Page 117 of Icy Cold Death

That was the worst-case scenario.

Julian wasn’t losing either sister.

“No. You’re not leaving. We’ll work this out. We’re family, and Clarissa always taught us that we stand by each other.”

At their mother’s name, she began crying.

“He wouldn’t let me go to her funeral,” she whispered. “I didn’t get to say goodbye to her. He controlled everything. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Mom.”

That broke all of their hearts.

She had been missing from it, and now, they knew why.

Connor put his big meat hook hand on her head lovingly to soothe her.

“She would understand,” he said. “Mom would have wanted you to get away from him, and you did. She isn’t angry with you.”

God.

Lianna hoped not.

She kept going.

“He did it to break me because he knew how important it was, so instead of letting me go say goodbye to her, and to see you guys, he beat me so badly that I couldn’t move. I deserved it. I deserved all of this, but the worst part is Claire hates me and I missed out on being near Mom.”

Julian was so filled with rage that it was hard to hold it together. He wanted to make that man pay for what he did, but he had to stay in control.

So, he was honest.

“Then, you make amends,” he said. “Not with Mom, but with Claire. You keep trying. Claire isn’t a mean person, Lianna. She’s just hurt. You stabbed her in the back, and unfortunately, the man wasn’t worth it.”

She closed her eyes.

There was no way her sister would forgive her.

No.

Freaking.

Way.

Now, Lianna had to have an exit strategy.

“If I have to leave, can the kids stay with you?” she whispered. “It’ll just be until I find a place and get back on my feet.”

That wasn’t happening.

“You’re not going anywhere. Claire will come around. I promise,” Julian said.

His brothers stared at him.

Yeah, he knew what they were thinking, but he had faith in their sister.

She was a good person.

He trusted her.

“You don’t have to leave. Really. We will work this out somehow.”

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