Legion- Will you think of me when you do?
LadyStoneheart23- I always think of you.
Legion- How do you picture me?
LadyStoneheart23- I’m a massive Chris Hemsworth fan, so I’m kinda picturing Thor whenever I think of you.
Legion- A superhero. I like that.
LadyStoneheart23- How do you see me?
Legion- I see you all the time.
LadyStoneheart23- You know what I mean.
Legion- I’m guessing blonde hair maybe?
LadyStoneheart23- Yeah.
Legion- Blue eyes.
LadyStoneheart23- Should I be worried?
Legion- A kick ass body and a smile that’ll melt my heart.
LadyStoneheart23- A smile especially for you.
Legion- Everything will be just for me.
The screen went silent for a while and I thought he’d left the chat. A thought suddenly came into my head and I typed it, not sure if he’d be there to respond.
LadyStoneheart23- I forgot something.
Seconds later the cursor flickered to life and he responded.
Legion- What did you forget, little warrior? Is it the sex toys in your top drawer? Remember, I said we’ve got all night.
LadyStoneheart23- Your scar. The one on your stomach that the lion tattoo covers. I’d find it and I’d kiss you there.
Legion- That’s cute, babe. Why?
LadyStoneheart23- Because as long as there is breath in my body no one will ever hurt you again. Think of it as a kiss to make it all better.
Legion- Babe, you’re killing me. Talking to you on here is doing things to me.
LadyStoneheart23- Good things?
Legion- The best things. You’re my girl, little warrior. You make my life worthwhile.
LadyStoneheart23- Same here.
Legion- Good. Now go. Log off and take care of business. That’s what I’m gonna do. And Warrior? Think of me.
LadyStoneheart23- Always.
She wasn’t leaving her house. I knew why. She didn’t want to see me. She was doing everything in her power to block me out. But she couldn’t stay hidden forever.
When Thursday came, her self-imposed quarantine ended, and I watched her walk out of her house for the first time in days. She kept her head down, her long blonde hair covering her face like a veil, and she stared at her feet as she walked with determination. At first glance, you’d think she was timid; hunched over through fear. But looking at the defiance on her face, I could see she was on a mission. Her strides were strong and purposeful. She knew where she was headed, and she was pumped and ready for whatever it was she thought she was facing. Me probably.
I followed her, staying back so as not to alert her to my presence. I was getting good at stalking. The silent shadow, always there even when the sun wasn’t shining. It hadn’t shone for a long time in my world. But that was all about to change.
She turned into a familiar road and I watched her walk towards the Lockwood estate. Jensen must have seen her approaching from a window inside the house, because he rushed out of the front door to try and intercept her. She wasn’t easy to ignore. My girl stood out wherever she was, and in this quiet suburban street the little hellcat was like a screaming banshee even though she didn’t make any noise. It was obvious Jensen was trying to keep her presence quiet.
I watched him drag her down the side of his house into a high-walled alleyway. I didn’t like the way he yanked on her arm, making her flinch and pull away. It made me want to head over there and put myself between them. He was manhandling her, and it didn’t sit well with me.
Instead, I stood on the other side of the wall in his neighbour’s driveway, listening. Something told me I needed to hear what was about to go down.
“I thought I told you not to come around here again. Are you fucking stupid? I don’t know what you think you’re gonna achieve by this, but you need to go, Harper. No good can come from you being here.”
Jensen was talking in a low, gruff voice, but he was threatening her and walking a thin fucking line as far as I was concerned. Considering this was his best mate’s sister, he was showing a hell of a lot of disrespect. The guy needed a lesson in manners. Those were my favourite subjects to teach when it came to assholes like him.
“He’s back. Did you know that?”
She sounded angry and it made me smile. I loved the fire in her. I loved that I did that to her.
“Everybody knows that. So? What do you want me to do? Hold a gun to his head and get him to confess to killing Brodie? Make him admit he went into the fight with the sole aim of knocking your brother to the ground, smashing his head open and killing him?”
Even from a distance I could hear her intake of breath.
“You didn’t need to put it like that, but yeah. It’d be a start. You’ve done fuck all else for him.”
Some fucked-up brotherhood they had. When shit hit the fan, they bailed on each other. I could’ve predicted that though. Lockwood always was a no-good piece of shit.
“It was an accident, Harper. Get over it.”
It was, but he was doing a crap job at helping her see that.
“What? So, you’re just over it, are you? All those years of friendship? Shit. Brodie treated you like a brother and you’re just gonna let it go?”
Their brand of friendship was a fucked-up one even in my books, and I’d dealt with a truckload of fucked-up shit in my life.
“What else do you want me to do?” Lockwood hissed like the pussy he was.
“Help me! We could go down to the barn where the fight was. Check out the flooring. Christ, anything would be better than the radio silence you’ve given me since the funeral.”
“But it was an accident! I already told you and you just need to deal with it.”
I didn’t like the change of tone in his voice.
“Harper, there isn’t a judge or jury in this whole town who’ll see it any different. You’re fighting a losing battle. And I’m never on the losing team,” he hissed.
“At least I’m fighting. It’s a damn sight more than you’ve ever done.”
She sounded so desperate. Why did hearing that do something to me?
“Listen, I’m going to put this in really simple terms, just so you understand. I am not getting involved. Brodie fought and he lost. He paid the price for going into a fight without being match fit. End of. I suggest you drop it too. There’s other forces at play here, Harper, and if you carry on, you’re gonna find a fuck load of trouble at your door.”
They’ll have to get through me first.