38. Chapter 38

38

I don't know who moves first, Ryker or Jace. Their shoes are forgotten as they race down the stairs, ignoring the guards before barging into Dad's office.

"How dare you come barging in here!" Dad barks, and standing from the chair, he slams his palms against the table. My eyes barely manage to follow as Jace takes the knife from his back pocket, flicking it open and plunging it right through dad's hand, impaling the desk.

Dad cries out in pain, while a small smile appears on my face. No one has ever defended me against my Dad. They all just told me he was a hard ass, that he loves me but needs me to be tough.

"I'm going to kill you," Dad growls at Jace.

"No, you won't." I swallow the needles scratching at my throat. Dad's eyes swing around towards me as if he can't believe the words I'm speaking.

"Bl—"

"Shut up," I snap. I don't even know why I wanted to come back. I knew Dad made a deal with Antonio months after I was kidnapped. I couldn't sleep one night and went downstairs to make cinnamon rolls when I heard them in Dad's office .

"You sold me to him!" I yell, my voice cracking.

"Wh—what are you talking about?"

Stepping forward, I tap Jace, letting him know to remove the knife. Slowly he pulls it out, wiping the blood on his pants before closing and pocketing it. Dad grabs his handkerchief from his pocket, holding it to his hand.

"I heard you after…" I shake my head, not wanting to get into what happened to me. Jace and Ryker are the only ones who care. "You made a deal with him. You sold me off to Antonio."

Dad shakes his head, lying to my face.

"Yes, you did!" I scream, my voice hoarse. "I told you when I was thirteen, he walked in on me naked. I told you for months he would watch me, and not like a bodyguard. I told you!" I scream, slamming my hands against the desk. "I told you He—Henry walked in the bathroom almost every single time. I told you he even stole my panties and bra! But you only told me I—I was seeing things, you s—said he was your best guard, and you trusted him with my life!" I scream so hard my voice cracks over and over again. Tears fill my eyes, waiting to let loose.

"I didn't think… I thought you were lying…" Dad's voice falls as the words I'm finally telling him sink in.

"You sold me after your best guard raped me and beat me, you sold me to someone who is known for raping girls. You were going to throw me out as if I were trash. Does Mom know? Does Tobias?" The tears fall, it was useless to even try and hold them back.

"I was buying time; I was never going to let Antonio have you. You—you're my daughter, Blake."

"I haven't been your daughter in a long time," I hiss. "Now, I'm tired of talking. I'm tired. We're leaving tomorrow. I'm done with this fucking family. I'm done." I shake my head, swiping my tears from my cheeks.

Refusing to glance back, I head back up to my room, feeling the guys behind me the entire time. I don't have to ask; they slide in bed with me, Ryker behind me and Jace in front of me again, holding me as I cry into Jace's back. Crying for the little girl who was never heard, for the teenager that had her innocence ripped away, and for the adult who's finally standing her ground. Only now, I have two protectors that won't let anything happen to me.

I wake up on my back with Jace and Ryker's arms around my waist holding me close to them. I smile down at both, Jace snoring against my neck while Ryker's masked cheek lays on my shoulder.

Looking around the room, my eyes fall on the holes that cover the walls. Remembering the anger, what I felt after being taken, the anger I felt towards myself for not being strong enough.

I never thought I would come back to this room no longer feeling upset. Feeling at peace lying in the room that held so much anger, so much hate.

Closing my eyes, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I never thought I would see the day when I felt safe again, where I wanted to talk and to be free. Jace and Ryker will never understand what they gave me. Protecting me might have been a job at first, but they saved me in more ways than one.

My stomach growls, reminding me I've barely eaten since the hospital. Untangling myself from the guys, I make my way into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

Glancing in the mirror, for the first time, I don't cringe away from my reflection. Instead, I throw my hair up into a ponytail and pull off the sweatshirt, leaving me in my leggings and t-shirt. I swallow the lump in my throat. Just breathe. You're okay. It doesn't matter who sees my scars anymore. Jace and Ryker have seen me, and they think I'm beautiful even if I'm scared and fucked in the head sometimes. They love me.

Taking a deep breath, I do my business before leaving the bathroom. With the guys still fast asleep, I tiptoe across the room, sliding out the door and carefully closing it behind me. No one stands in the hallway, which surprises me since Dad usually has at least one or more guards standing at the end of the hall and at the top of the stairs.

Slowly making my way down the stairs, I almost stumble when I find some of the guards standing at the bottom. I know who they are, but I haven't walked around the house freely without Gabriel or Tobias by my side.

Holding my breath, I bypass the guards, ignoring their eyes as I head into the kitchen. Glad to find it empty, I pull out a mug and make myself a cup of coffee.

"Hey," Gabriel's voice sounds from behind me.

Swinging around, hey, I sign. It takes two seconds before Gabriel and I move, wrapping our arms around each other.

"Fuck, I've missed you," he says, sadness coating his voice.

I nod against his chest. I didn't realize how much I missed him. Ever since I left, it's been nonstop go, go, go. But standing here, hugging my best friend, the only one who's taken the time to learn ASL so he could communicate with me, tears spring to my eyes.

"Oh no, why are you crying?" Gabriel asks, cupping my cheeks. "What happened? Did that Viking hurt you?" He fires question after question. Shaking my head, I hiccup as the tears fall down my cheek.

"Okay, okay, that's great, he didn't hurt you. Good, then I guess I don't have to kick his ass. But that doesn't explain why you're crying." Gabriel frowns, eyes searching mine.

Swallowing hard, I smile. "I just missed you."

Gabriel frowns, eyes widening before a smile slowly spreads across his lips.

"It's good to hear you again," he mutters, pulling me back against his chest. Letting out a sigh, I relax into Gabriel. "Alright, enough of this mushiness, let's talk about those two hunks you brought back with you. "

Gabriel lets me go. Heading towards the fridge, he pulls out a can of cinnamon rolls. Smiling, I grab my coffee before sitting down at the island.

"I've met Jace before, but who's the other one?" Gabriel asks, pulling out a baking pan.

"Ryker," I whisper.

"Hmm, Ryker. I love it. And the whole mask thing, it's very hot."

That's one word to explain it, I sign. Gabriel doesn't miss a beat, watching my hands as he places each roll on the pan.

"Please tell me it's both of them." He chuckles, wiggling his eyebrows.

Wouldn't you like to know? I smirk.

"Yes, absolutely I would love to know." Gabriel gives me the "no shit" look.

"Love to know what?" Tobias' voices comes from behind me. My head snaps to the side, as my older brother smiles down at me.

Jumping from the bar stool, my arms wrap around his neck. Tobias and I might have had our issues, we're siblings, but he would do anything for me. And just like Gabriel, I hadn't realized how much I missed him until now.

"It's good to have you back," Tobias whispers into my ear. I nod, tightening my grip around his neck. "Don't get too hugged out, Mom's going to be in here any second now."

As if she heard her name, Mom comes running in. "My baby!" she screeches. I barely take my arms off Tobias when Mom grabs me, pulling me into her.

"You're never allowed to leave me again, you hear me," she cries. I don't say anything, I can't break her heart telling her that I'm leaving with the guys. I know it's going to be difficult, and I doubt Dad is going to just let me go, ya know being a mafia princess and all. But I can't stay here. Even if I'm feeling better, talking and feeling like my old self again, I can't stay in the house that Henry was in as well. The memories are just within reach, threatening to break through at any point.

"Ight Ma, let her go." Tobias sighs.

Mom slowly lets me go, tears flowing down her face. Giving her a sad smile, I ease back onto the bar stool, taking a drink of my coffee. Awkward silence fills the kitchen, Gabriel and Tobias leaning against each other as Mom can barely hold herself together.

Where's Dad? I sign.

Mom looks over at Gabriel, while Tobias stares straight at me.

"You're not staying, are you?" Mom asks. Before I can answer, the timer goes off, giving me at least a few seconds before I answer them.

Tobias pulls the cinnamon rolls out, frosting each one before plating two for me. Sitting it in front of me, I don't pick the fork up, confused about why they're not answering me.

"For fuck's sake." Gabriel rolls his eyes. "Dad is in the doghouse because Mom heard what you said in his office."

The air gets trapped in my lungs, my eyes peering over at Mom. It dawns on me that this is why she's crying so hard. She heard about Henry being a creep growing up, and Dad never told her when I went to him about it.

"I'm so sorry, Blake, I had no idea." She cries harder. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I get to my feet, stepping in front of Mom.

"I'm okay, Mom." My voice cracks. Hearing me only makes her cry harder, her arms once again wrapping around my waist.

"I'm so sorry, I failed you, I can't believ—" Mom stops talking, barely being able to finish her thought. Instead, I hug her, rubbing her back. I never thought about the pain she would carry for what happened to me. As much as I wish I could take it away, I can't. What's done is done, and as much as I want to take it all back, to go back and erase all the pain, all the hurt, I can't. And I'm not entirely sure I want to. If I hadn't gone through it all, I wouldn't have met Jace and Ryker, and I can't imagine my life without them.

So, while I hold Mom as she cries, I feel my own tears falling from my eyes. Crying for the girl that had her innocence ripped away, for the girl that never had a chance at a normal childhood. And for the adult that has to learn to heal herself.

I take the last bite of my cinnamon roll pushing my plate away.

Are you and Dad going to be okay? I ask.

Mom catches a few words, frowning. "You asked about Dad and me?"

I nod my head, getting up from the island, taking my plate to the sink.

"We'll be okay. I just… I know there are things he can't tell me, but this wasn't something that involved his business, it involved our child. I—"

Shaking my head, I cut her off with a stern look. It took thirty minutes for her to calm down. I don't think I can handle another round of her crying because she blames herself.

"Sorry, I'm fine. But yes, your father and I will be okay. He's been the same stubborn asshole for the past twenty-five years. You don't need to worry about us." Mom smiles, reassuring me. I take a deep breath, putting my plate in the dishwasher. "Can you tell me about the two men upstairs?"

Blushing, my lips tip up to a smile. I love them. I can't even begin to explain the feelings inside.

"You love them?" Mom's eyes widen for a split second.

I nod.

"Both?"

Again, I nod. It might not be normal to love two people at once. But without either of them I wouldn't feel complete.

"And they're taking care of you? You're safe?"

Tilting my head to the side, I give her a reassuring smile. Ryker might be difficult and likes to cut me while ripping my ass apart. But I wouldn't have him any other way. Jace is the one that broke through that steel wall around my heart. Without him, I would still be a shell of a person.

"Then go, let your father clean up the mess he made. Go be happy and live," Mom says, tears filling her eyes once more. She shakes her head, swallowing hard. "I'm serious. Be happy, Blake. You deserve it."

Taking a shaky breath, I kiss Mom's cheek, squeezing her arm. "Go," she whispers.

Nodding my head, I take off, ignoring the guards' glances as I take the stairs two at a time. Twisting the doorknob, I race inside, finding Jace and Ryker slowly waking up. The moment they hear the door, their eyes snap open finding me standing there. They open their mouths to say something when I shake my head. Jumping on the mattress, I bite my lip, grabbing their chins to look at me.

"I love you both," I whisper.

"I love you." Jace leans into my touch.

"I'm obsessed with you," Ryker growls.

Taking a deep breath, all the pain I've ever felt seems to be lifted off my chest. "Let's go home."