Page 42 of Pretty Monsters

"And yet you did. Not only when she hit her head, but also when you said your father had the right idea in locking her up. Now she thinks you think she's worthless because she's not a virgin."

"Shit, I didn't mean it that way. You know I didn't."

I shake my head. "I'm not sure I do. She doesn't belong to anyone but herself. No one gets to control what she does with her body, but her. I'm not sure you get that. You treated her like a possession. I don't give a shit what you saw this morning."

"You had your hand up her shirt, man."

"So you throw her into a dresser and punch me in the face? Did it look like I was hurting her?"

"It looked like you were taking advantage of her."

"You know less than shit about her, and nothing about me if you think I'd ever force myself on a woman."

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Because I know what it's like to have someone force themselves on you!"

I'm panting, and my palms are sweating. Never have I admitted some of the horrors I've lived. For years I've been treated like a possession. Legally, I don't exist. Without a name or identification getting a job or any life outside of Blackthorne Manor has always proven impossible.

This isn't the first time I've run away. Punishments often took the most humiliating or painful route possible. Damien made sure I was broken, that I no longer believed my life or body belonged to me. I wouldn't let that become her fate.

"I fucked up, I know that. I won't hurt her again. I'll make it up to her."

"That's going to have to be her choice. I'm not going to force her to come back here. I'm not forcing her to do anything."

"Will you stay away from her?"

Would I? My knee jerk reaction would be to say yes. I don't do relationships, and Raven doesn't strike me as someone who does casual. She's better off not being with me.

"I am not making you any promises besides this one. I'll protect her, even if it's from you."

He doesn't like what I'm saying, but the fight seems to have left him for now. "I guess I can understand that."

"I've got to get ready for work. There's some shit going down there, and that was why I was coming in this morning. Now isn't the time to talk about it though."

Moving to the door, he stops me. "Take care of her."

"I will, but not for you.”

* * *

"How is she doing?"I ask Ford.

"I laid her down in my bed, but she keeps mumbling in her sleep. How did it go with her brother?"

"I told him she wouldn't come back unless she wanted to. He's feeling guilty enough that he isn't putting up a fight."

Sounds like whimpering come from one of the bedrooms.

"That's her," he says. "I wish she could have gone to a hospital. I can't stop worrying that she needs meds, or the damage is worse than Carmen thought."

"Yeah, I've been having the same concerns. I'm going to check on her."

He follows me into his room, and we see her thrashing around on the bed. Not a lot, but enough that we can see she's in pain.

"I don't know what to do," he mutters.

Comforting someone isn't normal for me. I do the only thing that I can think of and sit down next to her. She rolls over closer to me and starts to relax.

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