Kissed by a Rose✔️

24)What Do You Need?

I let out a shaky breath, and begin.

"My mother was married to a drug lord. A man who only cared for profit instead of family or morals in general. Though hes my biological father, hes never been a true Dad in my eyes. He's a disgrace and I wont ever forgive him for what he put my mother and I through" I take a breath out, feeling good about getting this off my chest, yet scared of the outcome it will yield. I glance up at the brown eyes that meet my gaze in a content listening state. I continue after assuring myself i have his attention.

" When my father was arrested, it was an ugly scene. He had done shit that wasnt even allowed to be released due to the intensity of its effect on Oregon, where my  mom and I previously had lived with him. At the time, I dont rember even thinking anything of it when I watched them carry my father away in cuffs, I was numb from him doing everything that had already occurred right before me for the past seven years of my life." I stop when I realize I'm stalling, and slightly oversharing and clear my throat, my eyes glancing at the door to determine if its too late to leave.

Theo must notice and he rests his hand on my knee closest to him, rubbing circles with his thumb to encourage me to keep going.

After I allow his physical contact to work its magic, I resume. "Mom freaked and we moved here. Subtly, was what she thought, but even with me being young, I remember one of the cops who covered our case. He had always had something off about him, even in my mothers state of crisis."

"Soon after we moved, we moved again about fifteen minutes down the road from the shabby apartment Mom had found last second. The same cop that had been making eyes at my mom only a month before had convinced her somehow to move in with him. He started out fine I guess, his son was never my favorite even growing up. He liked to remind me that I was in "his territory' and that he would be 'the man of the house' one day. Not that it mattered, seeing as he was literally eight at the time. My mother remarried as soon as the divorce was finalized between my father and her, and shit hit the fucking fan to say the least."

"Around this time is when he began his verbal assault. Hes never shyed away from speaking his misogynistic mind, something that my mother and I hear a lot of on a day to day basis." I sigh, trying to remain vague in hopes I can keep Theos temper down before the finale. However, this seems to be a moot point seeing as his breathing has already changed and eyes have hardened.

"What would he say, mi amore?" A darker version of Theo asks lowly. I grimace, my lips thinning at the question knowing i wont have a happy ending to this story.

"Hes never liked me Theo. Im sure you can use your imagination to determine relatively what was said."

He growls lowly, this time at me, daring me to beat around the bush once more. I know his protective side has gone full throttle, and there isn't a way to make the despicable things He said to me positive. So I decide to continue this honesty bender and let him have it.

"Anything degrading. He hates my mother isnt a virgin, and hates that im living proof of that. He wanted her to be a clean slate in a way I suppose, and hasn't shied away in telling me I've soiled her from ever being pure. He started with smaller insults, which didnt bother me since he was never my favorite person either way. Once he realized those didnt work, he booted me up to a slut or whore like my mother, telling me the only way-" i swallow, bile rising as I truly realize his words that ive stored in my past for so very long. I hold back my heaving while Theo tensley rubs my back in soothing circles, whispering in my ear to not be afraid to say it.

"The only way to be respected woman of his household was for Kingsley to 'ravish my flower' me when he saw fit." I tense at the roar of disapproval that come out of the man who no longer is soothing me but shaking in pure rage.