I waited.
“I’ll get you a copy of her application.”
“She filled it out?”
Another nod. “I think she trusts me now.”
I didn’t doubt that. She’d opened up to all of us, more so than she’d probably wanted to. It seemed trust was the least of our issues at this point.
Wolfe released a breath, his gaze straying to the second floor once more. “I’m gonna close up shop and take her back to my place. Let her sleep for a while. I don’t think she slept at all last night.”
I nodded. “I’ve got to get to work. I’ve got Dean fillin’ in, but I have to relieve him.”
“Call me or better yet, just stop by the house when you get done.” Wolfe reached out and touched my hand. A gesture that I hadn’t expected, but one that I needed more than I'd realized.
“And call me if you find out anything.”
“Will do.” I took a couple of steps toward the door. “Oh, and Wolfe?”
“Huh?”
“Rein Lynx in before he gets himself in trouble.”
A small smile tilted Wolfe’s mouth. “Right. Like anyone has the power to do that.”
Unfortunately, no truer words had ever been spoken. I only hoped Lynx found a constructive way to release the pent-up frustration; otherwise, my job was going to get that much harder.
I had enough on my plate as it was.
Chapter Seventeen
Wolfe
One thing my momma taught me was how to use a Crock-Pot.
I put that skill to good use after I got Amy to my house and tucked her into my bed. I closed the blinds, turned off the lights, kissed her forehead, and told her she was safe now. I hoped she believed me. Regardless, she drifted back to sleep in no time, and I'd spent the past few hours flipping through channels and messing around on the Internet.
My brain wouldn’t shut off. Amy’s story and the gruesome images I'd mentally conjured up were on repeat in my head, making me crazy. I could still see her sitting stoically in that chair, reciting in horrifying detail the things that bastard had done to her. The worst part … I knew she felt responsible, as though she’d actually had a choice in the matter. I knew better. It wasn’t her fault, and she damn sure wasn’t weak. I hadn’t walked in her shoes, and from the outside looking in, it would’ve been easy to say what she should’ve done. None of that mattered because she had done what she felt was necessary for her survival. No matter how much pain she’d had to endure.
After she’d told the story, I had stormed outside, a rage unlike anything I'd ever known fueling me. The anger had nowhere to go, though, and I'd found myself bending over, trying to catch my breath as tears slammed me so hard I could barely stand up. Lynx had come over, put a firm hand on the back of my neck, and told me that we would ensure that bastard never got near her again.
I appreciated the sentiment. And I knew he meant it.
Over the years, Lynx had taken it upon himself to protect the people of this town, often from themselves. It had all started a decade ago when Lynx had been eighteen years old and his momma died. The tragic news had devastated our family, but over time, we’d picked up and moved on. However, Lynx and his old man had never been the same. Cooter had locked himself up in the house; Lynx had gone off the rails, becoming even wilder and crazier than he already was. It was a wonder he was still with us after some of the stunts he’d pulled.
But all in all, Lynx had become the man we all depended on to have our backs.
And he would; I didn’t doubt him for a second.
As the hours had passed, some of my rage had subsided, and the only thing I wanted for Amy was justice. Whoever the man was who had violated her in every conceivable way for nearly five years…
Not even God could help him now.
I was brought back to the present when I heard my bedroom door open. I looked up from my spot on the couch to see Amy coming out of the room. Her hair was down around her shoulders and…
“Holy fuck.” The words were expelled on a rough breath.
She was wearing my T-shirt and nothing else, from what I could tell. The shirt came down to her knees, the sleeves resting on her forearms, her nipples pebbled beneath the white cotton, and she was the hottest goddamn thing I'd ever seen.
