Page 246 of Wicked Brutal

I look at Tobias sleeping beside me.

I can’t explain everything right now.

Ryan: Are you safe?

I stare at that question for a long time.

For tonight.

Ryan: Ally.

My mom knows more than we thought.

I hesitate. Then type the part I still can’t stop thinking about.

And I think Dad answers to Victor.

Ryan: Why?

Victor called in the middle of something. Dad left immediately to deal with what happened at school.

Ryan: What happened before Victor called?

My eyes fall to the bruises forming around my arms. Of course he noticed what I didn’t say.

That’s the part we need to talk about.

It’s 1:07 in the morning, and I haven’t even pretended to sleep in at least two hours.

I tried once. Made it all the way into bed, turned off the light, stared at the ceiling for maybe six minutes, then picked my phone back up to make sure Ally hadn’t texted while I was busy accomplishing absolutely fucking nothing. She hadn’t. So now I’m back at my desk with my laptop open, three different searches going, my phone faceup beside my hand, and the same message burned into my head.

That’s the part we need to talk about.

That was hours ago. Since then, I’ve gotten exactly enough information to keep me from driving to her house and not nearly enough to make me feel better. Roman left. Tobias is with her. They’re safe for tonight. I fucking hate for tonight. I hate that those words count as reassurance now.

My screen is full of shit about Victor Tremblay I’ve already read twice. Marianne’s name is sitting in one tab. Old business records in another. Some charity dinner from almost ten years ago in a third. I’m not absorbing any of it. Every few seconds my eyes go back to my phone.

“Fuck.” I shove away from the desk and pace to the window. Her dad came home angry. Something happened — something bad enough that Ally didn’t want to put it in a text. And I’m here. That’s the part making me fucking crazy. I’m here, and she’s there.

My phone starts vibrating. I’m across the room before my brain catches up.

ALLY — FACETIME

I answer immediately. “Hey—“ Her face appears, and everything inside me stops. There’s a darkening mark across one side of her cheek. Her bottom lip is swollen. Split. For one second I just stare. Then my entire fucking body goes cold. “What happened to your face?”

Ally’s expression falters. “Hi.”

“Ally.”

“Ryan—“

“What happened to your fucking face?” She looks away. That’s enough. I’m moving before she says another word. “Did he hit you? Did Roman fucking hit you?”

Her eyes come back to mine. “Yes.”

My chair goes over behind me. I don’t even look at it. I grab the sweatshirt off my bed, shove my feet into the first shoes I find, and reach for my keys. “Get Tobias.”

“What?”