Page 163 of Anton

“I didn’t mean that.” His words shake apart. “I-I was just angry. She was going to leave me. She’s my family.” His teeth grind. “She’s never going to belong to any of you.”

Rage screws up his face, and I kick him in the jaw, knocking a few teeth loose. He spits blood, his chuckle teetering on insanity. Killing him is a favor.

“Do whatever you want to me. It won’t change anything. She’ll always be a Hale.” His gaze cuts to the Whitlock men. “She’s never been a Whitlock. You stole her from me.”

“That may be true, son.” Harlan steps forward and crouches in front of him. “But that doesn’t change your fate, I’m afraid. Anton here will see to that.”

He claps me on the back as he rises.

Drew’s nostrils flare as he glares at me. “You’ll never be good enough for her.”

“That’s what everyone says.” My grip snaps around the katar. “But I’m going to do my best.”

“I wish I’d had better aim the day I shot you.” He grins, his missing teeth making him appear even crazier.

“Seems you’re not good at a lot of things.” I step closer. “But I’ll fix that for you. Death will be easy.”

Then I push the blade into his gut and turn it, ripping his insides apart.

His eyes bulge as blood spills, and I rip the blade free before aiming higher, stabbing him in the eye. His scream echoes as I drop the katar beside him, letting him bleed out slowly while staring down at my work with nothing but satisfaction.

I’ll spend my entire life avenging anyone who tries to hurt her.

“You did well, son,” Harlan says. “Now go be with her. She needs you. We’ll get this cleaned up.”

I head toward the sink at the end of the barn to wash the filth from my hands. It’s one thing for Thora to know what I did; it’s another for her to see it.

THORA

Greer and Mama sit beside me. Mama picks at the hem of her shirt, clearly not knowing what to say. We haven’t talked about any of it since I got out of the hospital, and I still don’t know what I want or need.

I guess I have to figure out how to live with the truth, because I don’t want to lose my family. They’re all I have besides Anton.

There’s no one left from my biological family. My aunt was the only other link, and now it all dies with Drew.

The thought of what Anton is doing right now makes my stomach turn, but I can’t sit with it too long or it’ll make me crazy.

I just wish things had been different. That Drew and I could’ve had a real relationship. But he was unwell, and there was nothing I could’ve done to save him from himself.

“I know it doesn’t sound like much,” Mama starts, her eyes wet and her voice heavy with guilt. “But I am sorry. Your father is too. What we did was wrong. You weren’t ours, not then, but you are now. So please don’t walk away from this family. I wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Seeing her upset makes emotion climb into my throat. “I don’t wanna walk away from this family, Mama. I love y’all. But I need more time to live with the truth, you know?”

“Of course, sweetheart.” She reaches for my hand. “Take all the time you need. We’re not rushing you, by any means.”

Greer’s lips purse. “I wish I could’ve told you. But it wasn’t my story to tell.”

“It’s fine. I get it. I’m not mad at you.”

She nods, and silence stretches before I clear my throat.

“I did want to tell you both that I’m going to be moving in with Anton, so if anyone wants to stop me, just know I⁠—”

“No one will.” Mama grins. “In fact, I like him a lot. That man didn’t leave the hospital for a second while you were there. His brothers had to force him to shower, and even then, he did it in the hospital.” Emotion fills her eyes. “I’m happy you have him. It makes me worry less knowing someone worries about you as much as I do.”

“He’s a good man,” I tell them.

Greer scoffs, and I cut her a glare.