Page 25 of SnapShot

We were on great terms when she left Friday. Maybe she’s freaking out again since she let me stay over. Maybe the horses got attacked, and the girls are now stranded in the woods being hunted by a mountain lion. Maybe she’s at the hospital in a coma.

Wow, my mind is a dark place, isn’t it?

I need to chill the fuck out. Maybe she just lost her phone. I don’t have Kate’s number to check with her, either. Fuck. I’m going to go over there. If that makes me a crazy stalker, then so be it. She’s my girl, and I’m worried about her.

Grabbing my keys from the wall, I all but jump down the stairs and run to my truck. Of course, there’s traffic because why wouldn’t there be when I’m in a hurry to get somewhere. God, is everyone and their mother out sight seeing or something?

The main stop light in this town is forever long, same as the line to get through it currently. When it finally turns to green and it’s my turn to go, the damn thing tries to go back to red. Too fucking bad. I slam the gas pedal to the floorboard to get through before my truck gets rammed. Would’ve been worth it, but still. I’m trying to save time, not cost myself more of it.

What should’ve been a thirty-minute drive turned into fifteen. Driving twenty miles over the speed limit the whole way will do that. Someone was looking out for me on the way, too, because I didn’t run into any cops. Not that I would’ve stopped for them anyway. The sinking feeling in my gut just keeps getting worse the closer to her I get, and there isn’t a man alive that could keep me from making sure she’s safe.

Throwing my truck in park, my feet hit the gravel before the engine has fully shut off, and I’m banging on her front door in less than five steps. The soft hazel eyes I crave to melt into aren’t the ones that meet me on the other side, though.

Instead, it’s Kate, and she looks like a worn down parent who hasn’t slept in three days and desperately needs a caffeine boost. The dark moons beneath her eyes only amplify my worry. She’s staring at me fearfully and cautiously as if I’m a wild animal she needs to escape.

“Where is she?” My voice comes out sharper than I intended, more of a demand than a question. The blood pooling between my ears is making waves that would put the ocean to shame. It’s creating an awful noise that is difficult to ignore.

“She’s in bed,” is the only reply she gives me in a barely audible pitch.

“It’s noon.” Haedyn doesn’t usually sleep this late. She likes to get up early and work with the horses and have her coffee on the front porch. “What happened this weekend? I haven't heard from her since you guys got back.”

She blows a breath out through her pursed lips, pulling her eyes away from mine toward the floor. “You’re gonna want to sit down. Let me get you a drink.”

My first instinct is to argue with her, but I’ll do whatever the hell she says if it’ll get me to my little brat as quick as possible. I follow her into the kitchen and take a seat at the table. She takes the chair directly across from me and slides a whiskey glass to me. I don’t know what kind it is, and I don’t care. Tossing the whole thing back in one go, my throat is incinerated. It gives me something else to focus on besides the panic churning my insides.

“Spit it out, please. You’re fucking killing me. Is she okay?”

“Define okay.” Her face is scrunched in pain, and I move to stand from the table, intent on finding out for myself. She jumps up at the same time and pushes against my chest to sit me back down.

“She’s not hurt. Physically, anyway.” Every time I’ve met Kate or heard Haedyn talk about her, she’s anything but shy. She’s struggling to get this out, and my mind drifts to the worst case scenario.

“Look, there’s no easy way to tell you this, and she’d probably murder me for even letting you in the house if she was coherent enough to care. You know that we went on this same trail ride several times throughout high school. Well, naturally, we made friends that we hung out with there. Apparently, not all of our friends were good ones because Haedyn was assaulted by one of her old hookups. She fought him off and made it to me where I called the cops. I had to take her to the ER to get checked out, and they gave her some medicine. She’s been in shock. Hasn’t been able to hold anything down since it happened. I haven’t been able to get her out of bed yet. She hasn’t told me exactly what happened, but I know that it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. Our girl is tough. I just don’t know what to do here, Charlie. I’ve never seen her like this.”

All the air is ripped from my body, and tears immediately begin to rain down my face. Guilt follows shortly after because what the fuck am I crying for? She’s the one who had to go through it. I should’ve gone with her. I should’ve been there to protect her. I’m going to kill that motherfucker.

“Where is he?” The only emotion I can focus on is the anger. This unquenchable desire to squeeze the life from this piece of shit with my bare hands. I’m not a violent man, but I can become one for her.

“He was in jail. I don’t know when he gets out, though. Probably something we need to find out. We’ve filed for an order of protection, but they said it takes a while for those to get approved. I’m sure you have a lot feelings right now, but let’s not go completely off the rails, yet. She needs us more than she needs us to avenge her right now. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to protect her. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Her tears match my own. They fall in a guilty rhythm looking for someone to drown in them. I don’t know what else to do, so I kneel in front of her on the floor and pull her into a hug. “It’s not your fault, Kate. Thank you for telling me. I promise I’ll take care of her.” She simply nods into my shoulder.

When we both regain our composure, I excuse myself to the restroom. Splashing cold water on my face helps tame the flames residing there from crying. It’s still red, but it feels so much better.

Haedyn’s bedroom door is just down the hall, and as I stand here in front of it, there’s another rise of panic palpating my heart and stealing my breath. It’s old dark wood with natural wear and tear around the edges. Small lighter scratches tell the story of lives since passed. What am I going to find when I open this door? God I only hope she lets me stay. Please don’t let her push me away. Not from this.

The pain in my chest only increases when I bring my hand up to knock before slowly opening the door. I don’t think I could’ve ever prepared for how my heart breaks from what I see of my little brat.

All I know now is that this fucker who touched her better count his days because whether it costs me Haedyn or not, this guy won’t live.

Right now, though, she needs me, and I’ll do anything to save her.

Comfort Person

thirteen

Comfort Person

Haedyn

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