Page 44 of Alec’s Dream

“Macy, there’s nowhere else I could be,” he told her honestly.

“Please leave.”

“Tell me what happened? Who did this?”

He barely held back asking if her dickface ex had beaten her, but he’d never say anything bad about the man in front of his daughter no matter how badly he deserved it.

“Macy,” Jonny interrupted. “I’m sorry but we need to ask you a few questions.”

“Not right now,” she returned and her eyes drifted to the top of Rory’s head.

“I’ll stay with her,” Alec offered.

“No—”

“Let Alec stay with Rory. We’ll talk in the kitchen you’ll be able to see her.”

With a huff of resignation, Macy leaned back slightly so she could see Rory’s face. “Baby, do you remember Mr. Hall?” she asked.

The girl’s sad gaze flitted to Alec’s before she nodded.

“Would it be all right if he sat here with you while I talked to Uncle Jonny for a minute?”

“My belly hurts,” Rory whined.

“I know it does, baby. As soon as I’m done I’ll get you some crackers and ginger ale.”

“Okay.”

Macy gently set her daughter on the couch and tucked the blanket that had been over them both around the little girl before she stood. Alec stayed where he was, fighting the urge to reach out and take Macy in his arms. He noticed among her other injuries she was holding her right wrist.

Motherfucker.

Guilt slammed into Alec for leaving Macy unprotected. He knew her ex was an asshole, knew he’d been emotionally abusive, but nowhere in any of the reports he’d read had he ever been physically violent. Though Alec should’ve known that not all domestic violence was reported.

Doug would pay for this.

“Are you going to get the bad guy?” Rory asked.

Bad guy? Jonny said Rory had seen the attack. Surely she’d recognize her father.

“Did you see who hit your mama, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” Rory whispered. “He looked mean. He yelled at mama then he hit her.”

“Do you know him?” Rory shook her head. “Have you ever seen him before?” Another shake of her head in the negative.

Alec wondered if Aurora was in denial that her father would hit her mom. Macy had said that Doug put on a nice guy front when Rory was around. Not to mention the little girl was traumatized and most likely confused.

“Yes, sweetheart, we’re gonna find the bad guy.”

“Do you promise?”

“Yes, Aurora, I promise.”

“Mama says you can’t break a promise.”

Alec smiled as he imagined Macy explaining to her daughter the importance of not breaking a promise.