Veronica bent down, bringing her face close to Genesis’s, wearing a fake look of sympathy.

“You shouldn’t have done that, honey. Now you’ve pissed him off—so you need to apologize.”

Tears glistened in Genesis’s eyes, and Veronica savored it. Genesis glanced at the man still gripping her hair tightly, as if he might pull it out. His nostrils flared with anger, but she didn’t flinch. She just stared back at him.

Veronica bit her lip and turned toward him. “She’s new to all this. She’ll get used to it by the time we’re done.”

The man studied her for a moment, then nodded. He tapped Genesis’s cheek sharply.

“You better...