Chapter 12 #2
When Violet finally stirred. April took her niece’s small hand in her larger one and gently rubbed it, hoping the stimulation helped. “Violet, it’s Aunt April, Sweetie. I’m right here. You’re safe. Wake up and look at me. Tell me what happened.”
“Too many,” Violet whispered. April had no idea what that meant, but it sent chills through her body.
Too many - what? Bullets? Knives? Swords?
It didn’t matter. Just the thought of anyone trying to hurt a little girl made April shudder, even if April knew Violet could defend herself the way she did.
Ned had never reached Violet’s limit, but the six-year-old had to have one.
Was that why Ned didn’t want her in the room today?
Was he trying to figure out just how much Violet could take?
The fury that consumed April only barely subsided when Violet’s eyelids fluttered as she adjusted to the brightly lit room, and turned her head to look at April. “There you are,” April said. “How are you feeling?”
Violet started to sit up, but April placed a gentle hand on her chest to keep her down. “Hold on, take it easy, Sweetie. Nice and slow.” The last thing she wanted was for the girl to pass out again.
“It wasn’t too bad this time,” Violet said.
April stared at her niece, stunned by her words. “This time? Violet, your nose has never bled before.”
Violet sighed, and it was the loudest admission April had ever heard. That bastard! “Ned told me not to tell you,” Violet said. “Please don’t tell him I told you.”
“I won’t,” April said quickly, only wanting to reassure her niece. But April was done watching this sweet little girl be tortured by that monster. She’d find a way to tell Tanner. “Tell me, Violet. When does Ned make you work so hard that your nose bleeds?”
Violet sat up then, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Sometimes he wakes me up at night, after you’ve left already. It’s harder to play the games when I’m sleepy though, so my nose bleeds more easily.”
“Games,” April seethed, feeling the ire build inside her at the man who was acting so callously toward an innocent child.
Violet nodded. “Ned calls them games. He thinks they’re fun.
I don’t think they’re fun, but he said if I don’t play the games, and if I don’t listen to him, then he won’t let you come visit me anymore.
” Her little voice caught as her arms flew around April’s neck in a near death-grip.
“I love you, Aunt April. I never want you to stop coming to see me.”
April’s heart broke as she held on to her niece with both arms, lifting the girl fairly easily. Violet was small for her age, petite just like her mother had been. “I will never leave you, Violet. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. I promise.”
Violet sniffled into April’s neck and nodded. “I’m ready for my bath now. I want extra bubbles today, and then, can we go play with the soccer ball outside?”
“Sure, anything you want.” April set Violet back down on the chaise while she ran her a warm bath, making sure to add extra soap and turning on the jets for the extra bubbles Violet had requested.
As soon as Violet was in the tub, the seemingly happy go lucky little girl was back as she playfully wiggled around in the warm water, blowing and popping bubbles as April watched.
Her niece’s words had burned a hole straight through her soul.
The only thing April wanted to do was confront Ned and give him a piece of her mind, then take Violet away from him and this place, and go as far away as she could.
But the reality was that if she ever tried to take Violet away, she’d never make it past the front door, or any of DynaTech’s reinforced steel, carefully monitored, and highly secure fortified gates.
April’s cell phone buzzed in her purse, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She had completely forgotten about Zara’s text message.
She reached for her bag and pulled out the phone, keeping a close eye on Violet as the girl sang to herself while still enjoying her bath.
April smiled and read the new text message from Zara.
Zara: I just landed the biggest client of my career. Ahh! I’m so nervous.
April smiled at her friend’s good news. At least one of them was living their best life.
April: Don’t be. You’re incredible and they’re going to love you.
Zara: I hope so. Confession: I still feel like I have to prove myself every day, and if I make even one little mistake, everything I’ve worked so hard for will be gone in an instant.
April drew in a shaky breath. There was a time she’d had everything she wanted in life.
A great mom, a fun sister, a job she loved, even a few boyfriends that came and went, but it was all part of it.
If someone had told her that in just three years it would all be gone, that everyone and everything April loved, with the exception of Violet and Zara, would no longer be in her life, she would’ve never believed them.
April: Yeah, I know how that goes. I’m always rooting for you, Z.
Zara: You’re the best friend in the world, Ape. Now tell me about Violet. How is she?
The last thing April wanted to do was tell her over text message about everything that had been going on. Not only did it look like Violet was starting to get bored in the tub, but this was definitely a conversation that needed to be had on the phone, or even better, on Facetime.
April: I’ll call you tonight and we’ll talk. Love you.
“I think I’m done, Aunt April,” Violet said as soon as April typed out that last message.
She tucked the phone back into her bag and helped Violet wash her hair, before letting her out of the tub.
She dried her off and helped her get into some clean clothes that were kept in a closet adjacent to the bathroom.
“Outside time?” Violet asked eagerly, her demeanor and energy back, as if the earlier events hadn’t happened.
“Lead the way, Sweetie.” April hated that Violet was being used and abused by Ned, but she hated even more that she didn’t even realize the full extent of it until today.