Then –

"I never want you to come near her again!" Richard yells out at my stepfather as he cradles me in his arms. "It's okay (Name), I got you."

"I... I'm sorry," I cry out into his chest as I grip tightly to his now torn shirt. How had things turned out this way? One minute I was doing the dishes, the next I was fighting for my life. My Stepfather, Earl, had been drinking heavily that night, like he always did, and like always all it took was one little thing to set him off. I was used to this kind of abuse though. Ever since my mother, Emily, died in a fire while rescuing a young Rebecca Barnes from its massive flames only five years earlier.

Since her death I was forced to stay with my Stepfather. He was set and determined to drain the Barnes family dry of as much money as he could for his pain and suffering. That alone made the Barnes family hate us. All of them except Rebecca and the oldest son Richard. Rebecca blamed herself for my mother's death even though I knew it was an accident. Rebecca and I were the same age so I knew that when my mother heard that she was in the burning building she didn't think twice about rescuing her.

Richard, was like the big brother I never had. He was always there when I needed him. When Earl would go into one of his drunken rages Richard always seemed to appear to save me. Like some superhero. I loved Richard. I wasn't in love with him, but I loved him like he was the only one in this world that cared about me. Because he was.

Richard carried me over to his old single cab Ford pickup and easily slides me across the front seat before he climbs in beside me. I glance back at the house I had grown up in to see a bloody faced Earl standing on the front steps yelling at us to never come back. Richard had hit him hard. Then again, he had basically tackled him off me. Richard doesn't even give Earl a second glance as he starts the old truck and throwing it in reverse backs out of the driveway throwing gravel everywhere as he shifts into drive and races away down the road. We spend the first few minutes in silence before he lets out a heavy sigh and says, "Are you alright?"

"I'm... fine..." I reply tears falling from my eyes.

"(Name), you don't have to lie to me. I'm here for you remember."

"I know, I-" I pause as I look out the passenger side window into the dark night. "Why do you save me?"

"What kind of question is that?" He asks his voice filled with confusion and anger.

"I'm not old enough to leave here, no matter what we do, I'll still have to go back to him." I say voicing the truth and I hear him sigh.

"You could always marry me." He says and my eyes shoot to him.

"That's not funny Richard, you're like my brother."

"It wouldn't be a romantic marriage, it'd be a way out for you."

"No, it wouldn't," I answer honestly as I think about all the ways Earl would use me if I took Richard up on his offer. His hand reaches across the seat and finding mine gives it a quick squeeze. Offering him a soft smile I slide across the seat and lean into his side as his free arm wraps protectively around my shoulders pulling me in close to his side. He gently places a kiss on my forehead before he turns his attention back to the road. "One day, I'll get out of this place and be free of Earl completely."

"I will be here to help me whenever you need it."

"Okay superman." I reply closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I wanna show you something," He says as he turns his blinker on and after a few feet turns right onto a dirt road.

"Where are we going?" I ask sitting up straight next to him.

"When my brother and I were little we stumbled upon this place. It's special. When the inevitable happens and you end up with Earl again, you can always come here. I'll find you here and protect you."

"But won't Bucky get mad that you're sharing this secret place with me? He doesn't exactly like me."

"He doesn't have to like you. You're my family now, I want to share this place with you."

"But Richard-"

"No buts, just leave Bucky to me." Richard says as offers me a bright smile. Shaking my head, I turn from him to look out the windshield. It was dark outside, eerily dark. I couldn't help but feel a deep foreboding lingering in the air. I shake the feeling away and close my eyes. When the pickup comes to a complete stop I open my eyes and looking around cock an eyebrow at the scenery. "Don't give me that look, this isn't what I wanted to show you. It's up there. We have to hike a few hundred feet or so, but trust me, it's worth it."

"You better not be lying." I call out as he climbs out of the driver's side shutting the door behind him. I blow out a breath of air before opening the passenger side door and climbing out walk up next to him. He quickly takes my hand in his and grips tightly as he leads me through the woods. After a few minutes we emerge into a vast empty prairie field and I feel my heart leap in my chest. It was beautiful. There were lightning bugs flying all around illuminating the prairie like little lanterns on the grass.

"You think this is pretty, just wait until day time. There are so many wildflowers, it's like a scene from 'The Wizard of Oz'." Richard says pulling your attention from the fireflies to him. "You like it?"

"I do," I reply gripping tightly to his hand.

"Ah I almost forgot." He says reaching into his front jeans pocket.

"What are you doing?" I ask cocking an eyebrow at him.

"I want to give you something. Along with a promise."

"Okay?"

"Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you think I'm going to ask you to marry me again. I've already given up on that idea and thought of another one."

"Oh?" I ask happy that he had given up on the hopeless joke of marrying me but confused as to what he was about to say.

"Here, this is for you." He says pulling something out of his pocket and handing it to me. He places the trinket in my hand and then closes it so I can't see what it is. "I'm giving you this as a promise. I've decided to take over my father's company and I wanted you to be the first one I told."

"Wasn't that already decided since you're the oldest?"

"No, not exactly. I had every intention of giving the company to Bucky and then going off to do what I wanted but I can't leave you alone. When I become CEO, I'm gonna do everything in my power to separate you from Earl and keep him away from you so you can finally have a normal life. I'll even help you find your real dad if you want too."

"Richard, I can't ask that of you. What about your dreams?"

"You being safe and free is my dream, at least it's my new dream." He says making me look down at our joined hands.

"What does this have to do with your promise?"

"I want you to hold on to it. For now, at least. When my promise is fulfilled, I want you to give it back."

"Okay, what the hell is in my hand?" I ask suddenly becoming very worried. Richard pulls his hand away and I look down to see a little silver key sitting in the middle of my palm. "A key?" I ask curiosity filling my mind. "What does it go to?"

"Good question, too bad I won't tell you. It's a secret."

"Richard, come on." I plead but he shakes his head. Reaching up he pulls off his silver chain he always wore and then taking the key from me slips it on the chain and then latches the necklace around my neck.

"I want you to keep it safe for me." He pauses looking down at it lying against my chest. "It unlocks my greatest secret." I look him deep in his eyes mine filled with worry and confusion at his look but he quickly shakes his head and clearing his throat continues, "Anyway, keep it safe for me okay?"

"Okay," I say reluctantly as I reach up and run my fingers along the stem of the key.

"Good, now let's go home. You can stay with me tonight like you usually do."

"You make it sound like I'm in your bed every night." I say cocking an eyebrow at him judgingly.

"Aren't you?" He clarifies and I open my mouth to argue only to shake my head and decide against arguing. "That's what I thought. Come on, if my mom sees us like this she'll have a heart attack." He holds his hand out to me a bright smile filling his face.

"Okay," I reply taking his hand letting him lead me back to the truck. Climbing inside he walks around to the driver's side and quickly climbs in. Putting his seat belt on, he pats the center of the seat and I slide across to sit beside him.

"Seatbelt please." He says and I nod as I slide the little safety belt across my waist and buckle it. "Alright, let's go home." He says turning the truck on and turning around quickly heads down the road to his house. I lean my head against his shoulder as Pearl Jams, 'Last kiss' fills the cab of the truck. I close my eyes and enjoy the music until I feel the truck jerk sideways before it rolls countless times into the ditch. I feel something warm flow down the side of my face and I look around my vision blurred.

"Rich?" I try to say but my words are just wheezes. I blink my eyes repeatedly as I try to focus on finding Richard. I reach out and find his hand hanging in midair. "Rich I can't see you, are you okay?"

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