Mira's lips moved, but only a choked sob came out. She tried again, stammering desperately, "J-Jack, please… listen… my ankle really was hurt… I c-couldn't walk… Dexter carried me because… because I was in pain… I'm telling the truth, I swear on our children…"
Her voice cracked completely on the last word. Fresh tears poured down her cheeks, mixing with the red mark of the slap.
I stepped forward, raising both hands in a show of anxious concern, voice pitched perfectly — worried, earnest, slightly shaky.
"No — Jack, please, listen to me. It's not like that at all. You're misunderstanding everything. We're innocent. Nothing happened, I swear on my life…"
Jack turned on me like he wanted to tear my throat out.
"Oh, you two dogs — man and bitch in heat!" he snarled. "You think I'm blind? Her ankle was 'hurting' so badly she couldn't walk, so you had to carry her like some slutty bride on her honeymoon? Then why the fuck is there not even a scratch on it now?!"
