Page 36 of Carmine

Serenity

I know where you are, bro. There’s only one place you’d head when you’re hurting this much. I checked behind and saw Molly keeping pace with me as we headed towards Carmine. To say Molly wasn’t what I’d been expecting Carmine’s old lady to be like was an understatement. But while shy, I sensed a spine of steel inside her. Molly had been kicked and battered, too, and risen above it. The same with Carmine.

Molly was also sweet, and Carmine needed that sweetness. Carmine didn’t believe he deserved anything good; none of us did, but we’d got there.

This dirty fucker of a reporter had blown Carmine’s life up for a scandal and to sell newspapers. Clearly, the bastard hadn’t done his research. If he was reporting Carmine as a child prostitute, then he’d have spoken to ‘clients’, but children couldn’t sell sex. So, the asshole spoke to and legitimised paedophiles.

That fucker’s name was on my list. If Dad and my uncles didn’t get him, I would. The motherfucker. A low cry made me jump, and I turned to see Molly picking herself up.

“Are you okay?”

“A tree root tripped me. I wrenched my ankle a little. I’m fine. Let’s find Carmine,” she said.

I nodded in approval. If Molly was hurt, I’d have left her here to rest. My brother was the priority.

Finally, I spotted Carmine lying in a ball curled up on the ground. He hugged his knees, and his eyes were closed as he faced out over the Black Hills.

“Molly, stay here. I’m unsure how he’ll react at first,” I warned, and then silently moved forward.

Before Carmine moved, I’d dropped and wrapped myself around him. Just like he used to do for me when we lived on the streets.

Carmine stiffened and then relaxed.

“Serenity,” he rumbled without opening his eyes.

“Hey, bro,” I replied.

“I wouldn’t change a thing. Wouldn’t let them hurt you and Harley,” he murmured.

“No, and you didn’t. You protected us,” I confirmed.

“Failed Tye.”

“Nope. It could have been worse for Tye. Tye was raped five times, and you saved him the other times. Without you, we would have died. Carmine, we’re alive today because of your sacrifice. Don’t let that fuckin’ asshole who wrote that shit beat you,” I whispered fiercely.

Carmine and I both stiffened as another body hit us and, by the coconut smell, I knew it was Molly. She burrowed into Carmine from the front, wrapping her arms around us both.

Molly threw me for a loop. I didn’t know how to react. I was slightly peeved that she’d interrupted my private time with Carmine, but I kept my temper in check.

“Who are we, Serenity?” Carmine asked in a small voice.

“Me? I’m Serenity Michaelson, one of eighteen kids, and my mom is Phoenix Michaelson, and my dad is Drake Michaelson. I’m sister to Carmine and proud as fuck of him. I’m a model, a survivor and a fucking success. Who are you?”

“Carmine Michaelson, famous ball player, one of eighteen children, and I survived. I made it. Because I’m not that street kid anymore,” Carmine whispered.

“I’m Molly, and I’m Carmine Michaelson’s girlfriend, and I don’t care what anyone says about him. Carmine’s a good man who’ll look after those he cares about,” Molly said, startling me.

Carmine let out a heart-filled sob and shoved his face into Molly’s neck.

“You should run, sweet girl,” he muttered.

“I did. Carmine, I ran straight to you. And I always will,” Molly whispered, and I smiled against Carmine’s back.

Carmine picked the right woman for him. Unsurprisingly, I totally approved.

I sent Mom and Dad a quick text saying I’d found Carmine and then wrapped myself around Carmine. He needed my strength.

Sally – Face of the Trusts.

---