Page 191 of Finding Hope

But the rest of them storm in. Scotch first, with a face as white as a ghost, then the rest of his band, the other blonde sister. Even seeing the brown-haired mouse does nothing to me.

She’s… whatever.

She’s nobody to me except my girlfriend’s friend.

Myex-girlfriend’sfriend.

Luc runs in and stops as soon as our eyes meet. Angry face and balled hands, he storms forward and stops only a foot in front of me.

“What happened to her?”

Evie peeks up from her mom’s chest. “She got hurt at school.” Hiccupping, she wipes her tears with her forearm. “Mr. Maxwell beat her up.”

Scotch’s angry gaze snaps between me and Evie. “Mr. Maxwell?”

“School teacher,” Iz answers angrily. “Former one-time date.”

Sobbing, Bean buries her face between Jim and Iz. “My uncle, too.”

Finally, something other than grief and worry penetrates my brain.

My eyes come up to my niece. “What?”

“My dad’s brother.”

The band turns on Jim as one, but the Kincaids know better. Eyes go round, and faces drain whiter.

Brushing Bean’s long mahogany hair out of her eyes, Izzy cups her soft cheeks. “Who told you that, baby?”

Crying, she rubs a fist against her eyes and resembles the infant I remember from – what I swear was – only a month ago.

Certainly not eight years.

“Brad did,” she clarifies. “He said he was Ben’s brother.”

Stepping toward Bean and Iz menacingly, Scotch balls his hands. “Who the fuck is Ben?”

Slamming his open palm to Scotch’s chest, Jim pushes him back a step. “You wanna back the fuck up outta my daughter’s face. You got questions, they come through me.”

“Stop.” Taking Jim’s tense arm in her hand, Iz works to place herself between the men. “Jim, stop.” She turns to the band. “Ben’s a man I dated a very long time ago. He’s my daughter’s biological father.”

“And Brad?”

She shrugs. “I have no clue. We met him once last year. Britt came over to say hey, he was with her, but he didn’t say much.”

Scotch’s face contorts with disbelief… and a whole lot of rage. “So you’re saying you didn’t recognize your baby daddy’s brother? How many guys have you fu–”

Jim pushes him back until they slam against the wall and the people in waiting room gasp. “Get the fuck out of here,” Jim seethes. “Get out of this hospital before I put you into it. Don’t speak to my family again.”

“Stop!” Tink pushes through the crowd of band members and fighters. “Jim, stop. Scotch, stop being a dick, you’re better than that.” She slides her tiny body between the two feuding men and pushes Jim away. She points at Scotch. “His sister’s in here somewhere. She’s hurt and he’s scared. Be cool.” She turns on Scotch and points to Jim. “Hisdaughter’s been terrorized, and my brother’s girlfriend is in this hospital. She’s hurt, and he’s scared. Stop being a dick. We’re all on the same team.”

With a shove that surprises everyone that doesn’t already know the tiny woman, she pushes the guys further apart, then turns to me.

Everyone turns toward me. They want answers.

I shrug. “I don’t know about Brad and Ben. I just know what I saw when I got there today. Brad was on her.”

“Onher?” Luc steps forward on shaky legs. “He didn’t– she… Did he–”

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