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“Where is that tea?” Joe barked

“I hurt Alice I did it Me” She rocked harder

Strong arhtened around her

“Stop it!” A barked order snapped through her rising panic Her eyes shot to Joe

“Joe?” she whispered

His hand clasped in her hair “This wasn’t you”

She tried to shake her head “My plan It was my plan”

“No” His grip tightened, bringing her focus to hi her out of her ood This is all on him Do you hear me?”

She felt tears rolling down her cheeks as she clung to Joe—her lifeline

“We should have given him the mummy”

“He would still have hurt Alice It’s what he does You know that You did the research Think”

“Her finger, Joe” Her voice was a tre mess

“I know, baby, I know But if we’d given hiran and Alice would have died At least now, she’s still alive and there’s a chance of saving her This isn’t on you It’s on him”

Julia buried her face in his chest and sobbed as his words penetrated She kneas right But it hurt so bad

Chapter 20