Page 121 of Pretty Little Scars

She looks up at me likeReally?“No one pushed me in front of the whip. Itismy fault.”

“No, it’s a domino effect from something that started a long, long time ago.” I kiss her head and then pull back the covers of the bed. “Do you want a shirt?”

With a quick shake of her head, she climbs on the bed. “It’ll hurt. I’ll sleep like this.”

I watch as she arranges the pillows so she can lie mostly on her stomach, her arm wrapped around a pillow so her shoulder and arm are exposed to the air. When she’s settled, she lets out a big sigh and sinks into the pillows.

“If you join me, you can take the place of this pillow.”

I lean over to pepper kisses on her face and neck. “Soon. You rest, and I’m calling Blake.”

She doesn’t argue this time. “He probablyshouldhave a look. But he’s never seen all of the scars, Tucker. No one has.”

“He’s a doctor, he’ll be okay.”

She closes her eyes and sighs again, and I leave the room to call my brother-in-law.

“Where is she?”Blake asks when he walks in the house.

“She’s in bed, asleep, but she knows you’re coming.” I drag my hand down my face and pace away from him, then turn back. “Did you know? Back then?”

Blake sighs and sets his bag down.

“We knew it was bad, yeah. It would come in waves. Everything would be quiet for a while, and then suddenly Holden would show up with his sisters, all of them with blank, hollow eyes, and they’d stay with us for the day, sometimes for a few days, until their dad calmed down.” Blake’s hands ball into fists. “But I was a kid myself, Tuck. So, I didn’t really understand the extent of the psychological and physical damage that was going on. I love those girls, and Holden is like a brother to us. They’re all so fucking brave.”

“Yeah, they are. Look, Darby didn’t want me to call you to see this, not because of the wound she gottoday, but because of the scars you’re going to see from before.”

His brows pull together and he goes very still.

“What kind of scars?”

“Her father whipped her often when she was young. Her back is a mess, man.”

Blake’s jaw goes slack, and then he shakes his head and turns to look out the window.

“Fuck.”

“She’s nervous for you to see them because aside from me, no one else ever has. Even her family.”

“Understood. Let’s do this.Fuck.” He paces once in the room and then takes a breath and nods. “Okay.”

I lead him upstairs and into the bedroom, where Darby’s breathing softly, still curled around the pillow. Her back is exposed, and Blake stops in his tracks about five paces from the bed, his eyes moving over her skin, and he has to turn away for just a moment to gather himself.

“Jesus,” he whispers.

I move to the other side of the bed so I’m in Darby’s line of sight and ghost my fingers over her hair and down her jawline.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I kiss her hair and feel her stir. “I need you to wake up just for a minute because Blake’s here.”

“I don’t want him to see,” she whispers without even opening her eyes.

“I know, baby. He’s right here, and he’s going to check out the gash you got from protecting that horse this morning.”

She snorts at that and pries one eye open, looking at me. “So brave, I know.”

“Yep.” I glance over at Blake, who’s got his doctor face back on.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Blake says. “No need to get up, you’re in a good spot for me to have a look. It got you good.”