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He didn’t introduce hih Instead, he switched his focus back to Cole “Son, did you go on a date when you toldyour sister out?”

“No” Cole’s voice was flat, devoid of any e “We went and playedto Talia—”

“And what’s wrong with this one?” His dad cut him off with a nod in Penny’s direction, and I bristled for her at the callousness in his voice, at the way he called her “this one” instead of her given name

Penny seerowing saze flashed to her, concern and guilt clear in his expression “Nothing She just needs—”

“Why is it always like this, Cole?” Mr Mercer shook his head “Why do you always rile her up? Goddammit Come with me”

Both Penny and Cole started forward, but their father put a hand up, stopping the little girl “Not you”

The look Cole shot Penny was relieved this time, and when Mr Mercer turned and strode deeper into the house through the door he’d just entered fro back at me

My heart was hae, and my hands shook as useless adrenaline flooded e foyer, just inside the door, as Penny looked back atWe both knehy her dad had called Cole away, and I had no idea what to say, what to do, to make any of this better

Moveht ht of a s into the roohtened to find a strange girl in her house, but before I could say anything, Penny aze shot to her

Concern darkened her eyes, and she stepped forward quickly, wrapping an arm around Penny’s shoulder She helped her up the stairs,at the top, she turned around to gaze back down at me for a moment Herbut wasn’t sure what Then she just shook her head and ushered her daughter down the hall and out of sight

I blinked up at the space where they’d been, wondering how the woman lived like this—how she let it happen

The way she acted toward Penny was so different th

an her husband, with gentleness and caring evident in her look and touch So why did she let Mr Mercer treat both of his kids so badly?

Then again, the broad-shouldered man was easily twice her size, and Cole’sbreeze She ispy and frail looking, tiainst the force of nature that was his dad?

My fingers wrapped around the handle of the front door as I shifted aze back to where Cole had followed his father I wanted to stor, but I knew that would only s worse