Page 78 of Drag You Down
I put my arms around his body and lift him up bridal style. Levi clings to me, burying his head against my shoulder.
“I’m filthy,” he says through soft sobs.
It’s true. His jeans are damp, and they smell, but I don’t give a fuck. I kiss the side of his head.
“We’ll get you cleaned up,” I say gently. “You’re my boy, Levi. I’ll take good care of you.”
“Is this what it means for you to be my Daddy?” he asks, sniffling. I can see him trying to gather himself — trying, and failing, and he buries his face against my chest.
“Yes,” I say. “A Daddy cares for his boy. He makes sure he gets everything he needs. He… he loves him and cherishes him.”
Can a person like me feel love?
I don’t know, but I do know that I will never, ever let him out of my sight again.
I carry Levi up the stairs, each step creaking under our weight. Levi trembles in my arms and clings even tighter to me.
Zachariah Carpenter and Levi’s sister are both standing at the top of the stairs.
“Let go of him, now,” Zachariah says.
I look from him to the sister. Her face is pale, her eyes wide.
“I will not allow you to abuse him any longer,” I say harshly. “You’re going down, Zachariah, Joshua, whatever name you go by. I will not allow your wicked deeds to go unpunished.”
Levi doesn’t look at him. His fingers tighten on my shirt as he clings to me. He’s turned to me for salvation, for hope, and the anger within me flares as I stare at the con man who’s brought such pain to my little lamb.
“Levi,” the sister says. “That man is the Devil. Get away from him. Come back to us.”
I bare my teeth at her. “The Devil? The Devil is your precious Zachariah. ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.’”
“He’s—” Levi begins, but one glance at Zachariah’s furious face halts his words in their tracks. His trembling only gets worse.
“Levi is mine,” I say to them. “You can no longer beat him down. You cannot break his beautiful soul. And mark my words, Joshua. When I’m through with you, you will wish it had been God’s vengeance rained down upon you.”
Levi is whispering something, but I can’t make out the words beyond a plea formercy.
Zachariah has done nothing to deserve mercy. Not even my lamb can convince me to spare this man’s life.
“Get out of here,” Zachariah spits. “And Levi? Know that you aren’t welcome here. We cast you out. To Hell with you.”
The sister turns to stare at Zachariah in shock. “What? No! Levi isn’t?—”
I ignore them and walk out of the building. Their petty squabbling means nothing to me.
The important part is Levi.
I kiss the side of his head again. “Can you stand, my lamb? I need to call a cab for us.”
“I’m… I’m filthy. I need…” He blinks several times, but it doesn’t stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks. “Eve? Eve, come with us,” he pleads, squirming in my arms.
I set him down, and while he leans heavily against me, he stays upright. He needs water, and food, and the sort of care this con man can never provide for my boy.
I look back at the apartment building door. Zachariah and Eve are still arguing on the other side of the glass door.
Eve looks at us. She sees Levi reaching out for her, but instead of coming out to meet us, she averts her gaze and goes to the stairs.
“Eve!” Levi cries out. He takes a step toward the building, but I take his arm firmly in my hand.
