Our server arrived with milkshakes the size of Colorado, setting down extra napkins before walking away.
“I have a test on Monday,” Brianna said, sipping her treat.
“You can do a make-up.”
“Indy?”
“Yeah, baby?” I met her eyes.
“You make me feel safe.”
I bit back tears and pasted a smile on my face. “Thank you for saying that, honey. I will move heaven and earth to keep you feeling that way.”
She nodded and we relaxed into easy conversation, the weight of the world leaving her shoulders. I, however, transferred that weight onto mine. Joshua Felly better never get anywhere near her again or I was gonna rain hell down upon him.
Once we finished our treats, we headed back to my car and drove home. I then hung out with the kids for a few hours, letting them beat me at foosball.
When it was time for me to pick Leo up, Brianna was apprehensive about me leaving, so I hugged her close and promised I’d be back in less than thirty minutes, which seemed to calm her.
I rolled up to Potion just before eleven. Since it wasn’t a school night, I’d allowed Leo to work until closing, provided he got his homework done.
I discovered that all of the parking spaces were full in front of the shop, despite the late hour, so I pulled into the alley on the side, and climbed out of my car. And a sudden burst of pain slashed through my head as I was hit from behind, dazing me.
* * *
Jekyll
Iglanced at my watchand frowned. I coulda sworn I heard Indigo’s fanbelt ten minutes ago, but she hadn’t walked through the door yet.
“You need to call Indy,” I told Leo.
“Okay,” he said, dialing her number immediately. “Voicemail. Do you think she forgot to pick me up?”
“Unlikely,” I murmured. “Go take the trash out then we’ll lock up and wait for her.”
Three minutes later, Leon let out a god-awful bellow, rushing back inside. “Jekyll! Indy’s hurt.”
I didn’t ask questions, I just followed him into the alley, finding Indigo on the ground next to her car, blood oozing from her head.
“Fuck!” I hissed. “Call 9-1-1, Leo.”
Removing my cut, I pulled my T-shirt off and used it to try and stop the blood as Leo called for an ambulance. One of my club brothers, Scrappy, joined me, his phone to his ear calling Needles who was a member of our club, and a doctor.
“I need you to get the footage from the last thirty minutes and send it to my phone,” I said to Scrappy as I continued to put pressure on Indigo’s wound.
Jesus, it wouldn’t stop bleeding.
Indigo whimpered and I stroked her cheek. “I got you, baby. Help’s on the way. Just stay with me, okay?”
I heard the sirens and told Leo to flag the ambulance down, which he did and the EMTs rolled a gurney our way within a few minutes.
“What happened?” one of them asked.
“We don’t know,” I said. “We found her like this. I’m currently pulling footage.”
“Right. If you can step back, sir, we’ll take it from here.”
I had no choice but to let the professionals work, even though, all I wanted to do was gather Indigo up and protect her from the world.
