Page 180 of Wicked Brutal

“Don’t bend it,” I warn.

“I know.”

Tobias studies his picture. “Can I show Mom?” My heart stops. The entire room stills. Tobias looks up. “Oh.”

Darla crouches in front of him. “Remember, this is still Ally’s private medical information and Ally gets to decide who knows and when.”

His little fingers tighten around the picture. “I’m not gonna tell.”

“I know you’re not.”

He looks at me. “Can I keep it somewhere safe?” I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Where Dad won’t see?”

Cassandra steps closer. “I have an idea. Why don’t we put it in one of my article folders for now? I’ll keep it safe here. Anytime you’re visiting, you can see it.”

That apparently satisfies him. He hands her the picture. “Don’t lose it.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Darla gives me the remaining pictures. Ryan stares at them. I stare at him.

His eyes lift to mine. “Can I—“

I hand him one. His mouth closes. He takes it carefully. And the fact that I’m still furious with him doesn’t change what happens to his face when he looks down at it. He runs his thumb along the white border. “Fuck.”

Tobias looks at him. “You can’t say that in the article.”

Ryan blinks. Walter laughs so hard he has to sit down.

Once Darla finishes packing everything, Cassandra claps her hands. “All right, Mr. O’Toole. Now I believe you owe me an interview.”

Tobias’s entire attention shifts. “Can I use the recorder?”

“You may press the button.”

“Can I hold it?”

“We’ll negotiate.”

He takes off toward the hall. Cassandra catches him. “Wrong room, Walter Cronkite.”

“Who?”

She stops. Looks at Walter. “Oh my God.”

Walter shakes his head. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

“He doesn’t know Walter Cronkite.”

“He’s six.”

“I have failed.”

Tobias looks between them. “Who’s Walter Cornkite?”

“Cronkite.”

“That’s what I said.”