Never Again

23.

ᴇ ᴛ ʜ ᴀ ɴ

Today is Riley's court date.

She hasn't been doing good we're all at Livs house waiting for her to come down the stairs for we can get going. We all have to go since we're witnesses of seeing Riley bruised up. Hearing her muffles of crying in the room Lia trying to calm her down but doesn't help. All our heads down hearing the sobs escaping from her the muffled of screams from holding her own hand to her mouth.

Leonardo has texted me keeping tabs on Christopher's case. Him and I made a deal I fight for him to keep Riley safe and no harm to her. Now I have to keep up and I can't just stop fighting I have to keep fighting till he doesn't want me anymore I know it's going to be a few years but I'll do anything to keep her safe. Leonardo and his men have paid Christopher a visit threatened him. I don't know what he said to him but that's all he told me.

Walking up the stairs turning to the left to Riley's room. Knocking on the door two times the sniffles , sobs , muffled screams stop. The door knob turns to the left Lia, Riley's little sisters head peeks out giving her a smile she smiles back before opening the door for I can step in. Riley wipes the tears under her eyes harshly sniffling before standing up cleaning her hands on her dark jeans she mumbles a sorry before sitting on the bed sliding on her shoes.

"How are you ?" I speak up sitting next to her the bed sinks when I sit down. Running my hand through my hair feeling the knots my hands run through it making my hair smooth.

"I'm okay." She smiles before standing up her hands in the pockets of her jeans I stand up before nodding my head. Standing to my full height stretching my legs she stares at me but looks away, I chuckle.

"You knows it's okay not to be okay. We're here for you, im here for you. Whenever you need anyone im here to talk too , to cry , to need to be hold I'm here whenever okay ? " giving her a small smile her eyes start watering before I wrap my arms around her. She sobs into my chest rubbing her back giving her comfort she sobs and sobs trying to catch her breath pulling from the hug her hand on her chest trying to breathe.

"Hey. Hey. Riley breath for me. Breathe. Inhale, 1....2....3....Exhale, 1....2....3." I keep repeating before she catches her breath wiping her tears with my thumb her red puffy cheeks I kiss both of them before I hug her again.

"Everything will be okay." I rub her back she nods sniffling her eyes meet mine before her lips touch mine. Tasting the salty tears from her lips I kiss back before her hands hold my cheeks pulling her closer by her waist we both pull away catching our breath. Pecking her lips I hold her into my arms.

Everything will be okay.

***

Pulling into the court cars parked out the tall brown building , three flights of stairs to go up to the front doors , four white huge pillars in the front looking big it's holding up the building , cop cars surrounding the place. Riley's looks at the court house letting out a sigh, she had to bring Lia since she was also in the house due to the abuse. Parking in one of the parking spaces my hand goes to Riley's knees it stops bouncing before she looks at me giving me a sad smile.

Turning off the car opening the door she steps out getting Lia from the back and Ryder gets out form the other side giving me a nod I nod back. Riley stops her tracks taking a deep breathe. Lia runs out of Riley's hold and towards me jumping in my arms a smile spreading across my face she giggles showing her cute little teeth. Holding her in my arms I walk to Riley giving her a smile I giving her my hand she takes it into her small hand.

We walk to the court house ahead our friends going up the three flights of stairs we stop in front of the doors. Turning my head she nods before stepping inside going through security we make it into the court room we walk down the rows of seats sitting in the second row my hand still in Riley's giving her a smile she smiles back. The judge walking out all of us stand before he sits down we all sit back down.