The Sinister Silhouette-D2D, page 27
“Jules—”
“No, Luca,” she interrupts. “I can’t do that to her.” Tears fill her eyes and one sneaks down her cheek, sliding over one of the bandages. “I’m not saying she should go back to him. I don’t think she should, but I won’t be the reason she loses her father.”
Everything in me says she’s wrong. Theo needs to pay for what he’s done to Jules, and if I can’t deliver that punishment, then the law should, but the anguish in her eyes, the pure misery at Aria no longer having her dad in her life…. I can’t force her to press charges, even if my mind screams she should.
With a tight jaw, I give her a single nod, and she once again relaxes against the couch.
“Please, Gamma! I wanna see Jules!” Aria cries across the room. I lift my eyes over the couch and see Aria trying to break away from Mom, tears rushing down her red cheeks.
I look at Mom and give her a chin lift. “Come here, Aria.”
Mom lets her go and she runs over to me. She stands by my side but faces Jules, and I wrap an arm around her upper legs. Her little chin wobbles as she looks over Jules’s face.
“What happened to your face, Jules?”
Jules leans forward and smiles, but I can tell it hurts from the slight grimace she tries to hide. She cups the side of Aria’s face.
“I just had an accident with the bathroom mirror, but I’m okay.”
I can feel Aria’s body shaking beside me as she tries to be strong. I tighten my arm around her, offering the comfort she so desperately needs.
“It was my dad, wasn’t it?”
Her question hits every person in the room. Aria knows way too much for a girl her age, and it pisses me the fuck off that Theo doesn’t seem to care that he’s damaging his child’s view of him. Every single person has been impacted by his actions, and Jules and Aria have taken the brunt of it.
I can tell that Jules is having a hard time coming up with a response to Aria’s question. She doesn’t want to flat-out lie, but what else can she say but the truth, and the truth would be too much for Aria to handle.
I turn Aria toward me and make sure I have her eyes. Her little hands grab my biceps. “I need you to do me a huge favor, boo.” She gives me her acceptance with a nod. “Can you go into Gamma and Pa’s room for a bit and watch cartoons? I know it’s a scary time right now and you’re worried, but I need to talk with the adults. Only for a few minutes. Can you do that for me?”
More tears leak down her cheeks, and I swipe them away with my thumbs. Aria’s had to grow up way too fast, and she shows this when she wipes her nose with the back of her hand and straightens her spine. “Okay.”
I smile then bring her face toward me and kiss her forehead. “That’s my big girl.”
I look at Mom and see her already making her way toward us. “Come on, munchkin. We’ll put on The Goonies for you.”
They walk away, and I get to my feet. “I’ll be right back.”
Walking to the kitchen, I grab a couple of glasses out of the cabinet then reach for the cheap whiskey Dad always keeps. After pouring a couple inches in one of the glasses, I down it, hissing when it burns going down my throat. I do it again, then pour only an inch the third time and fill the other glass with water. I take both out to the living room.
Mom’s back and she’s standing beside Dad, who has his arm wrapped around her. Ella is still on the couch with Jules and Vicki is in the chair Theo was in. Everyone is silent as I go to Jules and hand her the glass with whiskey. She eyes the contents, sniffs it, then looks at me with a wrinkled nose. If the situation wasn’t so dire, I’d laugh at her comical look.
“It’ll calm your nerves,” I tell her.
She looks back at the glass doubtfully but brings it to her lips. As expected, she coughs after downing the contents. I hand her the glass with water and she takes several big swallows. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
“That stuff is horrid,” she complains.
I take the water from her and set it on the table beside the couch before bending and scooping her into my arms, taking her seat, and settling her in my lap.
“You gonna tell us what going on, son?” Dad asks once we’re settled. “More’s going on than what happened today.”
Jules’s wary eyes watch me. I know she didn’t want my parents to know yet what Theo did before she came to live with me, but they deserve the full story, especially after what he did today in their house.
I squeeze her hand in encouragement, and I get a nod in return. I look back at my parents.
“Today’s not the first time Theo has tried forcing himself on Jules.” Mom gasps and clutches my dad’s shirt, her eyes flying to Jules. “He’s done it twice before. Before today, the last time Aria interrupted him.”
“Oh, God,” Mom breathes.
“Son of a bitch,” Dad curses softly. He turns Mom in his arms until her face is buried in his chest.
“That’s why she’s been staying with me,” I let them know.
“Aria knows,” Jules says quietly to the room. “I don’t think she knows what he was doing exactly. Only that he was doing something that wasn’t right. She asked me about it today.”
“Fuck,” I hiss, my stomach clenching painfully. I wish Theo were still here so I could lay him out on Aria’s behalf.
“Dear Lord,” Mom says tearfully. “What in the world is wrong with my boy?”
“It doesn’t fucking matter. He doesn’t come near Jules or Aria again.”
“I just don’t understand why he’s acting this way,” Mom comments. “He’s always been so calm and collected. What set him off?”
Jules shifts on my lap, and I look down at her. Guilt riddles her face, and I decide to shut that shit down right now because I’ll be damned if she thinks she’s to blame.
“This is not your fault, Jules,” I say with heat behind my words. “You didn’t make him do those things, so get that shit out of your head.”
“But he was fine before I woke up, wasn’t he?”
Ella answers before I can. “He was, but there’s no excuse for his actions. There’s nothing a woman can do that gives a man the right to force himself on her. Theo may be acting out of the ordinary, but he’s still making those decisions on his own.”
“She’s right,” Dad inserts. “A man is put on this earth to love and cherish women, not destroy and hurt them. Don’t take this on yourself. He’s an adult. He knows what’s right and wrong.”
She looks at each person in the room and they all have the same look on their faces: conviction.
“What do we do? He’s your family. I don’t expect you to abandon him because of me. And then there’s Aria.”
I know what I’d like to do, but instead of voicing my opinion, I say, “I have a friend who has an uncle who’s a lawyer. I plan to call him Monday. Until then, Aria will stay with one of us,” I inform her. “And as far as him being my family, my brother died when he tried to rape you. The first two times were enough, and fuck knows I wanted to kill him then, but after seeing what he’s capable of, the bastard can rot in hell for all I care.”
“I don’t see him sticking around very long after what he pulled. He’d be too worried the cops will be after him.”
I look over to Vicki. The woman has calmed down some, but I still see anger lurking in her eyes.
“If he’s fucking smart, he’ll hide so I never have to see his face again.”
“I know you all say it’s not my fault, but I’m still sorry.”
I pull Jules tighter against my chest.
Mom breaks away from Dad and walks over to us. Her expression is distraught as her gaze roams over the multiple bandages covering Jules’s face before settling on her eyes.
“Don’t ever apologize for those things Theo has done to you. We’re the ones who should be apologizing.” When Jules opens her mouth to interrupt, Mom talks over her. “I know it’s not our fault either, but you’re a part of this family now, and we take care of our family, not hurt them.”
Jules reaches out and grabs Mom’s hand. “Thank you. Despite Theo’s actions, I’m grateful to be a part of your beautiful family.”
Mom smiles, and it makes me so fucking proud to know my family has Jules’s back. Not that I ever doubted them. Theo may be family, but they would never be okay with what he’s done. It’s abhorrent and disgusting and fucking cruel.
It turns quiet after that, each of us in our own thoughts as we wait for the cops to arrive. I’m stiff as I continue to hold Jules, needing her in my arms just as much as she needs to be there.
I hope like fuck Vicki is right and Theo either leaves or keeps himself away from me, because if I ever see him again, there’s no stopping the wrath that’ll rain down on him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Luca
IT TOOK AN HOUR AND forty-five minutes for the cops to show up at my parents’ house.
Fucking typical.
Not because it was the holiday or because they’re understaffed. It wouldn’t matter what day of the year it was, how many officers they had on duty, or if Vicki’s call was the only one they received that day. The city just doesn’t fucking care enough about this section of town to get off their asses. I’m sure the two dumb fucks who showed up in the guise of serving and protecting citizens were in the parking lot of the local donut shop when the call from dispatch came through and finished stuffing their faces before heading here. Domestic abuse and attempted rape is the norm for this side of town, so to them, it’s no big deal.
It took every bit of control I had and my dad’s quiet words reminding me Jules was nearby to hold me back from laying one of the officers out when his eyes slid over her in a sleazy way. In the end, the visit was useless. Even if Jules wanted to press charges, I highly doubt the cops would have actually pursued it. The little fuckers didn’t seem one damn bit interested in what happened to Jules and didn’t even try to talk her into pressing charges. They were only there for twenty minutes, and I was damn glad to see them leave.
We’re now walking in my front door. When I see Jules wobble on her feet as she tosses her purse on the couch, I go to her. I still wish she had let me take her to the hospital, but I understand why she didn’t want to. She was there for seven years, and I’m sure going back frightens her.
Grabbing her hips, I turn her to face me then loosely wrap my arms around her. She looks at me with dreary and tired eyes.
“Shower or bed?” I ask.
A shudder runs through her, then she answers with, “Shower.”
When she makes a move to pull away from me, I pick her up. I know she’s capable of walking, but not only do I want to make it easier on her, I need to feel her in my arms. Rationally, I know she’s okay, but it makes me feel better.
As if she needs the closeness as well, she doesn’t make a peep as I walk to the bathroom, her arms settling around my neck and her head resting on my shoulder. I set her on her feet by the sink and turn to the shower. I make sure the water is warm before turning back to Jules to find her eyes steady on me.
I sift my fingers through her hair and kiss her lips softly.
“I’ll be right outside if you need me,” I murmur against her lips.
She grabs my wrists. “Don’t leave.”
I search her eyes and see a worried, pain-ridden, and broken woman in front of me. It breaks my heart seeing her look so dejected. Anger follows the sadness because of the reason behind the look. Now’s not the time for that though. Jules needs me, and I’ll be damned if I let her down.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she answers through a raw throat.
I nod, and relief fills her face. Stepping back, I grip the back of my shirt and tug it over my head. I give her a moment when her eyes move to my chest, sliding over the sleek muscles covered in ink and the two nipple rings. When they lift back to mine, I see appreciation, and fuck if that doesn’t make me feel good.
I step closer to her when her hands move to the bottom of her shirt. “Let me,” I say softly.
Her hands drop to her sides. I keep my eyes on her as I slowly inch the shirt up. This was her idea, but I want to make sure she’s still with me every step of the way. It’s just a shower, a means to let her know she’s not alone, to help her cope with what happened today, but it’s so much more. It’s trust, and I feel honored she’s giving it to me.
She lifts her arms when the shirt reaches just below her tits. I stretch the neck of the shirt to make sure it doesn’t graze any of her wounds. Her hair falls around her shoulders once the material is over her head. I reach for the snap on the back of her bra and her chilled hands land on my biceps. I ignore the electrical current of pleasure at having her hands on me. I pull the straps off her arms and drop her bra on top of her discarded shirt. Her gorgeous tits with their pebbled little peach-colored nipples are bared to me, but I keep my expression as neutral as I can and will my body to stand down. This isn’t about how incredibly sexy I find her or how much I ache to have her. It’s about giving her the comfort she needs right now.
When I notice the dark marks around her wrists from Theo’s hold on her, I push back the anger wanting to resurface. Instead, I lift one wrist and bring it to my lips, kissing the tender flesh before lifting the next and doing the same.
I drop to my knees in front of her and grip the edges of her leggings to pull them down when I see more marks on her hip bones.
“Fuck,” I hiss, and close my eyes.
Fingers run through my hair and my head is lifted. “Luca…,” she whispers sadly.
I open my eyes, and I know they glow with fury. “I should have fucking killed him,” I growl savagely.
She doesn’t flinch at my harsh tone. She doesn’t say anything either. She just continues to look down at me with her sad amber eyes, her fingers gently kneading my scalp.
I drop my forehead to her lower stomach and inhale several deep breaths, fighting the storm raging in my head.
Once I have my emotions under control, I pull my head away and gently kiss those bruises as well. Spotting a scar across her lower stomach, curious about where it came from, I press my lips there too. Her breathing stutters at the contact, but I pretend I don’t notice as I slowly work the material of her leggings and panties down her legs, making sure to keep my eyes off the springy curls hiding her pussy. I grit my teeth when I find more bruises on the inside of her thighs. I don’t kiss those, even though I desperately want to.
I get to my feet once she’s fully naked and take a step back. It’s fucking torture to do so, but I keep my eyes pinned on her face. Her cheeks are currently a bright pink, and I can tell she’s forcing her arms to stay at her sides and not hide herself from me. I want to tell her she has nothing to be embarrassed about, that her body is strikingly stunning, but I worry it’ll make it worse to point out her tenseness.
“Get in the shower, baby. I’m right behind you.”
She nods, and I’m grateful she complies so easily, because I need a minute to myself.
After she’s safely behind the foggy glass door of the shower, I put my hands on my hips and glare down at the bulge in my jeans. The stupid fucker picks the worst time to stand at attention. I close my eyes and try to think of shit that’ll deflate my dick. I bring up a mental picture of Mom in her bathing suit, then think about the time Ella puked all over my chest when she got drunk for the first time. I shudder as I even remember the time I walked in on my parents fucking on the washing machine when all of us kids were supposed to be spending the night at a friend’s house.
My dick goes down, but not enough, because I can still see Jules in the background of any image I conjure up. She’s in my every fucking thought, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to make that go away.
Releasing a sigh, I remove my jeans and pray like fuck I don’t scare Jules when I climb in the shower with a hard-on. I slide the glass door back just wide enough for me to step inside and close it behind me. Her eyes are wide as she takes in my naked body and damned if my dick isn’t back to full mass again in seconds. When her eyes land on my hard cock and the piercing at the end, her eyebrows rise, and her mouth forms an O before she squeaks out an “Oh!”
“Baby,” I call. “Eyes up here.”
Her gaze lingers for a moment, but when my cock jumps of its own accord from having her eyes on it, that same gaze flies to my face. The pink in her cheeks has darkened, giving her a sweet, innocent look that I can’t help but love.
“It’s unavoidable in this situation.” I tell her something she has to already know, but I still feel the need to say.
“I know.”
Her smile is soft, but it fucking sucks because it doesn’t completely reach her eyes. She turns away from me and grabs the sponge and body wash. When I notice her hands shaking as she tries to open the bottle, I step forward and take them both from her. She glances at me over her shoulder as I squirt the cucumber-melon-scented body wash on the sponge. When I place the bottle back on the shelf in front of her, she faces forward again. Without her telling me, I know she wants me to bathe her.
I gather her hair in my hand and put it over her shoulder, then starting on her neck, I rub the sponge in circles. I work down her arms to her fingertips then move on to her back. Squatting, I move the sponge over her ass and down her legs. I keep it platonic.
I stand, and I’m getting ready to hand the sponge to her so she can do her front, but she spins in place, keeping her arms to her sides, silently giving me permission to do it for her.
Our eyes lock together as I lift the sponge to her collarbone and slowly make my way across her upper chest then down over her breasts. Her breath hitches and her pupils dilate when it scrapes across her nipples. My cock jerks in reaction to her small show of pleasure.
I move down her stomach, her waist, then gently over her hips. I get to my knees and work my way down her thighs. With her right in front of me, I become weak and my eyes zero in on the brunette curls in front of me. Her legs are closed, but there’s a gap between her thighs, and I see the pink lips of her sex peeking out. Feeling like a bastard, I drop my eyes from the tempting sight.
