Page 44 of Hush (Fighting Fate)
Despite the fact that Mom lay unmoving and bleeding from a cut on her temple, Ken reared back, ready to strike again.
With a scream, my body unlocked itself and I lurched forward, throwing myself between them. Ken pulled back at the sound, but he couldn’t stop the momentum completely and his body clashed with mine, sending me tumbling sideways.
Pain lanced through my cheek as it connected with the bannister. I heard myself scream again as I collapsed in a heap beside my mom, clasping my hands over my cheek as though it would ease the pain. Other pain pricked at me from the little pieces of glass underneath me, but it was nothing compared to the one in my cheek.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Ken demanded, looming over the top of me.
“You promised!” I spat.
He laughed harshly. “What are you going to do about it, Kaeli? Go to the police? You know that won’t stop me. Even if I go to jail, I can still reach you and your mother. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Maybe I’m willing to take the risk,” I ground out through the pain.
Another laugh. “Just try me, sweetheart. It would mean nothing to me to lay your mother out on a cold slab. Nothing! I’d prefer to do it myself, but if I have to get someone else to do it, I will.”
A flashing of red and blue lights shone through the front window and Ken cursed under his breath. Leaning over me, he gave me his best intimidating snarl.
“Remember what I said and you and your mother might live to see another Christmas.”
With that, he spun and walked away. A few seconds later I heard the back door softly close, then a few more seconds after that, a loud knock rattled the front door.
I glanced over at Mom, willing myself to get up. I needed to see if she was okay. She moved a little and moaned pitifully. Relief washed through me. Thank god she was alive.
Still holding onto my cheek, I forced myself to my feet, swaying a little with dizziness. Clasping the bannister for support until I regained my balance, I stumbled around the broken glass to the door as best I could.
The two police officers that were standing on the front porch eyed me with caution, their hands resting on the holsters of their guns.
“Good evening, Miss. We were called about a disturbance at this location. Can you tell me who is currently on the premises?”
I swallowed back the pain. “Just me and my mom. Please. She’s hurt. I think she needs an ambulance.” I opened the door wider so they’d be able to see her.
One of the officer’s eyes widened while the other’s narrowed with suspicion.
The suspicious one nodded. “We’ll make a call right away. Do you mind if we come in so we can assess the situation?”
I shook my head and stepped back to let them in. They both stepped in, eyes cautious. The suspicious one moved quickly over the where mom lay, while the other one spoke into his radio, making the call.
Mom moaned again as the officer checked her injuries. “Ma’am? It’s the SACPD. Hold still. We have an ambulance en route. Tell me if you understand.”
She groaned loudly. “Yes,” she croaked out.
“Can you tell me who did this to you?” he said softly.
“No one,” she strained. “Fell…”
My breath hitched and the officer’s jaw tensed. His glanced back at me before squatting down next to Mom. “Your daughter has quite a bruise on her cheek. She fall too?” he asked sarcastically.
Mom whimpered. “Kaeli?” her voice was panicked.
I rushed over. “I’m here, Mom. I’m okay. I stumbled a little when I saw you laying here. Hit my face on the bannister.”
She tried to roll over so she could see me and cried out in pain.
“Don’t move, Mom, okay? The paramedics will be here soon. We need to get you checked out. You probably have some broken bones.”
I knew it must’ve been bad when she didn’t argue with me, and I was suddenly scared. What if she had internal bleeding or something?
I looked up and was met with the officer’s bland stare. “You stumbled?” he said sardonically. “Really? That’s your story?”
