Hidden River Deception (Hidden River Academy Book 4) Page 11
Her chin lifted, and her arms came up just as I got to her, and she wrapped herself around me as I cried, the tears already dripping off my chin just as I reached her.
“Babygirl, sweet sweet babygirl,” she whispered into my ear as she held my tight. “Oh my sweet girl, my darling girl.”
My uncle stood to one side, giving us space to grieve and to just feel. This was the last thing I’d expected, ever. I wiped at my eyes and pulled away, laughing a bit hysterically.
“What happened?” I asked, looking between her and my uncle. He smiled at me and then glanced past me to the guys who were assembling on the porch.
“Later,” he said, “not for an audience, alright?” I swallowed down my impatience and settled back, before hugging my mom tight again.
“I’m so glad to see you, sweet girl,” she said, before looking to where the guys were. “Who’re the… your football team?” She asked my uncle.
“Some of them,” he agreed, before nodding to each. “Colt Lawson, Shawn Riordan, Reid Remington, Cael Pierce, and Buck Barron-”
“Barron?” My mother’s face went pale, like she was about to faint. “No, not-” She peered through the darkness, and brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
For a second I thought she was actually going to vomit.
“Get that boy out of this house,” she shrieked, pointing at Buck, like he’d murdered me. “Get that… that monster away from-” She grabbed me and held me tight, crushing my face into her collarbone.
“Ow, Mom,” I protested, but she was wiry-strong and her grip dug into my skin.
My uncle cleared his throat.
“Boys, why don’t you go back into my den for a few minutes, yeah?” It wasn’t a request, and I heard them filter as I pried myself away from my mom.
“Jesus, ow, you been lifting weights?” I asked, rubbing at the white marks she’d left all over my arms. The screen door slammed, and the shuffling footsteps of the guys filtered into the distance.
“The hell is going on?” My uncle demanded, staring at my mom. She trembled under the weight of it, glancing this way and that before closing her eyes.
“The Barron family is no good.”
“I’ve been protecting that boy for a damn long time, he’s been staying with me-”
“With Mia here?” My mother shrieked and then modulate her tone when my uncle gave her a heavy look.
“What the hell is wrong? Now, I’m in no damn mood for your secrets and double-talk, alright?” My uncle advanced on my mother, looking stern. She crumpled in front of him.
“Y’know Mia wasn’t, she wasn’t a planned thing, and I love her dearly,” she gazed at me out of the corner of her eye as she spoke, almost like she hoped I’d disappear and not hear what she had to say next. “But that Barron man raped me, and she’s what happened because of it. I never-” Her words whited out in my ears, the sound turning into ringing. It felt like my legs weren’t even real anymore, like the ground was up in the air, and I was suspended, the breath stalled in my lungs.
I was the product of… of an assault? By Mr. Barron? Buck’s… father.
Oh god.
“Mia?” My uncle’s voice cut through the darkness that engulfed me.
Dying to know what happens next?
Mia, Buck, Shawn, Colt, Cael, and all the rest are waiting for you!
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Acknowledgments
I um, do love a good bombshell.
- Kit
(KT Strange)
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