Page 10 of Before the Storm
“Oh, hell yeah. She flinched when I put my hand on her back to guide her to the break room. And I’m not talking like I startled her. I’m talking like she was freaked out because a man put his hands on her, but the chick’s only twenty-six years old.”
“Veronica’s twenty-five and she’s married and pregnant,” Nelson said. “Abuse can happen to anyone at any time in their life and some people marry young.” He pursed his lips. “You should know that better than anyone.”
“I know.” Phoenix let out a long breath. For the most part, he stayed out of people’s personal lives. Everyone had baggage, including him. But there was one thing he couldn’t tolerate.
A man raising his hand to a woman in anger.
When he’d been a teenager, the mother of one of his best friends had been beaten to death by his father. It had been the single most tragic thing that Phoenix had ever experienced. The truly hard part had been that people knew and no one did anything about it. Some tried. She even escaped once, but ultimately, she went back and she was killed a few short weeks later.
His friend, Max, had never been the same after that. He blamed himself for not protecting his mom. He’d only been fourteen. And his father had taken a baseball bat to him more than once.
Shortly after high school, Max took his own life.
It changed Phoenix on a fundamental level.
“The good news is someone helped her get a new identity and did it right, based on what I’m looking at. A regular background check wouldn’t have found out what we just did. Records that far back can be tricky.” Phoenix spent his spare time volunteering at a women’s shelter. Helping them escape their abusers gave him great pleasure. He’d been too young, and frankly, too scared, to help his friend. But he could pay it forward as an adult. “If I had gone the traditional route, all I would have learned was this person has no criminal background. No liens or judgments. There’d be no red flags for us not to hire her or for me not to rent her the apartment.”
“So, what do you want to do?” Nelson sat up taller, stretching. “We could ask Mom’s contact to dig deeper.”
“We do that and we risk exposing her to whoever she’s potentially running from. I know from experience that’s nota good idea.” Phoenix rose. He stared out the window that overlooked the bar area.
Janelle greeted a couple of customers and showed them to a table before helping bus an empty one. It was not something she needed to do as acting hostess, but going the extra mile was always something they looked for in their employees. “My gut tells me she’s a woman starting her life over and doesn’t need us sticking our noses where they don’t belong.” In the last year, he’d put two young mothers up in a hotel so they would have a safe place while the police sorted out their situation. The system didn’t work fast enough and often didn’t help these women in the real ways they needed. But he did what he could. “The records I do have only date back fifteen months. If someone is looking for her, like a dick abusive husband, she’s not safe and it could put her in a dangerous situation if we dig too deep.”
“I don’t want you to get pissed at me for saying this, but we’re speculating and that can put us between a rock and a hard place if we’re wrong,” Nelson said.
“I don’t think we are.” Phoenix turned to face his brothers. “I looked into her eyes and there’s a world of hurt there. I’ve seen it before. I know what that looks like, and while she might be a few miles down the road, it’s still there.”
“But you don’t know what or who put it there.” Nelson rubbed the back of his neck. “You don’t have to rent her the apartment.”
“No. I’ve already decided to do that. I’m not going to turn her away. Not unless you or Maverick have any real concerns you want to share with me,” Phoenix said.
“I get this subject is a touchy one for you.” Maverick rested his hand on Phoenix’s shoulder. “I’m behind your decision, whatever it is.”
“I trust your gut on this one.” Nelson jumped to his feet. “If I don’t get some caffeine in me, I’m going to fall asleep.”
“Why don’t you go home?” Phoenix lowered his chin.
“Agreed,” Maverick said. “I don’t know what that newborn stage is like, but I do know what it’s like to have kids that don’t sleep. That was us the first month we adopted Ashley and Cole.”
“You two have been doing so much lately. I feel like I’m letting you down.”
Phoenix shook his head. “Eventually, that little princess of yours will sleep through the night and you’ll be able to do more. I’m not stressed over it.”
“Neither am I,” Maverick said. “I’m sure Hensley won’t care if I work late tonight.”
“I’ll take the morning shift.” Nelson held up his hand. “I insist. Lilly’s up anyway. That way you two can sleep in and deal with the nights.”
“Works for me.” Phoenix nodded.
“When are you letting Janelle move in?” Maverick asked.
“I’m going to tell her she can have it starting today if she wants it. But that’s entirely up to her.” Phoenix glanced over his shoulder. The lunch crowd had dwindled down to a few tables. A few of the waitresses had already clocked out and the rest were busy cleaning tables and preparing for the early birds. It would be light, but it would be busier than last week.
“Well, I’m going to get the hell out of here before one of you change your mind,” Nelson said.
“I’ll check in later.” Phoenix gave his brother a manly hug.
“Give Janelle our numbers in case she needs anything. And you better warn Mom and Dad you rented the place to a young woman who doesn’t need Mom to play matchmaker with because you know she will.” Nelson pulled open the door and jogged down the steps.
