Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
When he reaches me, he clutches the back of my head, pressing his forehead to mine.
“He will never hurt you again, my sweet boy. Fucking never.”
A sob of relief escapes me. Dad pulls back and then kisses the top of my head. Then he wraps an arm around me. Together, we walk back home.
Free.
I’m finally free of that monster.
He’ll never come for me ever again.
* * *
* * *
I wake to someone pounding on the door. My eyes fly open and I quickly scan the dark cabin that’s only lit up by the moonlight shining in the windows.
Rowdy grunts, grabbing his .45 and then prowling through the shadowed cabin toward the banging. Spirit and Mage both growl from their location on Rowdy’s bed beside Destiny. I’m on the couch without a weapon, hoping the person is family, not foe.
“Fuck,” Rowdy mutters before opening the door. “What the hell happened to you?”
The cabin suddenly illuminates as Rowdy turns on a lantern. A man, covered in blood, walks into the small home.
It’s Dad.
He carries a bloody ax in hand and his feral gaze lands on each one of his kids before stopping at me. Fear crawls up my spine, clawing painfully into me. I’m frozen in his stare.
How did he get all that blood on him?
Ronan? Raegan? Mom?
The thought of something gruesome happening to any of them has me shivering wildly.
“I killed him.” Dad’s features remain pinned on me. “He’s not quite dead yet, but give him another half hour or so and he’ll be gone.”
Rowdy frowns at Dad. “Who did you kill?”
I can sense the growing panic in my brother because I feel it too.
Ronan?
Our father killed Ronan because he got our sister pregnant?
This can’t be happening. Not my dad. Please, God, no.
“Logan,” Dad snarls with disgust. “That rapist, sick sonofabitch…”
Understanding washes over me and I fall back against the cushions, shaking with relief. He didn’t kill my brother.
“He found his way back,” Rowdy grunts. “Fuck.”
Dad shifts on his feet, gaze settling on Rowdy for a moment. “I knew something wasn’t right. I heard voices and went next door to investigate.” Dad’s eyes close and he shudders. “I saw him on my fucking son and I lost it.”
Oh God.
Did he rape him again?
Is Ronan okay?
“I need to go to him,” I croak out, shakily standing. “I need to—”
“Sit back down, Ryder,” Dad rumbles, tired eyes settling on me. “He’s in the cabin with your mom and the kids. Safe.”
My breath rushes out in a harsh swoosh.
“I just needed to come let you all know,” Dad says with a grunt. “And to clean up before I go back home. The kids don’t need to see me like this.” His gaze darts over to Destiny. “Rowdy, do you have something I can change into?”
Destiny remains curled up on the bed. Her eyes are open, but it’s not like she can see what our dad looks like at the moment, which is good. She doesn’t speak, but her entire body trembles.
Dad strips down to his boxers while Rowdy heats water on the stove. Our father slumps onto the kitchen chair. I stare at him, surprised by the way his body trembles. His scars are all pink and puckered, but ultimately healed from where they stabbed him months ago, so the shaking must be from adrenaline, not exertion. Once Rowdy has the water warmed up and locates soap and a washcloth, he sets it down in front of Dad on the table. Dad quickly scrubs away all the blood while Rowdy digs around in his drawers for a change of clothes.
“Ryder,” Dad says after he’s pulled on the clean clothes. “Tomorrow morning, we need to talk. First light by the firepit.”
I swallow hard and nod. I’d rather talk than be shunned by my family. I’m desperate to know how Ronan and Raegan are doing too.
“Does Mom hate me?” I ask in a raspy voice.
Dad scowls at me. “Your mother loves you all with the fire of a thousand suns. She’s allowed to get angry and hate the choices you kids make, but she could never hate you. You can get that goddamn notion out of your head right now.”
My heart aches at his words. “And you, Dad?”
He leans forward, elbows resting on his knees and fierce gaze boring into me. “Everything I have ever done for as long as I can remember has always been for my children. Always.”
I stand on wobbly legs and make my way over to Dad. He rises to his feet, capturing me in a strong, comforting hug. I cling to my father, letting go of all the emotions that have been tearing me apart. As I lose it against his shoulder, he pats me and murmurs over and over, “You’re a good boy, Ryder. I love you.”
“Best get going,” Rowdy says, shoving a plate onto my chest.