Page 55 of Wrangled
“Calliope?” Jen calls out, but my focus is on the woman as she moves to the back door and opens it. She unstraps a little girl and lifts her out with a pained grunt. She lowers the kid to the ground before turning around. She startles when she sees me, reaching for the little girl’s hand.
“I’m sorry, can I help you?” She tugs the girl protectively behind her. My eyes scan her face and the faded bruise she’s valiantly tried to hide behind makeup, and the pained way she moves as if her ribs are protesting every breath.
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but when the little girl pokes her head around her mom’s legs, words fail me as I stare into hauntingly familiar eyes.
“Mommy?”
“It’s okay, baby,” the woman answers without tearing her gaze from mine. “Do I know you?”
I shake my head, shoving the bloody tissue in my pocket. “No. I…um. I have some cream that will help with the bruising and pain.”
She says nothing, her eyes fixed on my tattoo where my sleeve has risen. She swallows, but instead of looking freaked out, she seems—dare I say it—hopeful? It’s a look I wasn’t expecting and almost makes me take a step back.
“Cream. Um, yeah, that would be great. I can come by and get it tomorrow when I drop Hannah off at preschool. You know, if you’re free?” She swallows hard, a desperation flooding her eyes that silently begs me to agree.
“Sure, that sounds good. I’m up at?—”
“Corvis Wing. I know. I’ll be there. I’m Dawn, by the way. And this is Hannah.”
“I’m Calliope. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“You too. We have to go. I need to collect my husband.” She whispers the last part as a warning, which I’m more than happy to heed. I nod and give the little girl a wave before heading back to a frowning Jen.
“What was that all about?” she asks.
Before I can answer, Shepard storms out with an equally pissed-off Andrews with him. I stand next to Jen’s car, keeping calm as Andrews adopts a smug face.
“Look, Sheriff, I don’t know what she said, but like I told you and her, my car broke down and I’ve called for a tow truck. I’m not sure what else you want me to do.”
“Why, you little?—”
I cut Jen off by stepping forward. “I must have missed that part, about your truck not working. From our end, it looked like you just stopped as we were about to pull out, and then you walked away. Perhaps you did explain, and we just never heard you.”
I look over at Shepard, who looks surprised. “Is there any way you can drop Jen and me off at home? We can arrange for the car to be collected. Only if it’s not too much of a problem.”
He hesitates, his eyes narrowing like he knows I’m up to something, but he’s not sure what. “That’s fine.”
I breathe out a sigh and indicate for Jen to grab her bag from the car, which she does, with a scowl aimed at Andrews.
I move to walk past Shepard to the cruiser, but he stops me with a hand on my arm. “Just one thing…” he turns back to Andrews. “Start her up. I might be able to help.”
Asshole swallows. “It’s fine. I have the tow truck coming.”
“Leo is dealing with a crash on the interstate, so he’ll be a few hours yet. Might as well see if I can help. I have jumper cables and shit in the cruiser, just in case.”
Andrews curses under his breath before climbing in and shoving his key in the ignition. He turns it over, or tries to, but all he gets is a clicking nose. I bite my lip to hide my smile, feeling Jen’s curious gaze on me. I keep my eyes on Andrews’s car because if she so much as smiles, I’ll crack with laughter.
Over and over again, he tries to start the car, but it won’t. In the end, he gets out, slams the door, and lifts the hood. “What the fuck?”
I step closer and feel my eyes widen when I get a look at the engine. I’m not sure what I was attempting to do by heating it. Make it start smoking, perhaps. Or maybe even catch fire. That’s not what happened at all, though. The engine has melted like a wax candle, making the car completely unusable. No wonder I have a damn headache.
I don’t realize I’m grinning until Andrews looks at me. As soon as he points at me, I hide my grin, attempting to look the picture of innocence.
“You did this.”
“Did what?”
“You fucked with my car,” he snarls.
