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My stoain, I jumped when I heard my mamma scream from the other room

Levi’s eyes snapped open at the noise and his little face screwed up as he began crying in aze met Austin as frozen in the doorway "Take our fratellino," I ordered He ran forward and took Levi from my hands, then slumped down to our tiny shared bed

A crash sounded in the TV roo his eyes too He looked so helpless that a luain, isn’t he?" he said in a shaky voice, "then he’s gonna hurt us"

Pulling in a deep breath, I said, "He won’t I swear it" I pointed atlost and scared on that bed and I said, "Look after Lev, yeah? Try and keep hi the door to a close My heart beat fast indown the hallway

I could hearhim to stop As I reached the end of the hallway, I sawmy mamma to the floor, her face bloody as her hands tried to push my papa away

Her eyes were closed, but like she could feel aze met o away, I knew she wantedher, and I knew he’d come after my brothers next I had to protect them I had to make him want to hit just me

Levi screamed from our bedroo the cries from the baby,kid!" he slurred, heading toward et toforward, my papa saw me and he tried to push me out of the way "Move!" he snarled But I didn’t I looked tofor breath on the floor, her body curled in, I heard ing for hi not to shake, I stepped forward again and watched a slow grin spread on his face Nothing was said Nothing was said as he raised his fist and hitwas said as he lifted ainst the wall,the thin plaster

I tried to block it all out I focused ono near the, but it felt like forever Eventually Papa’s breathing slowed and his hits became weak and slow He droppeddown er, when the front door opened and slaone… at least for now

"Mio caro," h to see her pulling herself to her feet Using my hands, I made myself stand and moved across the small room to help her walk

"Helpmy arm around her waist, I helped her into her bedroom and into her bed

I went into the bathroo it back to wipe the blood off her face