“The truth is simple,” I said. “You didn’t keep me in the dark to protect me from the Outfit.”

He looked back at me, his eyes dark and shadowed under his heavy brow.

“I kept you out of it so you could sleep at night,” he said.

“You kept me out because if I knew who you really were, you’d have to face it too.”

My voice was steady, though my knees felt weak under my heavy coat.

“You were terrified that if I saw the blood on your hands, I would look at you and see a monster.”

He flinched.

It was a tiny movement, just a twitch in his jaw, but I saw it.

“I did what was necessary to build a life for us,” he said.

“You built a cage.”

I reached out and touched the cold metal of his gun.

“And you’re still holding the key, even when there’s nothing left to lock up.”

He didn’t pull the weapon away.

His fingers tightened around the grip, his knuckles turning white.

“You don’t understand the people I deal with,” he muttered.