Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) (16 page)

“True, but when you’re in trouble he’s
pissy and wants to burn and kill everything. When
you two are together, he has his head on straight.”

“I’m
sorry; I don’t think I’ve met you
before?” I smiled shaking the man’s hand. He had
to have been older than Oliver was but you
couldn’t really tell until you looked at his eyes.

“Zane,” he grinned.
“Sorry to hurry this along but you know
how Oliver gets,” Leon poked me in the ribs.
“Alright, alright,” I waved my hand at
Leon.
“Nice to meet you Zane,” I called out as
Leon ushered me away.
“Have you seen him before?” Tyler asked
Leon.
“No, I was wondering who he was. You
think he’s a new recruit?”
“I have no idea,” Tyler frowned looking
around the room.

“Can people be getting in that don’t
belong?” I asked looking over my shoulder to
where we left Zane but I couldn’t find him in the
crowd.

“They’re not supposed to,” Tyler shook his
head, “That could be dangerous.”
Oliver was talking to with Jake when we
entered the room.

They both looked up and put a smile on
their faces. I knew they had been talking about
something important before we walked in.

“I headed back down,” Leon told Oliver.
“Alright, if I don’t see you guys afterwards
I’ll see you at home,” Oliver told them.
Tyler pecked me on the cheek and him and
Leon headed out.
“So you’re sticking around Jake?” I asked
hoping up on Oliver’s desk.
“Of course, I’m third in command,” Jake
grinned.

“Third? I thought you were second?” I
asked looking at Oliver with a frown, “Why would
you demote him?”

Jake and Oliver laughed.
“Because, you’re second Rabbit,” Jake
flicked my forehead.
“I don’t do anything?” I laughed.
“You make me look good,” Oliver winked.

“Jake is still really second but if anything
happens to me you become leader, with Jake’s help
of course.”

I blinked at Oliver, “What do you mean if
anything happens to you. You honestly think I can
take over the gang without you. Are you crazy?”

“We’ll talk about it later baby girl
. Right
now I kind of have a meeting to do,” Oliver smiled
offering me his hand.

“You’re doing it from the balcony?” I asked
as Jake slide the door open.

“Of course, the gang can see me better, and
I’m not letting you get near any knifes, guns, bats,
or chains.”

“Oliver, I was just down stairs?” I
scrunched up my nose, “And I doubt any of the
gang would let anything happen.”

“He’s in
overprotective mood, Ever. Just let
him be the weirdo that he is,” Jake said patting my
head.

Oliver stepped out on to the balcony, Jake
and I followed. A few people in the crowd whistled
to get everyone to shut up.

“Alright guys, I know there
have been a lot
of rumors. Like am I given up my leadership, about
Ever not getting her memories back, and about all
the attacks. I’m here to clear all that up.”

Oliver wrapped his arm around my waist
and I sank into his side looking down on everyone.

“
First, Ever has all her memories back and
I’m sure as hell not giving up my leadership,”
Oliver shook his head.

There were a few whoops from the crowd
then it fell silent again.

“
Now about the attacks, not everyone
knows that Tavin Jay’s house was attacked
yesterday by the Lafina La Vega,” Oliver paused as
chatter started.

He held up his hand and they went silent.

“He’s fine, but while that was going on
there was a raid here at the warehouse. Many gangs
have attacked us in these last few weeks. Right
now, they think we’re vulnerable and I’m here to
tell you guys that we’re not. Things have been
rough in the past months, I’ve told you all to lay
low on the race scene,” Oliver gripped the railing.

“
These bastards are going to fuck with us
no matter what we do and I think it’s about damn
time we did something about it. Every street race,
cage fight, or tournament there is you get yourself
in it and you fuck these assholes up. We’ll remind
them why we are the Shadow Stalkers; they won’t
know what bit them in the ass.”

The room erupted in cheers and yells.

“When is Ever getting her tattoo!”
Someone yelled from the crowd. It sounded at lot
like Logan but I couldn’t see him in the mass of
people.

“Right now,” Oliver chuckled, “Hughes get
your ass up here.”
“Wait What?” I asked wide-eyed looking at
Oliver.

“Your second in command baby girl and
everyone who’s in my gang gets the tattoo,” he
smirked.

“Oliver, I’m not getting a tramp stamp,” I
glared at him.
“It’ll be on your shoulder. I promise it
won’t hurt.”
“Oliver?” someone yelled up.
We looked over the railing; it was the guy
name Zane who I had met earlier.

“Is it true that you
are going to the
tournament in Nework and going to face Harper
Jackson? I heard he called you out.”

Oliver pulled his eyebrows together and the
room went dead silent.
“Where did you hear that?” Oliver asked
confused.
“Around,” Zane shrugged.

“Do you know him?” I asked Oliver
quietly, “Leon and Tyler said they’d never seen
him before.”

“I don’t think I know you,” Oliver spoke
frowning deeply, “And I know all my gang, so that
means either you’re new and no one bothered to
tell me. Which isn’t likely. Or you don’t belong
here.”

Zane grinned, “I also heard that Ever has
been sleeping around with Harper Jackson too.”

Oliver narrowed his eyes. Jake motioned
his hand to a few people around Zane. The rest of
the room watched silently.

“Maybe we should have a little talk,”
Oliver told the man as he was grabbed and hauled
down the hallway.

Oliver dismissed everyone and no one
asked questions. None of them seemed to believe
what the guy had said anyways. It wasn’t true so
there was no reason to get worked up about it. We
headed back into Oliver’s office as the door opened
and Zane entered.

“
Ever why don’t you go hang with the girls
for a bit,” Oliver told me kissing me on the
forehead.

I nodded and patted Jake roughly on the
cheek. He swatted me away.
I went down stairs to hang out with the girls
for a little while.
“Have you guys got your tattoos? Or do
you have to?”

“We don’t have to we’re not really part of
the gang. You on the other hand my dear are very
much a part of it,” Kimmy told me.

“But you are with guys from the gang. You
should be getting ones too,” I huffed.
“I’ll get one with you,” Angie grinned,
“I’ve been wanting one anyways.”
"What the hell is going on in here?" Logan
asked as he came up next to us.

"What have you been doing?" I asked Leon
and Logan, as they were covered head to toe in
mud.

"It's raining outside," Logan grinned jerking
his thumb over his shoulder.
"Well no shit," Jake spoke popping up
behind him. Oliver wasn’t too far behind.

"We've been playing mud football," Leon
offered as Jake took Logan in a headlock and
began wrestling with him. Ignoring the fact, he was
getting filthy.

"I wanna play," Tyler popped up next to
me.

"Lauren, wasn't really into play with us
cause she was the only girl. Angie, Taylor you two
want to play with us? We could use a lot more
players."

“I was wondering where Lauren had gone,”
Kimmy muttered.
"I'm in," I chimed.
Oliver frowned looking down at me. "You
sure?"
"Yeah?" I looked at him confused.
"They play a bit rough, baby girl."
“I can play just like one of the boys."

"Yeah, I know but..." Oliver frowned again
his eyebrows arched creasing his forehead. The
others took that as a hint and inched away quickly.

"But what?" I asked.
"Well, baby it's just that," he ran his hand
through his hair.

"I haven't brought it up but since you got
shot you've lost a lot of weight and you haven't
been able to use your muscles. I mean I noticed
how it hurts you get up the stairs and-"

I stood putting my finger over his lips. He
instantly stopped his rambling.
"I'm just fine. The more I use my muscles
the better off I'll be," I reassured.

I didn't think anyone had noticed how I
went up the stairs. It's getting easier but at first I
gritted my teeth a lot. I imagine my dentist I rarely
seen wouldn't be happy about that.

"Also, you just look...fragile. I mean you've
gained weight back but you just look...breakable,"
he sighed running his hand over my cheek.

"Why didn't you mention this before? And,
I'm not breakable, Oliver," I laughed.

He shrugged. "I felt that if I got all bossy
about you not eating enough it would push you
away more than you already were."

My heart ached, "I'm sorry."
He shook his head, "Don't be. If you really
think you can play I won't hold you back."
I grinned at him brushing his hair out of his
eyes.
"Let's go kick Jake's ass."
"I heard that, “Jake called.

It was pouring down rain outside when we
all got lined up. The ground was slick and my
boots were sinking in the mud. My hair was tied up
in a ponytail but my bangs were plastered to my
forehead.

Oliver was kneeling next to me, Logan on
his right. Angie and Lauren on my left. Lauren
looked nervous. Across from us were Jake, Leon,
Taylor and Alex. Some of the other boys from the
gang were split between our sides as well.

"You're going down Rabbit," Jake grinned
kneeling down in front of me.
"You wish."

The ball was hiked and I instantly went
after Jake. He scrambled backwards. Jumping up I
tackled him into the mud both knees in his chest.

"You're not doing it right!" He exclaimed.
"I vote no rules!" I yelled out.
"I second that," Taylor laughed taking
Angie to the ground. So much for football.

Slowly our game of football, which wasn't
football to begin with, turned to tackle tag. I was it
and I was going after Oliver. He was running full
speed but with the slick ground, he slid giving the
perfect opportunity to slam him to the ground. He
turned over in time and I landed on his chest.

Mud splashed up around us but it didn't
matter we were already filthy. Mud was dripping
from my hair. Oliver had it smeared across his
face, but it was sexy. Our faces were inches apart.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you
are?" Oliver muttered.
His eyes blazing with so many emotions,
lust, passion, adoration. I was dazed by the look.

The rain seemed to fall in slow motion and
the people running about us were like shadows. His
gaze burned into me raising many emotions of my
own. My chest swelled.

"
Promise me you’ll love me always? Even
if I go crazy again and forget who you are," I
whispered.

"I promise."

Pressing my lips to his, I clung to him as if
at any moment he would disappear. Never could I
ever imagine being away from him. Not again. Not
ever.

~Harper~

The crack of his fist connecting with my
face echoed through the dead silent room. Over and
over again he beat me. I knelt in front of him
holding my tongue and refusing to crumble to the
ground.

"Worthless," He cursed crunching his
knuckles into my head.

My head jerked to the side momentarily
before I turned it back my eyes locked to the floor.
If I dared look up I would find myself in the
hospital, just like the countless other times before.
Weasley grabbed my hair forcing me to look at
him.

"One simple job. Watch the girl. Get her to
trust you, and don't be seen by Oliver. How
fucking hard is that? She can't even remember her
own name. How hard is it to lure a mouse into a
cage?"

"She knows her own name," I croaked out.
"What?" He hissed. "What was that?"
I cleared my throat holding back a cringe.
My jaw ached.

"Everlyn knows her name. She went back
to Oliver. He showed up at her apartment while I
wa-"

Crunch. Biting my lip blood ran down my
chin. Clearly, my nose was broken; I could see it
angled oddly. It wouldn't be the first time I had my
bones broken from this man who calls himself my
father. Staring up to the man in question, he had
turned his back on me. His angry curses echoed off
his office walls. Images of my running a switch
blade through him filled my mind. Many times, I
have wanted to hurt him. One time I tried. The
scars remained, jagged angry marks running across
the left side of my back.

As the father I long wished dead paced
about the room, I played the imagines of the other
night over in my head. Oliver's words lingering in
my mind.

"Harper, my offer still stands. It never went
away; it's always been open to you. We are still
family. And, family stays together."

My chest clinched thinking about the
sincerity in his tone. He meant every word he said.
He still considered me family; even after all I put
him through. How could he still think I was
family?

"Just get out of my sight. I can't bare
looking at you any longer," Weasley spat rounding
on me.

Stiffly I stood biting the inside of my mouth
in pain. Swiftly I left the room. As I exited the
house, the gang made themself scarce. They knew
better to mess with me after a beating from my
father. I was always out for blood afterwards.

Speeding down to the main strip of the city,
I pulled up to a luxury hotel. I had a room reserved
year round for times like this when I just needed to
get away.

The staff knew better to question me as I
entered the hotel, no matter what condition I was
in. Stepping into the elevator, I ripped a
handkerchief out of my pocket gingerly touching it
to my broken nose. With a sickening pop, I put it
back where it was supposed to be.

Gripping the railing I gasp, black spots
danced in my vision. Ripping out my cell, I
scanned my contacts. After two rings, she
answered.

"Harper sweetie," she purred.
"Meet me at my room."
"Be right over," Roxanne whispered
huskily.

Pacing my pent house suit, I waited
impatiently. Pausing to look at my reflection in the
mirror, I felt like punching the pathetic idiot staring
back at me. My nose was bandaged and I looked
like a jackass.