The Underground

They arrived back at the house. ‘Go and change Ariel and you can join us once we’ve sorted all this out. I’ll get someone to get you okay.’

‘Okay.’

He pecked her on the cheek. ‘You did well angel.’

She nodded and walked away. She headed up the stairs to change.

They stashed the drugs away in the cellar. ‘I like here Cole she’s got sass and she’s not afraid to voice her opinion.’

‘It’s a first. She’s usually withdrawn.’

‘Yeah she’s quiet.

‘You did well to pick her. I see great things coming from this brother. I think she’ll go a long way. She's not like the others she isn’t afraid to do as you ask.’

‘She hasn’t seen all of it yet.’

‘But she will, and I’m sure she won’t run or hide. I like her and I know you do too.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, we have an understanding.’

‘A good one by the looks. Keep this one aye.’

They all changed. ‘Go get Ariel will you Jae.’

‘Sure.’

‘Why can’t you do it?’

‘She trusts him more than me .’

Harvey nodeed he knew it would take Ariel time to trust a guy that took her away from everything to be like him, but she would.

Jae knocked on the door. ‘Ariel you ready? we’re all going to have something to eat.’

‘Yeah.’

The door opened and he looked at her. ‘You still sure about this?’

‘I have to be Jae.’

He nodded. ‘So.. you did well tonight.’

‘Like I had much choice.’

‘I guess you didn’t.’

‘Will it always be like this?’

‘I guess. Come on Cole and the others are waiting.‘

They made their way down to the living area where the pizzas and cokes were waiting. Cole locked up smiling.‘Sit.’

She walked over and sat next to him, Jae sitting opposite.‘Well I’d like to give a warm welcome to our new member Ariel Crawford.’

They all raised their cams to welcome her. Harvey looked at her winking and smiling at her. She sat nervously, they all took slices of pizza and sat back eating in silence.

~

Ariel walked alone and nervous she’d hardly slept and it was showing on her face, the bags around her eyes made her look like she’d got two black eyes. But yet she’d made it through the day without falling asleep in lessons. Cole had warned her not to get in the car with Harvey ever, and to make sure she waited for him to come out seen as he had physical education for his last lesson and the tutor always liked to end the lesson before the bell. He’d told her not to take any offer off Harvey to give her a ride home, she agreed. He made her nervous.

The Subaru was parked outside the highschool, tinted windows. The widow came down the closer she got. He looked at her. Pushing his glasses down. ‘Ariel.’

She swallowed hard. ‘Harvey what are you doing here?”

‘Picking you up like I said I would.’

‘I’m sorry I can’t accept Cole..’

‘He won’t mind hop in. I want to show you something.’

‘What?’

‘You won’t know unless you get in.’

‘I can’t. I have to wait for Cole.’

‘He’ll be ages come on, I don’t bite.’

‘I..’

He opened the door. ‘Get in Ariel.’

She looked at him and swallowing hard, his eyes boring through her. She sighed getting in. He closed the door. ‘Seat belt.’

She strapped in. ‘Now that wasn’t hard was it?’

She was so nervous Cole was going to freak. He’d told her not to get into the car at any costs but why?

He pulled away. She looked out of the window as he drove the trees a mere blur. ‘You can talk you know I don’t bite.’

He said putting himself hand on her knee squeezing it. She sat nervously. ‘I’ll be the judge of that.’

‘So the cat finally let go of your tongue.’

‘Where are we going Harvey?’

‘You’ll see when we get there.’

‘Bu..’

Cole looked around where the hell was she? He’d told her to stay put. ‘Where the fuck is she?’

‘You looking for Ariel?

He turned looking at the boy from his class. ‘I am.’

‘She’s gone.’

‘Gone? Gone where?’

‘Home I guess she got into a car?’

‘A car?’

‘Yeah ten minutes ago.’

‘Why does the car look like?’

‘Black tinted windows, sporty.’

‘Thanks.’

He nodded walking away .he looked at his friends, Jae and him were thinking the same, Harvey.

‘We best find her Cole. Harvey has a thing for her. I saw the way he was looking at her last night and you know him better than any of us.’

‘Lets go. He couldn’t ‘ve got far.’

‘What if he took her there Cole?’

‘He’s not that dumb.’

‘This is your brother we’re talking about Cole.’

‘She’s not ready for that place yet Cole. You’ve already threw her in the deep end.’

Harvey pulled up outside a really dodgy building. ‘We’re here?’

‘And where is here exactly?’ She asked looking around the really dodgy area.’

‘You’ll see come on.’

They took their seatbelts off getting out of the car closing the doors he headed around the car to her taking her hand in his. She looked at it and then at him. ‘You’re with me okay.’

She nodded and they headed over to the building, he knocked on the door it opened. ‘Harvey.’

He nodded.

‘And who’s this?’

‘She’s with me.’

He nodded again and Harvey pulled her in, the door closing.’ So sure you fighting tonight?’’

‘I am.’

‘You best get changed. Your up after this.’

He nodded pulling Ariel with him through the mass of sweaty bodies, she didn’t like this place why had he brought her here?’

‘Harv.’

‘Spider.’

‘Didn’t think you’d show.’

‘I always show.’

‘So who’s the skirt ?’

‘Spider this is Ariel, she goes to school with Cole.’

‘Where is your brother ?’

‘With his friends. I’d just thought I’d bring Ariel down to give her a feel of the place.’

He nodded. ‘You best change your up next.’

’Will you watch Ariel for me?’

‘I will.’

‘Stay with Spider don’t move, he’s the only one I trust here.’

She nodded. Though she was clearly scared of the large guy with a web tattoo around his neck and a spider on his cheek.he giggled away. Spider looked at her checking her out and smiled. ‘So sweetheart are you one of Cole’s girls?’

She looked at him. ‘One of his toys?’

‘No.’

‘Girlfriend?’

‘No.’

‘What then? You’re too pretty to be one of them.’

‘Well he’d asked me to be.’

‘I see.’ he said, lighting a cigarette. ‘Want one?’

She shook her head.

‘So you don't smoke either. You are a good little angel aren’t you ?’

‘I guess.’

‘So your his new project then?’

‘I’m a person not A project.’

‘You are honey. They all were.’

She swallowed hard. ‘Did....Did they all come here?’

‘Who? His projects?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Some, those that stuck with it till they came here?’

‘How many came?’

‘A few.’ You’ve got chatty all of a sudden.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be. I like chatty girls.’ He said, taking a drag of his cigarette blowing the smoke out of his mouth. ‘But now you have to be quiet and watch him. He’s up next, you can see what his place is all about and if you want to come back.’

She nodded and watched. ‘So what kind of fight is this?’

‘Cage anything for anything now sush.’ He smiled, laughing.

She watched as Harvey fought with a guy twice his size, her eyes glued as they wrestled and used every combination of street fighting known she couldn’t keep her eyes off him and his muscular body it a-as bloody and sweaty but he held his ground til knocked his opponent out. Spider smiled . ‘So how did you like it, Miss Ariel?’

‘It was..’ she thought for a moment. ‘Different.’

He laughed. ‘Well that’s a new one on me.’

Harvey walked over to them. ‘Well done bud.’

‘Thanks that was a tough one tonight.’

‘I think you a have a fan.’

‘Really ?’

‘Yeah, she couldn’t keep her eyes off you.’

‘You liked it Ariel?’

I guess.’

‘She thought it was different, no one's ever called it different before.’ He laughed.

‘True. I’ll just get showered. And changed.’

‘She'll be fine with me.’

Harvey nodeed and went on his way. Spider loked at Ariel. ‘You know. It would be a education to have a girl like you here.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean I’m offering you a job.’

‘I’m not eighteen.’

‘You don’t have to be sweetheart.’

‘I..’

‘I won’t take no for a answer. I want. You to work with me I’m sure I can find you somthng to do til your of legal age.’

She looked at him unsure of how to answer.

Harvey walked up to them. ‘Thanks for watching her.’

‘My pleasure.’

‘Come on we best be getting back before Cole has a spas.’

‘Bring her by Saturday.’

‘Why?’

‘She’ll be working with me.’

‘She’s sixteen Spider, she’s not of legal age.’

‘Call it a Saturday job to gain experience to put on her CV. Come on bro I’ll take good care of her.’

‘If she’s okay with it.’

‘Sweet. 10 am make sure you’re on time.’

‘We will later Spider.’

‘Later bro.’

They slapped hands.

‘It was nice meeting you Ariel and I’ll see you Saturday.’

She smiled, Harvey took her hand and they headed out to the car. ‘Looks like you made a good impression, he doesn’t hand out many job. He reckons trust has to be earned before a job is even entertained.’

She nodded surprised. ‘He said I talked to much.’

Harvey laughed. ‘He was pulling your leg Ariel, if you talked to much his tongue would be down your neck to keep you quiet.’

‘Oh.’

He turned looking at her. ‘So was you watching the fight, or focusing on my body?’ He said raising his eyebrows.

She sat in silence and he laughed even more. He looked at her placing his hand on her face. ‘I know Cole has you, but I don’t give a fuck you desreve better than him.’

She looked at him confused. His lips touched hers kissing her. What the fuck was goign in? He continued to kiss her, slipping his tongue in.

He moved away. ‘When he gets bored I’ll come looking for you. I’ll protect you from him at all costs Ariel. I know why my brother is capable of you don’t.’

She looked stunned would Cole get bored of her, and if he did what would happen to her? ‘Belt up.’ He said moving away. Sitting back in his seat. They belted up and he pulled away.

Cole paced the lounge waiting impatiently for them. ‘Stop cole you’ll weara hoe in harem fucking floor.’

‘I don’t fucking care. What’s taking them so fucking long?’

The front door creeped open his head shot up Harvey and Ariel strode into the lounge where the atmosphere could be cut through with a knife. ‘And where the fuck have you been ?’

‘Chill Bro I just took her to the underground.’

‘See, I told you he was stupid enough too.’

‘Button it Jae.’

He looked angry at Harvey. ‘Why the fuck did you tske her there she’s not resdy for thst place yet.’

‘She was, she enjoyed it. And Spider gave her a job.’

‘I don’t fuckng think so. She’s not working for him, tell him no.’

‘Sorry bro no can do. He doesn’t take too kindly to being told no and you know that better than anyone.’

‘Fine but he keeps his filthy hands off her.’