Page 12 of Tattered Souls (Whispering Falls #2)

Then I leaned in and asked, “You okay if I share with my dad?”

She looked at me. “Yes. I’m tired of hiding it all. Tired of fighting.”

I pressed a kiss on her forehead and whispered, “I’ll do the fighting, Tink. You just rest.”

Then I pulled away, tagged my chair, and brought it closer to the bed. Then I settled in and said, “Okay, Dad. I’m back.”

That was when I heard, “She’s going to be my next daughter-in-law. Love her for you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I said.

Then I told him about her mom leaving. Her dad beating her. Never telling Granger about any of it because she didn’t want anything to keep him from getting his degree and getting out of that house. I told him about Lance.

“Soon as that fucker is released, I’ll pay him a visit.” My dad growled.

I heard Mom in the background mutter, “I’ll help.”

After I hung up, my phone pinged with another text.

Okay... this was new.

Having Tatum’s Back Text Thread

Talia added Garrick, Carter, Harlee, Ethan, Alec, Dominik, Bronson, Mommy-kins, Daddy-kins, Lila, and Everly.

Talia – Figured this would be better.

Talia – We got everything that we knew had to be hers.

Harlee – We need directions in the kitchen.

I looked at Tatum. “Kitchen stuff. What do you want?”

She looked at me and said, “Donate everything in there to the women’s shelter. Please.”

Me – Tatum said to donate everything in the kitchen to the women’s shelter.

Bronson – Got a buddy whose woman stayed there. He’ll take care of dropping it off.

Dominik – Getting your woman some gift cards.

Harlee – Same.

Talia – Same.

Ethan – Same. I have more clothes than this.

Alec – Think I’m done treating women like I have been.

Lila – Alec....

Talia – Sweetie...

Harlee – Alec...

Carter – We know Alec. We feel it too.

I put my phone back in my pocket as the doctor walked in.

I ignored the text messages as he pulled up a stool and looked at Tatum with a sad frown. “Thank you for being patient, Ms. Rogers. Are you okay if this man stays in here?”

She nodded, looked at me, and then flipped her hand open palm up.

I knew what she was silently asking.

I placed mine in hers and held on. Offering her support, the best way I knew how.

The doctor’s gaze landed on my split knuckles.

Then he asked, “I don’t think you did this to her, did you?”

My eyes narrowed.

I growled, “The day I put my hand on any woman, put a bullet in me. The day I put my hands on this woman, think of all the worst ways a person can be tortured, and I’ll sit there and take it. Happily.”

The doctor nodded in approval.

“Okay, thankfully, your cheekbone isn’t cracked.

Just bruised, badly. However, you do have three cracked ribs.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do for them except give you antibiotics and painkillers.

We can, however, wrap your ribs to help them stay immobile.

I want you to go somewhere you feel safe and relax.

No lifting anything for a few days. Give them time to heal. Okay?”

Tatum nodded.

Then she looked at me. “You had them take my things to your place. Right?”

I nodded, “Yeah. My spare bedroom.”

I didn’t plan for her to be in there for very long. No, she was going to be moving into my room as soon as I could get her there.

Another hour or so and we had her discharge papers.

I pulled my phone out and texted my dad.

Me – Doctor sent Tatum’s prescriptions to the pharmacy. Can you go get them?

Dad – I’ll grab them and come over with your mother.

Me – Thank you.

As I was walking next to Tatum in her wheelchair, I saw Dom heading our way.

He made it to us, bent down, and said, “We got all your stuff at Garrick’s. The girls are unloading the SUV. Still pretty as a picture, Darlin’.”

I saw Tatum smile, and then she whispered, “Thank you.”

Dom straightened then and said, “Got my SUV here. It should be better to get her to your place. I’ll drive your car back to your house.”

I held out my hand and said, “Thanks, brother.”

He lifted his chin.

***

Five minutes later, I had Tatum loaded up in Dom’s SUV, and we were pulling out of the hospital, when I asked, “Want to stop anywhere on the way home?”

I caught her glance at me, as she bit her bottom lip, then she winced, as she brought her fingers to her cheek.

I tightened my hold on the wheel.

Wishing I had punched Lance even harder.

He needed another broken bone... or ten. Or hell, I’d be happy with all of them being broken.

“What is it, Tink?” I asked as I stopped at the stoplight.

Hesitantly, she asked, “I’m hungry. Can we stop and get me some soup at Chick-fil-A?”

I nodded. “Sounds good. Been wanting to get a sandwich from there.”

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in the drive-thru. I ordered her soup, and my sandwich, paid, got our food, and then we headed to my house.

And in the driveway and along the road, I saw vehicles. So many vehicles that they took up almost the entire end of the road I lived on.

Nothing was better than living in a small town.

And if I ever needed proof, all I had to do was remember today.