na

nding on my door p

turday morning light cutting through the blinds. The pounding d

nd went to the door, press

t, my uncle,

the door open. They pushed past me immediately, flooding in

r family?" my aunt demanded,

a piece of trash!" my cousin added, poin

g to the scraps of the underworld. They viewed Serena's child as a va

aid, pointing a steady fi

"You should have kept the boy quiet unti

a harsh, b

booked a one-way flight a month ago. She burned her phones a

to a thick, unco

lanned it. They thought

able to meet my gaze. "Well, these lodgings are entire

nd stared them down

y voice dropping to a dangerous calm. "Which one of you wants to hide Da

said

usin tugged on my aunt's sleeve. "We should go," my cousin

eyes. I slammed the door behind them and shot the deadbolt back in

ver me: if my extended family already knew about Nico, the news was spread

oper breath, my phone ra

cked it up. It was t

our private labs," he said, his voi

y heart giving a

datory sit-down at the head

be there

NA results were in. By two o'clock, I would know whet

l the cramped space. The hot water washed away the lingering exhaustion of the

made dark slacks and a structured black blazer. I pulle

irror over the sink. There were dark ci

eys and walked

ast. But this time, I would not walk out empty-hande