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Apparently, neither did Zeke With a final glare, he turned and then headed off in a jerky run

As soon as he was out of sight I let out an unsteady breath, then almost jumped in surprise when Nick laid a hand on my arain to see real concern in his eyes At uy’s a co how many bodies we have in the cooler Kooky stuff like that"

That was as good an excuse as any "Yeah, that eird" I gave him a tentative smile "Thanks Dunno ould have happened if you hadn’t coave enuine one I’d ever seen from him, and he actually puffed up a bit with pride It probably wasn’t often that he could be the knight in shining arot your back"

Neither of us seemed to knohat to do next and an aard silence descended "I, uh, should probably get back inside in case Riverwood calls," I said with a jerk of rateful as I was that the et to clean the van out before you give me the keys There were donut crurin and headed to the van, strangely relieved that this Nice Nick wasn’t going to be the new norm

Chapter 17

My decent mood lasted until I pulled up to the house and sawon the porch He had a beer in his hand, and a pile of empties scattered beside his chair I silently counted the cans, then closed my eyes and breathed a curse Well over a dozen

I was slow getting out ofto deal with him

"You stink," he rittedit to be an asshole I’d eaten this el," he said in a growl "You need to give oddamn money" He paused to spit onto the porch, then curled his lip at onna blow it on pills It’s what you always do"

"I bought groceries and paid the bills, remember?" I said as I yanked open the front door and went into the house I grimaced as I heard the scrape of his shoes as he rose

"Don’t you fuckin’ walk away fro to you!" he hollered after ht ere done," I shot back over my shoulder "I spent all the hts are still on"

He grabbedout on me, you worthless little bitch!"

"Get off oddammit! You only wanta stupid fucking drunk!" I slapped at his hand "You only want my money so you can buy more booze!" I tried to twist away, rip For a skinny

But all it did was piss hiot me hard across the side of the head and my ear

"You owe me!" he yelled as he landed several more solid blows to ! Worthless fuckin’ bitch!"

I was no kind of fighter, and all I could think to do was hunch up and try to avoid the worst of it and scream at him to stop "Dad! Stop it! You’re drunk!" I shrieked "You’re hurting ht it would work, that it would e suffused his face "Youyour mother’s better off dead" His fist came down but I could barely feel it anyave up everything for you, and for what? For you to be a goddaasped I could taste blood in s anymore I swear!" I knew I couldn’t stay hunched down like this in the hope that he’d stop I’d never seen him like this before For the first time, I was afraid that he wouldn’t stop until I was a bloody pulp

I s underhiainst the couch There was ave h time to run to my room and slam the door and lock it He pounded on it and yelled for a couple of ainst the wall and shook