I know I should stop.
But something in me has gone past fear.
Maybe it’s the cold.
Maybe it’s the pain in my hands and the scary numbness in my toes.
Maybe it’s the fact that my daughter is hurt beside me and my friend turned out to be the monster who burned down my whole life.
“I don’t love you, Rory,” I say. “I never did. I’m with Maverick. We’re starting our life together, and nothing you do down here changes that.”
His breathing turns rough.
“Stop.”
“No.”
“Mia.”
“You need help. You need to let us go and turn yourself in before this gets worse.”
His eyes flick to Livy, where she’s standing beside me.
The second he looks at her, every instinct I have screams.
“Don’t,” I warn.
Livy lifts her chin, even though she’s shaking.
“My daddy is gonna find us.”
Rory takes a few steps forward, and his hand moves before I can process what he’s planning.
The slap cracks through the basement.
Livy’s head snaps to the side.
For one second, the whole world stops.
Then I scream.
“How dare you!”
Livy stumbles back, one hand pressed to her cheek, eyes wide with shock.
Rory freezes.
Like he didn’t mean to do it.
Like his own hand surprised him.
“Oh, Livy,” he says. “I didn’t mean to, honey. I’m so sorry.”
Livy stares at him with her hand pressed to her cheek.
She doesn’t cry.
Her eyes are too wide. Too shocked.
