Burning Truths (Consume Me #2)

31. Kenna

Chapter Thirty-One

KENNA

“Fuck.” I let out an exasperated huff.

My palms hit my knees, my entire body trembling from the overuse of weak muscles. G props his elbows behind him on the top rope leaning back with a crooked grin. Not a drop of sweat can be found on him.

“Getting tired already, Kens?” He jokes.

My breathing starts to slow, but I’m still short of breath when I respond.

“Fuck you.” I snap.

Irritation courses through me when he peers at me with his smug ass attitude. My calves scream at me from the workout but G looks far from done.

“What are we doing here?” I push.

It’s not the first time I’ve asked and if he bounces around the question it won’t be the last. Either he’s a shitty liar, which I know isn’t true, or he’s busy trying to keep me away from something. Pushing up my back straightens my stare and darkens, quaking a brow in response to his silence. The Basement is still empty but I can hear noise upstairs so I'm guessing a party is going to be starting soon.

Looking towards the door, his jaw clenches, “You’re here to clear your head.” Rolling his head back, his eyes fall to the ceiling. “You need to let go of everything you think is true and follow what you already know. You can’t do that until you push past the pain.”

Dropping my gaze to the mat the air rushes from my lungs. A deeper part of me screams out into the void for help that I know only I can give myself. No one can drag me from the darkness in my mind but me. G’s here right now trying and yet all I want to do is crawl into a ball ignoring everything around me. That empty feeling behind my ribs twinges with a bone deep ache, a harsh reminder that even the numbness wears off eventually. Gio bounces backward making his body spring forward coming at me fast.

The sudden change of pace has me backing away on instinct.

“Fight back.” He snaps.

His joking tone and smooth swagger is gone, replaced with a wild eyed fighter thirsty for trouble. His abs are cut and hard shining with fresh sweat tempting me to look lower. Twisting his hips, the distraction of his bare chest gives him the opening to hook his leg behind mine, shoving me backwards. The floor comes at me fast, my back slamming into the mat, G hovers over me with a hard look.

“Get me off you.”

His body lowers, putting more weight on me and my chest caves. Unable to pull in another gulp of air my ribs rattle bringing panic with it. He’s not completely on me but the close proximity shoves me head first into panic preventing my brain from understanding the space wedged between us. Instantly my palms slam forward striking him below his chest bone. He doesn’t move a fucking inch and I spiral. Tears threaten to spill, my skin tingling, a cold sweat breaks out over my body.

“Stop.” My words are weak.

G drops his mouth closer hovering just over my parted lips a scream on the tip of my tongue. Brown eyes shift into blue plunging me into a living nightmare. Pulling in air is impossible. My vision starts to blur around the edges mixing his form with another. Pounding my fist into his sides I take any shot I have that could free me but my knuckles smart from the onslaught. One of his large hands pins me down by my wrist. Eyes blown wide I can feel myself start to faint when his voice fills my ears.

“Shove it down and fight back. Open your eyes and fight back.” He orders me.

His words hold power behind them that I reach for begging for a lifejacket in the sea I’m drowning in. He’s the asshole that threw me overboard yet here he is forcing me to float in the deep waters. I don’t realize that my eyes are closed until he tells me to open them and I do. Blinking back the tears and sweat that roll over my face, my stare meets his mocha colored glare. Releasing my wrist he grips my face, pinching my cheeks like a child, he pulls me forward.

“Fight.” He snarls.

My teeth sink into my bottom lip biting down until the pain is all I can focus on. Feeding on that feeling I pull forward every single memory of pain, hurt, sorrow, and anger that I can muster until my bones hum with the overwhelming feelings. My tongue swipes over my lips I snake my arm around his back and snatch a handful of his thick hair yanking back. Exposing his throat I jerk forward biting into his throat before he breaks free from my grip. He’s strong but I’m fast and angry. Breaking skin the taste of copper fills my mouth but I don’t let go of my hold. With my other hand I punch G’s jaw ripping his flesh from between my teeth spraying my face with crimson liquid.

“Fuck, Kens!” He yelps, grabbing for his throat.

Blood slowly rolls down the column of his neck painting his tan skin red. Looking down at me with a clouded expression his mouth opens but nothing comes out. Using his shock against him my knee jolts forward plowing into his ass and sending him over my head. His lower half lands over me but I rush to roll from under him and jump to my feet. Once I’m standing the adrenaline starts to slow bringing another wave of exhaustion.

Turning to the side I spit out a mouthful of his fucking blood like a rabid dog but at least now I can pull in a lungful of air.

“Don’t ever do that again.” I spit at the bastard.

G’s holding pressure to his throat when he turns around with a look that’s a mix of pride and something else plastered across his face. Walking to the edge of the ring he bends over snatching up his shirt and pressing it to the bite.

“Now you know you can get me off of you if you need to.” He says, shrugging his shoulders.

“Let’s not pretend like you didn’t know what you were doing. Pushing me like that.” I snarl. “Forcing me down on my back. Laying over me.” My lip curls in raw rage. I can feel my face getting redder the more I speak.

Pulling the shirt away from his wound G tilts his head to the side, “I don’t think you have a problem stopping someone.” He states. “You just had to find the fight you think you lost.”

Spinning away from him I move to the edge of the ring when he speaks again, “You can’t run from what he did to you but you can take back control.”

“Yeah, and who would that be? Because as far as I can tell two people took something from me.” I toss over my shoulder.

I can hear him coming closer but I don’t flinch. I don’t move. I allow him to step into my back knowing that I’m no longer cornered on the mat.

“That’s for you to decide but don’t forget that your mind and body often speak different words. Close your eyes and tell me which monster you see and who you’re afraid of.”

His words settle over me giving me something to think about when the basement door swings open bringing with it voices that float down to us. Familiar ones. We both look towards the group making their way down the wooden steps, most of the faces familiar and a couple that I’ve only seen in photos. Hanks pictures from the room flash in behind my eyes reminding me of the woman with the wide smile sitting beside Ryker.

“What the hell happened to you, my boy.” West says, snickering at G.

Looking over my shoulder I twist my lips to the side waiting for his response when Oakley cuts in bouncing up to the ropes.

“My turn.” She dances on her toes.

Jumping over the top rope, unlike the rest of us, she ignores the stares and instead comes to stand next to me.

“Have at it.” I raise my hands attempting to back away from the fiery woman with blue hair and crazy eyes.

Rolling her eyes, she props a hand on her hip, “no, no.” A finger is now in my face, “I meant me and you.” She says. Hooking a thumb over her shoulder, “I already had my turn with G man and trust me it was fun but I think we have some stuff to work out.” She winks.

This nut just winked at me after letting a sly threat fall from her mouth. Does she think I’m stupid? Shaking my head, “No, I’m good.”

Lifting the rope I’m halfway through when she grabs my forearm and jerks me back into the ring sending me to my ass. Pain shoots up my tailbone into my throat cutting off the words on my tongue.

“Oak.” West warns his tone hard.

“Aht aht.” She waves a finger.

She’s insane. Actually fucking crazy, coo-coo house, insane.

“We have something to work out. Don’t y’all have some shit to discuss.” She flicks her hand between West, G, and another guy who’s playing with a pocket knife. My eyes roam over the man who likes to press the sharp end of a blade into the palm of his hand. Sandy blonde hair piles on top of his head but it’s the pink scar down the side of his face that hold my gaze.

“Eyes to yourself.” Oakley sings, dancing around the ring flexing her fingers and rotating her wrist.

“I’m not fighting you.” I say.

My nose scrunches when she shrugs, confusing me further.

Looking down at her black polished nails she casually tosses out another threat, “do, don’t. That’s up to you whether you fight me or not, but I never said I wasn’t.” Smacking her lips she looks over at her boy and blows him a kiss.

Shaking his head, a smirk tips his lip, drawing more attention to the jagged line on his face. West pounces on the stage hauling himself forward to hang over the top rope.

“Oakley, I’d hate to cause problems with my guy Havoc here but you’re pushing your luck.” He lets the comment fall from his mouth in an easy way but the acid behind the words burns just the same.

Crossing his arms over his chest Havoc peers between West and Oakley before settling on the girl at his side.

“Come on Haven let’s go see what they have upstairs.” He draws out in a low raspy voice.

Oakley claps her hands letting out a giggle that rivals the creepiest witch laugh. West looks between us before nodding at me in encouragement.

“Come on, Princess. Kingstons don’t back down.” He reassures me.

My arms hang at my side worn out from the work out G put me through and my legs spasm from the overuse. Swallowing past the lump in my throat I claw through the pain and soreness searching for just a sliver of strength.

“G.” West calls jumping down from the ring.

Behind me I can hear footsteps climbing up and then the door opening and closing. The beautiful, curvy, brunette is long gone with blade boy leaving only the four of us down here. G and West step over to a small area in the back corner where a small bar top with stools around it taking a seat. They lower their voices and no matter how hard I focus on their words I can’t hear a thing. A small arm drapes over my shoulder pulling my ear to her mouth.

“I don’t bite, little sheep.” Oakley whispers a tinkling laugh following.

“The fuck did you call me?” I snap, jerking out of her hold.

Sucking the back of her teeth, sky blue eyes shine up at me, her smile all wrong. Flipping her hand over she chuckles before turning around and giving me space.

“It’s nothing. Now, let’s have a little chat.” She’s back to dancing but this time she doesn’t move instead she shifts on her heels.

Rubbing my hands, my knuckles sting from the earlier hits, another reminder that I’m spent from today. My stomach adds a growl into the mix letting us both know how empty it is.

“What do you want from me?” I ask, moving away when she steps towards me on her right foot.

Oakley’s dressed in jean shorts and a dark grey tank showing off her ink but it’s far from the outfit I have on. The fringe of her cutoff shorts sway with her movements each time she pushes onto her other foot.

Tapping her finger against her chin she looks to the ceiling, “I want to know what you did to Jax.”

Stumbling backward she smiles, dark and wide, at my reaction to his name. Dim blue eyes float through my vision plowing into me. Using the opening she springs forward on her toes swinging wide landing a punch to my hip. Pain radiates down my leg into my foot, almost knocking me off balance. Backing away I turn in a wide circle keeping my eyes on her next move. She slides back dragging the bottom of her shoe across the mat not looking away once.

“You remember Jax, yeah?” She edges, “The one who gave you that pretty little snake of yours.” Her painted nail points to the cold blooded reptile slithering up my leg.

Scraping my teeth across my bottom lip I want to look away from her harsh glare but I’d be risking too much. Curling her fingers she eggs me on taunting me with a sneer.

“Come on don’t tell me you forgot about his baby blues.” She sings in a light voice that defies everything she eludes right this moment. She’s anything but sweet and sugary. This woman in a venus fly trap waiting to snatch up its next prey. Deadly, yet beautiful.

My eyes burn from the threat of more tears leaving me wondering how much one person can cry in a twenty-four hour period. My throat feels like it’s closing in on me when she continues to say his name. I risk a look to the left trying to spot West or G but they are deep in a conversation I can no longer hear. A hit slams into the top of my shoulder just below my collarbone, the force almost putting me on my ass. Sucking in a large gulp of air my right foot steps forward looking for an opening but coming up short. Oakley dances away when she spots my forward motion knowing just how to escape me.

“I was the one to bury him.” She states calmly.

The way she speaks it’s almost like we’re chatting about the weather but with each word she paints a gruesome picture.

Swinging her leg around she nails me in the top of my thigh dropping me to the floor before dancing away.

“Do you remember what his smile looked like?” She asks.

Glassy sea blue eyes peer at me anticipating my next move. My entire body shakes when my palms push against the flooring bringing me back to my feet. Wiping at the sweat building over my brows, my mouth opens and closes.

Tis-king, she looks off to the side, “It was a beautiful one. He was a lucky one until you decided to stitch his mouth shut.” She seethes.

Tears roll down my cheeks, images and memories crash into me.

“Pretty girl.”

The name he used to call me slips from my lips under my breath but she still heard. Sticking her tongue between her teeth she nods once. Lunging at me Oakley pounds hit after hit into my sides. Knocking the air from my chest my knees buckle making me drop to the floor. Using my arms I cover my head in the fetal position trying to protect myself from her assault. Punch after punch. My back, my sides, the back of my neck.

“Enough!” a loud voice bellows.

His voice bounces off the walls yet the hits keep coming. My heartbeat pounds in my ears and blood rushes through my veins. When the hits start to slow I take an opening and drop to my stomach rolling away from her reach. Using my left leg I strike out at the back of her knee bringing her down to me. It’s almost impossible to breathe through the pain but I push past it and focus on the psycho in front of me. I can hear footsteps rushing our way, but my vision blurs red covering the entire room in a haze of rage and hurt.

Crawling to her I shove off the floor throwing my entire body weight into her giving myself an advantage. Once I’m over her, I bring my elbow down on her throat, a cough spilling from her at the pressure. The hand that’s wrapped has thick padding on it so I use it to take the punches to the side of her face and ribs. She tries to buck me off but I’ve faded into nothing but raw energy.

“Kenna!” A voice screams from behind me but I don’t let go of the shattered control I still cling to.

Blood drips onto white teeth with the following punch dragging a hollow laugh from her chest. The blue in her eyes dim with each punch but she eats them like a fucking champ.

“Okay, Kenna. Back off.” I make out G’s voice standing over me.

Thick corded arms lift me from the mat pulling me away from a bloody Oakley. Her wide smile splattered in red she lets her head back against the floor, her chest heaving.

“I knew she was in there somewhere.” She groans.

Licking the blood from her lips she smacks them putting on a show of admiring the flavor. Sinking into the chest behind me my legs give out leaving him with my entire weight across his arms. His warm breath fans over my sweaty skin when he leans in to speak to only me.

“That’s my girl.” West says, pressing a kiss into the side of my head.

Oakley stands, peering at me with a chilling expression, she wipes off her hands on her thighs.

“You’re a bad bitch.” She chuckles holding out her fist.

Eyeing her up and down for a second my fist raises to meet her in a fist bump.

“And you’re a freak of nature.” I quip.

Busting out in a loud laugh, bending at the knee, she holds her side. “Damn, little sheep. I like that one.” She shakes a finger at me before heading to the ropes and jumping down from the mat.

Once it’s just me and West left in the ring I spin in his hold and look up into milky brown eyes. His lighthearted smile pulling out one of my own to reflect his. Lifting a hand to push back the hair stuck to my face his inquisitive gaze skates over me sending a chill down my spine. Leaning my cheek into his palm, seeking comfort, he doesn’t move away instead he drags me into him for a deep hug. Breathing in his scent the organ in my chest starts to stitch itself back together with the glue his hold provides.

Tilting away from me his thumb wipes away a drop of blood from my face. “You bleed, we bleed.” His tone is low and promising.