za

silent. He grabbed my upper arm, his fingers digging into my skin like claws,

paneled office that smelled of leather and whiskey. He shoved me int

al. In the center, strapped to a metal-framed bed, was Burt Mckenzie. His eyes were open, stari

orce. Then, he took a cup of water, held it just inches from Burt' s face, and slowly poured it onto the floor. A cruel smirk

per right beside my ear. "Very expensive. I pay them to keep him alive.

ns to people who hurt my wife. You," he said, his voice dropping even lower, "are also a con

ot speak to her. You will not look at her. You will make yourself invisible. If you cause her one more second of

, my body trembling so hard I thought I might fall apart. He was not my father. He was my captor.

I ate my meals from a steel dog bowl left on the floor outside my door-bland rice and steamed vegetables, what the doctor had presc

soak up a little warmth. Kylie marched out, Zeus trotting at her

e said, pointing a finger at my

at's my bowl,

e Zeus's bowl! You're disgustin

t it crashing down on my head. A burst of white light exploded behind my eyes, followed by

ying, gleeful rage. "You're a monster,

nging out across the perfectly

the steps. I landed hard on the grass, the wind knocked out of me. The dog's teeth clamped do

a, was standing at a second-story window, looking down at the scene. Our eyes met for a fraction of a second. I saw

d out and closed the curtains, plungin

hope inside me s

ked on my arm. The grass was cool against my bleeding head. I

hed to a halt in the d

ing on here?!" a deep, au

was striding across the lawn. He grabbed the dog by the colla

e a mask of fury and concer

call, Derek's fath

itching the gash on my forehead, her touch gentle. I didn't cry. I didn't even flinch. The pain in my wrist from the dog

ylie rushed in, their faces pale with panic. My mother's eyes were red-rimmed

my bed. "Grandma, is Daddy o

pace beside my bed, her hands twisting together. "W

d them. "The family of D

e for me. They w