Fishe

lute back as she disa

yes was a slap across my

oom was utte

s trembling with rage, mu

ietly while trying to c

ther, Elea

r eyes harder than I

atisfied n

uth, but no wo

a raw, agonized sound of fury f

e and turned to J

inging herself to eye

m, but it held an

id you push the se

rified by he

arms, but the flicker of panic in

ushed to h

boy, he didn'

Eleanor cut her off co

avering stare, Tuan

at he was angry that Dawn was taking his mommy

uth wa

blood rush

ht it was a

the calculated malice

d at Ju

d drained fr

uch of Tuan's malice was a reflectio

or st

ed me a

you will go apologiz

't hes

rm, ignoring Julianne's protests,

felt so keenly the

d I had allowed my

r, took a deep bre

es open

ld, dismissive eyes, a l

s resting,"

see her,"

rom inside the room

m in, E

ped in

a, her left hand wrapped

me, and her expres

ward, forcing him

e," I co

arfully, then mumbled

rough with a shame I

and it was my grandmother's. I shouldn'

e I had ever admitte

us, her fac

ng moment,

child. I hope his mother will

ice wa

but there was no f

cussing a matter that had

worse than a

an out of

d knelt, wanting t

me se

ling her hand bac

ided my

froze in

ion hurt more than any wo

t the terrifying certaint

eve

pulled a chair over and

to see th

bruising on her wrist, where she must

pain stabbed th