Page 34 of Resilient Rhythms
“I know. But we’re going to get through this together. We can get through anything together.”
NINE
MAV
I keepmy tone as gentle as I’m capable of but inside, an inferno rages through my body. I want to spring into action and dosomethingto help Mckenna.
But there’s nothing I can do but be here for her. Help her work through this. Not toss the stupid fucking dead flowers in the trash until the police are called and a report is filed.
Blowing out a breath, I sit with Mckenna, take her hand in mine, and look right at her. “What do you want to do, Mckenna? Who can I call? What’s the play here?”
She squeezes my fingers and I don’t miss the flash of understanding that crosses her face. The ball is in her court. I’m here with her, in this one-hundred percent, but I’ll be taking my cues from her decisions.
“Let’s call the police. And my dad.”
“You got it.”
“But first, I have to tell you something.”
I rock back, panic twisting my gut. “What is it?”
“Mav, my dad believes the attack from Bran was…personal.” She gauges my reaction closely.
I frown, confused. “What do you mean?”
Mckenna takes a deep breath. “Bran’s mom, Isabel, was my dad’s girlfriend. The love of his life.”
Shock rolls through me and I shake my head in disbelief. All the research I gathered on Bran rolls through my mind. “She was sent to Massachusetts to clean for a family after?—”
“Bran’s father impregnated her,” Mckenna supplies, shuddering. “Let me start at the beginning.”
I nod and settle beside her on the couch. She shares Mr. Byrne’s history with Isabel and I can’t hide my disgust as Mckenna alludes to Isabel being sexually assaulted by men in the Burton men. The entire situation is fucked-up and depraved.
“That’s insane,” I murmur when Mckenna concludes the story.
“I know. But it sheds some light on Bran’s motives.”
I glare at her. “Nothing about what he did to you will ever make any goddamn sense.”
She sighs and nods. “I know. It’s just, it felt like once I knew the full story, I better understood why Bran hates me the way he does. I never understood his angle before and now…”
“Fuck, Mckenna.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you told me.” I squeeze her hand. “I remember the day something clicked for your dad. We were looking through so many documents. He asked me if he could take some files and I said of course. But he had this look on his face. It’s as if he couldn’t decide between relief that he found a connection or horror. I understand it now.”
“He must have seen Isabel’s name.”
“Exactly.” We sit in silence for a long moment.
“Mav?” Her voice is timid and I hate that Bran’s already done that to her. Flattened her fucking confidence when she was getting her spark back.
“Yes?”
“We’re going to be okay, right?”
My chest tightens at the fear that wraps around her words. Leaning forward, I press a kiss to her forehead. “Yes. We’re going to be more than okay. We’re going to be great, Mckenna. This is just another thing we have to work through, but we’re really good at that, beauty.”
