Page 55 of Wicked Oath

“Please don’t hurt her, Logan. Please,” I beg.

“Stop! Please. Don’t. Please don’t,” Mom screams as Vince yanks her pajama pants down.

“Hold still, bitch,” Vince growls. I would know his voice from anywhere.

“No!” she says with a shrill scream as Vince slams into her and starts violently raping her anally. Rogue takes my phone, and I am in hysterics as Jude holds me tightly. I can still hear the sounds of skin slapping against skin, but it’s when her screams are gargled that rage slips in. I surprise myself and Jude when I abruptly go quiet. He pulls me back to cup my face and he understands.

“They will pay for this, Laney. I promise,” he says softly, and I nod.

I motion to Rogue to give me my phone back and I confirm that they are both raping her. She hasn’t stopped fighting once. They both finish and get off the couch to grab the phone that seems to be propped up on something. I don’t know which one is holding the phone, but they move over to the couch where my mom is on her back now.

I involuntarily scream when they suddenly shove a knife into her abdomen. Her scream is shrill as they twist and dig deeper before slowly dragging the serrated blade out of her. Tears are streaming down my face as hers drains of color. When the video abruptly ends, I am speechless for a moment. When I do manage to talk, my voice filled with rage as angry tears stream down my face. “They will fucking die for this,” I growl.

A few minutes later, we get to my parents’ house. I jump out and run to the door before anyone can stop me. There aren’t any cars in the driveway, so I assume no one is here. That might be an ignorant assumption to make, but it doesn’t stop me from nearly kicking the door in. Talon and Jude are right behind me as I rush to Mom who is lying on the floor.

“Momma, I’m here. I’m right here, Momma,” I say as she slowly drags her eyes open. “We’re gonna get you help, okay? You’ve got to hang on for me.”

“I won’t make it,” she chokes out. “I’m so sorry, baby girl. I’m sorry.”

“Are they gone?” I ask Rogue when he steps back into the living room.

“House is empty. Knox is calling for help,” Rogue says.

“Okay,” I say as I take my scarf off and press it to the wound on her abdomen. She grunts in pain but doesn’t speak. “You have to live, Momma.”

“Baby,” she says weakly as she brings her blood-covered hand to my cheek to wipe away falling tears. “I’m sorry I didn’t protect you better. Your father only recently admitted to what he had done to you… I was so wrapped in my own misery that I didn’t protect you.”

“It’s okay, Momma. I forgive you,” I say as I move from my knees to sitting on my bottom so I can pull her head into my lap. I gently stroke her hair, fully understanding that I’m about to lose my mother. I can deal with the emotions later, but I want to comfort her as she passes. I don’t want her to go with any regrets.

“Those boys good to you?” she asks softly. “You look h-happy.”

“They are,” I say with a forced smile. “I love them so much.”

“Good, baby. That’s good,” she says, rapidly weakening. Jude is the one trying to control the bleeding, but the damage is too severe. Her insides were shredded with that knife, and I know there is no coming back from this. There is blood everywhere and she is steadily losing more. “I love you… so much, Delaney. I wish I had been a better mother for you.”

“You did the best you could, Momma,” I reassure her. “I love you too. I’m sorry I never recognized that he was putting you through just as much.”

“I tried to hide the worst of it from you,” she sighs. “The will… it’s… We changed it… you get everything. Logan doesn’t know… Get it. You have to… Get it.”

“Momma, talk to me,” I say when her eyes flutter closed. When I lightly smack her cheek, she opens them.

“You get everything, baby. Get it before…” she says, but stops talking as she starts coughing. Blood oozes out of her mouth and more tears roll down my cheeks. I do my best to wipe her mouth to make it easier for her. “He’s going to come after you… Save yourself, baby.”

“I will, Momma,” I sniffle. “Don’t you worry about me. I have these boys to keep me safe.”

“Good,” she smiles weakly. “You aren’t required to be respectful of your dad.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Cremate us,” she chokes out. “Put us together so I can haunt him in hell forever.”

“I will,” I say, trying to control my tears. “I love you, Momma. I’m right here. Okay? I’m not leaving you.”

“I love you too, baby,” she says as she starts to fade.

“I forgive you, Momma,” I say, hugging her to my chest. I am gently rocking us, trying to let her pass as peacefully as I can. When her body starts to relax and go limp in my arms, the tears flood out of me. Talon and Jude are at my side, rubbing my back as I sob. Nearly an hour passes before we hear approaching sirens. Clearly, they were not in a hurry to a save a dying woman. It all makes sense when Andrew and Katy walk into the house.

“Can I check her,” Katy says carefully as she squats down in front of me. I shake my head and hold onto Mom’s body tighter. “Delaney, I need to see if we can help her.”

---