Page 8 of The Beast

Irene

I wake up feeling like someone has taken a jackhammer to the side of my skull. Lying in bed with my eyes closed, I take inventory of everything that hurts besides my head. I definitely have a rib on my right side that’s causing me problems, but I doubt it’s broken. I’ve done that before, and it doesn’t hurt as much as I remember. My left eye is still swollen shut and hurts like a bitch but that too is manageable.

That only leaves my head. And that’s all my fault. I know tequila is not my friend. I’m more of a Jager girl. Tequila always ends up giving me a hangover from hell. Opening my one good eye I scan my surroundings. Most of last night is intact except for how I got here. The room is decidedly masculine but in a way that screams teenage boy. I must be in Mad Dog’s son’s room.

Shit! I don’t want to put anyone out or have the kids sleeping on the couch to accommodate me. Rising, I wait for the dizziness to pass before leaving the room. Looking left and right down the hall, I try to figure out which door is the bathroom before I go searching for my friend and her husband.

“This one.” A little girl I know as Rose pushes open a door for me. “What happened to your face? Did someone hit you? Are you going to be okay? Will your eye work again?” She peppers my scrambled brain with nonstop questions.

“Rose!” Kaiya gasps. “Give the woman a minute to go to the bathroom before you explode her mind with all your questions.”

“But Mom…” she moans.

“If you let me pee, I’ll answer all your questions.”

I hold out my pinky finger to her. She watches me carefully, assessing me in a way a child her age shouldn’t have the intelligence to do, before hooking my little finger with hers.

“I’ll wait in the kitchen,” she says and smiles before walking past me.

“You just made a deal with the devil. She is at that phase where everything out of her mouth is some kind of uncomfortable question,” Kaiya laughs. “There are extra toothbrushes in the second drawer, and I left you some clothes in there if you want to grab a shower.”

“You are a goddess.” I smile at her before walking in and making sure the door is locked.

Getting undressed hurt more than I was hoping but once I’m naked I can fully evaluate myself in the mirror. My left side is bruised to hell, from my shoulder to my stomach and lower to my hip. Black and blue is an understatement.

Opening the shower on full blast, I step under the hot water and wash away Gerald, the fight, the road, and God willing, this fucking hangover. The hot water helps to ease my sore muscles and getting dressed is easier. I pull my wet hair up into a messy bun before brushing my teeth. Laughter catches my ears as I leave the bathroom, and I let the sound lead me to the kitchen where everyone is gathered for breakfast. When I enter the kitchen, silence envelops everyone seated at the counter.

Rose and Kash stare at me while Mad Dog simply shakes his head before pouring a cup of rich black coffee and handing it over to me.

“You need to go to a hospital,” Kaiya states. She stares me down with her hands on her hips. Mad Dog clearly knew this was coming before I walked in.

“I’m fine.” I take a sip of the life-saving caffeine. “The swelling will go down in a couple of days.”

Turning to glare at Mad Dog I ask, “You couldn’t warn me?” At which he simply chuckles while lifting his hands in a gesture that screams,I should know better.

“But—” Kaiya starts.

“Leave it, Kaiya,” Mad Dog cuts her off with a smirk. “If memory serves, not so long ago, you were just as difficult.”

Kaiya’s cheeks flame red, but she doesn’t say another word about me going to the hospital. Looking around I take in the home they have built together. School bags line the wall near the door, and frames with photos of all the kids and their parents are against the walls and propped up on shelves. Kaiya may not biologically be their mother, but she has stepped into the role easily.

“What happened to your eye?” Rose asks. “Will it work again or is it broken now?”

A chuckle escapes me at the serious look on her face. Children her age are way too cute.

“I fell off my horse,” I say, blurting out the first lie I can think of. “My eye is just swollen shut but it will work fine once the swelling goes down.”

“You have a horsey?” She gasps excitedly and it’s clear we are off the topic of my bruises. “I love them.”

“Well, one day I’ll take you riding.”

“But you fell off. Aren’t you scared?”

“I fell off because I didn’t follow the rules. Now I know better.” I ruffle her hair as I walk past her to pour myself another cup of coffee.

“I can follow the rules,” Rose says excitedly.

“Come on, Rose,” Kash interrupts. “We need to go and make sure the chickens have enough food.”

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