Page 149 of The Wrong Brother

“And...she hates us.”

“No.” The answer comes immediately. I step forward, feeling something in me fracture. What if Shannon decides, thanks to my reassurances, that she wants Kate back? What if empathy becomes a weapon against me? “She doesn’t.”

Her laugh is brittle. “She should.”

“She remembers foster care.”

That gets her attention. Shannon’s eyes snap to mine.

“She remembers enough of it. And she doesn’t blame you, Shannon.”

The color drains from her face.

“Oh, God.”

“She remembers moving from house to house. She remembers being hungry. Sleeping on couches.” My jaw tightens despite myself. “She also remembers waiting for someone to come.”

Shannon buries her face in her hands.

“I looked.”

“I know.”

“I never stopped, but he would have…”

“I know.”

Her shoulders jerk once before she drags in a shaky breath. “I wasn’t strong enough.”

“No.” I crouch in front of her. “You weren’t.”

She looks at me through reddened eyes, whispering: “And he knew it. He knew exactly how frightened I was.”

I hold her gaze. “Then stop letting him win.”

“You don’t understand—” Shannon rushes out, half-rising, but I hold a hand firmly to her shoulder.Nowis not the time for empathy; for weakness. I need to make her see.

“I understand perfectly.”

“No, Ruslan. He told me that if I ever opened my mouth...” Her fingers curl together so tightly the knuckles turn white. “...he’d make sure no one ever found me.”

“That won’t happen, Shannon.”

“You can’t promise that. He kickedyouout, Ruslan.”

I shake my head, feeling the burn of rage and triumph, and all of it coming to a head expand in my chest.

“I went back. And now we’re both in better places—now is the right time, Shannon. We can’t keep letting him do this.”

She gives me a weary smile. “You’re still that stubborn florist’s son.”

“And you’re still underestimating me.”

Her smile drops as I stand, and it’s as if she’s seen a curtain drop away. She stares up at me with Kate’s almond-shaped eyes, her thin lips pressed together.

“I need you to come to Colorado,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. Not demanding, but not pleading.

She’s immediately shaking her head.