But no matter how bad it was, he would have fought through worse to come to his mother’s rescue.
Shutting the engine off and getting out, he jogged to the front door where she was already waiting. Her face was pale and he knew she was scared, but hopefully he could get her to safety before things got worse.
A siren wailed in the distance, probably Prairie Town’s severe weather alarm, and he knew they didn’t have much time.
“Oh, Devin. Thank you for coming,” she said, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Thank you so much.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Mom. Of course I came.” He pulled back to gaze at her, wondering if the old him would have done the same.
Surely, I would have. Hopefully I wasn’t that terrible of a son.
“Come on, Mom. Let’s get you out of here.”
“Wait, I have to grab Josie.”
“Josie?”
“My cat.” She blinked and frowned. “You met her when you visited, remember?”
“Right. Okay. Grab her fast though.” He glanced up at the sky and swallowed hard. “There are two tornadoes on the ground already.”
“Three,” she corrected, disappearing inside.
“Three?” His heart stopped for a moment and he wondered where the third one was.
Oh, God. Not on our street.
But he couldn’t exactly worry about that at the moment. Well, he did worry about it—he worried about it a lot. Were Kelly and the kids all right? Nick?
Slipping his hand into his pocket, he slid his fingers over the screen of his phone and contemplated calling them.
Tugging the device free, he was just about to dial Nick’s number when his mom reappeared with a pet carrier in tow. The fluffy feline within meowed fearfully, its tiny paw reaching out.
“Okay, we’re ready,” she said, panting. “But we have to hurry, Devvy. Those clouds don’t look friendly at all.”
His phone was soon forgotten as he followed her gaze back to the sky, and his heart sank when he saw the rotation in the clouds.
“Four tornados?” He asked quietly, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Is that possible?”
“It sure seems that way,” she replied, grasping his hand tightly. “Come along, sweetheart. Let’s get out of here.”
“You have everything you need?” He glanced down to see the only thing she had was the pet carrier.
“From this place? Yes.” She nodded, giving him a look that told him not to ask.
He understood, he really did. She probably didn’t want to take anything else with her. What a sad life it must have been for her if her cat was the only thing of value she worried to bring along.
A loud explosion sounded off nearby and they both nearly jumped out of their skin when they looked up and saw sparks flying.
“That was a transformer,” she whimpered. “The wind is atrocious, Devin. Are you certain you can drive in conditions like this?”
“I’m certain,” he said, guiding her down the steps by her hand. “I’ll get you somewhere safe, Mama.”
Or at least he would try.
And it seemed he was going to successfully do so as he placed the pet carrier in the backseat and shut the door, until his mother released a blood-curdling scream.
“No! Devin, watch out!”
The pain in the back of his head had him seeing stars and he fell forward, smacking his forehead against the unforgiving frame of the car. The world dimmed as he slumped to his knees, trying to figure out what had happened.
Someone had punched him – he knew that much. But who?
“Get up, you little sum’bitch.”
“No, no,” Mrs. Rose wailed as she pushed her door open and got out. “Leave him alone, Andrew!”
But his father didn’t listen as he pulled him to his feet by the back of his shirt and greeted him with a punch to the kidneys. The hit was so hard it made him want to throw up, and maybe he would have had he not been so preoccupied with trying to shield his face from future blows.
“Get off of him! Are you insane?” His mother screeched. “There’s a damn tornado about to hit! Leave my baby alone!”
“Ow! Damn it, woman. Stop hitting me!”
He stumbled forward and caught himself against the car, turning his head just in time to see his father throw her to the ground. For a woman her age, she bounced back surprisingly fast.
Standing back up, she placed herself between them and stared her husband down, chest heaving with each breath.
“Your baby, huh?” Mr. Rose snorted, and then he spat at the ground. “This is your baby, huh? He’s all you care about?”
Blinking rapidly to clear his blurry vision, he saw his mother’s eyes wide and wild with fury. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen anyone with an expression like that.
What did it mean?
“Get...inside...Mama,” he said, each breath more painful than the last. “Be...safe...”
“I am not leaving you,” she replied, glancing at him briefly before facing her husband again. Her tiny hands were balled into fists and she was trembling as she stared him down. “I will not allow you to do this to him again, Andrew. Never again.”
“Oh, yeah?” The old man slurred. He swayed back and forth, his legs barely capable of supporting his bulky form. Lifting a hand to run through his graying hair, he smirked. “And what the hell do you plan to do about it, bitch?”
Oh, hell no.
Maybe there had been a part of him, once upon a time, too afraid to challenge his father. Perhaps he had been scared of the beat-down he’d receive, or maybe he was even afraid of losing whatever money the old man had been giving him – but not anymore.
He’d already lost everything. It didn’t even matter to him anymore. All that mattered to him was preventing his mother from getting hurt anymore. The only thing he wanted was for her to be happy and safe, no matter if it was from a tornado or his father, or both.
“You don’t tell me what to do, Winona. You need to remember who wears the pants ‘round here.” Mr. Rose’s hand shot into the air, ready to strike.
And Devin was there to stop him.
Darting in front of his mother, he grabbed his father’s wrist and twisted it as hard as he could. Mr. Rose released a howl of pain and fell to his knees, muttering obscenities.
“No more,” he said, his voice quivering with rage. “You’re not going to touch her anymore.”
“Damn it, boy. That’s stupid,” his father growled, glaring at him. “You’re going to be sorry for that.”
“No, I’m really not.” Devin laughed, and it was the laughter of a man on the brink of something...something he couldn’t explain. “We’re done with you, do you hear me? She’s done with you. I’m taking her away from here and you won’t lay a hand on her ever again.”
Releasing his wrist hastily, he turned back to his mother and noted the tears rolling down her cheeks. He admired her for her courage, and was grateful he’d finally found his own. All it took was seeing her willingness to protect him in spite of her own fears.
She was the person he should have been striving to be like, all along.
“We don’t have time to leave now,” he said, catching sight of a tornado in the distance. It was coming in fast. “We have to get back inside, Mama. Grab Josie and let’s go.”
“But I don’t have a basement!” She cried, following his gaze. “Oh, God!” Her fingers tightened around his arm and she stepped closer to him, sobbing loudly. “It’s coming right for us.”
“It’s okay, Mama. I’ll keep you safe,” he promised, reaching into the car for the pet carrier while keeping one arm around her protectively. “Here,”—he placed it in her arms and nodded towards the house—“Go into the bathroom and wait for me. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Devin...”
“Just go, Mama!”
He waited until she was safely inside before he turned his attention back to his father. He had to do something with him. He couldn’t j
ust leave him out in the storm, no matter how shitty he’d been. He had to—
“What the hell?”
He was gone.
His heart fell into his stomach as he glanced towards the house and horror struck him. What if he’d just sent his mother into the arms of that monster?
“Shit.” Taking off at full speed, he made it inside just as the wind picked up. He could hear debris hitting the side of the house and his ears popped from the pressure, but none of that compared to the sound of his heart beating, pounding deafeningly loud. “Mama!”
When she didn’t answer him, the worst outcome possible lingered in his mind.
Was his father capable of murder?
Not my mother, he thought, flexing his fingers. Over my goddamn dead body.
He took a step further into the living room and stopped dead in his tracks when the front door slammed.
Somehow, deep down, he knew the wind wasn’t responsible.
“You’ve been a pain in my ass since the day you came into this world, Devin.”
Closing his eyes, he kept reminding himself that no matter what awful things his father said, they weren’t true. Andrew Rose was a lying, manipulative jerk-off. His words meant nothing.
“For a long time, I thought we’d gotten past that, you and I. I thought you were seeing things my way – like your brothers do. But then you messed everything up.”
His eyes snapped open and he stared straight ahead, hoping and praying that wherever his mother was, she’d stay put.
“I’ve been pretty patient with the amnesia act, until now. It’s one thing to move out and pretend you’re innocent, Devin. But you’re going to try and take your mama from me? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Ten times the man you’ll ever be.
“I get why you did it, I really do. You were facing some serious charges I couldn’t get you out of, but this has gone too far now.”
What, exactly, had gone too far? What was he talking about?
Slowly turning around, he faced his father and held his head up high, showing him that he was not afraid.
Not anymore.
Never again.
“I don’t know what’s going through your mind, son,” Mr. Rose said, cocking his head to the side. “You can run away all you want, but this is your home. We’re your family. Why would you want to take your mama away from here?”
“Uh, maybe because you’re an abusive asshole?”
His father narrowed his eyes at him and Devin knew—he knew—he had seen that look before. Though he couldn’t remember it, that was definitely the look of a man with a God complex. That was the look of a man who was used to getting his way, always, and anyone who disagreed with him faced punishments of the worst kind.
I can’t believe I’m related to you.
“Abusive? You think I’m abusive? Does a man not have the right to put his wife in her place when she’s being disobedient?”
“No. Are you kidding me?” His body shook with rage as he imagined his mother, scared and alone, hunkering in a corner as his father lifted a hand to her. And for what? Because she didn’t do as he pleased? “That’s abuse. No one has the right to hurt others, especially if they feel they’re being disobedient. She is not your property.”
“Property,” Mr. Rose muttered, rolling his eyes. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, boy. She’s my wife. She will do as I say or face the consequences. It’s just like when you were young. If you didn’t listen to me, you got the hand.”
“Not anymore, Dad,” he said, feeling sick just from saying the word. His father didn’t deserve to be called anything aside from the few-choice words lingering on the tip of his tongue. “And I’m not the kid you remember. You can’t intimidate me anymore.”
“Can’t I?” He asked, reaching his hands down to unbuckle his belt. “We’ll see about that.”
His eyes fell to the belt and something inside of him jarred free.
It was fear. Lots of fear.
“I’m going to have to teach you a lesson, Devin. And don’t argue with me about it. We’ve got to have a talk anyway about the company you’ve been keeping.”
“W-what?” He lifted his eyes to meet his father’s gaze, and he was terrified by the insanity he found in those similar hues. The man was crazy, plain and simple. “You don’t honestly think you can beat me with that, do you? I’m a grown man. You can’t t-touch me.”
“You’re my son. I can do whatever the hell I want.” Mr. Rose grunted, stepping towards him.
“No, you can’t,” he replied, taking a step away from him. “I’ll hit you. I swear to God, I will.”
“Oh, you’re a tough guy now, are you? I’d like to see you try.”
It felt like an earthquake as the floor beneath his feet began to shake, and he almost lost his balance as he dodged the wrath of the belt his father was flinging his way. He narrowly escaped being struck and darted around the couch.
“Don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Devin. Remember what happens when you make me chase you? It only hurts worse cause you make me angry.”
This is ridiculous!
He hated that he couldn’t remember the past. Had his father always been like this? Beating him when they had a disagreement? Had he feared him as a grown man, too?
“I’m mighty disappointed in you for not getting that money, Devin. We needed that score more than you understand, Son. But I’m willing to let it slide,” Mr. Rose said, circling around the couch, stalking him like prey.
Wait, what?
“I was trying to get money for you?” He asked, stopping on the opposite side of the couch to stare at him in disbelief. “You’re the reason I kidnapped Laney McIntosh?”
“Stop playing dumb with me!” His father bellowed, smacking the leather against the arm of the couch. “I’m tired of this act, Devin. We all are.”
“It’s not an act!” He shouted, eyes moving to the belt again. “I don’t give a damn what you think, and I don’t care what plans you had for that money. I’m glad you didn’t get it, you psychotic dick.”
His father’s eyes looked like they were about to bug out of his head as he stared at him, red faced and on the brink of a stroke. “What the hell did you call me?”
“I didn’t stutter.” Anger raged through his veins and he knew there was no turning back now. Memories or no memories, he was pissed. He would no longer be the boy afraid of his father – he would be the man brave enough to stand up for his mother. “You’re a psychotic dick, and I will not let you hurt my mother anymore. You may have my brothers broken into submission, but I will not be frightened back into your sick agenda, Father. This ends now.”
Mr. Rose took a moment to let the words sink in, the vein in his forehead bulging. The anger in his eyes seemed to sizzle out as he tossed the belt to the floor, and then he peered towards the window.
The tornado was getting closer. The pictures fell off the walls and the floor shook; it was only the beginning. It was impossible to see outside as rain pelted against the window, sounding more like gravel being flung against the glass rather than water.
“Devin?” His mother called from down the hallway. “Devin, get in here, baby. Please.”
Meeting his father’s gaze, he made sure he stayed between him and the entrance to the hall. There was no way in hell he was getting past him.
“In a minute, Mama,” he called back to her. “I’m coming.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be now, is it?” Mr. Rose asked hoarsely, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
He nodded. “That’s how it’s going to be.”
“You think you’re man enough to take her away?” He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Boy, you’ve said some dumb things in your time, but this is just pathetic. You can’t even take care of yourself.”
“I’m not worried about me; I’m worried about her.”
“You should be worried about you.” His father’s eyes darke
ned as he took a step back. “You should be really worried, you ungrateful little shit.”
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting if he were honest about it, but he really didn’t think his father would be crazy enough to lunge at him like a wild animal. Releasing a sound that didn’t seem human, Mr. Rose grabbed his belt from the floor and swung it in his direction, feet not even touching the couch cushions as he launched his attack.
He didn’t even have time to move. The cold leather connected with the side of his face and the pain, that agonizing pain, seared through his cheek, radiating throughout his entire head. Falling backwards, he hit the floor and the air was knocked from his lungs.
This was it. He was defeated. Again.
“You think you can take my wife from me?” His father asked, outraged. The belt slapped against his chin and he cried out, squeezing his eyes shut as red-hot pain exploded everywhere. “You think you are man enough to stand up to me?”
God, please no. I’m supposed to be protecting her from this monster. I can’t even protect myself.
The belt lashed down against his chest, his stomach, and then his arm before Mr. Rose dropped it. He resorted to grabbing either side of his face and slammed it against the floor.
Over and over again.
The world became hazy then. The sound of busting glass and his mother’s screams were the only thing he could hear as his skull made contact with the hard floor.
“Get off of him!” His mother shrieked. “Get off my son, you bastard! You’re going to kill him!
“Get off me, you stupid bitch!” Mr. Rose’s voice boomed in his head. “He’s better off dead, the miserable little bastard. I didn’t want him in the first place.”
Struggling to remain conscious, Devin forced his eyes open, dark liquid blurring his vision.
It was blood.
It was his blood.
Oh, God. I’m going to die.
“I’m going to kill you, Andrew!” His mother screamed. “You will not hurt him ever again!”
Blinding flashes of light greeted him when he closed his eyes. The pain began to fade and he felt nothing but warmth as fuzzy images slowly came into focus.
The Lost Days (Prairie Town Book 3) Page 32
