Page 116 of Icy Cold Death

So, he held up his hand.

“Continue, Lianna.”

She did.

“Then, right before I came here, he hit our daughter. He hit her so hard, he knocked out baby teeth. It was then that I knew I had to go—if not for me, for them. I knew they would be next. I deserved what happened, but they didn’t. I deserved death, but they were innocent.”

Julian’s heart broke.

That she believed she deserved to die said a lot about her heart and soul.

She was in pieces.

Julian wasn’t sure she’d ever be the same again.

“Li, you didn’t deserve this.”

She stopped him.

“I did. I stole my sister’s man, putting lust over family. I’ve regretted it for so long,” she admitted. “Honestly, Jules, I’ve hated myself for years. I just couldn’t call anyone. Who was going to help me?” she asked.

It got the response that Julian expected, but clearly, Lianna did not.

From behind her, Justin raised his hand.

“I would have.”

Connor did the same.

“I would have come for you too,” he said. “And the kids.”

Booth agreed.

“We would have,” he said, meaning him and Julian. “I know I’m new to the family,” Booth added, “but we all make mistakes, Lianna. You didn’t ask for this. He chose to beat on a woman and child. That makes him a monster.”

She looked up at Julian.

“Can I be honest?” she asked.

Julian nodded.

What she said…

It proved she knew she’d done something so horrible to her family.

“I’m glad it was me. I love my sister. I’m glad I made the choice to save her. I didn’t know it at the time, but I’m glad.”

She blew her nose.

Julian hoped that their other sister was going to be as open to forgiving as Lianna was to carrying the burden of blame.

“We love you, Lianna. We always will.”

She understood, but the truth was the truth.

“I get that Claire was here first, and I haven’t been. If you need me to leave, I will. I did the crime, and I’ll respect it. I know I’m the problem lately. So if you need me to go, I’ll pack up and head somewhere.”

That wasn’t happening.

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