Page 313 of Wicked Brutal

I try to get up. Ryan catches me. “Baby, stop.”

“LET ME GO!”

“Stay with your mom.”

“I WANT HIM DEAD!”

“I know.”

“I WANT HIM FUCKING DEAD!”

“I know, baby.”

Dad’s face hits the marble. Right beside Mom’s blood. Agents wrench his arms behind his back. Cuffs close. “Alison!”

“DON’T SAY MY FUCKING NAME!”

Victor is screaming somewhere behind us. “This is ridiculous! Get your hands off me! I want my attorney!”

“DOWN! ON YOUR KNEES!”

“Alison!” Walter erupts. “LEAVE HER ALONE!”

Victor tries to turn toward me. Agents take him down. Hard. “You don’t understand!” he screams. “She belongs—“

Ryan lunges. “FINISH THAT FUCKING SENTENCE!”

Arthur grabs him. “RYAN!”

“I’LL FUCKING KILL HIM!”

“HE’S IN CUSTODY!”

“I DON’T FUCKING CARE!”

X is on his knees with an agent behind him, staring at Victor like he’s praying for him to get loose. Iz is down closer to me, his eyes never leaving my face. Theodore is on his knees too, looking at Dad, and there is nothing left in his face but hate.

“You did this,” he says. Dad looks at him. Theodore’s voice rises. “LOOK AT HER!” Dad doesn’t. “LOOK AT YOUR FUCKING WIFE!”

“Shut up!”

“No!”

An agent orders Theodore down again. He stays there. But he keeps screaming. “LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID! You killed her!” Dad’s face changes. “You killed Jane because she finally chose her children over you!”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

“YOU KILLED HER!” Agents haul Dad upright. Theodore screams after him. “I HOPE YOU SEE HER EVERY FUCKING TIME YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES!”

Dad is dragged away. Victor too. I don’t care. Mom isn’t moving.

“Help her.” Nobody hears me. “Help her!” I look around. “HELP MY MOM!”

Ryan drops beside me. “They’re coming.”

“WHERE?”

“Right there.”