Victoria’s sobs broke into jagged breaths, her eyes red-rimmed as she turned her face from her brother. Then, like lightning sparking dry kindling, anger flared through her grief.
“You don’t get to stand there and judge me, Ryder,” she spat, voice cracking. “You never even wanted that baby! Don’t act like you’ve been dreamin’ of bein’ a father.”
The words split him open, sharp as a spur to raw flesh. He froze, disbelief in his eyes, then straightened, his chest rising like a bull about to buck.
“You think that?” Ryder’s voice was low, dangerous, with that Manhattan steel undercutting Tennessee smoke. “You think I didn’t want him?”
Victoria bit her lip, trembling, but pressed on. “You weren’t ready! You’ve spent your whole life runnin’ from responsibility, from love, from everything tha
