One of Six (Den Hollows #1)

12. Beatrice

12

BEATRICE

Evelyn saw my exchange with Essex and she's worried. She hasn't said anything, but I know. The looks she passes between me, and the Redds boat say it all. A frown has been creasing her brow ever since. It's hard to ignore because Evelyn means something to me. What can I say to her to explain the new feelings inside me? I don't even know what they mean.

Each of the Redds were nice to me, but it was Atilio who claimed me in front of the others. I felt safe with him. With Essex I felt wild, as if I could lose myself in him forever. My young heart had soared during the time I spent with them. Sadly, it's coming to an end now.

The lights of the town grow larger the closer we get, and my stomach is full of nerves. It will be my word against Jason's. The bruise on my face where my father hit me is darker, thanks to Jason hitting me in the same spot.

Evelyn goes into the wheelhouse and crouches down so that she cannot be seen. It won't do her any good to get caught here with me. But Mr. Gleeson should be all right. He turns and catches my eye as we approach the marina. I swallow hard when I see the sheriff's boat. Damn, this is not good.

Dad is standing with Judge at his side, which makes me feel even more terrified. Jason is there too. I don't know why he bothered.

As soon as the boat slides into its slot, the ropes are tied, and the show begins. Or it would if I could figure out how to get off the boat without flashing everyone.

Finally, Jason moves to the side of the boat and holds out his hands. "I'll catch you."

"I don't trust you."

"What do you think I'm going to do with your father watching?"

He has a point.

Sitting on the side of the boat, I swing my legs over and jump. He catches me. “They’re really mad," he whispers.

Feeling naked and uncomfortable without underwear is embarrassing. I wish I knew where my panties went.

"Beatrice!" Uncle David says. "Are you okay?”

“What the hell happened, girl?” Judge snarls.

My throat is dry, but my hands are sweating. "I fell off the end of the jetty at the club. I can't swim, so in my panic I must have drifted away from where I hit the water.

"Someone rescued me, but I passed out. I woke up on Mr. Gleeson's boat. I remember a man and a woman. Tourists. But that's it."

I look at Dad. "Can we go home, please? It's been a terrible night."

"Yes. Come on. Your mother is waiting." I'm so shocked that Dad has agreed to leave that it takes me a moment to accept it.

"Wait!" Judge steps forward. "The Redd boat was spotted in the area."

My heart sinks, but I keep my face neutral. "What does that have to do with me?"

He narrows his eyes and takes a step toward me. I hide behind my father.

"It can wait." Dad shoots me a glare over his shoulder. "Get in the car."

I scramble into the front seat of his SUV and wait. Dad says something to Judge and then steps forward. I look at Mr. Gleeson's boat and hope they believe my story, but I desperately hope they don't spot Evelyn. In hindsight, she should have stayed in Den Hollows, where she would have been safe. I wish I'd stayed too.

"Look me in the eye, Beatrice, and tell me that what you said is the truth."

Nerves twitch in my gut as I do as he asks. "The only thing I didn't want to say in front of the others is that Jason hit me and that's how I fell in."

His eyes widen in surprise and then his eyebrows furrow. "Why did he hit you?" Finally, he starts the engine.

"He expected me to get down on my knees for him. I told him I wasn't that kind of girl. He didn't like that, so he hit me. It hurt a lot because it was the same place you hit me.”

Shut up, Bea!

"You expect me to believe that nonsense?" His hand tightens on the wheel.

"I have no reason to lie, especially about something like that." I should add that it was Mom who suggested it to him, but then Dad would hit her.

As we pull into the driveway, Dad stops in front. "Get out. Tell your mother I'll be home late."

I scramble out of the car and the second my feet hit the ground; he takes off. I jump, wondering if he's going after Jason.

Mom greets me as I enter the house, her eyes searching me. "Are you okay?"

"I'll live." I blink. "Tonight, could have been avoided if you hadn't told Jason what you had,” I accuse.

Her complexion pales as she sits down in the living room. "What exactly do you mean?"

By the time I'm done telling her exactly how I ended up in the water, her face has lost all color.

"I told Dad the truth, but I left out the part you played in it. I have a feeling he's going to find out the truth since I assume he's gone after Jason for answers...I need a shower."

Without waiting for an answer, I turn and head upstairs. Once I'm behind the locked bedroom door, I drop to the bed and take off my sandals. It feels good to have them off my feet.

In the bathroom I take off my dress and bra and drop them in the hamper. The shower is nice and welcoming after tonight. The water runs over my skin as I remember the way Essex had looked at me.

It may have been Nico who first called me Mermaid Girl, but it was the way Essex said it that made my body come alive. The man has no idea what he has done to me. What he makes me feel. The sensations in my body are new and delicious. I wonder if he took my panties with him. Either they fell overboard, or he has them. I certainly won't be asking him for them anytime soon.

While I shampoo my long hair, I tell myself that I will see the Redds again. There is no way I will not. It makes me nervous because Atilio wants me for himself, and while I like him and the way he feels close to me, there's something about Essex that I can't deny.

They had accepted me, though, which was nice. Their mother, Maggie, had been suspicious when she'd looked between me and her son, Atilio. Considering who my family is, I do not blame her. I’m sure Maggie likes me though.

When I get out of the shower, I dry and moisturize my body, then I concentrate on my hair, which ends in a French braid. This will keep the long strands from getting tangled overnight.

Tired, I pull on shorts and a vest top and climb into bed. The front door slams shut and my heart stops. It starts again and I rush to my door to make sure it's locked.

It sounds like Dad is stumbling upstairs. This is not good for my mother. Dad is a violent drunk.

I hear the bedroom door open and then I hear Mom shout, "No! What are you doing?"

"Jason told me what you told him Beatrice would do to him!" He shouts. "How could you do that?"

"I didn't mean it." Mom cries. "Richard... No, please don't! You don't want to shoot me!"

What the hell!

I open the bottom drawer of my bedside table and grab the phone. Who should I call?

There is a lot of crying and screaming. I have to be quick.

I dial.

A sleepy voice answers. "Uncle David, you have to come to the house. Dad's threatening to shoot Mom."

Uncle David curses. "Keep your door locked. I'm on my way." He hangs up.

I don't know if I made the right decision. I'm sure he wants to stop Dad. He also told me to keep my door locked, so that must mean he wants me safe, right?

I force my legs to move and crawl under the covers.

A gunshot shakes me to my core. Silence follows as panic rushes through me. Sweat breaks out all over my body and my breathing becomes rapid. Is this a panic attack? Is this what happens when you hear someone get shot? I try to calm myself down, focusing on taking deep breaths and grounding myself in the present moment.

Heavy footsteps run upstairs, and then I hear Uncle David loudly cursing. A loud grunt and then the sound of a body hitting the floor. More cursing and bodies crashing into furniture, and I continue to hide under the covers.

It must be Dad and Uncle David fighting. Why can't I hear Mom?

Tears trickle down my face as I fumble with the phone. I call Judge.

"You have to come. Dad and Uncle David are trying to kill each other, and Dad killed Mom."

Judge hangs up without a word.

I burst into tears, wishing I hadn't come home. This is all my fault. I never should have said anything.

With a sudden start, someone starts banging on my bedroom door. "Beatrice, I need to talk to you," Uncle David says.

As much as I don't want to be around him, I desperately want to check on Mom. He sounds calm right now and I don't want to upset him again. "One minute!" I shout as I crawl out of bed and pull on a sweatshirt.

My heart is pounding as I slowly open the door. Uncle David winces as he looks at me. My eyes search his bruised and bloody face for answers. "Mom?" I barely get the words out.

He steps out of my doorway, and I gasp at the destruction before me. My eyes shoot to his. "You and Dad fought?"

Nodding, he takes my arm gently. "I'm going to take you downstairs, okay?" He slowly leads me along the hallway, blocking my parents’ bedroom with his body. "You don't need to see this."

"I want to see Mom," I say in a small voice, knowing it must be bad. "Did Dad shoot her?" I sob softly as I'm led into the living room. He grabs a blanket from the back of the sofa and covers me as I curl up in one of the chairs.

The front door opens, pulling Uncle David into the foyer.

I stare blankly into the unlit fire, feeling lost, alone, and scared. I have no illusions that my father will not be punished for what he's done, not with his father being who he is.

I'm aware of Judge sitting across from me. His silent presence unsettles me. He doesn't like to be ignored, but I can't bring myself to look at him. Judge and Richard have been getting away with bad things for a long time with David’s help. If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to get real justice for Mom.

There is a very small part of me that believes she got what she deserved, but the biggest part of me knows that she is as much a victim as anyone who has crossed the men in the Lincoln family.

"Beatrice," Judge says in a quiet voice. "Beatrice, I need to talk to you."

I look at Judge and back at the unlit fire. "I'm listening."

"David's going to set it up as a burglary."

I snap my head around, fire in my eyes. "Richard killed her!"

"You don't know that because you didn't see anything."

"His fingerprints are on the murder weapon."

His jaw clenches. "Girl, if you don't want a boatload of trouble, you're going to go along with the story. Your father wasn't here. You understand?"

I don't know why I'm fighting this when I knew it would go this way.

"It would be better if I didn't say anything because I'm not a liar." My body aches as I move from the chair to the sofa. I give the room my back as I curl up and settle down.

Sleep won't come, but at least I can pretend and ignore everyone and everything for a little while.