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

She did.

He swallowed his own shame.

Veronica’s face twisted. “So that’s it? You choose her little performance over your wife?”

Thomas looked at her with disgust. “She is my child.”