Page 76 of My Heart To Heal

‘Lynnie is calling Doug now,’ Kacey says softly.

He holds me out, looking me over, inspecting the damage, and I shake my head. ‘Don’t, please.’ I don’t want him to look at me like I’m broken.

I turn to see Bree lower next to Bax.

‘Hi, there. You must be Bax,’ she says brightly. ‘My name is Breanne. I’ll be your police chief tonight. Your accommodation comes with drinks and meals provided. You also have your own bathroom and one hell of a view.’ She sprinkles extra sugar on her sarcasm, and I know she wants to tell him exactly what she thinks. I suspect once he’s in a cell, she will.

She and Jenna lift him up and turn him around, pushing him against his car forcefully, probably more forcefully than was required. I watch, unable to look away, as she handcuffs him. ‘You can call down to reception any time if you need anything, and we will do our utmost to offer you the very best service we can. We hope you enjoy your stay withus.’

She shoves him hard against the car, and if I wasn’t in pain and traumatized right now, I’d be so fucking impressed seeing my friend in action. Instead, I fixate on the smeared blood against the white car as Bree and Jenna haul him toward the station, and my body sags.

‘Come on,’ Nick says softly, ‘Let’s get you upstairs.’

‘Miss, you okay?’ Kacey asks, and I turn to her, then wrap my arms around her.

No, I think, but don’t answer, can’t answer, but as Nick guides me toward our joined stairwell, his strong arm, the arm he used to tear Bax away from me, around my back, I know that I will be.

Let’sCut Him Out Then

Nick

Heated blood rushed throughmy veins, filled with adrenaline, rage, and years of pent-up frustration. I wanted to kill him.

When Kacey ran into the clinic, yelling my name, I dropped my instruments and left Lance alone to finish the surgery without a word. I just knew.

I ripped off my gown and gloves, making cleaning them up somebody else’s problem. I didn’t care.

I rushed out and saw him, his hand around her throat, her head pulled back by her hair, and I didn’t have another thought before I tore him away from her and laid him out. The first hit knocked him back, and I didn’t give him a chance to recover before I hit him again. That time, he dropped to the floor, blood pouring from his mouth and nose, and I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to beat him into the ground, but she stopped me. Her sweet voice pulled me backfrom the brink and reminded me that I was not like him. I’m not like my father.

Now, as we make our way up the stairs, my body still vibrates with the urge to go down to the station and convince Bree to give me some time alone with the little bitch, but I need to be here, with her, and for that, I need to calm the fuck down.

Missy doesn’t need another overbearing, aggressive man on a testosterone high. She needs me, just me.

‘Come on, honey.’

She doesn’t say anything as I guide her into my place and to the sofa. She sits, and I crouch to a squat in front of her.

‘I’m going to get my first aid kit, okay?’

Nothing. Her eyes don’t even meet mine as she stares at her hands in her lap.

I retrieve the kit and turn on the ceiling light. She winces at the sudden brightness, and it reminds me to get her some water. Her head has to be pounding right now. I get her a glass of water, then pull up the footstool in front of her, sitting and reaching out to raise up her chin.

She lifts her face up, and it takes a while for her eyes to meet mine, but when they do, I almost crumble.

She looks exhausted, drained, broken even. My mom never looked that way, not once that I remember. She always switched straight intodefend dadmode.

‘Honey, I need to clean up this cut, okay?’ I ask softly, and she just swallows, her eyes closing as though it hurts. Then I remember his grip on her throat. ‘Your throat hurts?’ She gives a quick nod, and her eyes fill with tears. ‘Do you have Tylenol at your place for Jonah?’

‘Um,’ she nods again, and I stand as there is a knock on the door, and she jumps in her seat, her eyes widening, and I hold up my hands.

‘It’s okay, honey, it’s okay. Bree has him at the station. It’s not him.’

I back away toward the door and open it to find Kacey standing there.

‘Hi, Nick,’ she smiles softly, then holds out a purse and my cell phone. ‘You both left all your things downstairs. I thought you might need your phones.’

I release an exhale and reach out for our belongings.

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