Page 8 of One of Six

If there are cameras, they saw who released me, though probably not a face. There is no way I am going to tell him.

"I haven’t seen him before. I didn't get a good look at his face because he was wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled down over his face. I promise, I didn't recognize him. That's the truth." I cry.

"Get out of my sight, girl," Judge says.

I catch the haunted look on Uncle David’s face before I flee the room. Evelyn stands in the hallway, her purse slung over her shoulder. There are tears in her eyes. I grab her and push her toward the front door. "You have to leave before they know you're still here. Please, Evelyn. Go." I start to cry.

She reaches out to take me in her arms, but I pull away. "Please, you have to go."

She nods and leaves quickly. I run to my room and lock my bedroom door. I grab a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and lock myself in the bathroom. I fall to the floor and cry. Big, raging sobs. I knew the aftermath would be bad. I had no idea it would be all three of them. Tears fall from my eyes and leave marks like raindrops on the skirt of my dress.

Thank God Evelyn left when I asked her to. My face hurts where he hit me. He doesn't usually aim at my face. My body hurts from the tension. My stomach is churning. The thought of running away from home now that I'm eighteen crosses my mind. I could go live with Evelyn. No. That would be the first place they would look.

I remember my sweats and my t-shirt as my tears dry.These are my comfortable clothes, I think as I change into them. There is no way I am leaving the bedroom until I hear Judge and Uncle David leave. I want to be able to forgive my father, but I don't think I ever will. His father raised him and Uncle David with a heavy hand. It's his fault that his sons turned out the way they did. Both like the control they have over the family, the town, and Den Hollows. One day, I hope someone powerful will come along and challenge them. I hope that person wins.

The sudden knock on the bathroom door makes me jump. It's soft, so I know it's my mother.

My hand trembles as I reach out and unlock the door. I open it slowly and find her standing there with tears on her face. I know they're not for me. He must have hit her too.

"I should have paid more attention to what you were wearing when I sent you to the store.” Her eyes turn to granite. "I won't make that mistake again. If you don't want another beating, I suggest you pay attention to what you're wearing as well."

"Yes, Mama."

"Go to bed," she snaps. "I'll take care of that bruise in the morning."

She leaves the room. I stick my tongue out at her back. She turns around. "Good night." My door closes softly. I wish she would slam it.

I crawl under the covers, snuggle in, and let my mind drift back to the afternoon and my encounter with the Redd boys. Essex is the youngest at nineteen. He has beautiful emerald, green eyes. His face is chiseled, and he has a head of dark brown hair. He is as tall as his brothers and certainly fills out the denim jeans that cover his strong thighs. I wonder if I'll get the chance to run my hands up from his stomach to his chest.

I sigh.

Ridge and Galen are the twenty-one-year-old twins, and yes, they are identical. In appearance, that is. Medium brown hair in a military cut set them apart from the other four. They both have scruffy faces and light green eyes.

Boone is twenty-three and more of the strong and silent type. He watches, and lets his brothers do the talking. His sandy brown hair was beautiful and fell around his shoulders. He had looked hot in black jeans and a white t-shirt. He'd also worn the tattoo sleeves well. I didn't notice his eye color. I will look next time.

I hope to see them all again.

Nico had looked at me suspiciously. The twenty-five-year-old man had wavy black hair and a pair of green eyes. Just like his brother Essex.

My eyes fly open. It was Nico who let me out of the car. Not Essex. My God. They both have similar hair and eyes, not to mention a sexy physique. I should have realized it wasn’t Essex as the man doesn’t appear to like me.

I know that Atilio, the eldest, manages the house alongside his mother. I have no doubt she needs all the help she can get with six men in the house. There was strength in his arms as he held me against his chest. The man made my insides tremble. The way his brown eyes sparkled with pieces of gold was beautiful.

I smile as I slide onto my stomach and let sleep wrap me in its arms.

6

BEATRICE

My sleep had beenrestless because all I thought about had been the Redd brothers. I sigh to myself, knowing any thought about them would remain a dream.

I lean in close to the mirror, realizing that I only have a small mark on my cheek from where Dad hit me. I debate covering it up, but I change my mind. It isn't my fault that it's there. No doubt, my mother will make sure it is completely covered before my date this evening.

Dressed to please in white cropped slacks and a mint sleeveless cotton shirt, I move downstairs into the dining room. Mother and father sit in silence while eating. Mother glances my way, and I get a small smile of approval. Father keeps his head buried in the newspaper.

I take my seat, keeping my eyes down. I hear the door from the kitchen open, and I lift my gaze to Evelyn. Her eyes go to my cheek, her mouth tightening. She winks, making me smile as she puts a plate of pancakes, strawberries, blueberries, and maple syrup down in front of me. Tears pop into my eyes at her kindness. Evelyn's small gestures of kindness warms my heart, making me feel grateful for her presence in my life.

Noticing my mother's attention on me, I clear my throat. "Morning, Mama, Father." When Dad lifts his eyes, I go on, "I wanted to say that I'm sorry about yesterday and my choice in clothing. It won't happen again."

---