Della Mclary had become mine the moment she ended up in my backpack.
I was the only one who could hurt her.
Not that man holding her. Not Social Services. Not Mclary or false parents or men who might buy her for special tasks.
Only me.
I wanted the reward of hard living because every day was sweeter for having survived with no one and nothing.
Perhaps I was punishing myself, or maybe I’d lost all trust in people.