Survival Under Protection - Book One

8 - Years of wait

"You got cut? It must be today when he... " and he stopped there, realizing what he was going to say. But the missile was already launched.

"He? A guy hurt you? What's going on Ria? Tell me who did that!!" Logan spoke, he looked angry and concerned and Jack too came and sat beside me to look at the cut.

I sent a sharp glare at Joe and so did Alex and John and Joe did nothing but pouted saying sorry.

"Logan nothing happened trust me, Joe's just kidding." I said quickly but was afraid to look at his eyes. I was never a good liar.

"Ria, really? Tell me what happened." Logan stood up, said firmly. I couldn't think of anything as John promised to explain everything later, he was a much good speaker than I was, specially when it came to Logan. Now all I could do was looked at John and Alex, begging for helping me out.

"Logan, actually something did happen today, but I promise it was nothing serious." John spoke, and I thanked him in my mind for taking over.

"Talk", Jack commanded, still chewing his sandwich. He too was a hot-headed person, but much cooler than Logan.

John told the whole incident and Logan's and Jack's expression changed from wary to angry and concerned too for me and Joe.  Jack pulled Joe next to him to sit couch armrest. 

But Logan couldn't keep his cool when he heard about Andy's detention.

"John, why didn't you call me? I left college premises but was still in the town right? That Gino dared to hurt Ria and Joe and you didn't think of informing me?" Logan was very angry. We could tell that, he eyes had gone red.

"Logan calm down man." Jack tried to calm Logan but Logan was way too angry, he didn't even listen to Jack.

It was when we heard Dad's honking at the gate. "Logan please calm down. Dad's home." I ran to Logan and held his hand and said and it looked he also understood that as he cooled down a little.

"Hey guys, good news!! Your mum is coming back tomorrow morning." Dad came in and said. We could all see the light in his eyes.

I could see it was a big paradigm shift for all of us from the tensed situation to this good news. But everyone thankfully realized it and I could see happy faces on all.

"Yay!!! Dad I am gonna decorate the whole house with balloons." Joe jumped to dad and everybody started laughing.

Soon we all started decorating our home with balloons, ribbons and Jack and Alex were preparing a welcome-back-home poster for mom. 

Andy soon came back in some time. Logan called him to the living room but I and and Joe requested Logan to let go off the tensed discussion.

Dad went into kitchen but I and John didn't let him cook tonight. He was already tired with all day being at hospital. John prepared everyone's favorite bacon, rice and pasta, and I, I was his assistant.

"Get that Ria", "Wash that Ria" "Don't do that Ria". All the time he just made me follow his instruction like a puppet.

We had a happy dinner time as everyone was excited that mum was coming back home the next day. Soon everyone exchanged good night wishes and left for their rooms.

Mom and dad's room was on the first floor and all of our rooms were on the second. Our new home was actually bigger than our last home, which had just 6 rooms for our family. But this home gave separate room to each one of us and had two extra rooms for guests. 

But extra rooms did not change our living style. Logan and Jack still shared a room, and Alex and Andy being twins, did share a room.

John and Joe had a separate room for themselves like before but Joe often slept in John's room as they would watch movies till late night.

And I, of course, had a separate room. Being a single girl did have its advantages. But tonight it didn't feel good. 

Soon after lying on my bed, I could recall Gino's incident today. And that led to memories at uncle's home. I tried but couldn't sleep with all of their hatred for me.

"Hey Ria, I came to wish you goodnight. I know your mum would always come to you for wishing every night." Dad came in and said to me while patting on my head.

"Yeah dad, thanks. Good night to you too."

"No problem little girl. By the way, you are still awake, everything all right?"

"Mmm. yeah, dad, all's fine"

I said to dad and gave him a smile. He smiled back at me and got up to leave.

"Dad?" I called him the next moment. I could not sleep with all these questions haunting me every night.

"Yeah Ria, tell me" Dad came back beside my bed. I sat up and he sat beside me.

"Dad, I want to ask you something..." I didn't know how to start, every time I asked about uncle and Mark, my parents always found a way to change the subject.

"I know Ria. I know what you want to know." He answered back and I looked at him.

He continued, "I know I have been avoiding these questions for a very long time. But what happened in the past few days, I think it is your right to know the truth."

I can't imagine how many sleepless nights I spent in searching for answers to all those questions. And now I couldn't help but held my breath.

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How was this chapter? Next chapter will be revealing out the truth. Any guesses?

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