Yeah, fat chance of that. No way in hell, could anyone ever overlook West Malone.
She knew he was likely shocked as hell she’d snapped back at him. Other than the other night, she’d always kept a smile on her face and had been sweet to him.
Well, the other night had ended all that.
“You’re lying, we can all see the pain you’re in,” West spoke in a low voice. “You’re gonna tell us exactly how you are injured.”
“And if I don’t?” She spoke to him, but she was looking at Mia. The other woman kept looking back and forth between them, appearing more and more concerned. The last thing she wanted was to upset Mia, and, seeing as she was a guest in her house, she figured she better get a rein on her temper.
She never did do well at being sick or in pain. In a few days’ time, when the pain was more manageable, she’d be back to her cheerful self. But, right then, with a raging headache and a body that throbbed, she couldn’t hold back her temper.
“Then, sunshine, I’m gonna have to strip you down myself and check you out inch by inch.”
Mia groaned. Alec shook his head. But she shot her gaze to West.
“I don’t think so,” she told him in a low voice.
“My job is to take care of you now,” he told her bizarrely. “That means in all ways. Physically and emotionally.”
“You?” She gaped at him. “You’re gonna take care of my emotions?”
He stared at her, and there was something in his gaze. Something she knew she should be able to decipher and yet she didn’t have a clue what it was. “Gonna handle you with care, sunshine.”
She didn’t know what that meant. Was pretty sure she didn’t want to know. So she just stared at him.
“Flick, tell us how badly you’re injured before Jake gets here,” Alec demanded.
“You called the sheriff?” Flick gaped up at Alec. “Why?”
Mia gave Alec a surprised look. “You called Jake? You hate getting the cops involved in anything to do with the family.”
“Yeah, well, in this case I think Jake needs to know what’s going on in his town, under his watch,” Alec said darkly. “’Cause we aren’t the only ones who’ve failed Flick.”
Her eyes widened. “Failed me? No one has failed me.”
“How long you lived here, sweetheart?” Alec asked.
West glared at his brother, but she had no idea why. And she really needed to go back to not looking at the broody ass.
“Um, three months now.”
“How often has he beat you in that time?” Alec’s voice was almost gentle.
Her breath caught, but her heart didn’t slow. No, it raced. Strong and fast.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought. And Jake needs to know how he’s failed. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“He . . . he wouldn’t hurt anyone else.”
“No, he won’t,” Alec agreed with a dark tone.
“This has happened more than once?” West shot at her.
She jumped at the cold fury in those words. Then groaned.
“All right, enough,” Mia said firmly. She gave them both a look. “She needs Doc. I can tell from the way she’s moving that she’s in a lot of pain. Ribs?” she asked Flick.
Flick nodded reluctantly. “Pretty sure they’re not broken though.” She had enough experience to know that, she could still breathe relatively easily.