There was no safe place for her.
There never would be again.
When Rose finished telling us what happened, the room exploded. Cash picked her up, and Jack and Blade held the doors while he carried her out. I didn’t know where he was taking her, but I was thankful he got her out of there. I didn’t want her to know what I had become.
I had told her a watered-down version of what had happened to me when the man found me. I told her about the chains and the basement. I told her about what he had done. But I didn’t tell her about what I had learned.
What he had taught me. What his father had taught me.
I stood from my chair, and Sam held tight to me. “Mimic.”
“Don’t,” I growled, looking back at Sam. “Don’t tell me no.”
“I won’t. Just give it a minute.” She hitched her chin in the direction of the bitch. Melissa, Ghost’s old lady, had gotten toher first. I wasn’t sure how, since she was surrounded by other women who should have done something.
They were supposed to be Rose’s family. The people who had cared for her after I was gone. But they failed her then, and they fucking failed her now. They stood there with their mouths hanging open like they didn’t fucking believe my sister.
“YOU FUCKING CUNT!”
Melissa threw her fist at Syrena, and the sound of bones breaking echoed through the room.
“SHE WAS A FUCKING CHILD!” Melissa screamed as Syrena stepped back, bumping against the wall.
She didn’t get a chance to defend herself, not that there was any defense, because Melissa hit her again, and again. Syrena slumped to the floor, but Melissa didn’t stop. She changed course and started kicking her.
“Ghost, enough.”
My head turned to King when he spoke. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. I watched as Ghost walked painfully slowly over and wrapped his arms around Melissa. She was still kicking and screaming as he pulled her back.
Valhalla didn’t move. She hadn’t spoken since Kytten had uttered the words that broke us all. To her credit, she didn’t look at Syrena. She didn’t ask her whether it was true. She turned and walked out of the room.
“I’M NOT FUCKING DONE!” Melissa screamed as Ghost held her tight. She might just be my new favorite person.
Just don’t tell Sam.
“Mellie!” Gunner yelled as he crouched in front of his sister.
“She raped her, Gun,” Melissa cried. “Kytten was a child. And that bitch raped her.”
Gunner held his sister. “I know, Mellie. She won’t get away with it. I promise you.”
“No, she won’t,” King confirmed. “Jingles, take her downstairs and lock her up.”
“What?” Arsyn asked. “Lock her up? Why? We can finish it right now.” Arsyn flicked a lighter in her hand, and a small flame lit up. As she stared at it, I recognized a kindred soul.
“She gets locked up until we decide what to do with her,” King said. “Your president will be involved in that decision.”
Arsyn scoffed, but she put away the lighter.
I felt helpless. I wanted to do what Melissa had done, but Syrena was a woman. I had never in my life hated a woman enough to want to cause her physical harm.
Until now.
Sam wrapped her arms around me. “Kytten needs you. She needs to know that you are here for her. She doesn’t need you to beat the shit out of a woman to show her you love her. She needs the words, Mimic.”
Sam was right. My sister needed me, not my anger. Not my rage. She needed my love. For a long time, she was the only girl I loved. Now there was Sam.
And now my mom.
