Page 66 of Pretty Monsters

"I don't think my pain is worse than yours," I whisper. "I grew up isolated, yes, but in a way it was a blessing. I have been removed from my father's evil. Sin and Lucien saved me from it when it finally caught up with me."

"Well, I wasn't removed from mine. I was there every time he backhanded my mother because of some imaginary infraction. She met Tessa’s dad and left, and I took her place after that. Until I was strong enough to fight back that is. But, it's not enough."

So much pain fills the inside of this car. Mine, Sin's, and now Ford's. It vibrates in the air, crackling like electricity. What we do with it will decide if we become victims or survivors.

"For a long time I've wanted to do something to help other women and children living the same hell I did."

"What does that have to do with a gym and security business?" I ask.

"We're going to teach women to defend themselves, find them resources to leave, hide them if we need to, and help erase their identities if they need to run," he explains.

Sin wears a determined expression. Here I am being suspicious of Ford's motives, and he's handing Sin the one thing that can pull him from the darkness he's lived his entire life in; a purpose.

There's only a few miles between the apartment and the building Ford owns. It might as well be worlds apart. There aren't any apartment buildings on this side of town. There are factories and warehouses, and little else.

He pulls into an industrial park with several warehouses laid out covering what looks like a city block. He drives through them, and parks next to a large building in the back.

"Why would you buy this?" I ask, staring at a rundown looking building.

Several of the windows are boarded up, which I suppose is an improvement on the others that simply have broken windows. It's a large, squat structure built of concrete. The door has peeling red paint, and there's a faded emblem on the side, but whatever it is has been lost to time.

"The price was right, it has the square footage I need, and it's hard to find," he answers, shrugging his shoulders.

He gets out of the car and unlocks the door, letting us in. I expect the inside to be as rough as the outside, but I am pleasantly surprised. There's a wall of mirrors on one side, with mats on the floor to train on. On the opposite side there are punching bags, weights, and other equipment you'd expect to find in a gym. He guides us through a door leading to a large office filled with computer equipment.

He points to another door inside the office. "That leads to the second floor. I've framed it out for dorm style rooms. A central kitchen and den are in the middle. I plan to offer those rooms to women and children who need a place to hide out."

"Wow. This is incredible. I am impressed." It's lame, and not even a fraction of what I feel about what he's doing here.

"I have one other thing to show you," he says, and strolls back out of the office. There's another section behind the office set up as a shooting range.

"I don't know what possessed me to build this. I don't really advocate violence if it can be avoided, but–"

"Sometimes you can't," Sin finishes for him.

Ford scrubs his hand through his hair. "Yeah." He looks me in the eyes. "I guess, I'd rather know that the women we help will be able to save themselves in any way they need to."

I know he's talking to me. Sin said himself at the start of our journey that I'd need to learn to survive. Something gives him the idea I'm helpless. Perhaps if he knew me better he'd stop thinking he needs to be around to protect me. If we were on more even footing, would he leave?

He's got a table set up with ear protection, a couple of different handguns, and throwing knives. I pick one up, getting a feel for the balance and weight in my hand. He's already set up a target, so I take my stance, grip the knife by the blade, and throw it.

After all three knives land in the center of the target I turn to face them. Ford is smirking, and Sin looks confused.

"I had a lot of time at school, and not much to do. One of the PE instructors taught various self-defense techniques, and I have always been a quick study."

"What else can you do?" Sin asks, reassessing me.

I smile at him. I love the fact he isn't looking at me like he did when we first met. Then I see how much of a liability he thinks I am in every gaze. He hovers, but at first it wasn't out of a need to be near me. Like Lucien, he thought I was fragile.

"Do you have a recurve bow?" I ask Ford.

"Actually, yeah. Not because they are practical from a self defense point of view, but great to improve focus and relieve stress. Give me a second and I'll go get one and some arrows."

Alone, Sin approaches me. His hands go around my waist, and he pulls me into him. "You never stop surprising me."

"I'm not helpless," I tell him.

"I never thought you were helpless. I know you can protect yourself, but your father isn't like most threats. He consumes the innocent. Even if you can take care of yourself, it isn't going to stop me wanting to protect you, you know."

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