Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Not for the first time today, I wish I hadn't moved in closer to Beth, then maybe the bullet that struck Xan would’ve dropped me instead. The waiting to die feels like worse torture than the act itself.
I resist the urge to run my fingers over the scars lining my forearm despite the itch of need there.
Chapter 7
Newton
"What happens with all the stuff here?" Boomer asks, looking around at the full living room of furniture.
"We haven't made it that far in discussions," Emmalyn says, a frown playing on her pretty face.
I'd like to think no one who knows what's going on blames Brielle, but I've heard mumbles of discontent from several of the women as they make trips to the waiting SUVs with their belongings.
This could be the result of any issue from any former partner of any of the women. We don't have to mention Brielle's name for them to know that she's the only one missing. It's not that hard to put two and two together to understand that since she's not here, she has to be the catalyst for them being moved. I don't know if they would be as disappointed if it were anyone else in the house.
"Brielle's things?" I ask Emmalyn.
"I can gather them," she replies, and I nod my head in thanks.
It's not that I mind packing her things to bring back to the clubhouse, but that would be a rather intimate activity. The woman has been violated enough in her lifetime. She doesn't need to feel as if she's been infringed upon again if we can help it. She may not like Em doing it either, but at least she knows the woman.
I step to the side when a frightened-looking woman walks past with her hand at the back of a crying child who looks to be about eight. They've had such trauma in their lives, and it just keeps piling up. It has to be terrifying that a group of armed men show up at the place they've grown to call home and insist they gather all of their belongings so they can go live somewhere else.
"Where are we going?" the woman asks, but she's looking over my shoulder.
I turn to see Victoria, the director of the shelter, giving her a small smile.
"Across town," Victoria says as she crouches down to get on the same level as the upset little girl. "And the new place has a treehouse in the backyard."
This information seems to carry some weight with the kid, but she isn't fully convinced.
"I'm going to have to make new friends," she whispers, as if she's been made to feel ashamed for either voicing her concerns or having needs.
Victoria shakes her head, reaching out a hand. The little girl takes it immediately. "Rachel, I always encourage you to make new friends, but you won't change schools just because we're moving across town."
The child's mother breathes a sigh of relief. It's clear it was a concern for her as well, but maybe she was waiting for a different time, one that was less chaotic, before voicing her concerns about it.
Victoria accepts the hug offered by the little girl before standing to put her hand on the woman’s arm.
“Everything is going to be just fine, Anne,” she assures the woman.
Anne smiles and nods, but there’s still concern marking her features when she walks off.
“Where did Em go?” Victoria asks, turning to me once Anne and Rachel have headed outside to one of the waiting SUVs.
"She went to go pack up Brielle's belongings," I inform her.
Victoria looks down the hallway in the direction I have to assume is Brielle's room.
We've never been inside the house until tonight, and maybe that is setting off some of these emotions. We've always stayed outside, allowing the women and children who live here to understand that this is a safe space for them.
"Victoria!" a woman calls from another room. "I have a question about some things in the cupboards."
"If you need to speak with Em about Brielle, I can relay any message you might have," I say when the woman looks like she's torn on which tasks she should complete first.
"I just wanted to urge Em to stay on top of Brielle and her schoolwork," Victoria says. "She was so close to finishing and making plans to attend college classes online."
I'll be the first one to stand up and advocate for education, but Brielle witnessed her brother being shot in the head today. I know the man was one of the men who hurt her, but watching someone die is a traumatic experience, no matter their position in someone's life. I don't know if Brielle is going to be in the right headspace anytime soon to focus on school.
"I'll tell her," I say, certain I'll keep my promise, but not so sure that Brielle will have the drive to continue working on her classes.