He yanked her into his arms and slammed into me with his shoulder. I wasn’t prepared. My head whipped back, smacking the wall behind me with a sickening thud.
The world tilted.
Warm blood trickled down the back of my neck.
Colin turned on me, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
“Anneliese Ward, how dare you? Apologize to Piper. Now.”
It was like she was his wife. And me? Just some lunatic who had to be dealt with.
Piper sobbed against his chest, trembling.
“I know she’s just hurt, she whimpered, clinging to him like he was her lifeline, “but I already said I’d pay for it. I’d take on every job I could, even illegal ones. But she… she still hit me. And she cursed me—said I should drop dead.”
Colin wrapped his arms tighter around her, jaw clenched, eyes dark with fury.
“Have I not compensated you enough?” he snapped at me. “Look at yourself. You’re just like your mother. Petty. Greedy. Always playing the victim. You two deserved the punishment.”
My breath caught in my throat. The room spun, but I stood rooted, too stunned to move.