Keegan POV:“We both were,” she said with a sigh. “As I said before, I put something in his food to knock him out. He must have known something was off because he instantly sobered up when his eyes started drooping.”“There was a knock on the door,” she said thoughtfully. She pulled her knees to her chest in a defensive position. “He knew something wasn’t right and made himself sick on purpose. That alerted Janice.”“She was at the door and thought it was you.” It was simple math. Vianne nodded. “Janice forced the door open easily, but she was alone. Brant was on her immediately. He is a wolf, and he had a gun. He overpowered her easily and forced her on her knees and secured her with a cord from one of the lamps.” The pain etched on her face was heartbreaking. I couldn’t help but stroke her cheek. She turned to my touch and closed her eyes again, sighing.“B

Keegan POV:I groaned when the familiar song blared from my phone the following night. Vianne moaned and tried to move away from me. “Go back to sleep. It’s just Dennis.”“Tell him to shut up,” she mumbled against my chest. I laughed and picked up my phone from the bedside stand. “Dennis,” I answered.“We found them,” he said.“Found who? Vivian and Victoria?” I asked, and suddenly Vianne became alert. “Yes.”“Are they okay?”“Yes, but Vianne’s sister is pissed off.”“Why?”“Well, Vianne and her mother never told her what the hell was going on. She is under the notion that Vianne is a selfish bitch.” I groaned. “Not that I blame Vianne or her mother,” Dennis continued. “She is just twenty. Too young to heart about the things her sister went through.”&

Keegan POV:“Dennis,” Claire squealed, running into his arms the moment she saw him at school. He caught and spun her around and kissed both of her rosy cheeks. She giggled, squirming in his grasp before wrapping her arms around his neck. “I missed you. Is Grandpa here?”“Sure is, princess,” he said, letting her down. “He is in the car.”“Yay!” she screamed as she ran toward the car. After greeting Clement, she spun an amusing tale of a boy that had kissed her while pushing her on the swings. They even shared an extra juice box and vanilla pudding. ‘She is only six! Who is this boy? Where does he live?’I didn’t ask because Vianne seemed very amused. I would get Claire alone and ask for all information pertaining to this boy. I scowled. Apparently, I was muttering under my breath because Vianne leveled me with a glare. I mouthed, “She is only six!” At

[WARNING: The last part of the chapter contains explicit sexual content. Read that bit at your own risk.] Keegan POV: I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Clement Slater was still tearing up. His daughter had finally shown another emotion toward him besides anger. No wonder he was all choked up. “Now, show me what my daughter can do,” Clement said seriously. Vianne clapped happily. “Yay! Sparring. Let me change first. Be right back!” She ran down the stairs quickly, leaving Clement and me alone. His glare was back. Obviously. Clement advanced quickly, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Do not fuck this us, kid.” His hand tightened. “You are not going to find another one like her. Trust me.” I nodded and then he punched me in the gut. He hadn’t held back, knocking the breath from my lungs, making me gasp for breath. “You didn’t think you would get away without a bit of punishment, did you?” I shook my head and grunted as I got to my feet. “I didn’

Keegan POV:The tears Vianne held back finally fell as she started to rock them in place. After a few moments, I carefully took Claire from her and passed the distraught little pup to Clement who had gotten us to help in some way. “Take her for a walk,” I whispered. The moment Claire left with Clement and the others, Vianne collapsed in my arms. “I thought I hid it so well,” she cried as her arms circled around me. I held her for a few minutes as she tried to pull herself together.“Do you know if he—” I said as gently as possible. “—ever struck her?”She shook her head fiercely. “I placed hidden cameras throughout the house and checked the footage daily. He was good to her.”“Vianne,” I whispered. “I know he hurt you, hit you when he was angry. And I know you said he hadn’t done anything when you last escaped, but did he ever ra—” I co