him. He was a frantic mess, his com

ess laugh esc

le thing. And I did

ng pain in my back, and went to my room.

in. He was trying to look calm, bu

n, "it's not what

ck still to him. My voice was flat. "Yo

t. I could feel his indec

k on her," he said

n't co

The house was silen

n retriever, was looking up at me with his big, soulful ey

s I'd been holding back came. I cried until I had nothi

stairs for a glass of water,

ut of the darkness

s Car

one. In her place was a pred

ht," she said, a smug smile

onspiratorial whisper. "You know, your mother

d. "What are you

s begging me to call an ambulance. But I was busy." She examined her nails, a pictur

A roar filled my

the words out. My brea

g with venom. "I watched her die, Hail

nged at her, my hands finding her throat. We tu

launched himself at Carleen,

r, and scrambled away from me, tumbling dow

He had been here the whole time. He hadn't

stairs, breathing heavily, and Carleen at the bottom, cru

ng to, not me. He had been in on he

paring me a glance, and sc

s eyes was one of utter disappointment. It was c

is voice laced with disgust. "You can't e

d hatred. "She stood there and watched my mother die! I'm goi

e a stranger. He shook his head slowl

aid, his voice firm. "You're letting your jeal

ught couldn't break a

e. After everything

," he said, his voice hard a

eyes out. But a chilling calm washed ove

y along. I h

. I followed him out of the house, leavin

ron's mother arrived. She stormed up to me, her face c

d. "How dare you hurt Carleen! And that

, that's enough. Shadow is Hailey's

or a moment. "I'll compensate the Roc

me out of the emergenc

" he said. "She's lost a lot of blo