A hot, fierce wave of protectiveness rushed through my veins, pushing down the lingering echo of Gabriel Jakes' threats. Seeing my father look completely broken by the casual cruelty of the upper class was worse than any insult Chloe or Julian could ever throw at me.
"They can't erase you, Dad," I said, reaching across the table to grab his hand. His skin was rough and sandpapery against mine. "The truth is in those archives. They sent you to this California depot to isolate you, trying to make you feel weak so you’ll give up and quit before the audit hits the board. But we aren't going to let them. You didn't do this in Chicago, and you aren't letting them pin it on you here."
"Lyra's right, Arthur," my mother said softly, her voice taking on a fierce, quiet maternal strength as she lad
