CHAPTER 89

She paused and sucked in deep, steadying breaths.

“Go on, baby,” he said gently. “I’m listening. Nothing can hurt you now.”

“When I was twelve, Jack was fifteen. He was big for his age. I know he doesn’t look it now. He’s too thin, but when he’s healthy and well fed, he’s a big guy. Tall and broad shouldered. Anyway, we were in a home together and the father . . .”

Jace tensed, his entire body bristling with rage. He didn’t like where she was going with this.

“The father used to look at me and it worried Jack. Jack would never let me out of his sight or leave me alone with our foster dad. It turned out the father didn’t much care if it was girls or boys.”

She shuddered in revulsion, her face going pale. Distress radiated from her in waves. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, turning her face so she could continue speaking. He stroked her hair, trying to offer her comfort in any way he could.

“He took that for me,” she whispered. “He put himself in the way every single ti