Natalie #2
Stay calm, stay calm.
What would Julian do right now?
I remove Peas jacket after removing the gun and putting it in the back of the waistband of my borrowed shorts. I wrap it around her shoulders. She slowly, ever so slowly, puts her arms through the sleeves. At least that will keep her a little warm. What next?
“Can you stand, sweetheart? We need to get you into the car and get you somewhere safe.” I ask, stroking some hair from her face, I use my friendship bracelet to keep it up in a loose pony.
Assure her she’s safe, treasure. “I know it’s hard to trust me but I’ve been in your position myself.
” I move so I’m sat crossed legged in front of her.
“And I assure you, I can take you somewhere where you won’t see any more uncles and you can get help. ”
She finally shows a little emotion in her eyes, and her lips lift for a split second. Thank you. Julian.
“Hey.” We hear someone whisper-shout. “What are you doing to her?” The young boy comes running up to us. He looks vaguely familiar with his red hair and freckles. He can’t be no older than fourteen or fifteen.
Wait, no it can’t be. Can it?
“Stay away from her.” He stands protectively in front of my daughter and stares straight into my eyes. His expression goes from confused to recognition. “Natalie.”
“Oh my God.” I choke. “Gustin?” He nods. “You remember me.” Holy shit, Gustin is still here. He collapses into my waiting arms, Dante is quick to stand behind me so I don’t fall.
“You were the only one who treated us nicely.” He half sobs into my shoulder. “We were told you died. I grieved for you Nat.” Anya pulls at the boys top and he turns to face her. Letting me go, he kneels beside Anya. “Anya, this lady is….”
I shake my head to stop him from saying anything, he knows all about Anya, I used to make up stories about my little girl with her broken heart birthmark.
He would listen intently, asking question after question, and we both made a promise that we would find her one day.
“She is our big sister.” He keeps my secret and I give him a grateful smile.
“Nat, Pa tells us all the time he will take her baby away from her.” He keeps one arm around me then looks back at my daughter.
“Anya, if you go with Natalie, you can keep your baby .” She looks up at him, her eyes lighting up.
“And I promise, when I can. I will come and see you.” He takes her hand.
“I promise.” He chokes back a sob. “I want you safe.
I want you away from Pa. If you go with them, Pa won't be able to sneak into your room again.”
I look up at Dante, who has tears in his eyes watching the whole interaction.
Yet his fingers fist with anger. I reach up and clasp his hand in mine, pulling a little until he is kneeling beside me.
“Gustin,” he clears his throat while placing his arm over my shoulders.
I lean into him.. “Why don’t you come with us? ”
He shakes his head. “Who will look after the others?”
“How many are there?” I ask.
“There’s two more boys.” He whispers “They are just six. Twins.” He still holds Anya’s hand. Rubbing his thumb across her knuckles.
“We can get them out too.” Dante promises. “If you can just show me where they are.” He shakes his head. “Are they here?” He shakes his head again.
“They don’t just sell the girls now. Ma goes with them .” He whispers.
Vomit rises and before I know it I’m throwing up. I thought Ma always kept her precious sons safe. The boys were always safe. Dante rubs my back, looking a little pale himself. He must be thinking of Nico.
“Let’s get you two to safety first. Then we come back for the others.” I manage to say between dry heaves. My stomach now completely empty. “Gustin, she trusts you. Can you carry her to the car?”
He nods and slowly picks up my daughter.
Dante unlocks the car and goes to open the door for them when I hear a sinister laugh.
A laugh that has given me nightmares for most of my life.
Looking around I see Pa standing by the front door in just his boxers, the moonlight reflects off the knife in his hand.
The only hand he has. I should run to the car and leave, but something takes over.
Something primal, something maternal. This bastard laid his hands on my baby girl.
He raped her, his own daughter. I march over to him and my fist connects with his nose.
I put every bit of anger into that punch, every bit of fear.
Twenty one years worth of built up rage knocks him to the floor .
“Natalie.” Gustin shouts at the same time Dante yells, “ Gattina. ” Both voices are tinged with fear. But all I see is red. Is this how Julian felt when he saw how Howard hurt me?
I can imagine Julian saying how proud he is of me for finally getting vengeful.
I wish he was here to see this.
“Stay with her.” I yell back. “Make sure Anya is safe. This prick is mine to deal with.”
“Finally learned how to stick up for yourself huh, angel?” Pa mocks.
“Don’t call me that. Don’t ever call me that.” I scream.
He reaches for the knife and stands. I pull the gun from the waistband and point it at his head with a trembling hand.
“Oh lookie here. My angel has a big boy weapon.” He chuckles. “Go on then, shoot me if you can.” He smiles a wide smile, his rotted teeth dim between his chapped lips. “Or do you not have the guts anymore?”
I pull the trigger and…
Nothing.
Pa laughs loudly and swings the knife. I jump back.
He swings again and this time I get pushed out of the way.
Gustin cries out as the blade slices his arm.
“You little fucker. I should’ve gotten rid of you years ago, especially when you wouldn’t stop crying for big sis Natalie.
Boo hoo.” Pa sneers. “Such a big baby.” He taunts.
“Well, you’ve finally seen her, for the last time.
” He faces me again, murder intent in his expression.
He wants to kill me like he killed Justine.
“Shut up.” Gustin snatches the gun from my hand and clicks something on it. Pa actually looks frightful this time, not at the gun, but at someone behind us as we feel the tension shift in the air.
“Put the gun down kid.”
Julian.
Is he really here or am I imagining things?
Gustin reluctantly places the gun into a hand that appears between us. “What do you want to do, treasure?” He holds the gun to me. “Want to try again?”
He’s really here. I step into him, my face colliding with his chest. He keeps the gun aimed at Pa and lifts my chin with the other, forcing me to face him.
“Tell me what to do, Natalie. What do you need me to do?”
“I want,” I close my eyes, what do I want? “Can you take him to the room where you took Howard?” I open my eyes to see his wide smile as he looks at me proudly.
“Oh baby. Of course.” After pressing his lips to my temple, he grabs Pa by his throat and pulls him away.
Pa struggles against Julian's hold, scratching and punching the hand that is currently choking him.
But my stalker is a lot bigger and a lot stronger than Pa, and before Julian has even reached the van, Pa passes out.
I hope Julian didn’t kill him already, I’m not finished with him yet.
“Who is that?” Gustin asks.
“They’re my friends.” I hold up a finger to Dante, indicating I’ll be a minute, then step inside. “Can you show me where Anya’s room is? I’ll pack some of her things. You do the same.”
Back in the car, we let the two kids sleep and drive quietly back to the warehouse, where Bull is waiting to check them out and stitch up Gustin's cut. Which luckily isn’t too deep.
Silent tears fall , how did I not know what was happening to my own child.
I always imagined her being adopted by the perfect family, her living in the suburbs playing in the garden and having loads of friends at school.
Never once did I imagine her being in the exact same book as me.
Every chapter of her story is copy and pasted from my own.
From a broken mother to her broken daughter. I just hope I can change her ending .
“Natalie.” Gusin calls quietly.
“Mmm.” I look back at him.
“She’s going to be safe right?” He wipes away an escaped tear. “She won’t be sent back to live with Ma will she?”
“No.” I shake my head. “None of you will. We can all live together someplace and I can help you both heal.”
“ We can help you both.” Dante adds. “I swear to you, no harm will come to any of you with me, Julian, Bull and Pea around.”
We. He really said we? I can’t believe that just a week ago I had no-one but Julian. And now I have a whole group of friends willing to help with healing my child. With healing me.
“Who?” Gustin asks.
“You’ll meet them soon. They’re lovely people.
” I say truthfully, because in all honesty, they are.
Apart from their jobs and their sadistic ways that is, but Gustin doesn’t need to know that.
“Bull is a doctor, he will have you patched up real quick, and Peacock is, well. She’s Peacock.
” I chuckle. “She’s a little cuckoo but she will keep you safe . ”
Dante reaches across and takes my hand, I notice Gustin does the same with Anya, covering her back up with Dante’s jacket when it slips.
I smile to myself, remembering how this young man used to follow me everywhere I went.
How his four year old feet tried to keep up with mine while I played chase with them in the garden during the summers, before I was taken to my bedroom and repeatedly struck by Ma and Pa.
How he used to sneak into my room at six when he had a bad dream and snuggle up beside me as I sang him lullabies until he fell asleep.
Anya groans in her sleep, her brows furrowing.
She’s having a nightmare. Gustin undoes her seatbelt and carefully lays her head in his lap, shushing her back to sleep while stroking her hair.
Dante watches them in the wing mirror as we stop at a red light.
He squeezes my hand, bringing my attention back to him.