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Well, face it, you are a problem.
Or the fact that Jake was talking to Alec rather than to her.
West didn’t seem to like it either as he stepped forward and got into Jake’s face.
“She’s not a problem and don’t talk about her like she’s not in the room,” he told Jake softly.
Jake turned his gaze to West. The sheriff was quite a good-looking man. She’d met his wife, Molly. She was full of energy. A gorgeous red head with a kind smile.
Jake sent his gaze to hers. “Sorry, Flick. Somebody, tell me what happened. And I also want to know why I wasn’t called before now.”
“The reason you weren’t called before now,” Alec told him quietly, “is because we only just found out.”
Jake moved his gaze over her. “Those bruises are new?”
“No,” Alec replied. “Happened three days ago. And you didn’t know. We didn’t know. Which is why I called you. Because part of this is your fuck up as well.”
Her breath caught at the fury in Alec’s voice. Up until then he’d been calm. He’d been keeping everyone else together. But now his voice shook with anger.
“This happened on your watch, same as mine.”
“We’re all to blame,” West muttered.
She noticed Mia was leaning on Alec. She wrapped her arm around his back. He moved his over her shoulders, pulling her close.
She liked that. Like that Mia had that. Had a man who obviously worshipped the ground she walked on. She’d never have that with West. He’d made that abundantly clear. Which was why she was totally confused as to what he was doing here and why the hell he thought he had some sort of claim on her.
West moved back towards the end of the bed once more. He took up a sentry position, arms crossed over his broad chest, his gaze hooded and dark but watchful.
“Has someone called Doc?” Jake asked. His voice was softer now.
“Mia, baby, go call Doctor Harper, will you?” Alec said to her gently.
“I really don’t need the doctor,” Flick protested.
Three sets of eyes gave her disapproving looks and she gave in. “Okay, I’ll see the doctor.”
Mia looked down at her. Then she reached out and squeezed Flick’s good hand. “I’ll be back in a minute, sweetheart.”
She smiled at Mia. She hated the shadows under Mia’s eyes. That she’d put them there. “Pretty sure I’ll be right here,” she said in a cheerful voice.
Instead of smiling back at her, Mia gave her a sad look. Then she turned and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Jake pulled out his phone. “All right if I record this, Flick?”
“Um, yes, I guess so.” Nerves flooded her. She couldn’t tell Jake about Spencer. Could she? The only people she’d ever told had turned on her. Spencer had ensured that.
But the Malones weren’t like that. That was part of the reason she’d chosen West. He was loyal. Strong.
Jake gave her a nod, and she could tell by the look in his eyes he blamed himself for her injuries. Same as Alec, West, and Mia.
“This isn’t any of your faults,” she said quietly. “I’m an expert at hiding these things. No one has ever figured out that he beats me. There’s no reason any of you could have known.”
Jake went tense. So tense it was as though there was a magnet pulling everybody’s attention to him. “This has happened before?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Mia opened the door and stepped in, freezing at the tension in the room.
