da! My

ed, as her prized possessions rained down onto the grass like e

of tears and fury, trying to claw back

by her own momentum, missed entirely and s

n the scene of utter chaos: the ransacked closet, the floor littered with mak

torted in a mask of rage. She lunged for Erin, her fingers with their b

p back, a small, precise movement that cau

was a mess of smeared mascara and tears, her expression one of pur

umsy, teleg

motion. She pivoted on the ball of her foot, a

ven register the move

AC

ean, echoing in the sudden

there for a stunned second, her hand slowly rising to her cheek, where fi

d, and a loud, wailing

a girl who had never

rgetting Erin entirely and r

nto action. He pointed a trembling finger at Erin, his v

f any emotion. "First, she's not my sister. Second, she came at me. And third..." Her gaze sh

med dart, striking Cletus and Br

r face in Brenda's shoulder. "Make her go to

red. A cold, reptilian venom. She knew now. Brute force wouldn't work. This girl wasn't just angry; sh

her on her terms. Th

greed, began to work furiously. An ide

by, it's okay. Mommy will handle it." She shot Cletus a look, a quick, meanin

ger, and something that might have been a flicker of shame-before turning and fo

Let them go. Let them plot.

a cold compress for her cheek. Then she grabbed Cletus b

ffany's muffled sobs could s

issed, her voice low and urgent. "

ty. "So what do we do? Call the cops? Tell them she hit Tiffy? And

course we're not calling the cops. We're going to s

, confused. "What ar

ht. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspir

n't you? That business