Chapter 8

"I'm so sorry, Marrallyn, Frankllin and William for your father and all that he's done." Grandpa Wheaton looks so old and sad. "If we knew what was going to your mom and you," he glances at me and continues, "We would have done something to stop it."

"How in the hell could you have missed all the bruises and broken bones that Mom and Marra used to have when you guys were around?" Frankie demands, anger laced in his voice.

"Frankie, it's not their fault."

Frankie turns to me, with surprise in his eyes. "Marra, how could that have missed the signs? You and Mom were always bruised and had broken bones most of the time. They weren't allowed to come around much and neither were Abuela and Abuelo Lopez or Abuela Perez."

Frankie turns his glare back to our Grandparents. "Why were you so blind to all of that?" My sister was beaten, bloodied, broken and bruised on a daily basis by your son. If Will or I tried to step in, we'd get our asses handed to us and it would be worse for Marra."