For the Love of Anna (The Town of Pearl 1)

“I don’t know. I’ve been running on adrenaline. I just had to get out of there. It was so terrible.”

“Shhh, honey, slow down. First things first. Do I need to call the sheriff? My Max is a deputy?”

“No! No police, no sheriff, no law.”

“Okay, we’ll discuss that later on. Now, have you seen a doctor?”

Anna shook her head.

“Damn, woman! What the hell are you thinking? You haven’t received any medical attention, and you flew here from New York? Didn’t anyone ask about your injuries or your clothes?”

“Car accident.”

“And they believed that bullshit?”

Stacy stood up and began to pace.

“Was it your father? Did your father do this to you?”

“Please, Stacy. I can’t. I just don’t want to think about the whole thing. I had no place to go. I had to run and get out of there before they…”

Stacy began to cry as she saw Anna cover her face and sob. It was such a tormented sound. Her heart ached for her best friend.

“Okay, honey, first let’s see the damage and get you cleaned up. No offense, but you kind of need a shower or something.”

Anna laughed as she wiped her eyes, then lifted her arms to smell her pits.

“You’re right. I do.” She sniffled.

They both laughed, but Anna was serious immediately.

“I’m sorry to do this to you. Eric is real handsome, and I can tell he loves you.”

“Don’t apologize for anything. I’ve been trying to get you to move out here for years. Listen to your older and wiser best friend and let me take care of you.”

“You’re only two years older than me. That’s not that much.”

“It’s enough, so you listen to me and let me take ca

re of you.”

“I love you, Stacy.”

“I love you, too.”

Stacy hugged Anna.

“Now, show me the damage, and I’ll determine whether you need to see a doctor.”

Stacy stood back as Anna slowly rose from the bed.

When she unzipped the sweatshirt, Stacy saw the blood.

She tried to stay calm, but anger shot through her veins.

As Anna painstakingly removed the sweatshirt, she saw the bruises and hand marks on her skin. Then she removed the shirt, and Stacy covered her mouth and cringed.

“Anna! Oh, my God, Anna.” Stacy shook her head and began to cry.