Twenty: He's just Connor

Alec

I park in the driveway and jump out of the car. I don't know what's gotten into me. I only go back to the mansion for emergencies. Temperance needing me shouldn't be an emergency.

If only I could help it when it comes to her. I wouldn't be running away from my duties to tend to her. This girl, she just sets a fire off in me. When I'm around her I get nervous and my heart beats faster. I have this deep urge to protect her.

If my father heard about me abandoning my duties tonight, he would be furious. I would no doubt be screamed at for hours. He isn't abusive or purposely mean to me, he just has a reputation to hold. 

Growing up me and my siblings were under extremely strict rules. We couldn't do anything to disgrace our family name. Ace and I had to be the best of the best to inherit the gang. My father never had any intentions of Arella maintaining his work so she didn't get the harsh rules.

Once Vanessa came into Ace's life he decided he didn't want to be the next leader. That led me to be here now. If my dad found out that I have also been swayed by a girl I wonder what his reaction would be.

I know he wouldn't be pleased with me, no way in hell. He has always wanted to put me in an arranged marriage to further power the gang.

I would rather stay with Temp than do what he wants. She is shy but she's also sweet. Her smile is cute and her face is beautiful. Even when she was covered in bruises her beauty didn't falter in my eyes.

Her body is amazing. When I first met her she was skinny but had a small jiggle in that ass. Well, she still has someone of an ass. She started downsizing over time, looking sicker and sicker each day. 

I guess the hospital realized how underweight she was, they made sure to give her as much food as her body could healthily handle.  She has more meat on her now than she did, I've been making sure she eats what she is given.

On the ground, I spot a brunette girl with pale skin. Paler than usual. With a blanket over her petite body.

Ella is right. She is shaking.

I walk towards her.

"Flower?" I whisper, kneeling down. I know she hates the nickname, I just like when she makes a disgusted face when I call her that.

She opens her eyes and halfway turns around to look at me.

I carefully pick her up bridal style with the blanket still on her.

Like I've always noticed. She is light. Probably ninety pounds or so. At least she gained some weight.

She hesitates before wrapping her shaking arms around my neck. I can't help but smirk as she snuggles into my chest.

She is trembling so badly. Like a scared dog during a hurricane.

Ella looks at me a certain way. Asking if I need help. But I shake my head no. Temperance is someone I can take care of on my own.

I make my way up the stairs and down the hall to my room. The room we both sleep in.

The room that I've only let her stay in.

In the past, I would have hookups on a regular basis. Of course, I would never do that in my room. It would always happen somewhere else. I don't know why but I've always been irked at the thought of a girl being in my room. Aside from Temperance, that is.

Not to be stuck up, but my room is fit for a king and queen. I am the king. And see, Temperance slept beside me. I guess she's my queen. Ew ew, stop Alec. You're poisoned.

I gently lay her down on my bed and I cover her up with the sheets and a few extra blankets.

I don't want to leave her.

I feel like I am slowly becoming a pussy.

Weak.

She is my weakness. But at the same time, she is my strength.

The worst part is knowing that one of the rival gangs could take her from me. But I will never let that happen.




I take a shower and put on boxers and shorts. Leaving my shirt off.

I turn out the lights and make my way to the bed. I lay beside her pulling her back into my chest.

She isn't shaking anymore. Her breathing is deep. Maybe she is asleep?

I kiss her head and snuggle into her warm body.

***********************************************************

I woke up several times to Temperance's screams and cries.

Night terrors.

No matter how much she thrashed around or how loud she got, she remained asleep.

She was so loud that Zander, Ethan, and Damien ran in here with their guns ready to shoot.

I had to calm them down.

Each time she woke up she'd say something like:

"Don't touch me"

"It hurts."

"Don't hit me anymore"

Stuff along the lines of that. It broke my heart to see her like that. Every time that happened I'd kiss her head and whisper sweet things in her ears. Like a pussy.

"Aweee look who's cuddling." Zander gushes.

I give him a look of malice as Temperance arises from her slumber, rubbing her eyes.

"So I was thinking. We should do something fun today." Connor pops his head into my bedroom.

"Do you live here?" Temperance questions, her voice raspy from recently waking.

"They wish," Connor smirks.

"Who's we?" I ask sitting up beside Temp.

"My sexy self, Zander, and You two love birds," Connor explains.

I look at Temp. A blush creeps onto her face before she quickly shakes it off.

"Where would we go?" I run my fingers through my hair, going back to what he first said during his intrusion.

"Uhhh. A trampoline place! Or a place with roller coasters!" Connor exclaims excitedly.

All my men are children.

"Where do you want to go?" I ask Temperance as she stands up.

She looks at the two guys in the doorway and then at me.

"I don't know. I haven't been to either." She replies, her face numb to emotions. I look at her giving her a sympathetic smile.

"OK, I HAVE MADE A DECISION. WE ARE GOING TO A TRAMPOLINE PLACE!" Zander yells before running out of the room.

Connor follows him, yelling for him to slow down.

I stand up and pull a shirt on.

Temp and I walk downstairs and take our seats at the kitchen table with Zander, Connor, Ethan, and Damien.

Ella is neatly placing pancakes on six plates.

Temperance lays her head down on the table and closes her eyes.

"You ok Flower?" I ask.

"Just tired." She responds, suddenly standing to go to Ella.

I look at Connor as Ella puts a plate of pancakes in front of him.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at your house?" I ask glaring.

"It was boring there." He pours syrup on the pancakes.

Ella finishes placing pancakes in front of all of us with help from Temperance.

Temp sits down in front of her pancakes with a smile.

"Thank you, Ella." She says while pouring syrup on the pancakes.

She happily cuts them with a fork. I look away trying not to stare anymore.

Zander looks at me giving me a sly smile followed by a wink.

He knew I was staring at Temp.

I roll my eyes and mouth the words "shut up".

"Anyways. Come on whores. Let's get ready so we can actually go to the trampoline park!" Connor stands up and runs off after stuffing the rest of his pancake into his mouth.

"Wait. Whose clothes is he getting? He doesn't even live here!" Damien sighs with disappointment.

"Why didn't he come here with day clothes on in the first place?" Temp asks, handing her empty plate to Ella.

"He is Connor. What do you expect?" Ethan smiles.

I watch as a smile tugs at her lips, making her look genuinely happy.

Why do I feel warm inside?