What I would love the most is to get my hands on the monster or monsters who did this to her. To slowly cause them to endure the pain she still endures.
“Um, Dad.” Hope’s voice trembles.
My sweet little girl is probably confused about the response. I’ll try to explain things to her after I figure out what to do with Fiona.
Gently and slowly.
Is she stable on her feet enough for me to let her go?
“Um, Dad, I think they want you to let her go.”
They? I twist my head around and find six guns pointing at me. Three of which are held by men who know me better than to pull out their weapons.
At least I thought they did. Fiona’s screams might have changed their minds.
The woman crying in my arms still hasn’t come back to reality enough to realize that they’re there.
“They won’t shoot me, Hope. They’ll wait for Jacko or Maddox to show up, and by then Fiona will calm down enough to explain to them that nothing happened.”
Saying her name seems to snap Fiona out of whatever haunted place she was in. Her eyes clear, but the pain doesn’t disappear with the clarity. “You can let me go. I’m fine,” she whispers.
That is quite obviously a lie, but hopefully she can stand on her own two feet. In small increments, I slide my arms away from her.
Her whole body trembles with the movement.
Killing the monsters would be too kind. Far too kind.
Will she fall if I fully let go?
One last movement leaves us not touching, but my arm hovers around her in case she loses her balance.
“Are you sure, Dad? They look kind of serious.” Hope doesn’t sound at all worried.
“I’m sure. Maddox or Jacko should be here in a few moments.” I smile down at Fiona. “Are you going to fall if I step away?”
“Probably not.”
Her breathless voice punches me in the gut like I’d like to punch someone else.
“What is going on?” Maddox’s voice echoes down the alleyway as I step back.
“It was nothing.” Fiona’s voice wobbles.
I wouldn’t believe her, and I was there.
“Max?”
Fiona steps forward. “I said it was nothing.”
Maddox walks up to her. “A woman doesn’t scream like you just did because of nothing. So, you’re going to go stand over by Hope while I have a discussion with Max.”
Maddox and I might be having words about how he just talked to Fiona. After we ‘discuss’ what just happened.
“What do you think you just said, Maddox Locke? Because I don’t think you, a smart, mature man who values women, would ever say something like that.”
“Fea,” Maddox pleads.
“I told you it was nothing. I tripped and was falling. Max saved me and in turn startled me. End of story.” Her eyes move through the group of men with guns still out. “You don’t pull guns on people who are acting like gentlemen.”
