Chapter Two-Hundred and Thirty-Seven
Beverly watched as John held Phoebe to his chest, noticing how he snarled like a wolf at anyone who came near them. She slowly approached them, offering John a small bowl of rabbit stew that Jacob had forced her to make. "Johnny-" She stopped as his black eyes landed on her, fighting the fear in her chest as his muscles flexed and rippled under his skin. She could see where his clothes had been torn and the red marks where Jacob had slapped him and punched him. "Please… eat." She moved to hand the bowl to him, her heart breaking when he hugged his sister even closer to his chest. "You need to keep your strength up." She remembered how skinny he'd been a few months ago, surprised at how strong and healthy he seemed now.
He glared at her, nodding her closer. "I'm not letting go of my sister. And she eats before I do." He stated, taking the bowl from Beverly and holding the rim to Phoebe's lips and letting her slowly sip the broth. "Why are you helping me?" He asked, gently wiping a tear from Phoebe's cheek before he downed a puny portion of the stew for himself.
"Because, I don't want to be the woman I was before." She moved to touch him, drawing back when he moved away from her. "I know… that you don't see me as your mother anymore, but please, give me a chance."
"Go fuck yourself." He growled, laying down on the dirt of their little camping spot just on the edge of the US border between California and Mexico. "If you wanted to help us, you would untie me from this Goddamn tree and let us go home." He pulled at the rope around his neck, trying to not let the old thing cut into his skin.
Beverly waited until most of the men were asleep, sneaking over to John and Phoebe to drape a moth-eaten blanket over their shivering forms. "Please forgive me." She whispered, brushing John's bangs back from his eyes as he slept.
John jerked awake, panic gripping him as he noticed that Phoebe was no longer safe in his arms. "Phoebe?" He called, moving to stand until the rope around his neck choked him and pulled him down. He coughed, gagging as the rope choked him. "Phoe-be." He croaked, jumping back when a big thug sidled up to John and started to undo his belt.
"Pretty little fucker, aren't you?" He gripped John's jaw in his hand, able to feel where his gums where swollen in the back of his mouth. "Can take dick, can't you?" He moved his other hand down toward John's groin, screaming when John's fist collided with his balls. "You little fucker!" He screamed, tightening the rope until John's lips started to turn blue.
Jacob pushed the thug back, untying the rope from his son's throat to let him breathe. "Ben, go finish cooking breakfast. I'll take care of my son." He cupped John's cheek in his hand, combing his finger's through his hair as he gasped for breath. "Shh… it's alright John… you're okay."
John gagged, shutting his eyes tight against Jacob's soft touch, waiting for it to turn harsh and painful. "Please, let me go."
Jacob chuckled, lifting John to his feet and shoving him toward the car. "I've got big plans for you son, we're gonna make a mint with your talent and my smarts." He pushed John into the car, watching as he scrambled to get to his sister. "Just you wait and see. Once we're in Mexico, the world will be ours."