Caught in the Middle, Clearly Jaded [best book clubs .TXT] 📗

the package?
He gets out of the car and rushes to the front door. Forgetting the clothes and food I rush after him. When I finally catch up with Gavin he is already in the living room with a burly man who looks very upset.
“Why wasn’t it delivered?” The man’s voice booms through the house.
“We don’t know what happened exactly… Mac had this delivery boy…” Gavin started but the man cut him off.
“What do you mean, you don’t know what happened?” His voice menacing, making me jump.
Then the man looks at me, “And this is the girl?” He asks coming towards me.
I take a few steps back until I come to the wall, the man stopping inches from me.
“Well I guess one thing is certain, if I don’t get my money I can always sell this one.”
I glance at Gavin wide eyed who is frowning, “We’ll get your money Ice.” He says defeat in his voice.
I’m more along the lines of thinking Ice? What kind of name is Ice?
“Well you better! I’ll give you until the end of the month to come up with half, and I want it no later than midnight!” Ice yells making me flinch again. Then he turns back to me a leering smile on his face. I notice a scar that starts at the top right corner of his forehead and goes straight down the side of his face. He reaches up taking a strand of my hair in his hands rubbing it, “Such beauty.” He pauses looking back at Gavin, “I’m kind of hoping you don’t get the money, I wouldn’t mind having this one.” With that he strides out the door.
As soon as the door shuts I slide down to the floor trying to catch my breath, noticing that I had been holding it. Before I know it my whole body is shaking uncontrollably.
“Julia.” Gavin says appearing at my side, I didn’t even notice him walking towards me, “It’s ok, you need to calm down, you’re going into shock.”
I look up at him so scared, I would rather deal with Gavin any day then be with that man, if you would even call him a man. He’s more like an animal.
Before I know it, Gavin scoops me up in his arms and he runs up the stairs to his room. Passing the bed he heads to the bathroom, cuddling me in his chest while he runs some bath water.
“We need to get you in the water.” He says. I try to sit up but notice that I can’t.
He feels my head and a surprised gasp comes from his lips, “you’re freezing”.
I glance down and notice that my skin is turning a bit gray, how is this happening?
Gavin sits me down gently and starts to pull off my shirt. Unable to protest, I let him , while I try to control my breathing.
“You’re ok, You’ll be ok.” Gavin says over and over again while he is undressing me. Once I only have on bra and panties he picks me back up and places me in the warm water making me gasp at the sudden warmth. I’m able to find my voice and I scream out, as everything fades and darkness engulfs me.
****************
I feel someone rubbing my face, I want to tell them to stop, that’s its annoying but I can’t seem to open my eyes.
“Jules?” I hear Mace say.
“She’s awake.” I hear someone else say but I can’t make out who it is.
“Julia. Can you open your eyes?” This comes from Gavin and I slowly open my eyes looking around. Gavin, Mace, and Silas are standing around me, watching me with worried expressions. I look around the room and notice that I’m laying in Gavin’s bed, and that someone tucked me in so tight that I can’t move.
“You scared us.” Mace said taking a seat next to me rubbing the side of my cheek.
“What happened?” I ask looking at Gavin.
“Gavin said you just went into shock.” Mace said glancing at Gavin as if he didn’t believe him, “Why did you go into shock Jules?” Mace asks his voice hard.
I glance at Gavin as memories of Ice came pouring back into my mind. I know Mace is asking me this because he doesn’t believe the story Gavin told him.
“I already told you Mason, we just came home, we were walking through the door and the next thing I know she starts breathing really hard and she just falls.” He said exasperated, glancing at me.
I look up at Mace, now would be the time to tell him the truth, to get everything out in the open. I glance at Gavin who has a murdering look in his eyes. A look that makes me want to run and hide. I look back down in my hands, “I don’t know what was wrong, I was just thinking about Jacks and…” I look back up at Mace who has a confused look on his face.
Why did I mention Jacks? I feel tears come to my eyes as I think about him now and I quickly blink them away.
“I’m fine now, thanks Gavin.” I say looking at him. He’s looking at me with a weird expression, and I don’t know what to think of it.
“Ok, guys, you heard her. Let’s let her get some rest.” Mace says at last ushering them out of the room. Before the door closes, Gavin turns around to look at me. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but for some reason I don’t want to know. I turn over giving him a view of my back and a second later, I hear the soft click of the door.
“Where are you Jacks?” I whisper to myself, tears streaming down my face. Something must have happened to him, he wouldn’t have just left me like he did. I think about all the things that could have gone wrong, and I have a mental picture of him laying in a ditch somewhere, cold and shivering. I start crying harder until my body is wracking with sobs. Tonight, I cry myself to sleep.
Chapter 8
I wake to the sun streaming in my eyes turning, over with a groan. My eyes are sore and swollen from crying myself to sleep. I look at the clock which reads 9am, and I'm wondering what the guys are doing today. I quickly get up and take a shower, letting the warm water loosen up my muscles. Once I'm as clean as I'm gonna get, I quickly dry myself off just to realize that all of my clothes are in Gavin's car. I swear to myself, wrapping a towel around me, I open the bathroom door and walk out going straight to Gavin's closet.
"See anything you like?"
A startled gasp escapes my mouth as I turn to face Gavin who is sitting on the couch watching me with an amused smile. I grab the towel and wrap it tighter around me blushing. Oh, god, not again.
"No.. I um... my clothes." I stutter.
He starts laughing making me glare at him, what is so funny?
He stands up and walks to the other side of the bed where my view is hidden and picks up my bags of clothes and places them on the bed.
I quickly grab the first outfit I can put together and run back to the bathroom.
I groan as I realize what I have grabbed. I quickly put on the short shorts and a tank top that shows off my belly ring. I huff to myself as I open the door and walk out of the bathroom keeping my head high. Gavin is laying on the bed hands behind his head looking relaxed. When he hears me come through he looks at me, eyes wide.
"I'm going to go get something to eat." I say and head for the door. Gavin suddenly jumps out of bed and as I'm opening the door he slams it shut, an untamed look in his eyes.
"We need to talk." He says through his teeth.
"About what?" I ask trying to act dumb, but he knows better.
A smile spreads across his face, only it doesn't reach his eyes making him seem hollow. I shiver and I'm suddenly being pushed up against the wall. My breath comes out in a whoosh and I stare at Gavin with fear in my eyes.
He seems to like my reaction cause he grins wider as he puts his hands on either side of my head against the wall.
He leans in closer to me, "Do you have any idea what those clothes make me want to do to you?"
He presses the torso of his body against mine and a sick feeling comes over me because I realize that I like the feel of his body against mine.
"What is that?" I say in a rushed whisper, trying to catch my breath.
He grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in as if he is going to kiss me, stopping centimeters from my lips, "Oh, I think you know." His voice tempting, yet dangerous.
He suddenly lets go of me and walks back across the room, raking a hand through his dark brown hair. He suddenly spins around and storms towards me, his mood suddenly changing from lust to something more violent. He grabs me by the shoulders squeezing tight enough that there will be bruising later.
I wince as his hands dig into me and I'm pushed harder against the wall.
"Let's stop playing these little games Julia." He says his voice hard and void of emotion.
I look at him wide eyed which only makes him more angry because he shakes me.
"Don't look at me like that, just tell me what I need to know." He says vehemently.
"I don't know what you are talking about." I say my voice shaky. I suddenly realize my body is shaking. He slams me against the wall making my head hit the back of the door, "I know you know where your boyfriend is." He spits at me, saying the word boyfriend like it's a dirty word.
I cower away from his rage and tears form in my eyes, I don't know what to tell him and I'm afraid of getting hurt. "I don't know where he is Gavin, he left me there. He took the bags and just left me there." As I say the words, reality sinks in. He left me there like a piece of trash to get rid of.
Gavin suddenly lets go of me taking a step back, "Well when I find your little boyfriend, I'm going to kill him." He says menacingly as he puts his face in mine, "And if I find out that you are lying to me, I'll kill you." I look into his eyes and can tell that he is not joking. There is no emotion there, it's like I'm staring into a big black hole. A hole I can't seem to dig myself out of, I'm drowning and there is