Page 46 of Above All Else
He squared his shoulders, and I walked in behind him, my knees shaking, my heart racing a million miles a second.
The kitchen was a scene of decay, with rotting food left abandoned on the stove, its foul stench causing my nose to twitch—a horde of flies claiming the furry feast. The floor was a chaoticmess of discarded clothes and crushed beer cans, each step a mysterious landmine.
In the corner of the dim, cluttered living room, an old box TV flickered, casting an eerie light across the worn and sagging armchair where the one and only David Tatum sat passed out cold, oblivious to the squander.
I knew there was something wrong here.
My fists clenched around the bat as I brought it to my shoulder, rushed forward, and brought it down hard against his chest.
The drunk man’s lungs deflated as he exhaled with a whine, his bloodshot eyes bursting open, his lips wide as he gave a silent cry.
“That’s for not taking care of Caroline.” I brought the bat back over my shoulder and back down on his hand resting on his leg, his other pressed to his chest.
Crunch.
“AHHHHHH.”David screamed as the bat crushed his wrist.
“Oh, don’t be such a pussy, David.”
Carter raised a brow as he settled on the other side of David, his arms crossed over his chest with a nonchalant smirk as though my abuse of a grown man wasn’t appalling.
“What the...” David glanced up at Carter. “Who are you?”
“Me? I’m no one. It’s her you should be worried about.” He pointed at me and chuckled. “Hell hath no fury and all...”
“I didn’t do anything to—“
“You didn’t do anything?” I clenched my teeth, grindingthem until my jaw ached. “Just look around.” I raised the bat, and he cowered. “You’ve damaged that little girl. The one person who she should be able to trust in this godforsaken world, and you violated that.”
My bat connected with his knee, the weight of emotion lifting off my shoulders as I exhaled on his scream.
“Daddy?”
I glanced down the dark hall, catching the small shadow of little Caroline. My heart stopped in my chest, the rush of blood falling from my face.
Why didn’t I think she’d witness this?
Shoving the bat behind me, I took two steps down the hall toward her. “Hi, little miss Caroline.”
“Miss Collins?”
“Mmhmm.” I nodded as I knelt, taking her hand in mine. “Your daddy and I are having a little chat, and when we’re done, he’s going to clean the kitchen and make you some breakfast.” I gave her a saccharin smile. “How does that sound?”
Her eyes lit up. “Really?”
I nodded. “Yup. But you have to go back into your room and stay there until the policeman says you can come out. Okay?”
“Miss Collins?”
“You’re dead, bit—“
Carter grabbed David around the shoulder, causing him to seize up, his knees hiking into the air as though he were a kitten held by the scruff. “Shh.”He held his finger to his lips. “We don’t want to worry the kid.”
Iturned back to Caroline. “Yes, sweetheart?”
“What are you wearing?”
“Um...”My brows rose as I looked down at my negligee. “I wanted to wear my Halloween costume today.”