over not to go inside any of those Marines’ houses.”
Hearing the malice for Marines in her father’s voice sickened her. Sighing, her breath came out harsh. She rubbed her temples hoping she’d soothe away the dull pain in her head. I was with a Marine earlier today too, was on the brink of spilling from her lips.
Braylon and I don’t stand a freaking chance. “Dad, don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him?”
He held the lighter to the end of the cigarette. His brows gathered in the center of his forehead. His cheeks sucked inward as he inhaled and smoke spiraled from his brown lips. The cold stare in his round black eyes chilled her. “Your mother was killed by a Marine. For all I know Barton may be the damn killer,” he said, lowering the cigarette to the ashtray on the table by the wall.
He has to stop with all this. “The Bartons seem like such a good family. From what I hear their sons are straight-A students like Drew. It’s not good to shelter him, Dad. Isn’t it better for him to be around teenagers that are doing well, than to hang out with—”
“I’m not changing my mind, Sandy. Now follow me.” Kane steered the chair around and rolled himself down the hallway.
What if Claude calls and tells him he saw me with Braylon at the restaurant on the beach? Dear God, please let this stay our little secret. With Royce behind her, she followed her father into the master bedroom. A chill enveloped her. God, she’d never get used to going inside this room, the room where her mother was raped and murdered.
Although they’d changed the furniture around, replaced the bedspread, and painted the walls a bright ivory color, she still could see the bloody images of her mother’s dying body as if she’d been killed just yesterday. Maybe if they got another house her father would be able to see things differently, be able to finally heal and move on with his life. Maybe she would be able, too. Who was she kidding? They couldn’t afford another house.
Kane hunched over in his chair and pulled open the drawer to the nightstand. He hefted a brown wooden case then turned to face her. “After Nettie Mae told me about Drew, I went out and bought you something.”
“What?” she asked.
“Close the door,” Kane ordered.
Her eyes turned to Royce. “Is it okay if Royce stays in here with us? If not, I can have him wait in the living room.”
Kane shook his head. “I don’t mind him hearing what I have to say. He doesn’t talk so I don’t have to worry about him repeating it.”
“He is talking now. And he understands more than you think he does. He’s even reading.”
“That’s good he’s reading. I’m proud of you, Sandy. Let him stay.”
Kane’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Royce. “Everything that goes on in this room remains quiet. You hear me?”
Royce didn’t answer. He just stared at Kane.
“Damn, Sandy. I thought you said this here boy could talk.”
“He does. He just doesn’t talk much. I’m still working on his communication skills.”
“Now that doesn’t make any sense to me. He can read, but he doesn’t talk. Sounds damn near crazy.”
She sighed. “Dad, please.” As much as she loved her father he was starting to get on her last nerve. As soon as she fixed dinner for him and Drew she was heading back to the estate. She might even take Drew with her if Kane agreed.
“Look here, Royce,” Kane said. “You protect my daughter if one of those damn Marines comes near her, you hear?”
Her headache had filled her entire forehead by this point.
Silence.
Kane cleared his throat. “Anyway. As I was saying…I bought this for you.” With the case sitting in his lap, he pulled back the lid.
Her heart squeezed. Inside the compartment lay a shiny black pistol. She placed a hand to her chest.
“My God, Dad. A gun? Really? A gun!”
Royce patted the top of his head repetitively while gritting his teeth. He did this often whenever he became
Hearing the malice for Marines in her father’s voice sickened her. Sighing, her breath came out harsh. She rubbed her temples hoping she’d soothe away the dull pain in her head. I was with a Marine earlier today too, was on the brink of spilling from her lips.
Braylon and I don’t stand a freaking chance. “Dad, don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him?”
He held the lighter to the end of the cigarette. His brows gathered in the center of his forehead. His cheeks sucked inward as he inhaled and smoke spiraled from his brown lips. The cold stare in his round black eyes chilled her. “Your mother was killed by a Marine. For all I know Barton may be the damn killer,” he said, lowering the cigarette to the ashtray on the table by the wall.
He has to stop with all this. “The Bartons seem like such a good family. From what I hear their sons are straight-A students like Drew. It’s not good to shelter him, Dad. Isn’t it better for him to be around teenagers that are doing well, than to hang out with—”
“I’m not changing my mind, Sandy. Now follow me.” Kane steered the chair around and rolled himself down the hallway.
What if Claude calls and tells him he saw me with Braylon at the restaurant on the beach? Dear God, please let this stay our little secret. With Royce behind her, she followed her father into the master bedroom. A chill enveloped her. God, she’d never get used to going inside this room, the room where her mother was raped and murdered.
Although they’d changed the furniture around, replaced the bedspread, and painted the walls a bright ivory color, she still could see the bloody images of her mother’s dying body as if she’d been killed just yesterday. Maybe if they got another house her father would be able to see things differently, be able to finally heal and move on with his life. Maybe she would be able, too. Who was she kidding? They couldn’t afford another house.
Kane hunched over in his chair and pulled open the drawer to the nightstand. He hefted a brown wooden case then turned to face her. “After Nettie Mae told me about Drew, I went out and bought you something.”
“What?” she asked.
“Close the door,” Kane ordered.
Her eyes turned to Royce. “Is it okay if Royce stays in here with us? If not, I can have him wait in the living room.”
Kane shook his head. “I don’t mind him hearing what I have to say. He doesn’t talk so I don’t have to worry about him repeating it.”
“He is talking now. And he understands more than you think he does. He’s even reading.”
“That’s good he’s reading. I’m proud of you, Sandy. Let him stay.”
Kane’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Royce. “Everything that goes on in this room remains quiet. You hear me?”
Royce didn’t answer. He just stared at Kane.
“Damn, Sandy. I thought you said this here boy could talk.”
“He does. He just doesn’t talk much. I’m still working on his communication skills.”
“Now that doesn’t make any sense to me. He can read, but he doesn’t talk. Sounds damn near crazy.”
She sighed. “Dad, please.” As much as she loved her father he was starting to get on her last nerve. As soon as she fixed dinner for him and Drew she was heading back to the estate. She might even take Drew with her if Kane agreed.
“Look here, Royce,” Kane said. “You protect my daughter if one of those damn Marines comes near her, you hear?”
Her headache had filled her entire forehead by this point.
Silence.
Kane cleared his throat. “Anyway. As I was saying…I bought this for you.” With the case sitting in his lap, he pulled back the lid.
Her heart squeezed. Inside the compartment lay a shiny black pistol. She placed a hand to her chest.
“My God, Dad. A gun? Really? A gun!”
Royce patted the top of his head repetitively while gritting his teeth. He did this often whenever he became
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