Chapter 74
IVY
“Did he do this to her?” Luca asks the question that’s been on my mind since I heard the news.
Brooke just stares at her mom, not responding but confirming what I thought.
“You have to tell someone, Brooke.”
“It’s never been this bad. He’s never done anything like this to her.”
“Next time he’ll kill her,” Luca states bluntly.
“No, no. He didn’t do this.” Brooke shakes her head before she looks to me.
“He told the officer on scene that he figures it was a break-in gone wrong. They thought the house was empty and Mom was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s all that happened.
There’s no way my dad could’ve done this to her. I should’ve been there.”
I know that feeling. I’m still trying to deal with it. “It’s not your fault.”
She pulls the collar of her T-shirt to her face, wiping at her eyes.
“Brooke, you need to—” My attempt to reason with her is cut short as she starts rambling.
“Just let her wake up; I’ll deal with it then. If she doesn’t want to leave him, there’s nothing I can do. I’ve already begged her to a million times, and she won’t.”
“Then she can stay, but you won’t,” a voice booms from the doorway. It’s Micah and he’s pissed as he shouts, “You fucking lied to me.”
She turns her back to him as she says, “It’s not any of your business. You can leave now.”
Micah scans the room, eyeballing me before he glares at Luca. “Did you know he beat them?”
“No,” he replies. I feel horrible because I did and didn’t do a damn thing about it.
Micah steps in front of Brooke. “He won’t ever again,” then turns and walks out.
Brooke yells to Luca, “Stop him.”
Luca doesn’t move. “I can’t. Whatever he’s decided, it’s up to him.”
Unfortunately, I believe him. Once the Montclair twins get something in their mind, there’s no changing it. And I have a feeling he’s just like his brother; he’s out for blood regardless of the consequences.