Page 17 of Brutal Savage

“Hi, Grandpa. It’s me, Evelyn.” I move toward him cautiously so as not to overwhelm him. Grabbing a chair, I sit beside Gran.

His mouth thins, and for a moment, he looks at me as though he knows me. Hope springs in my heart.

“Paige?”

Instantly, I deflate, and Gran’s eyes shine with moisture. I take her hand in mine.

“It’s Evelyn, remember? I’m your granddaughter. And this is Judith, your wife.”

His brows knit, and he looks between us, panic setting in his eyes. “I—I…”

“It’s okay.” I fight my emotions. “It’s okay. Just rest.”

He nods, swallowing hard as he leans into the brown leather armchair. Lifting up his throw blanket, I tuck it around him.

“Paige?” he calls to me, and I blink back tears.

“Yes?”

“Could you get me some orange juice? I would really like some orange juice.”

“Mm-hmm. Sure.”

Tears roll down my cheeks, but I brush them away as I give him my back, heading for the fridge in his room. Grabbing the juice I bought for him last week, I pour some into a plastic cup.

How can life be so unfair? He was always strong and capable; now he’s a shell of a man.

It feels like I’m losing everyone. Who’s next?

My mind drifts to the happier moments from my past, when my friend Kennedy and I would go to the beach, laughing as the waves rolled over our heads. Meeting her was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Yet also one of the worst.

Because we were both victims. Both used and abused and made to do awful things. But we had each other.

Until we didn’t.

I press my eyes closed, my pulse speeding up as I recall her last few moments. The final time I saw her alive.

“Hurry up!” I scream from the back seat. “She’s losing too much blood!”

Kennedy’s in my lap, blood leaking out of her stomach even through my torn t-shirt tied around her.

“Come on, stay with me! Don’t close your eyes. Please!” I wail, as the car honks, zooming past other vehicles.

“We’re gonna drop her off at the hospital. You can’t go with her. You hear?”

I make eye contact with Jerry through the mirror, and my anger simmers. “Fuck you! You did this to her.”

He laughs humorlessly. “The bitch did this to herself.”

“Don’t fucking talk about her like that!”

Kennedy groans. “I…I’m cold. Just wanna sleep.”

“No. No, please stay awake. We’re almost there.” Tears bathe my eyes until I’m one with them, my heart aching.

I can’t lose her. I just can’t.

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