Page 40

“Yes, I’m on the mend already,” I assured her.

She patted my hand and fell silent as mass began. Her presence was a comfort, and mass was a good distraction, even if it was what Victor would call a ‘long winded one.’

The moment it wrapped up, Oakland shot off the bench and scrambled after the other kids.

“W–” I tried to stop him, but he was gone.

“It’s okay, I’ll go get him,” Victor offered, ever the thoughtful son.

I looked over my shoulder, watching him until the door shut behind him. The feel of Daisy’s gentle hand atop mine jerked my attention back to her. Her dark eyes were sympathetic, but serious.

“What?” I asked, my tone hushed.

“You didn’t fall, did you?”

My face fell before I could manage to control it, “Wh–? Why would you say that to me?”

She nodded as if my answer said it all. Her hand rubbed at my shoulder and settled in a supportive, friendly manner.

“Cole Henshaw told me one of the Disciples might have threatened or hurt you–”

“No,” I denied, my voice just a tad too squeaky.

Her gaze turned to steel, “Which one was it, Brenna?”

I swallowed, my eyes stinging with tears. I couldn’t tell her that her sister’s husband had assaulted me. I felt ashamed just having a married man’s hand touching me so intimately, even if I hadn’t invited an ounce of his attention. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t consensual, that fact only compounded the troubled feelings I was trying to sort.

Not telling felt like keeping some filthy secret his wife deserved to know, and yet saying it out loud…

I blinked, and startled when a quiet, stressed voice began to quietly, yet urgently beg Daisy for a favor, “Dais, listen. I need you to take Eric for the night, okay? Anthony is going with Mark to spend the night with Mikey. Chef is in a real bad way.”

Just seeing her made every muscle in me freeze. When she said his name, my lungs did as well. Daisy’s hand began a slow, reassuring circle on the back of my shoulder.

“Of course. You know the boys are always welcome at my–”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Chef rasped, causing me to suck in my next breath like I’d been drowning.

“Excuse me,” I managed, unintentionally knocking Daisy’s sister aside as I fled the pew.

“Fuckin’ fat bitch,” Chef scoffed.

Tears ran down my face.

“Ain’t no son of mine staying with nobody that bumps elbows with that country fried cunt, come on, Darla!”

I heard her squeak just as I jerked the door open.

I swiped at the tears as I hurried toward the car, desperate to compose myself before anyone noticed the effect he had on me.

My nails slid along the underside of the car door handle, making my first attempt at jerking it open unsuccessful. Pain shot up the tip of my finger, causing me to jerk my hand back a moment.

“Easy,” Daisy whispered, catching my wrist.

I wasn’t expecting the contact, and my mind was already half convinced that Chef was following me. I let out a scream and whirled around.

“Oh, my God,” I whispered, the tears running freely.

Daisy didn’t seem to take offense, she didn’t even flinch before stating, “It was him, wasn’t it?”