Page 7 of Moose

“I want them all out of the house by the time I’m done with my shower.”

He walked over to me and grabbed my chin in his hands.

“What the fuck happened to you? You’re covered in blood, baby.”

I barked out a laugh as the steam filled the room.

“Out. Now.”

Javier walked out and I could hear him yelling at everybody to get out. Locking the door, I stepped into the shower.

The piping hot water scorched my skin, but I just stood there, letting the pain engulf me. I needed to feel something to let me know I was still alive. I needed the pain to make me feel human again.

I looked down and watched as the blood swirled down in the drain. It made me feel nothing. I really was just like my father’s side of the family.

I grabbed my soap and scrubbed my body as hard as I could. There was this feeling in me as I scrubbed harder and harder until my skin turned bright red. I needed to get their touches off of me. Their blood, sweat, semen; all of it needed to be gone.

And for that one moment, I let myself go. In the safety of my shower, I let the tears fall where nobody could see me being weak.

I stood in the shower cleaning my hair and body until the hot water ran out and turned cold. Getting out, I dried off and wrapped a towel around my body.

The house was quiet, and I knew Javier had made everybody leave. I walked into our bedroom and grabbed a pair of black shorts and a black crop top. Grabbing Javier’s red flannel, I threw that on top and rolled the sleeves up as I walked to the kitchen.

He was sitting at the kitchen table and looked up at me when I walked in. I put my hand up as he got up out of his seat.

“Don’t bother getting up, this will be quick.”

“Baby... don’t be like that. Come on.”

I shook my head and leaned on the counter, crossing my arms.

“Be like what? Do you how long they fucking had me? What they fucking did to me, Javier?”

I could see the anger in his eyes, but was still pissed he didn’t come for me.

“Lil, it’s not like that. I sent the money to them today. They were supposed to be bringing you by tonight.”

“So you had a fucking party? God, J. You’re so fucking stupid sometimes. Do you ever think?”

He stood and walked over to me and tried to pull me into his arms.

“Come on, baby. Let’s just go to bed and we can talk in the morning.”

I shook my head and pushed him back.

“No. You have no fucking clue what they did to me. No fucking idea!”

Javier kissed my forehead and I stormed away. He followed me into our bedroom.

“But look, Lil baby. You’re here and ready to get back in the game. Your pops didn’t raise a weak bitch.”

I grabbed my bags and packed.

“No. I’m done. Nobody even came for me. I killed three fucking men. Three men who tortured me beyond belief.” I turned to him with tears in my eyes. “They raped me, Javier. Took turns, then all at once. They tried to break me but forgot someone already broke once before me. This... this is just not me. I can’t go through something like that again.”

Javier grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, sitting us both on the floor.

“I’m going to kill those motherfuckers. I’m gonna kill them, Lil. I promise you that.”

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