Chapter Twelve

I remain where I was standing, as Markus walks passed Austin and arrives in the living room. He looks straight over to me sending me a smile, where I have to try my hardest not to show how scared I really am. "What can we do for you?" Austin asks walking passed Markus slowly, where he comes to a stop beside me. "I heard what happened last night, when I saw you both weren't at work I'd thought I'd come over to see how you both were" he smiles placing his hands in his pockets as he went, I take a look up at Austin for a split second. Yes of course he would know if Austin didn't show up to work, the dude is Austin's boss! But to know if I wasn't in work, he would have either had to ring my work asking if I was in, which I know Brooke was probably eating it all up. Or he went into my work to see if I was there, why would he go out of his way to check where I was?! "Payton and I are fine, we just thought it would be better to take a day off today" Austin smiles wrapping his arm around my shoulders as he went, he probably knew where my brain was going. "From what I've been seeing it seems bad, I bet you were so scared Payton" he smiles over to me as though he was enjoying it, would he want me to be scared in that situation? "Who wouldn't be scared in that situation? Austin remained calm and took me to safety" I say over to the annoying man, did he want me to break down in a heap or something? "I knew Austin would look after you, he's one of my best men" Markus says turning to look around our apartment, while my head goes to Austin sending him a look. He smiles a little holding me tighter, I knew this was his way of telling me not to worry. That little fact is hard when a huge gangster is stood in my living room. "Payton, you seem like a smart girl, have you got any idea what happened last night?" He asks picking up a photo of me and the guys from the mantle piece, why is it he has to touch all my stuff? I look up to Austin who raises an eyebrow at me, I had an idea of what happened but I knew I couldn't say anything. "I don't have the faintest idea, we had just finished eating dinner when those loud gunshots started. I didn't really have time to stand there and asses what was happening around, I just followed Austin to safety until they stopped" I explain which wasn't a total fabrication. "We went outside to see what happened after, but Austin told me I wouldn't want to see that so we went back inside" I explain my mind going to those two guys laying there, no one should ever have to go through what those guys did the final moments of their lives. "Payton was pretty shaken up" Austin tells him which also wasn't a lie, but he didn't need to be told that! "Poor little Payton" he sighs with a smile, is this man actually talking to me like that?! "I'll leave you two to it, don't worry Payton you're safe in Austin's arms. Don't forget about our dinner plans tonight" he says walking towards the front door, I stop in my tracks not knowing what dinner plans this man was talking. "I haven't forgotten don't worry, Payton and I will be at yours by 7" Austin smiles from beside me, but I could see he was avoiding fully looking down at me. I wasn't told about any of these apparent dinner plans, doesn't anyone run anything by me anymore?! Does Austin really believe I want to be in the same room as that man, especially after what happened at the mansion that night! Markus takes the door handle in his hand opening the door, but before leaving he turns to look at me with a smirk. "Payton, I like your natural curly hair, you should have it like that for dinner" he smiles before turning around and leaving the house, where I move away from Austin as soon as the door was closed. "He was there" I say to myself walking away slightly, there is no doubt in my mind that Markus was somehow involved with what happened last night. "He was where?" Austin asks from behind me, I knew this was his attempt of trying to play dumb so I wouldn't piece all of this together, but it was a little too late for that. "He must have been watching us last night! I never leave my natural hair to be curly when I leave the house, even if I'm running to grab something from a shop for 5 minutes!" I exclaim turning to look at him as I spoke. "Last night when we went to see what happened, I had got out of the shower before dinner where I left my hair as it was, that would be the only time he would have seen my hair like that!" I shout while walking up and down the living, this just proves that he planned for that to happen and went to watch what I would react like. That would mean the only reason he came around just now, was because he didn't see my reaction because Austin pulled me in the house before he could. That man is sick in the head, why did Austin start to work with him?! I turn my head to look at Austin, where he was sat with his head down just staring at the floor. I couldn't help but feel bad looking over at me, he's probably way in over his head. With a little sigh, I walk over to him taking my seat beside him. He takes a look up at me where I send him a smile, he sends me one right back before looking back down. "I'm sorry Payton, I should have never brung you into this mess" he sighs rubbing his face with his hands stressed, I nudge him slightly not wanting him to feel awful. "Don't feel bad Austin, yes I wish you didn't put yourself in that situation which had landed me in the same situation. But we're here now, we can't panic or start feeling sorry for ourselves, we need to come up with a plan" I say taking his hand, which once again causes him to look up. "But if we do this, you have to start being honest with me. I don't wanna keep hearing that you can't tell me things because it puts me in danger, the less you tell me the more danger I'll be in. I'll be walking around in the dark not knowing what's happening, we're in this together" I smile which makes his face light up, but he does sigh. "I just don't want you getting hurt Payton, I care too much about you" he says looking me in the eyes as she spoke, I send him a smile before looking away and at the broken kitchen window. "As Markus said, I'll be safe around you" I smile nudging him again, he nods his head but still stares intently at my face. "I'll answer anything you ask" he says which is all I needed to hear. It's time to learn the truth.