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gize; we needed information, and you had it.”
Arthur slammed him against the bookshelf again, the air
whooshing from Thom’s lungs in a painful burst. “Did you take
anything? Is it all there?”
Clenching his jaw, Thom shook his head. Arthur’s fist
slammed against his stomach, making him double over in pain.
“Stop it!” Minnie screamed. “It’s my fault! I told them where
you’d buried it.” She ducked under Arthur’s arms, smashing her-
self between him and Thom, voice laden with tears. “I’m sorry.
&
nbsp; I’m so sorry. But they are going to hurt Charles.”
When Arthur dropped Thom’s collar, Thom slid to the
ground, stomach still sharp with pain. He was getting rather tired
of being attacked tonight. The next person to hit him would be
hit back, no matter who it was.
“I don’t care if they hurt Charles,” Arthur said, his voice now
the quiet one Thom was used to.
Thom stood with a growl, anger boiling to the surface. It was
only Cora’s hand on his chest that kept him away from the other
boy. Of course Arthur didn’t care — he’d made that abundantly
clear. But Charles was everything Thom cared about. In that
moment Thom knew that, because of Arthur’s desire to protect
the girls, he was as much a threat as Alden.
Minnie stepped forward, trying to wrap her arms around
Arthur’s waist. He moved away from her, his eyes cold.
“I care if they hurt him,” she said, her shoulders shaking.
“We’re leaving.” Arthur grabbed Minnie’s wrist and turned to
Cora. “Right now. We can’t stay here any longer — it’s not safe.”
“Are you mad?” Cora asked. “We can’t leave!”
“I’ll make you. If I have to tie you both up and throw you in a
