Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Yes, Mama,” she said softly.
“Good. Now. All done. You need antibiotics and something to prevent pregnancy. I’ll get both for you. You’ll have to take the antibiotics for the next ten days, but they should cover most of the common things. If you start to have abdominal pain or excessive itching or pain or any discharge that shouldn’t be there, let me know immediately, and I’ll do a culture to make sure you’re covered properly on medicine.”
“This is so fucked up,” Jolene said, her voice starting to quiver again. “I’m so sorry to put you to so much trouble, Mama. I’m sorry I wasn’t brave enough for you to have Pops with you.” She sniffed and cleared her throat, obviously trying to get her emotions under control. “I’m sure he helps so you don’t have to do it all.”
“Nonsense, child. You’re no trouble, and I’m fine without Pops. The most important thing is for you to be comfortable and to feel safe. You’re not ready for men to see you in such a vulnerable situation. And I understand how intensely vulnerable you feel. I’m just glad you recognize Styx is your protector. Let him fill that role for you.”
Jolene looked up at me with a solemn expression on her face. “For now.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised at that. “For now?”
“I’m not weak. I just… this was a bit intense. Even for my family. I’ll be fine in a day or two. Then I’ll take care of those shithill Hatfields.”
“Hatfields?” Mama looked up at me sharply.
“Not now, Mama. This ain’t the time.”
“You better make time, Styx. Now,” Mama snapped.
“I got this. I promise.”
Mama handed me a bottle of pills and Jolene a couple in a small paper cup along with a bottle of water. When she spoke next, Mama was calm, her kind, grandmotherly impression fully intact. “Drink up, dear. Then you get some rest. Today’s Friday. You come see me Sunday, you hear me? I want you resting until then.”
Yeah. Last thing I needed was Mama breaking the news to Jolene that I was a Hatfield, too. But she was also right. I needed to tell her. And I would. Just as soon as she got stronger. If I told her now, it would take away her safe place, and she desperately needed this safe place.
“You got two choices,” I said, leaning down to stroke a lock of hair out of her face. She still had big hanks of duct tape matting her hair. It pained me to see all that beautiful auburn hair ruined. I wasn’t sure how I was gonna fix that, but I knew I had to try.
“What’s that?” She didn’t meet my gaze as she asked but looked off to the side. I could almost feel the shame radiating off her.
“Ol’ ladies got you a room deep in their territory of the building. You’ll have privacy, and no one will bother you if you don’t want them to. You’ll have the protection of their men as well as all the officers in this whole place.”
“What’s the other option?” She shivered a little, still not meeting my gaze. So I cupped her cheek and gently turned her face to mine. When she still tried to gaze off, I moved so that I was in her line of sight whether she wanted me there or not.
“You come with me. I help you clean up, then watch over you while you sleep. You’ll have privacy from everyone but me. And I’ll make sure no one bothers you if you don’t want them to.”
She let loose a little sob, her gaze trying to slide from mine, but she was unable to commit to the action. The longer she looked at me, the more she seemed to cling with her gaze. She wanted me in her sight as much as I wanted her in mine.
“I -- I d-don’t know w-what to d-do.” Her bottom lip quivered, and I knew she was going to have another breakdown. And who could blame the poor girl. She’d been through hell.
“Do you trust me, Jolene?”
She seemed to think it over. Not answering right away, but not moving her gaze away from mine either. After long, long moments, she nodded. Then whispered, “Yes.”
“Good.” I scooped her up. “Mama, tell the girls to bring her some clothes. Tell them to put them in a backpack and set it outside my door. I want breakfast delivered in the morning.”
“Ain’t your Goddamned messenger, Styx,” Mama groused. “Or your servant! But I’ll do it for that sweet girl. After tomorrow morning, though, you’re on your fuckin’ own. And you better tell her everything she needs to know. Get me?” Yeah. Mama was put out. She had a right to be. But I’d tell Jolene. Just not right this minute. She’d had enough. She was done.