Groaning, “Not you, too.”
“My sister was in a similar situation to you. She wasn’t so lucky?—”
I suck in a breath of air.
“Cops didn’t help, fucking useless. I was up here and didn’t know the true extent. None of us did. She was only allowed to see or talk to mum, supervised. He was a real piece of work. I got her away once, but he had her so conditioned, she went back. I was planning a trip to visit home. Bought the ticket and everything. I was planning on dragging her up here with me, to put some distance between them. But two days before the flight I got a call from my mum. Well Brent got the call; we were out checking the cattle. When I got back...” He chokes on his words.
“You don’t have to finish.”
“It’s okay. Honestly, I think I knew on some level. All day I was feeling off. My head was foggy, and I had what I thought was heartburn. Brent was waiting for us at the sheds, which never means good news. Last time he was waiting for us, we had fucked up massively.”
Davis pauses to let out a small chuckle, he shakes his head then continues.
“He looked like someone who was about to rip the carpet out from under me. And he did. He told me my Mum called, it was about Annie, she had passed away. All I remember was collapsing to the ground clutching my chest and letting out a choked scream. Beau and Rhys were at my side. The craziest part, as soon as Brent told me, that heartburn I thought I was having, eased. Almost as if she was telling me without telling me. I don’t remember much after that. It was like I was on autopilot. I didn’t get details until I got home. Her boyfriend at the time had—” He clears his throat and wipes his eyes. “He went too far this time and took her from us.”
I don’t realise I’m crying until I try to talk. My throat is thick with emotion. After clearing it, I try again. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I see how strong you are. I see how you haven’t let this define you. Keep fighting. Keep learning to protect yourself. And please keep giving Rhys a hard time.”
We share a laugh and together we stand and embrace in a hug.
“I’m sorry, Davis.”
“She’s always with me.” He puts his hand over his heart and taps twice. And right at that moment the wind picks up, blowing abruptly. It almost feels like it wraps around us, then dies off to the small breeze it was before. He smiles sadly and softly snorts through his nose, while I rub my hands up and down my goosebump covered arms.
“Did they catch him?”
Davis grunts. “Only got eight years.”
He brutally murdered someone, and that’s all he got? Isthat what’s going to happen to Ethan? Will he get away with everything he has done to me?
“Hey, don’t go down that path. We should probably get back though, before they send out a search party.”
I snort. “Some party, just the two of them.”
When we get back, they’re lounging back in their camp chairs drinking and talking, about something that makes them full belly laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just reminiscing.” Rhys manages to get out
“Okay?”
And that’s how the rest of the night goes. Talking, laughing and having a few beers. I guess being one of the guys isn’t all bad.
We’ve called it a night and tucked in our swags. Apparently, I had Brent’s, but Rhys gave me his and he took Brents.
Everyone else seems to have fallen asleep already, but I’m left gazing up at the night sky. The stars are so bright out here, and there’s a lot more of them. Light pollution and all that, I guess. I try to find constellations, but I hear something move. I freeze and train my ears on the noise. I got good at listening to the small sounds.
The sound of crunching gravel then I see movement to my left, Rhys. At least I hope so. He is walking towards the four-wheel-drive. He must be looking for something, so I ignore him. That is until I hear what sounds like breathing? Deep powerful breaths. Followed by a muffled moan. I turn my head once again to the side. The silhouette of Rhys, with his hand wrapped around his…
“Fuck.” It comes out as a whisper, almost like it wasn’t meant to be heard. Which I guess I’m not meant to.
A breath catches in my throat. And every part of mybody awakens. I watch the way his hand glides back and forth. Long, slow strokes.
Heat pools between my legs. He thinks we’re all asleep. He thinks he’s safe.
“Morgan, yes.”
