I saw Haven’s shame. Her panic. But what made my blood boil was the fear and loathing that flooded her pupils.
Robert Lee isn’t just guilty of neglect. Her hatred spoke to something more sinister.
Something evil.
On any given day, I’d be more than keen to peel back the delicious layers of her traumatic past, to dissect and examine the abuse she’d suffered…but the thought that such a wretch of a man had hurt my girl smothered my usual cool indifference with wrath of biblical proportions.
If I’d given in to the urge to lay my hands on Bobby, they’d have to use dental records to identify him at the morgue.
I could claim self-defense, and I could manipulate Kai into vouching for me, but I’d rather not have to risk the inquiry into my background.
Thankfully, watching Kai slam his fist into Robert’s face gave me enough vicarious pleasure that I had a semi by the time I dragged the boy off him.
But that satisfaction was short-lived.
I’m already, as they say, desperate for another fix.
As I’m about to lock the door and keep driving, Bobby stops walking. Guess he’s decided I’m the lesser of two evils.
“Yeah, fuck, alright,” he mutters, yanking open the door and dropping heavily into the passenger seat.
Stale sweat, cigarettes, grimy clothes.
Soon as the smell hits me, I’m glad I haven’t gotten around to steam cleaning my car yet. Haven’s neon body paint is still caked into the dark red leather. And before the end of this trip, Bobby’s stench will be, too.
I crank up the AC as I pull away from the curb.
“You understand why we asked you to leave,” I say, glancing at him. “Campus security’s a pain in the ass when they get involved.”
“Asked me to leave?” Bobby lets out a sardonic snort, staring out the window as he fingers his ribs where Kai kicked him. “That what you call letting that snot-nosed brat wail on me like that? I should press fucking charges.”
“You could, but I doubt it would be worth the effort.” I navigate us through the winding roads leading away from campus. “I apologize on behalf of Mr. Jordan for the discomfort he caused.”
“Discomfort,” Bobby mutters sourly. “That boy better stay the hell away from me.”
“I sensed there was no love lost between you two. What was that you said to him back there? Something about making him eat dirt again?”
“Punk showed up at the trailer one day, looking for a fight.” He chuckles, his eyes lighting up with malicious glee. “Threw a punch, and I put him down. Hard. But the little shit kept getting up. Like he was asking for it. Beat seven shades of snot out of that boy ‘fore he ran home to his mama.”
“Jesus. How old was he?”
“Dunno. Twelve. Thirteen? It matter?”
Yes, it fucking matters. Going toe-to-toe with a man your own age is one thing. When Kai kicked him and Bobby started writhing and blubbering like a fucking soccer player, I knew he was a coward. But being this fucking smug about putting a tween on his ass?
“Why’d he start a fight with you?”
“Drugs, prob’ly.” Bobby waves away the question. “Everyone was getting fried back then. Only God knows how Haven stayed clean.”
“Sounds like drugs, alright,” I agree.
There’s more to this, but now that the bragging is done, Bobby is locking down again. Finding out why Kai had a bone to pick with him is not on my list of priorities for this very uncomfortable, hopefully very short car ride. I could always ask Kai.
I swear to God, I cantasteBobby’s sweat.
“And Haven? She try to stop you?”
He’s quiet for a moment, brow furrowed. “Nah, she was at school. Must’ve been.” But he doesn’t sound sure, which is on brand for a someone who was probably off his mind on meth or heroin at the time.
