Chapter 7 #3
“You think that you can just take him from me? What’s the state paying you?” The man pushed then, and I moved to the side, gasping for air. My elbow hit the ground hard, and I rolled, trying to get to my feet.
This was Will’s foster dad, the man who had dumped him and run, but from the smell of whiskey on his breath, had some regrets of his own.
“You stupid bitch. He’s not going to give you anything.
That little asshole wasn’t worth the time.
” The man kicked out, and I whirled out of the way, knowing that I wasn’t going to be able to fight this guy.
He had at least eighty pounds of muscle on me and a full foot of height.
And the first thing I had learned in self-defense was to run.
But before I could, Will was there and shoved his foster dad out of the way.
“Keep your hands off her.”
“Don’t you dare touch me, boy. You think you’re so good. You’re nothing.” The older man swiped out, smacking Will’s face with the back of his hand. I moved forward, trying to put myself between them, but then Atlas was there, shoving the man away.
“You’re going to want to step back, Dobson.”
That was his name. In the heat of the moment, I hadn’t been able to think. I put Will behind me, even though he was much taller, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let this man hurt him.
“You think you’re so special,” Dobson sneered. “You’re nothing but a two-bit hack that is going to get kicked out of the NHL because you’re nothing too. And now what, you’re fucking little Lizzie again? I bet you’re fucking Will too. He’s an adult now, so I guess it’s legal. Weirdos.”
“Fuck you,” Will spat behind me. “Don’t talk to them like that.”
“Don’t you even look at me, you little shit. You cost me more than you’ll ever know, and I can’t even stand to fucking look at you.”
“Then why are you here?” I asked, my voice shaky, my throat slightly raw.
I was going to end up with bruises, and I knew it.
Atlas wouldn’t even look at me, his attention all on Dobson, and I was grateful.
Because once he saw the marks on my skin, I wasn’t going to be able to hold him back.
I wasn’t going to let Atlas get hurt because of me. Not again.
“I’m just here to make sure this boy knows his place,” Dobson said softly, but his eyes darkened, and fear crept up my spine.
“Now now, Dobson, why don’t you come over here and talk with me?”
I turned, pushing Will behind me as Sheriff Adam Grayson moved forward, wearing his street clothes, but still with a gun on his hip.
His badge was out and prominent, and he gave me a small nod before glaring at Dobson.
“We had a few calls from the neighbors who witnessed a few things that alarmed them. And since we’re in this new age of technology, there seems to be a few doorbell cameras with footage of you pushing Ms. Ellis right here. ”
“She’s a fucking liar.” Spittle flew from Dobson’s lips, and I tensed.
“She hasn’t said a damn thing, Dobson.”
Dobson lurched forward then, and Atlas took him by the neck and tossed him back.
“Don’t you dare fucking step towards her,” Atlas snarled.
I moved forward and wrapped my arm around his waist. “Atlas. Let the others take care of it.”
His chest heaved as he took deep breaths, and Will was behind me, with his shaky hand on my shoulder. The three of us stood there, holding each other back from making terrible decisions, as the sheriff and his team came forward.
Everything moved quickly then, and I sucked in a breath, trying to catch up.
I wouldn’t let go of either Atlas or Will, though.
When the team wanted to take photos of my neck and see if I needed to go to the doctor, it took everything within me and Will to hold Atlas back before he went to track down Dobson.
By the time we got through everything the sheriff needed, and the crowd that had inevitably grown finally dispersed, I stood in my home, hands shaking, as Atlas cupped my face.
“I’m going to kill him.”
“I’m fine. I promise.”
“I’m so sorry,” Will said from beside us. “I should go to work. Or just leave. I keep bringing shit to you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said as I pulled away from Atlas and turned towards Will. “Other people make their own choices, and even if they’re cruel ones, it’s not your fault. I’m not going to let that man hurt you either.”
“Damn straight,” Atlas said from between us.
“In fact, I’m not going to let him hurt either one of you.
And if you’d let me, I’d force both of you to move into my house, with my security system, and never let you go.
But apparently that would be a little over the top.
So we’re going to sit here, talk it over, and then, I’m going to try not to go to the sheriff’s station and beat the shit out of that old man. ”
Will’s lips twitched. “I’d hold your coat for you, but it’s the summer.”
“Violence isn’t the answer,” I said, even though I really wanted to hit the old man too. And so I stood there between two men who kept trying to protect me, feeling as lost as ever.
When the hell had my life gotten so complicated?