Page 25 of Pope's Penance

Frankie doesn’t let up on his continuous strikes against me.

Legs.Arms.Chest.Back.Face.

Bruises rise quickly, creating a grotesque story of twisted love and deadly anger.

Clumps of my hair fall to the floor as he drags me along behind him down the hall.

I fight as much as I can.

For them.

But the more rage Frankie displays, the quicker my energy drains.

Silently, with tears streaming down my cheeks, I beg the nanny to keep the twins out a little longer.

Frankie lifts me and tosses me against the bedroom wall.My head smacking the drywall has vomit spewing from my mouth, which only angers him more.He yanks his belt from his jeans and wraps it around his hand as he rants at me.The venom he spews is a jumbled mess to my fuzzy brain.

But it all disappears as the belt cracks repeatedly against my skin, splitting it open to bleed out my agony.

A scream tears from my chest as past and present collide in my mind.

Chapter Eleven

Watchingmykidstogetheris a surreal experience.They’re quiet and polite, almost as if they’re used to their voices not being heard.

They dig into their food with gusto, but the longer I observe them, the more I pick up on.

Legend watches Lovelyn as she eats, his bites much smaller than hers.Once her plate gets low, he moves enough for another bite from his on to hers.

So many times, he’s protected her since they showed up here.

Was he born first?Is that why he protects her, because he’s her older brother?Or is there a darker reason?

“I’m going to go check on your mama.You all good for a few minutes?”

Legend lifts his chin.“We’ll be fine without you.”

Ouch.

What a kick to the nuts.

I crack my knuckles against the island counter and walk out of the kitchen with a grim smile.

The first broken cry hits me when I reach the top of the stairs.Indecision wars as I try to figure out the right move.My steps slow, giving her privacy for as long as I can.Only a few minutes later, an agonized scream pierces the closed door of the bathroom.There’s so much fucking terror in it that the hair on my arms stands on end.

The doorknob nearly comes off in my hand as I shove it open and barrel inside.Steam from the shower fills the air.Fog has settled on the glass door, so her form is a blur behind it.

Her screams pierce my ears as I hurry across the floor to her.Without hesitation, I step into the enclosure, fully clothed.

I drop behind her and wrap my arms around her.Once her back rests against my chest, I tighten my hold until she’s snug against me.

“Shh.Shh.I got you, little mama.Everything’s gonna be okay now.”

Despite the scalding heat of the shower, shivers jar Birdie’s body.Sobs continue to pour from her, and with each one, I tuck her tighter in my hold.

Each tortured cry leaves a mark on my soul, a score I’ll carry with me long after I’m buried in the ground.The need to fix it seethes under my skin, but where the hell do I start when I don’t even know the entire story?She’s only given us bits and pieces of the hell she’s endured, and I know there’s still much she left unspoken.

“I got you,” I croon, rocking our bodies back and forth.

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