Page 97 of Ashes of Saints

It changes everything.

We can find the people on these tapes. It could take days, weeks or years, but we will. Their names, whether they are living or dead, will be known as sexual abusers.

Moaning sounds fill the room. I’m almost certain it’s not me, but I’m not going to look too close—

“Parker.”

My head spins and like all those years ago, I find a pair of green eyes standing in the doorway watching me, looking innocent and confused.

Fuck.

“What is going on? What is all this?” Aurora steps inside and glances around.

Fuck! I need to get her out of here.

Her eyes land on the screen, and she looks horrified. I wonder if she recognizes the room, the people, the...kids.

There is no point trying to hide this. She needs to know the truth about her mother, about me, about our shared past.

Slowly, as her mouth falls open, she slides her eyes back to mine. Her face is pale, and she looks as sick as I feel.

“Aurora—”

“You knew.” She hisses. “You knew about this.”

Fuck. I should have known she’d put two and two together quickly. She’s an intelligent woman.

I nod. “Yes.”

Tears slide down her cheeks as I try to work through my own emotions and protect her. I can’t do both. Not in this very moment.

“Who was she?” Aurora demands, shocking me.

“What?”

“Who was my mother?” she yells, pointing at the screen.

I don’t understand what the hell is happening right now. Why is she asking me that? Does she want me to put a label on it? Call her a predator. A sexual abuser. A child rapist.

What does she want from me?

Because I’ll give her anything she wants.

“Aurora—"

“WHO is my mother? Her real identity. Tell me!” she screams.

I stand, confused, assuming she’s going into shock. She closes the distance and slams her fists against my chest. I let her hit me, the pain almost a relief as I go over her words.

Her real identity?

What just a goddamn minute!

Is Mary-Anne Whitlock not who she said she was?

I grab Aurora’s wrist and stare down at her. “What do you mean her real identity? Who the fuck is your mother?”

More tears flow. She brushes at them angrily as she stares at the screen once more.

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