“Shh,” I whispered when she whimpered in her sleep. I didn’t even try to stop myself from stroking her hair. I was beyond help when it came to her. I was beyond fucking stopping. Everything inside of me was shifting, honing in on this tiny girl. Nuzzling her cheek against my thigh, Shannon nestled closer, curling up in the smallest ball I’d ever seen a person her age contort their body into. Like the obsessive freak I was, I allowed my gaze to land on her bruised cheekbone for the millionth time tonight. I knew I shouldn’t look at it. It made my body thrum with rage. And still, I couldn’t stop
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