Page 7 of Savage Surrender

Mom’s shoulders draw in.

“B,” Winston says. The doctor has moved into his voice. “She didn’t consent to any of this.”

“I know.” My chest tightens until every breath hurts. “It doesn’t change anything.”

“Don’t defend me.” Mom wipes beneath her eyes with the heel of her hand and only smears the mascara farther. She looks at me. “I gave him access to you. And you have every right to hate me.”

Her next breath breaks into a sob, then another, until her whole body shakes with them.

“I don’t hate you.”

“Why would he do this?” she asks.

“He felt entitled to you.” I gesture to her, and then myself. “And then he felt entitled to me. But he doesn’t love me. He traumatized me in the name of science. He let Whitney traumatize my mates.”

Winston reaches over and rests his hand on Mom’s arm. His mouth is tight with anger, but he touches her carefully.

I drag both hands through my hair and pull until my scalp hurts.

The front door opens. “Kate, who the hell are those men outside?” Dad calls from the hallway.

Fuck.

I smooth my hair and try to make my face look like a person who has her shit together. His keys clink into the bowl by the door. I’ve heard that exact sound a thousand times, and it has never hurt before.

He stops in the living-room doorway. Mom sits on the couch with mascara beneath her eyes. Winston looks ready to break something. Weller has positioned himself near the window. Dad takes in all of it before his gaze finds me. His expression softens. “Oh, Bianca. What are you doing here, honey? I wasn’t expecting you, but what a wonderful surprise.”

He crosses the room and folds me into his arms, one hand cradling the back of my head the way he did during thunderstorms when I was small enough to climb into his lap. He smells like warm tobacco, with a hint of sweetness. Home.

“How are you feeling? You look⁠—”

He pulls back. His fingers brush the ends of my hair where it barely reaches my shoulders now.

“Your hair.”

“Yeah.” I force half a smile. “I thought it was time for a change.”

His hand lingers. “Who are those men outside? Are they from the facility? I keep telling your mother this is ridiculous. You should be home with us, not some sterile place like that. Do you want to be there?”

Before I can lie, he seems to notice Weller for the first time.

“Finally brought one of the boys home?” He tips his chin toward Weller. “Good to see you stepping up.”

“Sir.” Weller inclines his head.

Dad turns to Mom and finally registers that she’s still crying. “What’s going on, Kate? Someone tell me what I walked into here.”

She shakes her head and presses her lips together.

“Winston? Bianca?”

I know the words. I can’t be the one who puts them in this room.

He’s looking at me like I’m still his little girl. I don’t want to find out today whether he hugs me the same way once he knows.

“I just needed to see you and Mom.” I lift one shoulder.

Dad’s mouth flattens, but he doesn’t argue.