Page 93 of Keepsake

Words died in my throat, I couldn’t say anything to make it better, so I hugged him with all my might like he was just small as Lachlan.

And he let me.

“He’s here to take us, right? That’s why he came. He wants us to go live with him. You can’t let him.”

“Logan!” Vienna exploded in a cry, Lachlan following her, looking frightened.

The kids seemed frenetic. All the Castillo’s did. Alvaro was pacing, rubbing his face, his hand closed in a fist like he wanted to break his own fingers. Dash’s eyes were wide as saucers. He looked pale and ready to vomit.

And both kids were crying. The most horrible cries I’ve ever heard from them.

“Stop. Stop all of you,” I started, and when they didn’t follow quickly, I asked again. “Stop. No one is taking you from me. No one. Ever.”

“He’s our dad,” Dash reminded me.

“Do you see this house?” I asked them. “Go ahead, look around. I’ll sell everything I own before losing you.”

“He wants money?” Alvaro talked for the first time.

I flashed him a look. “It doesn’t matter.” I turned back to Dash. “No one will ever take you away from me. I’m stubborn and I’m annoying, right? You know me well enough to know that Dash. So tell me if I’m going to let that piece of shit take any of you from me?”

The boy blinked as I spoke my piece. I hoped he saw the determination in my eyes, but I kept going, whispering something only to him.

“I shouldn’t have left you and Sofia. I should have stayed and showed everyone who he was. That was my mistake, and you both suffered, but I’m here now. You’ll always have me by your side. Even when you don’t want me. I’m here.”

It took a second, but Dash slowly nodded, absorbing what I told him. Believing it. I wasn’t letting David intimidate me again. Never again.

Dash’s eyes were glassy with tears he refused to let fall, so I saved him the pretense of being strong, and held him once again.

It took time until everyone stopped crying. Vienna was shaking, but when she fell asleep, she did it quickly, mouth opened with soft snores.

Lachlan fell asleep in my lap, his hand on mine as I hummed. Alvaro brought them to their beds, and as I tucked Lachlan in, Dash came and sat on his bed.

I kissed Lachlan and smiled at Dash. “Goodnight.”

He nodded. “Goodnight.”

It was when I was almost leaving, Dash whispered. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, holding myself by the door. He grew up with a lot of shit, and then his mom died. He didn’t trust adults. If I learned anything from Dr. Maya it was that kids delt with their sorrows in their own way, but they didn’t have the emotional maturity to understand that was what they were doing.

Dash was trying to find a way to defend his siblings. To him, I could be a new David. It was only up to me to win his trust. Today we took a step forward, but I knew it was going to take time. Dash would see soon that I didn’t mind working for it.

“Have good dreams, Dash,” I replied.

Hisbeardwasdrenchedin blood after I punched, split his lip, and broke his nose.

He was as big as a tank, but the problem was… so was I.

With the rage brewing inside me, I knew I wasn’t going to lose. And he knew it, too. As I made contact, blow after blow, never stopping for a second, never wavering, my hands split into a dozen unforgivable cuts. I’d destroy myself if it meant I could destroy him, too.

I was quick. He didn’t have time to even graze his fist on me.

I never ended an adversary like that. Any other night, the fight would last longer.

It had been a week since David Murphy came to Logan’s house. One week and the scene replayed in my mind in a horrible symphony that left me standing on shaky ground every day.

I couldn’t sleep. I only existed in rage, shame, and guilt.

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