Page 4 of Beautiful Scars

Out of the corner of my eye I see Levi hesitate. He looks from me, to Garrett, and back to me again, taking full measure of the situation. He inhales deeply and exhales loudly before squaring his shoulders and giving a small nod, like he’s answering a question only he heard.

Taking a step forward, he places himself between me and Garrett.

"Stay behind me." His tone is steady, even and calm.

“Whoa, Princess, looks like you’ve found yourself a little wannabe hero." There's a flicker of something in his eyes when he looks at Levi. He hesitates, narrowing his eyes and setting his jaw before continuing.

"And here I thought I’d been keeping you plenty busy. Guess I’ll have to make more of an effort.” He lowers his tone and chuckles before continuing.

“Listen. Kid. I don’t share.” I can hear the cruelty in Garrett's voice as he directs his attention to Levi. The silence stretches between them.

“This has nothing to do with you. Why don’t you run on home to your asshole daddy where you'll be safe. I'm sure he's waiting for you.”

Levi remains silent and solid in front of me, perfectly still. I keep my gaze focused on his back—watching the tiny muscles in his neck and shoulders twitch with each breath he takes. I count the freckles that dot the smooth surface of the skin on his neck and arms. I may not know exactly how any of this is going to play out, but I do know that it won’t end well. Not for him and definitely not for me. It never does.

“C’mon kid. I got no beef with you. Let her by. The longer she stays down there the worse it’s gonna be. For both of you.” Garrett’s voice is taking on a hard, angry edge as he speaks.

“Don’t make me come down there and get her. Trust me, it’s easier for everyone if she gets. Her ass. Up. These fucking stairs.” He slams his meaty hand down on the railing, emphasizing each word. The rotting wood shakes with each smack. His patience is gone.

Levi takes another deep breath before speaking. His voice comes out cold, emotionless. “She’s not going up those stairs and you’re not coming down here to get her.Youshould go back inside and sleep it off while you still can.” The threat hangs in the air.

My entire body starts to tremble when I hear Garrett start to laugh. It’s a wicked sound—one I’ve heard too many times right before things go completely sideways.

Levi has no idea what Garrett is like when he’s well and truly pissed. There’s no way either of us are going to leave this back yard in one piece. We're both totally fucked. Levi just doesn’t know it yet.

“Alright. Have it your way kid.”

The instant I hear the stairs creak as Garrett moves down another step, Levi lowers his shoulders and charges forward with a loud, low roar. By the time Garrett registers what’s happening it’s too late—the alcohol's made him too slow—Levi's already on his way up the stairs. He drives his shoulder hard into Garrett’s leg right as he takes his next step down. There’s a loud crack as his knee takes the full force of the impact. He flails wildly, forced off balance.

Levi quickly gains his footing and takes advantage of Garrett’s precarious position by slamming his body into him. Hard. Garrett’s full weight falls against one of the railing’s weak support posts. There’s the sound of splintering wood as it gives way and the entire section of railing tears away from the stairs. Garrett lets out a loud howl of pain and surprise as he falls. He lands with a sickening thud on the broken pieces of wood and hard ground.

Levi takes his time walking down the fractured stairs to meet me where he left me standing.

“You okay Angel?”

I nod, trying to wrap my mind around what's just happened. “I’m good.” My voice comes out shaky. My eyes are glued to Garrett lying on the ground. He’s pissed, and moaning in pain, but he's not getting up.

Slowly, l let out the breath I was holding. I should feel so many things right now, but all I'm feeling is relief. I know it won't last, but I'll take it. “I’m good,” I repeat.

“Come with me. I want you to hear this,” Levi says. "It's okay. I got you." Reluctantly, I follow him.

I wince with every step as we walk over to the spot Garrett’s lying, clutching his leg, writhing in pain. Levi lets go of my hand and squats down beside him. “I need to make sure you hear me, you stupid piece of shit.” He pauses, waiting until Garrett turns to face him. “If you ever lay so much as a finger on her again, I’ll find you wherever you are and slit your goddamned throat in the middle of the night. Do you understand me?”

“Fucking little ungrateful bitch!" The words hiss from his lips, part agony, part anger. "You have no idea who you're fucking with, kid! You're both gonna pay for this!” Garrett sucks in a breath, his eyes darting back and forth between both Levi and me.

“Talk to me, not to her.” The calm in Levi’s voice is disturbing. His face is expressionless as he watches Garrett rail against him. “I’m thinking you didn’t hear me. Let me make sure I have your full attention when I say it again.”

Levi stands and takes several long strides out into the yard. With a look of determination, he plants his feet, takes a breath, and pushes off, building up speed. He delivers a kick to Garrett’s ribs hard enough to lift his body and move it several inches. Garrett curls into himself gasping for air. Levi repeats the action two more times before squatting down again, gritting his teeth and asking, “Do I have your attention now? I said you'll never touch her again. Ever.”

Garrett’s breath is ragged and uneven. He’s lying folded up on his side groaning every time his chest moves. He nods his head and breathes out a soft ‘yes’.

“Angel? Look at me.” Levi stands and takes his phone out of his pocket, getting ready to dial. Before his fingers push the buttons he looks at me, his expression serious. “I’m going to call an ambulance for him, but first, you and I need to get our stories straight. Okay? That's the only way this is going to work.”

I nod my head slowly, keeping my eyes on the ground. I’m trying to ignore the raspy breathing and gasping coming from the spot in front of me. “Yeah. Okay,” I respond.

“I came over to introduce myself and we were sitting out here talking. He was drunk, came outside, leaned on the railing, it broke, and he fell. That’s it. That's everything.”

There’s a long pause. “Look at me Angel, I need to know you got it. I know you can do this. That’s the story. No more, no less. Now, repeat it back to me.”

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