Page 88 of Break

“Yeah, no,” I say, shaking my head. Tugging Mina forward, I deposit her hand into Max’s, who’s shaking with rage and could probably use a calming presence at his side. A quick glance at Ethan shows me the same, so I nod toward her other hand, indicating he should take it.

He nods once and moves to Mina’s other side.

“Right,” I say to no one in particular. I face John, grinding my jaw in fury. “Clearly, you know a few facts about what yourdaughterhas been going through, but let me clear some things up for you.” He opens his mouth to argue, but I hold my hand up and stop him. “I suggest you stay silent, or I’ll arrest you for disturbing the peace because you certainly sound like you’re trying to incite some violence here.I’mnot feeling violent… yet. But my friends here are.”

John splutters in indignation, but I don’t stop.

“Now that you’ve seemed to calm down,” I hold back a snicker because he’s the opposite of calmed down, “I’m going to need you to turn around and get back in your car. You need to leave and not attempt to contact Mina again. She’s suffered more than you’ll ever know, and webothknow that it hasn’t just been at Danny’s hand. Am I right?”

“She-,” he tries to say, then tries again. “That girl barely looks like she’s got a scratch on her! This has all been blown way out of proportion and she needs to go home where she belongs!” His voice is shouting by the time he’s finished.

I just raise my eyebrow at him, showing him that I couldn’t care less if he directs his temper toward me. Clicking my tongue at him, I shake my head. “There’s that violence I was talking about, John. Do we need to go inside? Cool off?” I know I’m antagonizing him, but at this point, I’dlovefor him to give me a reason to throw some cuffs on those meaty wrists.

Seething, he balls his fists at his side and forces out, “No,” through his teeth. He’s shooting daggers at Mina, who I’m surprised to find has stepped up next to me. This time she places her hand on my back, patting me once in silent thanks.

“Father, I won’t apologize for leaving or for the embarrassment you seem to feel you’ve been suffering through. This isn’t your shame to bear, and it’s not mine either. It’s Danny’s.” She gives him a pleading look, begging him to understand.

John just shakes his head, ignoring what she’s trying to explain to him. “No.No!It’s your job as hiswifeto stand by his side, work through this as God intended wedded partners to do.”

Swallowing deeply, she firms her shoulders, and I couldn’t be more fucking proud of her. “Danny Reed beat me. He beat me until I blacked out and woke up hours later in my own pool of blood. This wasn’t the first time he’s done it, and if I stayed, it wouldn’t have been the last. But this time?Thistime, he did it only shortly after he raped me.”

“You can’t be raped if you’re his wife,” he snaps out.

Lunging forward, I sneer in his face, spitting mad. “It’s rape if you sayno. Doesn’t matter how many times you said yes before.” I’m furious, but Mina’s voice keeps going, forcing me to back off.

“Herapedme. He’s shouted at me, pinched me, kicked me, and punched me. I won’t go back. I’llnevergo back. He’s no longer my husband.”

Her chest is heaving, but she’s holding herself together. John isn’t looking at her any longer, but I know that she hasn’t gotten through to him. She knows it too when I see her shoulders deflate, surrendering her fight in the knowledge that neither of them will win.

“God wouldn’t want it,” she whispers, finally with a crack of emotion behind her words.

John simply turns around and walks away. The last thing we hear him say is, “You’re no longer my daughter.”

A single hiccup of a sob escapes her, and then she pulls it back in.

“Sweetheart,” I say softly, turning my body to stand in front of her, removing her view of her father walking out of her life. “Are you…?”

I don’t know what to ask her. That was…Fuck.That was a lot for one person to shoulder.

Her smile is brittle, but she tilts her head back to look up at me. “Thank you, guys, for being there through that. I’m sorry if that was-”

“No. Don’t apologize. Not for standing up for yourself,” Max says vehemently. I know he’s pissed, but I’m really proud of him for keeping it together right now for her.

“You did good, darlin’,” Ethan murmurs to her.

She’s still looking up at me with a look I can’t decipher, but I like it, whatever it means. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Just know, I feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders even though I am sad about it. I’ll be alright.”

Nodding once, I repress the urge to make sure she really is okay. She asked us not to question her, so I won’t. I believe her when she says she’ll be alright.

Wiping away a few tears that have landed on her cheeks, she looks around at all of us and asks with a more honest smile, “How about that drink?”

Chapter 40

Strike

Ethan

She looks absolutely captivating tonight. Mina has pushed aside what happened with her father, leaving it in her dust as she walks away, and I couldn’t be prouder.

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