Page 65 of Saint
I shake my head. Again, not a good idea as the dizziness returns. I take a couple of steps back. He only needs to take a couple of strides on his incredibly long and muscly legs to reach me. When he cups my chin, I cringe and turn away. “Stay still, let me look.”
The tone of his voice strikes a chord inside me. It’s kind but determined, dominant even, and I can only acquiesce. His gentle hand holds me still as he looks over my face. I have no idea what it looks like, but I know my right eye is swollen and closing. A tear slips through the puffy skin to slide down my cheek.
“You poor thing, come on. I’m going to get you fixed up, and you can tell me how this happened.” He drops his hand as I begin to shake. Instead of letting me leave, he supports me as wewalk to the door. I have no clue where I am or what I’m walking into, but it feels safer than my home.
It turns out to be a gym, the huge room full of weight stations and machinery. Most of the equipment is being used by huge, muscled men. It smells of clean sweat, and I don’t know what to call the other smell; it’s just masculine.
After I’m sitting on a leather bench, another couple of men come over. “Jesus, Kip what happened to him?”
Ah, I have a name for my saviour. “Looks like the kid was being chased, but the damage had already been done.” He looks at me. “What your name, kid? How old are you?”
“Royal, and I’m sixteen.” I know that has surprised them. I look younger because I’m small and thin.
He gives me a soft smile, his eyes crinkling at the sides, and for the first time since mum died, I feel safe. “Okay, Royal, can you tell me what happened? Who were they?”
The no bullshit voice is back. I know I have no choice but to talk, and for once, I feel safe enough to tell the truth. “It was the son of the family I’ve been placed with. He and his friends are wankers, and this is their idea of fun.” I sniffle. My nose is running, and I can’t stop the sob as more tears build and fall. “No one gives a shit what they do to me. It wasn’t too bad before they found out; it was just pushing and shoving, some name calling.”
“Found out what?” Kip asks, I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it because they’ll probably be disgusted too.
“You’ve told people, his parents?” Another man asks as he passes me a folded towel.
“They believe him when he says it wasn’t him. That he saw me trip and fall over. My social worker doesn’t want thehassle of having to move me again and that I must try harder to fit in with the family.”
“That shit stops now,” Kip says vehemently, and the others nod. “You’re safe from them now, and you don’t have to go back there again.”
“You can’t do that; I have to go back. My things are there. I don’t have much, but it’s all I have left of before.”
“Before what?” The man that gave me the towel asks.
“Before my mum died.” I cry again, using the towel to cover my face.
“I’ll start making the calls,” he says.
I move the towel down as Kip sits next to me. “I’m a registered foster parent. I already have one lad around the same age as you staying with us. You can meet him later; he’s at home with Robin, my husband. He works in social services. And Steve here, will talk to social services now. He’s a solicitor and specialises in child protection.” He jerks his thumb at one of the huge men with him.
“No, no, they’ll make me go back.” I don’t know what to think. I want to believe him, he doesn’t look like he’s lying. Wait, he said husband. I look up at him. “Wait! You’re married to a man?”
“I am, is that a problem for you?” His expression has hardened a little. I try to shake my head, but it hurts too much.
“No, I’m…um, I’m gay,” I whisper out the words. “That’s why those boys were chasing me—they think it’s fun to beat me up.”
“Listen, Royal. I promise you that is over with from now. There’s a reason you found yourself outside my gym, and it was the chance to change your life. Do you believe me?”
I don’t trust myself to believe in him. I don’t believe that saying that everything happens for a reason. There’s no good reason for my mum dying. Nor does being bullied and pushed around make me stronger. “I don’t know. I get that you have no reason to lie, but I’ve not had many reasons to trust what any adult says to me lately.”
“Okay, I understand that. I’ll just have to prove it to you. I think the first thing we need to do is get you checked out at the hospital; we can talk to the police while we’re there to report the attack.”
“No!” I stand up, and again, it’s too fast, and I feel dizzy again. “I’m not talking to the police. All they’ll do is force me to go back to them.” Panic rises inside me, and I slump back down. “They did last time.”
Kip steadies me, stopping me from collapsing. “Okay, okay. Take a breath and another one.” I copy him and feel a little better. “I’ll get Steve to talk to the police after he’s sorted everything else out. We can go and get your belongings too.”
“I don’t want to go back there.”
Then Steve comes back to us. “It’s getting sorted. Your social worker is on his way here. But don’t worry, we’re here to sort that out for you. I’m going to take some photographs of your injuries if that’s okay. We can clean you up then.”
“I’ve already told Kip that I’m not going to the police.” I fold my arms across my chest but wince when they press against my ribs.
“Royal, I think we should go somewhere more private. I think you’re more hurt than you’re letting on.” Kip helps me to my feet and leads me to the side of the gym and a doorway. “My office is just through there.”
