He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 22

Juniper stared them down. "Who paid you?"

One of the thugs shrugged, flashing a grating smirk. "Are you psycho? Who would pay us?"

But Yvonne Saint had just delivered her ruthless ultimatum, and now Macy had been attacked. This was undoubtedly a warning.

If she didn't leave the city within three days, both Macy and Mrs. Lucille would be next.

There was no point in interrogating these street punks; the mastermind was Yvonne.

Juniper walked back out calmly, helped Macy to her feet, and nodded to the officers. "Thank you. Please handle them according to the law."

The police gave a few more standard warnings before letting them go.

Macy's face needed immediate medical attention.

She sobbed quietly in the car the entire ride there.

Juniper took her to the emergency room. As the doctor applied the antiseptic, Macy trembled violently in pain, her knuckles turning white as she clutched Juniper's shirt.

"June, do you think someone is targeting me? I've walked that route a hundred times and nothing like this has ever happened."

Juniper's eyes darkened, but wanting to spare the girl any more terror, she offered a soothing lie. "Just stay away from the bars for a few days. Mrs. Lucille is worried sick."

Macy lowered her head. "I just want to make money."

"Macy, you need to focus on school. Once you graduate, you'll have plenty of time to make money."

Macy turned her head away, her tone turning bitter. "I can't just keep asking you for cash every time! I know your own family is hounding you for money too, and you're already paying for my mom's living expenses. Who do you think you are, Mother Teresa? You're so good to everyone, but do you think anyone will actually remember it?! They won't! They'll all betray you, just like I..."

She abruptly clenched her fists as a fresh wave of tears fell uncontrollably, soaking into the fabric of her jeans as her shoulders shook.

When Juniper returned to her apartment, Yara Jenkins was sitting on the sofa eating instant ramen, two unopened snack sausages resting on the table.

Yara nudged the extra ramen cup forward, asking between mouthfuls of noodles, "Got back pretty late. Have you eaten? Want this one?"

Juniper shook her head at the sight of the junk food. "If you have time to boil water, you have time to make something actually healthy."

"But I don't have time. Why are you back so late, and why do you look so miserable?"

"Macy ended up at the police station. I went to get her."

Yara paused, then let out a dry scoff. "What does their family drama have to do with you? You just love making yourself a martyr. Sure, you were close with her brother back in the day, but you were just neighbors. It was stupid of him to dump his burdensome little sister on you before he died, and even stupider of you to actually agree."

Yara's words were always brutally sharp. In her eyes, Juniper was a massive pushover.