HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

The word struck Thomas strangely.

Veronica wasn’t Lucia’s biological mother. Thomas married her when Lucia was eleven, two years after Ana—Lucia’s mother—died suddenly from a brain aneurysm.

At first, Veronica seemed wonderful.

Supportive. Caring. Organized.