Page 60 of Salvation

She pats down her hair with a scowl, but her face stays playful and light. “I dunno, just got back from seeing the horses with Elise. Whitney might know, though. She’s out back.”

I nod, leaving her at the front of the shop. I find Whitney sitting behind her desk in the office, one hand raised to her mouth where she bites at her fingernail, and the other resting on her swollen belly. She’s nervously glancing at the cell phone that lies sprawled on the hardwood before her. I lean against thedoorframe and knock against the framework, causing her to look up. “Hey. Have you seen Blake?”

“She left like an hour ago to grab some sugar from the house. I’ve been calling her nonstop, but she won’t answer.”

“I’m sure she’s alright, probably just got caught up.” Or distracted. She probably saw a cute animal on the side of the road and stopped to take a picture of it. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for her.

“She said she’d be back in ten.” Her pinched expression tells me she’s worried. I try to keep my expression neutral in hopes of not stressing her out any more than she already seems to be. It's the last thing a pregnant woman needs.

I reach into my front pocket and wave a hand in her direction. “I’ll try her cell.” It rings for a few seconds before I hear the line connect. “Hello?”

All I get in response is what sounds like a crash, followed by muffled screams. My heart rate surges, panic racing through me. Endless possibilities of what’s happening run through my head. “Blake?” I pull the phone away from my ear to glance down at it, making sure I called the right number. Dread only turns to lead in my stomach when I see that I did. I don’t hesitate in pivoting toward the front of the shop, fear motivating me to move faster than I’ve ever possibly moved. “Call the Sheriff!” I yell back at Whitney. I don’t wait to see if she responds as I’m already sprinting out the front door, bells that suddenly seem far too loud chiming above me. Shouts come from what I can assume is Elain and everyone else standing by, but I don’t stop. My pounding heart and the endless scenarios coursing through my thoughts were only pushing me faster.

***

I’ve tried her phone maybe a hundred times now, and every single one just rang, and rang, and rang.

I turn the corner that puts me onto our road, nearly skidding from the speed. I just pass my house when I have to slam on my breaks as a mop of blonde hair comes sprinting in front of my truck. I wrench it into park, the motion jolting me. But I don’t let it slow me down as I whip open the driver-side door and rush to Blake. I immediately spot the small cut on the side of her face. Tears stream down her flushed cheeks. She’s hysterical. I gently grab a hold on her biceps and quickly glance over her frame. Checking for any other injuries. “Are you okay? What happened? Tell me what happened.”

“M-My father.” She blurts between hiccups.

Two words. Two words that make me seered.

“You’re okay?” I ask again, doing a third glance over her. She nods. Shocking me when she throws herself into my arms, wrapping herself around my middle. I wrap my own back around her, bringing a hand up to cup her head. I drop a quick kiss on it before pulling back. “Get in the truck, Blake. Lock the doors, and then call the police.”

Whitney should have already called, but better safe than sorry. I walk calmly until I’m out of view of Blake, thankful that she listened to my directions instead of trying to fight me on it. I find the prick stumbling out of the front door, hand pressed to the side of his head. My heart clenches at the fact she even had to defend herself, but a ripple of pride follows at the fact that she was so capable. My girl’s a fighter. Always has been.

My steps eat up the distance between us. The ground thundering beneath my boots. I can hear the sirens in the distance, the sound of a car already pulling into Blake’s driveway, but my attention stays focused on Derek Warner. He opens his mouth, but I don’t give him the chance to spew any bullshit my way. I cock my arm back, pitching it forward until itconnects with his face. A satisfying crack rakes through the open air. I revel in the sting that shoots through my knuckles. I reach down and grab his collar, bringing his bloody face forward to meet mine. I bare my teeth at the pathetic asshole, but Blake’s voice stops me cold. “Don’t! Please.”

I force myself to calm. He deserves for me to put him six feet in the ground. But not now, not with Blake watching. I settle for yanking him to his feet aggressively, accidentally slamming his face into one of the porch’s wooden beams. He sobs once he sees Blake. “I’m sorry, baby. I just wanted to see you.”

My grip tightens on his shoulder, so hard the knuckles turn white. I hiss in his ear. “Don’t talk to her. Do you understand me? Theonlyreason you’re even breathing is because of the blood you share with that woman.”

But Blake doesn’t cower at his words. She keeps her body in a defensive position. Her chin wobbles, but she just tilts her head higher. Looking down her nose at the smallest man who ever lived. "No, you’re not sorry. You never were."

The way she says it is a revelation, and it makes me so proud. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met. She pushes past us and goes inside the house without another glance in his direction. I shove him down the porch once I see the cop car pull in. He opens his mouth as if to call after her, but his eyes slice to the figure who now stands where Blake was mere seconds ago. He snarls. “Elise.”

Blake’s mom doesn’t take her eyes off Derek while she talks to the Sheriff, who’s now joined her side. “Eaton, did you see Blake’s new place? It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

The Sheriff takes his time turning and taking in the house. “I love what she did with the place.” He squints his eyes as he evaluates the porch. “Is that the natural wood?”

Elise takes the Sheriff’s “distraction”and runs with it, nailing her ex-husband right between the legs. He cries out, doublingover and falling to the floor in a pathetic heap. She spits at the dirt beside him. “Have fun rotting in prison, prick.” Then, she storms after Blake.

Sheriff Eaton lets out a low whistle as he pretends like he has no idea what happened. Bending over and harshly yanking him from the ground. He may or may not so subtly bump Derek’s head on the way into the cop car. He shoots me a wink over his shoulder. “Oops.”

Chapter 64

Blake

Wesley toys with my hair as he lays behind me, snuggled up close and under the blankets with me. We haven’t talked, just sat here, in this comfortable silence. The evening light streams in through the bedroom window, and the heat of his body makes me never want to leave this bed. My mom just left, having spent the majority of the day in Wesley’s place. I know he was dying to see me after the whole ordeal, but he gave us our moment. Something I appreciate more than he could ever know. I turn my head over my shoulder, finding that he’s already watching me. One hand is propped on his head. “Can I show you something?”

He nods, confused but refusing to question me. “I’ll drive.” He speaks.

***

“What is this?” Wesley asks as we pull into the driveway. “I’ve never been here.”

I can feel his stare burning into the side of my face, but I just exit the truck and make my way to the front of the house. He follows, quiet and unquestioning. Once we step inside, I go to stand in the middle of the living room, toying with my hands. I take in a deep breath and let it loose.

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