Page 46 of Dare You to Catch Me
Why me? Why did I have to have fucked up parents, fuck one bad parent is enough, two... what's the fucking point in having me if you hate me that badly.
ACE
She has finally broken.
I knew this would fucking happen. Learning her mother was alive was too much. She has been put through too much in a short period of time and has never had to endure this much stress, I can say that.
They all wronged her, they all took her futurefrom her, used her for their own benefits, and I won't stand for it any longer.
Today is the day she stops having things taken from her and she will be treated the way she always should have been. And my father will stay the fuck away from her, I will make sure of it.
She hasn't stopped crying yet, soaking my shirt with her tears, I squeeze her tighter as I continue through the forest, away from her house that is about to fall to the ground to a pile of coals.
She is nothing like she put off, acting like she knew nothing. She fucking knows it all. She found her own ways of this life and her secret hiding spots are fucking brilliant, the Medallion in the cave. Fucking smart, smart move.
I would have never thought to do that, to be honest, and it makes me even more proud of her.
EMMA
My adrenaline starts to slow, the reality of our events painting a clear picture in my memory, finding a sense of security and power all at the same time, knowing I have my father.
Finally feeling like I can breathe, the tears drying frommy eyes, I come back from the lost place I have been, while my head has been tucked against Ace's chest.
I don't know how long Ace has been carrying me through the forest before I look up to him and whisper out. “I can walk, put me down.” His eyes look down meeting mine, that playful smirk curling from his lips as he shakes his head. “Not a chance in hell Baby Girl, I'm not putting you down until you are in that helicopter.” I turn my head and see a helicopter sitting in an open clearing ahead, before I turn my head back around, meeting Ace's gaze, with a playful tone. “Really?”
Chapter twenty
ACE
We're home; we are finally fucking home.
We got home as the sun was coming up this morning and it is now falling again. Emma is still sound asleep; not moving a muscle in my bed. And now with Charles in our possession, my mind is set on Luca, needing to find him. Trying to work quietly in our room so I can keep an eye on her while she sleeps but the uneasy feeling I have flooding my every nerve causes me to just pace wearing a path in the carpet.
I look over at her peaceful sleeping body, not at all how she was last night. She finally broke with everything she had been given the last week, she broke, but pulled herself together, only to break again when she stepped foot into our room. It was like she could let go of everything, and she did, until she cried herself to sleep in my arms.
Thinking back to that; I can't be in here anymore, I need to take care of something and get it off my chest. I'm fucking angry; no, I'm not angry, I'm fucking furious with how she has been treated.
I look back over at her again, before I reach for the door handle and open the door. I step out into the hallway hearing heavy footsteps coming my way, I look up and see Bear as he asks. “Where are you going?”
“I need to speak with Papa.”His eyes widened with my tone. “I don't think that's a good idea do you?”
I clench my jaw; no, it's not a good idea, because I'm going to do something I've never done before, but I won't stand for these secrets and lies anymore and more importantly, I won't let Emma get smashed down anymore.
I shake my head in response to Bear. “Then why are you going?” He asks. “Bear, April is her mother!” I snap.
“WHAT!”
“They kept it from her, and Papa dropped the fucking bomb on her right before we got Charles. I won't stand for his secrets anymore.”
He stands in front of me, searching my eyes, probably trying to see if what I'm about to do is justifiable.
In our world, if we challenge our Father's or Uncle's power, and our challenge is not justifiable, we pay a price… The price of a finger being removed. Each challenge, unjustifiable, means 1 less finger on your hand. I've got all mine, I've never challenged Papa, but today, I am, because what he did is unforgivable.
Bear's missing two of his fingers for challenging his uncle, he's fucking crazy in the head. “If you're doing it, you better not back down.” He reminds me and I nod my fucking head before I step around him, headed for my father'soffice.
BEAR
I saw that look in his eyes I know all too well. We've talked since he's been home here in the states, but seeing it first hand how he is with Emma. This mother fucker is in love with Emma and will stop at nothing to protect her.
