nna

I asked as the car t

said, looking out the window

u can't go there. My

hey are," Beck

I grew up in. I could already hear sh

the smell of stale beer

n the hallway. When she

sing her hand. "You ruined everythin

r. He didn't twist it; he just

her," Cole

the kitchen. He stopped when he

d. "The cripple? You broug

pple" was once the most

id, my voice shaking but l

lion," Be

ilent. My fathe

ha

dollars," Beckett said, his voice bored, as if he were d

gasped, her anger inst

document fro

ts and a restraining order. The payments will be managed by a blind trust. You violate the

e million? He said he wa

ispered to him. "That's m

an annuity. I can man

the document. He snatched

ed out. "You'

ancial agreement Cole held. "You were always un

mother signe

of paper without a second of hesitation. Something inside me snapped.

lected t

," Beckett

said, turning his wheelchair.

k. I got into the car, and for the first time in

rchief. I hadn't realized

better,

it?" I

same fierce resilience I remembered from