CEO??

Chapter 29

I was having another hard day. Darren had gotten used to them because they were becoming more and more frequent and was rescheduling everything while I knocked on Loki's door.

She opened and immediately let me in.

"I'm ready to talk about it," I whispered. "Dad said it helps and I need this to stop."

"Need what to stop, Pyotr?"

"I need to be able to hug my boyfriend and not feel disgusting all the time. I need to stop waking up from nightmares of the same things happening to the people I care about. I need it to stop." I was desperate. I missed Harley and just wanted to be able to cuddle with him again. I couldn't keep watching Skip hurt my family.

"Alright, talk to me, Little Brother. Who is Skip?"

"Skip is... literally my worst nightmare. When I was younger, a little below Darren's age, I met this g-guy at the library. He see-seemed nice and May and Ben approved of him, so we-we became friends. O-one night, I was giv-given permission to st-stay over a-at his house. It wa-was a mis-mistake." I was crying and stuttering as I told the story for the first time. I told her what Skip had done to me, how I was too scared to leave that night. I told her how it kept happening because I was scared he'd kill me if I didn't come back. I told her certain triggers that I had, and why.

By the time I finished my story, she looked ready to kill. "Where is he?" she growled.

I trembled as I said, "I have no idea. We moved away when I was a little older and I never saw him again. I started writing that same year. It took my mind off of everything." I paused. "Will you tell Harley for me? I don't think I can but he should know."

She frowned. "Can I hug you?"

I scooted closer and nodded, letting her pull me into her side. "Thank you for listening," I whispered as I fell asleep against her.

I woke up feeling rested. I hadn't had any nightmares during my nap. I found Loki speaking quietly with Harley. I was happy they didn't look at me like I was broken, but still were upset and sad for me. Ren watched the interaction in confusion. I sighed and beckoned him over to me.

"They're talking about your bad days, aren't they?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes, Ren. They're talking about why I get bad days. Something very bad happened to me when I was a little younger than you."

"Where is this Skip?" Mom's voice raged. Oh crap; she had been listening in on Loki's conversation with Harley.

"Skip?" Ren asked. "What skip?"

"Not a what, Bud," I said, flinching at the name. "Who. Skip is the name of a very, very bad person."

"Well then who is Skip?"

"He's someone I hope you never meet. You don't deserve what he did to me," I said. I would kill him before letting him near Darren. He was such a sweet kid.

Darren seemed to understand and his eyes widened. He gave me a big hug. "No one deserves that, Peter."

"Bucky! Clint! We're going to murder someone!" Mom yelled.

"Murder is illegal, Nat," Clint said, popping his head out of a vent.

"So is pedophilia, Clint, but that didn't stop him from raping an eleven year old boy!"

His eyes widened. "I'll grab my bow."

Dad walked in. "Who and why?" he asked.

"Skip Westcott. Child molester."

Dad glanced at me and frowned. "We aren't killing him," he said firmly. "We're ruining his life, not ours. I'm not going to jail and leaving Peter."

They frowned but nodded, going over ways to ruin his life without breaking the law.

For the first time, I wasn't trying to stop them from going after someone.

Shuri video called and I picked up. "Wonderful timing, Shuri," I said sarcastically.

"Spill," she said. "Why is the timing bad?"

I turned the screen around to show my parents, uncle, and sister getting ready to destroy Skip's life.

"You're not stopping them?" she asked.

"I won't lose any sleep over it," I said coldly.

"He lives in that building?" Loki asked skeptically, studying the rundown building.

I glanced over and a strangled noise escaped me. "No," I whispered. I turned to Ren, ignoring the eyes on me. "Tell me you haven't seen him, please," I pleaded.

He looked at the picture and his eyes grew wide. "He lives next door to me. Steven watches me when Mom's not home."

I pulled him close protectively. "Darren, you are not going back home," I said. "You are staying here until he's out of the city at least."

He nodded, growing scared. "He seemed so nice," he said.

I pulled him into a hug. "I know, Kid. I know." I almost cried when I realized what could have happened if I didn't tell anyone what happened to me.

"Loki," I said, looking her in the eyes, "drive him insane for all I care. Just get him away from Ren."

She nodded.

"I'll be there in five hours," Shuri said, "and someone can actually explain to me what's going on." She hung up.

"What did you talk to him about?" I asked Ren urgently. "Does he know about your job?"

Ren nodded slowly. "I was super excited about it and told him I was your assistant."

I paled. "Ren, you are not to leave this building and you are to stay with one other person at all times. Never go anywhere by yourself. Always carry your knife and gun."

He nodded rapidly.

"Loki, I need a minute," I said, looking at my shaking hands. "Keep Ren safe."

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Thoughts?