Page 36 of Gambit's Queen

“Whatever it is you’re worrying about. Don’t. Together, we will get through this. And if it’s bigger than you and me, we have a family.”

A lump formed in my throat. “But you don’t know,” I croaked.

“I don’t need to know. I love you. It’s crazy. We’ve known each other for a week. Things like this don’t happen. Maybe in your books,” he said with a grin.

Gambit repositioned me so one muscular arm supported my back. It made keeping eye contact much easier. The door opened, Ito came rushing in, carrying a tray. A large bottle of tequila, two glasses, and a container of ice sat next to a platter of chocolate confections. My mouth watered, but I would wait. I’d need a bolster after I told them about Ty.

“Thank you, Ito.”

“You’re welcome, my Queen,” he said, giving a half-bow.

After he left, Doc poured everyone a drink. He put ice in mine before handing it to me. I took a big gulp to calm my nerves.

“Don’t let go until I’m finished?”

“I won’t.”

“Promise.”

“I swear. You are my Queen. I’m not going anywhere, bébé.”

I drew a few shaky breaths before plunging ahead.

“I can only do this one way. All at once and from the beginning.”

When no one interrupted me, I forged ahead.

Ty is Tyler Barnes the third, my stepbrother. He’s been obsessed with me since the moment we met. Mom dragged me, against my will, to some fancy restaurant seven months after Dad died.

Ty and his father, Tyler, were there that night. The moment he saw me he got this funny look in his eyes. He became my shadow. Telling everyone he was my new big brother and had to look out for me. Ty used that excuse to isolate me. No boyfriends. No friends.

If I didn’t stay home alone when he went out with friends, he would do something to me. Ty made sure the marks never showed. Meanwhile, Tyler the second maneuvered my mom to cut me off from my dad’s family.

I was twelve when it started. As the years passed, Ty’s attentions turned more sexual. At first I thought the touches were accidents. They were easy enough to pass off as brushes. One day not long after my thirteenth birthday I found him in my bed jacking off with a pair of my panties. Not clean ones. Before I could leave, he saw me. He flew into a rage and choked me. Ty had me backed into the wall, both hands around my throat while he screamed the vilest things at me.

I think he would have killed me if his father hadn’t found us. Tyler called a private physician to the house. The next day Ty was sent to boarding school in Europe. He sent Mom and I on a vacation to Hawaii. We stayed until the bruises faded.

By the time we returned home to Indiana, I’d been pulled out of school. From that day on I had tutors. Ty was only home for holidays and the summer, but it was enough for him to leave marks. Mom turned a blind eye and, though I knew Tyler kept a close eye on the situation, he didn’t stop his son from abusing and terrorizing me.

Next came the cutting. I have miniscule cuts all over my legs. Look closely and you’ll see them, but they’re there. I know they are there. A daily reminder of him.

One night a couple of months ago after work, I got home to find Ty in my apartment. He attacked me. I’d been taking self-defense classes and knew I had to wait for a chance to get away from him. I kicked him in the balls, but not before he gave me a last set of scars to remember him by. After I got away, I ran downstairs to my next-door neighbor’s apartment. I knew the police wouldn’t help, but she had Honu. He had a vet appointment and work wouldn’t let me off. I paid Mrs. Miller to take him and she kept him for me afterwards.

She knew my issues with Ty and was afraid to do more than let me hide out until morning. By then he’d left my place. I packed a suitcase. Loaded all of Honu’s gear into the SUV and took off. I drove for days until I wound up here in New Orleans. A quick local search and I found the house in Tremé.

I said all of that without losing my shit; points for me.

Doc interrupted the silence. “I’d like to see the cuts, Stormy.”

“I don’t want to leave Gambit’s lap and I can’t take my tights off without flashing everyone.

Doc gave me a kind smile. “I’ll buy you a dozen new pairs of tights. If you’ll let me remove these and examine the scars.”

“I get to choose each pair.”

“Of course. I know an amazing local place, or we can order online. How far are they up your legs?”

The scars stopped at the thigh area because I always had shorts or a skirt on when Ty cut me. I showed Doc where they ended, but I didn’t want to get off Gambit’s lap.

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