Clarity - Nicole Dykes Page 0,64
face. “I’m not sure. I miss Fletch and Rhett, but it’s not so bad.”
I smile at that, nodding my head. “Well, it’s up to you. You just let us know what you want, okay?”
She stands up. “Guess I better get to school.”
I stand with her and pull my keys out of my pocket. “I guess so. You can have your friends over tonight if you want.”
“Thanks. I know they won’t admit it, but they really like coming over here.”
I shrug as we walk to my car. “They aren’t so bad.”
I drive her to school and then go to my shop, going about my day like I didn’t have a full-on breakdown last night.
I expect to be haunted by memories all day after yesterday and then recounting it all to Bree today, but I'm in a surprisingly good mood until I get home in the evening. I decided to close down the shop to go home and eat dinner with the kids and Blair.
That sounds fucking crazy.
But I’m happy as I turn down the street and see a black car I don’t recognize parked in front of the house. My eyes dart around, and I see Bree sitting on the porch.
That’s not strange at all. She loves to hang outside and read. It’s something she does often.
Fletcher and Rhett got into some shit at school today, and both had detention, so they were supposed to come over tonight.
But I don’t see them.
I do see Herrington though. Standing in front of Bree with his fucking hands on her shoulders as she freezes in fear.
I’m out of the car in a flash and running up to them.
I’m going to kill this motherfucker.
A loud scream makes me rush out the front door. I was trying to get a little work done and wait for dinner to be delivered, but the scream sends unimaginable fear through me.
When I open the door, I see Rhys on Mr. Herrington, raining down blow after blow with his heavy fist. “Rhys!”
I look over at Bree. “Are you okay?”
Oh my God. I didn’t hear anyone pull up. I had no idea this asshole was here.
“Bree?” She looks down at the scene in front of us frozen. “Did he touch you?”
“Yes,” Rhys growls as he lands another hit into Mr. Herrington’s face.
“Rhys. Stop,” I plead. “Don’t kill him.”
Rhys’s fiery eyes meet mine, and I see the murderous gleam in his eyes. “He came to our home. He had her by the shoulders.”
I turn back to Bree. “What happened?”
She shakes her head. “He said that he may have lost in court, but he would have me.”
I want to tell Rhys to kill him, but I don’t. I can’t lose him. I look back to Rhys. “Let him up.”
He shakes his head, still pinning him to the ground, his thighs straddling his waist, and that fucker isn’t going anywhere.
“Rhys.” I’m firmer this time. “If you kill him, you’ll go to prison.”
“It’s where trash like him belongs,” Herrington says before spitting blood out on the porch.
“Shut the fuck up before I remove your balls and kill you myself.” I glower down at him, but then look back to Rhys. “I’m so sorry. I never in a million years thought he would show up here. I thought she was safe.”
He’s shaking. I can see his hands shaking, and I feel so damn guilty for not going out here with Bree.
“I’m twelve. It’s not weird to let me be outside alone.” It’s like Bree heard my thoughts.
I look over at her, smoothing my hand over her cheek. “I should have been looking out for you.”
“It’s not either of your fault,” Rhys grits out. “It’s his.” He glares down at Mr. Herrington, who doesn’t look as scared as he should be.
“Rhys . . .” I place my hand on his shoulder, and he jerks it away, but I reach for him again. This time he leaves my hand there. “Let him up.”
His breathing starts to slow as he looks down at him and then back at me and Bree. Finally, he climbs up and Herrington reaches his feet shakily, blood pouring out of his nose and trickling from his swollen lip.
“I’m calling the cops, you crazy deviant psychopath.”
I laugh, “Go ahead. Call the cops and tell them that you showed up at our house and accosted a twelve-year-old girl. Please. Be my guest.”
He looks at Bree, and I move my body between them shaking my head. He sneers, “She misses me. I wanted to assure her that