Page 51 of Beautifully Shattered (Secrets & Scars #3)

M y mother’s manic eyes lock with mine as she drags Tahli away. The entire parking lot is chaos as people run for their cars, black smoke billowing up as a car burns out of control. Yet she doesn’t seem to care that bystanders can see her fist Tahli’s hair, forcing her from me as Tahli screams.

I don’t know where Maggie is, and frankly, I don’t care. All I care about is getting my little sister to safety.

“Give her back, and I’ll let you live,” I snarl, matching each one of my mum’s steps as she hurries backwards.

“You can’t kill me here. Not with all these witnesses,” she hisses, like that will work in her favour.

I tilt my head, stalking her, my eyes never once breaking from hers.

“Why not? What do I have to lose? You already killed my daughter. The only thing I have left is Tahli, and at least I know she’ll be safe with my husband and my friends.

Unlike with you . So yes, Priscilla ,” I hiss her name, my satisfaction spiking when her face contorts with rage.

“I will absolutely kill you right here, right now, in broad daylight, with cameras and witnesses watching.”

And there it is. The flicker of panic. I really do love seeing it on her face.

To prove my point, I reach behind me and slip my gun out from under my coat.

She gasps as I lift it towards her, and just like I knew she would, she jerks Tahli in front of her, using her as a human shield.

“You’ll have to kill Tahli first!” Priscilla yells, but I storm forward, done playing.

“On your six, Angel,” Ringo’s voice comes from behind me, and I know he’s got a gun trained on my mum too, so I seize the moment, lunging forward to snatch Tahli free.

Priscilla’s hands shoot up, trembling in the air as she watches Tahli wrap herself around me, and I back away, holding my sister tight, before passing her off to Ringo once we’re clear.

“Let’s go,” Ringo orders, and even though I nod, I don’t move when he does. I stay rooted, my gun trained on my mum.

It would be so easy to just pull the trig—

A body slams into my side, sending me crashing sideways, my gun going off with a loud pop. I hit the ground hard, and before I even process who’s on top of me, a wild female screech explodes in my ear, fingernails tearing at me in a frenzy.

“Abbey!” Tahli cries from somewhere, but I can’t see anything as I fight to get this rabid bitch off me.

“I hate you! You’ve ruined everything!” Maggie screams, her voice wild and unhinged, and somehow, I manage to twist a hand free, and land a punch straight into the side of her head.

Car tyres squeal as I right myself, sitting up to see my gun has slid under the car next to me. I scramble for it just as Maggie pushes herself off the ground, tears streaming down her face.

“You shot Mum!”

My brows hitch, and before I reach my gun, I spot Mum clutching her upper arm, blood soaking through her coat.

“It’s her arm. She’ll live,” I snap, quickly snatching the gun just as the van screeches to a stop beside me, the side door already open and Ringo’s hand reaching out.

“Time to go, Angel,” he urges, and I glance to my mum and Maggie and nod.

He’s right. It’s time to get the hell out of here.

Maggie doesn’t try to stop me again as I leap into the van. She just rushes to my mum’s side like the woman is dying.

A girl can dream, I guess.

As the van speeds away and the door slams shut, I’m left in the back with Ringo and my terrified little sister.

“Chook…” I whisper, tears spilling as I pull her into my arms. “I’ve got you.”

God. How many times has Ringo said those three words to me? And now it’s my turn to step up. To be the adult and reassure my little sister that she’s safe now.

As she crumbles in my embrace, my eyes find Ringo’s, and I mouth a silent ‘thank you’, knowing I could never have done this without him, or the danger he and his club have willingly stepped into for me .

He answers with a wink and a crooked smirk before reaching behind him to grab a blanket.

I settle back with Tahli as he tucks it around us, and spend the next hour just staring into his eyes, hoping he can see every bit of love I have for him in mine.

Tahli doesn’t speak during the drive. Eventually, her tears fade, and she cries herself to sleep in my arms.

I don’t know where Jols and JD ended up until we pull into Ringo’s property and I see them climbing out of one of the Marx security vehicles. I have a million questions about how the hell today came together, but there will be time for that later.

Right now, I need to focus on my sister.

Tahli is a little dazed as I help her out of the van. Her eyes scan Ringo’s property, jumping from the barn to the orchard to the house, before landing on the pond.

“Are there ducks in the pond?” she asks hopefully, and I smile, and ruffle her hair.

“Yeah, Chook. There are. We can feed them later if you like?”

Her eyes light up, and she nods. “I’d like that.”

“This must be Tahli.” Doreen’s voice catches me off guard, and I glance up to see her coming down the porch steps.

She’s really struggled with her last lupus flare-up, but seeing Tahli has her eyes lighting up and her arms open in a welcome that warms my heart.

“Yes, Doreen, this is Tahli, my little sister.”

“Oh, sweet girl.” Doreen stops in front of us, her eyes turning sympathetic. “You look like you’ve had a tough day.”

Tahli nods slowly, a little unsure .

“Well, I’ve just cooked a fresh batch of cookies.” Doreen gestures to the house. “Would you like to come inside and have some? Maybe a hot chocolate, too?”

Tahli’s eyes go wide as she looks from Doreen to me.

“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “This is Ringo’s mum, and this,” I gesture around the property, “is your new home.”

Her lip starts to wobble as tears spring to her eyes. “It-it is?”

“Yes.” I slip my arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go have some cookies.”

With a teary smile, Tahli nods, and we follow Doreen inside, Ringo right behind us.

I don’t exactly know if what I told my sister is right. Ringo and I haven’t discussed what would happen when I got Tahli back. Where we would live. How we’ll make this work.

Shit. I’ll need to get a job. Make sure I can earn enough money to feed her. Support her.

Suddenly, doubt claws at me. I know Ringo would never kick us out on the streets, but surely he has thoughts about this. Surely he knows I’ll do whatever it takes to pay my sister’s way.

Shit. We need to have a talk. And soon.

For instance, where is Tahli going to sleep tonight?

I know they have spare guest rooms, but I don’t want her to be alone. Maybe I’ll have to move into one of the rooms with her.

There’s so much to consider.

Inside, Ringo’s sisters warm to Tahli instantly. They are kind and gentle. Yes, even Millie. They show Tahli around the kitchen, telling her she doesn’t need to ask if she wants something to eat, that she’s welcome to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants .

It’s such a simple thing, but it instantly has Tahli relaxing, and I take a moment to try and understand how daunting this must be for her.

Just this morning, she thought she’d have to endure another day living with our mum, Maggie and… him .

Ugh. The thought of Minister Banes anywhere near Tahli makes me feel sick.

The gentle brush of fingers on my thigh pulls me from my spiral, and I shift my gaze to Ringo, finding him watching me closely.

“What’s going on inside that head of yours?”

I smile, though it’s tight. “So much.”

His lips kick up, and he lifts his fingers to graze over my jaw.

“I can just imagine.”

“Should I find a lawyer?” I lean in close, keeping my voice low so I don’t worry Tahli as we sit around the large dining table. “Like… how likely is it the cops will turn up? I did shoot my mum. There must have been cameras.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. It’s all been taken care of,” Ringo says quietly, making me frown.

“How?”

“Griffin’s hackers wiped every bit of video footage from the store and within a five-kilometre radius. Jason Zimora is fielding any reports coming in. He just happens to be the responding officer.”

“Convenient.” I smirk, and Ringo winks. “What about my mum? Has she reported Tahli missing?”

“No. Not yet. Apparently, she was nowhere to be found by the time law enforcement arrived.”

“I should have shot her again,” I mutter, and Ringo chuckles .

“She’ll get what’s coming to her in time, Angel. For now, just enjoy having your sister back.”

Smiling, I glance at Tahli, who is listening eagerly to a story Alana is telling about her days as a ballerina.

Worrying my lip between my teeth, I turn back to Ringo to find he’s still watching me.

“We never spoke about this.” I gesture subtly to my sister.

“About what would happen when I got her back.” My eyes drop to my lap, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat as I speak quietly.

“I’ll get a job to help pay for her expenses.

And she’s really a good kid. Super helpful around the house.

She loves to cook, so she can help in the kitchen and—”

Ringo’s finger presses to my lips, silencing me.

“Angel, remember when I said I wanted to raise Bobbi as my own?”

When I nod, a tear pops from the corner of my eye, and Ringo sweeps it up with his finger, holding it between us.

“Same goes for Tahli. I want to look after her. I want to look after you. Don’t worry about money, food, or clothing.

Or… whatever it is girls like or need. It would be my honour to take care of you both.

To give Tahli a safe space to heal and grow and thrive.

My ma and sisters want the same too.” He pops his finger in his mouth, swallowing my tear. “I want this to be your home. Always.”

Completely overwhelmed with the barrage of emotions swirling through me, I fist his cut, yanking him forward until our noses brush. “How’d I get so lucky to find you?”

“You didn’t.” He nips at my lips. “I’m the lucky fucker who found you.”