My hope is saying it out loud will make it happen. There’s been enough bad in River’s life; it’s time for her to have some good.
“Yeah, I hope so,” he whispers. “Want me to leave the two of you alone?”
“No, stay. I’m going to go out in a couple of minutes and see the pack that claims to be her Kismet.” Torin nods and I bite my lip. I need to know something. “Did they…”
“Yeah. Well, one did, the other was using her mouth. I don’t know how long I was out or how much happened during that time. That was the only thing I saw. We will do the same as last time and hopefully, there’s no pregnancy or disease.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Did they bond with her?”
“No.”
At least that’s something good. I don’t think she’d make it through another bonding.
I sit there holding her hand, talking to her about anything and everything. I’m not sure if she can hear me, but I hope if she does that hearing my voice helps to soothe her. Torin slides down in the bed, rolling onto his side so he faces her, and drifts off to sleep. He looks like hell and needs the rest. Standing up, I open the chest at the end of the bed, pull out a blanket and cover him.
“Okay, Storm, time to get this done and over with.” I leave the bedroom and head straight to the living room. The three of them are still sitting on the couch. Callux and Josh are in the recliners and Tav is sitting on the ottoman.
“How are they?” Josh asks.
“Sleeping. I’ve come to talk to these three.”
Josh nods and stands up. “Do you want some privacy with them? They’ve been cooperative; they’re just eager to see her.”
“Themis right here and can hear every word,” the older one says.
“It’s fine Josh, you can stay.” Then I turn to the three of them. “I’m Storm, River’s brother. I understand you’re claiming to be her Kismet bonds.”
“Not claiming. We are. I’m Nash. And these are my brothers, Roman and Holden.”
I try to keep my cool, but it’s clear that this one can be a hothead. If they are her Kismets, then we’re going to be family, and I don’t want to say or do anything rash at this moment to affect that relationship.
“Nice to meet you.” I then sit down on the coffee table in front of them. “There are some things we need to talk about then. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t interrupt me, and at the end, if it’s more than you can handle or for any reason you can’t move forward with her, then I want you to leave. She’ll never need to know about you.”
“We’re not leaving,” Holden says matter-of-factly.
“That’s good to know. I just hope you still feel that way when you hear her story. It’s really hers to tell, but I need to know if you are sticking around.”
I wait for them to bolt to the door, but they stay seated, eyes on me.
“Our home life wasn’t good. Our mother died in childbirth, and it changed my father. Or maybe it just brought out the person he really was. Either way, he was a drunk, and his favorite pastime was abusing us. Particularly River. I didn’t know it until later, after things happened, that she was also being bullied relentlessly at school. She kept it a secret from me because she didn’t want me to worry.”
I wait, giving them time to process, and get ready to tell them the rest.
“I’d gone out of town to get suppressants and blockers for River. We were planning to run before her eighteenth birthday. While I was gone, my father sold her to cover a gambling debt. The pack that bought her was the Hartman Pack.”
Their eyes go wide at the name, and I know they are familiar with them. Or have at least heard the name.
“They took her from school and took her phone. I wasn’t able to contact her, and I got worried and came home. Tav and his pack offered to come and help me. They’re like brothers to me, and now they are to River as well.”
I continue telling them all the details. They need to know, and I don’t want River to have to live through this story, especially not after this. They sit there and listen to every word. Every detail. Rage filling their faces.
“That was two years ago. She’s been living with Tav and the guys since then. We’ve had to be careful with our contact, even telling everyone she’s a beta and having her take their last name. It was working until now.”
“Fuck,” Roman exclaims. “She’s been through so much.”
“There’s more. Long before our father sold her, she began cutting to help cope with our home life. She hid it well. I never knew until the night we rescued her and I saw the scars. She finally confessed. She carries those scars and the ones that my father inflicted on her.” Now I need to tell them the final bit. “The leader of the Hartman Pack bonded her. An Arcane bond. When she awoke and saw it, she tried to cut it out of herself, but we were able to stop her.” My breath catches, and Tav stands to move behind me, and places a hand on my shoulder.
“She’s very self conscious about the scars. The cutting ones she can hide from public view, but the ones on her face she can’t. The bond mark bothers her the most. It’s a permanent reminder of what’s happened to her. If you can’t love her, scars and all, there’s the fucking door. You leave and never speak of anything you know. Or, we end you right now if you can’t keep your mouth shut.”
