Page 185 of Finding Hope

“Brad?” My voice isn’t shaking, but the rest of me is. “What are you doing here? Can I help you?”

“Well…” Swaggering forward like he owns my classroom, he rolls his bottom lip with his finger and thumb. “This is actually quite convenient. I was coming to talk to you, anyway, seeing as our time at the restaurant was cut short.”

“You mean when Jack tossed you aside.Literally?”I don’t know why I said that. Brad’s a beehive, and I just whacked him with a stick. But bitterness at Brad’s interference in my relationship has me speaking without thinking.

Brad knew what he was doing when he pinned me in the hall that night. He knew what would happen – except the whole getting-tossed-through-a-wall thing.

I doubt he was expecting that.

“Yeah, that. Still,” he sniffs arrogantly. “Worked out for me. Now you’re free to date, so…” He shrugs. “Worth it.”

“I won’t be dating you, Brad. I told you; I’m not interested.”

“And I told youI am.” He takes another step forward. “You were happy to date me until he came along. Well, I took notice… I guess we’ll call itinspiration.” He smiles wolfishly. “I’m a fighter now, Britt.” He marks an invisible tick in the air. “Check. I have money. Check. I have a hell of a lot more class than that asshole.”

“Hey!” Evie steps around me angrily. “You don’t speak about him like that, you dick!”

I pull her back behind me. “Evie, stop.” She might hate my guts rightnow, she might even want to kick my ass, but she’ll listen to me this one time.

“Shut the fuck up, little Frankston.”

“Brad, go away.”

“No.” He takes another step forward. In retreat, I step back and push the girls with me. “I’m happy right here.”

“What do you want, Brad?”

“Well first, I wanna know where my niece and nephew are.”

“I… what? What are you talking about?”

“Sheknows.” He jerks his chin in my direction. “Come out, little Bean. Come tell Uncle Brad where to find your brother and sister.”

Uncle? Brother and sister…“What?”

“I don’t know,” she whimpers. “I don’t know where they are.”

“Jamie?”

“No!” Brad snaps viciously. “Benny and Olivia.”

“Who?”

“You know who I’m talking about, don’t you Lucy? Tell me where yourothermom moved to, tell me where she took my niece and nephew, and I’ll leave you be.”

“Brad. You need to leave now.”

Storming forward as fast as a bullet, he swings a wild arm out and backhands me so hard, my vision turns black. Tears rush to the surface. Blood fills my mouth. And my ears ring from the pain.

“I will not leave!”

The girls cry out in terror and clutch at my shirt. Evie’s no longer the sassy pre-teen she was minutes ago, but a frightened little girl crying for her mom.

“I’m sorry.” Terrified, shaking, I lift my hands to placate him as his chest heaves with rage. “I’m sorry, Brad. I just… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This little bastard here,” he jabs a finger toward my left hip, “is my brother’s daughter.”

“No, she’s–”

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