pain. A warm, sticky wetness spread from the back of

f something-panic, maybe even regret. But then Tiffany whimpered his name, and he

ft me

t wail of a siren. I watched Ethan guide Tiffany through the crowd, shielding her from the chaos

obbing numbness. My heart felt

han' s plans for the engagement party, a lavish affair on a private yacht. He was sparing no expense to celebrat

hospital again, I started maki

I got home was go to my mother' s room. It was empty. Str

backyard, standing over

her lips. She kicked a charred piece of wood with her des

he old junk," she said. "He helped m

. He had

holding a baseball bat. He look

menacing. "You dare to bring your drama here after

whistling through the air. "I should have gotten

harp, white-hot agony shot through

e second blow. I turned and ran. I ran out of the

as an old, forgotten place, but a flicker of memory sparked in my mind. My mother used to bring me here wh

ick, letting the rain wash over me

em to see me at first. He just stood there, staring at the faded murals, a

ting. But

le over the rain. He was looking for his childhood savior, the little girl who

turned, his eyes finally finding me huddl

gers digging into my flesh. "What are you

inished, Ethan," I

inished," he snarled,

een, and his entire demeanor changed.

, his voice bright. "Tiffany'

ement without a second glance. He got back in his car

My own phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a

ut my childhood. About a traumatic assault I had suffered an

now a public spectacle, splashed acr