Page 339 of Wicked Brutal

“Probably.” Ryan’s fingers tighten around mine. “Against Dad? And Victor?”

“Most likely. Not today.” I nod. “When the time comes, we prepare you. I prepare you. My team prepares you. You will not walk into a police interview, a hearing, a courtroom, or anything else without knowing exactly what’s coming.”

“What if they ask about Ryan?”

“We prepare for it.”

“The baby?”

“We prepare for it.”

“Mom?”

His face softens. “We prepare for that too.”

My eyes fill. Arthur opens his arms. “Come here, kid.”

I don’t think. I go. I keep one hand locked around Ryan’s and wrap the other around Arthur. He hugs me carefully. Tight enough that I feel it.

“You did good.”

I close my eyes. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

“I know.” His hand moves over the back of my head. “But you did.”

“Thank you.”

“We aren’t finished yet.” I pull back. Arthur wipes a tear from my cheek. “But you aren’t doing any of the rest alone either.”

I nod. “What do I do today?”

“Rest.” I almost argue. His look stops me. “Be with your brother. Take care of yourself. Take care of that baby.”

“And everything else?”

“Is mine.”

“For how long?”

“Until there’s something you actually need to do. And then I tell you exactly what it is.” His hand squeezes my shoulder. “And we do it together.”

I nod. “Okay.”

Arthur pulls me in for one more quick hug. Then lets me go. Ryan’s arm is around me before I can take half a step.

Arthur looks toward Tobias’s room. “Go be his sister.”

I turn into Ryan. He kisses my forehead. “You okay?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Don’t let go.”