It seems impossible. Every part of me revolts from the possibility, but somehow, the command works. My father swears the whole way out the door, muttering threats and curses, but he slinks away, out of the antechamber, leaving the door ajar behind him.

“Christ,” Finn says, shutting the door.

“I’m sorry that happened,” I say, babbling, shaking with nerves. “Please don’t think—I mean, you must wonder how—I’m sure he didn’t know—”

“He didn’t know I would interrupt?” he asks, his voice dry. “I’m sure he didn’t. Does that happen often? Him hurting you.”

“He didn’t hurt me.” The lie comes out automatically.

He doesn’t break eye contact as he crosses the plush rug. As he takes my arm, gentle even as he proves me wrong. His thumb brushes my wrist, and I wince. It’s still red, the flesh burning where my father twisted it. I know from experience that it’ll be blue tomorrow morning.

“Liar,” he says, the accusation soft.

There’s a hitch in my breath. “It’s not that bad.”

“It’s worse. I knew he was an asshole, but I didn’t know—Fuck, maybe I did know. Maybe the whole goddamn world knows how bad men can be, and we just let them do it.”

“Don’t,” I say, a knot in my throat. Seeing him angry on my behalf… it does something to me. Makes me yearn and hope. Dangerous feelings. “Leo protected me.”

A glance down at his wrist. “Where is he?”

It’s not a real question. His tone says it’s a challenge, like he’s calling me a liar again. And maybe I am lying. Leo protected me. He got between me and my father countless times, taking beatings for me, fighting back—though he could never manage Finn’s icy composure. We were all too heated for that. But he couldn’t be around me twenty-four seven. He couldn’t protect me when he wasn’t home. He couldn’t be everywhere at once.

“You aren’t going to tell anyone about this, are you?” I can only imagine my mother’s horror at finding out that Finn Hughes saw my father in that state.

He shakes his head. “I should have killed him while I had the chance.”

“No,” I say, somehow managing a dry tone. “Then my mother would really freak out.”

“She might thank me.”