The Family Origin

Chapter Forty-Eight: MAISIE POV

Watching Miles murder another man was like being stuck in a nightmare. I was unable to move as I watched Miles stab this man over and over. My stomach twisted into a tight knot as both the man and my husband were covered in blood.

Who was this stranger? Why was he here? Was he another intruder? What did he say to make Miles attack him?

Joseph watched the attack, but he did not interfere. He looked at me a few times before walking toward the house. I was frozen as I watched Miles continue to stab the man. The lock clicked as the front door opened.

"Maisie," Joseph called out.

The floor creaked as he hurried into the living room. Squeezing my eyes shut, I managed to tear my gaze away from the bloody scene on the front lawn. I turned and sunk into the couch cushions. Burying my face in my hands, I took in a deep breath ro push away my tears. Crying over Briar made them force me to be unconscious for days. Miles said my mind was exhausted and needed rest so that I could handle my emotions. I could not let that happen again. My eyes burned with tears, but I needed to control myself. I could not start sobbing.

"Maisie-" Joseph started.

"Who is that?" I cut him off. It was a miracle that my voice did not waver or crack. "Who is outside?"

I bit down on my lip as I lowered my hands. A crushing tightness was in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I clutched at the front of my dress to calm my pounding heart. I needed to push the tears away.

Joseph stood off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest. From his angle, he could see both me and whatever Miles was doing outside. I curled my fingers tighter into the front of my dress to prevent myself from turning around.

"Remember the man who Miles had to kill a few weeks ago because he came into our home wanting to hurt us?" Joseph asked. I nodded, remembering the violent mess when Miles slit his throat. "That was his son. He also came here to hurt us, so Miles had to kill him. He is doing this to protect you and keep you safe."

Joseph slowly walked toward me with his hand stretched out, like I was a wild animal he did not want to scare off. I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat.

My skin crawled earlier when I had listened to the man screaming, but now there was an eerie silence outside. Was he finally dead?

I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes as my mind tried to process what Joseph had said. Miles was keeping us safe, but I hated the violence. I always hated the violence. Joseph was supposed to speak to Miles, and this was supposed to end, but would it ever be able to stop? The man looked so angry as he was screaming at Miles and Joseph. I had seen so many angry men in my life, especially when I was in the tavern. For the first time since coming to this home, Amos's disgusting face flashed through my mind. His anger caused him to be violent with me on many different nights, including some encounters I thought I would not survive.

If the man outside was near me, would he be just as rough and physical? If Miles had not attacked the man, would he attack us first? Would he try to hurt us like the intruder that killed Clara? Miles was doing whatever he could to keep me safe.

I let go of the front of my dress and stretched my sore knuckles. My breath was shaky as I tried to hold back my tears and panic. My hand trembled as I ran my hand over my hair. I bit down on my lip to help fight the urge to turn and look out the window.

"You know that Miles loves you, correct?" Joseph asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "I love him too. I love him so much, but there has just been so much violence in my life, and I hate every moment of it. I never want to see it again."