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I let the first tear drop, allow my body to tremble as fear overrides every single nerve ending in my body. This is it. My life now. How could they not come for me?
The airplane begins to shift, picking up speed. I shut my eyes, trying to calm myself down. Trying to breathe properly. I never dreamed this would be how it’d end for me. I’m supposed to be stressed about SATs and the perfect prom dress. But how fucking naïve of me. To worry about materialistic things when this is so many women’s reality. When… My body jerks forward as the plane comes to a jerking halt. “What the fuck?” the lady screeches.
The airplane door busts open, men in green wearing masks and holding guns start yelling. Elizabeth screams, curling into herself as I stare wide-eyed in shock. Several men come in, grabbing the lady and throwing her to the ground. The pilot comes out of the cockpit. Hands behind his head, a gun pointed at his back. I hear the men in green yelling “Clear” and then he walks through. Hair a wild mess, eyes searching. And, finally, they land on me.
I can’t stop the tears as a cry breaks free, my body sinking into the cream leather, weightless. Lincoln comes to me, eyes searching over every inch of me as my brothers and Richard file in. Richard drops to his knees, weak at the sight of me. My brothers crowd into my space, helping to free me. All except Noah, who looks at Elizabeth, slowly reaching his hand out to her. She flinches when he unties the rope.
Lincoln picks me up, blocking my view of Noah and Elizabeth as he cradles me in his strong arms. I hide my face in his chest, my body shaking with sobs.
* * *
When I arrive backat my home, my mom rushes to me, almost taking me down as she sobs, clutching me tightly to her chest. “Honey…” she whispers.
I pull back, a wet laugh slipping free. “I’m fine.”
Another car comes to a stop, Noah and Elizabeth climbing out. I run to Elizabeth, wrapping her in my arms. “You’re safe now,” I whisper to her. I feel her body shake in my grip. Her knees almost giving out. I grab her hand, turning to look at my family. All of them look so tired, but they also look happy. “This is Elizabeth.” I smile.
Everyone smiles. “What exactly are we going to do with her?” Clint asks.
I frown at him, about to tell him exactly where he can put his questions, when Noah cuts us off. “I’ll keep her,” he says softly, looking to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth takes a step back, her hand squeezing mine. I turn over my shoulder. “He’s my brother, he won’t hurt you.”
“I just want to help you get back on your feet. Recover. There is no catch. I don’t want anything from you,” Noah says.
Elizabeth looks to me, then to Noah. Nodding slightly, she releases my hand and walks over to him. He bends to whisper something to her, but I can’t hear what it is.
“Doll Face.” That voice, the one I’ve been dying to hear for so long beckoning me. I turn, connecting with his burnt wood eyes. He holds out a hand and I take it. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” I nod, allowing him to lead me away.
* * *
I stayedin the shower until the water turned from brown to clear. I scrubbed my body until it was raw. Shaved everything until I was smooth. Lincoln watched me the whole time until I stepped out. He wraps me in a towel, his hand caressing the new scar on my face. “Do you want to talk about it?” I shake my head. “Okay, baby. Can I ask you some questions for my own mental health?”
“Yeah.”
“Did they hurt you?” I shake my head no.
“Did anyone…” He swallows, jaw hardening. “Did anyone touch you?”
I cup his hand on my face, fingers rubbing over it. “No. I’m fine.”
He sighs, resting his forehead on mine. “I’m sorry it took me so long to save you.”
I close my eyes, breathing him in. “Better late than never.”
His laugh is thick, full of emotion. “Come on, let’s go brush your hair.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I whisper, eyes shimmering. He smirks, leading me into my room.
* * *
I sitin Richard’s office as he and Lincoln catch me up on everything. My own grandpa? What a twisted tale in my story. Men suck. I’m not sure why I haven’t written them off completely at this point. I don’t have any questions, I understand completely. Vengeance makes people do despicable things. It ruins the lives of many, taking casualties in the process.
They both stare at me as if I’m a ticking time bomb. “That’s… very messed up, but there is nothing we can do to change any of it.” I shrug as both of their mouths drop open. “Anyways, I’m more concerned with school, I missed all my exams. When can I make those up?” I look to Lincoln. It’s not that the whole situation hasn’t scared me, because it has. But if I can bury it for a moment, I will. And when I’m ready to talk about it, I’ll hire a professional. Plus, I’ve always been one to stay focused on the positive instead of the negative.
“I had them all emailed to you. You can do them from home, but, Callum, don’t you need to take a moment to breathe?”
I narrow my eyes. “Listen, Mr. Boyd.”
