Page 301 of Wicked Brutal

“Then let me get him!”

“Not yet!”

“Fuck not yet!”

Roman doesn’t even hear them. He’s already moving toward Jane. “You went through my fucking office?”

“Get away from us.”

“Did you?”

Jane backs up. “Roman, stop.”

“DID YOU?”

Victor looks from Roman to Jane. Then to Ally. “What did she give you?” Ally doesn’t answer. His face changes. “Alison.” Her hand closes tighter around her phone. “Answer me.”

“Nothing that belongs to you.”

Victor goes still. Ally’s breathing is too fast — I can see her hand shaking from across the yard. But she doesn’t take it back. She stands there in the doorway with her chin up and her whole body trembling and she does not take it back.

Victor points at her. “Come here.”

“No.”

“I have put up with enough of this fucking attitude. I’ve let you run your mouth. I let you play your little games because I thought it was cute.” His voice drops into something colder. “It’s not fucking cute anymore.”

“I don’t care.” The fear flashes across her face the second she says it.

Victor sees it too. His mouth twists. “You will.”

I move. Arthur catches my arm. “Don’t.”

“He just fucking threatened her.”

“I heard him.”

“Then get the fuck off me.”

“Ryan.” His grip doesn’t move. I could break it. He knows I could break it. That’s not what’s holding me.

Behind him, Roman crowds Jane farther backward. “You’ve been lying to me.”

“Get away from us.”

“Where is it?”

“I don’t have it.”

“WHERE IS IT?”

“Leave her alone!” Ally yells.

Roman turns on her so fast she flinches back into the doorframe.

Jane immediately steps between them. “Don’t you fucking touch her again.”

Roman stares at his wife. Jane is shaking so badly I can see it from the middle of the yard. But she stays there. She plants herself between him and both kids and she stays.