"Come on Evie please…I promise I'll just watch" I whined standing by the front door as the boys pulled on their boots and grabbed their skates and sticks. "I'm sick of being stuck in the house…I'll sit on the sidelines and you know Jerry won't lie to you if you ask him what I did the whole time" I continued watching the woman who simply smiled with a nod finally agreeing to let me go with the brothers and watch. "Gloves ALEXIS" she called as I quickly returned grabbed the wool mittens from her hand and then went back out to Bobby's car squeezing myself onto Angel's lap since Jerry, Jack and Mark took up the backseat and Bobby was driving. It wasn't long until we were are the rink and the four older boys were playing against some other guys that had already been there, Mark was keeping me company since I couldn't play with them. "Look at you" a voice cooed as one of the guys from the other team skated closer a smirk on his face as he looked me up and down. "What are you doing sitting over here?" he asked "watching you get your ass beat" I smirked as Mark coughed to hide a laugh. "Now come on, maybe if you start cheering for me our luck will change, how bout that pretty girl" he smiled running a hand down my arm as I tried to hide my disgust. "Hey Baby, you alright?" Bobby called his face hard as the entire game paused to look between us. "You'd know if I wasn't, wouldn't you Bobby?" I smirked as he shrugged and skated over until he was leaning against the board right next to me. "She's yours?" the guy asked looking between me and Bobby eyes wide in surprise. "Get back to the game Phil" he said simply pushing the other guy away and following after him. From that point on it was more violent and rough until the other team gave up and left, Bobby hurling insults at them as they left the scene. "Let's go home, I'm starving" Jerry whined as we all climbed into the car in the same spots as before. When we got home the boys ran to change while Mark and I helped Evie set the table before going upstairs to lose some layers. I walked into the spare room and tossed my hat and gloves on the desk before pulling off my sweatshirt and laying it on the bed to replace once I got my sweater and my long sleeve shirt off.
"Hey Lex it's" Bobby's voice stopped suddenly as I clenched my eyes shut and quickly pulled my sweatshirt on over my tank top. "Hey Bobby" I greeted with a false smile trying to ignore the anger hidden in his eyes. "What's up?" I asked trying to keep my false happiness in place, none of them were ever meant to see anything and they definitely aren't supposed to know what happened. "Baby" he started softly closing the door behind him and walking towards me as I backed away my back hitting the wall as he leaned over me. "What happened, and who did it" he whispered running a hand through my hair his face void of any emotion. "Just drop it Bobby" I muttered trying to shove him away but he was like a brick wall. "I won't drop it Baby Girl" he returned but backed away anyway gesturing for me to walk out first and he followed close behind. Everyone else was seated and waiting when we got into the dining room where both our spots were still open for us. Evie led us in a prayer before we sat and started digging in the conversation between Bobby and I being forgotten for the moment as we all chatted and had a good time. "Ma, you ever get called back on that stuff at the courts?" Jerry asked everyone turning to Evie waiting for her answer. "They are doing an investigation, Mark and Alexis will stay here until then and if they deem their parents unfit I will immediately become their legal guardian" she smiled, everyone was happy, there was no way our parents would be seen as fit to raise two children. "What about getting their old stuff?" Bobby asked next, Mark and I had been getting by on borrowed and thrift shop clothes. "Well, I was going to call Detective James and see if he would escort you and the boys over there to help get their things tomorrow" she informed as Mark and I got up and hugged her both of us smiling happily.
Evie's POV**
"Evelyn, I'm sorry…I can't keep them away any longer…I need them to pack what they have and return to their parent's with me." Detective James sighed on the other end of the phone as my hand flew to cover the gasp that escaped my mouth. "There must be something that can be done" I whispered watching Jack continue to teach Mark how to play guitar and Alexis napping on Bobby and Angel. "I shouldn't tell you this, but we've wired the house with microscopic cameras and we're going to place a wire on Alexis, we're still going to try and get them away from that house Evelyn, but until we have evidence they have to return home" he explained as I tried to keep any tears from falling. "I'll be around tomorrow morning to pick them up, and I'd appreciate if you didn't say anything to them…they will run if they know" he added when I hadn't said anything. "Alright" I agreed softly telling him goodbye and hanging up the phone. I wiped my face and made sure I looked normal before going into the living room as I slid my coat on. "I'm running to the store to pick up some things, I shouldn't take long" I informed the boys before walking out the door and climbing into the van. If they had to leave in the morning I would make sure they were very well fed until then.
End Evie's POV
We were wrong, we were so wrong. Whatever the cops saw wasn't normal because here we were the next morning packing some of our things to return home with James. "James, come on man you can't let them go!" Bobby was yelling up a storm destroying anything and everything in his reach, usually Evelyn would be yelling at him to watch his language and calm down but she was busy being hugged by Angel and Jerry as she tried to stop the tears from falling. "You know what they do to them" he continued on as I helped Mark carry his bags down the stairs and set them beside the door. "Bobby" I whispered biting my bottom lip as all eyes turned to us. "Baby Girl" he sighed running over and pulling me into his arms as I buried my face into his chest wanting it all to go away, and wanting to stay here with them. "You gotta let me go Bobby" I whispered my voice catching as tears started rolling. Mark had already finished his goodbyes and was clinging tightly to Evelyn. "I don't want to" he muttered back tightening his arms around me. "Let go Bobby." I stated pushing him away and hugging the others before walking out the door with Mark latched to my side. "Hey James" Jerry's voice called stopping the man from climbing in the front seat. "Spend as much time as you can with them…please" he sighed sadly, he simply nodded getting in the car and driving off. I wasn't sure what to expect when we got to the house, I mean I knew there wouldn't be any welcome home banners or dinner made that's for sure. There was an unusual car in the driveway when James parked outside and there was also a black escalade much too nice to belong here. I smirked, they were planning on scouting us, that's why they called us back. "I want you to put this on, don't EVER remove it, it is shower safe." He ordered handing me a small ear piece watching as I put it into position. He looked down at his phone and smiled before returning his attention to us "Don't go blabbing to people, I can't let everyone know what I'd do to repay Bobby Mercer." He grinned escorting us out of the car and up to the door.
"Oh dears, where are your things?" our 'mother' cooed "In the trunk" I informed politely letting her hug me before Mark and I ran to get our bags and bring them inside. "Thank you so much Detective, it really is kind of you to bring them home safely" Greg smiled placing a hand on each of our shoulders as James nodded politely. "You have all of your things?" he asked looking between Mark and I who sadly nodded, even though we knew it was for show it was scary to think of what would happen as soon as he walked out that door. "Be safe, and don't make me have to find you again" he smirked waving as he walked out the door. "Get your shit put away. And don't bother showing your face until tomorrow morning" Greg growled shoving Mark into me. We quickly gathered our bags and jogged up the stairs into our room closing and locking the door behind us. "Lexi, I'm scared…what if they don't get to us in time if something happens" he whispered taking off his jeans and slipping into his bed as I pulled off my sweater and sweatshirt leaving him in boxers and a t-shirt and me in sweatpants and a tank top. We both kept our boots on because you honestly never knew what was going to happen and when you would have to run. Running half naked through the streets of Detroit during winter is a whole lot easier than running barefoot through the streets of Detroit any time of the year. "Don't think like that Mark…it's going to be okay, and even if the cops can't help" I paused pulling out the flip phone Jerry had slid into my pocket "The Mercer's can" I shrugged sliding the phone into the small gap between my bed and the wall, you couldn't see it unless you knew where to look. "You and Bobby huh?" he finally asked his arms folded behind his head a satisfied smirk on his face. "Not me and Bobby, he's got goals and plans, he's got a life going, he got that job at the factory, and he is building that car. Me, I got nothing." I shrugged keeping the conversation short. "He cares about you, he may not know everything but he deserves to know eventually." He sighed rolling onto his side so we were facing each other. "He can't know Mark, he'd go on a rampage, you know he knows everybody in this town" I continued trying to get him to think straight.