“Get the first aid kit,” Knox says, as he pries the cross from her hand. I nearly sprint into the kitchen and open the bottom cabinet, grabbing the kit before running back to them.
“Tesoro, talk to me. What’s happening?”
“Flashback,” I respond for her, knowing exactly what I’m looking at.
She sits kneeling on the tile, shaking as she stares blankly at Knox. My Little Heathen looks so fucking lost. I stand like thehelpless fucker I always am. I can’t get close to her, as much as I want to. The risk of her touching me, when she’s in the middle of a literal waking nightmare, is too dangerous.
“What caused this?” Knox asks, as he opens the kit and begins to clean and bandage her arm.
I don’t have an answer for him, because as someone who gets flashbacks, there’s not always a,whyfor what causes them. If I knew, I would do anything to avoid them.
“I need to touch her, Knox. C-can you hold her hands?”
He secures the last bandage and links her fingers with his, holding her hands in a firm yet gentle grip. Kneeling beside her, I move the fallen hair from her eyes, tucking the strands behind her ears.
“Little Heathen, you’re safe. It’s just us here.”
Tears fall from her eyes, as she blinks rapidly, before finally raising her gaze to mine.
“Carter,” she gasps, as she focuses on my face like she’s seeing me for the first time. She looks over at Knox, and casts her gaze down to their connected hands before turning back to me.
“You had a flashback. Tell us what you need.”
She releases a long, drawn-out breath before answering.
“I need to kill them, Carter. The only way it becomes worth enduring is if I end all of their pathetic lives.”
I glance at my brother, and he nods.
“Let’s go then, Little Heathen. It’s time to show them their God can’t save them.”
Heather rises to her feet and stands straight, with a crazy glint in her eyes.
“Hell hath no fury like a woman pissed off.”
I look at my brother as we exchange knowing smirks.Our girl.
Knox grabs her arm and inspects the bandage.
“Does this happen often, Tesoro?”
She glances between us before lowering her gaze to the ground, appearing ashamed.
“Often enough.”
“Is it only during flashbacks?” I ask, because I’m not aware of things I do when I have them. It’s not until it’s over that I know what damage I’ve done.
Heather pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and shakes her head no.
“His voice is in my head. Pain makes it go away for a little while.”
Knox kisses the back of her hand softly.
“I’ll give you pain when you need it. Safely. This won’t be tolerated, Tesoro. You could really hurt yourself or worse.”
Pulling her arm away from him, she places her hands on her hips, and flashes him a defiant glare.
“My body, my choice.”
