LEX P.O.V

Damn, I wanted to comfort her but also didn't want to annoy her since she was easily provoked. It's so fucking sad how she sat beside me right now. Stop the car, pull over, hug her. My eyes scan the side street, waiting for a right turn to go green but the light was long. Fuck it, hold her hand, do it. Hesitantly I rose my hand a few inches and stared as it neared her hand which was placed on her leg. Bare leg, she wore shorts and and floral tank top. Don't touch the skin of her leg she'll snap. Amanda stayed staring, blinking away tears. I knew she couldn't always be as tough as she wanted. Horns honk from behind us, causing me to withdraw my hand which was nearly on hers, and drive ahead.

"We'll get this fucker." I drive forward, finding the road familiar since I was bussed down it when a kid, when I had a somewhat functioning family. Tall threes, a smooth black road, clean sidewalks, mowed lawns, a country club on the opposite side stretching for more than a mile. She would see the house soon and compare it to where I was taking her now. I needed my gun just Incase men were hired. I say this because my father earned his money dirty and made enemies in a few countries so he invested in physical protection. I pull in front of an old brick building on a corner lot in a less appealing neighborhood. Cracked concrete, trash on the sidewalks, liquor stores.

"Where are we?" She finally said after a long silence.

"Stay her, I'll be right back."

Inside I pull a shoebox from under my dresser and grab a 45 and a hand full of bullets from it. Tucked into my jeans the gun goes and the bullets in my pocket. "You're not gonna use that." Fuck. It figures...she wouldn't listen.

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"It's just for show." I lie.

"Nobody is dying or been killed, alright?"

I turn to her, seeing her green eyes both sad and pissed. "Alright, I won't use it." She steps to me and outstretches her hand. "Really?"

"Yes, really, men are hotheads, I'll carry it."

"Have you even held a gun before or used one?"

"No, but I wanted to at a certain point."

I scan her, trying to pick out a smirk or any indication that she was joking. There were none. Holy shit. "To hold or shot?"

She huffs. "Give it."

...

Driving back to the paradise of a location, I feel my throat tighten. It isn't like I'm scared of her seeing what I could have had, am I? Am I...She'll ask questions and really dig into why I hate him, all women do is pry. Then I'll have to tell her everything. I never told anyone about my mother's death, I only ever told myself it over and over. Hearing it would be different...emotions would play in and I'd look weak in front of her. "It's the same place again?"

"Yeah." I keep it short, as I turn a corner and pull into a driveway and unlock the gate with a pass key I stole from Bill's babysitter, Maggie, this was my resort since he changed it every time he caught me inside. The gate opens. Beyond is stone mansion, classy; like a miniature version of The White House. "It's my father's place."

Stepping out of the car, I observe as Amanda's eyes tour the landscape, a slight smile on her face. "Did you grow up here?"

"I did."

"Ugh...that's figures, the typical rich badboy, huh?"

"I wouldn't say bad." I unlock the front door, hearing plastering feet run to it. Lizzie. As I open the door she jumps into my arms. An uncomfortable, huge as beam of a smile takes over me as I clutch her. "Hey sweetie."

"HIIIIII." She waves at Amanda who giggles. "I made peanut butter sandwiches. Come on." She tugs at my and Armand's hand.

In the massive kitchen we go, being seated by the little princess. "You didn't tell me her name."

I chuckle at how her little face scrunches up. "I'm sorry princess."

"I'm Amanda."

Lizzie hands us sloppy sandwiches with stinky hands. "Are we still going to the park, Lexie?"

"We are, right after we finish your delicious sandwiches we'll go The the park and get ice cream." As I eat, I search the background, no guards, no babysitter either he fired her after I left no doubt, how many days were like this with her alone? Hostility tingles my skin. It doesn't matter, Bill is never seeing Lizzie again.