family's private airfield. The sleek, obsidian-and-silver jet shimmered on the runway like a predat

A silk scarf was tied around her neck, her sunglasses perched on her head doing little to hide the emotion

ushed Sheryl in a hug so tight it

y whispered fiercely. "Don

y holding it together, sniffled behind a tissue. She cradled baby Cele

hrough that single touch. "You better start walking soon," she whispered, her voice catching.

there was no signature smirk-just quiet sincerity. He pl

oes sideways-if you even so much as lose a signal-cal

weary smile. "S

ock seriousness. "Trouble

ittersweet-tinged with the weight of everything left u

uly loved her, Sheryl boarded the jet. Moments later, t

wher

The gold-trimmed curtains had been drawn open, but there was no warmth to be foun

om Serbian

Sheryl

mediate De

reach of eth

ckled, and he sank i

as o

downfall settled around him, it w

was

SHB

hing on concrete. The buzzer screamed triumphantly-the final goal had

y golden-was hoisted onto shoulders by his teammates. Confetti

't looking

caught his attention. A blur of faded n

pper stairs of the bleacher

adium

h concrete step. A worn schoolbag burst ope

er

oring the cheers and chants. He sprinted across the court

ly, elbow bent a

asked, kneeli

dly, her breathing

" he said, offering a cr

wer, a shrill voice

ed Jasmine Lowell, flanked by two other girls,

, trying to p

nother girl mocked. "Oh wait-you probably s

, exaggerating disgust. "Ew. Maybe it's cont

pression harde

them up fo

voice small. "You shouldn't get invol

ed calmly, helping her sit

moment everyt

shadow-watching him from a dista

that girls like her didn't g

es

ter onto his desk and bur

had h

it all gon

and typed frantically-S

res

social media, even back

was

he turned to see Estelle shift

ng to her side. "You okay

she whispered

"We'll get through this. We'll try

She looked like the

murmured, "what

's gone. Deported. She

ot before a flicker of sat

id softly. "She's probably still hurt

y. "You're the on

orward to e

e the smile t

Z.

hone vibrated

cked

e answere

sistant, soun

heryl'