Page 24 of Unbreakable
Looking around the room at the rest of my men I give them a nod silently telling them the show is over and for them to take their women home. A few seconds later the kitchen has cleared all except for Ember and Raine who are busy cleaning the mess. Walking over to Raine, I place my hand on her shoulder giving it a light squeeze. "Thank you, sweetheart. You did good tonight. You proved your loyalty to the club and my woman. You have my respect."
"You're welcome, Jake. Go on and see to Grace. She needs you. Ember and I got this."
Leveling both girls with one more look, I turn on my heel and head upstairs to Grace. On the way there I pass Logan, Bella, Sofia, and Remi. "Is it okay if Remi stays with us tonight?" Bella asks. "She and Sofia talked about having a movie night. You think Grace would mind?"
I run my hand down my face, "I think Remi stayin' with you guys would be a great idea. I'm sure Grace won't mind."
"Yay! Thank you so much, Jake," Remi cheers then steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist hugging me. It is not lost on me that this is the second time she has hugged me. I note that this is a big step for her. It shows she is starting to open up and trust me. Returning her hug, I ruffle the mass of red curly hair on her head. "I want you to be good. I'll have your momma call you before bed, okay."
"Okay, and I'll be good. I promise."
Walking into my room, Lisa is sitting in a chair by the bed and Grace is fast asleep. Without a word, I lean over and lift her into my arms. "Jake," she murmurs.
"Shhh, it's okay baby. I'm going to take you home."
"Remi?"
"She's staying with Logan and Bella tonight. No worries baby, she's safe." I say walking out of the clubhouse and to my truck. Opening the passenger side door, I sit Grace down and buckle her in.
"I'm so embarrassed," Grace confesses as she looks at me with her tear stained face and red puffy eyes.
"You have nothin' to be embarrassed about, Little Bird," I say resting my forehead on hers. "My family is now your family, and they love you. Not one of them would ever judge you for what happened tonight. If anyone can understand demons, it's them. Every one of us has had to face down our own demons a time or two. Just remember your family will be there to help you through.
14
Grace
"I've never had that happen to me before. It was like having one of my nightmares, but I was awake, yet out of my body at the same time." Holding my arms around my waist, I take in a breath to steady the beating of my heart. It was like I was right there. The images were so vivid, if I reached for them, I could grasp them.
"Babe, listen to me, you had a flashback. Many people who have been through trauma in their life suffer from them. It can sometimes be associated with PTSD. Maybe you should look into seeing someone about it."
Maybe Jake is right. Perhaps I need to talk with someone. I think therapy might be something both Remi and I could benefit from.
"Talk to me, Grace. Tell me where you were after dropping the bowl on the floor," Jake urges.
Releasing a thick, heavy sigh, I stare at my lap and wring my hands together. "Ronan wouldn’t tolerate anything less than perfect, and that included me. Over time berating me for little things like a dirty glass in the sink or toys on the floor turned into more. You've seen the marks on my back," I pause and close my eyes.
"Shit," Jake mutters.
"We had guests over one evening. Some judge, I can't remember his name. Ronan had been on edge the whole day because this dinner was important to him. Like always I was in the kitchen cooking dinner, while Remi was upstairs in her room. I think she was nine at the time, anyway, I dropped a large platter holding the rack of lamb. Aware Ronan was in the other room I knew it was coming. He flew into the kitchen so quick I didn’t have much time to react. I was frantically trying to pick up the mess before he started in on me. With company on the way, I didn’t think he would do much more than raise his voice, but that wasn’t the case. In a flash, his belt came off and as I was hunched over the first strike of the leather strap made contact." Lifting my head, I glance at Jake's face expecting to see pity. I don’t know why I was waiting for him to look at me that way. He wasn’t. He never has. Jake has a determined look in his eyes.
"You may not know it yet, Little Bird, but you are a fiercely strong woman. You've been through the kind of hell no woman, or person should have to go through, especially by the hands of someone claiming to love you. You survived. I have so much respect and admiration for you, Grace. Don’t ever think or let anyone ever make you feel or tell you different. That son of a bitch sealed his fate the moment he put his hands on you, I promise you." By the time Jake finishes I've calmed down.
The rest of the night feels like it has gone to shit. Wanting nothing more than to go home, I let Jake know, "Take me home. The only therapy I need tonight is you."
* * *
A few dayshave passed and Remi gets to start her first day of public school today, and I believe I heard her in the kitchen earlier not long after Jake went downstairs to make coffee. I've been laying here for the past thirty-five minutes listening to the two of them go on about his parent's horses and Jake's little talk about strangers. It was his brief mention of boys that had me in a fit of giggles now.
Throwing the blanket off my body, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed. After making a trip to the bathroom and getting myself ready for the day, I head downstairs towards the kitchen to join Jake and my daughter. I find them sitting at the table eating breakfast.
"Good morning," I kiss the top of Remi's head once I've reached the table. Jake stands and pulls me into him.
"Go ahead and sit down. I'll bring you some coffee and a plate of food." Leaning into one another, we share a kiss. It's still a little odd to have someone who loves to dote on me as Jake does.
Taking a seat across from Remi I take a moment to stare at her. She went through several outfits and hairstyles to wear on her first day of school over the past couple days. I even allowed her to buy some makeup as long as she kept her look natural. Like me her style is simple. A pair of burgundy jeans paired with a white shirt, navy blue hoodie, and black converse on her feet. She has managed to tame her wild red curls by braiding her hair into a fishtail braid which drapes over her left shoulder. The braided style she spent hours learning how to do.
"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look okay?" Remi worries, immediately looking down at herself.
