Damon's POV
My father stared at the photos of Maya's injuries, horror etching deeper into his face with each swipe of his finger. Beside him, my mother's eyes filled with tears as she covered her mouth with trembling hands. I felt Maya shrink against me, her head bowed in shame. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of," I whispered against her hair. "You survived. That's what matters."
"This is... incomprehensible," my father said, his voice uncharacteristically shaky. "Maya, I don't have words adequate enough to express my regret. I am thoroughly ashamed and deeply sorry for any part I played in this."
"I need to know exactly what happened after your meeting with Claire at the hotel," I pressed, unwilling to let him off with just an apology. "I want every detail, every conversation."
