Page 303 of Wicked Brutal

“Alison!”

“I said NO!” The word cracks across the yard like something breaking.

Victor goes still. Ally’s chest is rising too fast. She’s scared. She’s furious. She’s done. Every ounce of the eighteen years this man and her father spent building a quiet, obedient thing to hand off between them — it’s gone, burned up right there in the doorway, and I can see on Victor’s face that he’s watching it burn.

Victor takes another step. “Do you have any fucking idea what happens if you walk away from me?”

Ally goes pale.

“You don’t threaten her,” I say.

He doesn’t even look at me. “I’m talking to my fiancée.”

“No,” Ally says, and her voice is quieter now. Steadier. Worse for him, because it isn’t hysterical — it’s certain. “You’re threatening my family.”

Victor’s eyes narrow. “Then make the smart choice.”

Ally looks down. Tobias’s fist is twisted into her clothes. Jane has one arm around him and keeps herself between Roman and both kids. Ally looks back at Victor. And she doesn’t hesitate.

“No.”

Victor starts toward her and at the same time, Roman looks at Jane. And something in his face just — goes. I’ve seen him angry. Thursday showed me exactly what he does when he’s angry. This isn’t that. Thursday had heat in it. This is cold. This is a man who’s just understood he’s already lost everything and has decided somebody is going to pay for it before it’s gone.

Dad sees it too. “Toby,” he says. Low. Urgent.

Arthur turns. Victor starts toward Ally. I move. Jane pulls Tobias behind her.

Roman looks at his wife. “You.”

Jane backs up. Ally goes with her.

“Roman,” Arthur warns.

He doesn’t hear him. Or doesn’t care. Jane’s eyes find Dad. Then me. And she’s terrified — but she isn’t surprised. That’s the part that guts me in the half-second I have to see it. She’s terrified like she’s known this exact moment was coming for years. Like she always knew the box would cost this. Like she decided a long time ago it was worth it anyway.

Dad moves for Tobias. I move for Ally. Victor reaches for her. Roman lunges.

And everything goes to hell.

Everything happens at once.

Victor grabs me. Mom shoves Tobias toward Walter. Dad grabs Mom.

“Take him!” Mom screams.

“No!” Tobias twists away from Walter, reaching back for her. “Mommy!”

“Walter, take him!”

Dad jerks Mom backward hard enough to make her stumble. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

“Get your hands off me!”

“You’re not taking my son!”

“He’s a child, Roman!”

“He’s MY fucking child!”