“No,” I admit.
“But you’ll do it anyway?”
I gesture at Lily. “I have to. For her, right?”
He nods like that’s the right answer. I stay put as he gets out and opens my door, offers his hand.
I take it.
His grip is warm and steady, and when he helps me out of the car, he doesn’t let go until I find my footing.
Then a woman is rushing toward us—small, blonde, wearing enough sequins to blind someone.
Ginger.
She’s already tried to mother me since I’ve been here, so I brace, expecting her to run to me. Instead, she throws herself at the stranger.
“Bradley! Oh my god, your hands! Is that blood? Whose blood is that?”
Bradley.
So that’s his name.
“I’m fine, Ging,” he says, but his eyes flick to me. Making sure I’m still standing.
I am. Barely.
Another woman appears—older, with kind eyes and capable hands. “Let’s get you inside, honey.”
I pull back, turning to bend down and gather my sleeping sister into my arms.
Lily stirs as I pick her up “Izzy? Where are we?”
I look at the clubhouse. At the people gathering around us. At the stranger named Bradley, who’s packed a rabbit for a little girl he’s never met, but who he knew would need it.
“Somewhere safe.”
10
JOSIE
Ihear them before I see them.
The rumble of an engine, voices in the parking lot, then the front door opening and a rush of activity that pulls me off the bed and downstairs before I can think better of it.
My ribs scream. I ignore them.
Ginger’s voice is high and worried. “Oh my god. Oh my god, Bradley, what happened? Is that blood? Whose blood is that?”
“Seriously, I’m fine, Ging. It’s not mine.”
“It’s on your hands! It’s all over your hands!”
“I said I’m fine.”
I reach the main room just as they come through the door.
Brick is first—massive, impassive, his knuckles split and bloody. Behind him, supported by Maggie’s arm around her waist, is Isabel.
