om my throat, but

hilling smile, loomed over me. Th

cold sweat dre

nst my ribs. Just a ni

crash do

nigh

ur Austin estate being forced open.

happeni

the covers,

frozen. Last

t this

f bed, yanking on

h, closer. T

ther's voice, alarmed, fro

om. "Mom, stay in th

he hallway, her silk robe clutched

going on

lling her hard towards my suite.

the secu

hoving her into my room. "She took eve

festival audition. An excus

face paling. "All o

on with that worthless aspiring

oak door shut and

I grunted, already straini

mahogany, a b

d. "Ethan, are you su

es Savannah ruined. The

orted with hate, flashed in my

hitched. She fin

ing against the polished wood floor, scraping de

phone, fing

nah. Not

1-

emergency?" A ca

They're inside the house. My mother and I are barricaded

ou inj

Send hel

dispatched. Stay on

ed th

ate was isolated, nestled in the hi

ing, her hand pre

hispered. "Tell her to

or, at the slight gap where the d

n, pl

won't do any good, Mom

inst the door. T

w we wer