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“Okay,” she relents “I’ll tell you everything, but I’ you”

I grip her face in lassy with tears and I watch as they roll down her cheeks Using my thumb, I wipe them away I lift her into my arms and carry her back into h “You won’t lose me”

“Just after my mom died, Tony ca herself on the bed

I’ for her to continue

“I was alone It was just Jake and me I’d just lost the closest person in h”

She stops and wipes tears fro her “He pros would be different I'm not sure if I believed hi sorry for myself, and that made it hard to say no”

“How long had been since you’d seen him?”

“Tony?” She laughs “He hadn't been around since I’d gotten pregnant with Jake”

“And you weren’t suspicious when he suddenly showed up?”

She scowls at me “Not an idiot, Ryder Of course I was suspicious Only hed that I let myself believe that ed”

“Then what happened?” I ask I’

“He started getting abusive He’d hit ain, and I’d forgive hihs and shakes her head, as if she can't believe what she’s telling me “Only it never was the last time When he hit Jake, I panicked and asked him to leave”

“You did nothing wrong The guy’s an arse, Scar You thought this would scareover to her to wrap irl”

I’uy down and punch the shit out of hi coward

Sheover herself She bites her lip, her breathing shallow “There's ht never do it”