Chapter 2 - The Locked Door“Open it.”
Harper’s voice shook.
Brandon remained between her and the hallway.
“Put the dress on.”
“Open Lily’s door.”
“Harper.”
“She’s scared.”
“So are you.”
He said it without sympathy.
Like fear was a tool laid on a table between them.
Harper looked toward the locked interior door.
“Lily!”
“I’m here!” Lily cried weakly.
Harper rushed forward.
Brandon caught her arm.
Not violently.
Firmly enough.
“Listen carefully.”
“Let go.”
“Tomorrow a woman named Naomi Price is coming here.”
Harper stopped struggling.
“Who?”
“A court-appointed child advocate.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means she asks questions.”
“About Gregory?”
“About everything.”
Brandon released Harper.
“You’re going to tell her Gregory hurt you. You’ll tell her he made you and Lily bring money home.”
“That’s true.”
“Yes.”
“You already know.”
Brandon’s gaze remained steady.
“You’ll also tell her you feel safe here.”
Harper stared.
“But I don’t.”
A tiny muscle moved in Brandon’s jaw.
“You’ve been here twenty minutes.”
“You locked Lily in a room.”
“For her protection.”
“From what?”
“You.”
Harper blinked.
Brandon continued before she could answer.
“You’re emotional. She’s emotional. I need both of you calm tomorrow.”
“You’re lying.”
“About what?”
“You said you saved us.”
“I did.”
“Then let her out.”
Brandon looked toward the locked door.
“When you cooperate.”
Harper felt something inside her settle.
The panic did not disappear.
It hardened.
“Why the dress?”
“This house has rules.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
“You’ll wear it when you do your chores.”
“Chores?”
“You’ve spent too long in chaos. Structure will help you.”
Harper stared at him.
“You don’t know me.”
A strange expression crossed his face.
“I know more than you think.”
He pointed toward a desk.
A sheet of paper waited there.
“Read it.”
Harper did not move.
“Read it.”
She crossed the room.
The paper contained short sentences.
GREGORY MADE US ASK STRANGERS FOR MONEY.
GREGORY HURT US WHEN WE FAILED.
BRANDON RESCUED US.
I WANT TO LIVE WITH MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER.
MY SISTER IS SAFE WITH BRANDON.
Harper read the last sentence twice.
“Lily isn’t safe.”
“She will be.”
“When?”
“When you stop fighting me.”
Harper looked at him.
“Did Mom know you were like this?”
That hit him.
She saw it immediately.
His face tightened before the calm mask returned.
“Your mother filled your head with stories.”
“She never talked about you.”
“That was one of her tricks.”
“No.”
“You were eight when I last saw you.”
“I remember Mom.”
“You remember what she wanted you to remember.”
Harper glanced at Claire’s photograph protruding from the open backpack.
Brandon noticed.
He crossed the room and pulled it out.
“Give that back.”
He studied the photograph.
For a second his expression changed.
Not grief.
Resentment.
“She thought she could shut me out forever.”
Harper stepped closer.
“She was our mom.”
“She was my wife first.”
“Not when she died.”
Brandon’s eyes snapped toward her.
Harper instantly regretted the words.
Then Lily cried behind the door again.
“Harper!”
Harper faced it.
“I’m right here!”
Brandon placed the photograph on the desk.
“You want to see your sister?”
“Yes.”
“Then read the statement.”
“No.”
He walked toward the door.
Harper panicked.
“Wait.”
Brandon stopped.
“I’ll read it.”
He turned.
“But I won’t tell Naomi it’s true.”
Brandon almost smiled.
“You’re eleven.”
Harper said nothing.
“You think adults cannot tell the difference between courage and stubbornness.”
“I know when something is a lie.”
Brandon stepped closer.
“Do you?”
His voice dropped.
“Gregory told you eighty dollars today.”
Harper went still.
Brandon continued.
“He told you eighty yesterday too.”
Her heartbeat slammed against her chest.
She had never told Brandon the amount.
Neither had Lily.
“Who told you?”
Brandon’s expression did not change.
“Put on the dress.”
“Who told you eighty dollars?”
No answer.
“Was it Gregory?”
Brandon walked out.
The bedroom door locked from the outside.
Harper ran after him.
“Dad!”
His footsteps disappeared.
She turned toward Lily’s locked door.
“Lily?”
“I’m scared.”
“I know.”
“Can you open it?”
Harper tried the handle.
Locked.
She pressed both palms to the wood.
“I’m going to get you out.”
“How?”
Harper did not know.
But she remembered Gregory standing in the hallway.
You still owe me.
Brandon had answered:
Not in front of them.
The two men were supposed to hate each other.
Yet Brandon knew exactly how much money Gregory demanded.
May you like
That meant they had been talking.
And whatever had brought Brandon to Gregory’s house with custody papers had begun long before the door opened.
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