Page 10 of Rough Diamonds

“Gregor get him the fuck out of here. Will be in contact with you later.” With that Gregor and his men leave. Blood trickles to the white marble floors dirtying the space. What a shame.

With no choice, I answer in the only way I know how. “Unlike you guys I have nothing, what was I supposed to do? I have no traits or anything.” Averting my eyes, I just want this to be over. I knew eventually shit would blow up. How long did I think I could hide? To be honest, I just thought of one thing as long as he didn't find me. I would much rather have the guys over him any day.

“Well I don’t know, you could have stayed with us? I mean are we really so horrible you would rather live the streets than be with us?” Marcus pulls at his hair in frustration. “We would of given you the god damn mother fucking world and you what, threw it all away.” Marcus is fuming with rage.

Damion places his hand on his shoulder. “Man, chill out ok.” Marcus steps back and shakes his head. “Start speaking,” a hand slaps my bare thigh causing me to jump a little.

“What do you guys want from me? I don't even get why I'm here. Sure, I lived in your territory and I worked a few jobs you don't agree with. Lizzy is my number one priority and nothing will ever change that. Not even any of you.” I hold my head up high, even as I kneel on the marble floor.

“Get the fuck outta here Evie, seriously. You just vanished out of thin air. One second you're the love of our lives, the next it was like you never existed.” Marcus paces back and forth as he talks to me. Sylus stays at my back and Damion takes a seat at his desk. Treven reaches over to comfort me, like he always did. But Emmit, his eyes fixate on the blood at our feet. I look at a small pool of blood and get lost. The red-like syrup just sits there and I stay as still as a statue. I start to sway back and forth. My breathing uneven clouds filter through my eyes before the blackness takes over.

Evie

10 years ago

“Stupid bitch.” Smack. “Don’t think telling your mommy is going to help you. She’ll think this is all your fault.” I shake my head and gag on the saturated shirt stuffed in between my lips.

My hands are bound behind me with the finest duck tape. The man who I will never give a proper name to laughs in my face as spittle drops down lips.

“You always wanted me, didn’t you Evie.” The thought alone has me wanting to hurl. “You're all grown up, so I don’t see why I can’t have my fun.” Garbled words of my pleading to stop, are the only sounds in my dump of a room.

My mattress lays on the floor with a white stained bed sheet. My clothes are thrown around the room. The very few things I have lay broken and misplaced. I shake in anger and fear. My mom’s useless anyways. She’s probably shooting up, chasing the next high. I had to deal with her shit my whole life. Not once did I ever think she was going to be my saving grace. She’s more like my falling from grace. My life will always be shit, especially with her in it.

I start to kick out and manage to kick him in the stomach. He grunts as he doubles over clutching his middle like the pathetic son of a bitch he is. I jump up and start moving, not even paying attention to anything else but getting the fuck out of here. With the shirt shoved in between my lips I push with my tongue trying to push it out. I wiggle my wrists but the tape is so tight I can barely move. But my feet keep moving as I use my shoulders to push through the doors.

Once I get to the front door I look around. There’s no way I can open that. I take a second to breathe through my nose. Without another thought, I run, putting all my strength into my right shoulder, colliding with the cool glass. I fall through as shards fly free. Cuts scatter my bruised body. My bare feet make contact with the aftermath. Wincing in pain, I take off into a full sprint. I’m so tired of playing his games. When is this ever going to stop? When will life just take me? My arms start to sag in pain behind my back. The lack of air due the gag has me seeing stars.

“Evie…. Evie.” A man starts to call my name. I turn slightly to see my neighbor. But I keep going. In no way am I stoping for him to turn me over to that fuckin man. I pull and pull, and the duck tape starts to thin out, giving me some wiggle room. With one last tug, I’m able to unbind my hands. I pull out the shirt, spitting as I take off into a full on dash.

Everytime my bare feet hit the black pavement, I yelp. I don’t think I’m going to be able to run far. I scan my surroundings and notice I’m about to hit the southside. The guys won’t be there but there’s a trap house on D street. My body hurts, my mind hurts. I’m emotionally running on the fact that all I have is them. The only ones my heart beats for. They offered to take him out a long time ago but I just couldn't. I don’t want any of them to get into any kind of trouble because of me and then there’s my mother. Even though I loathe her with every cell in my fucked up body, she’s all I have. She loves that monster for whatever reason. It really makes no sense to me. Wouldn’t you choose your own flesh and blood. That saying bloods thicker than water means nothing. It never has because the only blood relative I have ever known has run me through the mud. If I ever have a child they will be my everything. I will run and never look back at this sorry ass excuse of a life. I will grow I will get the fuck out of here if it’s the last thing I do.

Walking up to the house I tap on the door. Not crazy, I’m not the fuckin’ police. “Taz, open up,” I whine. I want to get off the streets. I tap again. “Taz now, or I’ll let the guys know that you left me like this.” The door swings open and I stumble back slightly. “What the fuck Taz.” Taz grabs my upper arm pulling me in fast. He pushes me slightly and I land in a chair. He turns to kick up the door.

“You know you need to be more careful, Evie.”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.” I sarcastically mimic.

He glances at me from head to toe, shaking his head. “He did a number on you this time.”

“Yup.” I pop the p and walk further in. This is not really a place I wanted to be but I had no other options. “Can you roll up a blunt?” I ask I’m so fuckin sore. I can barely stand. I sway a little trying to keep it together.

The place has drugs and paraphernalia all over. Bodies line the walls and the walk way. A needle is sticking out of a lady’s arm with a tourniquet, as blood runs down her arm.

I kick her slightly. Then I kick her a little harder. She wiggles and moans. Oh, thank goodness, I thought she was dead for a second. That would be one more thing to add to my plate. The smell of the house has my nose wrinkling. I really need to get a hold of the guys.

“I called the guys, they’re on their way.” I sit down on a bed and try to breathe. I look down at my legs as the bruises start to appear. My feet have tiny little cuts oozing with blood and glass. Taz hands me over a tray with blunt wrappers, a grinder, and some weed. I take a deep inhale that hits me hard. It has a skunky sweet smell that has me swaying in a daze.

“Thanks Taz, you always know how to win over a gals heart.”

He laughs and places a hand over his heart. “Aww Evie, what thoughtful words.”

I smirk, patting his hand. “Don’t let it go to your ego. I was trying to be nice.” I start to pull the bud apart, leaving a sticky residue behind on my fingers. I place it carefully into the grinder and turn. I take the wrap in my hand that luckily has already been unwrapped with the tobacco tossed in the trash. I breathe in just loving the berry smell. I twist the top off the grinder and stuff the wrap till I can’t any more. Wetting my lips with my tongue, I glide it over the wrap and roll. I lick a little more and keep wrapping, pinching the blunt between my fingers, I admire my work. Bringing it up to my nose, I inhale a deep breath, then exhale. The skunky sweet smell has my nostrils burning. I take the lighter off the tray and light the tip inhaling. I pull the drag in deep till my lungs feel ready to give away. The burn comes as I release the smoke into rings above my head. I love to play with smoke. The guys and I try to see who can make the best rings and different shapes.

I move the tray and place it on a night stand. The old beer bottles and cigarette ash litter the whole thing. Laying back, I look up at the popcorn ceiling. I sigh as a blanket of warmth takes over my body. From my feet all the way up to the top of my head. I take another pull and suck in until I once again can’t take anymore. That feeling of your lungs expanding till they're at full capacity, then the burn takes over. I then release and give my body a second for the high. I want my mind to be as numb as my body. I can’t let this get to me. And, I won’t, I’ll overcome anything that's thrown my way. I could just leave. The thought comes to mind. But I can't. I don't want the guys to get hurt. My good ole stepdad will hurt them and cause problems, so even though I’m 20, I feel trapped for so many reasons. I don’t even have a license. I don’t have a pot to piss in.

My mind starts to cloud over and I’m so thankful. Banging on the door has my jumping up as none other than the Demon Boys themselves come in like they own the place. Well they do. I laugh at my high inside joke. They tense and do a once over of my state. I shake my head hoping they will give me time to talk.

“You need to let us take care of this, Evie. Stop trying to save everyone when you're the one that needs saving.”