Page 95 of Don't Leave Me Behind
“Is what true?” Pa asks, moving to stand behind Marcy. Big hands resting on her shoulders.
“Leni wasn’t mugged,” Toby mutters, voice low and heartbroken.
“Someone tried to rape her, and he knew,” Mercer spits out, bouncing on the balls of his feet, like he wants to come at me again.
“I didn’t know. Not until last week.” My answer doesn’t seem to make things better.
“But you knew she left in the middle of the night, and you didn’t think to call any of us?” Ethan is fuming, his jaw clenched so tight, you can see the muscles grinding.
“I—” I’m no longer sure if we’re talking about a decade ago or just last night. Guess they could take their pick, maybe it’s both. I don’t know. I look to Mercer out of habit, hating the way I don’t get the reassurance I need, the backup I’ve come to expect. “If you’re talking about ten years ago, I had a panic attack and ended up in the hospital. She wasn’t answering my calls, so I thought she blocked me. I thought she made it home. I didn’t know anything about this until a few days ago.”
“What do you mean, last week?” Ma's green eyes, so much like Leni’s, meet mine full of hurt and doubt.
I blow out a breath, gripping my ribs when they expand a little too far. I think he might have cracked a few. “She’s been back at the ranch since last Thursday.”
“Excuse me?” Ethan’s seconds away from finishing what Mercer started, betrayal clear on his face.
“It’s true,” Brooks pipes up, from where he’s sitting with his baby, who’s still staring at the blonde-haired stranger. “I saw her Jeep. I knew she was home.”
Mercer growls, throwing his hands up in the air, shaking his head.
“Why didn’t she tell us?” Ma looks close to tears. I’m notsure I’ve ever seen her cry. She’s the backbone of this family, the one who helps to hold us all together.
“She didn’t want you to know,” Miya says from behind me.
“That’s bullshit.” Adler is standing next to her, arms crossed over his chest. Miya cuts him a look that has him stepping a couple of feet away from her.
“Why? Why did she keep so many things from us?” Ma’s voice chokes, tears falling down her cheeks.
Miya and I share a look. It’s not our place to fix this, not our place to intervene. Neither of us says anything. Instead, we nod, an understanding passing between us.
“You’ll have to ask her that, Ma. It’s not my place.” I grip the back of my neck, hating this. Hating the way I feel like I don’t fit. As if I’m an intruder here.
“She can have two more visitors now,” Miya says to me.
“Great.” Mercer shoulders past me, snapping his fingers at the woman with Tessa. “You and me, blondie. Let’s go.”
“Um, I think maybe Clay should go. He needs to see her.” The blonde chews her bottom lip, looking entirely uncomfortable with the whole situation.
“That’s Pepper,” Miya whispers, as the blonde gives me an awkward wave.
“You’re not going in there.” Mercer points a finger at me before storming off. No one says anything to contradict him. Ethan follows Mercer. I look at Miya, the desperate plea obvious in my eyes when she moves closer.
“She looks rough, Clay, but she’s going to be okay. It’ll take some time. She has a lot of broken bones, but she’s going to live.”
I nod, feeling a thousand pounds heavier now that I’m here, and there’s nothing I can do to help Leni.
“Come on.” Miya pulls me toward the corner where Brooksand Tessa have carved out a space for themselves. “Rest, Clay. Okay?”
I nod, trying my hardest to keep my eyes open. A little snort escapes me when Pepper’s phone slips out of her hands, landing on the bridge of her nose. Her gasping groan pulls a little smile from the otherwise expressionless Tessa.
“And you’re done here.” Brooks steps in, scooping the little girl off the ground. He gives me a curt nod before tossing a blanket at me, turning all of his attention to Tessa.
I don’t remember fallingasleep, but it’s after dark by the time I wake to Miya shaking me. Sheer exhaustion makes it hard for me to open my eyes.
“Come on,” she whispers. I realize then that most of the Kanes are tucked away and sleeping. Brooks is the only one sitting up, a bottle in one hand, Tessa in the other. He gives me an encouraging nod before gesturing his head toward the door.
I nod, eyes opening wider when I realize I’m going to see Leni. With Mercer and Ethan both passed out on the opposite side of the room, I get up, eagerly following Miya as we sneak out of the visitors’ section.
