“I’m gonna nap some of this milkshake off.” Emmett groans as he climbs the stairs.
“Cool.” I shrug as I head to my bedroom. Might as well respond to those emails I’ve been putting off. Gerald won’t let my silence stretch for too much longer that’s for sure.
I’m not sure how much time goes by when I start to hear low moans coming from Emmett’s room. I’m not completely sure what the fuck he’s doing, I try to block it out as I attempt to form coherent professional sentences. The moans start turning into shouts of anger and cries of pain and before my brain can even process, my body is flying through his bedroom door and into his room. He’s twisting around his sheets and his body is covered in sweat. His face is twisted in pain as he swats at something above his head. He’s clearly still very much asleep and reliving something terrible.
“Stop!” He screams, “no, please.” He says with a pained moan.
“Emmett?” I say softly as I place my hand on his back.
There are raised bumps all over his back and I can start to make out what looks to be severe scar tissue that his tattoo is hiding. I realize the moment he wakes up, his body completely stiffens and his breathing starts to even out. He has yet to open his eyes but I know he knows I’m here.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” his bright blue green eyes look up at me. “I’m okay.”
My hand is still on his back and I run my fingertips over one particularly large scar. His body begins to shake and I realize what I’m doing. I pull my hand back and slide them both into my sweater pocket.
“Those were given to me by someone who was supposed to be my guardian while my dad was in jail.” He whispers.
“Carm?” I ask, shocked.
“No,” he shakes his head. “Carm was young then, he’s only five years older than me. We were raised by a man named Calen. Well, I was mostly because Carm was being groomed along with Trent from a young age to take over The Eastside Rampage. So, most of the time I was with Calen.”
He curls into a fetal position on the bed and grabs a pillow to cuddle into. He looks so tortured and alone. I sit down on the edge of his bed and place my hand on his thigh. I don’t want him to feel alone and he needs to know that his family is here. His hand comes out and covers my own. My heart takes off in that minute and I’m shocked at the feelings that start coursing through my body, I quickly tamper them down and breathe slowly.
“Calen was my dad’s age, maybe older. He was tough and without kids of his own. He had very little compassion and an especially low tolerance for children, hence why my diabolical father chose him as a guardian. If I really try to figure it out I can also see how he could keep me from ever being found by my mother.” His hand tightens around mine and I flip my hand over and watch as our fingers link together. His skin just a shade or two darker than mine, the callouses on both of our palms scraping together. The weight of his hand is so different from the weight of a female’s.
“Needless to say, my punishments were pretty extreme for a small child. Most of them included whips of some sort and those scars are a result of my running in the hallways or screaming too loud.”
His story mirrors my own life so much and I gasp without meaning to. His thumb begins to rub circles into the side of my hand and I try really hard not to let myself read too far into it.
“I’m so sorry.” I murmur as I watch our hands still linked together.
“I am who I am today because of it, so I have learned to accept it, although my brain forgets sometimes and I have to endure it all over again.” He gives my hand a squeeze and then lets it go. “Thanks for checking in on me.”
I get up off the bed quickly and start for the door, my heart is racing and I can still feel the touch of his warm hand in mine. I definitely read too far into that and I need to go calm myself down.
“Oh, Travis?” I turn at the sound of his voice, “you can come talk to me whenever you’re ready too.”
I nod quickly and hurry back into my bedroom, closing the door behind me.
5
Precious Blood Academy is huge and old looking. The brick and stone structure stands three levels high and the large double oak doors in the front are intimidating as fuck. I’m standing beside Travis’ car and watching as everyone heads into the place all looking identical in their uniforms.
I look at Travis and he has his uniform on but the button up shirt is hanging loose around his pants and rolled up at the sleeves, the required tie is also hanging loose around his neck and he has the blazer thrown over his right shoulder. He lights a smoke and leans against the car.
“Nervous?” He asks me.
“A bit.” I admit.
“I should tell you the people to steer clear of.” He exhales his drag, “you’ve probably heard of Marlana?”
“Yeah, my sister’s nemesis, right? Failed sex tape distributor?”
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “She’ll be interested in you for sure.”
“Oh yeah?” I watch his forearm flex as he lifts the cigarette to his mouth and he squints at me through the cloud of smoke. “Why’s that?”
“Fuck off,” he grins and shakes his head. “I know what you’re trying to do.”
“Hey guys.” I look behind me and over the top of Travis’ car to see Adri walking towards us. Holy fucking shit, her legs with that kilt on? How the fuck am I
