brated through the thin wall of the small

fice, it was a

ky was with

arp and cruel, cut

desk, Lily, my sister, smiling. Her next

in this gilded cage, Vic

od there, a silk robe barely covering her. C

g with false sweetness, "Chad needs a ne

cky," I said, my voice

se, then her eyes hardened. "An

he bed. "Yeah, errand

ly' s picture.

draped over the living room sofa when I pas

he storm, Ethan

rittany added, not bother

on my worn j

lt of pain up my arm, the one Chad had "accidentally" slammed in a

and shivering, I hande

word, blowing a cloud

satisfied smile on her

Chad. "He's so tr

oth la

d. The cold ha

ting, "those new party lights for the patio wo

ere," I said, my voice bare

snapped. "Don't be such a bab

ndled a propane tank. It exploded. I' d been closest, shielding Vicky. She' d compla

and flimsy poles for the lights. Each movement was agony. The w

aughter from inside,

hot through my arm, an