“Here we are, trying to be nice to you, and this is what you do?” Colt slams the front door shut and locks it before Nix finally sets me back on my feet. I whirl around, furious, my breaths coming in big, heaving sobs.

“Nice?” I scream, and that feels good. Hearing my voice echoing, seeing the way their eyes widen in surprise. Like they expected me to be this meek little thing, begging for the slightest scraps of kindness. They didn’t expect me to come back swinging.

“Well, yeah,” Colt finally responds once he shakes off his surprise. “What did you think today was about? We told you—”

“That’s not being nice. That’s just basic decency, you asshole,” I bark at him. Nix snorts, and I whirl on him next. “Sorry if I’m not falling on my knees and thanking you for your generosity, but nothing about treating me like a human being is generous. Why won’t you just let me go?”

When he shrugs, I want to scream again. “Because we can’t. And if you would grow up and see this for what it is, you would understand that.”

“Grow up? So what, that’s your way of telling me to suck it up and deal with it? Because I’m not going to do that. I need to get out of here, dammit. How much farther do you think he’s going to take this before he stops?”

This is the first time we’ve spoken about the things their father has them do to me. It’s like my words have a magical effect. Immediately, the fight goes out of both of them, and they look at the floor. Like all their posturing and bullying drops away as soon as I speak frankly about their father’s monstrous behavior.

“You know it doesn’t work that way,” Colt murmurs, his gaze still lowered.

“That is bullshit. That’s what you’re letting yourself believe. And I’m sorry if that’s what he’s making you think, but it just isn’t true.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nix growls. When he makes a move for me, I don’t flinch. I stand my ground, feet planted, chin lifted. It throws him off, but only for a moment. Then he bends, throwing me over his shoulder and charging up the stairs.

“Stop it!” Though I can’t exactly fight, not when he’s carrying me like this. I don’t need us both falling down the stairs. It’s only once we reach the hallway that I pummel his back and shoulders with both fists. I might as well be punching air for all the good it does.

Colt follows us, and soon the three of us are back in my room. Nix throws me onto the bed, but I scramble off in case he decides to throw himself on top of me.