Page 43 of Skid
“So, she doesn’t know he’s her uncle?” Devlin asked. I shook my head, and he wondered, “Why not tell her?”
“He’s protecting her,” I said, and they looked at me curiously. “Think about it. How did Amaya take it when she found out she really was wanted and not cast aside?”
James’s wife lived through hell to save her sister and it was only after she passed that Amaya discovered a father who looked for her and a family that loved her. She’d spent years building a relationship with them, trying to come to terms with the knowledge that she was loved and not an afterthought. Like countless others.
James’s eyes grew hard. “It was hard on her to find out that for years, someone wanted to save her from the horrors of her home but was unable to.”
“I can imagine Eddie didn’t want to confuse her. She hasn’t said much, other than she was in foster care until she was sixteen, and even that was difficult to get her to admit,” I said and picked up my phone to check on Grace.
I had cameras in every room of the house so I could check on her without disturbing her. Pulling up the app, I opened the live feed from my room and saw she was still cuddled into the covers, resting peacefully. I didn’t want her to overhear this conversation, and I set the phone down once I knew she was sleeping.
“You’re as bad as we are.” Devlin chuckled, and I lifted my middle finger into the air.
I actually thought they were creepy for having cameras throughout their house but having Grace in my home, I wanted to take care of her every need and always have eyes on her. One day, I’d tell her about the cameras, but until then, I would let them stay my secret from her.
“So, what do we know about that fucker Ringman?” I muttered, feeling the rage building at the thought of him.
“There are some strange things I found from his archived bank statements that I want to look further into, but I have some initial ideas,” James stated, and Devlin looked at his brother.
“You have guesses. I know you want justice for Aubrey and Grace deserves her justice, but I don’t know if this idea of yours is fully developed enough to discuss.” Devlin wasn’t one to question his brother, and the interaction had me nervous. “Why don’t we wait until you do some more digging before we plant that idea into Skid’s head.”
I leaned forward, flexing my hands on top of the table as I spoke, my tone deadly, leaving no room for error. “If you have information, I want it. Whatever it is may help me heal Grace. She’s my priority right now, no offense to you or Aubrey.”
James slammed his fist onto the table. “My sister doesn’t get to be dismissed like her pain isn’t valid.”
“I never said her pain wasn’t valid, but think of it this way. What she endured lasted for six visits. Six horrible, single incidents that destroyed her for years. My Grace lived with that man for twelve years. Twelve. Fucking. Years.” I punctuated each word with anger. “I’ve seen her thrashing in her sleep, begging for it to stop. I’ve seen her slam a tray into someone’s face for touching her without permission. I’ve witnessed firsthand what she’s living with, and she hasn’t been able to speak a word about it. So, while I’m not trying to minimalize Aubrey’s experience, my focus is on Grace. I’m sorry if you don’t understand that, but she’s my woman and my priority.”
Devlin, always willing to step in between James and me when we butted heads, held up his hand and stopped both of us before we continued. “I understand what you’re saying, Skid, and I see where James is coming from too. For now, let’s keep digging, and you have my word, by the end of the week, we will have something solid to move on.” I nodded. “We need to know how the Ringmans and Aubrey are connected. We need to figure out where Grace went for those months she disappeared. We have to decide how to approach this whole situation without hurting those two precious women any further than they already have been.” His deep voice took on an ominous tone as he said, “Ringman’s filth touched my lamb, and I will kill any fucker connected with him, but until we can verify, we have to wait.”
Exasperated, but knowing deep down they were right not to tell me, I leaned back into my chair and ran my hands down my beard. “Will you give me something to look into? I feel like I’m running in quicksand trying to figure out all the invisible strings connecting everything and coming up empty.”
The two men made eye contact and had a brief but silent conversation. Devlin stood, and James and I mirrored him as he stepped closer to us. “Tell him your thoughts, James. But, Skid, I want your promise you will keep your cool until we know something definitive. Then, you can bring down the thunder of the Death Hounds on whoever needs killing.”
James exhaled deeply before meeting my gaze with his green eyes. “Promise us, and I’ll tell you.”
I stepped closer and offered my hand to him. We shook, locking hands at each other’s forearms as I replied, “I promise.”
Releasing my grasp, he gave me the one sentence I never thought I’d hear. “Research the now-defunct cult called Servants of God, and you’ll know which direction I’m looking.”
My nostrils flared as I absorbed the information. Looking at the two men, two of my best friends, I told them in no uncertain terms. “I know who and what they are. You have until Saturday to give me the information I need. After that, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
James nodded and cut his eyes to Devlin before turning and walking down the outside stairs and disappearing around the corner of the house. Devlin explained, “Aubrey is having a tough time lately. James told her you were investigating what happened, and she’s aware there may be another girl involved. He feels powerless to help her, and Hayden is helping her come to terms with the fact she may not be alone. It’s not comforting, and I believe she thought it was just her.”
“I don’t want Grace to ever have to relive what she experienced. Even if she never tells me what happened, she doesn’t need to bring that pain back to the surface. She struggles enough in her sleep with the demons, to bring them back to life.”
Devlin turned to leave and looked over his shoulder at me. “Keep her safe and love her through the pain. One day, she’ll trust you enough to share her past, and when she does, it’s your job to absorb it. Never let her see the anger. She’ll think it’s because of her even though it’s not. I’ve seen it with my lamb, and in time, you can chase her demons away. I’m happy for you, Dalton, and proud to call you my friend.”
With those words, he walked down the stairs and turned the corner of the house. A moment later, I heard his car crank in the driveway and pull away from the house. Checking on Grace once more with the app, I saw she was kicked out of the covers with her flat stomach on display. I wanted to ravage her and take away every painful touch but would wait until she gave me the go-ahead.
I went inside and climbed the stairs, headed to my office. After closing the door and securing myself inside, I pushed a button to open the sliding panel on the wall, with nine monitors mounted. Sending the app image to one screen, I watched Grace sleep for a minute while my laptop logged on to the secure network for Callahan Cyber Security.
When the computer pinged that I was secured, I began to search for the cult James mentioned, and after reading two articles, I felt my stomach churning. I prayed to everything I didn’t believe in that Grace wasn’t touched by the depraved madness those religious zealots professed to be the word of God.
Closing my laptop, I walked downstairs and poked my head in to see Grace still resting, so I went to the garage and approached the punching bag hanging in the corner. Stripping off my shirt, I pulled my headphones on and played my workout mix while I punched my aggression away. After twenty minutes, my arms were wobbly and I turned the music off, sensing someone behind me.
I turned to find Grace sitting on the workbench in the garage with her eyes locked on me. Tossing the headphones to the side, I strolled up to her and kissed her softly on the lips. She brought her hands up to my shoulders and held on to me as I tried to pull away, pushing the kiss deeper. I fisted her hair with my gloved hand and held her in the position I wanted her as I kissed along her neck.
She moaned in my embrace, and I smiled against her skin as I placed another breath-stealing kiss on her swollen lips. Pulling back, I saw she was dazed with a smile on her face.
