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"I'm fine," I bit out, skirting around my mother's outstretched arms.

The time for falling apart had been weeks ago.

And I had done enough of that.

But I was pieced back together now, and not about to crumble.

"Some mother fucker is going to get his ass handed to him," Teagan hissed, joining my father in pacing the kitchen.

In all the chaos, I had to force back a smile at the sight of her antics.

She was going to town on the whole keeping my secret promise, and doing a mighty fine acting job.

Avoiding eye contact with my brothers, I slumped into one of the vacated chairs, and looked across at Noah.

He stared right back at me, his dark brown eyes locked on mine, before giving me a tight nod.

In that small move, I understood what he was trying to get across to me.

Keep your mouth shut.

No fricking problem.

I had no intention of revealing anything to my family.

The less they knew, the safer they were.

At least that's what I consoled myself with.

"How long have you guys been home?" I tried to change the subject by asking.

"Three days," Dad shot back. "Three long ass days with no call, text or reply from you."

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I haven't been checking my cell."

I've been too consumed in trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm pregnant and have no idea who the father is…

"If you don’t start talking, Hope Carter, I'm going to assume the worst," Dad hissed, pacing the kitchen like a jacked-up lunatic. "Which isn’t too fucking hard considering that cut on your face looks remarkably similar to the one on your mother's face."

A sob tore from my mother's throat, causing my Dad to lose his shit.

"God-fucking-dammit!" he roared, completely livid. "He did this to you, didn’t he?"

"No," I replied, keeping my eyes trained on Noah. My heart rate rose with every growl that ripped from my father's chest. "He didn’t do anything to me, Dad."

Not personally, at least.

"Then who did it?" Dad demanded. "Who the fuck put their hands on my daughter?"

"It doesn’t matter anymore," I squeezed out. "We're handling it."

"Itdoesn’t matter?" Cameron demanded, deciding to throw his two cents into the mix. "The hell it doesn’t!"

"Stay out of this, Cam –"

"And who'swe?" Colton piped up.

"What the hell is going on, Hope?" Logan added.

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