Page 116 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
Over the next hour, Silas, Jess and I listened to Khloe recount tonight’s events in detail. She also told us about numerous other times that Derrick had hurt her, and Jess promised that with her official statement and hospital records, Derrick stood no chance of avoiding jail time.
While Khloe went to the bathroom to clean her face, I stood with Silas and Jess in the kitchen. “You two look murderous.”
“Just praying that fucker tries to resist arrest,” Jess said.
“How long will Derrick be in jail?”
He shrugged. “I’ll do my best to keep him as long as I can, but he’ll probably get out on bail before too long. The judge will put him under a restraining order but that might not keep him from trying to talk to her.”
“I don’t think she should stay at home. I don’t trust Derrick.”
“I agree,” Silas said. “He’s a stupid fuck up and always has been. I don’t see him taking this well. He’ll go after her.”
“Got any ideas where to stash her?” Jess asked.
She could stay with us but the only place for her to sleep would be the couch. Olivia would be more than willing to have a guest but I didn’t think Khloe would be comfortable around Elliot. “What about my house? She could stay there.”
“No, I won’t put you out.” All of our eyes swung toward Khloe as she emerged from the bathroom. “I’ll just go to the motel.”
I shook my head. “I think that’s too dangerous. It’s the first place he’ll look for you. My house is empty and free. I rarely go over there, and when I do, it’s for five minutes to get some clothes.”
“If Derrick knows you two are tight, he’ll find her.”
“He doesn’t,” Khloe said. “He doesn’t care about my friends. We talked about his life, not mine.” Her newfound anger was giving me hope that she’d be done with Derrick for good. “Are you sure I can’t go home?” she asked Jess.
“Until we know how Derrick is going to react to all of this, you gotta lie low.”
“Please?” I begged. “At least stay there for a few days. It would give your face a chance to heal and for your cold to go away.”
“All right,” she said reluctantly.
With that decision made, we set off from the barn. Jess went off to arrest Derrick while Silas and I got Khloe settled in my house. We hid her car in the garage and I packed myself more clothes for Silas’s closet. After handing her a bottle of cold medicine, I sent her upstairs to bed and we drove back to the ranch.
“Babe?” Silas asked as we drove home.
“Yeah?” I yawned.
“I think I need to get the full roster of your friends. That and a quick synopsis of everything they have going on in their lives.”
I giggled. “I think we’re safe after this one.”
“Life with you will never be boring, will it?”
He laced his fingers with mine and drove in silence through the darkness. Maybe one day Khloe would be lucky enough to find a man like mine.
Then again, he was one in a million.
“You’re burning up.” I pressed the back of my hand to Silas’s forehead. “I’m getting you more medicine.” He had gotten Khloe’s cold but had spent the last two days working like normal, pushing his sick body too hard, and now he was exhausted with a fever.
“No medicine.” He grunted and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Dad and I are heading up into the mountain today to deliver salt blocks. He can’t go alone and I can’t be drowsy.”
“No way, baby. You’re not going anywhere
but back to sleep.” I pushed his shoulders, surprised when he didn’t put up much of a fight. Oh, lordy. That meant he felt even worse than he was letting on.
“Can you just tell Dad that I’ll take the blocks up when I’m feeling better?”
“Yes, I’ll take care of it.” I made him take a heavy dose of cold medicine and left him sleeping as I went in search of his dad.
