Tears.
Had he cried silent tears too?
“You fucking prick!” came another shout.
I jumped up from the couch and headed for the stairs. The kids trailed after me. “Er—you guys should really wait down here.”
“Captain has to go to the bathroom,” Silas said, looking at the dog.
“And I’m scared of the yelling,” Lily said.
“I’m gonna get your Mom,” I told her. “Silas? You want to come with me and let out your dog?”
He nodded and stayed close on my heels—close enough that I almost tripped up the stairs. The door to the main floor was cracked and I pushed it open, sticking my head out into the hallway…and heard the unmistakable sound of a fist hitting flesh.
“Run out back with Captain,” I told Silas. “And then find Darcy and tell her about Lily. Will you do that for me?”
He nodded, trying to look around me toward the living room where the fistfight was clearly taking place.
“Go on,” I urged him.
Silas looked like he wanted to argue, but then Captain pawed at his leg.
“Come on,” he told the dog, and the two of them headed to the backyard. As soon as they were out of sight, I dashed toward the living room and came to a complete stop.
My jaw dropped open.
Colt was on top of Zip, pummeling him into the ground. From what I could tell, Zip wasn’t even fighting back. My gaze darted to the kitchen to see Joni gripping the counter, her face pale.
Her eyes met mine.
Understanding dawned on me.
“Should I stop them?” I asked.
She shook her head. “This is how they do things.”
“I don’t care that this is how they do things. Colt’s injured.”
“I know.” She sighed.
“How did he find out?”
“He caught us.”
I blinked. “Like in the throes of it?”
“God, no! Can you imagine? He caught us kissing.”
“Where?” I demanded. “I thought you were trying to be all discreet.”
“We were. But I—look at him. I can barely keep my hands off him.”
I looked back at the two grown men who were on the floor. I hadn’t planned to say anything, but then I noticed the splotch of red seeping through Colt’s T-shirt from his side wound.
“Enough!” I barked.
Colt stopped pummeling Zip for one moment to look at me over his shoulder. His eyes were dark with irrational rage.