Chapter 5
LEON'S POV
"The hell you are!" She screamed.
"Whoa, girl, that's not what I mean. I am sleeping here on the floor, so that I am close, if and when you need anything," I tried to explain to her.
I could see the embarrassment she was feeling. This poor kid has been through the ringer, that's for sure. Once she saw the sleeping bag and the rest of the bedding on the floor, you could see her relax.
What the hell happens in a 17 years old life that they become this hard and bitter person who acts and seems like they are twice there real age? I wish I had some way of helping her to open up and talk to one of us; or someone who can help her deal with her demons. I know what my cousin went through, and I hope it's easier for her, than it was for him. My cousin is 30; this poor kid is only 17. What is going to happen to her?
Watching Dom sit there rocking her as if she were a baby, trying to comfort her and make her feel safe, was sad. This teenager is Vince's sister. She hates her brother. Her mother is dead, and she left home a couple of years ago. Where was this step-dad that Vince had told all of us about? Why didn't he take care of Trish? The questions just keep piling up, and with all that is going on, I didn't think that there will be very many answers any time soon.
She is finally falling asleep in Dom's lap. She looks like any other teenager now, sleeping peacefully, clean, comfortable and hopefully some sense of security.
What in the hell is going on with me. Why am I so worried about this kid? Is it because of the shit with my cousin? I don't think so. There is something about Trish that draws me to her. I want to protect her and take care of her. The fact that she is cuddled up in Dom's arms now instead of mine, bugs me, and it shouldn't. Of course she is going to turn to Dom, he is her hero. I read the letter; I know how she has been feeling. I just want to protect her from the pain, that she has been through, or at least keep it from ever happening again.
"Hey guys," Mia said from the door way, "is there anything else she needs tonight?"
"No Mia," Dom told her, "As soon as I know she is out, I am going to go crash in V's old room. We will trade Leon and V's old room tomorrow."
"Ok Dom, I changed the sheets, and got his old bed ready for you."
Dom smiled at her, "Thanks Mi, what would I do with out you to take care of me?"
Mia just smiled at Dom. Then she turned to me: "Leon, you going to be okay with all of this? You ok in here?"
"Yes momma," I told her with a smile. Mia is our little mother. Always taking care of us and making sure everything is right in our world.
"Ok, wake me up if you need me k?" She said as she took Brian's hand and they went to bed.
I turned to finish making my bed on the floor, while Dom got Trish settled in his bed. Dom doesn't show his feelings well at all. He is our leader and thinks that he has to always be the strong one.
I know better though. He is also one of my best friends, more like a brother to me. I can tell how much this is affecting him, and that Trish is as much a sister to him as Mia is, and he is beating himself up about what she has gone through.
"Dom, you didn't know dawg. There is nothing you can do unless you know there is a problem. None of us knew."
"Bullshit Leon! Vince and Letty knew, and I will find out why they didn't tell me."
"Ok Dawg, but not tonight. We all need to get some sleep. Its going to get a whole lot worse, before it gets better., and you stressing on Vince and Letty now, when there isnt anything we can do, aint going to help you or any of us."
"Yeah, you're probably right. Brother, I am sorry to lay this in your lap, I know it's hard with your cousin and all.."
I didn't let Dom finish. I just shook my head, and looked at him as if he was nuts.
"Damn brother, we are family. You ain't, put nothing in my lap. I signed up remember. I am the one who can help her, and keep her safe through this. You and Brian have the garage and finding out what we can to help her. Mia has the store to take care of, hell I get a vacation," I smiled, "it's all good."
Dom just shook his head and laughed. He bent down and made sure Trish was covered, and kissed her on her forehead. She stirred, but slept through it. Damn she looks so sweet when she is sleeping.
I wonder how we hard this is going to be on all of us. Well, I know it wont be long before we know.
LEON'S POV
"The hell you are!" She screamed.
"Whoa, girl, that's not what I mean. I am sleeping here on the floor, so that I am close, if and when you need anything," I tried to explain to her.
I could see the embarrassment she was feeling. This poor kid has been through the ringer, that's for sure. Once she saw the sleeping bag and the rest of the bedding on the floor, you could see her relax.
What the hell happens in a 17 years old life that they become this hard and bitter person who acts and seems like they are twice there real age? I wish I had some way of helping her to open up and talk to one of us; or someone who can help her deal with her demons. I know what my cousin went through, and I hope it's easier for her, than it was for him. My cousin is 30; this poor kid is only 17. What is going to happen to her?
Watching Dom sit there rocking her as if she were a baby, trying to comfort her and make her feel safe, was sad. This teenager is Vince's sister. She hates her brother. Her mother is dead, and she left home a couple of years ago. Where was this step-dad that Vince had told all of us about? Why didn't he take care of Trish? The questions just keep piling up, and with all that is going on, I didn't think that there will be very many answers any time soon.
She is finally falling asleep in Dom's lap. She looks like any other teenager now, sleeping peacefully, clean, comfortable and hopefully some sense of security.
What in the hell is going on with me. Why am I so worried about this kid? Is it because of the shit with my cousin? I don't think so. There is something about Trish that draws me to her. I want to protect her and take care of her. The fact that she is cuddled up in Dom's arms now instead of mine, bugs me, and it shouldn't. Of course she is going to turn to Dom, he is her hero. I read the letter; I know how she has been feeling. I just want to protect her from the pain, that she has been through, or at least keep it from ever happening again.
"Hey guys," Mia said from the door way, "is there anything else she needs tonight?"
"No Mia," Dom told her, "As soon as I know she is out, I am going to go crash in V's old room. We will trade Leon and V's old room tomorrow."
"Ok Dom, I changed the sheets, and got his old bed ready for you."
Dom smiled at her, "Thanks Mi, what would I do with out you to take care of me?"
Mia just smiled at Dom. Then she turned to me: "Leon, you going to be okay with all of this? You ok in here?"
"Yes momma," I told her with a smile. Mia is our little mother. Always taking care of us and making sure everything is right in our world.
"Ok, wake me up if you need me k?" She said as she took Brian's hand and they went to bed.
I turned to finish making my bed on the floor, while Dom got Trish settled in his bed. Dom doesn't show his feelings well at all. He is our leader and thinks that he has to always be the strong one.
I know better though. He is also one of my best friends, more like a brother to me. I can tell how much this is affecting him, and that Trish is as much a sister to him as Mia is, and he is beating himself up about what she has gone through.
"Dom, you didn't know dawg. There is nothing you can do unless you know there is a problem. None of us knew."
"Bullshit Leon! Vince and Letty knew, and I will find out why they didn't tell me."
"Ok Dawg, but not tonight. We all need to get some sleep. Its going to get a whole lot worse, before it gets better., and you stressing on Vince and Letty now, when there isnt anything we can do, aint going to help you or any of us."
"Yeah, you're probably right. Brother, I am sorry to lay this in your lap, I know it's hard with your cousin and all.."
I didn't let Dom finish. I just shook my head, and looked at him as if he was nuts.
"Damn brother, we are family. You ain't, put nothing in my lap. I signed up remember. I am the one who can help her, and keep her safe through this. You and Brian have the garage and finding out what we can to help her. Mia has the store to take care of, hell I get a vacation," I smiled, "it's all good."
Dom just shook his head and laughed. He bent down and made sure Trish was covered, and kissed her on her forehead. She stirred, but slept through it. Damn she looks so sweet when she is sleeping.
I wonder how we hard this is going to be on all of us. Well, I know it wont be long before we know.