Bianca Chapter 4 #3
Mishap came to the sofa, handed me my water, then handed Chaos his drink before my cousin sat with a Sprite. Both men took a drink before replying to what I said.
“No one said they don’t deserve to feel safe again, and we want to know who drugged you. But you need to allow the appropriate people to handle this,” Mishap stated.
“And exactly who are the appropriate people? I already told you that the police don’t think there’s a connection to the bars.
Their investigative efforts haven’t turned up other leads.
Five known women fear leaving their homes.
They have no clue who to trust or where to turn.
If you don’t know where the monsters come from, you imagine them everywhere.
Have you ever been afraid to leave your house?
To go to work? How about being scared to trust anyone? ” I asked.
They exchanged a look that clearly meant something to them. When I got my answer, it came from Mishap.
“Bianca, no, we’ve never been afraid to leave the house, go to work, or trust anyone.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t sympathize.
We want whoever is responsible caught. But this isn’t something you can do.
Even if the police aren’t focusing on where you told them to, that doesn’t mean they won’t.
We have to let things run their course.”
His words made me furious, but I fought it down.
They kept telling me to let it go and pretend that their club had nothing to do with the lower number of criminals surrounding Lake Oconee and Eatonton.
That the ones who allegedly ran off and supposedly evaded punishment had had nothing to do with their club’s interference.
Clearly, I wasn’t someone to trust with that information.
And if that were the case, I wouldn’t trust Mishap or his club with what I was doing.
I sighed deeply, closed my eyes, and rubbed my forehead.
I let my frustration show. But my response was the opposite of how I felt.
I let the silence stretch as I pretended to ponder what they said.
I stood and paced my living area for effect.
After a solid five minutes, I ended the performance.
I turned to look at them and threw my hands up in the air.
“Fine, I’ll stay away from the bars. And I’ll let the police conduct their investigation however they want.
But I’m warning you guys, whoever is doing this won’t stop.
It’s sad to say that maybe if there are more rapes, the cops will see the connection.
I hate that thought. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m tired.
And I have a private client first thing in the morning at seven o’clock.
I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.
Mishap, we can set something up this weekend if you want to hang out. ”
They studied me, then looked at each other before rising to their feet. Mishap came over to me. He held his arms open. I went into them and returned his hug. As he let go, Chaos nodded.
“Bianca, I hope you mean what you just said. It would kill me if anything happened to you,” my cousin said gruffly.
“I know. I understand. I’ll let the police do their job. Have a safe ride back to the compound. Text me, will you, when you get there so I know you made it.”
I kept the right balance of disappointment and warmth in my tone while I walked them to the door.
I was told to lock the door behind them.
I did so, then sank into a crouch. I’d lied to Rawley, one of the few people who meant the world to me.
And while I hated that I had done it, I couldn’t walk away.
If no one were willing to get justice for those women who had been harmed, then I would.
And I’d have to suffer the consequences for what it did to my relationship with my cousin.
The two of them said as much themselves—they had no clue what it was like to live in fear as those women did.
I did. Tears burned my eyes as I let them fall, and I cried.
I crouched there for a while before I forced myself to stand, and I went to my bedroom.
I wasn’t hungry. All I wanted was to soak in the tub and try to get some sleep.
The walk to my bedroom was stiff. My entire body ached.
I went to the bathroom, lit a few candles, turned on soft music on my phone, and ran water in my tub.
As I sat in the hot water, I wished I were in a deep tub—one where I could immerse my whole body.
But in an apartment, this was all I could hope for.
I hadn’t rented or bought a house when I moved here.
I wanted to take my time, decide exactly where I wanted to live, and then buy a place.
I had no plans to move again after I did.
I needed to put down roots that would stay.
I assumed I had those with Byron, but I was wrong.
I wouldn’t make that mistake again. And I would do what I had to do to keep my surroundings safe, not just for me.