Page 60 of Relapse
Except she wasn’t like other chicks.
There were a few texts from Star, Lana, and her brother, but not much else. Harper didn’t even have Riley and Shelby saved in her phone. I recognized their numbers that showed up as unknown, and couldn’t help but wonder if they knew how much she valued their friendship. They should have their own special ringtone and cutesy nickname. Even I did that shit. Silas was in my phone as Fuckwad.
Strange.
Oh well, maybe her pictures would have more information?
I scrolled through various images of Sean –prick– and Lana, then stopped when a familiar face filled the screen. The sparkling eyes staring back at me were the same ones that haunted my dreams. Every time I closed my eyes I’d see that innocent smile and hair, flowing like red waves. I could hear her laugh and call my name as clear as the little boy standing beside her did. Why the fuck was this picture on here? And it wasn’t the only one.
I continued to flip through image after image of a time I tried so hard to forget. Each one pulled at my chest, tugged out a deep-seated ache I buried long ago with the words. Now that voice was filling my head until all I could see was the amusement in his green eyes.
Stopping in front of the parlor, I told myself to shut the phone down. My thumb hovered over the power button, but I couldn’t do it. The only thing that chased away the feeling of rough hands greedily pawing at me was her face. An innocent smile filled with love that got me through the darkest parts of my childhood. Then destroyed it…
“Mason did it.”
My jaw dropped. The video I was watching couldn’t be real. Harper wouldn’t say that. She knew I would never hurt her.
“No.” I shook my head. “That’s not right. You made that up.”
Deputy Adams sat down on his desk and sighed. “I’m sorry Mason, but I didn’t make it up.”
“Yes you did.”
“No I –”
“Stop lying!” This was all wrong. Harper was in the hospital and these people were trying to turn her against me. “You made her say that.”
“Is that what you think?” The deputy’s brow arched. “That someone made her say it? Who do you think would do that?”
“You did!”
He had the video, which meant he was the one that made her do it. Maybe he hurt her too? But would he do that? I’d never seen him hurt anyone. My dad didn’t like him though. There must be a reason for that. Maybe he was bad and no one knew it, like Ryker. My eyes narrowed in on him. If he hurt my wife…
“I just took her statement, Mason. I didn’t make her say anything.”
“Liar!” I sprang out of my chair and lunged at the deputy, clawing and slapping him.
He might be bigger than me, but I could still hurt him. Just like I did Micha. Sure, I might’ve had a paperweight at the time, but there was lots of stuff around here. I had to get him and make him pay. Harper was mine. I had to protect her.
I should’ve protected her.
I failed.
Snatching a stapler off the desk, I whacked it against the deputy’s shoulder. I couldn’t fail her again. They all needed to see that I wouldn’t let them do this. Every strike I rained down told him that.
Thud.
You’re a liar.
Whack.
Stop making her lie.
Smack.
You can’t hurt her.
Clack.
