down on my arm, his fin

low and threatening. "These are impor

. Frank Miller, a man known in the area for his money and his nasty reputation with wome

he said, not to me, but to my father.

my father boomed, sh

s grip was tight. I looked past his shoulder, searching for my mother. She was watching, her face a blank mask. She

as a coarse, ugly sound that filled the hall. They pointed, they jeered.

sical thing, a weight pressing down on me, stealing

ank Miller's grasp with a s

air," I mumbl

ned against the cold brick wall of the town hall, my body trembling. Th

creaked open. It was my father

snarled, grabbing my elbow. "You get back in t

said, my voice shaking but firm.

earing behind him. "Your father worked hard to pu

the window at the dark, empty streets, my mind racing. When we walke

y made on holidays, sat on the end table beside him. He didn't even look up when we came in. Kevin was lazy, entitled, and had a gambling problem jus

r cooed at him, completely ignoring me. "Do y

in grunted, his eyes

nished the second they saw him. I, the scholarship winner, was treated

eeling like a ghost in my own home. I neede

small. "We need to talk a

, his face cont

toward me, and I flinched. He didn't stop. He shoved me hard

atched, her arms crossed, her expression cold. The message was clear. I was