Fractured Minds (Rebels of Sandland 3)

“I know you.” She narrowed her eyes at him, sussing him out, then turned to Ryan and Emily. “Come to think of it, I recognise both of you too.”

Emily went to speak, but Brandon cut her off.

“I have a unique face. If you knew me, you’d remember. One of a kind, that’s me.”

“Rocky!” Constance rocked back on her heels and then laughed like her lungs were bagpipes. “You’re the big man who fainted when I stitched you up. I’d recognise those tattoos anywhere!”

Brandon’s eyes went wide. “You’re stitching me up right now. Thanks for making me look like a prize dick in front of my girl.”

“You don’t need any help in that department,” Constance shot back, and we all turned to Brandon to see what his reaction would be. I held my breath, waiting for him to explode, and he did, with laughter.

“Queen of stitches, is that right? Queen of sass too.”

She winked at him, then glanced down at Harper.

“You’re a lucky girl,” she whispered, loud enough for us all to hear. “I can see my stitches worked their magic, he’s still a looker.”

Harper gave a low laugh and threaded her fingers through Brandon’s as she gazed up at him.

“And he’s all mine.” She sighed.

“Oh, dear lord,” Constance groaned, then turned on Ryan and Emily. “And I suppose you finally made your choice, missy? Can’t say I blame you. I’m a sucker for a pretty face too.”

Emily started to blush and then Constance flew into action.

“Well, that’s en

ough chit-chat. Out. All of you. Just because you’re all nice to look at doesn’t mean I’m going to bend the rules.”

She started to shoo Emily out of the room and Ryan smirked, following her, shaking his head and telling me he’d be back to visit again soon.

Brandon used the distraction to his advantage, leaning down and whispering, “I know what you did. I know why too. You can’t do it alone though, mate. You should’ve called me.”

“I don’t want you involved,” I hissed and then winced at the pain of trying to grimace with a face that felt like it’d been used for darts practise. I glanced at Harper, who was putting the chair back in the corner of the room, pretending she hadn’t heard us. “You have your own family to think about now.”

His eyes darkened, but he responded right away, speaking from the heart.

“You are my family. I won’t let this happen again. From now on, you tell me everything.”

I nodded, because I knew that’s what he needed to make himself feel better. But I knew I’d do the same thing again when I was out of here. This was my problem to solve, not his.

“We’ll leave you for now, but we’ll be back later, okay?” Brandon said, strolling with Harper towards the door. But when he swung it open, the bottom dropped out of my world. There, on the other side, looking totally destroyed, was Effy Spencer.

“What the fuck?” Brandon cursed under his breath. “I thought I told you not to text her?” He glared at Harper who huffed right back at him.

“I didn’t.”

Emily was standing next to Effy with her arm around her shoulders. Hearing Brandon start on Harper, she shut him down, announcing plainly, “I did. So, sue me.”

She gave Brandon a look, daring him to argue with her, then sent a sympathetic glance Harper’s way before turning to look at me through the doorway.

“She needed to know. She worries about you too. You know that.”

I didn’t know how to react. This was one of those times that I was clamming up. What was I supposed to say? Thank goodness you called her over here so she can see how weak and feeble I really am, after getting the shit kicked out of me by a forty-five year old paedophile? I already felt like pond scum whenever she was around. I didn’t need any help on that score.

I watched her as she bit her lip and hovered by the door, and looking at her made the rest of the world fall away. She was always the only girl I ever saw. But she was too good for me. What would a girl like Effy want with a fucked-up, socially inept loser like me?

The others said their goodbyes, but I didn’t answer. All I could focus on was Effy. Seeing her made the pain dissolve into thin air, overtaken by my racing heart and the resounding beat in my ears.