Page 97 of Creed

I slammed my fist into his ribs, once, twice, three times, feeling the crunch under my knuckles. He swung again. It was desperate and overthrown, but it managed to graze my jaw, which just seemed to fuel my anger.

I drove my fist into his face, splitting his lip, and without giving him a chance to recover, I hit him again. My fist landed right at the bridge of his nose, and blood began spewing. He stumbled, but I caught him by the collar, dragging him back upright.

“You’re nothing but a fucking coward.”

I drove my knee into his gut, and he let out a choked grunt, folding in half. I slammed my elbow into the back of his head, and he went sprawling across the gravel.

He tried to get up, but I grabbed him by the back of the shirt and flipped him over, straddling him as I grabbed him by the collar. I pulled it taut, choking him as I warned, “If you ever touch her again… if you ever lay a hand on those kids, I will end you.”

I hit him once more, and he was out.

I stood over him, breathing hard and knuckles bleeding. I looked down at the sorry excuse for a man, and I wanted to believe this was it.

That this would be the end of it.

But I knew it wasn’t.

Hell, this was only the beginning.

22

DEVIN

“How are you feeling?”

“I would be better if I knew the kids were okay.”

“I’m sure they’re fine.”

“You don’t understand. You didn’t hear him. You don’t know…”

“Brian is a lot of things, Devin, but he loves those kids. He would never hurt them.” Mom placed her hand on mine. “So, you need to try to calm down and let’s try to focus on making sure you are okay.”

I appreciated my mother being there and trying to take care of me, but nothing she could say was going to calm me down or make me stop worrying about the kids. Too much had happened.

She’d pulled up just about the time the EMTs started checking my vitals. Chrissy had called her right after calling Jameson. She didn’t call the police. Maybe it was instinct or maybe she was afraid of getting her father into trouble. Either way, she’d made the right call, even if Mom was driving me nuts.

I was on the verge of losing it when Shep stepped up to the door of the ambulance and announced, “I just got a messagefrom Grim. They’re at the friend’s house a couple blocks over, and the kids are there and they’re okay.”

“Oh, thank God! We need to go get them.”

“He’s got it covered.” Shep was calm but firm as he told me, “You’re going to the hospital. You’re gonna let them check you out, and when he’s able, Creed will bring the kids to you.”

“Okay, I’ll go, but I need you to do something.”

“Alright. Whatcha need?”

“Find my phone. I think it’s in my purse. Maybe on the kitchen table.” I inhaled a breath. “When you find the phone, pull up the ring camera. See if you can find tonight’s footage. I think you might find it interesting.”

“Okay, I can do that.”

One of the EMTs leaned forward and forced a smile. “So, are we set to go?”

“We are. Thanks for being so patient.”

“No worries. It happens all the time.”

With that, she closed the door, and Mom and I were on our way to the hospital. I reached over and placed my hand on her knee. “Do you really think they’re okay?”