s to her apartment. Tammy, her husband-Britta's brot

blic!" her brother blustered, his face red

o the ground, slapping

ughter, a violent hooliga

of their doors, dra

a cold, hard mask. The last thread of f

her voice devoid of emotion. "Tammy i

h her reinforcements. "Your son is a fatherless bastard! Wha

again.

tta's eyes. She pressed the apa

he said in a low, urgent voice. "Don'

odded, scurrying past them and fumbling

lone, Tammy grew bolder. She nudged he

lunged, reaching

ow drove hard into the soft part of his stomach. He grunted, doubling o

d. They had never seen the quie

clawed at Britta, a set of keys clutch

sharply. Tammy cried out as the keys fell, clattering on the concrete. Britta sho

rserk. She scrambled to the apartment door

you open this door! I

the sound of his grandmo

al straw. A white-hot rage flooded Britta's senses.

the door

launched himself out. Like a small, cornered

e squeal, shaking her arm violentl

a saw

e rose to her full height and walked slowly toward Brenda, wh

uiet, but each word

moment on,

Brenda to her br

other. You are no

even lower, laced

olice and file a restraining order. I will tell them everyth

nt pale. She kne

Leo into her arms, stepped into her apartment, and s

sband helped the whimpering Brenda to her feet. They

held Leo, roc

I'm sorry..." he sobb

of his head, her own v

brave boy. You were prote

had severed the toxi

te certainty, that th