Page 126 of Anton

“I’m not being dramatic. I’m asking you a question.”

“And I answered it.”

“No, you didn’t.” My fingers stiffen around the photo as something cold and sick starts to spread through me. “You told me they’re old friends, but you haven’t said who they are.”

Her eyes flash, though she appears more scared than angry. “Because it doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“Thora.” She reaches for the photos again, her tone edged with a warning. “Give them to me.”

I take a step back before she can grab them. “No.”

Footsteps sound in the hall, and a second later, Daddy appears in the doorway with Jace and Greer behind him, all three of them staring between us.

“What’s going on?” Daddy peers from Mama to me. “We could hear you from my office.”

I lift the picture before Mama can answer for me. “I was asking Mama who the hell I’m with in these photos, and she keeps lying to me.”

“I am not lying.” Mama’s words crack.

Greer’s face turns white as soon as she sees what I’m holding, while Jace goes still.

“Then tell me who they are.” A cold sense of dread shimmies down my spine.

“They were friends.” She shakes her head at our father. “For some reason, she’s making this into something much bigger than it is.”

Daddy steps farther into the kitchen, his expression changing as he reaches for the photos. “Let me see.”

I hesitate for half a beat before handing it over, and the instant his eyes land on the photos, every bit of warmth drains from his face. My nerves twist as his attention cuts to Mama, and whatever passes between them makes my gut knot up.

A sharp laugh slips out of me. “Are you all going to stare at each other, or does someone actually have the balls to tell me what the hell this is about?”

“Thora…” Jace says.

“No, don’t do that.” I lift photo after photo, showing them to him. “They’re all of me, and none of you are in them. Just me with a bunch of damn strangers. So someone better start talking.”

Mama’s hand goes to her mouth, and the tears in her eyes make mine build. Daddy returns the photos to me before reaching for Mama’s hand, and the second she grips him back, hard enough that her knuckles turn pale, the ground under my feet disappears.

“Please.” Mama turns to Daddy. “Harlan, don’t.”

His teeth clench, accentuating the line of his jaw. “We agreed that if she ever asked, we would tell her the truth.”

Mama’s tears spill over. “She’s never going to forgive us.”

My heart pounds against my ribs, and I grip the counter so I don’t collapse.

Daddy presses his mouth to her knuckles. “That might be the price we have to pay for what we did.”

An ache burns down the back of my throat as Daddy faces me again, his eyes glassing over.

“Why don’t we go into the living room? We can all sit down and talk.”

“I don’t want to sit down.”

Greer slides closer and gently grips my elbow. “Come on, sis. I know you’re upset, but let’s sit down for a minute, okay?”

My head turns toward her, and the pain radiating through her makes the floor feel unsteady. “So you know what this is about too?”