ng the call. The rugged, untamed look was really working for him, and

to incarceration, but he was willing to sacrifice himself. Somewh

ut of my stupor. His face scrunched up as h

as she lightly placed

rned and walked back to their truck. Even though I w

he opened the truck door. Then s

gazed toward his wife and son as

away from his ear and seemingly glared at the

led out their phone to check fo

earing her voice, a recording answered. "All circ

I thought things co

inning out of control. No one looked up from their phon

om her eyes. I wanted to tell her that crying wasn't the solution, but who was I to judge? I

t anything?

omfort, but no one answe

?" Big man rubbed the

, walked over to our SUV, and

hin trembled while tears streamed down her face. My baby sister was terrified. It took all my control to stop myse

her because she didn't resemble my mother at all. The bruises hadn't improved, but the swelling in her cheeks

kers, and I flinched back. My shou

d to find Derek's intense blue gaze on me. It was fill

My question was answered when I noticed ev

I stepped away f

?" Dad yelled, slamming his palm against the st

t suddenly stopped on a fuzzy signal coming from 88.1. "... and all residents are being asked to stay at home and lock their doors. O

an through me. What the hell was that? The c

re was someone intentionally making it impossible for us

to be closer to Dad. I stepped back to mak

his

o the sid

s he flexed his f

ed a furious grunt and threw his hat at the ground. "I can

when he got angry. I reacted by backing away from him and glanced over to f

voice hollered from somewhere in the dista

e woman muttered. She'd been so quiet I

. The woman supported the man who looked like he would fall over at any moment. Every step appeared to be difficult and painful for him.

bushes to violently throw up. While he was hunched over the greenery, an immense sense of guilt washed over me.

, Dad caught my elbow to stop me. He shook his head and quietly explained that he

against everything he and Mom

ke a choice on what to do. Like us, and many others, this couple would hav

thought, it was every

ean for us? People would want to talk to us about our solution to help our loved ones. I didn't want Derek and his frien

n't stop me from hating myself for doing nothing as I watched the

cars, was still yelling and screaming at people. I could picture her pounding on the wind

'll be nothing but piss and vinegar. I can't deal with that right now." Big man cleared his throat

ne caught it except me. "He only lives a minute from work. I'll

u." Big man's tone was losing every bit of its niceness. Had he been

, I know. What the hell do yo

eyes narrowed on Derek. "Ju

his dad before he tu

or me to come close. "Just gi

d back toward the nois

ou volunteering to go with Derek. He seems like a good young man and he doesn't want anyone to get into trouble. Onc

to jail. Of course, that would only happen if the police showed. They were totally MIA for the moment, so I could on

cs for Mom, Dad would go off the deep end. He needed to ke

st trust we'll get this done." I studied Dad's face to make sure he was actually l

over the broken skin on my face. "I'm proud of you, Casey. We've been through hell tonight, and you've handled it so well. I don

and swallowed back t

gainst the cars had magically disappeared. No one wanted to deal with her. She was pounding on someone's

ss up from my vehicle!" Anot

before the woman s

follow me. We can't be heroes so don't stop for that lady or anyone else. Here's our address just in case." Dad handed both the

I nodded

k! I can't get a hold of anyone, and my ph

work neither! Now get on outta here before I beat your skinny litt

k wrapped his hand ar