By midday they had finally finished cleaning the whole third floor, it wasn’t easy, but they all worked together.
Selena gathered the children and counted them while waiting for Rourke to tell them what else they needed to do. The children sagged in exhaustion, their hands raw, clothes damp from scrubbing, but they stayed close to her—always close.
Boots thundered up the hall.
Rourke arrived.
His eyes swept over the shining floors and spotless walls, but instead of praise, his lip curled in disgust—like he wanted to find something wrong, anything, just so he could hurt someone.
“You useless rat,” Rourke growled, seizing Finn by the hair and yanking him forward.
The boy yelped, feet scrabbling on the tiles, trying to keep up with the brutal pull.
Selena’s head snapped up.
“Leave him
