A bitter laugh burst from my mouth, and I shook my head with the beginnings of tears in my eyes. “Marcus, I expected no one to protect me. This is the price I pay to keep Matty safe, and it’s worth it. I’m grateful you stopped what he intended to do before he left this time, but I’ve come to terms with it. Only once I leave the country do I have a chance at freedom,” I declared in a voice that trembled even though I kept my volume low to prevent that. “If you don’t mind, I better retreat to my bathroom and do what I can. I don’t relish returning to the hospital so soon after leaving it since I doubt they’ll let me out this time.”
“No, I will help you. I have a cream that helps prevent scarring and aids in a speedy recovery,” Marcus sighed, his eyes looking me over, and I blew out my breath.
“I have it too, dork, why do you think I’m not covered in scars?” I replied with a slight smile. God, sometimes I swear Marcus could be my older brother. “This time, other than what I already suffered, the damage is external. Because they knew my ribs hadn’t healed yet.”
“How generous,” Marcus snarled, and I sighed with a roll of my eyes. “If he cared for you, then he wouldn’t hurt you.” Yeah, if he wasn’t a sick bastard.
“That’s not his schtick,” I scoffed, crossing my arms only to grimace when the movement reminded me of the wounds I needed to tend. “He shows his affection with each drop of blood that falls. Every bruise, broken bone, lash, and burn are declarations of love in his eyes.” I raised my gaze with a sigh, “he wants me to be a masochist to his sadist, but I’m just not into that. Still, if I cry or plead, it gets worse. Two for flinching. I learned quick to pretend it doesn’t hurt, which, oddly enough, is what he wants. I’m sure there’s a deep psychological meaning to it, but I don’t care.”
Marcus growled while his eyes darkened, and I took a cautious step backward, watching him warily. “I won’t hurt you, Angel, but I will kill that bastard for daring to touch you. Was he going to rape you?” Marcus asked through gritted teeth, and I dropped my gaze before nodding. I flinched, hissing out a breath when a growl tore from his throat so loud and feral the air vibrated with it. “I should have killed him!”
“No, he’s my monster, I’ll deal with him by vanishing. It’s bad enough he knows you exist because now he might target Ava to get rid of you first,” I denied tearfully. If something happened to either of them because Marcus answered my cry for help it would decimate my heart and soul. I would never forgive myself if they got hurt because of me. No, I needed to leave. I’d take a few days to heal, but then I’d disappear. Swallowing, I pulled my phone from my pocket, wiping the blood on the screen onto my pant leg, and emailed Tammy to warn her that the asshole was here. God, if he learned Matty was in town, he’d rip it apart to find him. And he would enjoy every person he had to hurt to make it happen. Tammy replied they’d lie low for a few hours, since running into him, literally, would be the absolute worst.
“He can try, but she will eat him alive, Angel,” Marcus scoffed. He relaxed instead of getting angry or tensing like I feared he would. “As for you, little girl, your days of living alone are over. Char and Riff will stay with you, while another watches your door at night.” I grit my teeth, clenching my hands into fists, although I kept my eyes on the ground. “Angel, look at me.” I flinched at his direct order, raising my gaze to meet his. “They won’t get hurt, believe me, they’ll realize he’s there long before you do if he returns. I understand what your friends getting hurt to protect you would do to you, so I wouldn’t ask you to accept this unless I was sure they wouldn’t suffer harm.”
“How can you be so sure?” I asked with a quiet whimper, and he smiled. To me, it seemed like an unnecessary risk. Why have them be with me when I wasn’t worthy of their protection? Besides, I was used to taking care of myself. I didn’t know how to live with anyone else. What if I snored, or if I was annoying? What if they hated me because Marcus made them stay even though they didn’t want to?
“Because we’re wild here, and your monster doesn’t carry a gun. Not that it would save him, but it would make things uncomfortable for a few hours,” Marcus answered with a terrifying grin. “You understand the other reason I insist on them being there, although I look forward to your attempts to get around it. And, when you visit your friend in the woods, one of them is to go with you. They don’t have to breathe down your neck, but they are to keep you within their sight. As a warning, if you shake them loose, they will be punished.”
“They will not,” I began in a soft snarl, and he chuckled. How did he know the asshole didn’t carry a gun? Because he didn’t threaten him with one?
“Oh, they will. Their task is to keep you safe, Angel. If they fail, there will be consequences,” Marcus shrugged unapologetically. “So, if you want to protect them, you’d better remember when your fetters rankle that without you, they’ll be in trouble.” I huffed, and he chuckled. “Besides, you’re lucky I’m limiting it to three. Otherwise,
