Page 121 of Easy Out

“Stop lying to me,” he snaps. Then there is a slapping sound so loud my own face stings.

“Lo, I’m scared,” Manny says, wrapping his arms around me.

“I know. I’m going out there.”

“You can’t, Lo.”

“I can’t let your mom get slapped around because of me.” She may not be the best mom at the moment, but she doesn’t deserve to get abused either. She’s a victim as much as she is the problem.

“If it wasn’t about your car being outside, it would have been for something else. He would smack her around for smiling.” God, I need to get them out of here.

And not just today. For good.

“I’ve been working all morning, and this is how you say thank you? By lying to me? Why is this place such a mess?” A dish or something crashes to the floor.

“The boys better be home. They need to come out here and clean this place up. You’re obviously not going to do it. You’ve been too busy drinking again.”

“Let the boys be,” Linda says chasing loud footsteps down the hall. Crap. They’re coming in here.

There is a loud bang followed by a cry of pain. He must have pushed her back into a wall.

Why is he such an asshole?

What happened in his life to make him so angry and hateful?

Miguel bursts through the door, startling the three of us. No one moves as he narrows his eyes on each of us.

“Who the hell are you?”

“A neighbor. I came by to say hi.” I hold my breath waiting for his reaction. His eyes haven’t moved from where Manny is clinging to me.

“You shouldn’t be here. Especially in my boys’ room. Get out.” He lunges towards me with an outstretched hand.

“Don’t fucking touch her,” Carlos shouts, stepping in front of me.

“Did you think I was going to hit her? Do you think I’m some kind of monster?” Carlos doesn’t answer and his dad doesn’t like that one bit. “I asked you a question.”

“I think we should all take a moment to calm down.”

“No one fucking asked you what you think.”

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Carlos really needs to stop defending me.

“It’s fine, Los. I’m leaving anyway.” I spin around and give Carlos a look that tells him to cool down. I’ll be back. I lean down to give Manny a hug, but I’m yanked away with the force of a tsunami.

“Enough of that.” Miguel drags me out of the room by my bicep. I attempt to pull my arm loose but there’s no point. He has me in a vice grip.

“Let her go asshole,” Carlos yells when we make it to the kitchen where broken pieces of porcelain crunch under our feet. Miguel tosses me into the counters knocking the wind out of me. That’s going to leave a bruise. Manny scurries over to me and I put a protective arm around him.

“Don’t you dare disrespect me.” Miguel throws a punch that Carlos wasn’t expecting. Carlos’ head snaps to the side on impact and he falls into the countertop. My whole-body jerks. I wrap my arms tighter around Manny.

Linda is crying and whimpering somewhere in the corner. She is helpless on multiple levels.

Carlos wipes the blood dripping from his lip on the back of his hand. He doesn’t seem shocked by his father’s behavior. It’s been a long time coming. I will never forgive myself for being the catalyst that finally pushed him over the edge.

There is no way I’m leaving them alone with this man now. I’ll have to figure something out. If only I could get Manny out. Then he could run down the street to Carter’s house and get us help.

He could get Hart. I wish he was here. No, I don’t want him in danger. And that’s exactly what he would do. Hart would put himself right in front of me. Protecting me from all of this.

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