2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Sunny
“There you are Princess. Thought you could sneak out on me, huh?”
The words come out slurred as Garrett stumbles out the door and onto the rickety wooden deck. The rotting wood sags under his weight. His face is red and flushed, twisted into a deep, angry grimace leveled directly at me.
My stomach drops, and my heart follows right after threatening to pound it’s way out of my chest. Even it wants to escape.
Suddenly, the problem of the guy stretching out on my lawn seems incredibly small and insignificant. All the anger I was feeling drains away. It's replaced by icy-cold, mind-numbing fear.
At his best, Garrett's a sadistic, perverted prick. But, on days like today, when he’s been drinking and has gotten a good taste of my pain, he’s so, so much worse.
I know because it’s not like anything that’s happened to me today is a one-off. I wish I could say it was, but it’s not. It didn’t come from some mistake my mom made this one time. Garrett is only one mark sitting on a timeline filled with errors in judgement that she can't ever seem to correct. He's not the first and probably won’t be the last to see me as the icing on a very fucked up cake.
Garrett staggers forward, stopping at the top of the steep stairs leading down into the yard. “Aww, you didn’t think I was done with you did you darlin’? I just needed a little break. Now, why don’t you send your little friend home and get that sweet little ass of yours up here so we can finish what we started?”
“I...I... uh…” I stammer, unsure of what, if anything, I can say to make this better.
It was a desperate choice I’d made when I chose to come outside. There are strict rules to the games Garrett likes to play with me—the first being, no early outs. Everyone stays until he wins. I'd only broken that rule once before and paid the price dearly.
Apparently not dearly enough because here I am again.
I'd needed some fresh air though. I was desperate. I'd waited until he passed out on the couch before dragging myself to my feet and stumbling into the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I forced myself to look—to inventory the damage.
Bright red stripes the width of his leather belt crisscrossed the pale skin of my chest and stomach. Deep purple and black bruises were starting to form in the shape of hands and fingers along my arms, ribs, over my hips and down the insides of each thigh. It occurred to me, as I stared at my reflection, that each time was getting worse.
As I stood there, staring at my reflection, something clicked. I could see everything, big picture and clear as a bell.
Eventually, there'd come a time when there would be no coming back from it, from him, because there'd be nothing left of me. Nothing left to hurt. Nothing left to take. And nothing left to try and piece back together.
One day, I won’t be able to get back up.
That thought—that moment of perfect clarity—was suffocating. It felt like I was being buried alive. I had to get outside and put some space between me and what I saw in the mirror. I’d been desperate enough to break his rules, to risk everything to breathe a few mouthfuls of air that didn't smell like him.
I'd hedged my bets and lost. It was that simple. Usually when Garrett passes out, he's down for hours. Sometimes less, but he'd been so wasted when he got home I was sure my mom would be back before he woke up.
Not that I had any grand illusions about her rushing in to save me. She's proven time and time again that she won't help anyone, including me—unless there's something in it for her. She’s selfish, but predictable. After her shift at the club, good night or bad, she always comes through the front door with ‘gifts’ for her and Garrett. A fresh bottle of liquor in one hand, a little plastic baggie of white powder or pills in the other.
I've never asked how much those 'gifts' cost her because I don't want to know.
They aren’t exactly conventional weapons, but they do the trick. As long as I stay quiet and out of the way, I'm invisible, forgotten.
Right now though, there are too many minutes taking up the space between now and when she gets home to do me any good.
My feet are heavy, planted in the grass. I'm trying urgently to will them to move, but, they’re frozen. With every second that ticks by, I can see Garrett becoming more tense, more angry. I shudder when he licks his lips, and steps down a few stairs. I can see all the ways he’s planning on showing me how badly I fucked up written all over his face. My heart is pounding so hard it hurts.
“Now!” The word is a sharp, whip crack sound that causes the muscles deep inside my belly to clench. My cheeks catch fire, and a lump settles firmly into my throat making it hard to breathe. I know that from where Levi is sitting, on the grass behind me, he's got a perfect front row seat for all of this.
I’m so focused on Garrett and trying to get my body to work, that I don’t even notice Levi get to his feet until he's standing next to me. Reaching out, he places a hand on my shoulder. It’s unexpected and I startle, jerking away from him with equal amounts of surprise and pain.
As I pull away, one of his fingers catches on the sleeve of the loose-fitting shirt I'm wearing. The fabric slides off my shoulder and down my arm a bit. I shrug it back up as fast as I can, but the look on Levi’s face tells me it’s too late. He’s seen the swollen, dark marks in perfect finger-shaped lines that cover my skin.
He yanks his hand back like he's been burned. When I turn to face him, his brows are furrowed and there are deep creases lining his forehead. His mouth is turned into a deep frown. When he finally raises his eyes to meet mine, I see all the questions people have had over the years but never, ever ask painted in his expression. His face colors as all the pieces start sliding into place for him.
After stealing another quick glance at Garrett, I drop my eyes to the ground and stare at my bare feet, wiggling them nervously into the grass. My shoulders slump and my face burns. I wish with all my heart the ground would just open up and swallow me whole.
I'd never be that lucky though. When I lift my eyes again, the look on Levi’s face has transformed from one of concern into one of pure venom. His eyes are narrow slits as he turns his head to zero in on Garrett with laser focus and intensity.
“Is that from him? Did he do that to you?” His voice is harsh and low and he leans in close, speaking through gritted teeth.
He doesn't wait for me to answer. “Don’t you dare take even one step towards him. Not until you answer me, Angel.”
“You need to get out of here. Please don’t do anything. It’ll only make things worse. Please. Just go. It’s not— I’m not worth getting hurt over,” I plead.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Levi hesitate. He looks from me, to Garrett, and back to me again, taking full measure of the situation. He inhales deeply and exhales loudly before squaring his shoulders and giving a small nod, like he’s answering a question only he heard.
Taking a step forward, he places himself between me and Garrett.
"Stay behind me." His tone is steady, even and calm.
“Whoa, Princess, looks like you’ve found yourself a little wannabe hero." There's a flicker of something in his eyes when he looks at Levi. He hesitates, narrowing his eyes and setting his jaw before continuing.
"And here I thought I’d been keeping you plenty busy. Guess I’ll have to make more of an effort.” He lowers his tone and chuckles before continuing.
“Listen. Kid. I don’t share.” I can hear the cruelty in Garrett's voice as he directs his attention to Levi. The silence stretches between them.
“This has nothing to do with you. Why don’t you run on home to your asshole daddy where you'll be safe. I'm sure he's waiting for you.”
Levi remains silent and solid in front of me, perfectly still. I keep my gaze focused on his back—watching the tiny muscles in his neck and shoulders twitch with each breath he takes. I count the freckles that dot the smooth surface of the skin on his neck and arms. I may not know exactly how any of this is going to play out, but I do know that it won’t end well. Not for him and definitely not for me. It never does.
“C’mon kid. I got no beef with you. Let her by. The longer she stays down there the worse it’s gonna be. For both of you.” Garrett’s voice is taking on a hard, angry edge as he speaks.
“Don’t make me come down there and get her. Trust me, it’s easier for everyone if she gets. Her ass. Up. These fucking stairs.” He slams his meaty hand down on the railing, emphasizing each word. The rotting wood shakes with each smack. His patience is gone.
Levi takes another deep breath before speaking. His voice comes out cold, emotionless. “She’s not going up those stairs and you’re not coming down here to get her. You should go back inside and sleep it off while you still can.” The threat hangs in the air.
My entire body starts to tremble when I hear Garrett start to laugh. It’s a wicked sound—one I’ve heard too many times right before things go completely sideways.
Levi has no idea what Garrett is like when he’s well and truly pissed. There’s no way either of us are going to leave this back yard in one piece. We're both totally fucked. Levi just doesn’t know it yet.
“Alright. Have it your way kid.”
The instant I hear the stairs creak as Garrett moves down another step, Levi lowers his shoulders and charges forward with a loud, low roar. By the time Garrett registers what’s happening it’s too late—the alcohol's made him too slow—Levi's already on his way up the stairs. He drives his shoulder hard into Garrett’s leg right as he takes his next step down. There’s a loud crack as his knee takes the full force of the impact. He flails wildly, forced off balance.
Levi quickly gains his footing and takes advantage of Garrett’s precarious position by slamming his body into him. Hard. Garrett’s full weight falls against one of the railing’s weak support posts. There’s the sound of splintering wood as it gives way and the entire section of railing tears away from the stairs. Garrett lets out a loud howl of pain and surprise as he falls. He lands with a sickening thud on the broken pieces of wood and hard ground.
Levi takes his time walking down the fractured stairs to meet me where he left me standing.
“You okay Angel?”
I nod, trying to wrap my mind around what's just happened. “I’m good.” My voice comes out shaky. My eyes are glued to Garrett lying on the ground. He’s pissed, and moaning in pain, but he's not getting up.
Slowly, l let out the breath I was holding. I should feel so many things right now, but all I'm feeling is relief. I know it won't last, but I'll take it. “I’m good,” I repeat.
“Come with me. I want you to hear this,” Levi says. "It's okay. I got you." Reluctantly, I follow him.
I wince with every step as we walk over to the spot Garrett’s lying, clutching his leg, writhing in pain. Levi lets go of my hand and squats down beside him. “I need to make sure you hear me, you stupid piece of shit.” He pauses, waiting until Garrett turns to face him. “If you ever lay so much as a finger on her again, I’ll find you wherever you are and slit your goddamned throat in the middle of the night. Do you understand me?”
“Fucking little ungrateful bitch!" The words hiss from his lips, part agony, part anger. "You have no idea who you're fucking with, kid! You're both gonna pay for this!” Garrett sucks in a breath, his eyes darting back and forth between both Levi and me.
“Talk to me, not to her.” The calm in Levi’s voice is disturbing. His face is expressionless as he watches Garrett rail against him. “I’m thinking you didn’t hear me. Let me make sure I have your full attention when I say it again.”
Levi stands and takes several long strides out into the yard. With a look of determination, he plants his feet, takes a breath, and pushes off, building up speed. He delivers a kick to Garrett’s ribs hard enough to lift his body and move it several inches. Garrett curls into himself gasping for air. Levi repeats the action two more times before squatting down again, gritting his teeth and asking, “Do I have your attention now? I said you'll never touch her again. Ever.”
Garrett’s breath is ragged and uneven. He’s lying folded up on his side groaning every time his chest moves. He nods his head and breathes out a soft ‘yes’.
“Angel? Look at me.” Levi stands and takes his phone out of his pocket, getting ready to dial. Before his fingers push the buttons he looks at me, his expression serious. “I’m going to call an ambulance for him, but first, you and I need to get our stories straight. Okay? That's the only way this is going to work.”
I nod my head slowly, keeping my eyes on the ground. I’m trying to ignore the raspy breathing and gasping coming from the spot in front of me. “Yeah. Okay,” I respond.
“I came over to introduce myself and we were sitting out here talking. He was drunk, came outside, leaned on the railing, it broke, and he fell. That’s it. That's everything.”
There’s a long pause. “Look at me Angel, I need to know you got it. I know you can do this. That’s the story. No more, no less. Now, repeat it back to me.”
My voice is shaky and breathless. “You came over to introduce yourself. We were out here talking, Garrett came outside, leaned on the railing, it broke, and he fell. I…I think he was drunk.”
“Atta girl.” He smiles broadly as he very gently reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"He’ll never hurt you again,” he says. His eyes search mine, his brow furrowed.
If only I could believe those words.