“What the hell is going on here?” he barked.
“I’m taking Mama out for a little bit,” I said, trying my best to not showcase the fear that sat in my throat. Sure, Charlie didn’t look like a threatening man, but I knew the harshness that lived inside him. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed Mama’s body being bruised at the hands of Charlie, but I’d figured ever since she got pregnant, he wouldn’t hurt her.
I’d been too hopeful believing that Charlie was not the biggest monster.
“Where?” he demanded. “You shouldn’t even be here.”
“I’m allowed to see my mother,” I shot back. “Come on, Mama. Get your things, and let’s go.”
“She isn’t going anywhere with you. Go ahead and make me a pizza, Jean,” he ordered Mama, which made my irritation skyrocket.
“She’s hurt,” I scolded. “I’m taking her to get checked out.”
He cocked an eyebrow and looked at Mama. “You going to a hospital?” he asked, his words low and controlling. “What the hell you going to do, Jean? Turn me in? Say I hurt you?”
She hesitated as she fidgeted with her fingers, looking down at the floor. “Of course not, Charlie.”
“Because I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
The way his words slithered off his tongue made the hairs on my skin stand straight up. Gosh, I hated him so much and despised how he used his authority to control Mama’s thoughts.
“No, you didn’t,” she lied. She blinked her eyes shut and shook her head back and forth. “I tripped. You know I’m clumsy, Hazel.”
No, Mama.
Don’t let him control you like this.
“Even still, you should get checked out because of the baby,” I offered, trying to tame the anger rushing through me. I needed to get her out of there. Out of that house, out from under Charlie’s control. Because I knew if she stayed any longer, she’d end up six feet under due to him taking it one step too far.
Maybe if we ran away together, she’d be able to get her mind clear again. Maybe she’d realize that we didn’t need Charlie. That we were better without him, that—
“She’s not going anywhere,” Charlie cut in. “The baby’s fine, and so is she. And you are not welcome here anymore. So get out.”
I stepped toward my mother, guarding her from Charlie. “I’m not leaving without taking her with me.”
He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and stepped toward me. “Get out, Hazel.”
“No,” I sternly stated. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He grabbed me by the arm and started dragging me toward the front door. For a small-looking guy, his grip hurt.
“Let me go!” I shouted. I tripped over my feet as he yanked me, and the second I found my footing, I shoved hard against his chest, making him stumble backward.
Before any thought, I felt the sting of his fist slamming against my face. I fell straight to the ground.
Holy crap.
The stinging sensation that overtook me made me want to vomit. He hadn’t just slapped me; he’d punched me. He’d sent me flying backward and crashing to the floor as if he hadn’t a care in the world for his actions. Was that what he did to Mama? Did he punch her repeatedly like she was a rag doll and not a person?
My head began pounding, and tears fell from my eyes as the pain engulfed my entire system. I went to stand, but Charlie came barging toward me, and he shoved me back down.
“I told you to fucking leave,” he hissed, his voice dripping with hatred.
“Fuck you,” I cried.
He raised his fist to hit me again, but Mama rushed in and took his hand into hers. “Stop, Charlie. Please. She gets it. She’s leaving and never coming back,” she swore.
I stumbled to my feet as my right eye stayed closed. Wetness dripped from my face as I wiped it. Is that blood? Charlie’s ring must’ve sliced into my skin.
“Right, Hazel?” Mama asked, looking at me with wide eyes filled with fear. She lived with that fear on a daily basis.
“Come with me, Mama,” I begged, my chest rising and falling at erratic speeds.
“Again, she’s not going anywhere. Now, leave before I take it out on the both of you,” Charlie said.
It was clear he was a psychopath. He didn’t have a twinge of remorse for his actions—quite the opposite actually. He looked as if he was ready to give me another blow any second now.
“Go, Hazel,” Mama begged, tears welling in her eyes. “Please.”
I wanted to argue, but I knew if I pushed Charlie, he’d push both me and Mama back. I couldn’t handle the idea of him hurting Mama, so I left.
The ache in my chest had me feeling nothing but guilt for leaving her in that terrible situation. For a moment in time, when she’d grabbed Charlie’s arm, I’d seen my mother. My real mother, not the drugged-up human she’d turned into over the years. She’d stepped in to protect me, and it killed my heart that there was no one to protect her back.
I headed to Ian’s house, and as I walked, I tried my best to keep my head down and covered. A car horn blared at me, sending nerves straight up my spine. I kept my head down and kept walking. “Hazel!” a voice hollered from the car. I still didn’t look up. “Hey, Hazel, it’s Leah. James Scout’s sister. He works on the ranch, and I’m heading over there to check in on the horses. Are you heading that way? I can give you a lift.”
She pulled her car over, parked it, and hurried over to me. I’d known Leah for some time now. We’d graduated together, and she was the definition of royalty in our town. Leah Scout was beautiful. From her gorgeous blonde hair to her crystal-blue eyes. She had a smile that could’ve been used in toothpaste commercials, and she gave that smile to everyone who looked her way. She was just like her older brother, James, too—overly nice to anyone and everyone.
As she reached me, she gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. “Oh my goodness, what happened to you?”
“I, um, I don’t want to talk about it.” I started to walk, and Leah kept her pace beside me.
“Wait, Hazel. Who did this to you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I replied shortly. “I just want to get home and clean up.”
“Okay.” She nodded her head and linked her arm with mine.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m walking you to my car so I can drive you home. You shouldn’t be walking on these streets looking like this, and you definitely shouldn’t be alone. James said you’re staying with Ian for now, right?”
I nodded. “Yes. But you don’t—”
“Don’t be silly, Hazel. Us girls gotta look out for one another in a town filled with creeps. It’s not a big deal. Come on, now. Let’s get you home so we can clean up that wound.”
When we got to the ranch house, I tried to get Leah to go on with her day, but she wouldn’t leave my side.
“You can’t go without cleaning up that eye. Otherwise, it will be swollen shut for a while. I volunteer at Dr. Smith’s office. I can help you,” she offered.
I didn’t have the energy to fight her to go away. Plus, some odd part of me didn’t want to be left alone.