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“I’ll keep him here,” Ethan murmurs.
I nod, avoiding his gaze and walking for the house. Letting myself in, I head down to Sofia’s room and tap on the door.
“It’s me,” I call.
The lock clicks, and she eases the door open. Her face is blotchy from her tears, but her eyes are dry when I give her a sad smile.
“Is he gone?” she whispers.
“I’m gonna take him home in just a minute. I wanted to check on you first.”
She sniffs, crossing her arms and making herself seem young and vulnerable. I guess she still is. Shit, she’s only sixteen. She shouldn’t have to deal with this from her own father.
“Hey.” I grip her shoulder and pull her into a hug. She tucks herself against my chest, and I rub circles on her back. I’m trying to think of something soothing to say, but it’s always the same shit, right?
“It’s gonna be okay.”
“It’s over.”
But it’s not over, because my dad is a relentless bastard, and he’ll come back again. It’s like his radar is honed to Mama. He can’t live without her, but he couldn’t live with her either.
Or at least, she finally got to the point where she couldn’t live with him.
Or more accurately, I couldn’t see her get hurt again, and I forced her hand.
I’m not sure she’s ever fully forgiven me for that, although she has admitted that it was probably for the best.
She’s never looked at me the same since that night, though. I’m not sure she ever will.
“I hate that he’s our dad,” Sofia whimpers, fisting the back of my jacket. “It’s so humiliating.”
“I know.” I kiss the top of her head. “Have you spoken to Mama?”
“Yeah. I called her as soon as I hung up with you. She was gonna come back, but I managed to talk her out of it. She would have been too exposed trying to get from the car to the house, and she didn’t want the neighbors seeing if Dad did get her.” Sofia sniffles, her body shuddering against my chest. “After we hung up, she probably called every neighbor on our street, begging them not to call the police. Telling them you were coming to deal with it.”
I sigh and rub Sofia’s back with a little more fervor.
She’s shaking so much, it’s like she’s cold.
“How bad was it?”
“Just yelling and pounding on the door for a bit. Then he went quiet and I thought he’d left. I opened my door and was about to call Mama when I heard him starting to cry.”
“And the neighbors obviously didn’t intervene.”
“They know the drill. As long as he doesn’t touch us, they won’t do anything,” she mumbles. “I still can’t believe they put up with all the racket, though. I’d be so pissed if I was them.” She whines in her throat and pulls away from me, slashing tears off her cheeks. “I hate having to face them in the morning.”
“They understand. It’s not your fault, Sof.” I kiss her cheek. “He only makes himself look bad.”
“And us look like victims.”
“You’re only a victim if you act that way. Don’t let him take your dignity.” I’ve said this to her before.
“I know. I know.” She tuts, then lets out a heavy sigh.
“You need to get some rest. You’ve got school in the morning.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m fine.”
