Page 35 of Protected from Torment

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Or worried. Because something I’ve discovered about Melissa is that she isn’t some delicate flower who can’t stick up for herself. Or give it back as good as she gets. She’s strong. Smart. Funny. And shit, the more time I spend with her, the more I like her.

Levi bursts out laughing. “Good point. Pix is pretty smart. I guess I’ll have to work on the funny and handsome part, then.”

Melissa smiles back at him. Then she glances at me. Though she doesn’t say anything, I swear I can read the words in her eyes—you’re the handsome one, she seems to be saying. Although maybe it’s just wishful thinking.

A beat later, she breaks our gaze to look around the room. “Oh!” she exclaims. “The kitchen. I didn’t even think⁠—”

“Since we got here yesterday, we’ve had some time to put things in order,” Webb explains. “Replaced the window by the door, cleaned everything up…”

“It should look good as new,” Indy adds. “But if you see anything that needs to be changed, just let us know.”

In addition to beating her up, the asshole who attacked Melissa trashed a good portion of her house, knocking over furniture and emptying closets and drawers in his quest to find the hidden drugs. I didn’t want Melissa to come back to that mess, so while I stayed with her at the hospital during the two-plus days she was there, my friends stepped in with the cleaning and repairs.

“You did all this?” Melissa asks, looking taken aback. “The kitchen… I saw it that night. It was a mess.”

“We cleaned up everything,” Indy replies. He smirks. “Really, I did most of it. These two slackers just watched.”

Webb punches Indy’s arm. “And who painted the living room? Not you.” He puffs up his chest. “The living room was all me.”

“The living room?” Mel looks at me in confusion. “Is that⁠—”

“Come on. Let’s take a look.” Urging her forward, I lead Melissa through the kitchen and into the living room. Oscar trots alongside her, his tail perked up high. If a dog could smile, he definitely would be.

“Oh, Indy,” Melissa says, as she casts a disbelieving gaze around the living room. After the attacker got through with it, all her furniture was unended and there were several fist-shaped holes in the walls. But now the furniture is back in order, the holes are patched and the walls are covered with a fresh coat of paint. The shattered glass on several of the photos has been replaced.

“We wanted it to look right,” Webb tells her. “So you wouldn’t have to worry about it on top of everything else.”

Melissa puts her hand to her mouth. “I can’t believe you did this.” Turning to me, she asks softly, “Did you—of course you knew. Didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I would have helped, but I didn’t want to leave you alone at the hospital. But these guys, I knew they’d do a great job.”

Tears swim in her eyes. “They did.” Her chin wobbles. “They really did.”

There’s something in her expression that tells me she hasn’t had anyone to look out for her for a very long time. Her parents, yes, but knowing Melissa, she shielded them from the worst of it. And the last two years, while she’s been living in Northville, on her own… Has she had anyone to help her? Support her? Or has she gone it alone?

I think I know the answer. And it makes my heart hurt for her.

“Thank you,” Melissa tells Indy, Webb, and Levi. “I didn’t even know where to start with all of this. And you,” she adds, turning her attention to me. “If you hadn’t taken my call, hadn’t come here…” Tears escape, making wet trails down her cheeks. Oscar whines, sensing his owner’s distress.

“Hey,” I say with a smile. “It’s fine. We’re happy to do it.” I exchange a quick glance with Indy, then angle my head towards the hallway that I know leads to the bedrooms. He nods in understanding.

“How about you lie down for a bit?” I ask Melissa. “Just to get your bearings. Spend some quality time with Oscar. And after that, we’ll have lunch. How does that sound?”

“I can cook something,” Levi offers.

Indy casts a doubtful look at Levi. “Or maybe we order delivery.”

“Hey.” Levi makes a face at him. “Are you insulting my cooking? Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle⁠—”

Indy punches Levi with his prosthetic hand, which he does intentionally because it hurts more than using his other one. “I’ve been getting better at cooking, I’ll have you know. Bea’s been teaching me.”

Leaving them to their debate, I lead Melissa past them and into the hallway. As we walk, she gives me more of her weight, a little tell letting me know how tired she is. When we reach the open door to her bedroom, she looks in and sighs. “It looks just like it did before.”

“They cleaned everything,” I say. “Bedding, clothes, all of it.”

Oscar nudges Melissa’s hand and looks up at her hopefully. She chuckles before saying, “Okay, you can go on the bed.” As he darts towards it, she explains, “He knows he’s not supposed to lie on the bed unless I give him permission. Otherwise, he’d be there all day long.”

I walk her over to the bed, where Oscar is already making himself comfortable. “Do you need anything? Water? A pain pill? A snack?”