Sorrows and Lace by Bonnie R. Paulson, Brilee Editing Page B

her in reality.
    Had she really just seen Sonny shot in the stomach and then Ronan and Slate took him to leave for dead?
    A dark, deep satisfaction and smug sense of “karma got you dick” gave her the extra fuel she needed to settle onto her feet without holding anything for support. Robbie had faded into the background. He most likely had gone to use the phone to call Amelia, make sure she was okay.
    Kelsey needed some water and to get rid of the cotton-mouth feel she couldn’t shake.
    Tottering to the sink in the kitchen took all her focus and strength. She couldn’t worry about Devlyn until she’d made the thirty or so feet into the kitchen. Or worry that Ronan would blame her for the mess they’d just been dumped into. Or anything.
    Maybe with her glass of water, she’d have some vod ka— no, she couldn’t wake up when Sonny was breaking in. She couldn’t hear anything because she was wasted. She couldn’t react the way she wanted to, the way she should have. The way she knew she should. She wasn’t the type of girl to sit there and take an ass-whooping. She’d fought against Sonny too much, and it had cost her. When Devlyn had been with them at their house, he’d helped keep her in line with his own fists. And two Caracus brothers beating on her were worse than hell.
    But she couldn’t protect herself at Ronan’s b ecause of the damn mind-numbing and dampened reflexes from that damn drink. And the worst part was Ronan had asked her to stop. She hadn’t because… why? What was her real reason?
    Could it be that maybe she didn’t want to face her true emotions for the man who’d swooped in and saved her from the reservation and the rut she couldn’t escape? Her love for him that she’d never recovered from? She needed to think, but damn if her stomach wasn’t a flutter and her lips tingly just from remembering his recent kiss.
    Robbie suddenly appeared at her side, like he’d shadowed her quietly and waited for her to tip and sway. He grabbed her arm. “You okay? Can I do anything?”
    Startled, s he gritted her teeth and gave a slight nod. She’d have to speak past the tightness of her throat which felt like Sonny’s hands still clamped around the base. “Yes. Please. Alcohol. Bottles.” She swallowed, reaching up with her hand to cradle her neck. “Garbage.”
    He peered closely at her. “You want me to find your alcohol bottles and throw them away?”
    She sighed in relief. “All. In. House.” He understood.
    The effort to speak hurt like a damn bitch. She’d probably just need some honey and lemon in water, a common sore throat cure her mother had always made her when she’d lived there, both younger and a little older.
    Robbie left her in the kitchen to do what she’d asked.
    She scratched her arms, digging harder and harder as she realized that she was giving up the one thing that had kept her dull. Protected, if nothing else, her emotions.
    Wanting to call out to stop Robbie but unable to, Kelsey closed her eyes and panted to a one-two-three beat. She could do it. She could do it. Do something. Get the lemon drink ready.
    Searching the cupboards revealed a gallon container of honey. She heated water up in the microwave and added a double squirt of lemon juice from the bottle in the fridge , pouring a generous helping of honey to sink into the cup. Swirling the sweet drink, Kelsey closed her eyes and pictured her mom handing her the honey water, saying, “Tip it back, Kelsey-dear. There’s magic in the bees’ gold.”
    Sipping it, she feared she wouldn’t be able to swallow, but the first few drinks helped more than she’d hoped.
    If she could just get her voice back enough, she would call her parents and warn them. She owed them that much. Loved them too much to even hold a grudge against them for their choice. Hell, honestly? She probably would’ve done the same.
    What was taking Slate and Ronan so long? They’d been gone over an hour. Maybe more.
    With half the drink gone