Life Before Damaged, Vol. 9: The Ferro Family by H. M. Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

it.”
    “Then tell me! Why the hell did my best friend know I was walking into a gang rape and not say anything? Did you think it was funny? Did you—”
    Erin is trembling as she screams. “NO! Gina, it was me. I was supposed to be their date for the evening. I was supposed to be there, not you.” Tears streak down her cheeks as she speaks.
    “Erin?” I step toward her, shocked. I lift my hand to touch her arm, but she jerks away.
    Erin doesn’t look up. She works her jaw as she wraps her arms around her middle and holds on tight. “I had to cancel with them, because I finally got a meeting with the art gallery. I'm guessing that's when Philip texted you.”
    “How? Why? Erin, oh my God.” I want to cry. Mortification, shame, and fear all collide within me. How could she do this and me not see it? How did I not know?
    “Philip and I have been friends forever. When I left my family, it wasn't easy. I struggled a lot, but I didn't want to admit it to you. I didn't want you to think less of me. Some months have been tougher than others. When Philip saw I was struggling, he hooked me up with some people his Dad knew. It was just paid sex with a bunch of his buddies, only a couple of times, and they were never violent."
    I want to point out that it's not just paid sex. That it’s prostitution, but I don’t. I can’t hear those words come out of my mouth, so I swallow them back. “Why didn't you tell me?"
    Erin points to Peter, who's still unconscious on the ground. "Because you were going to marry this idiot and I thought you were too much of a goody-two-shoes to consider doing anything with another man. It was innocent flirting, and it made you feel so good about yourself. I couldn't take that away from you, not after what Anthony had done to you. Philip really did care for you, and you needed to see that you were worthy of that kind of affection. I swear I didn't know they'd try to hurt anyone. That's not how they work. They just pay to have a good time with consenting girls. When Pete and I got to the club, it was too late, they were stuffing you into the trunk of a car and taking off. We followed them here. There were too many of them, so we hid and waited until they left."
    My mouth is hanging open. I shake my head and ask carefully, "That’s not what I meant. Why didn't you tell me things were that bad? Why didn’t you ask me for help? I could have helped you. This could have been you tonight."
    "None of them loved me, so I doubt it. Phil had it really bad for you. That'll drive any man to insanity. And besides, I would have been willing. I'm guessing you put up a bit of a fight to end up banged up like that? You look awful, but I'm proud of you, Gina."
    I smile at her comment and look down to Pete. I sit down slowly on the ground next to him and stroke a strand of hair from his forehead with my finger. His chest is rising and falling slowly. My fingers trace the curves of his face, along his jaw and across his lips.
    Erin's voice breaks my contemplation. I'd almost forgotten she was here. "You should have seen him tonight. Pete was a total wreck. I think he really cares for you, Gee."
    “He told me he loves me."
    "Did you say it back?"
    "No, and now it’s too late."
    Erin wipes the tears off her face, leaving streaks in the soot. Her hair looks like it got stuck in a vacuum cleaner, but she’s still grinning. "It's never too late, babe."

DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS
November 17th, 2:22am
    E rin runs off into the darkness to get the car, leaving me alone with Peter. The light of the burning barn flickers around us, casting eerie shadows on the ground as it echoes the sound of the cracking wood.
    I kneel next to him, my trembling hands shaking his shoulders gently. “Wake up, Peter. Please, it’s me. Gina. You have to wake up, please!” Shaking his shoulders doesn’t work. I slap his cheeks lightly, but Pete’s body remains motionless. He looks so peaceful.
    It’s both beautiful and frightening at the