Page 67 of Badges
Elena
I’d forgotten just howhot and dry late summer in Montana is. Dust clouds drift across the prairies and leave thin layers everywhere inside the house.
It’s easy prey to focus my frustration on.
The only bright spot in this whole thing is that maybe now my sister will be safe.
Except I still want him, too.
I can’t get the feel of his touch out of my head, no matter how hard I scrub the bottom of the sink.
He was focused only on me. And I believe him when he said that.
Because in those moments, I felt it.
Did I screw this up? Is it wrong that I don’twantto share him with anyone?
Including my fucking mother.
It almost makes me more mad at her. She’s the one who messed all of this up. She ran away from a man who could have taken care of her.
I know Wade well enough to accept that he would have doneanythingto protect her.
What would my life have been like if he had been a part of it this whole time? Obviously his and mine relationship would be very different.
But I probably wouldn’t have had to struggle like I did.
Cynthia would be safe. Loved.
Damn it, Mom.
I didn’t do this,shedid.
A slamming door from outside makes me steal a glance through the window.
He’s back.
My heart races and my pulse pounds in my ears.
What is this going to be like?
Will Wade be angry like my father when he didn’t get his way?
Panic laces each breath. Should I hide?
No. I’m not my mom.
By the time Wade pushes into the living room, I’m standing in the kitchen, chin raised, one hand resting on the drawer of knives at my hip.
Every instinct tells me I’m safe.
But experience seems to be pushing me to caution.
He pauses, eyeing me warily as he kicks off his boots.
When I see the pizza box, anger begins to overtake the fear and I abandon the desire for a weapon, folding my arms over my chest.
“If I had known you were eating out, I wouldn’t have made you dinner,” I snap testily.
