“That motherfucker!” Sweat dots my skin, and my breaths become shallow and quick. I spin with my fist at the ready and send it flying through the drywall.
I’ll end him.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
RAVEN
The muscles of Knox’s back remain tense as he faces the wall, his fist covered in white dust. He’s almost manic.
I try to step forward, but Griffin holds me back again. “Raven,” he warns me.
Spinning in his arms, I level him a firm look. “Trust me.”
He fights his indecision, but eventually gives in. His arms fall to his sides, freeing me, and I use caution in approaching Knox.
Knox would never hurt me. Of that, I have no doubt. But right now, he’s not himself. Underneath all the rage is someone who’s hurting, someone who needs a gentle touch. We all mask our pain. No one wants the people around them to see beneath the layers. Because under all those layers is where we are most vulnerable. And when we finally find that person or persons who we feel safe enough to show them the pain, it’s scary.
Tentatively, I place my hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch. Keeping my hand on him, I circle to his front and squeeze myself in the little space between him and the wall. The hole he created lines up perfectly with my head. My other hand lands on Knox’s other shoulder, and I slide my hands up to his neck. His eyes squeeze shut.
His agony penetrates my chest, making tears well up in my eyes. This type of pain isn’t from a single event. This is from a lifetime of rejection and hurt.
“I’m here,” I whisper to him. “You have me and Griff. We’re here for you.”
Knox’s clenched jaw twitches, and a single tear drips from the corner of his eye, and I use my thumb to wipe it away.
I repeat myself one more time, “I’m here.”
Knox’s knees give out, and he falls. Griffin darts forward to catch him. I drop down beside Knox, whose shoulders shake with each sob that leaves him. Cradling his head in my lap, he turns to me and holds on to me like I’m his lifeline. Griffin’s face crumbles as he watches his brother break. My hands run through Knox’s hair, brushing it out as I whisper affirmations and comfort.
The weight of the air in the room is heavy. But I won’t crumple under the pressure. I can hold this for him, for them. Whatever happened was more than traumatic. It was branded on his soul.
When I find the man who caused Knox and Griffin this pain, I’ll make sure he takes his last breath on this earth.
Knox’s body calms, and his breathing returns to normal. I lean forward, placing my lips on his damp cheek. I grab the edge of my shirt and use it to dry his face.
“Frank hated Griffin and me after Scarlett died. Probably before then, too.”
I need to start adding all these names to a list. Frank is already someone I avoid, but now, I’m thinking he may need a good punch to the groin.
“He and his friends came to our house the night after Amos was arrested. We hadn’t been picked up by CPS yet, because our grandpa said he’d take over guardianship. We didn’t haveanything more than locks on our doors and windows, and they broke those easily.”
I don’t like where this is going. Please, don’t let this story turn out how I think it will.
“Pops was here at The Wandering Raven working. So they pulled Griffin and me from our bed and dragged us out back.”
My stomach sinks, and my mouth goes dry.
“There were six of them, so they easily held us down while Frank beat us. He seemed to focus on me more, though. He’d just gotten done with his knife on my face when Sheriff Jackson showed up and scared them off.”
“They weren’t arrested?”
Griffin chimes in, “The sheriff claimed he couldn’t see who it was and said that because it was so dark, our testimonies wouldn’t be credible.”
My face turns an incandescent shade of red. I feel like it’s my turn to punch a hole in the wall.
“And now that piece of shit is the mayor,” Griffin adds.
Who the hell would vote for someone like that?
