Page 37 of Kings Don't Break

“Mama…”

“He knocked me right down. The big ol’ brute.”

“Mama, please?—”

“He was gonna hit me again ’til Kori got in. Then he hit her. And he wouldn’t stop?—”

“Please,” Korine whines, the pain in her voice visceral.

“He’s lucky I didn’t have my revolver on me. I would’ve put a bullet in him. That would’ve shut his big bully behind up.”

“MAMA! Stop it. I don’t want to… please…”

Sensing the friction, I interject myself. “There’s been a lot going on tonight. You two need to get some sleep. I’ve got a decent sized bed. It could fit both of you.”

“We’re not taking your bed. We’ll sit out here,” Korine says. “Mama can take the sofa. I won’t be getting much sleep anyway.”

“You think I’m sleeping in a bed while you’re here? After everything that’s happened tonight? The room’s yours.”

Korine’s mouth opens to argue before she seems to realize it’s useless. “Then Mama can have the bed. And, if it’s okay, her insulin needs to be refrigerated.”

“You don’t gotta ask. Make yourselves comfortable, alright?”

“I am feeling a little tired,” Sunny mumbles. She leans on the armrest of the chair she’s parked in. “My head’s pounding.”

“That’s because your blood pressure’s probably through the roof, Mama. You know the docs say not to get upset.”

Korine slips into caretaker mode at once, despite the fact that she’s in need of care herself. She winces her way to Sunny and helps her to her purse to take her medication. Then it’s off to the bathroom and bedroom.

I hang back and let them have some space.

To say tonight’s been a lot is a hell of an understatement.

I slide both hands through my hair and let out a deep breath. It’s gonna take time to work through everything, from my rage at Korine’s situation to actually getting her the help she needs.

She turned up on my doorstep.

Though she didn’t ask, it means something. She sees me as the person who can help.

Her safety.

Just like she’d been mine so many years ago.

It’s another twenty minutes before Korine emerges. She softly closes the bedroom door then pads down the hall into the living room area.

I’m over by the kitchen sink, peering out the square window above it. It’s too dark out to see anything but the pitch-black cloak that falls over the ravine. The view fits my mood on the inside.

Dark as night.

“I’m sorry for being here,” Korine says, fidgeting. “We’ll be gone in the morning.”

I glance at her, my palms flat on the kitchen counter. “Gone, where? Back to him?”

“Blake… it’s complicated.”

“It’s about the least complicated thing in the world.”

“You don’t get it. It’s not so black and white.”