Page 79 of Drag You Down
“You need to be taken care of,” I say gently. “Eve has made her choice. She could have pulled you out of that Hell at any time, but she chose not to.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s doing,” Levi says desperately. “She doesn’t understand.”
But my lamb finally does.
I use the rideshare app to call a car, and I hold Levi close to me while he sobs against my chest.
“It’s all right, little lamb. I’ve got you,” I say, kissing the top of his head.
His shirt feels sticky, and I recognize the scent of blood underneath the urine. More penance.
“I’ll take such good care of you,” I promise.
“But Eve,” he whispers. He doesn’t fight me, though, instead clinging tightly to me. “She can’t stay there. I have to take care ofher.”
“We’ll come back for her,” I lie smoothly. “But it’s like airplane oxygen masks. You need to save yourself first before you can save others.”
I don’t think he believes me, not really, but he nods right as the black sedan pulls up in front of us.
I lead him to the car, opening the back door for him. With one last glance behind him at the building, he lets me help him inside.
“Gabriel?” the driver asks.
I nod and follow Levi inside.
The driver inhales sharply. “Uh, what the fuck is that smell?”
Levi recoils and tries to get out again, but I block his path.
“There’s a two-hundred-dollar tip in it for you if you drive us to where we need to go without any further commentary,” I say to the driver.
The driver glances at me with a grimace, but he nods.
“Gabriel,” Levi whispers, and the shame in his expression makes me want to turn around and rip Zachariah limb from limb for making him look so despondent. “Maybe I should?—”
Whatever he’s about to say about going back, I don’t want to hear it. I kiss him instead, hard and fierce. “No, you shouldn’t,” I tell him. “I’m going to take care of you now.”
“But I have nothing,” he says, swallowing hard. “Not even…” His voice catches on a sob. “Not even clean clothes.”
“I have clothes. You’ll never have to want for anything ever again.” I pull him against me, giving him the warmth I know he needs.
The warmthIneed.
My desire to violently tear Zachariah apart is still there, still strong, but for once, another emotion supersedes the violence.
The desire to take care of somebody.
Levi will always come first.
But I know my lamb.
He wants the same things I do.
I kiss his lips gently and smile at him. “I’m going to make you so happy, Levi.”
He exhales slowly, but he nods. “I know, Daddy.”
My smile widens. “My beautiful lamb.”
