Page 54 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

“Will you tell me how it happened?” I don’t know why I wanted to torment myself with the details, but for some reason I needed to know.

She swallowed. “It happened late Friday night. I woke up to the sound of something smashing and then heard Mom cry. She was lying at the bottom of the stairs and Ken was standing over the top of her, about to hit her again.” She shuddered and pain flashed in her eyes. “I didn’t really think. I just threw myself in front of her. I think Ken was surprised. He kind of knocked me off balance and I hit my cheek on the bannister.”

She winced with the memory then drew in a deep breath.

“Someone must have called the police because the next minute there were flashing lights out the front. Ken ran.”

I couldn’t speak. I had so many emotions rampaging through me, I didn’t know how to control them. After a minute or so, I exhaled heavily, trying to expel it all from me.

“I’m guessing you didn’t tell the police.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Do you think I should have?”

How the fuck did I answer that? She looked so distressed about it, it almost broke my fucking heart. “Would your mom have backed up your story?”

Sadness overcame her and she shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think Ken’s threatened to hurt me if she tells. She wouldn’t risk it.”

I caressed her cheek with my thumb again. “Then you have your answer. Your mom needs to make the decision to end it.”

She looked down at her hands in her lap, her lower lip trembling. I watched a tear escape and slowly roll down her unmarked cheek. “I know,” she whispered.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. Unclicking her seatbelt, I pulled her over the console and onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her. I just needed to hold her.

Kaeli curled up against me, her hands clinging to my shirt, and I heard her breath catch with a silent sob.

Tucking her head gently under my chin, I kissed her hair. “You have no idea how much I want to go back there and kill him right now.”

She pulled herself tighter against me. “Is it bad that part of me wants you to?”

“No, pretty girl. No, it isn’t.”

We sat there for I don’t know how long after that, just holding each other and listening to each other breathe.

When my legs started to feel a little stiff, I sighed. “We should probably go.”

Kaeli pulled back from me and I instantly missed her warmth. “I don’t think I want to go home. Could you take me to the hospital?”

I didn’t think that was the best idea, but I understood her need to be close to her mother. “Of course.”

“Thanks.” She attempted a smile but it only made her appear so much sadder. It made me want to pull her into me again.

I expected her to crawl back over to the passenger side, but she didn’t. She just sat on my lap watching me, her hand resting on my chest. I wondered if she could feel my heart flying.

“Do you have any family?” she asked quietly.

Mitch didn’t have any family, and I knew that was the answer I should be giving her. “Yeah,” I said instead. I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her. “I still have both my parents and four older brothers.”

She sat there quietly assessing me for a while. I knew she was wondering how I’d ended up in TJ’s gang. “Were they bad?” she asked hesitantly.

I gave her a tiny smile. “No, they’re great. It’s not their fault I am where I am. It was my choice.”

I could tell she wanted to ask me more. The curiosity was burning in those beautiful green eyes. Thankfully, she let it slide. “Do you see them often?”

I felt the real sadness of not seeing them in so long wash over me. I shook my head. “I haven’t seen them in a year and a half.”

I was sure the sadness on her face was a mirror image of my own. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke again. “Why?”

“I…can’t…”

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