Grimm Protector (Book 2) The Grimm Dragons Series

Chapter Two- Coralee

Hello, Lovelies, 

I am so sorry for being absent.  The truth is life has hit me but I'm coming back slowly.  Also, the Carona Virus seems to have caused life to be crazy.  The schools have closed for an extra week extending Spring Break which means my kiddos are home and since my son is autistic this is a harder change for him especially since the changes have seemed to happen overnight.  I do hope everyone is well and you are taking precautions.  I am going to try to get out as many chapters as I can of my stories during this time.  

News: Sparked has been turned over to my editor.  I am excited to start that process and for you to see the final product.  Also, I have started the second round of self-editing Burned.

I do hope you enjoy this chapter.  If you do, please consider voting and commenting.  If you have questions, comment or send me a message.  

-XXXX Amanda 

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As I laid Riley in her bed, I glanced around the bedroom. It had once been mine filled with everything my mother thought a little girl would need. That was before she died. That was before she left me alone with the man who was my father in DNA only.

I glanced around the room trying to find a reminder of my mother but there wasn't even a piece of wall she had painted, no trinkets or furniture she had chosen. Everything that reminded me of her was gone.

I closed my eyes, picturing her face so much like mine and sighed as the familiar sting of tears burned behind my eyes. I pushed them away knowing if anyone saw them they would use them against me and I couldn't allow that...Not while I was still trapped beneath in this penthouse with people who were supposed to love me but instead, hurt me every chance they got.

I opened my eyes turning toward the door but the moment I closed the door a hand clasped around my bicep so hard I knew it would bruise. I turned, meeting green eyes that had starred in my nightmares more often than I wanted to admit.

"Stop," I said through my teeth, the fact he was hurting me on the tip of my tongue.

Instead of letting me go, he tightened his grip, "You are not allowed to tell me what to do," he hissed, causing me to flinch as I remembered the tone vividly from the last time I had seen my mother, "I tell you and you do as you're told."

I nodded, my chin trembling as tears threatened to fall. Damn...I was so weak and he saw that weakness. He always did as he tightened his hand around my bicep grinding muscle and bone.

A tear fell, giving him a pleasure no father should have hurting his daughter, "Where were you?" He hissed, causing me to flinch at more than the pain in my arm.

A tremble slid from me because no matter what I said in this situation, I was going to pay for it either from him or the girls who had become my step-sisters that I had helped into their rooms or worse, my step-mother.

"I asked you a goddamn question," he said, narrowing his eyes.

I closed my eyes, making the decision on my tormentor at that moment. At least he wouldn't leave bruises on my face where I would have to show the world my shame.

"And I refuse to give you a goddamn answer," I said, receiving the blow to my stomach only a moment later. The breath was knocked from my lungs and I struggled to breathe as my arms wrapped around my stomach, trying to protect it while pulling oxygen in my lungs.

He gripped my chin, pulling my face up, "Do you still refuse to answer?"

I nodded unable to speak as he pushed me away from him, "You're as stubborn as your bitch of a mother," he said, causing me to clench my hands into fists against my stomach, "Until you answer, don't expect to eat and you will still continue to work."

I closed my eyes as he backed away from me. Maybe I would be hungry but it was a thousand times better than what his wife and step-daughters would do to me.

When I no longer felt his presence I opened my eyes relieved to find the hallway empty and made my way to the room I was given the day my sperm donor brought my stepmother, Kinley home. I sighed thinking of the woman who once lived within this room...Our long time maid and nanny, Eloise. She had been fired and I took her place. The only time I was acknowledged as a member of the family was when the cameras were rolling. Then, I had to smile pretty and pretend to be the perfect daughter because I learned to do one thing that would tarnish this families reputation would end in a punishment I didn't want to think of.

I closed my door, stumbling toward my bed before falling upon it. Tears still swept down my cheeks as I took a deep breath wincing at the pain in my ribs. I swallowed, realizing I would have to attempt my escape soon even if I failed. I had to get out of this town...This state.

My eyes strayed to one of my few possessions from childhood...A book of fairytales. I ground my teeth at how naïve I had been. I had always hoped for a handsome prince to come save me. I believed for the longest time that he would sweep me away and destroy my father. It was torture as the truth set in. There was no prince. No one would save me. I would have to save myself. Worse, I had to face the fact that I may not be able to. I may end up just like my mother...Dead with the cause of my death packaged up by a paid-off medical examiner.

I took another breath as a cramping pain sliced through my diaphragm. Slowly, I rose and made my way to the book, flipping through the pictures until I came to the picture of the Cinder girl's prince. I narrowed my eyes taking in his face but for some reason, it was replaced with the face of the biker who had tried to help me tonight...Alpha.

He was handsome but more than that, he had offered something I hadn't had in years...Kindness. There was a protective air about him but I had to face facts. He was part of The Grimm Dragons. They were as criminal as my father and his friends. They simply wore it on their sleeves where my father hid his behind suits and charm.

I swallowed as I shook my head. No, I couldn't expect him to save me. I had to be brave and save myself. My bottom lip trembled as I slammed the book shut. A tear fell from my eye making its way down my cheek as I walked to the trash can and dumped the book within it before returning to my bed.

I stared up at the ceiling, casting away images of a prince, of being saved and tried to plan. I closed my eyes reminding myself for a final time that no one was going to save me. Still, as I fell into my dreams, Alpha starred in them and though I had convinced myself in reality that he was no prince, in the dreams he did all of the things I convinced myself would never happen. In the dreams, he saved me and vanquished the dragon, who called himself my father.