Four or Dead by G O A

Emma POV

“So, Emma those boys who were here, are they good friends of yours?” The therapist, Dr. Long asks.

I let out a huffed laugh.

“Not exactly. They bullied me for the last three years.” She furrowed her brows at my words.

“Really? They seem to care for you very much. They stood around you like they wanted to protect you.”

“Yeah, I have no idea what’s wrong with them. Is it weird that I feel safe with them even after how they treated me all those years? Like some kind of Stockholm syndrome or something?” I asked with genuine concern but my voice light.

She smiled.

“Although you may be at risk of such a condition, I don’t think that is the case here. I think you feel alone and for the first time someone is there and willing to fight for you, and you want that. You need that. Did they ever physically hurt you?” I let out a sigh and laid my head back on my pillow.

“No, never. They played a few pranks on me but they were mostly harmless. It was more like catcalling and teasing. The girls they hang around with are the ones who physically hurt me.”

“I see. So maybe even though they haven’t been kind before, you know they won’t hurt you. You may feel put off because they are acting differently from how they have in the past, that would make anyone skeptical.” She offered.

I considered her words for a minute and surprisingly it made some sense. I knew Leo before all this and I trusted him like I had never trusted anyone but I had been so ashamed of what my father had been doing to me that I never told him. Not that I didn’t trust him with the truth but because I didn’t want him trying to save me or see me any different. I just wanted to feel normal and being with him let me feel that even if it was only for a short time. If he rushed in like a knight in shining armor to save me I don’t know what my dad would have done to him. I was scared of him getting hurt because of me.

“I want to trust them because I don’t have anyone else. Their behavior has thrown me off…but somehow….it feels right. But what if after I leave here they turn around and treat me the way they used to? I don’t know if I could go through that. That feeling of being alone…” I said feeling tears welling up behind the mist of my eyes.

I hadn’t said anything yet, but my eyes had started to clear over the last few hours. I hadn’t said anything yet because I wasn’t sure if they were healing or if it was a temporary thing. Besides my mind has been swarmed with a million thoughts that it was the least of my worries. Of course, I wanted my eyesight back, but my fear of my father was the strongest thing I was feeling at the moment.

“We can never know for sure who people will turn out to be, which is why we have to take a leap and hope for the best. The world is like that, leaps of faith with no assurances. We may wish to know exactly what will happen with every choice and turn we make, but that just isn’t possible. So why not take a leap of faith, and if they disappoint you then you move on, but cut them from your life. You need to set boundaries for yourself that you will never let anyone cross, so you can protect yourself. Protect your heart but let people in just a little so they can see how great you are.” She said reaching for my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Now what I need to know is how you feel about your home situation. You told me what your father has done, and we both know going back there now isn’t safe for you. You are a legal adult even though you are still finishing school, so we can try and find you a woman’s group home for you. They provide a safe place with everything you could need. Would that be something you would be interested in?” I swallowed and considered her words carefully.

Asher said he wanted me to stay with them, but could I really do that?

“Is that my only option?” I asked her.

She shook her head.

“No, like I said you are a legal adult and can choose where you live, but I recommend going somewhere your father does not know about. Somewhere that has protection in case he does come around. We can try and request a restraining order for your father as well, in case he does find where you are staying.” I nod my head in understanding as she explains all my options.

“Isn’t a restraining order just a piece of paper? How is that supposed to do anything?”

violates it then he will be arrested. If you see him then you call the police, and they will

back home. He could beat me so there was no way to call for help. I don’t

but my options were so limited that this could have been my only choice. It’s like that old phrase says…out of the pot and into

do you want to do? What

Dark Angels,” I said admitting the truth out loud even though the doctor

to me. To make all those dirty men pay for what they have done my whole life. I am broken, but I wouldn’t be the only one. It was time for me to fight, and I was ready to bring fire from the heavens to make it happen. The anger was pumping through my veins like a hot flame but I knew it wouldn’t be as easy as it sounded. I still had a lot of fear to overcome. Once the doctor left and assured me that she would sign off on me being released since from our talk she didn’t consider me a danger to myself any longer, I asked the nurse to call Leo. I was going to make a deal, and I had to do it now before my fear got the best of me. I had been hiding in myself, staying silent and hidden but that was over now. I was angry, and that anger only had one direction…my father was going to be the one with a gun to his head and I would be the one to pull the trigger. I cleared my throat and straightened out my back with my head held high. Emma Grace was no longer going to be a victim! I was going to stand against anyone who

Leo POV

me, and I would show her from that moment on. The others followed me in Asher’s car, and we made it to the hospital in record time. My eyes met the nurse’s, and she gave me a nod which was all the permission I needed. When I opened the door and walked in, I saw Emma’s eyes fixed on me. She didn’t lower them or shy away from making eye contact with me like she

to say but she shook her

first.” She said and

dawned on

can see me!”

a little foggy but it’s a lot better. The doctor came in a little while ago and said it should keep improving, over the next few days. I was scared to tell him I noticed a change because I

anything the other guys barreled into the room. She looked at them and laughed a

here.” She said setting her hands

a seat. We have business to

we did as she asks and settled

you guys a deal. I need your help with a little project…revenge…justice…whatever you want to call it. I want to bring down everything my father represents, and I want to do what I couldn’t do to myself. I want him dead. If the stories I have heard about you are true, then you are exactly the weapon I need. So, what do you say?” She asked looking at each of us. I glanced at the others but we didn’t say a word, especially when identical smirks formed on each of our faces. This was a new side of the sweet quiet girl we knew but we had

Asher POV

Present

this seemingly perfect town, and he groomed me from a young age to do the same. Some may think a man willing to kill for revenge would be a crappy father, but my dad wasn’t. He treated me well and made sure I wanted for nothing. I was a part of his world since I

is that girls call

to spill blood huh? How can we help?” Logan asked with a

a dark side of her own that we were only now seeing. Who wouldn’t, after all, she has endured, but

first. His company, his money, his perfect life. Then when he has nothing left, we let him

had been creating a darkness in his daughter that would turn against him with a desire to kill. This was the last straw, and her beast was out and

asked her. She turned to me and my heart fluttered at the darkness in

pay. Every single man that laid a hand on me.” Logan laughed and clapped

a

out of here. I feel too vulnerable here. I may want to get revenge on my father, but here he has

I nodded.

out carefully, and in a more secure

I know you are nowhere close to trusting us yet, but would you consider coming

gave him a smile

was hoping you would say that. Yes, there is a long way to go before I can fully trust any of you, but I need you…so I’m

can we take you home Sunny?” Logan