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“Damn, I’ve missed you,” I hear from behind me. I turn and see Robert and Lisa Turner. “How ya doing, girl?”
Robert hugs me and kisses the top of my head. I wince when he unintentionally presses on my ribs, and everyone stops.
“She has massive bruising on her side,” Beckett explains.
“You saw her without…” Mason starts to growl, but Mom glares at him, and he stops. “Fine… How bad is it, Sia?”
“It’s… Not the worst he’s done,” I say before pulling my shirt up just enough to reveal the bruises. “I pushed him too far and…”
“You did nothing to deserve that,” Beckett says.
“Welp…” Robert says, looking at Dad. “Crowbar or metal bat, David.”
“Hedge clippers,” Dad deadpans.
“No!” I say quickly. “He… Just no. I’m away from him. I’m back home… I don’t want any trouble.”
“Everyone will respect that,” Beckett says. “This is about your healing, not their revenge. Right, Dad?”
“Mhmm,” Robert says, rolling his eyes. “Can’t an old man have fun?”
“Your neck is bad,” Mason tells me. “How does it feel?”
“My ribs hurt more than my neck,” I explain. “I’m just sore and tired.”
“You plan on keeping her with you?” Dad asks Beckett.
“I’m not her babysitter, David. She can go wherever she wants,” Beckett says. “I’d like her to be with me as she seems to be comfortable with me, but if she wants to stay somewhere else, that’s fine, too. This is all on her terms.
“Can I stay with you?” I ask. “If that’s okay. I don’t want to be in the way…”
“Do you want to?” Beckett asks.
“I do…”
“Then of course you can,” Beckett says, smiling. “I can get you with Bella at the front desk if you want a job. I’m sure Mason could have you over there, too.”
“I think Bella is a better idea than those heathens,” Mason says. “I know we haven’t been on good terms, Bex, but…”
“Come see her whenever you want, Mason. You are her brother, and I am not her keeper,” Beckett says.
“Do I hear my favorite girl?” I hear a gasp from behind me. I am smiling before I even turn to see Alexander, Beckett’s younger brother. He’s always been like a goofy brother to me. He stops when he sees me, but is still smiling. “Oh, girl… I’m gonna fuck him up.”
“Hey, Ace,” I say quietly as he gently hugs me. I don’t know why everyone calls him Ace, but it’s oddly fitting for him. No one calls him Alexander unless it’s his mother and he’s in trouble.
“How long you been back?” he asks, lifting my chin to look at my throat.
“Bex picked me up last night,” I explain. “I’m staying with him.”
“Good,” Ace says.
“Good?” Mason asks in an annoyed tone.
“Yes. Good,” Ace says. “He’s like a dad.”
“I am not,” Beckett laughs.
“Dude, you remind me to put sunscreen on as much as Mom does. Yes, you are,” Ace laughs. “How about we throw a coming home party at Beckett’s?”
