Something broke in her expression. "You knew. This whole time, you knew what they said about my father, and you never told me."

"I didn't want to hurt you," I gasped. "I wanted to verify it first, to find out the truth before.."

My father threw me across the cell. I hit the opposite wall and felt ribs shatter. Pain exploded through my chest, and I couldn't breathe.

"Enough talking." My father advanced on Thelma, who stood frozen against the wall. "Your father was a monster, girl. And monsters breed monsters. I should have killed you twenty-three years ago."

I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn't support me. Blood...