Page 74 of Outlier

As we passed Gareth, he reached out to catch Mike’s arm. “You’ll look after her?”

Mike nodded again, and then Gareth turned to me. “I’m sorry, cariad,” his voice was hoarse now. “I should have said that a long time ago, but Iamsorry.”

Chapter 25

Why is your mum here?

Mike

There wasa low buzzing in my ears from residual fury as I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.

Vicky kept darting me small glances as we drove, no doubt worrying about me.

Yes, worrying aboutme.

As we’d driven away from the shitshow of a wedding where my girlfriend was goddamn assaulted, she’d asked me ifIwas okay.

She’d been assaulted, and yet she was asking me howIwas.

I’d given her the honest truth, that no, I was not okay, and it was taking all of my restraint not to turn the car around and go back to finish off that piece of shit before fucking up the rest of her family.

I’d never had such a strong urge to hurt a woman as I had with Vicky’s mother and sister.

She’s always bruised very easily.

What the fuck waswrongwith that woman?

“Oh,” Vicky had replied in a small voice. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” I said through gritted teeth. “Why the fuck areyousorry?”

“I shouldn’t have taken you to the wedding. They’remyfamily. I should have just dealt with it by myself.”

“Rest assured, Vicky,” I said with absolute conviction. “You are never, under any circumstance, dealing with any of your family alone, ever again. Understand me?”

“Oh… okay.”

I’d then had to sit through Vicky’s interview at the police station where she recounted what rapey Darrell had done to her two years ago, and what he did today. I’d told the detectives that she was Autistic, and they were actually really good with her, but it had been a long bloody process.

It was now ten at night, and Vicky looked completely exhausted.

“Where are we going?” she asked, and I realised I’d been too consumed with fury and worry that I hadn’t even bothered to tell her what was happening.

Forcing myself to ease my grip on the steering wheel and start behaving like a rational, caring human, I glanced over at Vicky, and my chest felt tight. I cleared my throat and tried to soften my voice when I spoke.

“We’re going to the cabin.”

“Oh.”

I’d expected some sort of objection, but then again, Vicky seemed a little out of it—she probably didn’t have it in her to object.

Half an hour later when we arrived at the cabin, I noticed Vicky’s tense body relax as we drove up the driveway, and I breathed a sigh of relief that maybe I’d done the right thing. But when we pulled up outside, she tensed again as she looked at the front door.

“Why is your mum here?” she whispered, staring at Mum, who was now bustling towards the car with a smile on her face.

I rubbed my forehead.

“Vicky, I’m sorry, but I had to call Mum.”