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  "oops watch out," another blond woman said and a glass full of vodka got thrown at me. She did it on purpose.

  "Oops how clumsy of me," she said laughing like an idiot.

  "Oh, my goodness look at what she's wearing" everyone started laughing. I had no idea who these people were. It hit me. I was so tormented in high school because of Monique and her crew they were always bothering me, humiliating me, tormenting me. All because of the relationship Ross and I had. Monique didn't like that we were so close, and she had always had a thing for him. They were lovers.

  Deep down it did hurt me that he was sleeping with my enemy literally. A person who had done me so much harm all throughout my high school years and even now. She still wouldn't stop.

  I felt a sense of relief when I saw Ross. My protector was here to tell her to shut the hell up to leave me alone and send her home. He knew she was going too far. He wouldn't put up with it. He wasn't going to allow her to treat me this way in our house because this did feel like my house.

  But he grabbed her by the waist and kissed her as if he had never kissed her before. Right in my face. Tongue and tongue. It was gross. They were licking each other's faces.

  "Who wants to play striptease?!" He asked

  "Yay!!!" everyone shouted.

  "Move!" The blond woman who had thrown the drink at me shoved me so hard to the side I lost my balance and fell butt first to the pool.

  Everyone was laughing. The pool was covered in vomit and I happen to fall directly on it.

  "Eww," someone said, and everyone was laughing.

  "She already came from the poor house Monique says so trash sticks with filth what can you expect?" Someone said. Everyone laughed and once again I was the class clown and the butt of the joke.

  Chapter 3.

  EDEN POV

  I ran out of there as fast as my feet could take me. Ross didn't even stop to notice what was happening. Or what had happened. He just took that bitch Monique up to his room to have their dirty ways together while I was stuck in someone else's vomit and soaked! Well, I guess the water washed away the vomit, but it was still a very disgusting experience. What hurt the most is that Ross didn't even defend me. He could've have told Monique to stop easily and she would've. If he had asked. But he didn't. He just grabbed her and kissed her. Making the situation more uncomfortable and unbearable.

  I loved him. But he clearly only saw me as a pet. As someone he supposedly owned. I was tired of it. I had things to do I had to plan my life better. Did I really want to remain in this situation forever?

  As I was walking home, I noticed a couple of motorcycles driving around. Obviously belonging to Ross's gang. It had to be them. I ran and hid behind the nearest bushes I could find hoping that they wouldn't find me. It was late. My parents thought I was at a friend’s house. They never approved of my closeness to Ross. The late nights coming home when I was a teenager, the wild parties that happened at his house almost every single night. The smell of cigarettes and cannabis and alcohol on me even though I wasn't a smoker. The look on Ross's face when he brought me home his eyes were constantly red and shut down from all the drugs he was taking. The way he dressed, the way he looked my parents were religious people and wanted me to hang out with people from church more often. Ross was completely the opposite of that kind of people my parents wanted around me.

  I didn't care, I didn't judge I owed him my life and so I was his. But after today and many other nights that he had disrespected me in so many ways, I decided it was enough! Today was my breaking point. Monique had tormented me all throughout high school and he knew this and yet he still continued to invite her to his parties, she would torment me some more there. She and her friends would laugh and make my life miserable every day and now my nights too? Hell no! I wasn't going to allow it. I was almost nineteen not a kid anymore. A woman with goals and dreams and Ross was only holding me back from achieving those dreams. I allowed him because I was in love with him. But how far can that go?

  He will continue to allow his lover, my enemy, to get away with it all. I thought he cared for me more than that. The bikers were circling around maybe patrolling the streets as if they were the police. But they had contacts with the police, and it was all a big corruption. I wish we had never left Spain. I missed Julio my childhood friend and crush. He was my best friend growing up in our small Andalusian village, but we were so happy. My childhood was so happy, and Julio was a big part of it. I wondered how he looked now after all these years I wondered how he had changed and turned into a man. His beautiful wavy black hair covering his eyes because he could never decide how to wear it whether on his face or of it. He was so beautiful. I wish I could see him now. But last I heard he had moved to Sweden to start a new life and all my letters got sent back to me. His parents moved to Barcelona and didn't leave an address, so I had no way of finding him.

  I would give anything to hug him now. To tell him how my life had turned out. "A gem in a bag of rocks" he had called me meaning that I was always different than all the other girls he had met. He protected me too but not in the obsessive way Ross had. Julio was calm and gentle, and he never made any threats to me ever. He respected my decisions Ross demanded them.

  I finally made it home unseen and I went inside. Luckily my parents and siblings were sleeping. I went straight to the shower took a hot shower and slipped my pajamas on. Tomorrow I will avoid Ross like the flu!

  ROSS POV

  I didn't have to undress Monique she did it all on her own. Her and her two friends. Two of my other gang members whom I trusted with my life joined in as well. But Monique liked this sort of thing. She was fun and adventurous. I spot Earl in the middle of the action I was pissed how dare he! If he wasn't going to participate, he needed to get the hell out. Well, he could partake after I was done. I didn't like sharing with Earl. He was a weird guy overall, but he was faithful at least he was for now. He wanted to tell me something. I left Monique there with anyone who would join her and went to see what the hell Earl wanted. He better had something important to say!

  "Sorry Boss, but umm you wanted me to let you know if anything was going on with Eden and we can't find her anywhere boss"

  "WHAT!?" my whole world just turned black all I could see was black. How dare she!? No wonder I hadn't seen her around, but I thought she was just changing into the red dress I had told her to wear! She had defied me three times already! I was good at keeping my word and Eden will know the hard way that I never play around!

  First thing will be to attack her where it hurts her the most.

  EDEN POV

  I was having such a lovely dream. I was in a gorgeous place full of mountains and all kinds of beautiful flowers surrounding me. Just a peaceful atmosphere. In the distance, I could see a school far away. I woke up to a thunderous noise. Coming from outside. Was the dream a sign that I am getting into that Swiss school? God that would be unbelievable. Will I take it when the day comes? And if it comes. I'm I ready to leave Ross behind. After so many years of being around him and surrounded by him and all his crazy wicked ways was I ready to start a life for myself? I wish he was different. I couldn't change him. He will always be Ross Lyner the worst man I have ever met. But he was him and I weirdly loved him for it. Besides Julio, he was the only man who had ever gotten this close to me, and they were both just friends.

  But Ross was more than that. Way more than that. What he and I had was something totally different. It wasn't pure it wasn't good, but it was something that only he and I shared, and I had no idea what that was.

  I didn't want to get up and see what the noise was. But I did anyway. The stars in the sky were mini lights to the darkest night. The cool air swept in brushing my body making it quiver when I opened my window. It was a cool night.

  I didn't see Ross's guys anywhere around. Maybe he sent them home because he was angry, I left. Or maybe he didn't even notice that I was gone. I mean why would he? He was busy getting his dirty deeds done with that slut Monique!


  "Calm down Eden," I told myself normally I wasn't this angry person. I let things fly away with the wind all the time. I learned to do so from a young age, but this was hard. He was sleeping with my enemy.

  "Bam bam"! Louder this time. The noise was coming from the roof of the house and then "slam"!!! A huge chunk of wood came tumbling down. I heard as it fell right on our kitchen floor. As if a tornado or natural disaster had destroyed our roof. My parents came rushing inside the kitchen turning all our lights on.

  " Que Paso What happened?" my dad asked. "Part of the roof dad," I said. "Como? What?" My mom asked.

  "I have no idea," I said. But I think I did. Deep down I think I did.

  The morning came we were all sleeping in the living room. My brother, sister and I on the floor and my parents on both of the sofas. What a lousy night!

  It was 7 am when someone was knocking at the door. "Did you call the insurance people last night Rogelio?"

  My mom asked my dad.

  "No, Miriam It was too late to call," my dad said.

  "Then who can it be at this time?"

  My sister went to open the door. My brother and I picked up the blankets from the floor.

  "Eden is your boyfriend!" She yelled.

  "My what...?" I went to see what she was saying and then I froze. Of course! Standing there in all his 6-foot 2 glory

  Ross!

  Chapter 4.

  Eden POV

  He stood there shaking me to death with his stare. Strong and deadly. He was furious.

  We stood there for a moment. Fire and Water. Starring at each other as if there was no one else in the room with us. Ready to destroy each other if we had too. Water and fire can destroy each other and at this moment so could Ross and I.

  We were equally angry with each other. His stare and my indifference for the very first time said it all.

  "Ross my dear so nice to see you," my mom said in her broke English. She had such an accent it was hard to understand her at times if you didn't have an accent yourself and was used to listening to people who had one.

  "Como Esta Usted, how are you, Mrs. Alicante?" Ross knew a bit of Spanish. He said he tried to learn it for me, but I doubted it. He wouldn't bend down to pick up a dime for a blind person let alone do anything productive for me.

  "What happened here?" He asked looking up.

  "How do you even know something happened here?" I asked sarcastically. He darted his eyes to me.

  "Call it intuition if you want," he said equally sarcastically.

  "Thank you for being here Ross we appreciate it do you know any insurance person?" My dad was asking also with an accent.

  "What are you talking about dad you haven't called our home insurance provider?" My brother asked.

  "Umm, I haven't told you guys this house is not insured."

  "WHAT?!!!" My sister, mother, brother and I shouted in unison. Our surprise was apparent so was our shock at the news.

  "Now what? We have no money to cover these expenses" my mom and dad were speaking in Spanish now. Lisa and Joseph went outside to talk. I was left in the room with Ross alone. Some of his guys we're outside.

  "Why did you leave my house, Eden?" He asked his cold stare could pierce right through me.

  "Did you do this?" The question surprised me. How could I believe him capable of something like this? I knew he was a bit dangerous, but he would never destroy my parent house just to get back at me. Or would he?

  "I told you I don't play games Eden"

  "What is that supposed to mean?!" I asked furiously.

  "It means we need to talk," he said coldly.

  "Can't you see I am busy here with my family?" I said.

  "Since when do you contradict me, Eden? What is going on with you?!"

  "I have dreams, Ross, I have goals I'm out of high school now I'm no longer the kid you met when I was twelve and you were sixteen I want more than to sit around and watch you do...things and just do nothing with my life"

  "What the fuck are you talking about Eden? Look babe I know this situation is upsetting but..."

  "But nothing Ross, look I've been doing a lot of thinking and I think is best that we stop hanging around each other for a bit. At least until I figure out what I want for my life"

  He stayed quiet. Just staring at me in chilled silence. He looked up at the piece of wall that had fallen on our kitchen floor.

  "I'll let you relax. I'll let you calm down. We will talk later." He was leaving. But not before turning around and saying something that let me with the impression that he did do something to cause this his tone said it all.

  "And Eden there will be a later. Hope it doesn't rain" he said looking at the hole in the roof. He left.

  I was left shaking. Maybe he had nothing to do with this. I mean I did leave without saying anything to him and I knew he was angry. I had never defied him ever. This was the first time I was beginning to take my own rein, but I knew he didn't like it one bit.

  What will he do? Will he allow me to make my own plans, my own itinerary for my life live my life away from him? I just didn't know. I had never been away from him since he saved my life. Would he be okay with the change?

  ROSS POV

  NEVER! I was never going to let her go. She was mine and she belonged to me. Her body, her hair, her eyes, her mind it was all mine! She was all mine! Ever since I laid my eyes on her six years ago when I saved her life, she was mine. She was the most innocent sweet girl I had ever met, and I've met so many women and done so many things, but Eden was different.

  I knew she was a virgin because I never allowed anyone near her. She was with me all the time. In school, I had her watched all the time without her knowledge. I knew where she was when she wasn't with me. She was at home or at church. But the majority of the time it was with me. And now...now she was drifting away from me. Why? What had changed? She never showed any signs of discomfort or escape. Maybe it had to do with where she was yesterday. She said something about an I interview but Earl didn't give much detail of anything.

  What was that interview about? Was it for a job? She didn't have to work. I gave her money all the time. I will support her and her entire family if I had too. Just to have her near me.

  I had become dependent on her company. I enjoyed it. She gave me fresh air instead of poison. She gave me life instead of death. Laughter and happiness instead of anger and sadness. She gave me light in a world full of darkness and emptiness.

  Yes, my bed was always full of women every night, but they weren't her. She was my angel and I wasn't going to let her go!

  I had to think of another way to keep her around. She was determined to separate herself from me and I wasn't going to allow that. I knew her parents didn't have the house insured. But that little hole in the roof could easily be fixed and it wasn't too costly. No, something else had to happen something bigger something that couldn't be fixed or repaired easily.

  I didn't want to cause her any harm or put her in danger in any way that's the last thing I want. But I had to keep her with me. If I don't do something fast, I'm going to lose her. I saw it her eyes I heard it in her voice she was getting tired of me.

  "Want a pass boss?" Earl asking if I want to take a hit of cocaine.

  "Yeah, give me a sec" I had promised Eden I was going to stop with the heavy drugs, and I was stopping. I actually hadn't sniffed cocaine for a week since I told her I would stop. I hadn't taken ice either. I was just smoking cannabis and cigarettes. But today. Today I needed it. I needed something strong to take my mind of doing crazy things like going in there and kidnapping her. Locking her up somewhere until she came to her senses that she can't be without me just like I can't be without her.

  "Boss, we did everything we could, but the parents got up and noticed we couldn't do anymore damage without someone seeing us or hearing us"

  "Is okay Rock, I'm thinking of something bigger" I told one of my guys.

  "But first I need some inspiration. Call Rob tell him
to get me his best no exceptions. Whatever he has I need a high effect, and call Monique tell her to meet me at my place tell her to bring as many friends as she can I need to take my mind off of things tonight."

  "Yes, boss"

  I knew what I was going to do. But I had to be very drugged up to do it. Because if Eden ever found out that I was involved in something so evil I will definitely lose her forever. But I had to do something because I was never going to resign myself to be without her. Consequences are damned! Tonight, I will party and have fun with Monique and her friends. Tomorrow I will get Eden back in my life if it was the last thing I did.

  EDEN POV

  I wasn't going to lie. It was going to be hard living without Ross. I was so used to seeing him every day and always being around him. Day and night. We were inseparable. But I knew it was for the best. I had to grow up and Ross wasn't going anywhere. At least not anywhere I wanted to go.

  I helped clean the kitchen and went to my room to gather up my savings. I was saving since I was fourteen working in a farm with my dad sometimes and also Ross gave me money all the time for my things he said. I always knew that my savings would one day come in handy. I didn't know what I wanted to do with them, but I knew I had to have them. For an emergency I guess, and this was it.

  I went to give them to my dad who started crying. He hugged me and told me thanks a million times. He was full of gratitude. That's what family is for. To help each other in desperate times. I love my family and I wasn't going to let them stress out when I could help. Thankfully the hole in the roof wasn't so big. It wouldn't cost much to fix. Maybe I could ask Ross for one more favor and see if he knew anyone who could fix our roof asap.

  My entire day consisted of helping my family clean up the mess in the kitchen, doing chores. I never had a chance to really help around the house because I was always with Ross at his house or somewhere with him. It felt nice to actually do something around my house. To help my family more. To spend more time with them. I felt relieved and free. Ross didn't text or call or send Earl after me, which was a bit alarming, to be honest, but maybe he finally accepted a decision I made for once.