and slams his head on the kitchen table. The way his eyes roll into the back of his head when he’s knocked unconscious scares the fuck out of me, but in my fury, I consider it a kind of blessing, because while he can’t see, I take my wrench and slam it over Wayne’s body. Bones break. The sound of crunching cartilage spurs me on, and when blood shoots from the man’s body, I toss my wrench and use my fists instead.
It’s an unfair fight. The man can’t fight back, but then again, Jon couldn’t either, so I call it even and let my fists rain over this prick’s ugly face with zero remorse.
I might go to prison for this. I might hurt my family by taking care of this man, but I can’t let Jon come back here again.
“They’re mine!” I break his teeth beneath my knuckles. My fists shatter Wayne’s eye socket, but I take pleasure in the possibility of popping the fucking eyeball out and letting it roll away. Jon’s mom screams and throws fists at my back, but she’s no more than an annoying mosquito. “Mine, motherfucker!” He remains conscious and staring into my eyes, but his hands hang limp. “They’re coming with me, and they’re never coming back here again!” Pushing up, I toss Shirley off my back, uncaring when she slams against the feet of the table and cries out.
“I’ll call the cops on you,” Wayne spits through broken teeth. “I won’t let this go.”
“And I’ll take your son straight to the police station now and have him press charges, you piece of shit.” My muscles bunch and release, my knuckles hit bones stronger than they are, they break under my strength, but I consider it the price for my boy’s freedom. “He will not come back here again, or you’ll have me to answer to.” Standing, I sink my boot into Wayne’s ribs. Once, twice, three times, and take pleasure when they collapse under the force and blood spills from the man’s mouth. Dropping down again, I grab Wayne’s jaw and bring his eyes around to mine. “I’m taking them both, and they will never come back here again.”
“Get the fuck out of my home.”
“I won’t be back, but neither will he.” I glance up when Jon squirms on the floor. “Neither of those babies will be back, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
“They belong to me,” he lisps past broken teeth. “They’re mine.”
“If you come looking for them, I’ll slit your fucking throat. I’ll do it painfully, slowly, and let you watch yourself bleed to death. If you come for them, there’s nowhere you can hide from me. If you cross me, I will be the living embodiment of your worst nightmares.”
“I’ll kill you.” Coughing, he spits blood onto the filthy floor beneath us. “I’ll end your miserable life.”
“Then I’ll haunt you, motherfucker. Because nothing scares me, least of all a pissant who beats kids for fun.” Leaning closer, I wait for his terrified eyes to meet mine. “Cross me. I dare you. But you will not get past me to get to those children again.”
Slamming my fist into his face one last time, I snap his head around and send him to sleep just as Jon dizzily sits up and knocks his head on the underside of the table. “Dad?”
“I got you.” Ignoring the blood on my hands and the howling bitch I have to step over, I take Jon’s much too light body from the floor and help him stand on his own two feet. “Don’t look over there.” I grab his face when he wants to see his father. “Hey.” I bring his eyes back to mine. “I’m gonna take care of you and Iz from now on, okay? You have my word.”
“Don’t tell Bobby.”
My heart stutters in my chest. Pulses. Stops. Then beats anew. He shatters me, because he doesn’t want his best friend to know his weakness. “I won’t tell a soul about this. From one man to another, you have my word.”
“Tell Mom I fell down.” His eyes spill over, but he doesn’t cry. His voice doesn’t break, and his breath remains even. “Don’t break Mom’s heart.”
“I won’t.” Pulling him close, I hold him straight and let him walk. To feel like a man, he needs to walk out on his own. “Sometimes we have to lie to those we love. If it’s super important, if it’s to save them hurt,