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Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 27
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2.7k words

(Y/n)'s POV
"Need some help?"

I couldn't find my voice, it was lost in my throat as I sat there in silence. Fear leisurely crept up my spine, a feeling that was equivalent to a snake slithering over my skin.

Those piercing cold eyes belonging to Andres were staring down at me and he held a smirk that made my stomach turn uncomfortably. He had one hand holding onto the door, and the other on top of my car as he stood in the doorway, just a foot away from me so I couldn't close it. Not to mention the car wouldn't start, so we were stuck here with the same sadistic man that Anakin had warned me to avoid.

"That's so nice of—"

"We're okay, thank you," I cut off Josie's polite acceptance, my words traveling at almost a hundred miles per hour. She had no idea who this was which makes her more vulnerable than me right now, and I couldn't tell her either, not with him standing right here. I was only hoping my quick rejection was enough for her to suspect something was off.

Andres tilted his head as his smile grew, "Please, we would love to help."

We?

My thought was answered when I noticed a man around the same age as us, standing at the hood of my car. I only got a small glimpse of him before the hood was raised, hiding him from my view. But I did take notice to his hand that I could still see. There was a tattoo, one of a scythe which is the weapon carried by a reaper.

"It sounds like a battery issue, so it should only be a minute and it's really no trouble helping out a couple of beautiful ladies." Andres rested his forehead against his arm above me and leaned his body more into the car.

"Thank you," I forced the words out that were glued to the back of my throat. Talking to him felt wrong, being around him in general felt wrong and I was itching to somehow get ahold of Anakin or even my father.

I was thinking I could tell them I needed to use the restroom and go back inside one of the shops to use their phone, or maybe a good old fashioned scream. But leaving wasn't an option anymore since it seems all the shops were now closed, and screaming wouldn't work either since technically he hasn't done anything wrong except offer to help us. So I would be the one looking like a psycho, not him.

"Of course and it's so funny running into you again (y/n)," He rolled my name from his tongue slowly as if he was savoring the taste of it. Wait, how did he know my name? Did I ever tell him my name? I don't think I did, "You know, we should go out sometime, what do you think? You up for music, food, and maybe some dancing?" He flirted as his eyes trailed my body.

"She has a boyfriend."

"I have a boyfriend," Josie and I spoke at the same time and judging by her tone, she too was starting to read my uncomfortableness and understand this man was not a knight in shining armor news.

"Oh yeah, I forgot," He rolled his eyes while still holding his smirk, "Anakin, right?"

I nodded as a response and shifted my gaze to my front window, anxiously waiting for the unknown man to finish whatever he was doing. I can only pray he really was trying to fix my car, but it's still suspicious that this is the second day in a row I've run into these people. I was never one to believe in coincidences, but that's also a scary thought because that means there's a possibility that he's been following me.

"Hey and your father is a cop isn't he, officer (y/l/n)?" He asked as his smile slowly fell and I didn't think it was possible, but his aura became more menacing. I didn't respond, prompting him to ask another question, "Do him and your little boyfriend ever—talk?"

Now I understand. He's trying to figure out if Anakin has been talking about the incident or not.

"Not really, no." My words were shaky and unconvincing. It's not like it was a lie either, but I was afraid, I know what this guy is capable of.

He gave me a look that said he didn't believe me, and he bent down so our faces were now only centimeters apart, "Are you sure?" He tilted his head as his eyes drifted over my facial features, studying me, "You haven't heard them talk about anything, anything at all?"

I shook my head again, "No." I swallowed nervously, my heart rate picking up out of pure fear.

"You seem nervous," He narrowed his eyes as he scanned my expression, "Do you know who I am?"

Now I really did have to pull myself together and lie. If I told him that I did know who he was then he'll know Anakin has spoken about the incident - to me, a cops daughter. And something tells me that wouldn't go over well with him.

"I'm not nervous, you're confusing me with all these questions. How do you know who my father is and why does what he and my boyfriend talk about concern you?" I did my best to sound convincing, and judging by his satisfied expression, he was buying it.

He stood up straight as the hood of my car slammed closed, causing Josie and I to jump in surprise, "Good to go." The man uttered as he walked to Andres' side, his eyes lingering on me for a second before swaying to Josie.

The devil of a man in front of me smirked once again, "All of us delinquents know your father, and we've all seen your picture at his desk, plus he loves talking about you. It's almost like we're friends already since I know so much about you," He shrugged as he took a step away from my car and I started to feel a little safer knowing he was about to leave, "And like I told you before, Anakin and I go way back. We used to get in a lot of trouble together back in the days. I was just wondering if he and your father relive some of our young teenage memories—out of curiosity of course."

Now he was lying. If I wasn't afraid for my safety as well as Josie's, I'd choke him for what he did Anakin.

"Oh," I cleared my throat awkwardly as I turned the key to turn my car on and to my joy - it roared to life, "Well thank you for helping us out," I forced a fake smile on my face as I reached over and slammed my door shut.

"Our pleasure," Andres winked through my closed window, his voice now muffled due to our barrier, "We'll see you soon (y/n) and please tell Anakin hello for me. I'm sure he misses me." He laughed and without giving me time to respond, he walked away with his friend, straight towards the same car he was in last night.

"What the hell was all that about?" Josie questioned as I rushed to put my seatbelt on.

"I—"

A knock on my window caused me to jump, Andres was there again and he gestured for me to roll down the window, "I forgot to give you something." He said through the window that I was slowly rolling down, but only about halfway, "Here." He dropped in and it landed on my lap, "A pretty flower for a pretty girl."

It was a Lily.

When he finally walked away, I threw my car into drive, my hands shaking the entire time.

I looked at her worried expression, "We need to get to your brothers auto shop, now."

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After parking on the street outside of Rex's shop, my best friend and I jumped out of the car and rushed to the side door since the garage ones were closed for the night. I filled Josie in on a few things during our drive here.

I didn't explain to her exactly what he has to do with Anakin since his reasoning for going to jail is not mine to share. I just casually slipped in that Anakin was involved with them before knowing the kind of people they really were. That and telling her that Andres was apart of a notorious gang known for not being afraid to pull the trigger was enough for her.

I tried to turn the knob, but when it failed to move, we banged on the door, "Anakin!"

"Pi-Rex!" She corrected herself. Deciding to call for her brother rather than her secret boyfriend he has yet to learn about.

After only a few seconds, Rex unlocked the door and pushed it open with an annoyed expression, "Why are you two banging so damn loud, it echoes in my office and I nearly lost my hearing." He complained, but the second he was able to read our expression, his annoyance faltered, "What happened, are you two okay?" His eyes instantly scanned over his sister, looking for injuries or even a single hair out of place.

"Where's Anakin?" I ignored his questions as I pushed past him and entered the large space while Josie remained with her brother, explaining everything that happened to him. I looked over all the familiar faces as they worked on the cars, "Ani?" I called aloud and just as I did, I heard wheels on the concrete floor and saw my my boyfriend appear out from under a blue car. He had patches of dirt and oil on his face and in his hair, but still looked as handsome as ever.

I know that's not the thought to have right now given the situation. But to not admire how lucky I am whenever I get the chance would be a crime.

"Babe?" He furrowed his brows in confusion as he got up from the roller seat and tossed the tool in his hand into a red box. He then grabbed a rag and began wiping his filthy hands clean as he came towards me, "What's wrong, are you okay?"

"Babe?" A familiar voice questioned. I recognized it to be Maul who was sitting over at the other side of the room with an amused smirk on his face, "So you two are together together then?" He tilted his head, eyeing me up and down, "Wow, and I thought you were just knocking boots."

My eyes immediately snapped to Anakin; he told them we slept together and didn't mention we were boyfriend and girlfriend?

Before I could question him on it, he shot Maul a threatening glare, "Let's talk more privately." He grabbed ahold of my arm and pulled me to follow him outside, "What are you doing here?" He asked harshly as soon as we were out in the summer night winds.

I blinked in surprise at his tone and choice of words. I also took notice to his off behavior; he was occasionally shifting his eyes towards the door and fidgeting with his clothes as if he was nervous. Usually when he sees me he can hardly keep a smile off his face, and now what I was getting from him wasn't happiness at all, almost like he didn't want me here.

"Can I not come here? Are you embarrassed to have me around your friends or something?" I asked in a hurt tone, taking one step back from him.

We left on good terms, more than good terms, so why was he acting this way with me? The nightmarish thought of being used came to mind, but I did my best to push away that paranoid thought. He loves me, I know he does, there has to be a reason for his change in attitude that doesn't involve me since I know
I didn't do anything wrong.

Instantly, his gaze met mine and I could see the guilt flash through them, "No that's—" He sighed as he grabbed my wrist again and pulled me towards him, "That's not it at all, I just don't like comments that Maul makes when you're around or even after you leave, the asshole needs a muzzle or something," He ran his other hand through his hair, pulling out specks of dust from the cars.

Speaking of comments, "Did you tell him we slept together and not mention we were dating?" Telling his friends we slept together doesn't bother me that much. I understand that men talk just as girls do, it's that second part that doesn't sit well with me.

He shook his head, "I haven't told him anything about us, it's not his business. But like I said, he always has to give his stupid comments after making false assumptions. I'm sure he suspects we've taken that step, but I haven't given verbal confirmation," He pulled me closer and placed a soft kiss on my cheek, "And I'm sorry for my sour attitude and snapping, you didn't do anything wrong. Maul and some of the other guys have been annoying me all day and it just put me in a mood." He rolled his eyes as he breathed out a long exhale, "Forgive me?" He asked, his tone sweeter than before.

Grateful that he was able to admit his error and apologize to me, which is more than I can say for some, I accepted it. Besides, I understand the frustration of another getting under my skin and absentmindedly taking it out on someone else, who isn't guilty of that?

"Fine, but watch how you talk to me. I won't forgive so easily next time." I pointed my finger at him him, and finally; he smiled.

"Yes ma'am," He eyed me up and down, as if my dominant tone turned him on a little.

"So you are happy to see me then?" I asked with a head tilt, wanting to hear him say it.

"More than happy," He kissed me on the cheek once more and my heart fluttered, "But I'm still working and I can't leave for our date just yet, I need at least another hour or so." He raised his hand and dotingly rubbed my jawline with his thumb. His entire demeanor had changed and that familiar feeling of love radiating through his skin and sinking into mine returned.

And although I love that feeling, I came here on a pressing matter and I couldn't allow my myself to get lost in his starry eyes, "I know," I glanced down to the floor, nervously shifting my feet against the concrete, "I didn't come to ask you to leave," I looked back up, meeting his curious gaze, "I ran into Andres again, and I think he did something to my car so I couldn't leave and he—"

He placed his finger on my lips to silence my words that were turning into incoherent blubbering, "Did you say Andres?"

I nodded with his finger still on my lips.

The worry and anger was clear on his expression, he even looked like he was about to throw up when I said the name. I can only imagine the kind of anxiety that comes to his body when he relives his worst memory, "Did he hurt you, or touch you at all?" His eyes scanned me over just as Rex's did for Josie.

"No he didn't do anything, but he asked a lot of questions about you, and my dad, and he even asked me on a date which I'm sure was just a tease. Then he told me to hide you this." I pulled the destroyed Lily out of my pocket, "Anakin there was a Lily on my doorstep just days ago. He was at my house."

He bit his bottom lip in thought before peering out into the night, as if he was looking to see if he followed me. Then he glanced back to me, "Tell me everything."

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