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"Did any of the policeive you a phone number to call?"

"Yes"

"Give it to ela three tries to speak clearly enough for Grant to get the number down

"Are you at home?"

"Yes"

"I want you to stay there, got it?"

"What about Dale?" she asked

"I’ll take care of Dale You need to stay hoeroushurt Understand?"

"Yes When you find Dale, will you have him call me to tell me he’s safe? Even if it’s late I don’t care"

"I pro up and dialed Dale’s cell phone It went straight to voiceto find you Just hold on"

Next, he called the nuiven him on his way to the car There was no way he could let Isabelle know that Dale wasNot in her current condition She was too weak to stay awake forto have to find a way to deal with this as best he could and pray the police didn’ton

The doctors had said she’d probably sleep through the night, so he had that long to find Dale and bring him home safe and sound

At least Keith was up there with her and he didn’t have to worry about her safety while she was in the hospital

Grant had seen the horrified look on Keith’s face when he showed up and saw her lying there so weak and pale In that moment, Grant realized Keith loved her He didn’t like it, but he could hardly blame the man

Keith would watch over her until Grant could get back to her side

"What exactly is it you want frohas nearly e, and the idea of being alone in the dark with Wyatt was bringing back all kinds of bad memories It didn’t matter how quietly he hid in the closet, Wyatt would always find hi him out

"I want to teach you how to be a real man before it’s too late and that bitch turns you into a weakling"

Dale felt like lashing out at Wyatt for insulting the only person in the world who actually gave a shit about hih when he told her he wanted to be a ht hi about? Isabelle was taking care of me, not that you’d knohat that looked like if you sat on it"

Wyatt pulled back his hand as if to strike Dale, but he refused to flinch He was tired of being afraid of his father He was nearly a row soonna hit back Got it?"

Wyatt grinned and wrapped his ar "That’s my boy Don’t let no one push you around"

Dale’s stomach clenched If his father approved of hiet away He needed to escape before he lost every opportunity he ot to use the bathroom," he told Wyatt

"Hold on and I’ll pull over where you can piss"

Dale needed civilization, not just so the side of the road "I need to take a du it outside Find a bathroorunted his disapproval but said, "Fine I saw a sign for a gas station a few miles up in Rolla We’ll stop there" He reached under the seat and pulled out a gun "But let ive me any shit at all or try to run, and I’ll end you I’d rather have no son than one who betrayedto Isabelle about Dale, but he didn’t knohat else to do There was nothing she could do to help hi to help her recovery As it was, she looked like she was barely able to keep her eyes open

She was speaking quietly with Keith, who stroked the back of her hand as naturally as if he’d been doing it for years Grant suffered through a kick of jealousy Even though they’d slept together, that didn’t give hi She was entitled to her own life without him Even if it included Keith

Grant plastered a sht you so that doesn’t leave your ass hanging out"

"Noould she want to do that?" said Keith "She’ll spoil the view"

The paper sack crunched inside Grant’s tightening fist "I also threw in so by your sink Don’t ask me what it all is, but it’s in there So is your toothbrush"

Isabelle gave him a weak smile "Thanks, Grant I’ll feel a lot better in o hoht"

"The doc said you could go hoood"

"Where’s Dale? I thought he was co with you"

Grant wasn’t a natural liar, but he’d learned how to do it just in case he needed to in his job He ht in the eye as he lied "He’s studying with Angela tonight for so test tomorrow, and I didn’t think you’d want him to mess that up"

Isabelle frowned "No, of course not He needs to study and not worry about me I’ll see him tomorrow"

"I’ll take care of him for you, Isabelle I swear it" At least that wasn’t a lie

She reached out a hand toward him, and Grant couldn’t help but take it He’d wanted to touch her so bad--pull her tight against hiile Breakable

Her skin felt dry and still too hot, but it wasn’t as bad as it had been before Whatever they’d done to treat the poison orking Thank God

"I know you’ll take care of hi to worry about him You’re handy to have around"

Handy? He was a fucking liar He had to get out of here before she saw it in his face He had to find Dale and bring hiht now

Grant kneful that felt