Beckett
I standwith Vance against the wall outside Primrose’s room. “How is she doing?” I ask softly.
He shakes his head. “It’s been seven months since that night and she barely leaves her room, and when she does, she wears a cap low over her eyes, trying to hide her face. The bullet skimmed her cheek, but it’s permanently scarred.” He sighs, running his hands over his face. “I’m taking her home for summer break. Maybe her being somewhere she’s comfortable will help her. Fuck knows I can’t.”
I pat his shoulder. “What we went through is traumatic—for anyone. But for someone as sheltered as Primrose… it’s going to do some lasting damage.”
That night is one that constantly plays through my mind when I try to sleep. How I couldn’t protect the ones I love the most. When we got back home, Madden had been tied and gagged. He told us how Devlin had attacked him. I went through Devlin’s room, found a journal with every detail of the murders written out.
The writing was crazy, straight madness of incomplete thoughts and unfinished sentences, but it wasn’t hard to paint what happened. Obsession and a lack of medication made his mind reach out to take dark paths. His obsession with me led to his obsession with getting rid of Brixley. And Kate was only a pawn in his game. I do believe he loved her once, but once his demons took over there was really no chance for him. He played it off so well. Molding to situations like water, but Vance was right. It was Devlin, and I should have listened to him. I shake the dark thought from my mind, listening to Vance speak again.
“I know, but she’s so ashamed of her face now. I offered to have a plastic surgeon come in, even though I don’t think there is a single aspect of Primrose Thatcher that isn’t perfect. She refused. And fuck,” he sighs again.
Primrose’s door opens and I freeze. “You ready to go, Angel? It’s…” Vance trails off as a guy walks out behind her. “Who the fuck is that?” he demands.
She pulls the bill of her hat down, shielding her face from us. “He’s a friend. He lives close to me so he’s just giving me a ride home,” she speaks quietly.
“Sure. Just a friend.” Vance storms past her. Slamming his door and causing her to flinch.
“He’s just a friend,” she whispers to me.
“He just needs space right now. He’s…” I trail off.
“I get it.” She nods, a small smile gracing her lips.
I help carry her bags down to the guy’s car and make sure she’s buckled in safely. I also have a few words with the guy. Nothing too bad. A little threat thrown in here and there. And then I climb into my own car. Brand new, thanks to my little rabbit destroying my last one.
I drive into town, stopping at the reflective glass building, and wait. Brixley walks out, her hands touching her face as she smiles up at the sun. I step out, leaning against the passenger door. “Rabbit,” I call.
She looks to me, a grin taking over her face as she runs to me, jumping into my arms. “Guess what?” she asks, kissing my lips quickly.
“What is it, beautiful?”
“I only have to come to therapy once a month now. No more weekly visits.” She laughs. “I feel like I can finally breathe.”
The days following the incident were catastrophic. Brixley’s heart kept stopping, as if she wanted to leave me again. And then there was her waking up and seeing her face for the first time. I lost count of how many stitches it took to sew the flayed skin back together. Needless to say, she screamed at the sight of her face until they had to sedate her. I had them fix it. Countless plastic surgeries, skin grafts, the whole nine yards. Whatever they had to do so that when she looked into the mirror, she didn’t see a monster, and wasn’t reminded of the terrors of that night. Her nose is a little different but other than that, the plastic surgeon I flew out did amazing. The mental aspect took a little longer, but with therapy, she’s becoming herself again. She got even calmer once she asked Vance to personally handle the Williamses. I didn’t ask for details, but I know they we’re not buried with honor in the cemetery all the original families are kept, like Brixley’s parents.
“We need to hurry.” She jumps from my arms, scooting me out of the way so she can climb into the passenger seat.
“What for?” My brow furrows.
“I want to see Prim before she leaves.” She gives me a ‘duh’ look and I twist my lips.
“She’s already gone.”
“Oh.” Brixley’s shoulders drop and her smile fades.
“But I have a surprise for you.” I try lightening her mood back up.
“Yeah, okay,” she says, looking out the front windshield. I know I can’t threaten Primrose, but I’d like to at this moment since she’s the cause of my rabbit being sad again.
* * *
“Listen,”she begins. “I love my brother, but this isn’t really a surprise.” She steps out of the car, admiring the gothic mansion.
I laugh, tossing my arm over her shoulders and leading her to his garage. Her eyes widen, pupils expanding, as she takes in the rows of priceless cars. “Oh, wow.” She runs her finger over a matte black Pagani Huayra.
“All right, Soulless. You can have any car in my garage.” Vance walks through the door, looking like he’d rather cut off his own foot than hand one of his babies over. I borrowed one for two months and I watched him inspect that car every day for scratches. And it wasn’t even one out of this garage. These are his collector items.