Page 78 of Broken Skulls

Jackson nods in agreement. “I’m going to leave her here with you guys. I need to get to the warehouse for the charity run. Don’t leave her alone.” He points to Jacob. “She remains in your sight from here on out.”

“Yeah,” Jacob sighs reluctantly, agreeing with him.

We all walk out to the living room together. Elijah is already offering the young woman on the couch a glass of water and the Tylenol he found. Her eyes are red and puffy, and mascara is smudged under her eyes.

My steps slow. Her hair is a mess, and there’s mud on her palm and her knees. I stop. When my gaze rests on the leaves caught in her hair, I hurry to her side. I wrap my arms around her, tucking her face against my chest.

“You’re okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” I whisper, rocking her back and forth.

I’m not sure if what I’m doing is helping, but this is the way I fantasized about it with my own mother. I just wanted someone to hold me and tell me that everything was going to be alright.

“What the fuck happened?” Jacob asks.

Jackson shrugs. “Don’t know. She won’t talk.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk,” I whisper to her.

She lifts her head, peeking up at me. “Nothing happened. My friends were playing a game. I agreed." As soon as she’s done speaking, she buries her face back against my chest.

The men all grunt in unison, thinking there is more to her statement. They might be right. One thing I recognize is the humiliation in her voice.

“Ash is going to be so disappointed in me,” she cries softly.

While I can relate to her shame, I’m not going to let it fester inside her like it did me.

Jacob approaches cautiously, sitting on the coffee table in front of us. “Are your parents’ home, darlin’?”

She shakes her head.

Elijah laughs harshly. “They’ve been gone longer than Ash has.”

Jacob and I exchange a look.

“They’re out of town a lot for work,” Lexie mumbles into my chest, defending them.

I push her away from me and place both of my palms on her wet cheeks. “Good thing your Skull family found you, huh?”

The way her eyes dart from mine tells me she doesn’t believe she deserves their kindness.

I shake her lightly. “I didn’t think I deserved them either.” I glance at the men in the room. “I’m still not sure I deserve them, but one thing I’ve learned is they won’t give up on you. I’ve nevermet Ash, but if he’s anything like the Skulls I’ve met so far, I’m sure he’s on your side.”

Her gaze slowly comes back to me. I smile at her. The dark circles under her eyes lets me know how tired she must be. She needs to rest.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” I help her to her feet. She needs to keep moving.

Jackson stops us as we pass him. He chucks her under the chin with his knuckle. “Don’t run,” he tells her.

She gives him an embarrassed little nod.

Elijah ruffles her hair. “See you at the warehouse, kid.”

He then turns his attention to me, mouthing a thank you. I feel my cheeks warm. It feels good to be on the same side as these men.

“I’ll scramble up some eggs,” Jacob says before walking his brothers out.

I tug Lexie down the hall. “Do you need help in the shower?” I ask.

She shakes her head.

---