Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 62737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“How did you screw up? You’re a child,” Ronnie says with disdain in her voice. “A parent’s job is to protect you, Rory, not the other way around.”
“I know,” she says, while I clench my fists, trying to remain calm and not allow my rage to make me the man I’m fucking not. “Do you want me to keep going?” Rory asks.
“Yes, sweetheart, if you can.” Ronnie looks at my sister, making eye contact and getting a nod from Rory. I settle myself down and listen.
“I heard his voice. He must have followed her home from work, and before I could barricade myself in my room, the front door slammed open. My phone wasn’t on me, and the way Mom looked, she knew it would be a bad night. The slight shake of her head told me not to rock the boat even though the knife block was in reach.” When I found Rory and her mom, Bobbi, a few years back, it was by chance, and it happened to be by a digital footprint from my sister. Some kind of trending app where kids lip sync and dance. She didn’t know any better, so her name was out there on the world wide web using our father’s last name.
I shot out of my desk chair like a bat out of hell, seething mad, pissed that a woman would entangle themselves with my dad, only to have another child he’d hurt. My theory went out the window when I went to Bobbi’s work at a diner. You could tell she worked hard, did what needed to be done, and at the end of her shift, she walked to Rory’s school to pick her up. Yeah, I followed her around for a few days, keeping my distance until they were both in public, and told them my name. The minute the name Ellison was spoken, Bobbi looked ready to bolt. I assured her that I was nothing like my dad, and once she settled, we walked to a bookstore where we could sit and talk. Bobbi said she hadn’t heard from my father for years, and she kept him off all paperwork, living a simple life. Rory, on the other hand, didn’t take too lightly of me taking her phone away, replacing it with a new one for both of them, and locking it down so much it’d be hard for anyone to know what they do.
It still didn’t help them. The words swirling in my head hit me like a ton of bricks.
“I’d have to agree with your mom, Rory. That could have backfired, and he could have used the knife on both of you.” I’m still going through all of the logistics, like how she got out of the apartment and where her mom could be.
“I heard him hurt her, Jude.” Rory’s eyes close. I imagine he did if this is what my sister has in the form of showing his fatherly love. “When he was done, he came out of the back bedroom with his meaty paws on the back of her neck and threw her into the kitchen with me. I wanted to help her, but I knew that the minute I tried, he’d hurt me. Especially after the threat in his eyes when he walked by me.” Fucking hell. I got out, had friends who rallied for me, and I’m pissed at myself that I didn’t pull them out. I could have set them up far away or make a call I should have nearly twenty years ago. A call that will be happening as soon as I make sure Bobbi’s okay. “Mom whimpered, and I helped her sit down while we waited him out, and when I told her I’d call Jude, he overheard me. That’s when things went from bad to worse. I tried to block every hit to my head, curled into myself. Mom got his attention, and he went after her. She screamed for me to leave. As much as I didn’t want to leave her behind, I knew I didn’t have any other choice.”
“Foxy, I’ll be back. Rory, I’m going to check on your mom. You did good coming to me before the cops. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but things will get better, okay?” I move toward Ronnie and press a kiss to her lips.
“Jude, call the guys. Please don’t go there by yourself,” she pleads.
“I’m calling them, promise. Take care of my sister for me?” I’m throwing her in headfirst. We’ve yet to discuss my past and how it could affect our future.
Fuck me.
“I will.” My hand cups her cheek. I give her a quick nod and then move toward Rory.
“Jude, I’m sorry to bring this to your doorstep.” My sister’s bone fucking tired, like she took on the weight of the world, and it chewed her up only to spit her out.