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Chapter One

"Mama Charlee!" Ryatt's little feet ran across the stage stopping as she reached the edge of the stage. I pulled her into my arms, her legs dropping from the stage in the process. Nothing else mattered, no one else mattered.

"Where's Ryder?" I stood on my tippy toes trying to peak from where Ryatt just ran to me from.

"He's scared." I caught a glimpse of my little Ryder, hands in his mouth as he bit at his tiny fingers. He was always the shyest of our bunch.

Casey's body joined Ryder's as she guided him to me where I pulled him into my arms just as I did Ryatt. I stood there holding the two of them. Both of them clung to me like a monkey to a tree.

"There's more that I should probably say but," my eyes broke from my siblings for just a short few seconds as Pierce's voice broke the silence in the auditorium, "that's the reason I wanted to share my story finally. I think you all want to go home now. So, that's all for today! Have a good break and see you all in the New Year." The curtains closed breaking Pierce's view from everyone.

When my focus was back on the little two in my arms, I felt the twins latch around my legs. I sat down on the floor with my real family around me. No one else mattered, not Grayson, not Pierce, not anyone.  

I felt this looming as Luca and Lucy reunited with Ryatt and Ryder. When I looked up, I found Grayson standing there, fists at his side.

"Charlee, I don't mean to break up this reunion but we need to talk. Now." There was no way out of this. He was demanding. A fire behind his eyes ready to ignite everything on fire for destruction. I was honestly scared that if I didn't talk to him, he was on his way to kill Pierce. Even if I was l livid at Pierce myself, I still loved him.

"Guys I'll be right back." I kissed the newest members of the Bradbury family on their heads before stepping away with Grayson.

His hands gripped my shoulders tighter than they should have. I felt a little fear but I knew he wouldn't hurt me in ways that my father did when he held me like this.

"What the fuck was that?" His cool demeanor he always had was wiped clear from him.

"I-" my mind was trying to figure out the right words to say, even though I was pretty sure there was going to be no right words. "I didn't know he was going to do any of that." I felt tears hitting my eyes because even though I'd never love Grayson like Pierce I cared for him more than one could ever imagine.

"Oh, bullshit Charlee. You guys probably had this planned. You just want to single handedly destroy this entire school. Both of you. It's fucking disgusting."

As much as I wanted to fight back, I had taught myself that goes nowhere. If I spoke back to my father, I'd get hit ten times harder and longer. I knew that Grayson would never put his hands on me but he could try and hurt me with his words. I also knew he was speaking out of anger and that deep down he didn't feel this way.

At the end of the day, I was holding Grayson here to stop him from going after Pierce. I knew how Grayson's mind worked. His words in the past rang through my mind as well. If Pierce ever hurt Ally, he was a dead man. Grayson protected his sister like I protected my own, even like I protected Pierce.

After a good five minutes of hearing every bad thing that Grayson had to say to me, I sighed. Honestly, after his first sentence I zoned out, blocking his hateful words. I had grown very good at that skill through my years of torture and bullying.

"Do you feel better?" I raised my eyebrows at him crossing my arms over my chest.

"No!" He was throwing a tantrum like a child but it was warranted. I wasn't going to be upset with him for his actions. Did I think there was a better way to handle his anger? Of course. But not everyone has learned how to handle it in the right way.

Pierce and Reece appeared on the stage catching Grayson's attention. "Grayson you should go." I tried to grab his attention pulling on his hand to head towards the door.

"Let go of me. I don't want your hands on me ever again." I sighed letting go of him.

He took off for Pierce, but I couldn't stop him. If I watched Grayson lay a hand on Pierce, that was it. Grayson would never be forgiven. Pierce fucked up but violence was never the right choice to handle the situation.

"Charlee get the little ones out of here." Reece's voice took over the large space as I grabbed my siblings and took them out of the auditorium with Casey.

"I didn't know he was going to do that Charlee." Casey's voice was sincere as we exited the area.

I held Ryatt in my arms, not wanting to let go of my mini me. Ryatt would always be my distraction from all that was wrong in the world. We had a bond the moment she was brought into the world and no time apart would ever break that.

"You kay Mama Charlee?" Ryatt said resting her head on my shoulder.

"Of course, Ry. I've got you back in my life." I planted a soft kiss on my baby sister's cheek.

"Whenever you want to visit them, you can Charlee. Levi and I are going to have an open-door policy. Any time of the night or day if they need you or you need them our door will always be open." I reached my free arm out to hug her in a side hug. Which she returned back.

"Thank you for everything. You've done a lot for me, Casey. More than you will ever even begin to understand. Not just you but Pierce too. Your Kingston clan are great people to me."

"It's in our blood. We can't help it. We can be destructive but when we care about someone we don't give up until they give up on us." She smiled just as the door where we had just exited from burst open.

"I'm sorry to break this up but we need to go." Reece grabbed my arm.

"I want to spend time with my-"

"You can another time, we need to go Charlee. Casey, do you mind taking Luca and Lucy?"

"No problem, I'll bring them home after dinner."

And just like that I was ripped away from my siblings all over again. I was stuck with no other option than to leave with Reece. He was too strong to fight. There was no reason to fight the inevitable. That was something I taught myself. The more you fight against it, the worse it becomes.

Charlee, I'm coming over.