Blondie Brownie

#twenty one#

In seconds,

his expression went from shock,

to disgust,

to rage.

"Who did this to you?" He hissed.

Ashley pulled her shirt back on. Never had he ever seen her so afraid.

"It's nothing," She muttered, staring at her hands. "I shouldn't have done that."

"Are you demented?" Marcus roared, "Someone is hurting you Ashley! Dammit, how long has this been going on?

She looked anywhere but at his face and muttered something under her breath.

He strode over to where she was standing, and grabbed both her hands in his. "You can tell me." He said, surprisingly soft for someone who was turning red from anger.

"Six years." She whispered.

Marcus froze.

"The sick bastard has been beating you since you were ten?" 

She looked at his face. She sniffed.

"It's your father." Marcus said suddenly. "You were ten when your sister and mother died. He's been beating you."

She sniffed again, staring at the floor.

He looked at her hands in his, and then raised them to his cheeks.

"Look at me." He whispered.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, and I'm so sorry you had to go through this alone." He told her, staring into her blue eyes.

"But I'm here now and I swear to god, no one will ever raise a hand on you ever again. That is my promise to you."