“Jaxon?” I whispered.
He blew out a breath and began moving toward me. He looked down at the ground around me and stopped abruptly. I followed his gaze and saw the bloody towels all around me.
I stood, wincing. His eyes caught the movement.
“What happened?” He said, quietly.
“Don't worry about it right now. I'm okay. Just get me out of here.”
He looked behind me at my mother and sister, eyes locking on Elizabeth.
“They're coming with us. I'll explain everything later.”
Another body burst through the door behind Jaxon.
His eyes found me quickly but widened on the two women behind me.
“Dad,” I began. He lifted his gun and aimed it right at Mother. I jumped into action quickly. I jumped in front of the barrel.
“Lyla!” Jaxon protested.
“Dad, please. She didn't hurt me.”
“Where did all the blood come from then?”
“Not Mom.”
His eyes glued to Elizabeth. He slowly lowered his gun.
I looked back and hers were glued to him as well.
He looked between her and I. He turned his attention back to Mom.
“You weren't lying,” he whispered. “All those years ago, you were telling the truth and I didn't believe you. I turned you away.”
“It's okay,” Mom whispered, tears filling her eyes.
He moved toward Elizabeth slowly. I walked toward Jaxon and pulled him from the room, allowing them to have a private reunion.
“Get me out of here,” I whispered to him.
“I'm going to get her home, Boss.”
My father nodded.
Jaxon picked me up bridal style and walked from the room. I held onto him tightly, still not fully believing this wasn't all some fucked up dream.
“Tell me what happened,” he said as soon as he had me seated in the backseat with him.
I gulped and turned my head. I couldn't look at him. I was disgusted with myself and I couldn't bear to see disgust in his eyes after I tell him.
“Mark. He raped me.”
I felt him tense. I flinched and scooted further from him. He grabbed my waist and pulled me back to where I was.
“Look at me,” he growled. I looked in his eyes and saw hatred. “Where is he?”
“I don't know. My mother sent him to be killed.”
He jumped out of the car. “I'm going to find him and I am going to kill him myself.”
“No, please. Stay here. Don't leave me alone.”
His eyes softened as fear took over me. He jumped back into the seat and pulled me to him. I felt him reach over the back seat. He pulled a bag over and grabbed a pair of sweatpants from them.
“Put these on.”
“No, I'll ruin them. I'm still, uhm, bleeding.”
His eyes turned dark again. “I don't care, Lyla. You're shivering in that towel.”
He was right. I had been freezing since the moment we exited the building.
He pulled a T-shirt over my head after the sweatpants were on.
He pulled me to him again. “Let's get you home.”
He jumped out and ran to the drivers seat. Cranking the engine, he pulled onto a dark dirt road.
“How did you find me?”
“Your mother left a trail. An easy one to track.”
“She wanted to be found, that's why.”
“What?”
“She wanted Dad to find her.”
“The family drama you guys have is ridiculous.”
“Tell me about it.”
The rest of the ride home was silently. We pulled up to the enormous compound and Jaxon helped me out. He carried me to his bedroom after grabbing some clothes and lots of pads from my room. After I emerged from the bathroom, he was lying on the bed with his arm draped over his eyes. I walked to the bed and crawled in next to him. His arm snaked around me as I laid my head on his chest.
“I should've been there,” he whispered. I looked up at him.
“I should've gotten there quicker and I could've protected you.”
He looked down at me. He had tears in his eyes.
“I'm so sorry, Lyla.” Tears spilled over.
I reached up and wiped them away.
“There's nothing you could've done.”
“I could've killed him with my bare hands.”
I shook my head and closed my eyes, suddenly extremely tired.
Jaxon began rubbing my head and I began falling to sleep.
Sometime later, I felt Jaxon stir. I opened my eyes slowly as he got out of bed.
He walked to the bedroom door, opening it. Lance stood on the other side.
“Did you get her?”
“Yes. She's asleep.”
“Good. I saw two women come in with Boss. I didn't see their faces though.”
“It's Lyla's mother and twin sister.”
Lance's eyes went wide. “Twin sister?”
“Yeah,” Jaxon looked back at me and I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep. “Let's talk outside,” he finished.
The door shut quietly behind him and I groaned.
Stupid boys and their private conversations.
I slowly stood from the bed. I could still feel the pain in my lower abdomen and my muscles were sore all over.
Tomorrow, I thought. Tomorrow I begin training. I refuse to be weak ever again.
I walked into the dark bathroom as the bedroom door freaked open.
“Lyla?” Jaxon's voice filled the room.
“Lyla!” The panic was extremely evident in his tone.
“I'm in here,” I said quietly.
His large frame filled the doorway to the bathroom, blocking the warm glow from the bedside lamp.
“Are you okay?” He whispered.
I nodded but tears flooded my eyes.
He pulled me into his arms and held me as I cried, softly running his fingers through my hair.
“I love you,” he whispered as he kissed the top of my head.
“I love you,” I mumbled into his chest.
“I will never let anything happen to you again.”
I believed him. His harsh tone frightened me a bit. Not for myself, but for the poor bastard who ever has to receive his wrath.
“I know,” I whispered. I stepped back from him and lifted my head high, pulling my shoulders back. “But tomorrow, I want to start training. I will never be put in a position like that again.”
He looked down at me, a smile breaking through his features. Pride shone brightly in his eyes.
“Starting tomorrow, I'm going to make you the most feared woman in the world.”
>>>>>
The Bodyguard of the Mafia boss's daughter (part 27/32)