Forty-one: Threats

Temperance

"WE GET BREAKFAST!" Kenli screams into my ear.

My tired eyes immediately flick open, the bright light of the room blinding me. I rub my eyes, trying to get used to the light. I don't know what time it is. But right away, I can tell it is early.

"Stop bouncing around!" I yell at her, irritated. She screamed at me to wake up so early when I could be sleeping right now.

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

I brush through my tangled morning hair, and I cover the bruises on my neck and face with concealer and foundation Chris bought me. Although the abuse isn't near as bad as it was with my father, I still find myself angry that I have to deal with it.

"Perfect," I whisper to myself, proud of the fact that I can cover everything so easily. I put on a long sleeve shirt and leggings. Kenli walks into the bathroom with a baggy shirt on and sweatpants.

Brush my teeth and put chapstick on. As soon as I put the chapstick back down, Kenli grabs my hand and leads me out the door.

As soon as we step into the dining hall my body locks. My eyes scan the room full of people. I feel Kenli's eyes turn to me

"What's wrong?" She questions, concern lacing her facial features. I look at her and back at the crowd. Alec and his guys can be anywhere in this room. They could be watching me right now.

Knowing my old friends, there is a possibility that they are staring at me right now. I shutter as my brain begins to spin. I let go of Kenli's hand and steady myself on her shoulder.

"I'm gonna go get some fresh air," I let out a breathy whisper, placing my hand on my forehead. She thins her lips, nodding to let me know she will be fine by herself. I take one last longing look at the crowd before I turn back around.

I walk through the main room and out the front doors into the cold snow wonderland. I plop down on a bench and struggle to take in the freezing air into my lungs.

It is so cold I feel like my face is being stabbed with my tiny knives. Every breath I take stings. I close my eyes and slouch.

I can't do this. I just can't. It's too much for me. I open my eyes and bring myself to my feet. I start walking to the forest, hoping that I will find something worth looking at.

Soon I will realize that this is a big mistake.

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

Alec

I sit in the dining hall surrounded by my guys and people I didn't know. "Zander, get Chris over here," I turn my attention to Zander, remembering how Connor said that Chris is here.

Zander nods and goes on his hunt to find Chris. I lean back, looking at my empty plate. I look up and see two girls walk in.

Then they stop. I watch them as one walks away while the other makes her way into the dining hall. The one that left looked very familiar. Almost like... no. No, she's not here.

My brain runs in circles as I look down at my hands. If Chris was here, then wouldn't she be..?

"Connor." I direct my attention towards Connor, who is stuffing his face full of pancakes. He lifts his head at me and swallows his food.

"What?" He asks before taking a sip of orange juice. I lean forward with a frown. All the guys study me with curiosity.

"Is Temperance here?" When I ask the question, Connor's face drains. The other guys look confused. Then Zander and Chris show up.

Perfect timing.

I motion for them to sit down. They do. "You called me here?" Chris asks, sounding more like a statement. I nod then turn to eye Connor.

"After this trip, I'll have to drop some stuff off at your house," I tell Chris. He looks confused. "Why my house?" He acts like he hasn't done it before.

"I just need you to hide some money for us. You know... in the mattress. Everyone is doing it. We can't have it all at the hideout." I explain to him, which is half lie and half-truth. I halfway want to "accidentally" run into Temp. He agrees to do it and glares at the other guys.

The other guys still look slightly shocked from what I asked Connor earlier.

Speaking of that.

"Chris." I grab his attention again. His head shoots up, and he eyes me suspiciously. I glance at Connor. Connor averts his gaze to his hands. "Where is Temperance?" I ask, curious to hear his answer.

Chris sits in shock. He sits completely still. I patiently wait for an answer. People piss me off. "Temperance? Uh- who- who's Temperance?" He asked nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as he stutters.

I let out a laugh making everyone at my table stiffen up. It's easy for people to lie when they sense trouble. But this was a very, very unbelievable lie. Especially since he talks about her when I ask. He is her cousin, for fucks sake. And apparently, she's living with them right now.

"Temperance Andrews," I reply. I know he knows I am talking about his dear precious cousin, the only Temperance Andrews I know. I am waiting for the next amusing lie to come out of his mouth.

"We-well, you see-" He clears his throat, "She couldn't make it. She's uh sick." I am trying to contain my laugh hearing his lie.

"Next lie you tell me, I'll make sure you're black and blue tomorrow." I threaten, watching him closely. He tenses up, and so does Connor.

"She is here..." He sighs in defeat. I watch him as his expression shows he is distressed after admitting that she is here. But why?

"Now, was that so hard? It's very cruel to keep my girl away from me." I glare at him. He keeps his head down. "Why did you lie?" He knows how important she is to me.

He doesn't respond. He sits here Thinking. The guys all look tense. They know I can lose my shit at any moment.

"I just didn't want you to hurt her." He finally speaks up. I frown and run my fingers through my hair. I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Why would I hurt her?" I glare at him trying to calm myself down. I will NEVER hurt her. But Chris is a different story.

This time Chris is the one that lets out a frustrated sigh. "You were hooking up with Lidia while she was missing you."

I don't know what to say. It is true, so there is no denying it. It makes me feel bad. It upsets me. And it makes me angry. That's when Connor gets up from the table and runs off.

Zander, Damien, and Ethan all look at each other in obvious distress.

"She won't find out about that. How would it hurt her?" I take a deep breath, trying not to pull my gun out.

"It's still wrong," Chris states. It is wrong. I admit that. But she wasn't in my life, so it didn't matter what I did.

"Choose your next words carefully." I threaten him. Chris shifts in his seat, showing that he is uncomfortable. Then out of the blue, his sister, Kenli, pops up.

"Chris?" She looks at him then at all of us. "Where is Temperance?!" Chris grits his teeth. Trying to keep his voice down to a whisper so I wouldn't hear—news flash. I have great hearing.

"Uh..." She is about to answer until she looks at me, suspicious of why I'm looking at her so intensely. "Whats going on, Chris?" She asks him.

"They want to know where Temperance is," Chris replies. She gives a worried look, scanning us. She knows we are bad people. But she doesn't know we won't hurt Temperance.

"We are her friends." Zander smiles sweetly at her. Trying to help me find out where Temperance is. "Uh. I don't know if I should tell you." She takes a step back, almost bumping into the person eating behind her.

"We wouldn't hurt her if that's what you're thinking. If anything, we would hurt your brother if you don't tell us." I threaten while standing up and slamming my hands down on the table, causing the people around us to stare, watching us like a soapy drama show Ella likes to watch.

"No. Don't hurt him!" She pleads. I shake my head with a smirk on my face. "Tell me where Temperance is."

"She went outside!" She admits in fear for her sibling and cousin. Chris lets out a sigh and puts his hand on his head. I look at my guys, and they stand up.

When we got outside, she isn't here, nowhere to be found. I turn around and glare again, Kenli.

"She was out here!" She looks around frantically, hoping to see her cousin.

"Go check your fucking room then."

She scurries away in fear that I would beat her brother. Which I'm seriously considering.

A few minutes later, she rushes back with a worried expression written on her face. "She isn't anywhere in the room."

I glance at my guys. "We're going to look at the cameras."

"But you can't." Kenli whimpers behind us.

"I can if my uncle owns the hotel."