I N D I G O
I couldn't face them... I didn't want to see the disgust in their eyes. I knew I would get caught eventually. I should've listened to my brain instead of my heart when getting too close with these people. After letting the silence increase my anxiety, I shamefully lifted my head.
Milo's eyes held pain and anger, but the disgust was present and I couldn't help but break down, knowing I lost all of my chances with him. I felt him embrace me and the action made me stiffen. Why would he hold me?
"Look at me, Indie. Please," I heard him say.
I looked up and winced as I saw so much hurt in his expression.
"Talk to me," he pleaded.
I couldn't deny him-- I owed him my thoughts. "I-I'm so sorry...," I whispered out.
"Why on earth would you be sorry, baby girl?," he questioned.
"B-Because I'm weak... I-I'm flawed...," I stuttered out, not being able to filter my words.
His expression faltered and I watched as a small smile tried to sneak its way out of the corner of his mouth. "Oh Indie... you could never be flawed; you are the definition of perfection to me. And weak? Absolutely not... you have endured what no other person should ever have to, and yet, you have never taken the easy way out. You are not weak, mi reina. You are strong as hell," he said as he held my head in his hands, attempting to pour all of his emotions into my eyes.
My heart tightened and I was sobbing like a child right now, unable to fight myself any longer with self-hate. I'm falling in love with the man sitting in front of me.
I felt his thumb wipe away a few of my tears, while he tilted my head up gently. I looked into his eyes and saw adoration gloss over. "You really are the definition of perfection. I can promise you, nobody will ever lay a hand on you again. You are far too innocent and pure for this world," he said-- his words shattering my heart to pieces.
"I'm not innocent or pure," I spat out, angry at his choice of words-- angry that the moment was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
"What's that supposed to mean?," he asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"It means just that Milo. I'm not fucking pure," I stated harshly.
"What do you m--," his words immediately halted as realization flashed across his face. I watched as the hatred and indignation made his eyes squint and his jaw clench repeatedly.
M I L O
I was beyond infuriated at this point. The thought of someone else touching her that way, the way only I should touch her, made my skin fucking crawl. This beautiful angel has been tormented, beaten, and raped-- but yet she still has the heart to let people in, to let people be trusted. The one person that is supposed to protect and love her at all times is the one who potentially broke her. My anger was multiplied when I thought of the rope burn scars enveloped around her ankles, the finger prints wrapped around her little neck, the way she winced when she moved abruptly.
I lunged the chair and table at the wall, which clashed loudly and bounced to the ground. My dad ran up and grabbed my arm sternly. "Calm down Milo, you're scaring her," he stated roughly.
As if this was all I needed to hear, I stopped dead in my tracks. Looking back at her, I could see her eyes were widened, tears sliding down and dropping on her hands, and she was shaking in fear. I automatically felt guilty for being the cause of it-- that was never my intention. I slowly made my way over to her and watched as she habitually cowered herself back to the edge of the bed. I urgently picked her up, hoisting her into my lap, holding her lightly, attempting to show her that I would never harm her. She sat frozen in my arms for a minute, but then I felt her body relax against mine and her head lowered delicately on my chest.
Once she had fallen asleep, dad and I discussed what to do.
"She is never going back to that place," my dad said while scowling.
I knew this hit him hard. My dad has a soft spot for girls and I know he's treating the matter as if Indie were his own daughter. Obviously, I had no objections. But I wanted to make that piece of shit pay for what he did to my girl.
"What are we gonna do about Jim?," I asked bitterly, unsure of what his decision would be but hoping he would just let me take the reigns on this one, given the circumstances.
"I'm going to leave that for her to decide. This is her battle and we cannot interfere with her recovery process; meaning you cannot just go and kill him, Milo," he stated while giving me a look that I know all to well. He already knew that wasn't the answer I wanted but I sighed in defeat knowing that he was right. I wanted to help her overcome this, not hinder it.
N E X T • D A Y
Indie was able to return home on Friday morning after doc gave us the 'okay'. Carlos advised that we will need to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor in the next coming weeks to have her spine readjusted, and that he would check up on her in a couple of days. He mentioned that she should possibly speak with a therapist, when she was up for it. But I told her that it was her choice.
When we got back to the house, I massaged her ankles with the ointment my mom gave me yesterday, to help with the scarring. After, we laid around watching television for the rest of the day, taking it as easy as possible. I barely even let her walk; just carried her around everywhere, which I'm sure was going to annoy her eventually. But I didn't mind. I would do anything for this girl, and right now, that meant over coddling her.
She had freaked out a little when I mentioned that she was in a coma for a whole week. I had to reassure her that her school work was still going to be there when she returned on Monday. I let her know that since the principle and most of the teachers are on our payroll, that we handled her absences. Security has been doubled for when she does go back, and the staff has been warned about Jim. I understand my dad said not to interfere, but that doesn't mean I will sit by idly waiting for her to be harmed again.
The gang returned back from school and were now crowded around my bed, asking a million questions while she slept peacefully. I had placed her down delicately in the bed and covered her up before silently pushing everyone out of the room. I looked back to make sure she was still asleep and when I saw her chest rise and fall slowly, I closed the door and made my way to the living room to see everyone, including my parents, patiently waiting.
I had choked on some of my words when relaying all the information I had gathered. I know you're probably thinking she should do this herself, but I would never allow her tell that story EVER again; not if it meant crushing her spirit more than it already was. On top of that, I need the guys to know all details in order for them to be able to instill the importance to our guards, the magnitude and severity of their job in protecting her.
Closer towards dinner time, I went up to wake her. She grumbled out, "five more minutes..." making me chuckle at the grumpiness in her tone.
"Baby, you gotta eat," I murmured in her ear, smiling when I saw the blush creep over her face.
"Alright, alright," she said, playfully shoving my face away from her.
We went downstairs to join everyone at the table; everybody seemed skeptical of how to act around her. And as if she could feel the tension in the air, she cleared her throat and sweetly said, "So, how 'bout that weather?"
Jake was the first to snort, spitting his water out in the process. Thus making everyone explode into laughing fits; Tyler and Tanner both falling out of their chairs and doubling over, holding their guts as if they'd burst any minute. I looked over to see Indie with her head tilted back, her giggles were resonating in the air sounding like most beautiful melody I had ever heard.
And that's when I realized, her past would never break her. We would be there to pick her up anytime she fell. She was family. She was a Santino, whether she knew it or not.
I was determined to show her what love was. I was determined to show her how much she meant to me. I was determined to show her what it was like to feel complete happiness, to be cared for, to be protected. I was determined to help bring her back to life, to show her how beautiful she was, to hold her when she needed me, to wipe her tears away when the nightmares woke her. I was determined to be the man she so desperately deserved, to be the one she confided in, to be the one she told all her secrets to. I was determined to consume her every thought. I want to be everything for her because she's everything to me.
P L E A S E • V O T E