Page 18 of Watch Her Bleed
“That’s fine. If she is up to no good, that will get the point across that we are paying attention,” I say, watching the kitchen door.
“You like her. Don’t you?” Luca asks.
“More than I’m willing to admit,” I say.
Chapter Seven
Aurora
Kaia is rightfully pissed that I went to work today. I couldn’t bear to sit at the house and do nothing. When I get lost in my thoughts, they always take a nosedive. I end up depressed when I get stuck in my feelings. She didn’t fight me, but she sure was not happy.
We got back to my apartment last night, and I immediately went and took a shower. I nearly scrubbed my skin raw until she came in and made me stop. This led to a complete mental breakdown and I ended up sobbing. She got me out of the shower and helped me get dressed before setting me on the couch. She has a rule about not drinking when I’m depressed, so she wouldn’t let me have any wine.
Once I calmed down, I explained everything. I started at the beginning and told her how it started and how often my parents let him rape me. I told her about the first time he held me down and forced himself on me when I was thirteen and he was nineteen. She stayed silent through all of it and just listened to me.
I explained the numerous pregnancy scares that led to me getting a birth-control implant so that I wouldn’t get pregnant by my brother.
I told her it had been six months that I had avoided him, but I knew that no matter what I did he was going to get to me. She’s blaming herself because she thinks that she could’ve prevented it, but she couldn’t. I think her presence just ensured that it didn’t end up as an all-night affair. With him being that angry at me, it very well could’ve ended up with him raping me multiple times over the course of hours. I would’ve ended up injured. I am sore today, but I think disassociating during the rape prevented him from hurting me too badly. Luckily I didn’t bleed this time.
Once I got done explaining everything, she said that she would respect my decision to not go to the police, but would no longer support me if I ever went back to their house. I told her that now that she knows I have the reason and the courage to stop going around Enzo. She understands I’m going to be around my parents at least one more time. If I don’t get my point across that I’m done, they will just show up to my apartment and she knows it.
We are going to find someone to change the locks on my apartment since there’s a high likelihood that Enzo and my parents have a key. I don’t even know how he would’ve gotten a key, but I know he does. He is coming to my apartment in the middle of the night too many times for it to just be me forgetting to lock the door. I’ve always been vigilant about double-checking my locks, especially after the first time he got in.
“You have a table,” Maria says. She sees that I’m leaning against the wall with my eyes closed and puts her hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired,” I lie. I can feel my blood sugar crashing, but I know that she is about to cut me.
“Have you eaten?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I lie. I didn’t eat dinner last night and I have not eaten at all today. That means I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. They would all kick my ass if they knew. The thought of eating makes me want to throw up though.
“Okay, after this table, clock out. No need to do side work. Take it as my congratulations on the new job.”
“Okay,” I smile. “Thank you.”
I step out of the kitchen and when I round the corner, I see Matt and his brothers. It doesn’t even surprise me that they are here. I had a feeling they would show up.
“Seriously?” I ask when I get to their table.
“Good evening,” Matt says with a sweet smile.
“Good evening,” I say. “What would you like to drink?”
“If I say wine, are you going to dump it on me again?” Matt asks.
“Ha. Very funny,” I say. “Do you want wine?”
“Yes, please,” he laughs. “Same as before. I’d like for it to be in my glass and not my lap though.”
“That would make for some fun panicked touching,” Luca laughs.
“You three are just hilarious,” I deadpan. “I’ll be back. Decide what you want.”
“Same as last time,” he says sweetly.
“Alright. I’ll go put that in then,” I say. “Waters?”
“Yes, please,” he says. I nod and go to the computer. I can feel him watching me again, but it doesn’t make me nervous like it did before.
