Chapter Eleven

I wake up the next day with a plate of breakfast from Austin, he told me he had already called my work to tell them what happened. He managed to bag me a day off work! I thank him taking the breakfast where I realise, I was in his bed. For a second I totally forgot that I fell asleep here, he said he also managed to get a day off so we could do something to put my mind off of what happened. I thank him before finishing my breakfast, I jump in the shower and start to get ready for the day. I wanted to take a look out the window to see what the scene looks like now, but I hadn't actually gone to the front of the house yet as my bedroom is at the back. I had finished getting dressed when my phone rings on my dressing table, hanging my wet towel up I walk over to see Roman FaceTiming me. I answer it while taking my seat, it connects for a few seconds before his worried face fills the screen. "Payton, are you okay I just saw the news?" He asks worriedly, but I did see his face flash an expression of relief when he first saw me. "Austin and I are both okay, we weren't hurt in anyway shape or form" I smile as my door knocks where I can tell Austin he can come in, he opens up the door smiling before he spots Romans face on the phone. "Austin actually saved my life" I say to Roman before turning to look to Austin, who shakes his head but does take a seat on the bed behind me. "You saved her?" Roman asks now looking at Austin, who just shrugs his shoulders but does turn to look at me. "I couldn't let anything happen to this one, I told you I'd watch her" he smiles poking me in the head gently which does cause a little laugh to escape my lips. "I didn't necessarily save her life, I just remained calm and led us both to safety" he says trying to downplay what actually happened, he knew exactly what to do where I would have just panicked! "Thank you man" Roman says looking at Austin while I just smile, at least I'm not the only one that has thanked him. "Of course all of that would happen when I'm out of town, it did say on the news they think it's gang related, how crazy right?" he explains while my eyes move to Austin, this has Markus written all over it. "I know man, you never know what really happens behind closed doors" Austin says probably sensing how I didn't know how to answer that question. "That's why Payton and I aren't at work, after what happened we need a break" he continues hoping to change the subject away from the gang stuff. "The police are asking for any witnesses to come forward to help with the investigation, maybe you two could tell them what you know and saw" Roman suggest which I could tell panicked Austin a little, even though he may be trying to hide it. "Of course we would if we did, but we didn't see anything did we?" I ask looking back at Austin, who I could tell wanted to thank me right now. "I don't think it has anything to do with a gang, come on things like gangs and gangsters don't happen around here, it's just the public wanting to make this place seem much more exiting than it actually is. The wrong people just got ahold of the wrong things, it was a terrible accident that probably will never happen again" I say which I wasn't too sure if that was actually true, let's all remember what happened at that mansion that night. "I once again have to agree with Payton on this one" Austin says whilst placing his hand on my shoulder, I knew this was his way of thanking me for covering for him. "Now you're agreeing with each other, are you gonna have friendship bracelets the next time I call?" Roman asks with a laugh, I roll my eyes happy that he hasn't caught onto anything. "You never know, we could have matching tattoos when you get home" Austin laughs while I almost immediately, shake my head at him. "You can get any tattoo that you want, but I can assure you that I will not be participating in any of that" I say sitting back in my chair laughing, Roman laughs along before telling us he needed to leave for another meeting. Once he hangs up the phone, Austin and I just sit in silence for a few seconds. I knew in my mind that Markus would have had something to do with what happened, let's me honest all the crazy things that have been happening in my life recently has been due to him. But I guess I just didn't want to believe that things were getting worse, I was hoping things would start to calm down and eventually, I would just forget about them. I'm unsure how deep Austin has got himself into this, but I'm praying he's at a place where he can get himself out again. "Thank you Payton" he says breaking the silence we had going on, I take a look up at him shaking my head as I went. "I told you when we started this I didn't want to lie to him, but here I am lying to his face" I say standing up from my chair and leaving my room, finally walking into the main area of the house for the first time today. "Technically, it wasn't to his face but virtually" Austin jokes from behind me, really he's choosing now to make this all into one big joke. As I reach the kitchen, I see the main window has been boarded up. This telling me flat out that our house was hit with bullets, if we would have remained in the kitchen last night we could have been hit. "Isn't that window being boarded up an indication that now isn't the time to be joking about this?" I ask turning around to look at him as I spoke, he stood there placing his hands in his pockets. 'You haven't been honest with me this entire time, now I'm gonna ask you some questions and you are gonna answer them" I tell him point blank, I wasn't gonna allow myself to me lied to anymore. "You don't understand, there's things for your safety that I just can't tell you, I would be putting you in unnecessary danger that you won't be put in if you don't know" he says which was the biggest understatement of the century, has he not been paying attention recently?! "I don't know if you've been following along Austin, but I've already been put into danger when I was in the firing line of whatever the fuck is going on!" I shout while he takes a seat on the sofa stressed out. "Before you sit there and tell me you didn't have anything to do with what happened last night, why were the two men who got into a gun fight and ended up dying, come to our house an hour before begging to be let in?" I ask crossing my arms over my chest as I spoke, he looks at me shocked before rising to his feet. "You have to believe me when I tell you I didn't have anything to do with what happened to those guys" he says coming to stand in front of me as he spoke. "The reason I didn't let them in last night was because of my job, everyone who works with Markus keeps distant from anyone else who works with him out of work hours. Whenever we're all together we know something bad will happen, I'm not prepared to let them into our home where you'll be put in the direct firing line. I meant what I said the other night, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you Payton" he says whilst taking one of my hands in his, which does make me look up at his face. He reaches his other hand up to cup my face as he went, his eyes not leaving mine as we did so. Before we had time to do anything else, the door begins to knock where we both jump. To my knowledge, we weren't expecting anyone. "Wait here" Austin tells me before pulling away and walking over to the front door, I do as I'm told and don't move from my spot as the door opens. "Markus" Austin says from the door, where fright immediately makes its way through my body.