Absolution Read online

  A minute ticked by.

  He opened his door and got out, and my anticipation deflated. He rounded the hood of the truck, his dark gaze pinning me through the front windshield. I followed him until he reached my door and swung it open.

  Seconds passed. He shifted. “I better get home.”

  I climbed down, my ego a little bruised.

  He shut the door and slowly walked with me up the pathway to the house. When we reached the porch he stopped a good five feet from the door, his hands stuffed into the front pocket of his jeans.

  He leaned forward and placed a kiss on my cheek, pausing, his warm breath heated my skin. “Bye, Zoe.”

  His tone was so cryptic. What did he mean?

  I watched him return to his truck, get inside and drive off, my heart fumbling in my chest.

  y y y

  The front door shut behind me and I whipped out my cell phone.

  Texted Weston: r u ok?

  yeah

  u sure?

  yeah just tired

  k

  Hadn’t we all just spent the last twenty-four hours in the hospital? I felt a little better believing he was simply tired.

  Mom and Dad’s voices drifted down the stairs in low murmurs. I headed up.

  The door to Abria’s bedroom was open, and I rounded the corner and peered in. Abria lay tucked in her bed. Mom sat on one side, Dad on the other. Mom hovered over my sister. Behind Mom stood Aunt Janis, her radiant glow spilling onto Mom’s body. Aunt Janis stroked Mom’s head as she would a child.

  Aunt Janis smiled at me. “Zippy, how are ya, honey?”

  I opened my mouth to reply, and stopped, stepping into the room.

  “How is she?”

  “Your mother’s a wreck but I’m workin’ on her.”

  “She’s so docile,” Mom answered quietly, petting Abria’s hands. It was strange seeing Abria so passive. She never let anyone comfort her. I imagined the moment was bittersweet for my parents, wanting to savor the ironic experience.

  Dad glanced at me. “Is Weston with you?”

  I crossed to the foot of the bed, trying not to glance at Aunt Janis and not wanting to ignore her at the same time. “No. He dropped me off and went home.”

  Dad nodded. “He seems like a nice young man.”

  “He stayed at the hospital the whole time?” Mom looked up at me and I caught the red rimming her eyes.

  “Um, yeah.”

  “Was that Krissy I saw in the waiting room?” Dad asked.

  “Yeah.”

  Dad’s brows drew together. The late night and Abria’s hospital stay had already taken a toll on him, leaving him pale and shadowed beneath his green eyes. I hated that he looked concerned now—for Luke.

  “I take it her dad knew where she was?” he asked.

  “He probably did,” I said, though Krissy had said no. I glanced at Aunt Janis, gauging whether or not she knew anything about Krissy’s situation.

  Aunt Janis didn’t react, only remained intent and focused on comforting Mom. “You have got to loosen up, Deb. Have some faith. Your little girl is gonna be just fine,” she cooed.

  Mom let out a sigh, then leaned over and kissed Abria’s head. Abria didn’t resist, or push her away; she lay quietly and closed her eyes.

  “Maybe I should rest in here with her,” Mom said, her voice weary.

  “That’s my job,” Aunt Janis piped, placing her hands just over the top of Mom’s head. Aunt Janis closed her eyes and the light illuminating her intensified for a moment, seeming to rush into Mom, cocooning her like I’d seen the beings at the hospital administer to their charges.

  “You need to rest,” Dad said.

  “Yeah,” I added. “Abria’s out. Let her sleep.”

  “What if she needs me?” Mom asked.

  “I’ll be here for her.” Aunt Janis’ soothing voice seemed to transcend barriers. Mom’s countenance lightened and she took in a deep breath as she stared at her sleeping child.

  Dad rose and came around the foot of the bed, then gently urged Mom to her feet. “She’s going to be fine. Time for you to take a nap.”

  Aunt Janis smiled, nodded.

  “Maybe I will lie down for a little bit,” Mom conceded, glancing at the window. The late morning sun creeped up the eastern sky, its orange rays spilling over the mountain peaks.

  Dad wrapped his arm around her and ushered her to the door. “We all need to take naps,” he said with a glance at me.

  “You’re right.” But I wanted to talk to Aunt Janis. “I’m gonna kiss Abria then take one of my own.”

  Mom leaned her head on Dad’s shoulder as they walked down the hall toward their bedroom. Once they were behind their closed bedroom door, I returned to Abria’s room. Aunt Janis smiled.

  “You wanted to talk, Zippy?”

  “It’s Zoe,” I teased.

  “I know.” She waved a hand at me. “Listen, your Mom needs a break.

  I know you help her, and that’s wonderful. Encourage her to have more faith, Zoe. Like you.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” I said. “Where’s Matthias?”

  Her bright countenance softened to a marshmallowy glow and her eyes twinkled. “He really is special, isn’t he?”

  “I didn’t see him after his… father showed up at the hospital. Is he all right?”

  “You don’t have to worry about Matthias, honey.” Aunt Janis crossed to me, her nearness warming. “He’s one of the strongest souls I’ve ever met.”

  Of course Matthias was all right. But had seeing his father hurt him? “I just—Albert is so awful… I didn’t want Matthias to be sad or hurt.”

  “Don’t you trouble yourself over this.”

  “But I care about him. His father’s such a loser, I can’t—”

  “Tsk-tsk.” Aunt Janis shook her head. “How can the bad ever be good if we don’t have faith in them?”

  I snickered. “Have you ever seen or been near Albert?”

  “I haven’t, but every soul deserves hope, Zoe.”

  “But he’s so far gone it’s…” Sad. No wonder Matthias didn’t want to give up on him—his family. His blood. “Do you know anything about Matthias’ mother?”

  “Not a thing.” Aunt Janis glanced at Abria. “Your mother and Abria are resting now, so I’ll be on my way.” She brightened. “Good to see you again.

  Take that nap, you’ve got circles under your eyes.” She pointed with a teasing gleam and then, in a flash of white, was gone.

  Abria remained asleep in her bed. I sunk to the mattress and sighed.

  Kissed Abria’s cheek. She didn’t stir. I lay down next to her and focused on the soft rise and fall of her chest, allowing the movement to gradually drain the adrenaline from my body. The smell of her, the very fact that she was alive and well and breathing next to me cradled my weary soul.

  The far-off slam of the front door jolted me. It had to be Luke. I didn’t want him to awaken Mom, Dad or Abria. I stood and tip-toed out of Abria’s bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

  I went down the stairs, any welcome relaxation I’d invited watching Abria sleep vanished with each step closer to the kitchen. Luke had his head in the freezer side of the refrigerator.

  “Hey,” I said. “Everybody’s napping so if you could be super quiet it’d be—”

  He pulled out a bag of peas, shut the door, and my breath caught. His eye was blotched red and purple.

  Chapter Twelve

  ____________________

  I crossed to him. “What happened?”

  “Damned psycho,” he mumbled, placing the bag of peas over his blackening eye.

  “Krissy’s dad?” Anger rushed through my veins. “Did he do that?”

  Luke’s hands shook. Either he was fuming or whatever had happened between him and Krissy’s dad had scared him.

  “I took Krissy home and was going to drop her off a block away, like I usually do. The goon appeared out of nowhere. He must have been hiding in some neighbor’s bushes
or something because he stormed up to the car and pounded on my hood. Scared the hell out of us. Then he ripped open the door and yanked Krissy out of the car by her hair. By her hair! Like some effing caveman! Who does that?” He shifted, and readjusted the bag of peas over his eye.

  “I got out of the car and told him off, the freak, which of course he didn’t stand for. But I don’t care, I had to. The guy is so effed up it’s ridiculous.

  He freaking dragged Krissy down the street by her hair. I told him to stop and he shoved me back. I jumped him and—”

  “You jumped him?”

  “I wasn’t going to let that moron treat her like that. I had to do something,” Luke hissed. “He’s…he’s…”

  “What?” I demanded.

  Luke avoided my gaze, left me and crossed to the family room couch where he plopped into the cushions.

  “He assaulted you. I’m calling the police.”

  “No!” Luke bolted to his feet.

  “Why?” Every nasty and grotesque image I’d imagined about Krissy’s dad flashed through my head. “Did he threaten you too? You know better than to listen to someone like that. People like him live off threats, Luke. That’s how they control their victims. Are you going to let him control you now?”

  “I certainly hope so,” Albert’s smooth voice came at me from my right. He leaned against a wall, hands in the pockets of his suit. I took a deep breath to calm myself, but the underlying violation I felt on behalf of Luke remained—a low current I hoped to squelch before it revved out of hand.

  “It’s not me I’m worried about, it’s her,” Luke said. “What he’ll do to her.”

  I faced Luke, keeping Albert’s image behind me. “Did she tell you what’s going on?”

  Luke’s pale-faced discomfort told me that he probably knew exactly what was going on, but was afraid—or too shocked and disgusted to say. Did I even want to know the truth?

  “He’s sexually abusing her, isn’t he?” My heart stopped, waiting for him to confirm what I had long believed was going on between Krissy and her Dad. Albert moved into my line of vision, his eerie presence pressing into my side with ominous foreboding.

  Luke froze. “She told you?”

  My gut twisted knowing the truth. “No. I figured as much. I told you, the man has black spirits crawling all over him.”

  “Yeah, well, he should be in jail.”

  I whipped out my cell phone. “And he will be, now that he hit you.”

  Luke lunged for my phone and I darted back. Albert applauded and moved closer to us. “You’re not calling the police,” Luke snapped. He wrenched my phone out of my hand.

  “Give that to me!”

  “Can’t. You don’t know what this will do to her.”

  “You mean save her from more abuse? I can’t see how calling the police won’t help.” I thrust my open palm at him. “Give me my phone.”

  “Ah, sibling arguments.” Albert rocked back on his heels. “There’s nothing more destructive to the delicate weave of the family unit.”

  “Shut. Up!”

  “Screw you!” Luke turned, shoved my phone into his pocket and headed for the freezer.

  “Zoe, you never disappoint,” Albert commented, like a sportscaster commentating a UFC. “You’re a master at—”

  Ignore him, ignore him. “I wasn’t talking to—look, if I promise not to call the cops will you give me my phone?”

  Luke eyed me. “You have to promise, Z. I promised her I wouldn’t and I can’t go back on it.”

  He looked so determined and fiercely protective, my heart softened.

  “Only if you tell me everything.”

  He shook his head. “Forget it.”

  I headed for the house phone. “Then I report the assault.”

  “Crap, Zoe, you’re such an idiot sometimes.” He threw my phone across the room and I grabbed it.

  “He hit you!” I squeezed the cell phone in my fists. “And you’re going to let him get away with it? You’re going to let him continue to rape her?”

  Luke shuddered. “Don’t say it like that.”

  “That’s what it is, isn’t it?”

  “She just told me about it,” his voice rose. “What kind of ass would I be if I turned around and snitched on her?”

  “You’re not snitching on her Luke, you’re saving her. He’s going to continue to molest her until he’s locked up.”

  He averted his eyes. Luke headed for the couch and fell onto it with a moan, turning the bag of frozen peas over on his blackening eye.

  I joined him at the couch but remained standing, too angry to relax.

  Albert slowly moved closer. I shot him a warning glare to keep his distance which he, of course, disregarded. “Call the cops,” Albert hissed. “Call them.”

  “She’s so sweet…” Luke’s voice softened. “She doesn’t deserve this.”

  Luke rested his head on the cushion and closed his eyes. “You know those people you connect with right away? You feel it, inside. She’s one of those people.”

  I bit my lower lip. Luke’s feelings for Krissy were deeper than I thought.

  I tried not to be alarmed. I didn’t know how much time Luke had spent with Krissy, but whatever the time had been, their association had made an impact on him. Of the two of us, it was Luke who’d brought home the occasional stray animal, tried to save dying baby birds and couldn’t bear killing a grasshopper. His caring heart was big and tender, a characteristic he’d tried to cover up with drug abuse, unable to deal with his natural gift of compassion.

  Albert stood to the side of the couch as if waiting for Luke or me to explode again so he could jump on the rocket of fireworks.

  “For all the crap she’s lived with,” Luke went on, his voice drained of anger now, “she’s amazingly innocent.”

  “How did she get around to telling you about… everything?” I sat down next to him.

  “I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll just get angry again.”

  “Oh, do ask him for more details,” Albert piped with enthusiasm. “He doesn’t need much to be pushed over the edge.”

  “As if you’d know.”

  Luke stared at me, then bolted to his feet, started for the stairs. “I’m sick of your talking.”

  “I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I need to tell you something. Luke?” He ignored me. “Luke, stop for a second and listen to me.”

  “I’m done here.”

  I clenched my teeth. “What are you going to tell Mom and Dad when they ask you about your eye?”

  He was halfway up the stairs. “That you slugged me.”

  I ground my teeth. Luke’s bedroom door slammed and I turned my fury on Albert. “Get out!”

  “I’m growing rather fond of your family.”

  “Why? Because you lost your own?” I marched closer to him, ignoring flashes of warning in my head to keep distance between us.

  Albert’s shoulders lifted. “Family is overrated. Female companionship…

  now that’s something else altogether. Ask Matthias.”

  “Liar.” What I didn’t know about Matthias’ life and loves stung, a pinch I felt afresh any time I thought about it. So I fought thinking about it. I should have known Albert would bring up Matthias. “I think you hang around here because you want what you can’t have. It’s sick, yes, but that’s you.

  A sick, voyeuristic opportunist who leeches what he will never get. By the way, what happened to you at the hospital?” I cocked a brow at him.

  Albert’s gaze hardened.

  A sudden shock of energy sucked every last ounce of oxygen from the air. I couldn’t breathe. Mouth gaping, heart pounding, my gaze connected with Albert’s. Fear paralyzed my limbs. My heart raced like a butterfly caught in a jar. Panic took hold of my soul until warm heat pressed into my back.

  Rays of light bathed me from behind, and every muscle in my body loosened. Albert’s gaze shifted to something behind me. Matthias. I felt him, and knew he was there without needing t
o confirm with a look.

  “Leave.” His serene voice filled the room.

  Albert’s nostrils flared. His sharp gaze remained fixed over my shoulder.

  A second passed, then he dissolved before my eyes.

  I turned and flung myself into Matthias’ arms.

  “Zoe.”

  “I know, I know. I got carried away. I—I’m sorry.”

  His hand stroked my hair. “Please don’t entertain him again.”

  “Entertain?” I choked out. “I was hardly entertaining him.”

  He stepped back, cupping my face. “You know what I am talking about. You enable him by confronting him.”

  I nodded, grasping his wrists and closing my eyes. I savored his nearness. “I couldn’t talk.” My throat felt like Albert’s hands were wrapped around the tender flesh. “I’ve never been so scared.”

  “Remember, he can’t touch you. He uses fear because it paralyzes. It’s much easier to capture a frozen soul than a moving one.”

  “So I just need to not be afraid of him.” I swallowed. “He can’t make me do anything. He can’t.”

  Matthias nodded. “Now you’re on the trolley.”

  “It sounds easy but it’s so hard.” Staring hell in the face was the most terrifying thing I’d ever done, and I was doing it over and over again, facing Albert. I should be getting better at it.

  Matthias’ thumb grazed my chin. “You’re…” His soothing tone softened, he swallowed. “Amazing.”

  “He keeps bringing up you…and women.” My voice faltered. Please don’t think I’m weak, wondering about your past. Please.

  Matthias closed his eyes for a moment. I searched his expression, my heart trembling. “What happened?”

  My mind flashed with pretty painted faces, women laughing.

  “That’s your imagination, not my memory,” Matthias spoke in earnest.

  “Zoe, my life, those choices I made, the people I knew…they’re part of a past I don’t care to dwell on.”

  Faint images ghosted through my mind. One in particular—a woman with dark hair cropped to her chin—chestnut eyes, huge and beguiling, appeared for only a flash and then vanished. I wanted to see more of her. Who was she?

  Matthias’ strong palms gripped my shoulders. “Have you done things you’re not proud of?”