Chapter 161 Scars
Rain's P.O.V.
"No, sorry." Shea doesn't sound sorry at all. Dakota must have told them about her, too. I glance behind Jamie and see a large man standing not far away. She probably doesn't even realize she's being watched. She shrugs and turns to Luka.
"I think Rain may need a break. Do you want me to come to your room with you after you eat?" she asks. I turn to look at him, and he puts his arm around my shoulders.
"No. Exactly what do you think Rain is doing in my room? She doesn't work here. She's with me now." My face gets hot when he pulls my chair closer to his. Shea smiles at me from across the table while Jamie looks angry.
"Whatever. Rain, I need to talk to you alone." Jamie tries to grab my arm, but I move out of her reach.
"Whatever you need to say, you can say here," Luka says.
"This has nothing to do with you. Come on, Rain. You know you can only function when someone tells you what to do." She moves closer, grabs my hand, and tries to pull me up. I'm sick of people thinking they can push me around. I stand and shove her hard so she falls on her butt. As she tries to get up, Dakota appears out of nowhere.
"What's going on?" she asks, standing over Jamie, who begins to cry.
"Rain pushed me for no reason." Dakota looks at me and winks.
"Oh, really. I think we should go have a talk, don't you?" She pretends to walk toward me, then swings around, grabs Jamie by her hair, and pulls her to her feet.
"What are you doing? She's the one who hurt me." Jamie tries to get loose, but Dakota doesn't let her go. Luka stands and puts his arm around me.
"From what I heard, you were trying to get her alone, and when you grabbed her, she pushed you away." Jamie's face turns red.
"Who are you going to believe? Me or someone who can't even speak up for herself. She's a nobody. She shouldn't even be allowed to be here." I have heard that and worse, so I don't flinch, but Dakota slaps her hard across the face while still holding her hair with the other hand.
"She is stronger and better than you will ever be. Xavier, take her sorry ass to the negotiation room. I'll be out in a minute. Make sure she's very comfortable." Dakota's tone of voice makes me shiver. I have a feeling I don't want to know what kind of negotiations go on in that room. She shoves Jamie to the large man, and he takes her out the back door. Dakota walks over to me and hugs me.
"Xavier called and told me Jamie was up. I was planning on dealing with her in the morning, but I'm going to take care of her tonight. Don't worry, you won't ever see her again. Here's a little secret: if Luka ever pisses you off, tell him I'll be negotiating with him." She hugs me again, and despite what's happened, I giggle slightly. The sound almost scares me, so I put my hand over my mouth. I never laugh or giggle.
"Hey, I'm your cousin," Luka says as she walks away. Dakota turns and smiles.
"You may be my cousin, but Rain is my sister." I smile as she disappears out the door. She called me her sister, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I have a family.
Luka and I sit back down and finish our food. When we're done, Tyler and Shea get back to work on the paperwork they were going through, and I help Luka back upstairs.
"Do you still want me to help you shower?" I ask him when we reach his room.
"Yes, if you don't mind," he replies. He walks over to the dresser and pulls a few things out. He hands me a T-shirt and a new pair of boxers that still have the tag on them.
"You can wear these." I follow him into the bathroom, and he puts his clothes on the sink. I do the same with the ones he handed me. Luka turns the water on and looks at me.
"Are you sure you don't mind helping me? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable." I remove my clothes and walk over to him.
"I'm not scared of you. Some men are bastards, but I know you won't hurt me. Let me help you." Many people may be scared or shy away from being naked with a man, but I have been hurt so many times that sometimes kindness hurts more. Luka takes off his shirt, and I help him with his pajama pants and boxers. He steps into the enormous shower, and I get in with him. I get a washcloth wet, put soap on it, and begin washing him while he leans against the wall. I can tell he's still weak. As I wash down his body, I skip his penis. I'll let him do that part himself.
"Turn around." He does as I say, and I wash his back and down his legs.
"Okay, here you can wash the parts I didn't." I hand him the washcloth and get a clean one for myself. The shower has two heads, so I go under the other one, wash my hair, and begin washing myself.
"I'll wash your back," Luka says. I hand him my washcloth and turn around. When I don't feel anything, I look at him, and he's staring at my back.
"Who did that to you?" I forgot about my scars.
"My parents. They used a whip, cigarettes, sometimes a hot knife, or whatever else they thought would cause the most pain." The scars cover my back, butt, and thighs. I try to take the washcloth, but he keeps it and begins gently washing my back.
"Is your dad still alive?" he asks.
"I don't know. Probably." When he's done washing me, he pulls my back against his front and wraps his arms around me. There is nothing sexual in the way he's holding me. It feels protective.
"If he is, do you have an issue with me finding him?" I look up at him, and he kisses my forehead.
"Why would you want to find him?" Luka turns me around and pulls me into his arms so my face is against his bare chest.
"I meant what I said. Anyone who hurts you will pay. Your mom is already gone; otherwise, I would include her. He's the one who began your life of pain." I should tell him to forget about my dad, but what he said was true. If my dad hadn't abused me and then sold me, none of this would have happened. Why shouldn't I get revenge?
"Yes, you can find him, but only if I can be there when you do."