29. Chapter 24
Damion
Present Day
And I do know what’s wrong, I thought I would ask but she just looks like a lost puppy.
I watch her as she slowly uncovers the DEMON one by one.
It looks like she has kept this part concealed for years.
I grip the steering wheel and try to get my bearings.
I look back and see the name Lizzy tattooed on her arm.
“So, tell us more about Lizzy.” I offer up something, a way out of her head. She stops picking at her knuckles and looks at me. Her lips part to speak but she stops.
“What’s there to say?” She finally gets out.
“I don’t know Evie, it’s been years since you hid from us.” She snorts at my comment.
“That has nothing to do with me and everything to do with all of you and my fuckin’ stepdad. I did what I had to do for us to give us better, to give us more,” she goes on.
“How’s working at a whore house supposed to help you and Lizzy?” Sylus finally breaks the silence.
“I think that’s really bold coming from the man whore himself.” She laughs into her hand, “It’s really funny coming from any of you. If I have to sell my pussy to live, so be it. It’s not the worst thing.” She stops and looks at all of us.
Treven acts like he’s not listening, but he is.
“I don’t know Evie, that sounds like a shit ass life to me,” I can’t help but say.
“Well then, you have no idea what it's like to truly struggle. To be hungry, to have no clothes. To have nowhere to sleep at night. To have someone else to take care of other than yourselves. You know, some people actually have responsibilities.” I know that’s a direct hit.
“Oh, I have responsibilities, who do you think runs all of this?” I lift one hand up in the air to gesture towards the city.
“I don’t know Damion, nor do I care. I have so much more on my plate.
” Evie's irritation is evident. We come to a stop and the car next to us has their windows down.
I look over and the guy blows his smoke my way.
Clenching my steering wheel even harder, I try to keep my cool.
The guy laughs and does it again. My fist collides with the steering wheel as I put the car in park.
I jump out and grab the guy by his throat through the window .
“Don’t fuckin disrespect me in my city.” Grabbing the cigarette out of his hand I take it, pulling out his tongue and ash it.
He tries to make noises but I close his mouth.
“Now, swallow.” I tap his cheek with my other hand.
The guy chokes and sputters and I make him eat his own cigarette.
His friend, who’s in the driver seat, looks at me with wide eyes, almost like he saw the boogey man.
They better believe they did. I won’t put up with any shit in my city.
“Good boy,” I rub his cheek. “The next time I see you, you better not be blowing smoke in my face, laughing.”
He nods his head frantically. He swallows the rest of the cigarette. “I’m sorry ….I didn’t.”
I shake my head. “Don't cower to me now. Be a man and realize you fucked up. Change your actions and go on your way.” I shoo them off and get back into the SUV. Evie just looks at me, but says nothing. “Stop looking like someone pissed in your cereal, Evie.” She crosses her arms and stares back out the window. “Oh, I’m sorry that we ruined the princess’s night, that we actually found you.
Were you ever going to say anything to us?
Or were you just going to hide forever? I’m starting to think we never meant anything to you.
” I look at Marcus next to me. His leg keeps bouncing so I reach out to still it.
I shake my head and he stops, “Sorry,” he mumbles and suddenly, laughter splits the air.
It’s a crazy laugh, like something will hit the fan.
“Me?” She taps her chest. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. I am the one that has always loved you all. I did everything and anything for each of you. But when I was drowning, who was there to save me? My god damn self. I ran to save Lizzy and I. I could not subject her to this shit. My stepdad is a true monster. You didn’t have to live with him.
It was like living everyday on egg shells.
Was today a good or bad day? Were we going to eat today or not?
I didn’t want Lizzy to grow up that way.
The abuse was just getting worse, nothing was getting better.
Where were you? Because the last thing I remember is that none of you gave a shit. ”
“That’s not true Evie.” Treven, of course, chimes in.
“Really? Are we remembering things the same? I seem to count numerous times where I was more of an inconvenience to your little gang.” Ehh. The way she makes her little noises and looks off into space has my heart beating.
“Evie you know we had to do what we had to to save you. Fuck!” I slam my fist into the steering wheel. “You act like we had choices. We were too young and still mostly ruled by our own families. We tried everything we could,” I exhale.
“Oh yeah, like ignoring me and leaving me places. Forgetting I exist. Funny, because I got this little tattoo here.” She shakes her hand in the air.
“For you guys. To show my love, my devotion, my allegiance, to you five. Instead? I get a kick in the ass and a fuck you. How do you think I’m going to act?
” Evie's eyes water and I know she’s trying to hold back more.
When you grow up the way we do, any sign of emotion is nothing but a weakness.
Evie is one of the strongest people I have ever met.
Our love goes skin deep. “Evie.” I stop the car and park.
“You have always been it.” I jump out and walk around the SUV.
Opening the door, I take her into my arms. “Out of everyone, you know what this life can do to people. We couldn’t let it swallow you up.
You deserved the moon. You deserve everything life has to offer.
Staying with us means you're locked into this life. A life that’s not yours.
I lost my soul a long time ago. I couldn't let you lose yours. We know you had a hard home life and we wanted you out of there.” I shake her gently, trying to talk sense into her.
We would do anything for Evie. In a world filled with darkness, Evie is that little firefly of light. She’s our last and only hope at salvation. “Well, I did it. I got out the only way I could, Damion, I ran.”
“We didn’t know you had a sister." My voice is so low. I’m trying to think if I remember anything about a sister.
“She was little.” Evie's vague answer doesn't settle well. I pull her out from the car and do a once-over. She’s curvy in all the right places, her tattoos sit against her glowing skin.
Her hair still sits up in a high pony with her mini leather skirt and white crop top.
I bend down and kiss her gently on the lips.
“Think as you want, love.” I caress her cheek. “You were it. My love won’t fail, no matter the time between us. Did I do some stupid shit? Yes, I did. But it was only because I couldn’t live life without you.”