AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What other issues?” Dylan asks me, and I finally look away from Thad. I’m going to lie, and he’ll know.
I shake my head. “I don’t know.” He was kicked for trafficking in girls. He was helping by being the middleman or collector, but they never caught him for that. The only reason Phantom is in jail right now is because he beat me up.
“Almost killed you?” The growl comes from the foot of the bed, and I look down to Thad.
“He beat me when I refused to marry him or be his old lady. Broke my jaw, nose, punctured a lung. Oh, and broke my arm.” I can’t hide the bitterness from my tone.
“Don’t forget that he was beating you before then too,” my mother says, adding more fuel to the fire in Thad’s eyes.
“Why did you stay with him?” Thad asks the million-dollar question.
I scoff and then cringe from the pain. “You don’t want to know.” I turn back to the other trooper. “Dylan, do you have more questions?” When a thought hits me, I smile as I look at Thad and then back to Dylan. “I do have two more enemies. Monica Granger and Cheryl Abbott. They’ve both threatened me at different points.” I pause to let that bomb drop in the room before I end it. “But this wasn’t either of them. I handed Monica her ass last week, and it’s beneath Cheryl to get her own hands dirty. Plus, this was a man. I know even though he had a mask on. His build.”
Dylan looks from me to Thad. “Abbott, as in your mother?” It’s fun to see him in the hot seat. The doctor walks in.
“I need the room.” Everyone but my mother and River step out. I look at the doctor and then my mom.
“I’m going to discharge you. You’re going to want to follow up with an ENT specialist about the nose to make sure the septum is okay. As for the ribs and knuckles, they should heal. Your throat is going to be tender for several days. I’m giving you a note for you to take the next week off work.”
“I own my own business,” I interrupt him. “I’m a mechanic.”
“I suggest you give your ribs and knuckles time before you start back up.”
“Thanks.”
“Let me get your discharge paperwork ready and then you can go.”
He walks out and Thad walks back in. “May I talk to her, please?”
I’m not ready to deal with him and I need space.
“No, I’m getting changed. You can wait out in the lobby until I come out.” I push him off and watch as his body straightens to his full height. He turns and walks out the door.
* * *
Thad
She’s hiding things. I know she lied to Dylan. I don’t know why she did. The thought that someone wanted to kill her makes my blood run cold. But what’s worse is the fact she thinks my mother and Monica want her dead. There is more to what my mother did. I don’t want to talk to Monica, but I guess that’s going to be next on my list of trying to get this all figured out.
When I step out into the lobby that is full of her crew and friends, I shake my head and move to where my son is sitting with her daughter. This time I take her in more. She’s got her mother’s hair, but her eyes are a blue that is light and look familiar. I can’t place them though. River walks over and stands next to me.
“Sky, let’s go. Momma is about ready.” The girl gets up and smiles at me. My heart clenches because I get it now. I start to get in the way and stop River from taking her when I notice Ginger and Vixen standing behind me. Security is making their way toward us too. Dylan walks over and stands next to my arm.
“Let’s get Ryder out of here. I’ve got the information I need.”
I continue to look around and watch as they take Skyler out the door. Everyone with her moves out. Scout said we’d talk, but she’s running.
“Daddy, Sky said she’d come to my birthday party.” Ryder gets my attention when he takes my hand.
“Okay, buddy.” I bend down and pick him up, rushing to follow the group.
When I exit the hospital, I watch as Scout sits in the passenger seat of a car I don’t recognize and is whisked away. I turn to look for Skyler and find she is already loaded up into Scout’s truck with River driving. Everyone is leaving.
Well, I’ll talk to them when I get back home. She can’t run for long. Plus, this gives me time to question Monica first. Maybe I’ll gain some insight into what is really going on here.
* * *
Acouple of weeks later I’m sitting in the Cookie Jar waiting for Monica to show up. She wanted me to take her to dinner, and then for me to come over. But I’m sticking to being very public for many reasons. I don’t think she’ll cause a scene here. I decided lunch would be the best option.
