From above, I could hear the rumbling of engines closing in as the bikes and the truck parked close by, their lights illuminating the space around us. Mum wrenched at her seatbelt, trying to work it free, fighting to unlock it as though it was stuck. Several shadows gathered around the car and after a short struggle, they managed to wrench the rear dented doors open. My eyelids fluttered, feeling dizzy and terrified as a pair of rough hands pulled me free. I was still in my nightgown, barefoot, and I shivered in the cool night air.
“Don’t you touch her!” Mum screamed when I was removed from the vehicle. Her own door was then pried open, and two guys reached in and managed to cut her free from her seatbelt. “I mean it, James! Put her down now!”
I blinked up at James, who was brushing my hair aside as he checked my head and looked me over, searching for injuries.
“You okay, Baby Girl?” he rumbled to me in his deep baritone.
“Wh-what happened?” I whispered, “I want to g-go h-home…” I began to cry when I heard my mother’s screams. It was the middle of the night. Mum had crashed the car. My head hurt. I was cold. My mother was cursing and shouting at James and the other men. I was terrified and confused. What was going on?
“Shay!” James shouted up to the roadside. “Blade!”
My body was shaking and my head swayed from dizziness as I looked up at the two shadows climbing down the embankment.
“Take Mina home,” he tensed on the last word. “Use my truck. Keep an eye on her. I need to help Emily…” He passed me off to Shay, who wrapped his arms around me and held me close as he climbed up the slope to the truck. I immediately felt a sense of safety in his arms and clung to him tightly. Shay pressed his lips to the crown of my head as he reached the top of the slope, his hand on my back, rubbing circles over my nighty to warm me up. Blade, a man I recognized from the BBQ, got in the driver’s seat of the truck that was parked nearby.
“You can’t take my daughter!” Mum was screaming in the distance. “Let her go! Don’t you dare, James! Don’t you dare!”
“Calm the fuck down, woman!” he roared back. “Because you decided to act so goddamned stupid, you hurt yourself and Mina! You aren’t in a position to make any demands right now!”
I tried to look back to see what was happening, but Shay shifted me in his arms so that my view was obscured. Wordlessly, he carried me over to his dad’s pickup and gently laid me out on the backseat. I clung to my bunny and shivered from the cold air as he climbed in, too, and arranged me so that I was curled up in his lap. Blade turned the heat on, shifted gears, and drove away from the crash site. For a while, neither of them spoke while I sat there, staring straight ahead, shivering, with silent tears running down my cheeks. I was in shock.
“How are you doing, Sweetness?” Shay asked. His silver eyes scanned over me nervously, and he tightened his hold.
“My head hurts… I’m cold… where’s Mummy?”
“My dad is helping her. Don’t you worry about it. She’s okay. We’re taking you home.”
“Mummy always locks the doors…” my voice broke at this, my chin quivering as the night’s traumatic events swirled through my mind over and over again.
“No, cutie, to your real home… with your new dad and brother,” Marty said in a low voice from the front seat.
I didn’t understand until half an hour later when we pulled up onto a property that was absolutely shrouded by trees. The driveway led up to a cabin-looking house, the porch lights left on to give away a bit of its appearance. It had a wraparound porch and behind it, I could make out several out-buildings; one that was certainly a garage, and another that was probably some sort of workshop.
“Is this where you live?” I asked, sitting up a little in Shay’s lap.
Blade pulled into the back and through the large, three doored garage and parked. “It’s Sheik’s place. And it’s your home now, too. You and your mother’s.” He climbed out as Shay opened the door and reached for me, carrying me over to the two story log cabin. As much as I wanted to explore inside, my head was hurting too much and I was beyond exhausted to follow through with my usual inquisitiveness to explore. Instead, I slumped over in Shay’s arms as he carried me inside through a hallway in the back, while Blade collapsed on the couch in the main room.
Shay stepped into a dark room, and settled me on the bed. The mattress was soft and I instantly rolled onto my side, clutching my bunny in my hands, and closed my eyes. Shay proceeded to cover me with several warm, thick blankets. I nestled in, finally feeling safe and wanting so desperately to fall asleep. I could hear Shay shuffling around the room, but the quiet sounds didn’t bother me. They were comforting. They reminded me I was not alone.
Suddenly, the bed sunk at my side and I blearily peeked through my lashes to see him wearing a pair of sweats and a loose-fitted t-shirt, and he was climbing into bed, too. Confused, I glanced around, the light of the moon illuminating a bit of the room. The walls had posters of bikes with half naked women on them (ewww), as well as several guitars hanging off the wall over an impressive computer setup.
“Is this your room?” I asked as he pulled the blankets over himself as he settled next to me.
“It is. Your room isn’t ready yet, so I’ll share with you until then,” he said, lying on his back.
“Thank you, Shay,” I whispered, completely exhausted. Before he could reply, I shifted over and nestled into his side, my face buried into his armpit. Though I’d only spent that one day with him at the barbeque, he’d been openly affectionate with me to the point where I felt comfortable touching him and vice-versa. I’d sat on his lap for the whole meal, and the rest of the time he was carrying me around in his arms or on his back.
His body jumped when I moved in to snuggle at his side, stealing his warmth. I felt utterly relaxed and protected here with him, and soon felt that wave of drowsiness set in; like that moment when you are on the cusp of being asleep, yet you are still awake.
His hand moved up and I felt his fingers weave through my long blonde hair. His movements were uncertain at first, but after a minute, the tension in his body eased up and he wrapped his other arm around my shoulders and hugged me close. I felt his lips on my forehead as he gave me a little kiss, before whispering, “You’re welcome, Mina.”
Present Day
Mina: Sixteen Years Old
June
When I step into the kitchen for the first time in five days, I feel strangely numb as I look around the space. It’s been professionally cleaned, and I can smell the bleach. The dining table has been replaced, and a new bouquet of fresh daisies are sitting in the middle. Most likely, Shay picked those out for me as a “Welcome Home” surprise. As nice as it is, I can’t help the shiver that races up and down my spine now that I’m back here. Nor am I able to repress the anxiety that is eating away at me as I look around and bits and pieces of my memories from the night of my attack start to trickle back into my mind. My breath catches and I angrily bite down on my lip and squeeze my eyes shut as I fight to keep from remembering. I don’t want to think about that now… I’ll break.