24

Their eyes blankly stared back at me. I locked eyes with Cris, giving him a disapproving look.
"Go tell Angelo the change of plans," Cris told them, his intent eyes still on me. "I'll deal with her."
"'Deal with her'?" I repeated as the guys started to walk away. "What do you mean-"
Cristiano took my arm, leading me around the car, despite my protests, and opened the door, pushing me in.
"What are you doing?" I snapped, pushing his strong arm away as I looked at him in anger. He rolled his eyes, clearing his throat.
I went to get out of the car but he stopped me, his hands on my thighs. "No. You stay here. Don't leave this car, Rose," Cristiano sternly said, his voice deep and intimidating.
My eyebrows creased as I looked at him. "Why?"
"Just stay in here, Rose," Cris said, turning and going over to the front of the car, opening a box with a key as the unknown men outside started to yell and jeer for him to begin the fight
I scoffed softly. "Here? Cristiano-"
I stopped as I noticed what he was holding. He shut the box, grabbing his water bottle and drinking it a little. He moved to the leave but I leapt out the car, immediately going in front of him as I stopped him, my eyes pleadingly looking into his.
"Cris, please, don't. I really don't want you to hurt yourself. Don't do this," I shakily entreated, my eyes filled with concern. He went to move, ignoring me but I pushed his chest back, my eyes staring hopefully into his.
"Rose, this has nothing to do with you. Can you move out of my way?" Cristiano asked in a daunting tone although it seemed more like he was demanding. I held my ground and pushed his chest forcefully, stopped him from moving.
He stopped, rolling his eyes. "You're not a child, Rose. Move!"
"You're not a child either," I shot back, my eyes narrowing as I looked at him, not liking his insult. "So don't play around with guns."
"Who said I was playing around?" He snapped in a daring tone, his eyes giving me a glare.
I continued to stare at him in dismal, shaking my head as he sucked his teeth, shaking his head too. "Fuck, Rose. Why do you have to be so damn sexy?" He muttered, his hand going to my bottom lip, his thumb brushing over my lip before he leaned in and pecked it, turning me around so he could pass.
"Cris!" I called, whisper-yelling as I looked at him as he began to walk away confidently.
"Don't leave the car," he said back, not even looking at me as he left.
Exhaling in frustration, I got in the car and moved over to the window, shutting the door. Dax and Gage were outside, Jordan walking behind with an long, metal item that made my eyes widen.
Not long later, Cristiano approached the group and I bit my bottom lip, nervousness running through me.
They seemed to be negotiating or arguing - somewhere between the two. A confrontation was going on and I could barely hear anything besides overlapping, angry voices and curses going back and forth.
"You got me fucked up. Don't fucking talk about her again!" Cris raged, his hands in fists by his side as I heard the sudden outburst.
Her?
Him, and a guy wearing a hoodie so I couldn't see his face, circled each other before Cristiano shot out his fist, throwing the first punch; that was when the fight begun.
Two men grunted as they took handfuls of each other's clothing, punching and attempting to pin the other to the ground.
Then Cristiano pinned him down, his fists throwing unimaginably painful punches at him, cracking bones and twisting limbs.
Defending what seemed to be their leader, the other guys started fighting too. Jordan, fist fighting two men at once had a metal part in his hand, throwing it backwards and letting it collide into their faces, throwing hits at each of them in no mercy. I had no idea that he was capable of that.
Then the Dax release both hands and grabbed the other man's hair, bringing his face down sharply onto his bent knee. Blood flowed from the man's broken nose and he staggered backwards, Gage coming and throwing punches whilst Dax moved onto another guy.
Then Dax grabbed the stranger by the back of his shirt and swung him out, releasing him as he tumbled to the concrete.
I felt sick.
I turned away from the window, the sounds of grunting, groaning and punches muffled from outside. I covered my ears, the palms of my hands pressing against my ears, desperate to stop hearing the loud fist fight from outside.
My breaths came out in gasps and I felt like I would pass out. My heart was hammering inside my chest and the room spun. In my head, I was trying to make everything slow to something my brain and body can cope with. But nothing was working.
Why couldn't I breathe?
I didn't understand what was wrong with me.
Was I dying?
My hand went to my chest, where my heart was rapidly beating. My back against the chair, gasping for air. It grew more urgent, more desperate. Why couldn't I breathe?
My body was screaming for air, begging for oxygen and I wanted to give my lungs the healthy air but I couldn't. An invisible hand choked me, stopping me from breathing.
I was panting, tears rolling down my cheeks as I struggled to keep myself calm.
1
2
3
1
2
3
With each exhale, I began to calm myself, counting although I found it hard to concentrate. Soft pants left my mouth as did whimpers and I tried my hardest to regain strength and oxygen.
My shivering hands went to my face, covering and wiping the tears that were rolling down my sweaty cheeks.
I exhaled, sniffing as I squeezed my eyes closed, once again, sighing slowly, my rapid heart rate decreasing.
I ran my hand through my hair, sighing once more and rubbing my eyes, trying to calm my body.
I licked my chapped lips, considering to stand up but I thought better of it, knowing that if I stood, I would fall.
Outside, it seemed as though the scuffle had stopped. Yelling obscenities and cursing was going back and forth.
I sighed once more, knowing that they would come back in soon.
They couldn't see me like this.
I wiped my eyes and sniffed, fixing my hair a little as I hoped I looked alright.
I licked my lips and squeezed my eyes closed, exhaling gently.
I'm okay