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“Stop restraining her,” I coughed and spat blood into my palm, wiping it on my shorts so I didn’t stain Neri’s cream rug on the floor. “Just let her go.”
Sirens echoed so loud, screaming down the neighbourhood.
Fuck.
I needed to run, to hide.
If they catch me—
Grunting with agony, I pushed up to my knees. “Jack...I-I love your daughter. I always have—”
His fist shot into my cheekbone so fast, my head smashed backward against Neri’s bed. The room spun. My ears rang.
“Don’t you dare talk about love, you son of a bitch. You don’t know the meaning of it!”
Sirens cut off outside the house.
Terror hammered through my blood.
When I’d forced Neri to accept her strength, I’d been prepared to die for her.
That wish was about to come true.
“Dad, please. Tell the police you’re mistaken. Don’t let them take him. You can’t let them take him!” Neri begged, choking on tears. “He’ll die if they deport him!”
“That’s bullshit. It’s just another lie. Good fucking riddance.” Jack dragged Neri toward the door. “Let’s go. You’ll need to make a statement.”
“I’m not going anywhere!” she screeched. “Let go of me!”
A loud knock on the front door.
Anna wrung her hands. “They’re here.”
“Go answer the door,” Jack snapped. “I’ll wait here with him.”
Anna held out her hand. “Neri, sweetie, come with me. You don’t have to watch this.”
“Don’t let them in, Mum. They can’t take him away. They’ll kill him!”
“No one is going to kill anyone,” Jack grunted. “Unless it’s me.” He shoved Neri toward Anna. “Go with your mother. Now.”
“Dad. Please don’t do this.”
Anna tried to grab Neri. “Come on—”
The door hammered again. “Police. Open up!”
“Go!” Jack yelled. “Once he’s in custody, then we’ll talk.”
“He didn’t do this!” Neri screamed.
“Go, Nerida. I won’t ask again!” Jack bellowed.
I struggled to stand.
My left kneecap crunched; my ribs screamed.
Pain made me lightheaded, and I couldn’t see straight.
