Luca

“You’ll understand what’s going on when I get to you Luca, you’ll see why I did what I did.” Freddie replied and I looked across to him with my brows raised. If he thought for one minute he was taking me to Luca right now he had another thing coming.

“I think I understand well enough, you busted some stripper from Sanchez’s club and now you want my protection. Shit Fred are you really that desperate to get pussy now that you have to kidnap it?”

“Fuck you Luca, I’m not talking about this over the phone anymore.” Freddie spat out, anger I’d never seen in him before came radiating over to my side of the car.

“Fine. You take the back stairs. Leo and Dan will meet you there. Don’t let anyone see you and don’t talk to anyone. Are we clear?” He shouted down the phone.

“Crystal.” Freddie replied and the call was shut down.

I went to speak and was met with Freddie’s hand in the air in front of my face.

“Don’t Chloe. I don’t have the energy or patience for your independent argumentative shit right now.”

I huffed and folded my arms over my chest. If he thought I was causing shit now, he hadn’t seen anything yet.

Chapter 2

12 years ago…

I crouched down by our back door listening and terrified of the angry shouts coming from next door. The bangs and crashes that always followed the hollering made me jump in fear. I knew I’d need to spring into action in a few minutes, when the shouting subsided and the dust started to settle. Luckily Dad was engrossed in his army T.V program, the voice over telling him how the D Day landings started helped mask any noises I made in the kitchen getting my provisions ready. Mum was out on a girls’ night with her friends and wouldn’t be back for ages so I had the perfect opportunity to do what I always did.

The noises finally began to wane and I checked my bags for the twentieth time making sure I was well stocked. Then I crept out of the back door and down to the bottom of our garden where the fencing had become rotten. One of the panels was loose and I pushed it aside to stealthily make my way into the Marquez’s back yard. I knew exactly where I’d find Freddie. I always went to him first because he was the closest. Sure enough he was sitting under the oak tree at the bottom of the yard, his head in his hands.

“What was it this time Freddie?” I whispered.

“The usual, Dad’s drunk and he said he’s tired of paying for two fucked up sons. Said we were a waste of his time and money.” He was crying big fat tears and sniffling.

“Well I love you, don’t listen to him, he’s a mean old man.” I wished Mr Marquez was the one who had disappeared and not their Mum Maria. He was a violent nasty drunk who treated his sons like punching bags, when they weren’t acting as his personal slaves.

“I can’t wait to leave this house when we’re older.” I knew that was for the best, but hearing Freddie say it out loud made my heart twinge and my stomach churn.

“Where are you hurt?” I asked giving him my warmest smile.

“He hit my head and caught me on my arm but I didn’t get it half as bad as Luca. I never get it as bad as Luca.” I knew Luca always protected Freddie, he took the hardest beatings, and worst knocks to save Freddie from harm. He really was the best big brother in the world.

“Here rub this wipe over where it hurts and then stay here until Luca tells you it’s safe okay?” I said handing Freddie an alcohol wipe. I had no idea if it would help but my nursing skills as a ten year old were somewhat limited and Freddie always seemed grateful.

“Thanks Chloe. You’re my favourite little sister.” He winked at me and I laughed quietly.

“I’m your only little sister Freddie, no dropping me for another one okay?”

“Never.” He smiled and I crawled away from him over the grass using my best commando moves, with my first aid bag hooked up safely on my back.

I found Luca in his usual spot on the porch at the back of the house sitting guarding his back door. I knew he was keeping watch so that if his Dad came out to start on them again he would only find Luca to hurt. It made my chest ache to see him sitting there with a split lip. His teeth were clenched together and his knees were bent to his chest, arms wrapped around them protectively.

“What are you doing here Chloe? You should be asleep in bed.” He hissed at me in irritation, but I knew he wasn’t really that mad. He liked me comforting Freddie, he wasn’t so keen on the comfort himself though.

“You’re hurt and my Dad says I’m good at healing so here I am.” I said matter of fact.

“I don’t need your help.” He didn’t make eye contact with me and spoke gruffly as if he wanted to scare me away or make me mad enough to leave.

“Everyone needs help Luca, even you.” I reached out to touch his arm but he flinched and pulled away from me.

“I don’t. I can manage just fine on my own.” He looked down at the dirt and started making circle patterns on the floor with his grubby fingers. It didn’t matter to me if he refused my help, I’d always come over to him no matter how many times he tried to turn me away.

“Is it your head that hurts, like Freddie? Or your arm?” I started to rifle through my bag and Luca shot his hand out to cover mine, stopping my movement.

“You need to be quiet Chloe if he comes out and finds you he might hurt you too.” He stared at me for a few seconds then sighed, “Fine if it’ll make you go away quicker it was my chest, my back, my head and my lip look.” He pointed at his split lip.