Kincaid grimaced. “Not supposed to? Like she’s under orders?”

Ash’s eyes were wary. “Exactly. That’s how things work at their house. What he says is law.” He sighed. “Only, she’s broken that rule a lot. She has an email account he doesn’t know about and emails me a few times a year. She isn’t lying about not knowing I was in town, but he senses something’s up. That’s enough to set him off.”

Kincaid could feel the worry wafting off him. “You think he’s going to hit her?”

“Yes,” he said flatly. “He’ll punish her.”

A chill went through her. “Should we invite her over to your place tonight or something? Get her out of the situation?”

Ash picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of lean brisket. “No. She won’t go. I’ve tried. It’s the reason I’m not allowed home anymore.” He grabbed a bottle of sauce and poured a puddle onto the butcher paper, his movements stiff. “Before I left for school, I confronted my dad about the abuse and asked my mom to come to New York with me. They both denied everything. Acted shocked. Everything was just peachy in the Isaacs household. Just a little yelling is all. Why so sensitive, Ashton? Why are you trying to make us look bad? Why are you lying?”

Kincaid’s lips parted in horror. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. My own parents tried to gaslight me. I lost my shit and told my mom that I wouldn’t come home to that, that I wouldn’t stand by and pretend anymore. But I should’ve known better than to give her an ultimatum. I placed a bet on a losing hand, making her choose between us. Dad kicked me out, and Mom didn’t step in when he cut me off, leaving me with only my scholarship to pay for tuition and nothing for room and board.”

“That’s what he wants you to say sorry about? For telling the truth?”

“Yep. And if I’m real nice about it, he’ll give me access to the settlement money they got from the Long Acre case,” he said with a snide tone. “Isn’t my dad just the sweetest?”

“Jesus H. Christ.” Kincaid peeked at the coach’s table again. “They’re holding money over your head?”

“Two hundred thousand dollars could be all mine for the small price of saying I imagined my entire childhood and that I’m so very sorry for making up horrible stories about dear old dad.” Ash shoveled a bite of food in his mouth.

Her eyes went wide. “Holy shit, Ash. That’s a lot of money.”

“I wouldn’t do it for ten million. Fuck him.”

“I don’t blame you,” she said, fresh admiration for him filling her. She knew how tight things had to have been when he left Long Acre. That money could’ve changed Ash’s life. “I can’t believe they’re holding your settlement money. You were the one who went through the shooting, not them.”

“I don’t want their money. I just—” He looked down at his food, dragging the tines of his fork through the sauce, his jaw working again. “It guts me to see her, to know what she goes home to. My mom’s a grown woman, and I know I can’t force her to do something differently. She’s made her decisions. But that doesn’t make it easier for me. She’s still my mom. I want to protect her. That’s why I still email her a few times a year. I want her to know she can still ask me for help if she changes her mind, even though I know she won’t.”