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I landed on my knees and blinked back fresh stars.
“Dad, don’t—!” Neri cried, tripping to her feet. “It’s not what you—”
“You fucking bastard!” Jack kicked me with all his might, his dress shoe crunching against my ribs. I heaved and buckled over, wrapping my arms around where he’d struck. “You fucking bastard!” He kicked me again and again, raining pain as I curled up on the floor, protecting my head and face.
“Dad, stop!” Neri’s scream ricocheted in my ears.
Jack only hit me harder.
Not listening.
Beyond listening.
“What the hell is going on in here?!” Anna bowled into the room. I only saw a blur of a pretty pink dress before Jack’s fists pummelled me in the head.
I couldn’t speak.
Couldn’t explain.
I would never defend myself against the guy who’d kept me hidden and given me a life. Given me a purpose.
So I took it.
I took every strike, kick, and hit, all while Neri screamed and Anna yelled and Jack lost his ever-loving mind on me.
“Call the fucking police, Anna!” he roared, kicking me in the lower back, making me groan.
Footsteps raced out of Neri’s room.
“I told you!” Jack snarled. “I told you never to touch her. And what the fuck did you do? You drink too much and think you can take what isn’t yours to fucking take?!” He kicked and stomped me. “You hurt my daughter!”
“He didn’t, Dad. I love him—”
“Shut up, Nerida. Go and find your mother.”
“Aslan didn’t do this.”
“Look at your room! It’s destroyed. Look at your wrists! He was on top of you! There are fucking teeth marks on your neck, for fuck’s sake!”
“It’s not what you think—”
“It’s exactly what I think.” His fists came again, finding fresh spots to hurt. “He was trying to rape you.”
“No, he wasn’t!”
“I can see with my own eyes, Nerida!” He kicked me again, his force turning sloppy with fatigue. “Don’t try to defend him. Never try to defend someone like him.”
“I called the station,” Anna shouted. “They’re on their way.” A glimpse of her legs came into view as Anna inched closer to Jack and said breathlessly, “That’s enough, Jack. He’s down. He’s not going anywhere. Let the police deal with him.”
Jack sucked in a snarl-sob, kicking me once more in the belly for good measure. “How could you, Aslan? How could you fucking do this to Neri? To us? After everything we’ve done for you?”
I tried to speak.
Blood trickled from my lips.
I tried to breathe.
Pain strangled my lungs.
