The Miami hotel scene.

D R A Y T O N S • P O V

"Man, check out this fucking Shisha." Grayson marvels in awe at the device in the middle of the round table in room number four.

I'll admit, it's a cool looking device but I won't be touching it. I won't be touching a damn thing tonight. All evening I've had this unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach. A nagging in the back of my mind. I don't know what it is but somethings telling me that I shouldn't touch substance. I'm probably being dramatic but I'd rather keep my wits about me. I've never had such a strong inkling before and I don't think that I should ignore it.

I haven't voiced that to Grayson though and it's taking a lot of self control not to text bomb the shit out of Dallas because if this weird feeling has anything to do with her then I'm going to lose my fucking mind. The last time we spoke was fifteen minutes ago when she'd let me know that she was missing me and needed a foot rub.

Fuck, you know it's love when you'd rather be doing that, than hanging out in a top floor hotel with drugs and alcohol on tap.

"Ooh that's different." Grayson splutters, the cloud of smoke drifting upwards and dissolving as he passes the small joint in his hand, back to the couple on the other side of the sofa. "You're not gonna have some?"

"Na you know I don't drink and smoke."

He has no idea that I haven't been drinking. He'd been hyped for the boys night in Miami and I don't want to disappoint him with the news that I'm stone cold sober and bored out of my fucking mind.

"We should check out another room?" Grayson suggests, leaning back into the couch with small red eyes and a doped up smile. I'm not sure that he could scratch his own ass right now, let alone walk to another location. "Let's go to the strippers room. The one that dude was telling us about earlier."

"What? No."

"Why not?"

"I dunno how your relationship works bro, but Dallas would cut my fucking dick off if she thought I was being shady."

"It's just strippers." He scoffs, rubbing his face with his clammy looking hands. "It's not cheating if you don't touch them."

"Yeah and I get that some couples are cool with that. But I don't think that's Dallas. And I fucked it up with her too many times. I'm not gonna do it."

"She wouldn't even know!"

"Drop it."

"Ugh." He throws his arms open wide and lets them drop to his side with a dull thud.

He and Spencer are none of my concern, but she's a sweet girl and I'd be pissed off if he did something to hurt her. She might talk too much and have an eccentric personality that makes me feel like smothering her occasionally. But she doesn't deserve to be fucked around either.

"Let's go see what else is around anyway." Grayson gets to his feet, a small sway almost knocks him back down but he flails like a fool until he's steady again and the two of us head out of the stoners den.

"Which one?" We stand in the middle of the corridor, deliberating over which room to explore next. No doubt it'll be as boring as the last one. But I Follow Grayson as he starts to wander, glancing inside the doorways as he passes.

It's apparent that he's chosen his destination, until a small blonde emerges from one room across the corridor and darts into another. And from her attire, I think it's safe to assume which room she'd disappeared into.

"That was Bree!" Grayson turns in the threshold with an amused expression. "That was my cousin Bree. What the fuck."

Part of me wants to argue that he's full of shit and his attempt to get into that strippers room is fucking pathetic. But she did look familiar, so with reluctance, I follow his eager footsteps, which tell me that this is partly about his cousin and partly about getting his way.

Of course, upon entrance to the last door of the wide hallway, my suspicions are confirmed because the room is set up with make shift platforms and erected poles. Likely a few erect dicks too from the look of the drugged out dudes watching from the sidelines. The lights are off and the only light provided comes from coloured lights that flicker from the ceiling.

"Bree!" Grayson shouts over the music at the blonde who's leaning against the left wall, engrossed in her cellphone until she lifts her head at the sound of my best friends call.

He wasn't wrong, it is his cousin, she looks different from the last time I saw her. More . . . grown up.  She straightens up and her jaw drops in surprise.

"Gray And Dray, the dynamic duo!" She laughs a shrill laugh and waves us over, the bangles on her wrist chime with her enthusiasm. "Shit, what are you guys doing in Miami?!"

"Spring break." Grayson answers, spreading his legs as he comes to a standstill. It's a dead give away that he's hammered. He thinks it gives him a safer stance so that he won't topple. "When did you become a stripper?"

I can't help the loud laugh that comes out when he asks her that question. It's so casual, as if he's asking her how the family is and it's a nice change from the sullen that I've been feeling all night.

"What?" He shrugs, not sure what could be so humorous.

"Dude, the cash is so good!" She brags, ignoring my obnoxious laugh. "I can make over a grand in one night."

"Maybe I should become a stripper.." Grayson blinks with a wide eyed expression.

"Dirty dick!"

That's a voice that I hadn't expected to hear, but when I turn around and spot Dallas, I'm immediately thrilled to see her. So much so that I smile and see past the blatant hostility.

"Dallas!"

She doesn't react to my call as she turns around and storms off. I can't blame her for the initial reaction. She's just caught me in a room full of poles and strippers, having a conversation with one.

I force Gray to say a brief goodbye to his cousin and the two of us search the rooms until I find Dallas standing with her back to me, Spencer and some dude looking at her with obvious concern.

It doesn't take long for me to give out orders, having the room cleared so that I can calm Dallas down before we leave. She needs to know that what happened was innocent and I'd rather have it out here and now before she can disappear and stew on her anger for hours on end.

"What are you doing here?" My hand reaches out because she hasn't looked at me since I found her and it's unnerving. My fingers trace the skin on her shoulder in a need to be near her.

But she only allows it for a moment before she spins around and fixes me with a glare so hostile that I feel a cold chill run across my skin. "You don't get to ask questions! You were in a room full of fucking strippers, not to mention you were flirting with one! What would have happened if I'd never shown up. Would you have paid her for a private dance. Maybe a happy ending?!"

She's drunk, her words have a slur and her eyes can't stop flickering from side to side as she stares at me, which is likely the entire reason that she's screaming and throwing accusations at me, but fuck, it still gets to me. I wasn't the most forthcoming person when it came to how I felt in the beginning, but I haven't touched another girl in the entire time we've been talking and there's no reason for her to think that about me.

"Why don't you fucking trust me! I've never given you a reason not to trust me but you still accuse me of something that I haven't done whenever you get the chance!"

"I saw what I saw, Drayton!" She bites back, not even wavering at the volume of my voice. I don't want to argue with her like this. I hate it. But I'm pissed.

"What you saw, is a chat with Grayson's cousin! I've known that girl for as long as I've known him! And before you ask what I was doing here, I was probably doing the same thing that you were! Partying! Grayson spotted her in between a room shuffle. I had no intention of going in there for any other reason!"

"She's not your cousin." She argues with a raised brow and a scowl that would suggest she's proven her point and won the entire argument. "I go with my gut feeling."

"And what's your gut telling you, Dallas?" I snap, feeling fucking hurt that she's so determined to think the worst of me. "Because if it's telling you that I'm a liar, then I'll let you walk the fuck out of here right now. I'm not going to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't trust me!"

Losing her would probably fucking destroy me to be honest.

"And I'm not going to be in a relationship with someone who makes a dick of me behind my back!"

"For Gods sake Dallas!" My head rolls with frustration at this stubborn, frustrating but beautiful fucking girl that I love so much. "Why the fuck would I spend one cheap meaningless night with a girl that I don't care about, when I can have you any time I want! Why would I hurt you like that when I fûcking love you!"

She steps back with a dropped jaw, her expression morphing into shock so fast that anyone would think I'd just slapped her. I'm not sure what's so surprising about that confession, I was hoping that by this point, she'd see in my actions that I love her more than I've ever loved anyone else before.

"Why the fuck do you always have to confess this kind of shit to me when you're drunk and we're fighting!!" A frustrated tear rolls down her cheek as her hands fly out, weakly shoving my chest as a sob seizes her movements.

She's got a point. I need to pick my moments a hell of a lot better. But I was beginning to not know how else I could get through to her.

Before she can pull her hands back, I wrap my own around her balled fists and hold them against my pounding heart. Because despite everything else, I finally said it and I'm damn glad that she knows.

"I'm not drunk." Our foreheads meet and I watch her struggling expression as I feather kisses against her white knuckles. "I'm not drunk at all baby. I love you."

She stops trying to resist my hold and collapses against me, the power of her hug is astounding considering the size of her small frame. She's the most important person that I have and I hold her tight, hoping that she knows it.

"I haven't touched a drop of alcohol tonight cheer. I love you and that's the truth. I've only told you the truth."

"I love you too, you -- you fucking asshole."

I laugh at the backhanded response, amused at her attitude but more than that, I'm floored at how the words roll off her tongue and sound so sweet delivered from that mouth of hers. Even if there is an insult in there, she pulls it off, because that's her.

My hands cup her face, a feeling that could be equivalent to holding gold and I bring our mouths together, feeling the lift of her lips and the graze of her fingertips as they end up in the short crop of hair on the back of my head.

I move to her cheeks, pecking at the tears and tasting the pain that I'd caused her just moments earlier. The soft sweet plump of her lips are under mine once again and as I kiss her with so much desire that it makes me weak, I promise her that I'll guard that heart of hers with all that I have. No matter what happens now or in the future.

A racket from behind me causes us to break apart with a startle. The two dudes that invited Grayson and I here, are pushed into the room by thugs in expensive suits with impressive looking handguns.

Without giving it a second thought, I've pushed Dallas behind me, turning right around to face the imminent threat as a tall man in a tailored suit walks in, shutting the door behind him.

"Thank you boys!" He rolls up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, adorning a smug smile as if he owns the fucking room. I don't have a clue who he is, or what's going on, but that gut feeling is back and this time, it's a whole lot fucking worse.

• • •

"You'll get the money for me right fucking now!" Edmund barks, coming to a standstill. "I know Daddy has money, this resort isn't a cheap stay. Make it happen."

Somehow, we've ended up in the middle of a fucking drug domestic and I almost want to shoot those two little pricks myself. They brought us here, knowing they were tied to some shady shit and now we're in the middle of a dangerous situation. Once again, I've let Dallas down and if she gets hurt tonight, I won't be responsible for the actions that I take next.

"He'll never give me seven hundred grand!" Carter stands to his feet, his hands raised in surrender when the gun follows his movements. "Please just give me a little more time. I'll get the money!"

"You're out of time you little prick!" Edmund shouts and time seems to slow down when his cold and calculated glare, hones in on Dallas who's hidden behind me, her hand clinging tightly to my wrist. "You! Come here!"

"Like hell!" I shout, pushing her further out of sight. "We have nothing to do with whatever the fuck is happening here. We don't even know them. Just let us go before you kill them so that we don't have to witness anything."

"Give me the fucking girl!" Edmund orders again, the sleeve of his shirt revealing a Rolex when he outstretches his arm.

"Over my dead fucking body!"

"Very well then. Joe!" Edmund waves the end of his finger in our direction and within seconds a gun is being pointed at my forehead. A strangled squeal fills the room and it makes me wince. I can't stand the sound of her distress.

Before I have time to stop her, Dallas is standing between the gun and I, it makes me fucking nauseous. Just the sight of that barrel staring straight at her. A small object with the power to take the woman that I love in a split second. It's sickening.

"I'll do what you say, just please don't kill him!" Her voice is laced with fear, heightened by the sobs that rack through her quivering body.

"No Dallas!" I snatch her hand as she begins to walk towards Edmund with a wobble in her step. She turns back and fixes me with a pleading expression, her eyes seeking for me to trust and believe in her actions as tears pour down her cheeks.

"I'm okay."

The hitch in her voice suggests otherwise and I've never been so torn and defeated in all my life. Her hand slips out of mine and if it weren't for the fact that a gun is pointed straight at me, I'd stop her. But what good am I to her, if I'm dead. She knows that and so do I. But that doesn't stop it from being almost impossible to watch that cunt putting his hands on Dallas.

"Heroic. Both of you." Edmund laughs when she reaches his side. He grips her waist and spins her into his body, her back is flush against his front and I can feel a white hot rage burning up every last nerve in my body as he holds a sharp knife against her throat.

Objects of harm don't belong near her. That neck is for feathering with kisses. It's the spot that I watch when I'm drifting off to sleep, her little pulse beating visibly beneath her smooth skin. How fucking dare he put a weapon against her as if she's meaningless.

"You two are going to call Daddy, get my cash or I'll slit this girls throat. Got it?"

"She doesn't mean anything to them!" I shout, inching forward because it's almost impossible to stay where I am with the sight of Dallas in danger. "They don't even know her. They don't care if she dies."

"She has nothing to do with this Edmund." Carter pleads. "Let them go."

"Call your fucking Dad!" I shout with a thunderous voice and catch the jolt in Dallas' body from my peripheral vision. A little trickle of red blood starts to run down her neck, the knife having nicked her when she got a fright. "You cut her! You fucking prick!"

My attempts to get to Edmund are thwarted when Joe presses the cold hard gun into my chest, a challenging grin on his aged face.

"I'd stay where you are." Edmund warns with a steady tone, pressing his cheek flush against Dallas'. It's defiling and filthy and when his lips graze the apples of her cheek, I start to envision a number of different ways in which I could drag out a slow and painful death that would have him regretting all of this. "That's a little knick. If you come any further I'll slice her fucking jugular open."

"He's not answering!" Carter panics, interrupting a flow of manic ideas that are starting to have me concerned. Only slightly though. The second thug pulls the phone away from Carter's ear, not allowing him to touch it incase he calls for help.

"Smash it Jake."

The thug follows Edmunds direct orders and throws the phone against the wall with a force so strong that it leaves a large dent.

"I'll give you fifty grand!" I bargain, hoping that if these little dipshits can't give him the money, I can at least get Dallas out of this mess. "I can't pay their debts but I'll give you fifty grand if you let her go. We don't owe you anything. But i'll give you that. Please."

"Her life is worth fifty thousand dollars?" Edmund smirks, caressing Dallas' arm with slow and sensual movements that make my skin crawl. "She must be special."

"Her life is priceless. She's worth everything to me. But fifty grand is all I have. Please."

In truth, that's not entirely true. I mean, I have a lot more. But I can't just flick it over in a wireless transaction. I can spend it as I please, but to transfer that amount, I'd have to put in a bank request and sign off on it and it's a process that isn't quick. But this is part of an impulsive plan. Plan A. There's a plan B. I'm hoping that I won't need it though.

I watch him think it over. His cold and calculating glare is unwavering as he studies my face, probably looking for a hint of deceit. I'm not the best liar, but right now, with the girl that I love in danger, I'm lying my ass off and doing it well.

"Okay," He finally replies with a smug voice. "Fifty grand for the girl."

"And then you let us go?"

"Of course."

The gun that's being aimed at me is dropped and I begin to walk forward, the ache to have her safe in my arms again becomes stronger with every step that I take forward.

"Get the knife away from her neck!" I demand, now only standing a few feet from Dallas. Up close, I can see the sweat beads on her forehead and the tears that have run through her make up. I stretch my arm out and lace our fingers together, not dropping my glare that's fixed on the bastard behind her.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" A hollow laugh leaves his lips. "When I see the transfer, you'll get your girl, safe and sound."

With my free hand, I reach around and retrieve my cell from the back pocket of my jeans, but it's ripped from my hand within seconds and thrown across the room, smashing into the wall beside the other phone. I take a deep breath and exhale through my nose in an attempt to calm down and not punch someone in the head.

"What the fuck asshole?!" I snap, failing at the calm approach. "How am I supposed to transfer the money now?!"

"Joe will lend you his phone, I have a variety of different bank apps, just look through and take your pick."

Scowling at the bastards, I take the phone and start twiddling around on it, looking as though I'm about to give them cash that I don't have. The sound of Dallas' heavy breathing starts to break through the silence, quickly getting stronger and stronger. When I glance up at her, her knees buckle and she starts to collapse, heaving as though she's going to throw up. Fuck it hurts to see how terrified she is. That fear in her expression, the tears pouring down her face, the obvious trepidation that has her curled over in physical pain.

"Baby," I reach out with a soft voice, caressing her damp cheek in hopes that it'll calm her down. "Baby, it'll be okay. Calm down."

"Get a grip girl." Edmund snarls, aggressively pulling her tighter against his body so that she's upright again.

"Hey, go fucking easy cunt!" I shout, a stark contrast to the soothing voice I'd been using moments before. "She's scared!"

"Just get on with the transfer!"

I meet my girls petrified eyes, hoping to lend her some strength by mouthing 'I love you' to her. The little flicker in her lips that turns them up for a fraction of a second lets me know that it helped. Even if only for a moment.

I continue to look around on the bank app. I do log in. And I stare at the six digits, feeling frustrated that large transfers aren't possible without the system that my parents had put in place. I'd give him the cash if I could.

"Done." I announce with a clipped tone, shoving the phone back into Joe's hand. "Let her go. Now!"

"Joe, check the account." Edmund orders, refusing to release her. I run a hand through my hair, frustration beginning to seep back in.

"It'll take a few hours!" I seethe with a clenched jaw, fearful because the plan isn't working. "It's a fifty grand transfer."

"Then we'll wait."

"It's not there boss." Joe shows Edmund the screen and I realise that this isn't going to work. Eventually they'll realise that I lied and it won't be good. So with a little reluctance, I settle on plan B and pray to God that I can pull it off.

"Fine, we'll wait." I snap and step forward. Edmund gives me a warning glance at the sudden movement but it doesn't deter me from going ahead with the plan that could end up getting me killed. I won't consider the possibility that it could hurt Dallas. I'll die before that happens. "I'm just giving her a kiss."

I lean down and cup her face, my fingers resting on her jawline as I kiss her with a rough but delicate pressure. If shit hits the fan this could be the last time I feel her soft mouth against mine. So I savour it for a moment before I drag the kisses up her cheek, my heart pounding as I get closer and closer to what I'm about to do.

My mouth meets the spot under her ear and before I can let the fear talk me out of it, I whisper the word that will offset a dramatic series of events.

"Run."

Grabbing Edmund by the elbow and wrist, I over power his knife wielding arm, watching his expression contort with disbelief as I twist his wrist to direct the knife at him. I push it back so that it goes through the flesh on his throat, the sound of skin tearing and gurgled wailing sounds out as his eyes widen and the life starts to leave them.

Not pausing for even a second, I rip the knife out of his throat, pushing him away from my girl so that he lands in a heap on the floor. Screaming at Dallas to run, I throw the knife across the room, sagging in relief as it pierces the thug right in the chest. He falls to the ground and with lightening fast speed, Devon picks up his gun and aims it in our direction. Which is when I remember Joe and I pale when I turn around to find him with a panicked expression, pointing it straight at Dallas who still hasn't moved. She looks like she's in total shock. Her face pale and expressionless as she stares at the barrel aimed at her heart.

"No!" I shout, stepping in front of her and encasing her small frame with mine as we fall to the ground. Two shots ring out, piercing my ears and when I feel an unbearable sharp, hot pain in the side of my torso, I know that I've been hit.

I roll over, groaning at the pain as I clutch my side, feeling warm liquid pooling under my fingertips. My back and neck feels drenched, the smell of metallic floods my nostrils and as much as I want to check to see if Joe is down and Dallas is safe. I can't do much but attempt to breath through the crippling pain.

"Call an ambulance!" I hear Dallas shriek and I feel a surge of relief at the sound of her voice. Not moments later, her small hands cover mine and I can feel her presence hovering over me.

"Dray!" She sobs with a broken voice. "Dray, baby, I'm sorry! I'm sorry."

"It's okay!" I huff with a breathless voice, prying my eyes open so that I can see her. She's my strength and as much as it hurts, seeing her alive is worth it. "Are you alright. Are you hurt?"

She shakes her head, tears falling from her cheeks.

"You've been shot!" She wails. If I wasn't so fucked up, I'd tease her for stating the obvious. But she's a mess and I'd rather not make it worse. Black dots start to dance over my vision but I fight them hard, keeping her in my line of sight. "Don't die. Dammit, please don't die! I love you. I should have run, I'm sorry."

"I'm not gonna die." I assure her, my breathing speeds up as the dancing dots become larger and thicker, blurring almost everything out around me. "This isn't your fault. I love you. Okay. I fought back, this is my fault. I love you."

My senses are evading me. I can't hear, I can't see, I'm starting to lose the feeling of Dallas' hand on mine but at least the pain is starting to fade as well. Even in a state of delusion, I can acknowledge that, that probably isn't a good thing.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoes around me. It sounds far off, like it's coming from a distance too far to be heard but it's all that I can hear, the only sound in the total silence. It's the voice of a young girl.

"You're going to be fine Dray. Don't worry. You keep fighting. Fight with me, because heaven isn't ready for you yet brother."

"Abby?"

• • •

Okay so when I first wrote this scene, I wanted to imply that Abby was the angel I referred to without actually saying it. I had to hint at it because Drayton doesn't remember it and Dallas wasn't in his head of course. But I loved that a few people picked up that it was her and I've been itching to write this scene for sooooo long. Hahah.