"Trav, I am going to do this real slow."

I lean back and stand, slowly removing my clothes; I don't give a crap if anyone can see, this moment is ours. I reach down and undo his jeans, then slowly slide them down over his hips until he is sitting naked. He doesn't take his eyes from me; he just stares and begins panting. There are so many unspoken emotions in his eyes, so many things he wants to say, wants to feel but he is stopping himself.

"Slowly baby." He croaks.

"Slowly."

I lower myself over him until my knees hit the ground. I place my hands on the wall behind him, careful not to touch his battered body. He is covered in bruises, stitches and whip lashes. His eye is black; his lip is puffy, but I don't care. Travis Phoenix is as beautiful to me as he always is. I reach into his pocket and pull out his wallet, taking out a condom. I slide it over his length slowly, then I lower myself inch by inch onto his cock and he hisses through his teeth.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, fuck, no." He pants, gripping my legs.

I slide down further, and whimper when he is fully sheathed. He growls as I thrust my hips and begin sliding up and down, up and down. His breathing becomes laboured, and his moans are jagged. I slide slowly, not wanting to hurt him in any way, my orgasm is building higher and higher, sending electric bolts of pleasure through my body.

"God, Violet, you are so fucking beautiful. Can't let you go, never let you go." Travis grates out.

"Trav." I cry, shuddering around him.

He grips my hips and pumps his upwards, growling in pain and pleasure as he does. His muscles flex, his eyes are clamped closed as he thrusts with desperation. He bellows my name loudly and I feel him pulsing into me, his ragged cries tugging at my heart strings. He sounds like a man in pain, a tortured soul. I crush his head against my chest, stroking his hair and whispering his name softly in his ear.

"Violet, my heart started beating again when you came into my world. I can't think about anything but you; I wasn't living before, I merely existed and now...you are the sunshine...the rain...the darkness...the light; you are my soul."

I feel tears stream down my cheeks because I know that is Travis's way of saying I love you. When we finally pull apart, I help him to his feet. I lead him inside and begin the daily cleaning of all his wounds. He winces in pain as I wipe them over and my heart breaks once more. Guilt courses through my body. It hurts. It all just hurts.

"Stay with me." He whispers.

"Of course."

I help Travis dress and we spend the evening making soft love, watching movies and eating pasta. It is at that exact moment I realize that I am bound to Travis Phoenix, nobody in my life will ever compare, and that scares the hell out of me. Chief's words haunt me. "All I wanted for you was a life without darkness."

"Momma?" I yell, the house is bright, but I can't see her anywhere.

I walk into the kitchen, she isn't baking or singing like she usually is.

"Momma?"

No answer. I walk towards her room, and I hear a faint sound. I begin running. I burst through the door, and I scream. My mother is on the bed; she is naked and her body is beaten so badly I can hardly recognize her. I run to the bed, and call her name over and over again. She is alive; I know she is alive, and I have to get help. I pull out my phone, and I ring an ambulance.

"Momma, it's going to be ok. I got you." I whisper, stroking her mattered hair.

"Vi..." She croaks.

"Going to be ok Momma."

I dial Chief's number.

"Chief."

"Daddy, help please. Help. I don't know what to do."

"Baby slow down, where are you?"

"Home...daddy someone has hurt her. Momma...oh god."

"What? Violet what has happened?"

"Someone has beaten her daddy; she is in a bad way. I am taking her to the hospital now."

"I will be there."

I flip the phone closed and swipe my tears away before calling Travis. I can't drive right now even if I wanted to.

"Phoenix records, Janice speaking?"

"Janice, I rang Travis's office. Where is he?"

"I don't know." She snaps.

"Don't fuck with me right now Janice, where is he? It's an emergency."

"I will put you through." She sighs.

About five minutes later, the phone is picked up again.

"Travis Phoenix."

"Trav, it's me. I need your help."

"Baby, what is happening?"

"My mother has been bashed, the ambulance is coming. I need you please."

"Shit, I will be there in five."

I hang up and drop beside my mother. I stroke her hair, talking to her and trying to keep her awake. I scan the damage, broken ribs; five at least. Broken arms and legs, bones protruding. Beaten face, possibly a broken jaw. She has been raped; I just know she has been raped. I feel sick. I swipe my tears again, desperately trying to keep myself from hyperventilating. Got to be strong, she needs me to be strong.

The ambulance officers arrive ten minutes later and are horrified with the scene they witness. After answering as many questions as I can, they tell me I have to wait for the police. Travis arrives ten minutes after they took my mother to the hospital to find me screaming on the ground. He runs in and pulls me into his arms, rocking me backwards and forwards. When I settle down enough, we wait for the police to arrive. When they do, I am given the third degree.

"You have no idea who did this?"

"No sir," I whisper. "I came home and found her like this."

"Has she been getting any suspicious phone calls, any threats?"

"Not that I know of."

"If there is anything you remember, please call. You will need to make a statement."

"Yes sir."

When we arrive at the hospital, I run inside. I hurry down the bland corridors and skid to a halt at the reception desk.

"Amanda...she just got brought in?"

The nurse smiles. "She is in surgery."

"What, why?" I cry.

"Mischief, baby..."

I turn and am crushed firmly against Chief's chest, where I finally allow myself to crumble.

"S'all my fault daddy, all my fault."

"No baby, no."

"It is."

"It's mine. Not yours."

"Should have run, should have let her run with me when she wanted to."

"Come now."

"Was it demon?"

He pulls me back and stares over at Travis who has just got in, he looks over at him and winces.

"Chief." Travis says.

"Trav."

"So was it daddy?"

"I think so."

"She isn't safe; she needs to get out of here."

"So do you Violet."

"Daddy no; I can't leave. I have a court..."

Chief's eyes flare. "A what?"

"Nothing."

"What did you say Violet?"

"She has a court case Chief."

"Travis!" I cry, glaring at him.

"For what?"

"Jeremy is back."

I glare at Travis again. "Stop."

"Jeremy, as in that little fuck who beat my baby?" Chief roars. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me."

"It isn't the time daddy." I whisper.

"Why is he back?"

"He wants me put away." I cry.

Chief pulls out his phone and begins dialling.

"Bill, we got a problem..."

He walks off, and I turn to give Trav a truly awful look.

"Why did you do that?"

"He had a right to know, he can help."

"By killing him and getting me in more trouble!"

"No, by scaring the fuck out of him and making sure he never comes back."

"I can't deal with this right now."

"You are staying with me until Chief gets Demon; you are staying."

"Trav..."

"No arguments."

"Best idea I heard all night." Chief says coming back.

"I need air."

I turn and walk outside, needing to get away. I sit out in the blackness a while until Trav comes out and sits beside me.

"She is out and awake, do you want to see her?"