Free Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) by Charlotte Blackwell

beaten. If Mom wouldn ’ t perform sexually to his standards , he would take it out on me and beat me even harder. I had several broken bones, but the hospital believed their stories — that I was a clumsy child — and never did anything about it. When I was about ten, I was forced to get odd jobs around town , shoveling sidewalks in the winter and mowing the grass in the summer , as well as a paper route that I would do at four in the morning. At fourteen , I was old enough for a real job and began working at the local movie theatre on top of the odd jobs I did . The money I was making was not too bad , but of course Mom and Tony used all the money for their booze and drugs. ” She wipes a few stray tears from her cheeks as the horrible memories flood her. “ I used to harm myself too, cutting my wrists and ankles with razor blades. I figured that if I could make myself numb to pain, they couldn ’ t hurt me anymore. I really hated my life ; I struggled with myself and my family. Never have I felt good enough , n ot until you came along and accepted me. That ’ s when I realized what family really was. Once I became a vampire, all my scars healed so I never told any of you. I did try and cut a little more but it healed instantly. I know harming myself was stupid, but it was the only way I knew how to escape. I would never do it again, and hope that one day I can help others like me that believe hurting themselves is the only way. It ’ s hard when you feel all alone, but somewhere, somehow I know now there is someone that is there for you…it ’ s finding them that ’ s hard. I guess no matter what we all just have to believe. ”
    Florence also begins to tear up. “ Danika , sweetheart, I ’ m so sorry you had to go through all that. Is there anything we can do to make it better? ”
    “ Really , y ou already have. Bringing me into your family and treating me like your own i s all a girl like me could ask for. ”
    L uke slams his fist on the table. “ W ell , I can think of a few other things. For Christ ’ s sake , your new family is a group of vampires and witches. I think we can manage to take care of that ass T ony in a way he won ’ t forget. ”
    I ’ ve never seen Luke so mad before. H e obviously doesn ’ t take kindly to child abusers.
    “ Luke, thank you for caring so much, but I ’ m better than they ever were , or ever will be. I am much happier just forgetting that Tony and my mom ever existed. ”
    Eliza places her hand on Luke ’ s knee. “ Danika is right. As much as I would love to curse the m for everything they did to her, we can ’ t use our powers for personal gain, or self - serving purpose. Even though it would be for someone else, they are just bad people , n ot evil. Cursing o r killing them will not help the greater good of man. They will get what is coming to them, believe me. ”
    “ I know . I t just drives me nuts how some people treat their children. How did Nate and I get so lucky to have such a wonderful family and upbringing? ”
    “ Don ’ t worry about it , Luke. I really don ’ t care anymore. We are only given as much as we can take , and I handled this as best as I could. I ’ m just glad to be a Pierce now. ”
    I ’ m in complete shock about the life Danika had before us. I feel so bad for the way I treated her now. I wish I had got ten to know her a little better before judging her. How is it we ’ ve had her as part of our family for over two years , and not one of us knew anything about her past life. How will I ever make this up to her?
    Matilda runs down to one of the stores i n the hotel to get Danika a wig. S he comes back with a longer style , brown wig. It looks really cute on Danika and re nders her near ly unrecognizable. Before long , we all head out the door to see the sights a little. I think this vacation , so to speak , is just what we all need ; a great way to forget about all the evils we ’ ve been fighting for the past year or