Stained

Chapter 102

A sob wracks through me. That's the only answer Damien needs before he's effortlessly pulling me onto his lap and hugging me to his bare chest.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I cry into his chest. "I... I never went to the police," I confess. I don't know why. Maybe because I want him to shout at me, scold me for not telling them. Make me feel worse? Push me away. I feel like it's what I deserve.

'No, you deserve worse you weak dumb bitch.'

He tries to pull back but I hold onto him tighter, afraid. I don't want to see the look I know is there on his face. I just want to bask in his warmth for a little while longer. Please God if you're listening, let me have a few more minutes of this before he pulls away. Please.

Damien's stronger than me and manages to pull back a little. "Why?" He whispers. No hint of disgust or anger mark his tone or face, but then again, he's always been good at concealing his emotions.

"Because I was scared. Because I couldn't look at his face. Because I couldn't bear to hear his voice. Because... because I... I was threatened." I was threatened later on but I don't want him to hate me. I don't. At least not on this. I don't want him to look at me with revulsion. I don't. With anyone else I could bear it, but not him... never him.

"He threatened you?" He growls low. I can tell from the way his jaw clenches that he wants to shout, but he holds back... for me.

I'm quick to shake my head, too quick. "No, it wasn't him—."

"Don't lie to me."

I cup his cheek and his eyes lose some of their hardness. "I'm not. It was this boy in my class."

"What did he say?" He whispers, pushing my hair behind my ear.

I swallow hard. "He threatened to beat me up if I got the teacher sacked or put in jail." He said it in a room full of students and a teacher. But that teacher never said anything, but she did let me run out of the room crying.

I came home and told my mum I couldn't go to school anymore because of what he said. She ended up calling a teacher, who then tried to make me tell her who it was. I didn't tell her despite her insistence. I didn't want it to get worse. For him to beat me up for a whole other reason... or get his friends to help out. A shudder racks my body at the thought, the fear so potent it's as if he threatened me yesterday.

His eyes narrow into tight slits. "What's his name?"

I shake my head. "I'm not telling you." He lives in the street behind mine. I already get scared going to Sainsbury's and walking the streets. Going to the park. Anywhere he could be with his boys. One guy that went to primary school with me and Hannah raped a girl, and he's still friends with him. Which says a lot about him as a person if he's willing to remain his friend after that.

"Tell me," Damien demands.

"I don't remember," I lie, looking between his eyebrows.

"Do I have to tickle you?" His voice isn't playful in the slightest despite the childish remark.

I glare. "Don't you dare." If he tickles me again I'll piss myself, I know it. I haven't even gone to the toilet yet.

"Then tell me."

"You wouldn't know him anyways," I refute. He's apart of a well-known group, but he doesn't need to know that.

His hand edges closer to my stomach. "Damien," I warn.

"Rose."

"My sisters' will hear."

He narrows his eyes in thought. "You're right."