Folding Hearts (Mitchell Family #2)(16)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Thanks for takin’ up for her. So where is she? She didn’t hear ya’ll talkin’ did she?”

“I haven’t seen her for at least two songs. I thought maybe she went to the bathroom, but nobody has come from that direction in a while.”

Conner finally seemed genuinely concerned for his sister. He began probing the entire bar again for any sight of her. “I will go check the bathroom. Do me a favor and go check out by the car. Sometimes phone service in here sucks. She might just be checkin’ on the baby.”

I gave Conner a nod and walked in the direction of the exit. After walking toward the back of the bar I could hear someone talking. When I saw Tucker, I ducked down behind a car to see exactly what he was doing. From the angle I was standing, I couldn’t see who he was talking to. My first instinct was to just jump him before he caught wind of me being behind him, but I didn’t have anyone there to back me up and he was obviously with someone. One wrong kick to my leg and I would be back in physical therapy again.

I could hear him gritting his teeth, but couldn’t figure out exactly what he was saying, or who he was saying it to.

Slowly, I crawled one more car closer, trying to get a better look. Immediately, I spotted Miranda. He had her by the throat and was licking her cheek. I still couldn’t make out his words, but it didn’t matter because I ran right toward him, throwing myself full force at his pathetic ass. He went down quickly and Miranda backed away from us. With two swift punches to his jaw, I had forced his face to hit the concrete.

I could hear Miranda crying as I watched Tucker try to get back onto his feet, the whole time spitting out blood from his mouth. “Stay down if you know what is good for you!” I threatened.

“Fuck you. The bitch deserved it.”

Since I had no idea what he meant, I looked over toward where Miranda was standing. She was hunched over a car and holding her face with her hand. “Hey, you okay?” I asked.

She just nodded and never took her hands down. I turned my attention back to Tucker who was now sitting down, leaning against his car. “What did you do to her?”

He didn’t answer. I kicked him. “What the hell did you do to her?”

“I taught the bitch a lesson about runnin’ her mouth. What’s it to you anyway?” He asked.

Conner came up behind me before I could answer. When I heard him approaching I turned to look at him heading in the direction of where his sister stood. He leaned over her and pulled her hands away. Her face and hands were covered in blood. She was crying. I heard Colt’s voice behind me, giving the address to the bar. Assuming that he was speaking to the police, I looked back to Tucker. Before I could react, he took out my legs and sent me flying down to the ground.

As I moved myself away from his legs, I saw Conner jumping on top of him. They started rolling around on the concrete parking lot. Within seconds, Conner had Tucker pinned down to the ground. “Stay down you little punk ass bitch!”

“Fuck you!”

I couldn’t contain my anger. I took my foot and forced it hard into Tucker’s side. The sudden pain must have ripped through him. He crunched himself up into a ball holding where my foot had been. “That is for laying a hand on a female.” I kicked him in the face. “That one was for busting out my mirror.”

“This changes nothin’!” He yelled from on the ground. “She is still nothin’ but a common whore. You think your family can keep all of her dirty laundry hidden? Everyone knows it.”

I gave him one final kick in the side before I heard the sirens coming our way.

I have no idea how long it really took, but the police arrived and Colt forced me to walk away. While Tucker was being subdued and put into handcuffs, I rushed to Miranda’s side. She was already surrounded by Conner’s girlfriend and Van. Colt suggested I steer clear of the cops due to the fact that I already was on probation in another state. Even though it was nothing compared to a violent type of crime, it still wouldn’t help with my future if I continued to get into trouble with the law.

They had to force me away from Miranda’s side. Colt handed me his keys and suggested I wait it out in the back of the car. All I could do was think of Miranda. I needed to see that she was okay. The last thing I saw was her face covered in blood. She needed to go to the hospital.

After at least thirty minutes, I noticed the police cars driving away. Colt headed in my direction, followed by Van holding a very distraught Miranda. Colt leaned over and got the seat pushed down so that Miranda could climb into the back. Just like when she was giving labor, I pulled her head on top of my lap. I stroked her hair away from her face. She was still crying out and it wasn’t just from being upset. I could sense from the way her body was tensed up that she was in a bunch of pain.

“Are we taking her to the hospital?” I asked as we pulled out of the parking lot.

“Yes, we will be there in fifteen minutes. Van, can you call my aunt and tell her to meet us there?” Colt handed her his phone as he continue to drive.

“What the hell happened back there? Did anyone see that ass**le come into the bar?” Colt asked.

“Not that I know of. She was dancing with me ten minutes before. That bitch Courtney cut in and the next thing I know Conner and I were looking all over for her,” I explained.

“I told Conner that his threats were goin’ to cause more problems. Damn him for not listenin’.”

Colt was pissed and I could tell from the way his foot hit the accelerator on the stang. “Let’s get her taken care of and we can figure out what to do next.” I suggested.

Van turned around and shot me a look. “There is no ‘we’. You are going to go home Ty. You can’t be here for any of this. You are on probation already. We don’t need you being involved in any of this anyway. We can handle it ourselves.”

“You can’t ask me to leave, not now.”

Colt looked in the rearview at me. “She is right Ty. You need to pack up your shit and head home. We can take care of things here. You don’t need any more trouble on your plate.”

I kept shaking my head. “Hell no! I am not leaving!”

We pulled up to the hospital and got Miranda inside. Luckily there was no wait and they took her right back. Conner came rushing in behind us and went into the back with her, while me, Van and Colt waited in the designated waiting area.

Miranda’s mother came running in a while later. She had Izzy with her and approached us as soon as she spotted us sitting there. “What happened?”