He glares at her, so I move in front of Milly. “Watch what you say,” I warn. I’m not having him try to scare Milly.
Milly taps me on the shoulder and sighs. “Let him come.” Her tone is soft. “Sophie was going to see him next anyway.” Keeping him away from Sophie might be more trouble than it’s worth.
With each step, my breathing becomes more panicky. We pass door after door until Milly pauses, enters a room, and pulls back a curtain. When my eyes land on Sophie, my knees buckle. Her face is covered with dark purple bruises, and both eyes are swollen. She can open only her right eye. Her hair looks matted. The sheet covers her from the waist down, but her arms are dotted with small bandages.
My legs are weak as I go around the bed and take a seat. All I want to do is hold her in my arms, but I’m scared I’ll hurt her.
“What happened?” Garrett asks softly, which makes me peer back at him. He’s standing at the foot of the bed, looking pale.
“Not now,” Sophie replies, her voice hoarse.
Her hand folds over mine. I raise it only a few inches and lower my head to kiss the top of it. She gives me a sad smile, squeezes my hand, and closes her eyes. A moment later, her breathing evens out and she falls asleep.
“Is she okay?” Garrett asks Milly.
“The pain medication causes drowsiness. She’s exhausted, and her body is trying to heal. Can you two wait in the lobby so she can rest?”
I want to argue. I want to stay with her. But I know she needs rest, so I follow Garrett out. “Did you find out who did it?” I cautiously ask him as we make our way towards the waiting room.
“The police said a bystander saw a group of young adults run away from her outside the store.”
Suddenly, I’m in a chokehold and I can’t breathe.I left her, this is my fault.
“Where were you?” Garrett asks, hurt and anger filtering through. “Where were you when my daughter was being beaten?” he asks again, raising his voice.
Not with her where I should have been.“I’ll find who it was.”
The silence is tense. “I’m searching for them too, but if you find them first, you give them hell… it’s the least you could do.”
A storm is raging inside of me. “I’m going right fucking now.”
He searches my eyes, then nods. “Don’t let them get away with this.” His voice holds a brutal edge.
I’m usually not a violent person, but if someone hurts the people I love, it changes everything. “I’ll make sure to give them the message.”
I meet Bomber and tilt my head to the exit. “We’ve got someone to visit.”
NINETEEN
A HEAVY BURDEN TO CARRY
Viper
Bang!The door flies open, hitting the wall from the force of my boot. Even in daylight the house is dark because newspapers cover the windows. The stench of shit, piss, and rotten food smashes me in the face. I gag, then quickly bring my bandana up to cover my nose and mouth. “That’s fucking disgusting,” I mutter, trying my best not to gag again.
As I step in further, with Bomber close behind, I hear, “Who the hell is that?” An older man comes into view. He’s the man we purchased Conan from, so I gather it’s him who owns the house. He looks as though he’s never showered.
I stride forward, grab him by the shoulders, and slam him into the wall. “Who was here today?” I’m seething.
His eyes are wide and bounce between me and Bomber. “I… I… don’t know.” I pull my arm back, ready to punch him. He flinches. “I told you. I don’t know,” he cries out. “It could have been anyone.”
“The group that spends time out back, close to the stores.”
He pauses, then his eyes flare, as if recognition sets in. I punch the wall next to his face. “Who. Was. It?” I yell at him.
He jumps before he blurts out, “I think it was Jason and his group of friends.”
“How many of them?” I snarl.
