Page 17 of The Vincinti's 1
Donavan showed Rowenand Calli to the apartment above the shop.
Calli sat down in the living room with the dog.
Rowen looked around and nodded.“You keep a very tidy place.”
Donavan shrugged.“I don’t like a lot of clutter.But I think you should know something before we get too comfortable here.”
“Oh, what’s that?”She asked.
“I did time in prison,” he admitted.
Rowen paused then turned to look at him.“What for?”she asked.
“For murder, actually.I know that is the worst crime, but at the time I had no real choice.Growing up, it was mostly me and my brother Flynn.Dad drank a lot and mom walked out.My father wasn’t an easy drunk and we often went to school with bruises from when he hit us.I sheltered Flynn a lot.One day, dad started hitting Flynn and I couldn’t take that.I grabbed my bat and started beating on the old man.By the time I was done, he was dead and both me and Flynn were finally safe.I did twenty years and when I was released, I found out Flynn was dead but he left a couple of kids behind.I had to find them and I learned that Flynn turned out to be as weak as Dad ever was.Even worse though as he made his living in nefarious endeavors that actually hurt people.I also found out that Flynn sold his daughter to a kiddy porn ring.But she was stronger as a child than her dad ever was.Leon gave me a chance at a good life and I took it.I hope that doesn’t make you feel unsafe here.”
“Why would it?”she asked.“You did what you had to do to protect your brother the same as I would.I know dad has hurt Calli but he doesn’t do it when I’m there, so I can’t stop it.But when I went home this morning, Calli was in his bedroom crying, but I know my father did something to him.But Calli can’t or won’t speak so he can’t tell me.”
“Why doesn’t he like to be touched?”Donavan asked.“I heard you telling the guys that earlier.”
Rowen shrugged.“He just doesn't, that's all.”
“Maybe it’s because your dad was roughing him up all the time?”he suggested.
“Maybe?”She tilted her head as she thought about it.“But I never saw any bruises.I was always looking for injuries.”
“There are more ways to hurt someone,” Donavan said softly.“Than just physically.”
Staring at him, she slowly nodded her head.“There is, yes.”She then looked over at her little brother.“He’s such a good kid.He can take care of himself for the most part.He likes to watch people before he trusts them.He doesn’t trust too many and he absolutely hates doctors.”
Donavan snorted.“Smart kid.I never trusted doctors either.”
Rowen chuckled.“No, I guess I never met a doctor I liked much either.”Then she shook her head as she glanced at her brother and the dog.The dog hadn’t left Calli’s side since they met and this did surprise her.“The fact that he’s so taken with the dog is astounding to me.That dog hasn’t left his side once since they met and Calli doesn’t seem to mind.It is amazing.”
Donavan nodded.“I think so too.Meena trains dogs, so I’ve seen many of them here on the property.Sometimes a dog can sense things about people and maybe Cheri just knew he needed her as much as she needed him.”Shaking his head he admitted, “I know Meena has been trying to train Cheri into becoming a service dog, but Cheri has her own ideas about that.Maybe she has chosen to be Calli’s service dog?The two of them hit it off right away, didn’t they?”
Rowen nodded.“Yeah, they did.Maybe this is what they both need.I can’t be with him all the time but maybe she can.”
“I guess we’ll just have to see how it works out between them.”Donavan shrugged.“I don’t know about the two of you but my belly is gnawing on my backbone, thinking it's lunch, so how about I make us some lunch?”
Rowen smiled and nodded.“Yeah, it's been one hell of a morning, right?”She looked at him and asked quietly, “I can cook if you show me what you got.”
Donavan nodded and smiled with relief.“That’s good, because to be honest, I can’t cook.I’d burn water if that was possible.”
Chuckling, she told him, “Then lead me to your kitchen and let me handle the food.”
