Page 23 of Demon
I walk to the bathroom. As soon as I see my reflection, I sob. My face is swollen. The left side worse than the right. My left eye has a large purple bruise around it, and the edges of my right eye toward my nose are similarly bruised. My hands shake.
Then there’s a wall of muscle behind me. Jett sets his hands on my hips as if I were made of glass, turns me around, and gently pulls me into his embrace. As the tears stream down my face and onto his shirt, I snuggle into his warm chest. I’m sure touching me is difficult for him, but I’m grateful he let his walls down to console me. He rubs my back soothingly and holds me.
After my breathing returns to normal, I inch back and look up at him. “I can’t let Sammy see me like this. Maybe I should wait to see her.”
With a brief shake of his head, he says, “Sammy will want her mom. Tell her you fell and hit your head. The longer you delay in seeing her, the more anxious it might make her.”
I’ve never been away from Sammy for that long. My heart sinks. “You’re right, I’ll just have to cake the makeup on.”
He nods and takes a step back, but I feel the distance all the way to my soul. “I’ll let you get ready,” he says, and then he leaves.
After my shower, I put makeup on with plenty of concealer. It helps, but there’s no way anyone can’t see the bruise. I get changed, and as I’m walking out, Jett’s on the ladder in the kitchen, putting up a small camera. As if he senses me, he pauses and turns. “This might take a while. Go and see Sammy. I’m sure she misses her mom.”
I bite my lip. “When are you leaving?”
“After this I’m going to see my sister, and I’ve got a few things to do. But don’t worry—I’ll be watching.” He looks up at the camera.
Of course he’s going to see his sister, but then a small thrill of excitement buzzes through me at thought of him watching me.Holy crap! What is wrong with me?
“I’ll have another one of my MC brothers out in the van watching you and Sammy while I’m gone.”
“Thank you for everything,” I say sincerely, hoping he can see the appreciation in my eyes. His chin lifts, then he turns and goes back to what he was doing.
My nerves coil up tighter and tighter with each step to Sandra’s house. When I’m outside I breathe out deeply, but it does nothing to lessen the queasy sensation in my stomach. I knock three times.
A moment later Sandra answers. She smiles, but when she opens the screen door wide and takes a closer look at me, the smile is replaced with a deep frown. “Are you okay?”
I force a smile. “Yes, I fainted yesterday and hit my head on the way down.” I inwardly recoil. I’ve heard the stories from the ICU nurses that woman have come up with to hide domestic violence. My story sounds just as fake.
She stares blankly, giving me the impression she sees right through my lie. She places a hand on my arm. “Should Sammy stay here a while longer?”
“It’s safe at my house.” The men aren’t coming back, and Jett is doing everything he can to keep us protected.
“As long as you know she’s welcome... any time.”
“Thanks, Sandra.”
“Is that...” I hear Sammy’s voice before I see her. She bypasses Sandra by the door. “Mommy!” She runs toward me and throws her arms around me while I blink away the tears.
“I’m back. Did you have fun?”
She inches back. “I did.” Her eyes search my face, making me go rigid. “What happened?”
“I fainted and knocked my head on the way down.” I pull her tighter. “I’m okay.”
“Silly Mommy,” she murmurs.
I look at Sandra. “Actually do you mind if we stay here a little longer?” Let Jett do his thing.
She nods and I go inside. Sammy shows me the pictures she’s drawn, and once she’s playing with a doll, there’s an awkward silence between me and Sandra. I guess she’s worried about Sammy, but I can’t explain everything that happened.
My phone pings. It’s a message from Milly.
How are you feeling?
I wonder what she means by that. Both physically and emotionally, it hurts.
Getting there.
