Chapter 70. New Prison

Mae’s POV

My father ignores my outburst and shuts the new heavy front door. I wander around the downstairs of the house, running my fingers through the dust that lies on everything. Twisting a clump of dust between my fingers, I drop it to the ground.

“Were you born in a barn?” Francesca snarls from behind me.

“No,” I snap at her. “I was brought up here. When it was a respectable house.”

Francesca steps close to my back and holds me by my neck. She turns my head awkwardly so I am looking into her eyes. “You will watch your tone with me, or you won’t last much longer.”

A sound that I have never made before rips from my chest. It sounds like a growl. Francesca laughs at my weak attempt to frighten her. But the noise continues to rumble with in my chest.

“Put my daughter down,” my father hisses at Francesca, and I hear the sound of a gun cocking.

I was so busy trying to be intimidating that I didn’t notice Francesca had lifted me off the