Scarlett's Will by Nicole Jardine (i like reading .txt) 📗

his brother died Buddy kind of went a little mad. He took a lot of drugs, cut himself a lot and started fights. He started fights he knew he wouldn’t win. It was like he wanted to feel pain, he wanted to suffer. When he met you I was a little worried. I was hoping he wasn’t kidnapping you as another way to inflict pain upon himself. I didn’t want him arrested. I think it backfired if that was what he had planned. When you were with him it was like he was his old happy, smiling self again. The Bud I remembered when we were kids. As brief as your stay was, he changed. He stayed changed, although missing you he seemed better, like he had something to look forward to, you know, seeing you again,” he confessed.

“I was trying to protect him at first Dave. I knew what he did for money and I didn’t want the police to arrest him for harboring a runaway. Then I changed. I guess you could say I started to self inflict pain on myself,” I explained.

“I’m sorry Scarlett, I didn’t mean to put this on you, Buddy has a lot of issues but I know you mean the world to him. He’ll bounce back from this and those guys will get what’s coming to them. I can promise you that. Will is nicknamed Buddy for a reason, he has a lot of friends,” he reassured me.

“I’ll throw some clean sheets on my bed, you can have it,” he offered as he stood up.

“No Dave, the couch is fine,” I told him. He sat back down beside me. He lit a smoke and handed it to me.

“I just have to make a few calls. Feel free to use the shower,” he offered. I grinned, wondering if Buddy told him about our showers.

In the morning I heard Dave’s voice. He was talking to someone. I sat up and fixed my shirt and pulled on my shorts just as I saw Dave and another guy walk into the kitchen.

“Good morning Scarlett, did you sleep okay?” Dave asked as I pulled my hair back.

“Yes, fine thank you,” I said. I smiled and waved at the guy beside him.

“Scarlett, this is Justin, Justin meet the one and only Scarlett Rayne,” Dave introduces me rather strangely.

‘Wow, the one and only,” I smirk as I light a smoke.

Justin walks over and sits beside me on the couch. I glance at his tattooed arm and huge chest. He has a shaved head and a number of piercings. He reminds me of a biker my father used to hang around with. I offer him a smoke but he declines.

“Trying to quit,” he grins. I just nod.

“I probably should too, I hear it gives you cancer or something,” I said as I sat back, inhaling.

“Scarlett, I’m an old friend of Will's. You could say I'm his protector. Even in our world we still have jobs,” he said with a wink, like I understood what he meant. Well if you're his protector where were you last night? I wanted to ask this but I didn't. He seemed to catch my thoughts though. I heard him sigh.

“I failed him last night. He asked me to stand down so he could take you out. He didn't know he was targeted. I will make them pay for what they have done. I wanted to ask you if there was anything else you could tell me about the guys that let you into the club last night and the guys that attacked him,” he said.

“I told Dave all I really know,” I said as I looked up at him. I realized then that he is the one that’s going to make sure these guys don’t get away with what they did, just as Dave had said.

“One of the guys that beat on Will threatened me. He said to me 'another time little witch', whatever that means,” I said, catching the glance between Dave and Justin before I continued.

“When he heard the sirens coming he ran off. I guess I should have been more careful last night. I don’t know if it helps but when he was talking to me I noticed he had a couple of gold teeth,” I said to Justin. He looked at me and smiled.

“Thank you Scarlett, I had a suspicion and you just nailed it down for me,” he said. I smiled as I took another drag.

“It wasn’t a fair fight you know. They caught him off guard and it was two against one. Plus he was more worried about me then himself,” I explained to them. Justin nodded his head as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry Scarlett, it won’t be a fair fight when my crew and I find them either,” he grinned. I glanced at Dave, seeing him nod.

“Well it was a pleasure meeting you Scarlett Rayne Jones. I have a feeling we will meet again someday and I will be your protector as well. I promise, I won't let either of you down again,” Justin said. I watched him stand up. I stood beside him, still thinking he looked vaguely familiar.

“It was nice meeting you too Justin, I’m sorry I couldn’t offer any more information. I was just so scared for Buddy,” I said, eyeing his tattoos. One of them looked the same as one of Will's. A dark shadow behind an old castle, but his tattoo had an emblem on it, I just couldn't read it from this distance. He followed my gaze and grinned.

“You’ve helped plenty Scarlett,” he said. I smiled as I looked away from him and walked into the kitchen to get a drink. I've heard that voice and seen that smile when I was younger. It's possible he just looked similar to one of  my father's friends