Page 233 of Wicked Brutal

“Were you afraid for her?” Mom doesn’t answer. “Mom.”

Her fingers tighten around her mug. “Sometimes.”

The word is barely audible. It still lands hard. I look at the ring on my finger.

“Then why me?” Mom closes her eyes. “Why would Dad choose Victor for me if you both knew what happened to Marianne?”

“Your father didn’t see Victor the way I did.”

“How did he see him?”

“Disciplined.”

Something bitter crawls up my throat. Of course. Victor decides where his wife goes, who she speaks to, when she’s allowed to exist outside of him, and Dad calls him disciplined.

“Why Victor?”

“Alison.”

“Why him?”

“You know why.”

“No. I know what Dad tells me.”

Mom puts her cup down. “Our families have business interests together. Relationships. Connections.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it.” That earns me a tired look. I don’t smile. “Does Dad owe Victor something?”

Her expression changes. Barely. But enough.

“Does Victor owe Dad?” She starts collecting the papers on the island. “What does Dad get when I marry him?”

“Alison, stop.”

“What does Victor get?”

“It isn’t simply what your father gets.” Her hands freeze. So do mine. Mom realizes what she said.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Mom.”

“That’s enough.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“There are things about the agreement you don’t understand.”

I straighten. “What agreement?” Her face changes. “What agreement, Mom?”

The front door slams. Mom goes pale.