Protect Me: Oakville Series:Book Three Read Online Free Page A

she loves him too much to leave. I don’t understand intentionally wanting to hurt someone you claim to love. Shouldn’t you want to protect them with everything you are?
    When I get to the bottom of the stairs, I notice it’s gotten quiet. Too quiet. My pulse starts to pick up. A small amount of blood on the hardwood floor catches my eye as I enter the living room. Bile rises in my throat, threatening to choke me. I’ve always worried that one day he would go too far and kill her, maybe even me. I stand there, frozen in place, too afraid to venture into the kitchen. What if my worst fear has come true? All these years of trying to save her. All of the bruises and broken bones I’ve taken in her place. What was it all for? So he can just kill us all one day? I can’t live like this anymore. It’s obviously I’m not reason enough to make her leave and at some point, no matter how much it will kill me, I have to think of myself. My sanity. If we survive tonight, I’ll beg her to leave with me one more time, but no matter what her choice is, I’m gone.
    Another scream comes from the kitchen and my feet are suddenly in motion again. Sweat is dripping from my forehead. The rapid thumping of my heart is deafening. I have no idea what I’m walking into. For a split second, I think of grabbing my things, running out the door, and never looking back. Saving myself. But that goddamn protector in me won’t allow it. Sometimes I really hate that I can’t be a selfish bastard like my father.
    Rounding the corner, I’m immobilized by the sight in front of me. My mom is sitting in a chair at the table, my father standing in front of her repeatedly bashing her in the head with a wooden rolling pin. The smell of blood and the sound of the rolling pin making contact with her skull is making me nauseous. In my head, I see myself running full force into him and just hitting him over and over again until he’s the one bleeding on the floor. I wish I had the courage to do it.
    “Stop it! Please!” I stammer, still unable to move any closer. The rolling pin stops inches away from her head and he slowly turns his icy gaze to me.
    “Boy, I never pegged you for stupid. I thought you would’ve learned not to interfere by now. You know how this works. I’m gonna come over there and beat you silly, then I’ll be right back over here to finish up on your momma. Why don’t you turn around now and save yourself some hurt,” he sneers. He’s right. My interference only gives her a brief reprieve. He knows I won’t hit back and when I pass out, he goes right back to her. I glance over at my mother and cringe. Her eye is swollen shut. Her nose is clearly broken, pointing to the left. Even through her swollen lips and blood, I can see teeth are missing. She sees me watching her and slumps down into the chair. He notices and it fuels his rage a little more. He grabs her by the chin and lifts her head.
    “Don’t get comfy, bitch! I’m nowhere near finished with you. Looks like your little pussy of a son wants to get his ass kicked for a while. I gave him a chance to walk away, but it looks like he is just as stupid as you are. Neither one of you will ever learn no matter how hard I beat the lesson into you,” he rants with an evil smirk on his face. In his sick, twisted mind, he truly believes what he’s doing is okay. There’s no remorse at all. In his eyes, we are the ones who deserve every blow he gives.
    Something inside me snaps. Like a switch being flipped on, the fear I always feel when his sights are turned to me is gone and replaced with a rage so strong, my entire body trembles. Fear flashes in his eyes, fueling my rage even more. I lunge forward, grabbing the collar of his shirt with my left hand. I use my right hand to punch him square in the nose with as much strength as I can. The sickly sound of his nose breaking mixed with the coppery smell of the blood spilling out from it makes me smile. I smile because it feels