I know why Shane brought me out here. He knows the blood on her face triggers me, bringing me back to that day in Iran. I couldn’t save the civilians, just like I couldn’t protect Ali, and now Vi.
Shane has a long pull on the stick, crowding me as I eye the back gate.
“I can’t believe they hurt her. I let her go back there, thinking they wouldn’t hurt one of their own. It’s my fucking fault she’s in there, battered and bruised.” My fist clenches. Pain shoots up my arm as I strain to stop myself, ploughing it into the brick, desperate to hit something and unleash this anger raging inside my head. I bring the cigarette to my lips, taking a drag through the pinched filter between my fingertips and let the smoke engulf me.
“You know this is a setup.” Shane rests his palm on the brick behind me, almost caging me in, knowing I’m about to bolt through the gate at any minute.
“They’re probably there now with their hunting rifles, just waiting for you to step on their land.” Shane flicks the nub of his cigarette on the ground. “Don’t give them the satisfaction. It’s what they’re waiting for. They’ve been patient and think they have you. Don’t play into their hand, man.”
I know he’s right, but my body won’t listen to my head.
“Don’t let history repeat itself.” Shane stares at me, a stern look on his face with flared nostrils. “She needs you now. Take her home and look after her. You might not have been there to protect her, but you can take care of her now. When she needs you most.”
I drop the nub and stub it out with my boot. Shane has a way of calming me down from any situation. I can see Gareth’s smirking face on his porch with a rifle in his hands, telling me I’d better run. He likes to hunt, and I’ll be damned if I hand myself over to him on a platter. If he wants to kill me, he’s gonna have to hunt me down first, but he won’t do that. He’s had years to hunt me, but he’s too much of a coward to step foot on my land.
He may have the rifles, but I can kill that motherfucker with my bare hands, just like I did his brother, and he knows it too. I walk back into the house, letting out a long breath and running my hand over my weary face. Vi looks better now the blood is gone, but her beautiful face still looks swollen with the beginnings of bruises marring her complexion.
I scrape the chair next to her along the floor and sit down, holding her hands. “I’m sorry, Vi. I’m so fucking sorry.” My hand trembles as I move it inches over her face, afraid to touch her in case it hurts. “They’re never gonna hurt you again. I promise.”
“Will you take me home, Kane?” Her glassy eyes gaze into mine, almost pleading with me.
“Of course I will.” I glance at Lilly by the sink, washing her hands. “Is she okay?”
“The blood was from a nosebleed. It’s not broken, and she doesn’t need stitches. Just rest, and she’ll be fine.” Lilly takes two steps towards me and lifts my hand from the table, examining the knuckles that went through her drywall. “You’ll live too. Just get some ice on that when you get home.”
I nod my head, then look back at Vi. “You want to go home now, petal?”
She lifts her phone from the table with a shaky hand. “My car broke down. It’s up on the country lane.”
“I’ll sort your car out. We’ll tow it back tomorrow. Let’s just get you home. We can sort everything else out in the morning.” Shane’s radio crackles, and he answers it, turning his back to me, then grabs his keys.
“What’s going on?”
“Gareth isn’t home. I’ll follow you back to yours.” Shane leads the way, with Lilly’s car keys in his hand.
“I’ll come too,” Lilly says.
“It’s okay, Lilly. Stay here.”
She takes her dressing gown off and throws on a coat over her flannel pyjamas. “I’m coming.”
If Shane knows what’s good for him, he won’t argue with her. He won’t win. The only reason they want to come is to make sure I go home and not take a detour to the Bennett house on the way. Which I’m really fucking tempted to do, but not with Vi in the car. She won’t be stepping anywhere near that house ever again. Shane can get her stuff. Or I’ll buy her new. Whatever she needs.
I help Vi into the Ranger, her body still trembling. It doesn’t help that she doesn’t have a coat. I pull Belle’s blanket from the back seat and wrap it around her shoulders. Her lip shivers with the cold, and I lean over the centre console and gently press my lips to hers, hoping I can warm her up a little and reassuring her she’s safe now with me. I won’t let anything happen to her ever again. Hell, she’ll be lucky if I ever let her out of my sight again.
Shane and Lilly stay close as I make my way home. I glance over at Vi wrapped in a blanket. My fingers itch to hold her hand, but I settle with resting my palm on her trembling knee. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She gulps. “No.” Fear emanates from her eyes and her trembling voice. What the fuck did they do to her? “I don’t want to upset you again.”
“Upset me?” My fist grips the steering wheel as I take a left. Every muscle in my body screams at me to turn right to their house. “Vi, I’m sorry you had to see me like that. I won’t lose control again. I want you to talk to me if you need to.”
“I just want to go home, take a bath, and forget about it.” Her hand covers mine where it rests on her knee. She interlaces our fingers, causing the tension in my arm to dissipate. My shoulders relax at her caress and suddenly the cab feels warmer.
“All right, petal. Whatever you want.”
Smoke billows in the distance. It isn’t bonfire season. Driving up the dirt road, past the fields on either side, flames dance against a backdrop of stars.
Vi leans forward in her seat, letting the blanket drop behind her. She lets go of my hand, planting both palms on the dash. “Is that the farmhouse?”
