Morris's jaw ticked. "Safe? You helped her run away from her own family. You beat Alex half to death, your own cousin."
What? Why is he reacting like this? He never spoke to her in this tone ever. What's going on?
"Jean is my own cousin too, Dad." Her hands balled into fists. "That bastard nearly killed Jean yesterday. He deserved worse."
"Should've just done it," Morris muttered under his breath, voice low like a venomous thought slipping past his lips.
Emma's brows furrowed. "What…? What did you just say?"
Morris shook his head, feigning indifference. "Nothing. You heard wrong."
"No, I didn't," she said, her voice rising. "You said…"
"Enough!" Morris's sudden shout made her flinch. "I let you work with Jean. I tolerated your little friendship. But what happens in Derek's house is not your concern."
"She is my concern!" Emma stood now, glaring. "Jean is family to me, even if the rest of you treat her like trash."
