Silence stretched. Too thick. Too charged.
She didn’t ask what Callaghan said. Didn’t ask why he swung.
Because she already knew.
I studied her as she worked, taking in the way her hands shook just enough to make me wonder if she was as calm as she wanted to look.
“You’re pissed.”
She didn’t look up. “You’re observant.”
I smirked, but it ached.
Violet pressed her lips together, dabbing at my jaw. “Did you even hit him back?”
I leaned into the sofa, tipping my head back, exhaling through my nose. “Didn’t have to.”
That made her pause, but she didn’t ask what I meant. She tossed the last wipe onto the table, hands bracing on her hips, eyes burning into mine.
“So, what now?”
I shrugged. “Julian and Selene are handling it.”
Her brows shot up. “You’re actually letting them?”
I rubbed a thumb along my jaw, where the bruise had already started to throb. “Not my problem anymore, is it?”
She stared at me. “You don’t believe that.”
I lifted a brow. “Don’t I?”
She sighed, stepping back, arms crossing over her chest, jaw tight. “You really think you can just not care?”
A muscle ticked in my cheek.
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Of course you do.”
I sat forward, forearms resting on my knees, gaze locked on hers. “What do you want me to say, Vi?”
Her throat bobbed.
“I did everything I could,” I said, voice low. “I tried to keep her out of it. I did the right thing, and it didn’t matter.”
“That doesn’t mean you just stop trying.”
“No?” I scoffed. “Because from where I’m sitting, that’s exactly what it means.”
She smiled and it was the last reaction I expected from her.
“You’re a good dad, Griffin.”
Fuck if that didn’t do more damage than Callaghan’s punch.
“I’m going to bed.” I stood, shaking my head, trying to shove the tightness in my chest somewhere else.
“Wait,” she hissed as I turned toward the bedroom door. “I didn’t mean?—”
I stopped. Shoulders tight. Fists clenched.
