AllFreeNovel
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“Please stop. I know you’re angry, but this can’t happen. It’ll only be worse for me.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “What do you want me to do then? Just sit back and let him beat you?” Helplessness fills me.
Her arms wrap around herself in a protective manner, and her eyes fall to the ground. “Can you just take me away from here for a little while?” Her voice is soft, so quiet I barely hear it over my pounding heart and heavy breathing.
A long breath huffs out, releasing some of my rage. I put my arm around her shoulders and lead her back around the car. Like a gentleman, I open the door for her. After she climbs in, I close it and walk around to get in. As I’m rounding the car, I look at that house one more time, wishing I could go in there and beat the man who put his hands on her.
While I watch, he pulls back the thin, white lace curtain and looks at me. He’s a tall man with graying hair. He’s thin with a square jaw, and there’s no doubt in my seventeen-year-old mind that I can teach his old ass a lesson.
His eyes stay on me as I walk around the car and take my seat behind the wheel. I put the car in reverse but don’t hit the gas. Instead, I sit watching him while trying to talk myself into leaving, because all I really want to do is march in there and make sure he never lays another fucking finger on what’s mine.
* * *
Even though it’s Saturday,my dad and Mason are both at the shop. Mason is training to run the shop on the weekends, and my dad is busy with the bar and grill going up. That leaves Alissa and I all alone in the house.
We walk up the stairs and into my bedroom, where we curl up in bed. I pull her to my chest, and she lies with her ear against my heart. I’m still as pissed as can be about her foster dad, and I wish she’d let me do something about it.
“When did all this start?” I need to know how long she’s been living like this.
“When did what start?” she asks, not bothering to lift her head to look me in the eye.
“The beatings.”
“He doesn’t beat me, Dane. He just gets a little carried away.”
I pick up her wrist and hold up her bruised forearm. “What do you call this?”
She sits up and crosses her legs beneath her. “He’s never actually hit me. Yes, he grabs my arms and throws me into my room, but he’s never hit me.”
I place my hands under the back of my head, tilting it just enough to clearly see her. “Abuse is abuse, Alissa.”
She takes a long breath. “I know, but what am I supposed to do? I can’t let you go in there and beat him up.”
I roll my eyes. “Let’s move in together.”
She laughs, causing her lips to turn up in a smile. “Your dad will never allow that.”
I shrug with my hands still behind my head. “Not here, I’ll find us a place.”
Her blonde eyebrows lift in surprise. “Nobody’s going to rent to us. We’re not legal adults yet.”
“You let me worry about that.”
She takes her place at my side again. “It won’t work, Dane, but thank you for offering. I’ll be fine as long as I get home after school and before curfew.”
I let the subject drop for now, but I know what I have to do.
I’ve been saving my money from working at the shop and from my band gigs. Without much to spend it on, I’ve got a pretty good sum saved up. I’m going to find us a place to live, because I have to get her out of that house.
