He groans and rolls into the fetal position as I walk back toward my bike. I am about to start her up when he yells, “She is my fucking wife! She belongs to me!”
I chuckle and wave him off. “As far as I can see, she is mine now.”
I start my bike and take off back toward Blake’s mom’s house.
Blake doesn’t question me about my bloodied knuckles or where I have gone, but she does seem relieved I came back. She just hands me a broom and a dustpan and asks me to sweep the kitchen. I do as I’m asked and accept that her mother just needs a little help right now getting her house back in order.
Once we have done all we can for her today, Blake and I grab Charlie and head back to the safe house.
“Thanks for helping me today,” she says as we walk through the front door.
I place a sleeping Charlie on the couch and head for the kitchen for a glass of water. “It was no problem, Crash.”
I see her fiddling with her shirt from over the counter and can tell she wants to ask me something. “Just spit it out already.” I say, downing my glass of water.
“Where’d you go today?”
Ah, there it is. I assumed she would have asked earlier but clearly it was bothering her. I shrug and walk toward the back door. “To see an old friend.”
Once we are outside, I grab a cig, light it up, and hold it out toward her. She takes it and puts it between her lips.
Then she raises her brow. “An old friend, huh?” she points at my hands. “Is that why you have bloody knuckles?”
I look down at my bruised hands and stick one of them in my pocket. I draw in some of my cig and let it out. “The friend needed to learn that he wasn’t the only predator—and that preying on the weak came with consequences..”
She bites her lip. I know she wants to ask me more but is stopping herself. She finishes her cig and puts the filter in the ashtray and then wraps her arms around herself. “It is chilly tonight.”
I nod. “Yeah, it is. You should probably get some rest. It’s been a long day.”
She looks like she might ask me for more information, but after a beat she smiles. “Okay, thanks again for today.”
I wave her off as she walks back inside the house. She never has to thank me for keeping her safe. Especially from assholes like him.
She deserves so much better. She deserves a man who will actually worship her the way she needs to be. I would be that man… if she would let me.
Lost in thought for the past few hours, the night air is finally getting to me. I usually spend more time than this sitting outside, enjoying the nature that surrounds me. It brings me a peace that I’ve always longed for. But not tonight. No, tonight has been spent thinking of my daughter and what she would be like if she was alive today.
I sigh and look up at the stars. At least I didn’t drink myself to death this year.
I decide to check in on Blake before heading to my couch for the night, and when I open the door that she has left unlocked, I spot her asleep on top of the covers next to Charlie.
I should turn and leave right now, but something is forcing me to stay. I watch as her chest rises and falls with each breath, her mouth slightly open in her sleep.
Her daughter stirs beside her, and I am suddenly met with two wide eyes. Charlie slowly sits up and looks at me as if shedoesn’t believe I’m real. “Hi,” I whisper and wave at her. I feel the need to explain why I am just watching them sleep. “I was just checking on your mom, sweetheart.”
She nods. “Okay.” She looks over at her mother and then back to me. “I’m hungry.”
I chuckle. “Well, let's go make a snack then.” I hold out my hand to her and wait until she clasps my fingers before walking with her down the hallway. “What do you want to eat?” I ask, sitting her on the counter and looking through the fridge.
“Chocolate!”
I chuckle. “You can’t have chocolate this late!”
Charlie puts out her bottom lip and hangs her head.
“How about we make chocolate chip pancakes instead?” I counter.
“Yeah!” she jumps up and down.
