to know everything. No more lies."
"No more lies." I shook my head. "I promise."
Even just making that commitment, I felt like a huge weight was being lifted off of me. Brandon could fix this, he wouldn't stop until he found a way to, and then hopefully we could move on.
We finished breakfast, and then I got my things together and headed home. I didn't have to work until six, so I was hoping to clean up a little bit around the apartment. Maybe I'd ask Brandon over for drinks after so we could really talk.
I fumbled with my keys for a second at my door before realizing that it was actually unlocked. Had I left without locking it last night? That was strange.
I pushed it open, heading in. I wasn't two feet inside the door when I felt someone grab me and throw me up against the wall, covering my mouth. The entry table crashed to the floor next to me as I tried frantically to scream.
"Shut up, bitch!" The man hissed, grabbing for a glass vase on the counter and slamming it into my head.
My fight or flight kicked in and I ignored his words, thrashing against his grasp, desperate to get away. The man's fist landed hard against the side of my face, and then he jerked me back slamming my head against the wall. The warm sensation of blood started dripping down my neck as I fell limp to the ground. He reached for the gun on his hip, brutally pistol whipping my cheek.
I rolled over clutching at my head and the man reared his leg back, kicking my ribs as hard as he possibly could. He did it again until all the air had left my lungs and I was gasping for air, curled up motionless on the floor.
"Who..." I tried to speak. The burning in my head and chest was so bad I had forgotten what I was even trying to say.
"I have a message from Herrera." He snickered, bending down and grabbing me by the hair. He jerked my head back violently. "He doesn't like to be played with."
He kicked me one more time for good measure before disappearing out the door, slamming it so hard that it nearly came off its hinges.
I scrambled up as quickly as I could, locking the door so he couldn't come back. The rush made me dizzy and I fell back to the floor with a thud. After a few seconds, I felt myself slipping out of consciousness.