my body throbbed. I was back in a hospi

. I reached for it with a trembling

se Maynard?" a g

" I r

en getting some... special attention here. Someon

hitched. M

his voice void of sympathy. "Got a broken rib from

om my fingers, clatt

e walked in. He looked tired, but hi

k

one" who had pai

y neck and back. "How could you?" I whispered, my voice a broken thing

hardening. He leaned down and grabbed my

arled, his eyes cold as ice. "Kalea is a good person. She w

o his eyes, the eyes I had once lov

. threaten her

, his voice dropping

slid from my eye and landed on h

ing. "Don't hurt her. Please, Drake. I'll

your mother, Elyse," he said, his voice softening into that familiar, deceitfu

sed my forehead. I fel

nodded, a puppe

, the prison

her wa

ht from internal bleedi

nd horror clouding my vision. I saw her lying

r, my hands shaking too

sound raw and animali

same day. I held a small, private

aight to voicemail. I calle

he was at a loud, crowded concert, laughing and dancing. The camera panne

to go to a concert with me, and he had al

her

scaped my lips.

ought a simple silver locket. I

st. "I'll take you away, Mo