The Price Of Power: Brielle's Unwanted Truth

Chapter Three

Brielle POV
"Please, tell me this isn't a dream." The man, who I now know is my father, asked. His hands cupped my cheek as he leaned his head against mine. "I assure you, this is her." William smiled.
"Oh god, you're beautiful." My step-mother gushed, tears falling from her eyes as she stared at me adoringly. "Looks like you have your father's eyes." She chuckled, wiping a few tears out from under her eyes. I smiled, a few tears falling from my eyes.
I gave another watery laugh as Nova, the black dog with a white ear, pushed his head under my dad's arm and sat in between us, licking my face and hands in the process. "Stupid mutt." My dad muttered under his breath, glaring at the large
dog.

"I say, this deserves a celebratory dinner!" My step- mother exclaimed. The boys chuckled, each giving me another big hug, Which still hurt. This. This is the life I have always wanted. I wanted a family. And I wanted to be loved. I wish this is what I had from the start.

Dallas POV
Dinner was amazing as usual, while all the events today wore out Brielle. We all sat on the couch as Brielle sat in my lap fast asleep. She was reluctant at first, but with enough encouragement, she fell fast asleep.

I gently ran my fingers through her hair as she snuggled even closer to my chest. I smiled and then turned to the others who were quietly conversing, sometimes turning to check on Brielle.
The others wanted turns holding her once she fell asleep, but I shook my head and denied them saying, all the commotion could wake her up, and considering what the past few days have been like, she needs her sleep.

The others (My brothers) weren't very thrilled with that answer, but luckily didn't argue. Nova and Ace haven't left her alone since they met her. I guess they took a liking to her which I'm okay with. Their natural instinct is to protect, and it seems that instinct has fallen upon Brielle

I felt her shiver within my arms and frowned. I looked around for a blanket, but couldn't seem to find one. Luckily, Damien seemed to sense what I was looking for and smirked, handing me a large, white fuzzy blanket.

I gave him a nod of appreciation and wrapped Brielle in it, then turning back to the conversation at hand. "We can't let her know. This could put her in more danger." Emmet huffed, staring at Brielle who sat in my arms. "But not telling her could also put her in danger! If she doesn't understand what's happening, she could get hurt!" William argued back.

The loud noises must have somewhat woken Brielle as she groaned in her sleep, making us turn to her. Luckily, she just curled up closer to me and continued sleeping. "Guy's be quiet, she needs her sleep and I will not hesitate to lock you out of the house if you wake her." Dad glared at my two eldest brothers who nodded sheepishly.

"It's late and we all need our sleep. We will discuss this at a later time." The others sighed and stood up. "Lets get her to bed." I said. Every year, we redid her room, just hoping for the day she would return to us.

I walked up the steps and turned to the second door on the right. Her bedroom was in between William, and the twins.
William opened the door for me and then pulled the covers back on the bed. I set her down, and then tucked her in. "So happy to have you back baby girl" i smiled, kissing her head and then moving out of the way for the others.

Each one kissed her head and said some type of heart warming words and then moved. Damien was reluctant to leave. The day she was kidnapped was hard for all of us, but Damien took it twice as hard. He always wanted a sister, and when he heard our mother was pregnant with a girl, he was ecstatic. He was planning everything they could together, but when she got kidnapped and mom was killed, he changed.

He became cold, distant, starting fights with people in school, getting arrested. He was just a troublesome kid. We all were, but him more so. We rarely laughed, smiled, anything really, we got a bit better when dad got remarried, But today, changed. We wore smiles for almost the whole day, we laughed and told funny stories. We bonded. This is what we should have become. A happy family. Not one stuck in sadness and in grief. But then, she came and brightened that all up. She is the light that breaks through our darkness.

"Damien, bro, lets go." Andrew sighed, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"No, I'm staying." I chuckled, giving the others a content gaze.
"Let him stay" The others, who hadn't left, sighed and nodded.
Dad came in just as we were about to leave and kissed Brielle on the head, whispering soothing words to her. "Love you, darling."
He whispered, a small smile engraved on his face.

He walked out with a smile on his face... he smiled...he never smiled! She really is a miracle. "Night bro," I smiled, walking out and ready to close the door, but not before Nova and Ace pushed their way into the room and lying on the floor besides her bed.

I chuckled and left the door partly cracked open.
A tear fell from my eyes as I smiled. "Good to have you back princess"

Damien POV
I laid on the red sheets, gently running my fingers through her hair. "I'm never letting you leave me again. I'm gonna keep my promise I made once you were born." I smile.

I slid under the blankets and pulled her against my chest as I breathed in her scent, thanking God for bringing her back to me. I started to close my eyes when all of a sudden she screamed, thrashing against my hold as if her life depended on it. William and Kyle were the first to rush in, assessing the situation.

William was quick to take action as Nova and Ace watched the interaction, whimpering every now and then.
Tears streamed from Brielle's face as she whimpered and cried, begging for help. Tears fell from my eyes as I watched her thrash. Mind you, I never cry, but for my little sister, that's another story.

The others finally piled in, desperate to know what was wrong.
When dad came in, he pushed everyone out of the way and cradled Brielle in his arms. Her thrasing though, had caused her shirt to rise up her stomach, revealing something that made my stomach churn.

Bruises. Dark colored Bruises. Gashes, scars, all lining up her stomach. I wanted to kill whoever did that. I wanted his blood to stain the knife I would cut him with, watching as the life would drain from his eyes, but mostly, I wanted to hold Brielle, coddle her with my love. She's too precious for this, for whatever this person did to her. I will find whoever did this, and kill them. Making their death as slow and painful as possible.

"W-what are those." My step-mother, who now walked into the room, stared at Brielle's stomach in shock, and what I assumed to be anger. My father looked down and frowned, a fire gradually building in his eyes. Just like the rest of us.

Brielle's eyes then slowly opened, now realizing that her whole family was standing in her room. "Who did that." I growled out.