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"Finding out about him isn't the same as staying with him, or calling him father. That's giving him title and weight in your life that he hasn't earned yet. There is a difference." She shook her head, chest rising and falling in a long sigh. "I have cousins here I didn't know about before I got here." Well, later than that even, but that wasn't critical to the story. "And if they'd done half the s**t Lawr's guilty of, they wouldn't be family of mine, not just because we share blood."

"You have the chance to distance yourself from him and the control he seems to gain over the people closest to him." Why do you want to risk getting closer? She didn't understand it.

"Miks my friend. He's trapped by lies and his own insecurities, but he doesn't endorse was Lawr does. He calls him out on his s**t, so does Malk. And Malk stays for Mik." Her nose wrinkled. "Rodney-" she caught herself before the anger could flood her voice. "I don't like Rodney. I don't trust him."

"You can be there for your brothers without being Lawr's daughter." Even as she said it, she could feel herself losing this. Mara was going to do what she wanted, and it didn't seem to matter what she had to say about it. "You can have family without blood."

She glanced briefly towards the window, then back. "Rodney's done his own share of shitty things. Not as bad, but bad enough for me not to trust him."

Mara stood up and retrieved her purse, making her intent to leave obvious, and honestly, that was probably for the best. Peyton didn't say anything to dissuade her from it.

"Be careful."