Violent Things

Bates

I tossedmy cellphone onto the bed next to me after I placed an order at the all-night barbeque place downtown.

Resting back on my elbows, I let out a sigh. Sleeping here tonight was going to be dangerous, however, I wasn’t going to leave.

It was my goddamn failsafe every time we had a disagreement, and I had to learn to do better, since I kept hammering on her to do the same.

I could hear her footsteps as she paced outside the bedroom door. That was one of the things I loved so much about her—she always had fight left and was willing to go down swinging no matter what was thrown at her.

“You can come in if you want,” I called out, leaning my head back between my shoulders and hoping that she’d paced her mood away.

The door opened slowly, deliberately, almost as if she were trying to intimidate me, but it wouldn’t happen.

I had seen her rage.

I’d lived through her fire.

I’d burned in both and never felt more alive than when she consumed me in those moments of despair and anguish.

“I’m sorry.”

My elbows almost gave out as I turned quickly to glance at her. Hollis Jones didn’t know the meaning of the words, so hearing her speak them out loud was unnerving.

Clearing my throat, I sat up and rubbed the empty space next to me. She shuffled forward, her hands folded in front of her, until she sat down next to me, her eyes on the bedroom carpet.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I asked, leaning over to nudge her slightly. She nodded without looking at me. “You never have to say that to me, babe. I already know when you are.”

She nodded, quickly wiping away another tear, and I kissed the side of her head gently. Hollis let her body go limp against mine and I chuckled as I slipped an arm around her waist.

Waiting isn’t going to do anything for her.

“Um, can I show you a secret now?” I continued nervously.

I wasn’t sure how she was going to take seeing the ringleader of her brutal assault so soon after dealing with one of his minions, but I had to try and make her feel better as quickly as I could.

And this was the only thing I could come up with.

Getting to my feet, I held a shaky hand down to her. Hollis wiped away another tear before she put her soft, blood-stained hand in mine and let me lift her to her feet.

“Wait one sec,” I said, suddenly remembering the food delivery I had coming.

I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed the barbeque place back, told them to have the delivery driver leave the food by the front door and requested that they leave the receipt for me to sign and bring back the next morning. Before the girl that answered the phone had a chance to decline the request, I hung up, shot a text message to Jace whose father owned the place, and told him to call it in to let them know that it would be okay.

Tossing the phone back onto the bed, I interlaced my fingers with her and led the way out of the bedroom.

“I figure we can eat after,” I said to her with a grin as I walked down the hallway with Hollis in tow.

“Thank you,” she replied quietly.

With a nod, I led the way to the basement door, then put my hand on the doorhandle, letting it linger for a moment.

I have to get her back in the frame of mind she’s going to need to survive this.

“How many were there that night, babe?” I asked as gently as I could.

“I don’t really remember,” she answered curtly as she inspected her fingernails.

I nodded.