Page 13 of Our Shattered Pieces
I could never forget him and what he’d done to my sister.
Guilt had me getting out of the car. Regret had me walking up to his front door. And anger had me ringing the doorbell.
When Ex-Officer Paul Connors answered the door, his eyes widened in recognition, but before he could say anything, I was cocking back my fist and smashing it into his face.
Tumbling into his apartment, it was on from there. Having been an officer, the man knew how to defend himself, plus I imagined jail could have made him tougher.
However, I had rage on my side.
I had years of rage, hurt, regret, guilt, and shattered emotions on my side. I had a sister who will be affected by this man’s actions forever. I was here fighting for her just as much as for myself and my parents.
I was here fighting for every girl’s family that this sonofabitch has ever touched.
The fight couldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes, but soon, I noticed he wasn’t fighting back. When that registered, I pulled away, and he slumped onto the floor, a bloody mess.
“You’re lucky I don’t kill you,” I told him, my chest heaving, my voice rough with future regret for not finishing the job.
He scoffed, blood shooting from his mouth. “Your sister already did that,” he spat. “My life is ruined.”
I had nothing to say to that. There wouldn’t be a point to it anyway. If he was blaming Rowan for ruining his life, then that was proof that he learned nothing in jail. He was still refusing to take responsibility for his actions.
Staring down at him, I said, “I’ll wait.”
Gingerly pushing himself up to his feet, he said, “For what?”
“The cops,” I said. “You’re going to call them, right?”
Paul Connors didn’t say anything for a really long time. He just stared back at me, regarding me silently. When he finally spoke, he said, “Don’t ever come back here, or else I will.”
A part of me wanted to tell him to fuck off. I didn’t want any favors from this asshole. I wanted him to call the cops. But then I thought about Rowan, and she didn’t need another headline in her life, and this would definitely be one. I gave him a terse nod before turning around and heading back to my car.
When I put my hands on the steering wheel, blood was everywhere, and I knew there was no way I could keep this from my parents or sister. No matter what Paul Connors just said, there was still a very real possibility that he might still call the cops.
Turning on the car, I headed home to face the music.
Chapter 9
Molly~
Lorcan was due this evening, and I found myself getting more excited at seeing him rather than the apprehension from earlier when he’d first announced he was coming to visit.
I had already told Gina and Lauren that Lorcan was coming to visit, and after forcing Lauren to accept that I wasn’t going to hook her up with my brother, they both agreed to give us our space. Lorcan was renting a hotel suite in town, and we’d probably be hanging out there all weekend to avoid distractions. Those distractions being all the college girls who would undoubtedly being throwing themselves at him all weekend.
Leaving campus, I felt good about all the assignments I had gotten out of the way this week. With all of that out of the way, me and Lorcan could actually catch up. And if he really wanted to do more than veg at his hotel room, I knew I could always invite handful of people to stop by. No way would I take Lorcan to a party where there was a possibility that we could run into Ethan. When I had broken things off with Ethan, I had told Lorcan that it just hadn’t worked out. I didn’t need Ethan telling him any different.
Too wrapped up in Lorcan’s arrival, I hadn’t been paying attention to much else. My assignments had been completed, and I was on my way to see my brother.
However, I should have been paying attention.
I should always be paying attention.
Rounding the corner of the student administration building, I was brought up short by two figures talking near the student offices.
Sawyer and Calvin.
Self-preservation was telling me to turn around and walk the other way, but pride and determination were telling me to keep on walking. I kept reminding myself that I couldn’t show any weakness. I couldn’t let them intimidate me. If I did, they’d own me.
So, I kept walking as if these two guys haven’t seen me at my worst.
