13. Chapter 8
Damion
I dig my hand into the bag of chips, pull out a handful and stuff them into my mouth.
I carefully wipe off all the crumbs on my basketball shorts.
“Damion, that girl of yours is wandering around town again, go get her before she gets snatched,” one of dad’s enforcers calls out.
Everyone knows who she belongs to. We put it out the first day we met her.
No one on our turf fucks with what’s ours.
I grab my leather jacket and my keys to head out.
Evie is always getting into something. We know she hates her home.
Really, we don’t blame her. The problem is her dad hates mine and always will.
She’s from the wrong side of the tracks.
Usually we take care of that, but Evie, she’s something special.
Emmit found her one day, broken, and he brought her home like a stray dog.
I took one look into those eyes and I could feel the pain. I knew she needed me, needed us.
I buckle up in my truck and take off into town.
It’s not hard to find her. She’s milling around, pushing her feet like she’s trying to escape the inevitable.
“Evie, get in.” She turns around fast and looks into my eyes.
I sigh, her lip is busted and her eye is swollen shut.
“Get the fuck in or I’m making you, Evie.
You can not be out here like this.” I grind my teeth, trying to keep everything together.
Taking in a deep breath, then exhaling. That fucker is going to die.
I slam my hand into the steering wheel before putting my truck into park.
I try to be careful, this truck is my baby.
I get out and walk towards her. Evie lowers her head.
She’s not walking anymore but she’s not getting in either.
I pull my arms around her and squeeze, not hard, but in a way to show her I’m here, I care, and I’m never letting go.
Evie means so much to me. She brightens up my day.
I have lived in the dark for so long. Having even the tiniest amount of light, makes a world of difference.
But her stepdad has to go. He’s going to ruin her.
I pull her into my chest, pressing my nose into her hair.
I breathe in, reminding myself she’s here.
She’s safe, as long as she’s with me. “Do you want to go order some pizza and watch a movie or play some games with the guys?” She nods her head yes.
I carefully tuck her hair behind her ears, making sure I don't hurt her.
“You can stay the night ok, you can have my bed.” I lift her up and lower her into the seat, then take the seatbelt and lock it in.
Bending down, I give her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
“I got you, sweet thing. I always will. Just please trust me, and whatever you do, don't leave me,” I whisper into her ear.
“I promise Dam,” she croaks out. My fingers squeeze the door handle before shutting it.
That motherfucker hurt her. I quickly send a text to the group chat.
Damion: That fuckin piece of shit hurt our girl.
Emmit: How bad is she?
Damion: We need to do something. She can barely talk!!!
Marcus: That bitch deserves to get his head stomped in.
Treven: I’m getting the pizza and movie together. I'll get her favorite blankets and some fresh clothes.
Sylus: I think we should kill him.
Damion: That’s the plan, as soon as we fully take over!
Sylus: I’ll be over soon. I had to make a drop!
Treven: Ok, everything is ready!
I put my phone away and say nothing, I can’t.
I don’t want to raise my voice, she already gets enough of that at home, I don’t want to add to it.
I want to be her safe place. As I drive, I rub her thigh just so she knows I’m here.
When we pull up to my house and get out of the truck, we go around the back to the side door.
The whole downstairs is mine, the guys have their own space but mine is more accessible at the moment.
When we walk inside, we notice the guys have sleeping bags out, snacks, drinks and pizza on the table.
The projector is playing some kind of rom-com, probably in hopes of helping Evie.
“Princess.” Treven comes running up and laces his hands around her waist, lifting her up.
The others come and stand around us. We all dwarf Evie, and she looks truly small and fragile in the light.
She’s almost translucent, like no one has fed her in days.
She looks up into Treven's eyes. His lips press into a straight line, waiting for her to speak. The whole room goes quiet. She tries to talk, but her voice is so small, we have to really focus to be able to hear her. He puts her down and wraps her up in her favorite blanket; we keep it stored for when she’s here.
She cocoons herself in it and sighs. It’s like this is the first time she is able to relax, let her shoulders down and stop being so on edge.
We all find a place to sit around her. We have to talk about everything, whether she likes it or not.
“Evie, what’s going on? Who did this to you?
” I all but choke out. I’m so pissed off, but I don’t want to show her any kind of anger.
I know Evie, that will just cause her to close herself off to us.
Treven gives her a kiss and slides over her favorite pizza, cheese and bacon.
She looks up and tries to smile, but whimpers ever so slightly, like the act alone hurts her.
She’s trying to hold in that pain. I curl my hand into a fist. “Baby, please, who did this?” I need her to tell me.
She won’t admit it, she never does, but we all know who it is.
Her big brown eyes look up into mine. Her lashes flutter as a tear flows down her cheek.
“You have to trust us. Please,” I beg her.
Instead of answering me immediately, she tries to take a bite of the pizza and winces as she swallows.
“He did it,” she finally admits, and I swear you could hear a pin drop.