Amelia's POV-

"Hello... I'm Blake Prescott and this is my wife Amelia," he said with a big smile and held his hand out to shake the realtor's.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. I'm John, the realtor," he said as he shook Blake's hand while eyeing me with a large smirk. I kept my hand firmly by my side and squished my body closer to Blake's. The guy's eyes were already making me uncomfortable. Besides, most men made me cringe. "So, this property boasts this main house, two guest quarters, and plenty of room to build on with the extra acreage," he explained. "Your father, Diego, wasn't it? ...Said that you all are looking for an immense amount of room. He was rather specific about his specifications."

"Yes sir," Blake agreed. "We will be moving our whole family in. We have a large family, so we have to have plenty of room, so we don't all kill each other," he joked.

"Oh wow! Mrs. Prescott you don't even look old enough to have had any children. Much less, a hoard of them. You really are stunning," the realtor flirted with me. I had to fight myself to not physically back away from him.

Blake tightened his arm around me and gave the man a hard look. "No-no... No kids for us yet. I want to keep my love all to myself for a bit longer before we think of having children. Anyways, we'd like to go look around now," Blake told him firmly.

"Oh, yes sir! You two go look around. I'll be here if you have questions," he replied.

Blake and I walked around the house slowly. We took in the house together. There were many rooms, and it was a very beautiful home. It was perfect for our needs with the gang. However, the guest houses look rather small from the driveway, so that might be a dealbreaker.

We walked into the master bedroom together. Blake walked towards the closets while I walked to the opposite side of the room towards the bathroom. "What do the guest houses look like? Did you see it on the website?" I called out to Blake as I checked out the bathroom, touching the faucet curiously. I heard his phone ring and was waiting for him to get off the phone before I asked my question again as I examined the bathroom a little more.

"They're quite nice," the realtor's voice said, making me jump at his sharp voice.

My eyes snapped to his through the mirror. I felt my body tense up at the look in his eyes and took a deep breath. He came and stood behind me way too closely.

"Would you like me to take you to one of them to show you?" He asked as he practically eye-fucked me.

I felt terror wash through me as his eyes reminded me of Marcus' sick want for me. He looked almost like a predator hunting for me. "Let me go get my husband real quick," I told him as I tried to sidestep him.

His hand reached out and stopped me by placing his hand on my waist. "Or you could not," he told me harshly, making my panic levels rise.

"Or you could get your hand off of me before I break it," I told him with a hard glare. I felt fear clogging my throat though. My fear didn't make sense. It was so irrational to be scared of him.

His face flashed surprise across it but he still smirked, "What happened to the little girl that was just shying away from me all scared? You were so nervous around me before... I think that girl is still in there."

"She is going to break your hand if you don't remove it now! Let go. I am not interested." I told him.

"Oh really?" He asked as his hand slid a little lower to cup my hip.

I grabbed his hand and gave him an ugly sneer, but before I could speak, Blake's voice cut through the thick air, "And then I'll kill you and bury you in the backyard of our new vast property that my father just bought... thankfully it was not from you."

John tried to pull his hand away from me as he stuttered and stammered an excuse. Blake came up next to me as I squeezed his hand even harder.

"S-sorry man! I... Some wives are really into it! My bad!" The man continued as he stared at Blake apologetically.

"And... After she turned you down?" Blake asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I... um... Sometimes you just gotta really pursue them. Some women just really want to be wanted. I didn't mean anything by it! Sorry!" John stammered as Blake took the guy's hand from me.

"So, this is normal for you?" Blake asked as he harshly squeezed the dude's hand. "Just touching another man's wife?" Blake was squeezing so hard that the guy was kneeling to the ground in pain and groaning.

"Sorry! Sorry! I-I didn't mean it! I-" He was cut of by the cracking of his bones in his hand.

"Keep your hands to yourself!" Blake yelled. John was crying as Blake still squeezed his hand that had been on me. "And you damn sure better keep your hands off of my girl. Got it?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Sorry!" He screamed loudly.

Blake finally dropped the guy's hand and John keeled over in pain.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Blake said with fake pleasantness in his voice. "Let's go, honey. Dad wanted us to come right over to make sure that you think that the house will be a good fit for our expanding family."

I stared at him with wide eyes and nodded silently, letting him lead me out of the large house.

"Are you okay?" I asked when we got into the car.

"I should be asking you that," he sighed as he drove away from the house.

"Well, I didn't just break some dude's hand so..." I trailed off.

"He... I... He was touching my wife!" He said irrationally.

I stared at him with my eyebrow raised. I mean, we were not really married. There had to be a better reason than that for him reacting in that way.

Blake sighed and shook his head. "You looked scared of him," Blake finally breathed out. "The look on your face when I walked into that bathroom was almost the same expression that you had that first night at the club. I... I don't want you to be scared."

I said nothing as he continued driving.

"I don't get it though..." he finally admitted. "You aren't scared of anyone at the gang. You can face down drugs, large men, guns, and knives all day. However, as soon as some dick like John the realtor shows up... You look scared."

"I... I can't explain it," I sighed as I felt tears come to my eyes. "He... he reminded me of Marcus and I..."

"How did he remind you of Marcus? He looks nothing like him," Blake asked in a confused voice.

"The way he looked at me... like he could almost eat me or something. Marcus used to... It was either that look or a look of sheer anger. I could handle the anger. The anger and beatings were something that I could have gotten used to. Sure, they hurt but they were manageable. That look though... that look was terrifying. The things that would happen when he looked at me like that. I-" I sobbed as I tried to not let myself go down that thought path. I tried not to let myself remember the memories.

"Oh Milly," Blake said as he pulled over to the side of the road. "I'm so sorry, Amelia. I... I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you for helping me, Blake," I finally said once I got myself back under control. "I probably could have handled it, but it was nice to not have to. I know that you're probably sick of having to help me by now..."

"Milly... That is what I am here to do. I'm here to protect you. I don't care who it is from either... Whether it's Marcus, Diego, Grant, Loren, John the realtor, or even Rachel... I will protect you," he said softly as he looked at me sincerely. "You've been through too much already. You're too damaged by that fucker already. I can't let anything else happen to you. I can't let you go until Marcus is gone. It wouldn't be safe for you."

I wanted to be comforted by his words, but I felt stung instead. I was too damaged by Marcus. He was right... I was too damaged.

I felt tears prick my eyes as I thought those words over. I really did like Blake, and just that scared me. So, I knew that I was not going to be able to have any sort of good relationship with him. I mean, just thinking of liking the guy sent me into a deep dark hole full of trauma.

He was right... I was too damaged. I was too damaged for him, for Loren, for everyone. I was screwed up, and there was nothing to make it better. Well... except getting rid of Marcus. Then he could be rid of me and not have to protect me anymore.

"Tell you what," Blake said softly. "Why don't I call Diego and tell him that we can't go see the property today? He said that he told the guy that he had to wait on the final offer until you got to see it, but I'm sure that it can all wait until tomorrow. You-"

"No!" I cut him off. "Let's go see it. The quicker we get all that sorted, the quicker we can get rid of Marcus." I told him. Then he could be free of me... They all could.

A/n-

Hey y'all! Let me know what you think! Now we're starting to see a bit more of her trauma and doubt come out. I love y'all! Don't forget to vote, comment, and share!

-KAF❤️