Page 43 of Under Their Watch
“Will he get bail?” Anika asks.
“God, no,” Emma says. “I’ll make fucking sure of it.”
“I wanna go home,” I say.
“Come on,” Theo says.
Quinn, Jace, and Theo take me to Quinn’s truck, and I lay with my head in Theo’s lap as Quinn drives us home.
We get to thehouse and as soon as we are inside, I point for Quinn to sit on the couch. “Rhea,” he says.
“Sit down and let me take care of you,” I say firmly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he smirks. I go to the kitchen and find the first aid kit before returning to the living room. I sit beside Quinn and lay his hand on my leg. “Rhea.”
“Yes?” I ask as I start to clean his hand.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m okay,” I say. “I don’t know how, but I’m okay.”
“What’s going on in your mind?” Jace asks.
“I’m… proud of myself. I’ve never fought back before,” I say. “Even if he had killed me, I still would have died fighting.”
“I’m proud of you,” Quinn says.
“I went in early. I would have known she was calling if I hadn’t done that,” I say.
“It’s not your fault, Rhea,” Quinn says.
“It wouldn’t have happened if I had stuck to the plan,” I say. “I can’t be upset because I didn’t listen. I can’t be upset when I consented every other time before.”
“You didn’t consent at six,” Quinn says. “You didn’t consent at all, because you were forced. Coercion is still rape.”
“Then tell me why for a split second, it felt nice to be wanted by him?” I ask, laying the bandage on his hand and gently pressing it down. “Tell me why I think it’s my fault? Maybe if I had been a better daughter, he wouldn’t have treated me like a side piece. Tell me why I sobbed at sixteen because I thought he got mepregnant and then found out I wasn’t? Tell me why I believed him when he’d tell me I was the prettiest girl and only I could make him feel that good? Huh? Explain to me why every time Marvin fucked me in the beginning, I thought of my dad just to be able to get off?”
I abruptly stand, but Quinn grabs me and pulls me into his lap to straddle him. He takes my face between his hands and wipes away my tears and I melt.
“Manipulation, Rhea. He brainwashed you, but you won, Rhea. You are free and he is in jail for a very long time. He can never hurt you again. Ever,” Quinn says. “He will die in jail while you are living your life with us. If you want a baby one day, it will be us who give you one. Not Marcus. Not Marvin. Not David.”
I nod and lay my head on his chest so he can rub my back. We sit like this until the others come in. Their energy makes me smile, so I sit up.
“You’re being ridiculous,” Mia laughs at Rowan.
“Not right now, Mia,” Rowan replies with a frown.
“Oh, hell no,” Anika says. “She’s right.”
“Guys,” Max says.
“You hush or speak up,” Emma scolds her brother.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Rowan and Max…” Anika starts to say, but Rowan puts his hand over her mouth. Mia jumps away from Max, laughing before telling me.
“Rowan and Max were going to fuck you tonight but now they’re afraid to,” Mia says.