6. Mina
Chapter six
T alk about embarrassing. Using the bathroom with the help of my extremely attractive male friend, because I have minimal use of my arms and legs, is not something I’m looking forward to doing again. Thankfully, Jasper keeps his eyes averted when necessary and doesn’t make me feel overly awkward.
My limbs still feel like they’re made of lead, and Jasper tells me it’s the drugs in my system. I hope he’s right, that it’s not damaged from my injuries. I still can’t believe my mother did that to me. She’s always been crazy, but this time she’s completely off her rocker. I’m not sure what happened yet or if they’ve caught her. I need to ask, but I’m a little worried to know the answer.
A little pulse of excitement goes through me at the thought of me talking. I can speak! I’m not sure why I couldn’t before or what’s changed now but I hope with time, I can have full conversations. Right now, three words at a time is a real struggle, causing my throat to hurt from overuse and drying out, although the latter might be from the drugs still in my system.
As Jasper carries me out of the bathroom, I see all seven of my guys are here now, and I give them a huge smile.
“Sweetheart! ”
“Malishka, you’re awake!”
“Princess!”
They all greet me with kisses on the head or cheek, with Dom coming over last and scooping me up out of Jasper’s arms.
I lean against his chest, happy to be close to him. He did everything he could to stop CPS from taking me and helped me speak again. I don’t think I can ever repay him for that, not to mention that they all saved my life by coming to find me.
“How do you feel, Kitten?” Every time he calls me that, it sends a small thrill through me. A special nickname just for me.
“Awful,” I admit weakly, taking stock of all my aches and pains.
He laughs, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“I’m sorry, I’m not laughing because you feel bad. It’s just that we’ve barely heard you speak at all, and I sort of expected you not to answer or to lie and tell me you’re okay. I love that you’re finally being honest with me,” he says, kissing my cheek as he sits on the bed. He places me in front of him and rearranges me so I’m sitting between his legs with my back against his chest, so we both face the rest of the room.
My fingers rest on his knees, feeling the soft material of his black dress pants. He’s paired it with a green dress shirt, but he’s left the top two buttons undone, giving me a little peek at the tiny bit of hair peeking out. His sleeves are rolled up, showing off his impressive forearms that are currently wrapped around my waist as I lean back against him.
Is this how friends sit together? Something about this seems much more intimate than I think sitting with a friend should feel like. But I don’t have much experience to go on. It’s probably just because I’m so attracted to Dom, and all the guys, if I’m being honest. There is just something about each of them that soothes me in a way I’ve never felt before.
And what was with that whole husband and boyfriend thing? I was sure it was just for the CPA officer, but Max seemed so genuine when he spoke to me. And Tucker… he kissed me. On the lips. That had to mean something, didn’t it? Were several of them interested in dating me?
“Are you okay, Mina?” Gideon asks, coming to sit on the edge of the bed and taking my hand in his. “Do you need any of your pain medication increased?”
I shake my head, reserving my voice for when it’s really needed. Ben sits on my other side and offers me some water, which I gratefully sip when he places the straw between my lips. My eyes dance around to each of them as I quench my parched throat. They are all so kind and caring, I’m not sure I deserve to have them in my life.
“Mina?” Ben asks, snagging my attention back on him. “Would you be comfortable having one of us as your emergency contact and power of attorney for medical care?” I frown, not knowing what that means. “When they brought you in, they wouldn’t even let us see you because legally we’re not family.”
The way he says that makes me think he might consider me family in another way, or maybe that’s wishful thinking.
“We only got to stay because we know the police chief. The doctor hasn’t even told us much about your condition. Just about the induced coma, and your finger. Once you were out of critical danger, he refused to give us any other updates. If you appoint one of us as your POA, we can help make medical decisions for you when you’re unconscious and unable to do so. ”
“Only if you want us to, of course,” Gideon adds. I take a moment to consider what he said. If one of them was in the hospital and I wasn’t allowed to see them, I’d be upset, too. Jasper said I was unconscious for twelve days. They’ve been waiting for twelve days to find out what happened to me. I don’t think there is anyone I’d trust more to take care of me.
I look up at Ben and nod.
“Really?” he asks in surprise. I smile and nod again. “Great, let me grab the paper work, which one of us do you want to be your POA and emergency contact?” he asks, grabbing an envelope from the small table and pulling out some papers along with a pen.
I think about his question. I can’t really choose one of them over the other, I trust them equally. I lift my right arm, it takes effort but I’m glad to see it responding, even if it isn’t much. I quickly swirl my finger around to indicate the whole room.
“All of us?” Gideon asks with an eyebrow raised. I nod in confirmation. “Can we do that?” he asks, looking at Ben.
“Yes, we can all be POA for her equally, but she needs one main emergency contact. If you don’t mind, Mina, I’d suggest Dom. He’s the head of our family, so I think he’d be the best choice at keeping a level head in an emergency.” I nod in approval. I wouldn’t be able to choose between them, so I’m glad he’s doing it for me.
He holds the paper out, and between him and Dom, they help me sign the papers.
“I’ll go file these now,” Ben says, moving to stand, but I manage to stop him with my hand on his arm. He furrows his eyebrows at me as I try to work up the strength to speak. “What is it, Princess? ”
I sigh and motion for some more water. I think it’s time to tell them about my past, especially if they were going to be my emergency contact and make decisions for me, they need to know everything.
“I… I want t-to tell you about m-my past,” I stutter out. Gideon holds the straw to my lips, and I take a few long gulps.
“You don’t have to tell us anything until you’re ready, Love,” Gideon says, gently stroking my hand.
I open my mouth to speak again, but I know I won’t be able to say everything.
“Here, I have an idea,” Ben says, pulling out his phone. “I downloaded a text to speech app. So you can type and it will read it out loud for you.” Wow, that’s a really cool app, I wish I had known about it before, it’ll help me get through this. Telling them about my past isn’t going to be easy, and even if I could speak properly, I’m not sure I’d actually be able to say the words.
He opens the app and passes me his phone and I immediately start typing.
“I want to tell you. I have to tell you. I can’t live with you in your home until you know. Or I’ll be too scared to tell you and have you kick me out.” The app speaks aloud for me.
“What? We would never kick you out, Angel. No matter what you tell us, you are coming home with us, understand?” Jasper says firmly, and I give him a sad nod. He says that now…
“I’d like to tell you, anyway. I owe it to you for saving me. But I’m scared.”
“You don’t need to be scared of us, Sweetheart. And don’t worry, that asshole is in a holding cell. He won’t get his hands on you again,” Max says from the end of my bed .
I frown at him. What is he talking about? His hands? Is he talking about Brad? That feels so long ago now, I had forgotten about what happened at school that day. I turn my head to him quickly, confusion written all over my face.
“Are you talking about Brad?” The app reads for me.
Now it’s his turn to look confused.
“No. I mean, we won’t let Brad anywhere near you, but I’m talking about Jeff. He’s—”
I shake my head, then hiss when it hurts. Dom gently rubs my temples, pulling me back against his chest. “Shh, take it easy, Kitten. Take a second and type when you’re ready, we’ll wait.” Max nods his agreement, pressing his lips together, obviously wanting to speak more, but willing to wait for me.
I take a few deep breaths as the pain in my head eases. Do they think Jeff is the one that did that to me? But then, where was my mother?
My hand is getting tired from typing, and Dom seems to notice as he takes the phone and holds it for me. He uses his other hand to hold my right wrist, so I just have to move my fingers to type.
“Jeff didn’t do this. It was my mom.”
You could hear a pin drop in the silence that follows. I glance around to make sure they heard the app properly and see a mix of confused and stunned faces.
“Your mother did all of that on her own?” Jasper asks, and I nod.
“Why?” Atlas growls out.
“The principal called her about Brad. She blames me. Said I was whoring myself out so he’d rescue me.”
“What the actual fuck?” Max spits out.
“Son of a bitch!” Tucker growls, pushing his fingers through his strawberry blond hair.
“Rescue you from what, Malishka?” Atlas asks, his face unmoving as I turn to look at him.
I take a deep breath before typing my answer. “Everything.”
He moves to take Gideon’s place on my left side, stroking my face gently as he stares deeply into my eyes. My insides light up at his unwavering attention, making me squirm against Dom.
“Your mother hurt you before?” he asks. I nod.
“A lot?” Another nod.
“Do you know why?”
“It’s my fault my father left.”
“You know that’s not true though, right?”
I shake my head, and his frown deepens.
“It’s not. She’s a psychopath, and probably a murderer. Nothing that happened to you was your fault,” he says firmly.
I decide to finally tell them the truth I’ve been hiding and let it all out, all the insecurities that plague me, even if they drive them away.
“I deserved it. I’m evil, I have a demon inside me. I’m worthless, trash. I don’t deserve kindness, affection, or love. I attract sin, and it’s my fault that those around me cause me pain. I shouldn’t even exist.”
The tears stream down my cheeks as the app speaks my words, and I wait for them to leave me now that I’ve told them the truth.
When nobody says anything, I peek up. Atlas looks furious. Half the guys start swearing, and something bangs on the ground, making me jump.
Dom growls in my ear, dropping the phone and holding me tight. “Now you listen to us, and you listen good. Every word you just said is untrue. Your mother told you those things to manipulate you. She wanted you to feel bad so she could feel better.”
Atlas picks up the conversation. “You are sweet and kind and worthy of love.”
Gideon squeezes my arm, pulling my attention to him. “Every time you enter a room, my heart lights up. You have so much goodness in you, you make me feel unworthy of being with you .”
Tucker moves closer and leans in to touch my cheek as he adds, “you’re so much more than just worthy. I feel like someone as bright and perfect as you couldn’t possibly even notice someone like me, but you do. You see me.”
“Because you’re incredible, Angel. You’re the smartest, sweetest person I’ve ever met, and I’m honored just to know you,” Jasper says with a small smile.
“You are literally the light in my days, and I find you so genuine and sweet. And it doesn’t hurt that you’re ridiculously sexy, too!” Max adds with a grin from the foot of my bed, making me blush.
“Princess, to survive what you’ve been through, you’d have to have an incredibly strong spirit to keep going. You’re brave and fierce. The fact that you’ve been through all that and you aren’t angry and jaded, you’re just this sweet little thing… It blows my mind. You’re amazing, Mina,” Ben finishes.
“Now, we don’t want to hear you ever say negative words like that about yourself again. Do you hear me?” Dom says, his tone firm.
I nod, unsure if I can actually do that, but wanting to agree with him.
“I don’t even want you thinking about them. If you do, I want you to let us know so we can distract you. Can you do that for me?”
I nod again and hope I can actually do that .
Dom picks up the phone and unlocks the screen for me so I can type.
“Where is she now?” I watch as they exchange nervous glances until finally Gideon answers my question.
“We saw her leave your house right before we arrived, and that’s the last anyone has seen of her. Nobody has been able to find her.”
Am I surprised she attacked me and took off? No, not really. But she made it sound like she was coming back. Maybe she saw the guys at the house and knows I’m not there and assumes she’ll get arrested if she comes back.
“Mina, I know you have more to tell us, but before we go into that, we need to confirm your real identity, to get CPA off our case,” Ben says, changing the subject. He was right. There’s a lot more I need to tell them, I’ve barely scratched the surface. But I definitely don’t want to see anyone from CPA ever again. “Do you have a different name? Or do you know your real birthday? The city you were born in? Anything? I haven’t been able to find anything on you so far.”
How was he searching for information on me? I realize I still don’t know what he does for a living, but I’m starting to think it’s something to do with computers or technology.
Dom picks up the phone and unlocks the screen for me so I can type.
“Mina Stevens, Waco, May 13, 2004.”
Ben gives me a huge smile and squeezes my hand. “Thank you, Princess. I’m going to find out who you are, so we can make sure nobody can legally take you again, understand?” I nod at him in thanks.
Dom starts to rub my arms gently as my eyelids grow heavy.
“I think she’s getting tired,” someone says, and I nod, agreeing with them. Dom helps to turn me sideways against him and I lean my cheek against his chest, closing my eyes and sighing in contentment. I feel so warm and protected in his arms, I wish I could sleep like this every night.