“Are you going somewhere?”
“No, baby, I’m right here.”
“Then, no, I’m good.”
My parents made their way to me, hugging me a little longer than normal before letting me go. “If you need me, I’ll be right over,” Mom promised.
“Thanks, Mama. Really. We appreciate it.”
Flash walked her out, taking a few minutes to talk to my dad, probably promising he was going to chain me to the bed to keep me safe. Of course, that brought up thoughts I didn’t need right now in my current state.
Flash returned, flopping onto the sofa beside me with a smile. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“How ya feelin’?”
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
He sat up. “Let me look at the cut on your neck.”
“Lily already did, honey, I’m good.” I smiled. “I’ve had meds, I’ve had food, I’ve been fussed over. I’m just tired.”
“Okay, then let’s get you to bed.” He stood, leaning down to lift me off the couch.
“I can walk, Flash.”
“Don’t care. Need you close.”
I looped my arms around his neck. “Okay, honey.”
He carried me back to our bed and settled me on it, kissing me gently. “I’m gonna make sure the house is locked up really quick.”
“Didn’t you already do that?”
“Gonna do it again.”
I smiled. “Okay. I’m going to wash my face.”
“I’ll wait, then.”
“I’m good, honey. Go do your thing.”
He went through the house again and I did my normal nighttime routine, meeting him back in bed and curling up beside him as the sun finally set and plunged our room into darkness.
“Why did your dad shoot Lionel?”
Flash’s body stiffened and I gave him a squeeze.
“He was trying to rape you,” Flash rasped.
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
“Who the fuck filled you in?” Flash growled.
Poppy had filled me in on everything Devon had told her. I’d apparently been unconscious on the floor, half naked, with a delusional Lionel Grundy in the middle of raping me when Flash, Hatch, and Devon had busted in. Lionel had been about to stab me when Hatch had pulled the trigger, but Flash’s gun had been closer, so it was interesting that it was Hatch that had shot first.
“It doesn’t matter.”
