Page 51 of A Dove To Break (The Dove Institute Collection #1)
Alania
I slept until about noon today, and then Adrian made me walk around for a while.
He is the nicest drill sergeant but also the hottest. If I am up for it, the plan is to kill Vlad tonight.
I don’t know how to feel, but I do know that I will be safe.
I recognize Derek, but apparently he’s been watching over me for a while.
Like a guardian angel in a way, only more violent.
I am standing at the kitchen island, taking small sips of water. I just took my medicine, which consists of strong antibiotics and pain medicine. I didn’t want any kind of medication that was potentially addictive, but I have always handled pain well.
I sense that someone is behind me, and I assume it is one of the guys until I turn and it’s Derek. “Shit!” I gasp.
“You look better,” he says. “How are you feeling?”
“Uhm… better,” I say quietly. When he walks closer, I back myself against the counter and drop my head.
“Alania,” Derek says softly. “Look at me.”
I look up at him, and he smiles. Adrian, Raul, Brent, and Cian are behind him at the door, just watching. “Alania, I promise I will never hurt you. I know why you fear me, but please give me a chance to prove that I only want the very best for you.”
“You stalked me,” I say.
“I… Well… Yeah, I guess I did,” Derek says. “But I feel like I had good intentions.”
“Thank you,” I say. “For not hurting me.”
“You’re welcome, Alania, but you don’t have to thank me,” he says. “Are you ready for tonight?”
“Uh… Yeah. I know the guys wouldn’t let me be there if I would be in danger,” I say.
“Are they good to you?” Derek asks.
“Yeah. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” I say.
“Look, Alania. I know you don’t know me, but I care about you. Like a little sister. It’s going to be strange to break the habit of looking after you from afar, but to know they treat you well is comforting,” he tells me.
“You don’t have to just disappear, ya know,” I say. “I kinda fucked the only brother I’ve ever known, so the spot is open.”
“Hey, I can still be your brother,” Brent laughs.
“Mmmm. No,” I laugh. “Derek, you’ve spent a long time watching over me. No one said you had to stop. If that brings you comfort, so be it. I’d much rather you not do it from so far away, though.”
“Why do you trust me?” he asks.
“Because you’ve had a million opportunities to rape me, and you’ve never taken one of them,” I say.
“The second you got the chance, you took me straight to my partners. Predators and monsters don’t do that.
They ruin and destroy everything in their path.
You planted seeds like wildflowers, just to bring some color into my world… That's why I trust you.”
Derek looks like he is about to burst into tears, so I take the initiative to put my arms out for a hug.
When he wraps me in a tight hug, it’s comforting and…
right. Nothing about him scares me, even though he does resemble his father.
Genetics doesn’t make you guilty. He and Brent are proof of that.
“Love you, kid. Please don’t ever jump in front of a bullet again. I’ll pay for every funeral I need to, but please don’t make me go to yours,” he pleads.
“I can’t promise you that, but I’ll try to be a shittier person and let people die next time,” I say. Everyone laughs at my sarcasm, and Derek pulls away to smile at me. “Time to end this madness?”
“Let’s do it,” I say with a smile.