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The door opened again, and Gage’s attention jerked up. Emerson took one step into the room and stopped. Thea locked eyes with Emerson.

“Help! Get–”

“Get out!” Cain shouted above Thea’s plea, pointing toward the door behind Emerson. “Forget what you saw, and don’t come back.”

Emerson’s wide-eyed fear sparked hope in Thea. Would her cousin help, or would she save her own skin?

Then, pity replaced the fear, and Thea knew the answer. Emerson had her loyalties, and she would protect herself first and foremost.

As Emerson stepped backward toward the door, Thea couldn’t find it in her heart to blame her. How could she ask anyone to risk their life against the Howards for her sake?

Emerson closed the door, locking out all hope of Thea’s cries for help being heard by anyone.

Cain cursed and pointed toward the door. “Go shut her up.”

Gage gave Thea one last sinister look, and she hoped it was all for show.

“Don’t hurt her. Please,” she begged as Gage headed for the door.

Left alone with Cain, panic kindled in her chest again. His malicious grin told her he would enjoy every second of her pain.

He’d taken one step toward her when the door opened again.

Bruce Howard hadn’t changed much since she last saw him. He was a contrast to Tommy in many ways. Where Tommy was tall and round in the middle, Bruce was shorter and stocky all over. His skin was tan, despite the past winter months. His sandy-blond hair was cut close and blended with his skin over his face and head.

Bruce stopped in front of her and smiled, genuinely pleased to see her.

He pushed his shoulders back with pride. “We’ve been lookin’ for you.”

“Why?” Her word was sure, despite the shake in her arms and legs.

“It’s one thing to get away with murder. It’s another to walk back into my territory after killing my brother.”

“Brett didn’t kill my dad,” Thea said, though the words were hot in her throat.

Bruce leaned down, resting his hands on the chair on both sides of her, and she pressed her back against the hard metal.

“He’s a Patton,” Bruce said calmly, keeping his brown eyes on her. “Did you ever think about that when you took his side? Did you care that he killed your dad?”

“He didn’t–”

“My brother!” Bruce shouted.

Thea jerked and stilled. Her entire body shook, despite her attempts to calm her fears.

“He’s a Patton,” Bruce said again, lower and more measured.

“And I was a Howard,” Thea said. Heat pressed up her chest and closed around her throat. “I can stand on the line and see both sides just fine. But you? You’re too stuck in your hate.”

The back of Bruce’s hand hit the side of her face with a quick sting, knocking the rest of the air from her lungs. Flashes danced on the floor at the edges of her vision.

“This is war, sweetheart.”

Hot anger allowed her to lift her head to face Bruce, and a freeing laugh danced in the back of her throat. “Nothing is fair in love and war. Isn’t that ironic? You had a family, but you failed all of them. One by one, you lost them. There are only a few of you left!”

Bruce stared back at her, forgoing any attempt to hide his rage.

Thea huffed. “You’ve sacrificed them for this vendetta–your misplaced revenge. When will it end?”