Page 30 of Every Single Vow
I knew two things for sure. One, I hate Billy Sterling. And two, he’s never going to lay a hand on her again.
I hold Dakota’s hand tightly in mine as we walk inside the front door of my house. My father is sitting in the recliner, my mother in the kitchen. When the door shuts, he glances back at me and frowns.
“I figured y’all would still be at the rode….” His voice trails off, his body lifting from the chair when he sees Dakota’s face. “Ruthie.”
My mom comes fluttering from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron as she smiles. But it falls the second she lands her eyes on us.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she says, her eyes misting over.
Dakota squeezes my hand. I can barely speak.
“Why don’t you let Ruthie clean you up and get you something to drink?” My father’s voice is soft as he looks from my mom to Dakota.
I squeeze her hand back, and she quietly swipes a tear from her eye. “Thank you.”
I don’t what to let her go. I want to hold her hand forever. Protect her from that monster. But I do as my dad said and watch with agony as she lets my mom wrap her up in a hug while silent sobs wrack her body.
The lump in my throat grows, the rage returning. I feel a heavy palm on my shoulder.
“Keys.”
I blink and look over to him. “What?”
“Your keys.” He locks eyes with me. “I know what you want to do son, and you won’t be any use to her if you act on it.”
Tears spring in my eyes as I hesitate before pulling my keys out from my pocket. I place them in his hand just as his palm squeezes my shoulder.
“It’s ok,” he says quietly.
I feel the tears stream down my face, my nose burning. He shoves my keys in his pocket, his eyes locking with mine again.
I finally manage to speak. “Can she stay?”
He dips his chin. “As long as she needs to.”
Chapter eighteen
Dakota
“Kota.” Ivy’s hand lands on my shoulder, bringing me back to the moment.
The terrifying moment that my worst fear was spoken into existence.
I drop my cell, my eyes darting to hers.
“It was your dad?” She runs her hands up and down my arms.
“He’s….”
Said he was cominghome.He’s being released? Why?
“He said he’s coming home,” I whisper.
Her eyes widen before she reaches for her own phone. “I’ll tell Maddox he can go to the cabin. I’ll stay with…”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m ok.”
Lie.
