Page 96 of Make Me Bleed
“Luke.”
“Peris,” he drawls, sounding smug. I fucking hate him.
I pull in a breath through my mouth, hoping I can’ttastethe fucking mint. I push it out as slowly and as steadily as I can, though I’m shaking and I can hear my breath stuttering. “There is a no-contact order. Leave now and I won’t call the cops.”
“But, Peris, my son…” He takes a step closer and sticks his hand out to touch me, and my vision whites out. I’m not really sure what happens after that. My heart is thundering in my ears as Luke drags his hand up my arm and over the side of my neck. I’m pretty sure the bile in my throat enters my mouth, and I have to choke it back down, but everything is a blur of white-hot agony.
“You’ve grown into such a beautiful boy. I’ve loved watching you these last few months. I wish I could’ve been there more. I’ve been waiting…”
“Oh, God,” I choke. I can feel the tears streaming down my face, but I can’t do anything about them because I’m frozen. I want to hit him. To get him the fuck away from me. I feel disgusting and used and taken advantage of, but Ican’t fucking move.
My heart is chugging away in my throat, and tears sting my eyes, rushing down my face and blinding me with every blink. I choke on them and so much more as Luke continues his assault over my body. And he’s done worse—so,somuch worse—but for some reason, it feels like this really takes it all.
I feel completely and utterly violated.
“Who the fuck are you?” The voice of my very own angel sounds throughout the small room, and I relish in the reprieve as much as I fear it.
No.
Nonono.
Abel.
I reach for him, but Luke grabs my arm and holds me back.
“Hey! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I blink rapidly to clear my vision to see Abel stomping toward us. My heart kicks up speed all over again the closer Abel gets to Luke. His eyes dart to mine for a split second, and then, I watch his little fists tighten into balls. I already know what’s about to happen.
“Abel, no?—”
I gasp when he lunges and swings his arm toward Luke. His fist makes contact with his face in a resounding crack, and Luke’s head snaps to the side with surprising force. I jerk back on the table I’m lying on because it’s pushed across the floor as Luke stumbles into it.
“What the hell?” he says, grabbing his face before turning his whole body onto Abel. Luke’s never been a very big guy. But he’s been in prison for the last fifteen years without anything better to do than work out. So, when he faces my runt, I kind of freak out, but Abel doesn’t look deterred in the slightest.
“Bring it on, motherfucker,” Abel spits and widens his legs as he gets ready to swing again.
“Peris, are you okay?” Ma comes rushing into the room, and there’s so much going on, I don’t know where to look or who to pay attention to. Luke’s attention snaps to Ma, and when they make eye contact, Abel takes advantage and starts wailing on him. He starts spewing words I can’t really understand because they’re more of a litany of growls and jumbled words, but Luke seems to understand well enough because he grips Abel by the sides and tosses him off, then swipes his hand under his bleeding nose.
Abel hits the ground with a thud. He releases a small groan, and when he rolls onto his back and I see his grimace of pain, I don’t feel my own. I just need to protect him. I jump off the table and hobble toward my father, feeling heat burning in my veins because he hurt my fucking runt, andno onedoes that but me.
“You need to fucking leave,” I growl, trying to give him one last chance, but the truth is, I’m scared to get any closer. I see Ma on the ground, helping Abel to his feet. She’s shaking and worried, and I can’t blame her. Voices are filling the tunnel. People will be here soon, and I want himgone.
Please just go away.
“I’m not leaving without you, Peris,” he says, face snatched tight into a frown, and I want to growl. Why doesn’t he fuckingget it?
So, I ask him.
“What don’t you fuckingget?I don’t want to see you. I want nothing to do with you. I want you togo the fuck away!” I scream, feeling the burn in my throat from how harshly I yell.
Luke takes a step toward me, and Abel lunges for him with his own scream.
“Abel, no!” I shout, but it’s too late. Abel has jumped onto Luke and iswailingon him again, screams ripping from his throat as he throws his arms in every direction, hitting him however and wherever he can. Luke’s best defense is throwing his hands up to protect his face as Abel beats on him.
I can’t help but watch my runt with pride as he beats on Luke hysterically, pants and growls filling the air along with the smack of skin on skin. Abel clambers onto his back and starts beating onto the back of his head, causing Luke to drop to his knees. And that’s when Ma rushes forward and swings her leg out and kicks him right in the balls.
He grunts loudly and falls to the floor, which makes Abel fall on top of him—and that’s when people rush into the room, including security. I blow out a breath of relief. “Thank God,” I mutter.
But then, they pull both Luke and Abel to their feet, and I stare at them wide-eyed as Mom holds onto me, helping me staybalanced on one foot. “Hey, what the fuck are you doing?” I ask as they pull both their arms behind their backs.
