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I shake my head with a sigh. “You don’t understand.”

“I understand perfectly but your love for Lucas doesn’t change the fact that his brother attacked you!”

“It changes everything, Alice.”

She sighs, shaking her head in disgust. “So, what? You’re just going to let him get away with what he did because you fell in love with his brother? I was here with you the whole time, Quinn, and I know how much this stuff still affects you. Don’t think I didn’t hear you yelling in your sleep just twenty minutes ago.”

“Just give me a little more time.”

“And what if he’s out there hurting some other poor girl?” she asks and I turn to glare at her.

“Don’t you think I’ve already thought of that? I know what’s at stake here, Alice, but it’s not as easy as you’re making it out to be.”

She throws her hands up with a sigh. “But it is, Quinn. And I’m almost certain that with a little time, Lucas will understand why you had to do it.”

Brooklyn lets out a cry and I sigh as I finish buttoning her dress and pull her into my arms. Maybe she’s right. Maybe he would understand but if he doesn’t, if I lose him in this process, then turning my rapist over to the cops doesn’t feel like the victory that it should.

“I can’t talk about this any more right now.”

“Okay,” Alice sighs, holding her hands out for Brooklyn. “Pass her to me and I’ll get her some breakfast while you get ready for work but just know, that this conversation is not over.”

“I expected nothing less.”

She takes Brooklyn downstairs. I sigh as I go back to my room and rush through my morning routine all while trying to keep my mind off of Lucas and his brother. It’s not an easy task but I manage to shower and do my hair and makeup without tears welling up in my eyes. By the time I get dressed and walk downstairs, Brooklyn is playing in the living room with Alice watching over her.

“I’m sorry,” she says as I step into the room and I nod.

“I know.”

She wraps her arms around herself. “I just want justice for you, Sis. What happened to you… it can’t go unpunished.”

“I know that, too. None of this is as simple as it should be.”

“Yeah, I get that,” she sighs. “I left some eggs and hash browns on a plate for you in the kitchen if you’re hungry.”

I shake my head, grabbing my bag. “No. I’ll just grab something on my way.”

“You don’t have to leave so early on my account. I’ll shut up about this for now.”

Sighing, I glance toward the front door. “I just need some fresh air to clear my head.”

“Are you okay? I mean, obviously, this whole situation is fucked up on every level but are you really okay?”

“I don’t know how to answer that question, Alice. I was so happy, you know. So damn happy and I thought I had found the one person I could spend the rest of my life with and then we went to that baby shower. Now, I haven’t heard from him in days and I have to go down to the police station and send his brother to jail.” I let out a breath and brace my hands on the back of a chair as tears well up in my eyes. “This was supposed to be easy. I find the man who raped me and I go to the police so this all could finally be over. I just never expected the end of one nightmare to be the beginning of another.”

A tear slips down her cheek. She stands and wipes it away as she crosses the room and wraps her arms around me. A sob racks my body and I cling to her as the tears fall from both of our eyes.

“Have I told you lately how proud I am to be your sister?” she whispers. I shake my head.

“N-No, I don’t think you have.”

She pulls back and meets my eyes. “You’ve handled everything that’s been thrown at you with grace and so much strength. If it had been me, I think I would have just fallen apart but not you. You persevered when you had every reason to not to and I know you can do this, too, even though it feels impossible right now.”

“I don’t want to lose him,” I tell her, more tears falling as pain radiates from my chest and she nods.

“I know.”

My phone buzzes in my purse and I pull away from her as I suck in a breath and wipe the tears from my cheeks, clenching my teeth in an attempt to stop new ones from falling. “Ugh, God, I don’t have time for this right now. I have to get going.”