Sitting up, I pulled him onto my lap. His eyes were closed and his breathing was haggard. I wiped his bloodied hair from his face. I could feel the flesh of his back. The chunks were raw and fell in different directions.
“Shane?” I cried quietly.
“Get him out of here,” Father ordered.
“No, no, please. Fa—”
I was cut off as his boot landed across my cheek. I hunched forward and covered Shane’s face. Protecting what I could, I’d failed him. This was all my fault. The men’s footsteps drew nearer and my grip on Shane tightened. I wasn’t going to let them take him. Hands came at me in different directions and I bit, slapped, and headbutted each one until arms wrapped around my waist. I started screaming.
“No! No! Get off of me! Get away from me!”
Shane was pulled from my grasp. I was drag
