Page 75 of Scar

* * *

Tally did not knowthe specifics of what the club was planning. It didn’t even sound like they were entirely comfortable talking about it in front of their women, let alone a stranger. Tally had her part to play, though. She and Simone would head back to Atlanta to distract her father. Somehow, Tally had to get him back down to Atlanta and away from Washington, D.C..

Before they left, Simone headed for one last bathroom visit while Tally headed out to the car.

Sissy found her there, standing by the passenger side. “I wanted to introduce myself properly. I’m Charlotte, but everyone calls me ‘Sissy’.”

Tally held out her hand to her. “Tally Meacham.”

But Sissy didn’t take her hand. “I’m going to hug you, okay?” Before Tally could reply, Sissy batted Tally’s offered hand away and threw her arms around Tally’s neck. The hug was tight, like between long lost sisters. It took Tally a second to move past her shock before she returned the embrace. “Thank you,” Sissy whispered. “I am so glad he found you.”

The jealousy Tally had felt earlier at Sissy’s proclamation that Scar was her best friend evaporated. Instead, awkwardness took its place. After Bulldog had returned Scar’s cut to her, Tally had put it back on, needing to feel the worn leather against her. “I’m not even sure what he is to me, what I am to him,” Tally said just as softly. “It was a weird month and I’ve learned more about him today from the rest of you than I ever did from him. I just…”

Sissy stepped back. She had a sweetness to her that reminded Tally of berry fields and sunlight. She took Tally’s hands. “I’ve known Scar a long time, Tally. He might not speak, but he’s very expressive. I used to tease him that his eyebrows could hold their own in a conversation. But when it came down to it, Scar has a focus that borders on single-mindedness. He does anything and everything to protect those he loves, andnothingstops him.”

Sissy squeezed Tally’s hands gently. “Except you. If he went down to Atlanta to take pictures of you as Keys suspects, then he would have done it to protect us. Alpha, I mean your father, he doesn’t sound like a good man.”

Tally flinched. “It’s like the guys were describing Mr. Hyde to my Dr. Jekyll. Iknowit was my father in my apartment who took Scar away, but he was nothing likemy father. I can’t wrap my head around it and it hurts too much when I try.”

“I’m sorry. I have the best dad in the world, but I had a pretty shitty mom. I know it’s not a real comparison, but I’m here if you want to talk. I’m also here if you don’t.”

“Thank you,” Tally said sincerely. She wasn’t sure, but she guessed Sissy’s age to be early to mid-twenties.

“You know that Scar would have never hurt you, though, right? Even to get to your father? He doesn’t hurt those who don’t deserve it and you’re innocent of your father’s crimes.”

Tally’s lips twitched. “I knew that almost immediately upon sensing him. His presence scared me, not knowing his motives, and I definitely got the feeling that hecouldhurt me, but I never believed hewould.”

“I’m glad. We’ll get him back for you, I promise. Here, give me your phone. I’ll add my number in it so we can chat. I’ll keep you up to date as much as I can.”

Tally pulled her phone out of her pocket, unlocking it before handing it over to Sissy. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why does everyone speak about Scar like he’s one of you, and yet not?”

“Because he’s a dumbass who thinks he has to keep his distance from us to protect us,” Sissy answered without hesitation. “Here’s your phone back. I texted myself so I have your number too.”

Tally took back the device, pocketing it. She wasn’t sure how to take Sissy’s answer regarding her question about Scar. “But you all care for him?”

“We love him,” Sissy said with honesty. “He doesn’t believe he deserves that love. You’ll have a struggle on your hands getting him to accept yours too.”

Tally bit the inside of her lip. She wasn’t sure what she felt for Scar. Calling it love seemed too premature. She heard Simone approach the car and knew her conversation with Sissy was about to end. “Real quick, what’s Scar’s name and why didn’t you guys know it?”

“Well, if you hadn’t realized, he’s not exactly big on introductions,” Sissy laughed. Tally felt her cheeks heat. “Uncle Bulldog served with Scar. That’s all I knew for a lot of years. It wasn’t until April, though, that a lot of us learned more personal details about him.” In almost a hinting voice, Sissy added, “Life has a way of adding in too much detail. Take away all the bullshit and you can truly learn about a person. I think that’s why it’s so easy to love Scar. There’s no ‘extra’, no layers to tear away. What you see is literally what you get. Or in your case, what you sense.”

Perhaps that was why she felt like this. Like Scar washersbut not understanding how or in what capacity.

“Scar loves just as deeply, you know. Maybe even more. And to answer your question, his name is Julian Ragna.”

* * *

Alpha hadn’t been backin a few days. Maybe two. Scar was almost certain that the clock in the room was inaccurate. Some minutes went by far too quickly while others dragged on. The interrogators continued to come and go. One was trying to convince his fellows that if Scar didn’t speak, he didn’t need his tongue, but the others were still inclined to continue their exploration to make Scar scream.

By their logic, if he could scream, then he could talk.

He was not as weak as they had hoped, indicating that he’d been held prisoner a week or more. They didn’t realize that he was used to fasting, so their version of starving him was his normal food routine. Or it had been before he’d started eating Tally’s cooking. When he refused their food, though, they had to resort to feeding him intravenously. After all, they wanted him starved and desperate, not starved and dead.

Their efforts towards causing sleep deprivation were also failing. One of the interrogators had even questioned out loud if Scar was human, but he found no offense in the inquiry. In fact, it made him think of Tally and the evening they’d spent in her storage unit.

---