His Greatest Redemption [REUPLOADED]

7

My body wouldn't listen to my brain's command to move. My ears were ringing and tears clogged my throat, but I couldn't hear anything besides the slow beats of my heart.

Too slow.

Hot, wet tears stained my cheeks and lips, and as much as I wanted to wipe them, I couldn't.

The single light humming and flickering on top of the building was what allowed me to see anything, and my eyes were stuck on the girl lying beside the trash dumpster. Beaten, bloody, skirt torn in half, and unconscious. Her face, blurred to my sore eyes, was covered in blood. For anyone else, it would be hard to recognize her, but I knew. I felt it in my soul. It was fourteen year old me, alone, beaten, violated, and somehow still not dead.

Something made of iron steel wrapped around my throat and squeezed like a vice. I dropped down to my knees in the dark alleyway, and something sticky and warm touched my bare knees.

Blood.

But it wasn't mine.

I jolted with a scream when someone grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard, my consciousness seeping back in. "Hey, calm down." A voice snapped urgently, shaking me again.

When my vision finally cleared, a dark haired man stood before me in front of the chair, his face etched with concern. He swept his gaze over my face carefully, and I jerked away from his touch as if he burned me. My breath stalled in my throat and when I reached for my chest, I realized my hands were no longer bound behind my chair.

I was still in Spade's office, but the lights were on. My knees were tucked into my chest and my body still shook, fear crippling me. I could taste the salty tears on the brim of my lips, and hot, bristling anger bubbled up inside of me.

I hated him.

I hated him so much.

"Fuck." The man exhaled a breath of what sounded like relief and handed me a water bottle. "You were fucking screaming. Scared the shit out of me. You good?"

No, I wasn't. "I'm fine." My voice was low and scratchy. I licked my lips and swallowed, trying to focus.

"Come on. I'll take you upstairs. You can...shower and do whatever the fuck you need to do." He reached out to touch me, and I pinned him with an icy stare, silently begging him not to.

"Shit, sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not the enemy right now. I won't hurt you."

I only stared at him, obviously not believing that. Everyone was the enemy. I swallowed again, somehow still trying to get rid of that lump in my throat, and then I finally stood. The door to Luciano's office was open, giving me a glimpse outside.