I had to get out of there. I had to find an outlet for the vicious monster seething inside me before he aimed his bloodlust at an innocent. “Thank you for sharing this, Mia.” I stood, my movements stiff and uncoordinated. “I know it wasn’t easy to come here, and you don’t have to feel guilty about anything. The adoption. Brody. None of it was your fault.” I managed to force my gaze to hers in an attempt to project my sincerity, then gave her a hug. The first hug we’d ever shared. She’d been through just as much turmoil as I had, if not more. I had no desire to magnify her pain. She wasn’t the one who deserved to suffer. “Thank you for listening,” she said in a quivering voice as she pulled away, a small smile on her thin lips. “I won’t bother you anymore.” “It’s not a bother, Mia. Truly. A
