Lana
Dad drops to his knees.
The old floorboards groan under his weight, a tired, aching sound that feels like it comes from the house itself. From us. From everything that’s been breaking for years and never quite gets fixed.
“Please, Lana. Please.” His voice fractures as he reaches for my hands, fingers shaking as they close around mine. He squeezes like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he lets go. His palms are damp, slick with sweat. “You don’t know what those men could do to me. We already lost your mom and Leo.” His throat tightens, and the last word barely makes it out. “I can’t. I can’t lose you too.”
My chest constricts, breath catching halfway in. Heat stings behind my eyes, sharp and immediate, like my body betraying me before I can stop it.
Damn it.
He knows exactly where to hi
