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Taking a chance, I reach out a hand to Cain because he’s closer, and he brings my fingers to his lips, kissing the tips of each before letting me go.
“They’ve kissed you,” Jason whispers in my ear when we’re back inside. My furious blush gives away my response. “Two men,” he mutters, an amused smile spreading across his face. “Exactly what you need.” He nudges me. I don’t understand his meaning of that.
The rest of my day is spent figuring out how to get out of this weekend. From the conversation between Jason, Cain, and Abel at lunch, I realize that’s a necessity. There must be a way. Unfortunately, I’m left with few options, and faking an illness won’t work. My parents don’t care enough about me to even be concerned.
Staring down at the scars on my wrists, I consider what sent me to the hospital for weeks on end once before. It could work. It could work too well. Because as often as I’ve dreamed about retaking my life, I find it harder to consciously make the decision to do it again. A week ago, heck, a few days ago, I’d have just done it. There would have been no hesitation. But this time, I know how to do it right. So the mere thought of it now gives me pause, and it’s all because of my two bodyguards and how they held and kissed me last night. The care they showed me this afternoon when I was upset.
It’s in the way they watch me and call me little lamb. For a few fleeting moments, I think I could have something to live for. But it’ll all be for nothing if Walter Charles gets his hands on me. Because if that dirty old man touches me, forces himself on me, nothing will stop me from wanting to end my life more than I did all those months ago. A new plan, a less lethal one, needs to be put into place, and if that doesn’t work, death will be my last resort.
ABEL
Something is up with our little lamb. I see it in her eyes on the rare occasion she’ll meet our stares.
Reverting back to not speaking and not touching has been hard as hell, but we’ve all adjusted since yesterday after she and Jason ate lunch outside. It was when the last bell rang that Cain and I noticed the change in her.
The determined set to her jaw, head held high. Confidence in her stride. She wasn’t the meek girl we’d dropped off at school that same morning. And I have to wonder if she’s plotting something for the weekend to get out of spending it with the man her parents have essentially sold her to.
We’re back to waiting outside her school, only minutes until the end of final period when we hear it. Sirens. Immediately, we’re sliding out of the SUV, senses on high alert, and when no students file out of the high school as the last bell for the day rings, I know. It’s her.
“You don’t think…?” Cain lets the question hang as we stride up the steps and open the front doors just as the ambulance arrives.
“Yeah, Cain. I do.” And I fucking hate that she thinks this is what she’s had to resort to. Killing herself to get out of this shouldn’t have been an option. I sensed she was planning something. Of course, it would be so drastic. It’s the only way she gets attention from her parents.
“Where is she?” I ask the secretary as we enter the office. The woman sits up straighter at the command in my voice.
Ignoring us, her attention diverts behind us. “Right this way.” She guides the paramedics to the back of the office, and we follow. Prepared to find a nearly dead high school girl, I’m surprised when I see her sitting in front of a desk, tears streaking down her face, and her eyes, fuck…they’re dead. I don’t know what happened between this morning when she gave us a lopsided smile and now, but I’m ready to destroy anyone in my path in search of what got us here.
“Gentlemen.” An older woman approaches us. “A word.” Waving us into another office, we continue to keep an eye on our lamb. When her gaze meets mine, I see a spark, but it’s quickly dulled as the paramedics speak with her.
“What the hell happened?” Cain asks the woman.
“Girl,” she scowls, obviously hating the name as much as we do. “Came to my office this morning. She was quite distraught. Said she was feeling the same way she was the last time she attempted to take her life but that she didn’t want to. She begged for help. She told me some things.” The woman’s eyes flit between us.
“Such as?” I prompt.
“Her parents were selling her to an older man?” Her tone is a mix of disgust and confusion. I nod. “I see. Well, that explains her fears. She didn’t say it outright, but you understand, when a student tells me they wish to die, I must take it seriously.” Blowing out a breath of air, I nod again. “I don’t think she was as determined as last time because she came to me first. From my understanding, it came as quite the shock on her last attempt.”
“Not if you listened to her. Paid any attention to the signs,” Cain grumbles, stepping halfway into the hall to check on Girl more fully.
“Yes. Jason was here for a little bit this afternoon talking with us. He told me he tried to warn people last time, but no one would listen to him until it was nearly too late. She seemed quite surprised that he even knew she was so far gone.” Sympathy colors the woman’s green eyes.
“He’s a good friend to her,” I say absently as I watch the paramedics help her onto a stretcher.
“I’ve recommended she be held under suicide watch until Monday, at least.” My eyes swing back to meet her stare.
“Her birthday.” She nods. “When she’s released, does it have to be to a parent?” Negative.
“I’ve also taken the time to enroll her in some online classes so she can finish her diploma. She can do that from anywhere that has an internet connection.” This woman seems to understand far more than we’d anticipated.
I take the packet from her. “Thank you. We’ll be sure she receives this.”
It seems our little lamb has been scheming behind our backs and found a way out of spending this weekend with that asshole, and now she’s been given the option to run as soon as she’s legally able to.
“One more thing.” The woman stops me. “Because she isn’t eighteen yet, we had to notify her parents of this incident. They assumed she would be taken to Bellevue. I never confirmed or denied this because, at the time, I didn’t know. However, she’s being taken to Mercy West.” Cain spares me a glance as Jason comes running into the office.
“What the hell happened?” he shouts. “Is she okay?” When he spots us, he comes rushing our way.
The counselor smiles at him. “She’ll be fine, Jason. Say, isn’t your father a family court judge?” The question is too casual to be less than meaningful. It hits me what she’s suggesting.
