She says it really hurts.”

Livia didn’t argue with any of it.

She only pressed her arms tighter around her stomach and looked up at Cordell with wet, frightened eyes, and said nothing at all, which frightened him more than crying would have.

He started to move toward Livia.

And Junia stepped sideways, quick, putting her small body directly between the officer and her sister.

“Please don’t make her go home,” she whispered.