Leticia (21 page)

“
Yeah
, me to
o
believe it or not
.
”

“So why have you told me all this
?
”

“You wanted to know why I am how I am. Well this is why
.
”

“Because a girl used you for money?”

“Because it hurt like hell that’s why
,
” he snapped
.
“
And
she wasn’t the first one to do it to
me; I was just damn sure she’
d be the last. So I put the wall up, stopped being so soft with people
.
What’s
the point in being nice and kind if
you’re
only
used
? If all people want from you is your money?”

“
Firstly
, don’t snap at me!” I retaliated, standing now
.
“Secondly, maybe you shouldn’t advertise the fact
that
you have money
.
If
people don’t know about it they can’t try and take it from you can they
?
Lastly, I understand that it must have hurt you Jackson I really do. But just because you w
ere
stupid enough to let God knows how many women do it to you, that you didn't learn from your mistakes the first time it happened, doesn’t mean you have the right to treat others, like myself, who mean you no harm, like shit!”

Once I’d finished my sentence I started to walk away from him. I didn't get very far though
.
He
grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. His face
was
sad, something I’d seldom seen from him.

“I know I’ve been horrible to you, I’ve said this before and I’m sorry. I’m trying to be me again instead of this heartless pig you see now
.
Every
now and again the old me comes back and....”

“
A
nd then you send him away. Look I don’t know how you used to be with people, I didn't know you then, obviously. But what I do know is that I personally have never done you any harm, nor would I ever.”

“Just have patience with me, please Leticia, I’ve been doing this for a long time, blocking people out. Please just give me some time to push that side of me away
.
”

“
Why
should I? What has all this got to do with
me
? W
hy do you suddenly want to change?”

“Just forget it, forget I said anything, I’ll just stay like this
,
” he shot, letting go of my arm
.

“That is
your
choice
and
yours
alone
.
”

I walked away from him again and this time he didn't stop me. I told Nancy and Tristan I was heading back to the house, they wanted to walk with me but I told them I didn't want to ruin thei
r night. After a small argument
Tristan tossed me his set of
keys
and told me to stay safe.

I was about ten minutes from the house when I
realize
d I was being followed. I turned around quickly, hoping to catch a glimpse of my stalker.

“Relax
,
” I heard Jackson say, before he actually came into view
.
“
It’s
only me
.
”

“I wish it had been one of
them
.
”

“Thanks
.
”

I turned my back on him and continued walking, I heard his pace quicken as he caught up to me.

“Why are
you
coming back?” I asked with a slight attitude
.

“What’s the point in staying out, the
y’re
all coupled up
and I
only get bored
.
”

“
Oh
.
”

“Are we ever going to get along?”

“What
are
you asking me for? You’re the one with the wrong attitude!”

He didn't answer me and we walked the rest of the way in silence.

I walked in the house and straight into the living room
. I
flopped down on the sofa and lay my head back, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I kept them closed until Jackson walked in.

“
Here
,
” he
said, putting
a steaming hot chocolate on the table in front of me
.
“I thought you might like one
.
”

“Thanks
.
”

“Mind if I sit next to you?”

“It’s your house, do what you want
.
”

He sat beside me, only
an
arm’s length
away. He turned to look at me and spoke
.

“
You
asked me why I wanted to
change
and what it had to do with you
.
”

“Yeah
,
” I said, before taking a sip of my drink
.

“I
... I
like you Leticia
.
”

It was a good
thing
I’d stopped drinking before he said it, otherwise I might have spat the hot chocolate all over the place.

“Are you trying to be funny?” I asked
.

“Why would I do that
?
” He looked hurt by my question and I instantly felt guilty. “Do you really think I’d say that
just
for the hell of
it?
”

“I didn't mean it like that
.
”

“
Really
.
”

“Jesus Christ, do you know what, I like you too, for some unknown reason I always have
,
” I almost shouted,
while
standing and waving my arms around.

“What
?
” he asked shocked
.

“I said....”

“I know what you said, but why?”

“I don’t know, maybe because sometimes I can see that you actually have a good heart
.”

He came and stood right in front of me, once again I could feel his breath on my cheeks. I stared him straight in the eyes, getting lost in them for a brief second.

“Leticia, please, just be patient with me, don’t take what I say to heart if I’m having an off moment
.
I’ve been like this over twenty years now, it’s not easy to just stop
.
”

“I just...”

I didn't get chance to finish my sentence, a loud bang from the hallway silenced us. We heard muffled voices and ran to investigate. The door had been kicked open, and half a dozen men were now barging into the house.
One
of the men drew his gun quickly and fired it at me.
It
hit me in my stomach
.
I admit, it did smart a little, but I just stood there laughing at him. He shot me again and again, Jackson looked horrified until it dawned on him that they weren’t going to kill me.

I continued to laugh as I made my way towards the scrawny looking middle aged scum bag in front of me. I allowed myself to partially change, just to increase my strength, then slammed my hand against the
center
of his chest. He flew backwards, back through the door and down the steps of the porch. He rolled on the floor writhing in agony and trying his best to
breathe
.
His ribs
must have broken and
punctured his lung. I watched for a moment as he began to choke on his own blood.
Another man
started
to run at me, I struck him with the back of my arm and sent him crashing against the wall.
T
he largest of them
moved forward
, Jackson grabbed him from behind and snapped his
neck;
he made it look effortless, as easy as snapping a
pencil
.

“Next
!
” he shouted, turning to face the remaining attackers
.

They all looked at each other for a
moment;
almost as though each of them were hoping someone else would try to take us down.

“
OK
, we’ll do it the easy way
,
” Jackson continued
.
He reach
ed
around his back and pulled out a gun, two of the men went to run, but Jackson shot them, kill shots, both to the head. Then he pointed the gun at the last man standing.

“Either fight like a man or just be shot, your choice
,
” Jackson seethed
.

The man was panicking, naturally, shaking from head to to
e
and staring at the gun. Then his attention briefly turn
ed
to behind where
I
was standing. The guy who I
’d
sent crashing into the wall was now on his feet, before I had time to react he stabbed me in my chest, just below my heart. I screamed out, but it wasn’t a normal human scream
;
it was half mixed with the growl of the wolf. The pain was
unbearable;
the blade was made of pure silver. I dropped to my knees. I heard two more gun shots, and the man who had stabbed me fell to the floor, lifeless. He had taken two shots to his chest, I heard someone running behind me, then one last shot and a body hit the ground.

“Leticia
,
” Jackson panicked, sliding on his knees beside me
and
wrapping
his arm
around my shoulders
.
“Leticia talk to me, come on baby-girl, speak to me
.
”

“Get it out of me, get it out
,
” I struggled to say
.

“What...”

“Get it out now!”

He grabbed the handle and ripped the knife out of my chest, I screamed out in agony.

“Leticia tell me what I need to do
,
” he said
,
still panic stricken
.

“You just did it
,
” I croaked
.
“I’ll heal
.
”

He gathered me in his arms and carried me upstairs to my room. He
laid
me on the bed then sat next to me holding one of my hands and stroking the side of my face with his free hand.

“I’ll be
alright
,
” I tried to assure him
.
“Honestly, I just need to rest for a
while;
I’ve already started to heal
.
”

“You were shot over and over
...
”

“Look
,
” I said lifting my top slightly
.
“
There are no marks
.
”

“Where are the bullets?”

“They popped out before I started to heal, you’ll find them on the floor somewhere
.
”

“Leticia that was too close, half an inch hi
gher
and that would have hit your heart...
you’d...”

“I know, I know, it was my own fault, I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off him
.
”

“
Next
time kill
them
don’t just injure them,
it’s
either they die or you do and....”
he hesitated
.

“And?”

“I don’t want to lose you
,
” he whispered, squeezing my hand tighter
.
“That... what just happened... what
could
have happened... that scared me more than you could possibly imagine
.
”

“Jackson I...”

“LETICIA!
JACKSON
!
” we heard Nancy screaming
.