Page 159 of Pretty Broken Wings

No, not wet. Bloody.

I suck in a breath. This will look like a suicide.

And I’ll look like the hero who came in at the last minute to save him.

I yank Rich’s body out of the car and onto the floor, starting chest compressions. I do them hard enough to break some ribs so they know I was trying to help.

I dial 911 on my phone, working my body up. I give a panicked relay about blood and death and CPR. I’ve read enough 911 transcripts to know how real callers act.

I do CPR on Rich’s body for fifteen minutes until the fire department arrives.

Then I step away, sweaty and covered in his blood, while they try uselessly to save him.

I don’t feel bad. At all. Axel deserved to have someone wipe this shitstain from the earth. Mom might be sad at first. In fact, I know she will be. But we’ll be there for her. Axel and me, and—my heart jumps at the thought—maybe even Raven.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

Numb chaos ensues as I break the news to Mom and then call Axel. On the phone, Axel sounds skeptical, but he doesn’t question me. Mom loses her shit and insists on staying while the Sheriff’s Department does their investigation. I should be surprised, but I’m not. I knew some part of her loved Rich, no matter how he treated her. She was blind to everything but the companionship he offered.

After a few hours, the shock sets in for Mom. She doesn’t want to talk or do anything. I offer to stay with her, but she asks to be alone.

At first, I balk. I don’t want to leave her alone after she just lost her husband. Instead, I call her book club friends. The first one I get a hold of tells me she’ll get in touch with everyone, and they’ll be over.

They pick Mom up from my driveway.

Axel meets me in the driveway. He waits until Mom drives away, then there’s a silence between us. Then, he clasps my hand, gripping it so hard I suck in a breath. He clasps me on the back. There’s unspoken emotion in his grip, and for the first time today, I almost lose it. I don’t know what to say to him. And what if he’s mad at me? Rich was in our lives for a long time. Also, I wouldn’t put it past Axel to have had a hit out on Rich already. But I couldn’t let him take the fall for that. It’s time I protected him, even if it doesn’t erase the past.

Then, Axel speaks, his voice tight. “Are you gonna need a lawyer, brother?”

I step back to look at him. His gaze is flinty, and there’s no sadness.

I let out a breath. “You offering?”

He chuckles and runs a hand through his hair. “I mean, I’m not certified, but my annoying ass brother has taught me enough. It can’t be that hard, can it?”

I laugh. Then, there’s silence. He says nothing but everything at the same time.

It’s okay. We’re going to be okay. Everything is going to be better now. It feels like something that was missing fills my chest again.

Now, we just need Raven, and everything will feel complete.

When we get inside, I strain my ears to hear her voice. It’s changed since she first got here. It’s still raspy and hot, butthere’s a warmer sound to it. She’s faster to smile and even laugh. I like to think it’s because she’s not hungry anymore and maybe even feels safe.

My chest warms. It lights my heart up in ways I didn’t think it could. I feel happy. Content. Like I can face anything as long as Raven and Axel are here.

I don’t hear her in the kitchen. I look around the corner into the living room.

“I briefed her on what happened,” Axel says.

I peek down the hallway, wishing I had the glasses so I could see Raven in detail. I want to see her sleep-mussed hair. Her hesitant eyes. Her loose body language that’s saying she might be scared, but not of us. But I don’t see that. In fact, I don’t see any movement from Raven or Buddy.

Suddenly, Raven appears in a flurry of movement. Something in my chest loosens, and I grin, “Hey, princess.”

“Hey,” she says, sounding rushed, pushing past us.

“Sorry about the blood, I’ll–”

Raven moves to the front door. “It’s okay. I’ll be back.”