Author: admin

And then suddenly- Silence. Everything stops like someone flipped a switch. No more bullets. No more shouting. Just the loud ring in my ears and the uneven thud of my heart. I keep still. Are they all dead? Please, God no. Surely the gunfire has drawn attention. The police must be on the way. The…

“Ten kids? Are you seriously blackmailing me right now?” “Do you want me to die?” he asks, like it’s a legitimate threat he’s prepared to carry out. “Jesus, Knox. Don’t joke about that.” He tries to laugh-actually laugh-but it comes out as a grunt of pain that makes my stomach turn and my heart clench…

His face is pressed against my neck, and when he shifts to roll slightly off me, I see the blood. It’s everywhere. Smeared across his side. Down his back. Soaking into the back of his shirt like ink in water. And there are tiny dark bits poking through. Shrapnel. Pieces of the grenade are embedded…

1 There’s no such thing as right or wrong to me. There’s only what I want to do and what I don’t. And I absolutely do not want to apologize to Mateo. I can feel the pressure around me. Eyes heavy on my face. Every breath in this room is paused, waiting on me. Even…

“But I haven’t finished the story yet, have I? When I got into this country, I couldn’t contact anyone unless they contacted me first. I don’t know how my mom pulled it off, but somehow, she got my father to care about me enough to pull strings-to free Knox, a captive of the state-so I…

My phone vibrates with a notification. As I pull it out of my pocket, I see Aaron’s name. I swipe quickly until I’m staring at a video. It’s there. Visual confirmation. I raise my head. “You know how they always talk about people in glass houses not throwing stones, Mateo?” I ask. “I’m staring at…

Her lashes lower. “They were in a basement. Four of them. All tied up.” “Four of whom?” She hesitates. Then, “Right. I didn’t tell you. Sorry. It totally escaped my mind. Mateo has Hunter, Soraya, Finn… and my sister.” I blink, unsure if I heard her right. “I beg your pardon?” “He has all of…

“Stop the car,” Jade says. Knox glances back. “Why?” “I’m going to my wife.” Knox drives until he finds a spot and pulls over. Jade’s already moving. He places the gun he was using for my lessons gently beside me, then opens the door. He’s gone without another word. Just… running. Knox undoes his seatbelt…

The words barely leave my mouth before I realize it’s too late. Daphne’s footsteps hit the stairs fast. I bet she heard Mom’s voice due to all that echoing in the hallway. Her hand is curled around the banister as she climbs. Behind Daphne, my father hurries along. Mom shifts on her feet, clutching her…

“Haven’t you been listening?” Mateo asks. “I have. And I’m trying to understand why you don’t just exchange blows with the man who actually hurt you. I’ve met him once. Why am I being punished for something I didn’t do?” He leans forward on his cane, tone condescendingly soft. “Because, pretty, I don’t want to…