Page 125 of Time Out

I now understand the adrenaline rush he felt after a football game.

Every nerve in my body felt more alive than I’d ever felt before.

“Your first album…”

“I’m planning on keeping this dream going, so yeah.”

“Good. About Dawson… I’m so damn sorry that happened tonight. It shouldn’t have.”

I pressed my finger to his mouth to silence him. “It’s not your fault, nor your apology to give. I’m sure Dawson feels like shit about it, too.”

“He better. Because I have half a mind to kick his ass myself for causing that kind of scene.”

“Let’s just wait until you know all the information, okay?”

Behind me, his phone rang, and he cursed. “I would love to be able to ignore that…”

“Don’t.”

He bent around me and grabbed the screen. “It’s the lawyer.”

“Hello?” he answered on speakerphone.

Jordan Love’s voice, Christian’s attorney he’d hired to help Ruth and dig into my family, came through loud and clear. “Davis. Is Maggie with you?”

“I’m here,” I said before Davis could, and all that heat Davis had riled up chilled. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve already spoken with Christian, and he suggested I call you. I apologize for the late hour, but my investigators have finally gotten back to me with more information than I feared we’d receive.”

“What’s that mean?” I gripped Davis’s hand at my side.

“Tomorrow, police in Waskin County Sheriff’s Department will be moving in tomorrow to arrest your father.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes, and while I can’t share many details with you yet but will as soon as I’m able, your uncle, aunt, and mom are also included.”

“My mom? Why? She never did anything.”

His voice was thick, full of regret. “Unfortunately, what we’ve learned is both women not only knew what was going on, but in order to keep it off the cameras, they would have the men abuse the girls at the church. Often, they brought them to your father and uncle during the study times.”

“No.” My stomach rolled and my hand went to my stomach, felt the roundness of the baby growing in me. Tears dripped down my eyes and Davis’s own face was a mix of fury and sadness.

“I didn’t know,” I rasped through my tears. “I swear I didn’t know.”

“The good news, if there is a silver lining to any of this, the younger children will be taken from their home. We can figure out the rest of this as the courts proceed and I’m sure both your uncle and father will have lawyers, but some of the things we’ve discovered that even the show knew about aren’t pretty. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you all this, and I’m even sorrier you’ve had to live like this. You and Ruth are both incredibly brave. You should know that.”

I wasn’t brave. I’d abandoned those who had needed my help and didn’t step in until far too late.

How many girls had they hurt? Or worse?

Bile rose in my throat, and I choked it down. Davis held me, my forehead falling to his chest as he ran one of his hands in large, sweeping circles on my back.

“I want to know everything.”

“Soon. I’ll make sure as much as can be is shared, but some of it’s going to be sealed due to the ages and circumstances of the punishments. Also, I want you to know I’m including paperwork for your father to sign and for Ruth to fill out. It’s an emancipation form, and I have no doubt the courts will approve it.”

“Emancipation?” Ruth asked, and both Davis and I jumped. “What’s going on? What does that mean?”

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