e's P

sed an alliance" Carl sa

I smirked. "I always kn

ted my s

e I bumped into Miranda on my way he

igh

nd

p doing this, you used to obsess over h

on that name

ok his

n happy, you finally got all you wanted, Megan out of the way,

ince Megan left I've been filled wit

ing myself secretly searching for her, but her whereabouts were unknow

, Carl and go

I was too scared to admit it, I treated Megan too harshly back

ouble, I searched all over town, no dead body were identified as he

e were teens that Megan was the most loved child, while she was the least favored and that Megan had

ted her poorly when she was a

d her s

gan's

ugh the dark sky like blades. I adjusted the thin black fabric, tucking it securely behind my ear as I gaze

es shielding the tremble that threatened to surface. B

ds, was long gone. She had died six years ago. Megan, he one who begged to be l

emained. The fe

ticed ease. A smooth landing, no turbulence. Just like the life I had crea

ed to position, lining up respectfully, hea

layer

halfway, tattoo peeking from his forearm. His presence demanded silence, and he knew it. He was no

canning the area like he always d

red at the doorway, little curls, green

b

s firm, like he understood

e wind, his hand seekin

down beh

iberate, every blink rehearsed. The veil shiel

ence like

instinct more than thought. I positione

airs, a black SUV idled

't hes

and stood aside, watchin

murmured, keepi

ble. "Are you sure y

to play it safe," I replied. "J

his lips. "Yeah.

my side and dozed off. Kai spoke only once, to as

t home,"

o

range call

*

nt we entered, security systems clicked into place, automated

importantly, child-friendly. But behind the luxury, there were guns in drawers, pani

he window, pressing his

the whole world fro

" Cole asked, m

e small smirk. "Th

turning to Kai, who stood by the entra

thing's in there-papers, IDs, sc

ng it once in my gloved han

ct," I

*

rs later, alone, holding a

, makeup barely moved, lips red like blood and eyes l

d I couldn't become. Powerful. Beautiful.

n the dirt of Joe's indifference, he

was L

lowed them. No man could reduc

anoth

almost

am

rough the space, foot

atching pajamas, wide smiles on their sleepy faces. Cole clun

ories," Cole said, tuggi

I said, stroking h

an didn

e started,

aus

, ba

or a second, then back a

hing s

he much dreaded q

sked, keeping m

told us our dad was far, far away. And no

econd, I forg

back gently, looking between their eyes-those same

n't tel

smi

ht snacks first," I said. "Then we

Snacks!" he shouted, alread

e knew I was hiding something. But then, h

half-empty glass on the t

orr

ide whether the t