presence a source of comfort, at least for Mary.
And then she stopped and let Bitty keep going on her own.
Under the moonlight, the girl picked her way around the lot, pausing every couple of minutes to regard the barren landscape.
Rhage’s big hand came to rest on Mary’s shoulder and she leaned into his body, feeling the warmth of him. It was hard not to measure the vacant, uninhabited property as evidence of the girl’s losses.
“I remember the house,” Rhage said softly. “Bad condition. Junk in the yard with a broken-down car.”
“What did you guys do with the father’s body?” Mary blurted. “It’s never occurred to me to ask.”
“He wasn’t, shall we say, in good condition when we left.”
“The sun?”
“Yeah. We just left him. The priority was getting Bitty and her mom out. When we came back the following night, there was a scorch mark on the grass. That was it.” Rhage cursed under his breath. “I’m telling you, that male was a madman. He was ready to kill anything, anybody who got in his way.”
“Her X-rays prove it.” As Rhage glanced over, Mary shook her head. “A lot of broken bones—not that she went to Havers when they occurred. Havers said that because she was a pretrans, the healing places still show up until she reaches her maturity. He said … they’re everywhere.”
A subtle growling made her look up. Rhage’s upper lip had peeled off his fangs, and his expression was all about protective aggression.
“I want to kill that motherfucker all over again.”
Mary gave Bitty as much time as she needed, staying a distance away with Rhage until the girl wandered over.
“I guess my things are gone.” Bitty shrugged in that big old parka. “I didn’t have a lot of them.”
“I’m really sorry, Bitty.”
“I was hoping…” The girl glanced back at where the house had been. “I was hoping that I could bring some of my old clothes and books to my uncle’s. I don’t want to be a burden on him. I don’t want to get sent away.”
Rhage made a small coughing sound. “So I’ll go out and buy you what you want. Anything you need to take with you, I got it.”
Mary shook her head. “I don’t think—”
“It’s okay,” Bitty cut in. “Maybe I can get a job. You know, when I go to live with him.”
You’re nine, Mary thought. Damn it.
“How about we head back?” Mary offered. “It’s cold.”
“You sure you’re ready to go?” Rhage asked. “We can stay if you like.”
“No.” Bitty shrugged again. “There’s nothing for me here.”
They returned to the GTO, resettling into their various seats, the warmth in the car a balm to cold cheeks and noses.
As Rhage turned them around, the headlights swept over the lot, and Mary thought to herself … at some point, this kid was going to get good news. The Scribe Virgin talked about balance all the time, right? So statistically, Bitty was really, totally frickin’ overdue.
“I just have to wait until my uncle comes,” the girl said as they drove off. “He’s going to give me a home.”
Mary closed her eyes. And kind of felt like banging her head into Rhage’s dashboard.
And as if he were reading her mind, Rhage reached across and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. Mary squeezed back.
“So lemme ask you something there, Bitty girl,” he said. “Do you like ice cream?”
“I guess I do. I’ve had some before.”
“Tomorrow night, you got any plans? We could go out after First Meal, before the human shops close up?”
On impulse, because she was desperate to keep any line of communication open, Mary twisted around. “Would you like to do that, Bitty? It could be fun.”
When there was a long pause, Mary eased back in her seat and tried to think of another option.
In the quiet, Rhage filled in, “Safe Place has my Mary’s cell phone number. If your uncle comes while we’re out, they can call her right away and get you. And we can pick a place that’s close, like, no more than five minutes’ drive.” Rhage glanced in the mirror. “I mean, you take baths, right?”
“I’m sorry?” the girl said.
“Like, if you were in the bath and he happened to come, someone would knock on your door, and you’d have to get dry and get dressed and all that jazz. And that would take five minutes, right? So it’s just the same. Well, except in one case you need soap and a bath mat, and in the other you get sprinkles and
<<Previous page The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 1 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 2 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 3 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 4 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 5 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 6 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 7 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 8 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 9 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 10 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 11 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 12 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 13 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 14 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 15 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 16 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 17 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 18 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 19 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 20 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 21 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 22 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 23 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 24 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 25 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 26 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 27 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 28 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 29 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 30 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 31 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 32 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 33 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 34 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 35 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 36 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 37 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 38 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 39 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 40 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 41 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 42 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 43 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 44 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 45 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 46 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 47 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 48 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 49 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 50 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 51 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 52 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 53 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 54 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 55 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 56 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 57 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 58 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 59 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 60 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 61 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 62 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 63 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 64 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 65 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 66 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 67 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 68 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 69 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 70 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 71 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 72 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 73 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 74 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 75 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 76 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 77 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 78 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 79 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 80 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 81 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 82 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 83 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 84 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 85 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 86 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 87 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 88 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 89 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 90 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 91 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 92 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 93 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 94 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 95 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 96 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 97 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 98 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 99 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 100 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 101 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 102 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 103 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 104 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 105 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 106 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 107 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 108 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 109 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 110 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 111 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 112 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 113 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 114 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 115 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 116 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 117 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 118 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 119 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 120 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 121 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 122 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 123 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 124 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 125 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 126 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 127 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 128 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 129 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 130 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 131 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 132 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 133 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 134 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 135 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 136 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 137 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 138 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 139 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 140 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 141 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 142 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 143 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 144 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 145 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 146 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 147 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 148 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 149 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 150 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 151 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 152 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 153 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 154 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 155 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 156 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 157 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 158 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 159 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 160 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 161 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 162 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 163 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 164 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 165 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 166 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 167 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 168 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 169 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 170 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 171 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 172 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 173 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 174 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 175 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 176 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 177 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 178 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 179 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 180 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 181 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 182 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 183 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 184 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 185 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 186 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 187 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 188 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 189 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 190 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 191 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 192 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 193 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 194 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 195 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 196 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 197 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 198 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 199 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 200 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 201 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 202 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 203 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 204 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 205 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 206 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 207 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 208 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 209 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 210 The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward - Page 211
Next page>>