When Doom Found Violet novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Cousins and Aunts

Violet's POV

The next morning there was a stranger in my brother's kitchen, scrambling eggs.

He was maybe twenty-two, with a prospect patch sewn on the back of a plain vest and a shaved head he kept ducking under the cabinets.

"Prez said you eat," he said, and slid a plate across the table.

"Thank you. I can feed myself, though."

"No, ma'am."

"I could do the dishes."

"No, ma'am."

I looked at the plate and gave up.

Another prospect leaned against the front window with his arms crossed, watching the street.

Zane had left at dawn with two others to pack my clothes from the house.

Doc had been right.

Nobody in that club would let me lift a finger.

I ate the eggs while my shoulder throbbed and tried not to think about the arms that had carried me to bed.

A car door slammed outside.

Then another.

The prospect at the window straightened.

"Lady, you have company."

I got to the window in time to see a silver minivan at the curb.

My aunt climbed out of the passenger side with her purse on her arm.

Marcy climbed out of the back, wearing sunglasses and a long gray sweater.

I felt my hands go cold.

"Don't open it," the prospect said.

"I won't have it said I hid."

I walked to the door with my good hand on the frame.

I opened it, and I stood in it.

"Violet, thank goodness," my aunt said. "We've been calling since yesterday."

"I know."

"Your husband is in the hospital. Do you understand that? Someone beat him bloody on this very lawn."

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