Love After the Storm

ord. My arm was in a cast, my ribs were taped, and the bruises on my face had faded to a sickly yellow-green. I had nowhere to go. My

o the house to get my wallet, my

or me on the porch, looking like t

," he said with a lazy smile.

d, trying to keep my voice steady. "T

loe is very upset. You caused a scene at the hospital. You

the door shut. The air in the house was thick with menace. Chloe was sitting on the

rcling me like a predator. "You owe us. You owe Chloe for years of emotiona

anything," I sa

vanished. "W

taped ribs. The pain was explosive, stealing all

spat. "You can't even

to the middle of the room, forcing me to my knees. "You'r

" I wheezed, tasting bile

jolt of agony through my body. "Say it. Say 'I

nails, a flicker of interest in h

n of the woman I once loved. There was

defiance harde

queezed. A white-hot, sickening pain shot from my wris

in my ear. "Or I'll

mble. The combination of the tumor, the

e words feeling like poison on my tongu

rk let me go, and I slumped to t

hard," he said, his v

w me on the floor and a look of pure contempt cross

ation, poured the water over my head. It dripped

ect echo of his mother's. "You make mom

is small shoe making a d

ghtly. "Good boy, Liam. He

n I vaguely recognized as one of our neighbors, Tom, had just let himself

n was just admitting to being a deadbeat d

a flicker of pity in his eyes, but it was quickly replac

trouble you've caused, Ethan," Tom said

you need a more permanent rem

ng uncomfortable. "M

manded, his voice

't as hard as Mark's blows, but the betrayal behind it hurt just as much. He was

rted to gray out. I was a punching bag in my own home,

ed to fade, the last thin

wakes up, we'll see if he's

ace where the pain couldn't reach m