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“Fuck!”

I was jerked awake hours later by the sound ofwhen I realized that he was co down the hall toward my room I wasn’t scared for me He hadn’t laid a hand onback No, I was terrified for Emmie

If he saw her, here in s: Either I was doing unthinkable things to E her froet the cops called My old man was a nasty bastard, which was probably whyto reely he had always been kind of fond of Emmie I couldn’t let him see her; I couldn’t let him call the cops

I knew that they would take her away While I was all for E out of that trailer and away from that cruel ass bitch, I also knew that the social service people would put her in a hos that could happen to a pretty little girl The guys and I had decided e first took Es that she was better off where she was

Thinking quickly, I lifted her sleeping little body and laid her on the floor Her eyes snapped open, but I put a hand over her mouth before she could speak “Shhh,” I whispered “Get under the bed and stay quiet Okay?”

Eyes wide, she nodded and slipped under the twin sized bed I jumped back on the mattress and pulled the covers up to my ears My eyes shut just as the old man opened the door to my room “Jess!” he bellowed

I blinked open lared at hi”

“Get your lazy ass up Eo look for her” He turned away before he had even finished speaking

I waited until he was down the hall before I moved I reached for her hand and pulled her out frohtened “Mo to be so mad”

“It’s okay, E to be okay,” I pro to go out and help You go out the , okay?” She nodded “Then sneak back in your room while everyone is distracted I’ll send Nik or Drake over to pretend to find you sleeping”

She sed hard “She’s going to beat ain” She whispered

Dread filled my stomach because I knew that asto let it! “No I got soet a new snare druive it to her She can get her some coke or whatever She won’t care”

“Jesse…” Tears glazed her green eyes, and I wanted nothing more than to just lay there and hold my little Emmie “Thank you”

The next hour passed quickly I found Drake and Shane already outside in sweats with flashlights The brothers looked half asleep but there orry in their eyes They knew better than anyone what could happen to a pretty little girl out by herself I gave theful looks and relief seemed to wash over them

Nik was pacing, looking more like a concerned parent than E around instead of actually walking I had grabbedroups to search for Emmie, I pulled her aside She didn’t even question me when I handed her theher some cash to distract her from Emmie It was all I had, but I knew that it would keep Emmie off her mind for a day or two at least By then she wouldn’t even reht