“Bren!” Charlene sputtered and fled right into Brendan’s arms in terror. She gawked at Deirdre, fear widening her eyes as she yelped, “She’s gone crazy, Bren! She’s lost it and she is trying to kill me!”

Remnants from Deirdre’s chokehold were still etched around her neck, sore and stark. A little up ahead, Brendan could see tears flooding the corner of her eyes. The sight provoked something ugly within him.

Exasperation. He had only left Charlene alone for a while, but it had been enough time for this to happen. Had he been there one second sooner…

He lunged, his fingers digging into Deirdre’s shoulders like talons, his strength so totalizing that it could crush bones. “Deirdre f*cking McKinnon! You’ll never f*cking learn, will you?! Even after all this punishment, you still can’t stop harming Lena!”

Deirdre’s tears rolled down her cheeks endlessly, wetting the floor. Her chest was aching so much that even breathing had become hard. She glowered at Brendan, her eyes beet red, and r