Page 63 of Valentine Dare

I’d calmed down, skipping the rest of the day and not wanting to go the hospital, but wanting to get myself into check. Memories of the way Jenny looked at me replayed in my mind. It wasn’t the first time I’d beaten Kurt in front of her. The way her eyes moved in disgust as if she knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself gutted me. The thing is, I’d managed to do it without anyone telling me enough was enough. I was sitting at the breakfast table, lost in my thoughts and not knowing what to do next. I said nothing as Prent took off the bandage and started to treat my hands. I didn’t scream, even though it fucking hurt. He gently tried to assess the best course of action.

Trent sighed as he sat next to me. “Tracey called she said most likely Kurt was at the morgue because he hit Jenny. Apparently, she’d spent the whole time in the bathroom trying to escape from him until she was brave to leave, and then he managed to catch up with her.”

I didn’t shift my eyes or even look in his direction as he carried on telling me the events of the day. The one where I was supposed to be keeping Jenny safe, by making sure nothing happened to her, and I’d failed miserably. I hated myself more than I did Kurt for giving him the opportunity to hurt her.

“Apparently, the shit really hit the fan today. Not only is Jenny’s dad going down, but Kurt’s too. FBI have seized all accounts. His mom is missing, and this is most likely why Kurt flew off the handle. He was a volcano ready to erupt.”

He cupped his face with his hands, and then turned to me.

“Brent, I saw Jenny. I know why you did it. Fuck, if you hadn’t then I would have done that shit to him. He was out of order.”

I wished I could agree with him.

“I’m a fucking animal, man. I deserve to be in the zoo.” I began to weep the same way Kurt had done as I beat him senseless.

I looked down and noticed Prent had finished treating my hand. Crazy. If I’d been watching him, then I would have been telling him to let go and stop pretending that he was Florence Nightingale, but as my hands stopped aching and he’d cleaned me up, I knew it would be a lot better in a couple of days, or even less. No amount of Advil could stop it throbbing right now, but he’d managed it somehow.

“Don’t you dare think that way. I fucking won’t let you. You’re our brother, and we love you. Jenny too. She called you her knight in shining armor.”

I turned to him, trying to take in his words. Was he really telling me the truth?

“She did?”

Then again, why would he lie?

With disbelief most likely written on my face, Trent continued to explain.

“Of course, she did. I mean, if you hadn’t got there, who knows what could have happened. We love you man, and so does she. She was just scared. Rattled by the whole thing. She needed to get as far away from Kurt as possible, poor thing.”

They both embraced me. Some would say it was a sign of weakness, three men embracing and crying as they did it. The thought was frightening about what Kurt could have done, but I knew one thing for sure, he wouldn’t get his hands on her ever again. If he did, then I would fucking kill him, and I would have a fucking party to celebrate. Nothing would hold me back, not even the memory of the way Jenny looked at me the first time, and again this time, when I’d beaten Kurt. I would have to do it, because no one harmed her. No one. She was our girlfriend, our precious jewel who should be treated that way, all the time.

---