Page 304 of Wicked Brutal

Tobias screams. Walter catches him tighter, pulling his face into his shoulder. “Hey. I’ve got you, little buddy.”

“My Walter.” His arms lock around Walter’s neck. “My Walter.”

“I’ve got you.” Walter looks at the house. “Danny!”

Danny is there in an instant. Walter starts to hand Tobias over, and Tobias panics. “No! My Walter!”

“Come here, Little Frog.” Danny takes him and turns his small body into his chest. “I’ve got you.”

“No!” Tobias reaches for Walter. Then Mom. Then me. “I want Ally!”

“I know.”

“I want Mommy!”

Danny pulls him tight. “I know.”

Arthur turns. “Danny, don’t remove him from the property.”

Danny looks at him. “He doesn’t need to fucking see this Arthur!”

“Danny—“

“He doesn’t.” Clifford steps up beside his son. “I’ll go with them.”

“Clifford.”

“He’s not watching this, Arthur.”

Then they’re moving, Danny carrying Tobias toward the Harringtons’ with his face buried in his shoulder, Clifford right beside them.

“ALLY!”

“Go, bug!”

“COME WITH ME!”

“I will!”

“PROMISE?”

My throat closes. “Promise!”

I watch them cross the yard. Tobias is safe. He’s going somewhere Dad can’t touch him. He’s—

Victor jerks me around. “What the fuck is going on?”

Pain tears through my shoulder. “Let go of me!”

“What did you do?!”

“Nothing!”

“Don’t fucking lie to me!!”

“I’m not!”

“What did she give you?”