Surviving Love (Surviving #2) Read Free Page A

never gonna happen. She’s dead, buddy, which means she can never come back. You had a sick fucker for a dad, even if he is my brother. You’re mom was a good woman for keeping you away from my sick fucker of a dad. I’m going to look after you though, kid, I promise we will make you into a man your momma would be proud of, okay? She’s up there in Heaven watching you and relying on me to keep you safe, but I need your help to do that.”
    I nodded and looked up into the night sky at the twinkling stars, wondering if I would see her.
    “Ryan?”
    “Yeah?”
    “What’s a whore?”
    “Something your momma never was. It’s...you’ll find out when you’re older, kid. But your momma wasn’t one, I promise. Your dad never deserved her and our dad hated her for taking their son and you away from him. She was a fucking hero if you ask me.”
    “Does this mean we can be friends?” I asked quietly.
    “Yeah, bud, it does.”
    “A special friendship?” I asked, smiling.
    “No! He...fucking hell...he’s already done it. No, listen to me. I don’t want the same kind of friendship that sick fucker is offering. You stay away from him, okay? I want to be your real friend, he wants to hurt you but not the way I did. Not—” Ryan sounded out of breath even though we were sitting down. “He isn’t going to hit you but... fuck! Chase, listen. Your grandpa is a sick, twisted man. You think your dad was messed up, it ain’t nothing...” Ryan held onto my shoulders and pushed me away from him slightly to look at me. “Wait, did your dad ever... touch you?”
    I shook my head. “Daddy didn’t like cuddles. He didn’t like me very much and Momma used to make me go to my room when he was home.” I stretched up to whisper in his ear. “I think I was naughty and that’s why he was cross all the time.”
    “You weren’t naughty, buddy, the men in this family are fucked up. But I’m going to make sure you’re not, okay?” he whispered and pulled me into another hug. “You need to stay away from your grandpa. When he wants you, you hide under that boat there, where you hide from me, okay?”
    I lifted my head to look at him. “You knew my hiding place?”
    “Yeah, kid, who do you think put it there? Your daddy and I needed a hiding place once upon a time too.”
    I smiled at him and liked this Ryan, he was much better than the one who hit me. He didn’t seem so scary anymore. He was my friend, and that made me happy.

C hapter 1
    Louise Beaumont
    York, England
     
    “Mrs. Beaumont, Mikey just take me pen off me,” shouted Polly.
    “Mikey, what do we do if we would like something someone else is using?” I asked.
    “Ask first Miss Beaumont,” Mikey replied sulkily.
    “Good, now give the pen back to—”
    “Good morning children.  Miss Beaumont, could I have a word please?”
    I turned to see Joyce, the headmistress, beckoning me to follow her outside. I frowned because it was rare she would interrupt a class for a quick chat if it wasn’t highly important. I motioned to Miss Dean I’d be outside. I followed Joyce out of class and when she continued to her office a sense of foreboding hit me.
    “Lou, take a seat.” She motioned to the chair in front of her desk. “We’ve just received a rather distressed call from your mum. I was in the office at the time so I intercepted when it became clear the nature of the call was...alarming.”
    I placed my hand on my chest. “What did she want, has something happened? Have they had an accident?”
    "She phoned to say that your sister Eve has been taken to Leeds General Infirmary with severe injuries.”
    I gasped and covered my mouth. “What kind of injuries?”
    “She didn’t give me exact specifics but...” She paused and I hated that pause. “I believe her condition is critical and your mum asked explicitly if you would go straight to the hospital.”
    “Oh God!” I covered my mouth. My skin prickled and my heart pounded with alarm.
    “I’ll make