Free Divided (Unguarded #2) by Ivy Stone Page B

it all at the same time.
    I rub a hand over my forehead and shift on my feet before attempting to steer the conversation in a safe direction, away from feelings I’d rather we keep buried. Away from the nagging feeling that draws me to her. “We need to get you cleaned up.”
    Ali nods and her small soft voice sends a shiver over my spine. “Okay.”
    My eyes drift away from her, confusion spinning in my head. I swallow the emotion swirling around in me. “Come on. We’ll go to the hospital, have them sort you out then go to the precinct. Call your sister to come pick you up. You can’t come back here, Ali.”
    I reach for her without waiting for her to agree and rest a hand on her lower back, pushing her along beside me. We barely get a few steps when she digs her heels into the ground, stopping us. I turn around as the first drops of rain soak our hair, drizzling down our faces.
    Ali wrings her fingers together while pleading with big round eyes. “No. I don’t need a hospital. And you can’t call, Lindsey. Or your work.”
    My patience snaps. Her stupidity, infuriating.
    I glare at her. “I don’t particularly care if you want to or not. You called me, Ali. Middle of the fucking night, because you need my help. Now accept it, and get your ass moving because you can’t go back to this place you call home. I let you go back there because you’re nineteen and responsible for yourself… and look what happened.” I gesture to the length of her. “Well, lesson fucking learned, babe. Not letting it happen again. We got to call your sister. She’s your family. That’s where you should be.”
    I turn around, pull her slippery hand into mine and get moving before she can disagree with me some more.
    “Please. Just stop a second.” She yanks her arm free and I’m done. I don’t have time for this shit and I can’t, won’t, leave her hurt and alone.
    Rain pelts down on us as a storm brews above us and between us.
    “I know you probably think I’m young and naïve. But I’m not stupid, Roamyn. I know what will happen the moment you take me to the precinct or the hospital. I’m not going to say anything against Lucio or his father. They’ll kill me before they’re even in cuffs. We both know it.” She drops her arms, her shoulders curling over as she sighs. “And I’m not worrying my sister over cuts that will heal. It’s not worth it. She’ll pull crazy out on their asses and it’s the last thing we need. Trust me when I say that to you. You’ll start something neither of us can finish because this…” she gestures around us, “…is so much bigger than you, me, and any of our problems.”
    Her words sift through cracks of thunder. Rain downpours in a heavy shower, thickening the tension growing with every uneven breath. The storm steals the silence, our words—anything we want to voice. Not that it matters. What’s the use of talking when trying to reason with a girl prepared to defy me at every turn? I stomp forward, sweep the hair out of her face and dance my hand around the back of her neck. I’ll get her attention the only way that seems to work. I squeeze the delicate column in my hands and lower my eyes to her so she can believe every word from my mouth.
    “Never said you were stupid, babe. I know you’re not. Takes courage and strength to live through what I can only imagine you have and still be here today. But you’re caught up in a world that’s going to get you killed. That day might not have been today. But one day, Lucio will punch you one too many times. Or this…” I use my free hand to trace over the track marks on the inside of her arm, “…this will kill you first. You need to get out now while you have people to help you.”
    A lump forms in my throat at the agony in her eyes.
    She casts her head downward and away from me and whispers, “It’s too late for that.”
    I shake her. “No, it’s not, Ali. You’ve just got to want it bad enough and be strong enough to