“Oh, hellfire,” Darren muttered.
“Shit, man. That’s some nastiness in there.”
The friend was right. The infection had taken hold more than I’d thought. “Almost done.” Once I drained the blister, I slathered on some ointment and wrapped Darren’s hand with gauze.
Darren stared down at his hand. “It feels better already.”
“The pressure building in the blister was creating the worst of your pain. You’ll need to keep putting antibacterial ointment on it and keep it covered for at least two weeks. I’d also like to get you on an antibiotic. This was infected pretty badly. Can you get yourself to the pharmacy in town if I call something in, or do you want me to bring it out to Sue?”
Darren grimaced but shook his head. “I can get to the pharmacy tomorrow.”
“Good. I’ll call it in today.”
The bell over the door jangled, and I swore I felt Addie stiffen before I saw any reaction. All the color drained from her face as two men strode down the aisle.
Allen and Brandon came to a stop a few steps from Sue’s counter. I was already on my feet, moving to Addie’s side.
Brandon sneered in our direction. “Well, what do we have here? The whore and the fraud. This isn’t your turf.” His gaze narrowed on Addie. “Unless you’ve come to beg for forgiveness.”
Sue leaned against the shelves behind her. The stance read casual, but I knew she had a shotgun behind that case. “This is my place of business. I say who’s welcome here.”
Brandon turned his glare on her. “They’re outsiders. Creating nothing but problems.”
“They’re fixing problems,” Darren cut in as he rose.
Brandon zeroed in on Darren’s bandaged hand. “You let him work his voodoo on you? That hand’s probably going to fall off.”
One of Darren’s friends snorted. “It was two seconds away from falling off before the doc helped. God, you’re fuckin’ dramatic, Maxwell.”
Allen stared at his daughter, a muscle in his jaw ticking. “Are you coming home?”
“No.” Addie’s single word was a faint whisper.
Darren’s eyes widened. “You’re Allen’s kid.”
Addie’s spine straightened. “No, I’m not. To be someone’s child means they care for and love you. I never had any of that.”
God, I was so damn proud of her for speaking her truth and not backing down. But the rage that lit Allen’s expression had me wanting to pull those words back from her. I stepped in closer, not in front of Addie but beside her. I didn’t want to take away any of her power. That had happened far too often in her life already.
“I clothed and fed you when you least deserved it, Adaline. Kept a roof over your head when I should’ve kicked you out into the snow. I should’ve known you were a treasonous whore, just like your mother.”
“Watch your mouth,” I barked.
Allen’s gaze cut to me. “You’ll get what’s coming to you for taking what’s mine.”
Addie pushed forward a step. “I’m not anyone’s to be taken. I belong to myself.”
“You’re property. I should’ve married you off when I could’ve gotten something out of the deal. Now, everyone knows what you really are: worthless trash.”
I lunged for Allen, but Addie grabbed hold of my shirt and jerked me back. The sound of a shotgun pumping filled the air.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Sue said. “Beckett, Addie, you got what you need, and we appreciate
your help. Brandon, Allen, step aside so they can pass.”
Allen turned a hate-filled expression on Sue. “I don’t take orders from you.”
“In my place of business, you do. Or, you can get your orders filled somewhere else.”