Page 32 of Treasured By Them
Glaring into Caleb’s face, I say, “Tell me again how you lost sight of my bride.”
He gulps, his brown eyes widening in fear. “Man, I’m really sorry. I was doing my best. It was crowded as fuck in there. I swear it’s just an honest mistake, please, I’ll make it up to you?—”
“Edmund.” Danica’s voice is soft from inside the truck. “It was crazy in there. I lost sight of Caleb, too. We were all trying our best to be safe, I promise. It’s not his fault!”
Fury washes through me. His ineptitude endangered Danica. I tighten my grip on Caleb’s shirt, wanting to squeeze the life out of him. “You had one job. The family doesn’t have room for assholes who can’t follow simple fucking directions.”
“Please, man, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
A part of me feels some pity for this guy. He’s supposed to be my friend.
Stop feeling.
I lock that pity into another part of me—a quiet, unreachable part. I’m above it, letting my fury bubble like lava. It doesn’t matter that we’re friends. He fucked up. He needs to pay.
“Troy, hand me your knife.”
Caleb sucks in a breath. “Please, man, please.”
“Shut the fuck up.” I keep hold of his shirt. “Troy. The knife.”
Troy starts to pass it to me, but Danica latches onto his arm. “Don’t—whatever you’re going to do, Edmund, don’t. Come on. Get in the truck. It was an accident, it was crowded in there.”
I try to reach past her.
“Stop!” She raises her voice to a shout. “Stop, now. Let him go, Edmund.”
Blinking, I look at her. My pulse thunders in my ears, but I should stop. She’s right. I’m feeling too much, even now. It isn’t sympathy, it’s anger.
I release Caleb’s shirt, shove him away from the truck. “Get out. Go. Out of my sight.”
He nods, visibly quaking as he walks away.
I stare after him until he’s out of view, then turn to the truck.
Danica holds her arms around her chest. She’s in a tight, white dress. Innocent and angelic. Her hair is messed up, and her eye makeup is smeared.
“What did that Vorsong asshole do to you?” I demand.
She looks at me with tear-filled eyes. “Grabbed me. He hurt my shoulder. He fucking licked my face. But right now, Edmund, I’m more scared of you.”
“Me?” I lean back in surprise. “Why?”
“What were you going to do to Caleb with the knife?”
I scoff. “Probably nothing. Just scare him.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “You…you weren’t yourself just now. I don’t know who you are, even.”
“Danica.” I climb into the truck. My mind is whirling with thoughts of that asshole grabbing her, putting his hand on her—putting his fucking mouth on her. I can’t stand it, but at the same time, I’m cool. Calm. Just like my father would want me to be.
Troy starts the car. Danica doesn’t flinch when I put my arm around her, but she holds herself stiffly.
I sigh. “What is it, angel?”
“I’m going to my family cabin earlier than planned.”
“What do you mean?” I feel my hackles rising. Her family goes every year around this time, apparently. We already planned for her to go up on Monday, the day after tomorrow.
