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I tense. “Banner, you can’t miss classes because of me.”
He gives me a dry look. “Don’t argue, otherwise I’ll take two weeks off.”
I pout, scooping soup onto my spoon. “Whatever.” He gets up to leave, when I remember something. “Do they know when I can get my belongings back? I want to check on Becky.”
“I’m not sure. I’ll ask when I speak to them. And I’ve got Becky’s number. You can text her after you’ve taken your tablets.”
I nod my agreement before going back to my soup, listening to Mark move towards the kitchen before coming back with my prescription bag.
“It says to take one at night on this one, and one three times daily on this one. Once you’ve finished, take them both and then I’ll leave them on the kitchen side for you.”
“Thank you, Mark—for everything.”
“I’ll do anything for you, Emma.”
“I see that.”
“Good,” he tells me softly, running his hand down my hair.
Tonight, I got lucky. My attack could have been worse, much worse, and I shudder to think how far Mr. Flint planned to go.
When Darren said in court he wasn’t going to rape me, I didn’t know what to believe. But after tonight, seeing the look in Mr. Flint’s eyes, I’m a hundred percent positive that he wasn’t. The two were completely different. Darren attacked me out of anger and because his mind was clouded from drugs. Mr. Flint, however, attacked me out of some warped need for power. He wanted me to feel weak and vulnerable, and he preyed on it.
I’m glad to be at home, safe and surrounded by those I love. It’s a reminder to me that I’m not alone. That, together, they will help me through this, so I don’t go back to that dark, lonely place.
This is what love is.
What family is.
And I’m not going to let someone take that away from me. Not now, not ever.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The past few days have been a blur. With the painkillers in my system, I’ve mostly slept. Today is the first day I’ve not taken one, hating the effects they have on me.
“I’ll only be gone an hour. Are you sure there isn’t anything you want me to get you?”
I narrow my eyes at my cousin. His heart is in the right place, and I love him for everything he’s done, but I’m mad at him for telling my grandparents what happened to me. Now he’s worried them for nothing.
They are coming down today for a visit and to check on me. I’m also annoyed at all the fussing. I can’t even take a piss without one of them standing guard. No joke. Levi either takes me or Banner does, thinking I’m incapable. It’s got to the point that I’m ready to kill one of them.
“Mark, I’m fine. Nan and Granddad should be here soon, so you’d better get going if you want to be back for them in time.”
“I just don’t want to leave you. I can get someone to cover my shift.”
I roll my eyes. “Just go. Both Banner and Levi are here, and they aren’t going anywhere.”
“I just don’t like that he’s still out there.”
I lower my gaze to my lap, fiddling with the spine of the book I’m reading. “I know. I don’t like it either.”
“Hey, it will be fine—they’ll find him,” he promises softly, coming to sit down next to me on the bed.
A frown is marring his forehead, but I say what I do because it’s what I’m feeling. “I doubt that. They can’t even find the killer who is murdering all those girls. He’s probably long gone.”
Mark sighs. “For his sake, he’d better be. Because if I don’t kill him, Banner and Levi will.”
I chuckle, glad the pain in my chest is easing off. “Word.”
